Burton's Scout Blog: 4/25/24
April 25, 2024
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Gonzaga
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Bryant James SS / Gonzaga, VA / 2026Duke commit. 5-foot-11, 160-pound thinner frame with lean strength. Explosive athlete with twitch and easy to see athleticism in everything he does. Quick hands and above average bat speed at the plate. High end runner that turned out a 3.75 on a bunt and a 4.16 on a groundball. His athleticism, footspeed, and range give him the change to stay up the middle of the field. The arm action is a lower three-quarter slot with some funk in the way it operates, but has above average arm strength and accuracy to the bag.
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Cash McDade C / 1B / Gonzaga College, VA / 2025The best catch and throw catcher in the state, regardless of class. Easy exchange and release with carry through the bag. Blocking seems to have improved and receiving is above average. Showed solid bat to ball, although there was not much to show for it. Popped up to the outfield in his first at bat during a two-strike count, got hit by a pitch, and then reached via fielder's choice/error when he slashed in his final at bat.
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Highland School
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Benjamin Cardone C / SS / Highland School, VA / 2025
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Stephen Christopher RHP / Highland School, VA / 2025Probably the best we have seen Christopher in a year-plus. Very efficient in the zone, spun for strikes, and attacked hitters early in counts. Threw five innings, scattered five hits, and struck out five. The Virginia Tech commit averaged south of fifteen pitches per inning, throwing 70 pitches in five innings, with 45 of them being strikes. The fastball was mid to upper 80's and getting up to 88 early. The breaking ball is the separator for Christopher. Throws it at will and I thought he showed a much more mature approach for how he was manipulating the pitch. Early in counts it was more slurvy and low 70's, showing best as a get over type of pitch, and then when ahead he would add 2-3 mph, shape tightened and had more finishing traits. When we have seen him before it has been more one pitch and one shape with average feel for strikes. The spin profile is pretty elite and it is a pretty high end high school pitch. The next step for the slider is if/when he can add 2-3 mph to the pitch and it sit consistently in the 75-78 mph range while maybe showing 79-80. Overall, a very strong performance from Christopher.
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Luke Craddock 1B / 3B / Highland School, VA / 2025
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Christian Dart 1B / LHP / Highland School , VA / 2025
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Daniel Farrell 3B / C / HIGHLAND SCHOOL, VA / 2025
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Brooks Graham OF / 2B / Highland, VA / 2025
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Braedy Peck RHP / 1B / Highland School, VA / 2024
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Heritage (Leesburg)
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Owen Brundage SS / OF / Heritage (Leesburg), VA / 2025The uncommitted junior shortstop has really filled out and his skillset has rounded out and matured well. Had a hit in the first where he jumped a first pitch fastball into left field. Was one of a select few in the lineup that did not register a strikeout on the night. Solid bat to ball, average to slightly above average runner, and solid defender at short.
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Aaron Van Tuyle RHP / OF / Heritage (Leesburg), VA / 2025The recent Richmond commit showcased an improved secondary arsenal, throwing three secondary pitches for strikes. All three have their positives and negatives, but the most well rounded of the three is probably the slider. Depth, velo, and ability to land it are all present traits for the mid-upper 70's offering. The curveball and changeup were thrown for strikes, but both were softer in terms of velo. The changeup was low 70's and arm slowed, but it is an above average high school pitch because of his ability to land four pitches and giving a completely different look for left handed hitters. The fastball was up to 90 early and he held velo pretty well throughout the outing. At the plate he was 1-2 with a single and a walk. Heavy barrel and has the ability to impact the ball in a big way. Overall, a very strong performance from the Heritage junior right hander.
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Mark Van Tuyle OF / RHP / Heritage (Leesburg), VA / 2026Not a ton to work through here. Tough night at the plate for the sophomore. Really looks the part. Lean strength, high waist, athletic, quick hands, and heavy barrel. Just comes off different in BP. Still one to follow as we head towards the summer season.
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Tuscarora
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Charles Battaglia SS / 2B / Tuscarora, VA / 2026Lanky and thin 5-foot-11 frame that is listed at 130-pounds, but is probably a touch heavier than that now. Left handed hitting shortstop that is an above average runner, displaying a 4.13 Home-1st time on a groundout. Very aggressive out of the hand and will need to continue to grow in approach and swing decisions. Athletic defender, average arm, and moves well in the middle of the field.
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Brendan Cowen LHP / LHP / Tuscarora, VA / 2024Up and down throughout the start, but one thing is certain, no matter the best stuff or worst stuff, he is going to compete. Upper 80's early on and was more 85-87 later on. The changeup may have been the best and most consistent secondary pitch, especially in a right handed dominated lineup. Started to pile up some whiffs early on with the fastball. Struggled with some command in short stints in the middle innings, but continued to attack hitters and work out of a few jams. Big adrenaline arm and ultra-competitive on the mound. Had ten strikeouts throughout the course of his six innings of work and did not allow a run.
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Michael Kozikowski OF / RHP / Tuscarora, VA / 2025Slight crouch, athletic frame, and slightly open setup at the plate. Above average hand and bat speed and showed some solid bat to ball. Had two hits on the night, both singles up the middle. One at bat in particular I thought Kozikowski did a nice job staying on a breaking ball and producing a fairly hard hit ball back through the middle. 2-3 on the night and was the only multi-hit player in the Tuscarora lineup.
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Connor Quill 3B / SS / Tuscarora , VA / 2026Quill was 0-3 on the night, but did put together a solid last at bat where he barreled up a ball, but right at a defender. During BP he showed some added strength to pull. The path looked the same, there was rhythm in the hands and length out front, but during in game at bats the timing with the front foot just looked to be out of rhythm. There was a disconnect on when to get it down and ended up being really early, stopping his rhythm, and then having to start again. The swing plays and there is no doubt that he can hit, just need to work through some of the timing. Defensively the arm slot seems a touch lower. Average arm strength, made all plays in game, and has some length to his athletic frame.
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