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High School  | Rankings  | 2/26/2015

Regional HS Preview: Mid-Atlantic

Jheremy Brown     
Photo: Perfect Game

2015 Perfect Game High School Baseball Preview Index

For all of Perfect Game's regional previews as part of the 2015 high school baseball preview content, the Dream Team is available for free. The region top tools can be viewed with an Insider subscription. To learn more about Perfect Game's subscription packages and to sign up today please visit this link.


Mid-Atlantic Region: Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia

The Mid-Atlantic Region has a steady mix of both juniors and seniors, all of whom have committed to play at a high end Division I school. Most of the commitments are to schools within the region as only lefthander Max Wotell (University of Arizona) and Perfect Game All-American Kep Brown (University of Miami) will be leaving the region’s boundaries for college.

The group of fielders has an overall quick-twitch feel to them with outfielders Eric Jenkins and Isaiah White, both 6.3 runners, at the forefront. Junior Grant Bodison and senior Xavier LeGrant form a highly athletic middle infield combo with plenty of skills that play up against high-level competition, and will be joined by senior Grant Cox, who is penciled in at the utility position.

There’s a number of arms who project well while already showing quality stuff on the mound. Delaware righthander Jason Bilous shows one of the easiest arm actions in the country, with a fastball up to 94 mph and quality off-speed, but he will miss the spring due to injury.

Four teams from the region were listed among Perfect Game’s preseason high school top 50 team rankings. Virginia leads the way with two teams, Hickory (34) and Battlefield (47), there's one from North Carolina, Providence (37), and Kep Brown’s Wando High School (31) in South Carolina is the fourth.


Mid-Atlantic Region High School Dream Team


C - Brad Debo, Jr., Orange (N.C.)
A strongly built 6-foot-1 receiver, Debo is a University of South Carolina commit and shows loud tools to justify his high ranking in the 2016 class. Behind the plate Debo moves well on his feet with quick, athletic actions and shows a strong and accurate arm down to second base. With a quick release, Debo consistently delivers strikes with sub-2.00 pop times. It’s with the bat though that the future Gamecock really stands out. A lefthanded swinger, Debo uses his physical build to whip the barrel through the zone and finds the barrel on a consistent basis. Though an underclassman, Debo starred on the EvoShield Canes team that won the WWBA World Championship, and played an integral role, earning MVP honors of the tournament after going on a tear in the playoffs.

1B - Luke Robinson, Jr., Eastern Guilford (N.C.)
Though listed as a primary catcher, Robinson spends time at first base both during the summer and in the high school season. At 6-foot-3, 225-pounds, Robinson is athletic enough to play either position and at first base he shows plenty of power that is commonly associated with the position. Showing balance in the batter's box, the University of North Carolina commit creates very nice leverage in his swing with plenty of strength off the barrel to his pull side. He displays a power approach in the box and has the hitting tools to make it work, including big-time bat speed from the left side.

MIF - Xavier LeGrant, Sr., Phillip O Berry (N.C.)
Throughout the summer LeGrant showed an advanced approach at the plate while displaying a consistent feel for the barrel, regardless of the setting. He shows quiet but quick hands in the box with an easy swing and hidden strength coming off the barrel. A quick-twitch defender, LeGrant shows advanced defensive actions up the middle with the athleticism and versatility to play either second or short at the next level. The North Carolina State commit possesses light footwork with solid range to either side and stays extremely balanced while making the play. With a top 60-yard dash time of 6.53 at the East Coast Pro, LeGrant seems to glide around the bases, showing a plethora of tools to shine at the next level. Two different aspects of LeGrant’s game will be examined in further detail below.

MIF - Grant Bodison, Jr., Mauldin (S.C.)
Bodison has been in the national spotlight for some time now and has been near the top of Perfect Game's class of 2016 rankings since they debuted. Taking a quick look at the long and lean 6-foot-3 Bodison, one may assume that he is presently a third baseman. The University of South Carolina commit actually plays up the middle, and with quick and fluid footwork, is able to excel at the position. His movements and fluidity speak to his athleticism; he’s also a 6.8 runner, gliding to the ball with long strides while showing range to either side. His hands are soft and transfers are quick before showing above average arm strength on throws across. At the plate the righthanded Bodison shows extremely quick hands that he uses to generate solid bat speed with strength coming off the barrel. Just as he displays on defense, Bodison shows sound hand-eye coordination in the box and is able to track the ball deep, made possible due to how quick his hands are, and is able to fight off a pitcher’s pitch.

3B - Joe Rizzo, Jr., Oakton (Va.)
The third 2016 graduate to make the Dream Team, Rizzo is a University of South Carolina commit just as Bodison and Debo both are. With broad shoulders and a physical 6-foot, 200-pound build, reports are Rizzo has continued to increase his strength this offseason, something that will be problematic for opposing pitchers this spring and summer. Rizzo offers a middle-of-the-order bat with present strength and the ability to drive the ball from the left side on a consistent basis, showing very good bat speed coming through the zone. A quick scroll through his Perfect Game player profile page will show just how consistent the bat is, having been named to four different all-tournament teams. He profiles well at third base and shows solid defensive tools across the board. Rizzo shows light actions on his feet and nice lateral agility to either side. With a quick release from a short arm action, the future Gamecock shows plenty of strength and carry on his throws across the diamond.

OF - Eric Jenkins, Sr., West Columbus (N.C.)
Jenkins may be from the small town of Chadbourn in North Carolina, but he possesses tools that are as loud as any in the 2015 class. A UNC-Wilmington commit, the 6-foot-2, 165-pound Jenkins shows flashes of all five tools throughout the course of a game and projects for even more as he continues to add strength. A plus-plus runner with burning speed, Jenkins is able to wreak havoc on the bases and track down a fly ball with the best of them. He uses his long legs to take gliding steps and covers ample ground in center field, where he projects to stay at the next level. Standing in the lefthanded batter’s box helps Jenkins impact with his speed even more, but don’t be mistaken as Jenkins isn’t a simple slash-and-burn hitter. Jenkins shows a short and compact stroke with fast hands and plenty of bat speed coming through the zone. Showing gap-to-gap strength, the Jenkins has no problem handling high-level stuff and shows the ability to turn on a ball and lift it over the right field fence.

OF - Kep Brown, Sr., Wando (S.C.)
It’s hard to miss the future Miami Hurricane walking onto the field as he stands 6-foot-5, 195-pounds but if you do odds are he’ll immediately catch your attention once he grabs a bat. An exceptional athlete who moves like he is 6-foot-1 (6.69 60-yard time), Brown truly stands out in the batter’s box. He athleticism is evident when swinging a bat as Brown is able to stay balanced through his swing while showing consistent barrel skills, regardless of the pitch. Brown does a very good job of using his length to his advantage, creating leverage and extension in his swing while staying compact but strong to and through the ball. A Perfect Game All-American last summer, Brown shows tools that project well in the outfield as he takes long strides to the ball while showing strength and carry on his throws.

OF - Isaiah White, Sr., Greenfield (N.C.)
Though he may not be as widely known as some of the other names on the Dream Team, White possesses tools as loud as any and fits right in to the talented Mid-Atlantic outfield crop. A very quick-twitch 6-foot, 175-pound athlete, White showed off plus speed at both events he attended last summer, running a 6.46 at a Perfect Game showcase and an eye-opening 6.37 at the East Coast Professional Showcase. Don’t be mistaken though, the future East Carolina Pirate has more than just speed in his arsenal. A righthanded batter, White does a nice job of keeping his hands back during his swing and shows surprising strength for his frame. Showing gap-to-gap strength, White has quick hands with extension through his swing and is able to stretch out the extra-base given how quick he is. The speed also profiles White as a center fielder at the next level, showing a solid first step to the ball coupled with a strong arm with solid carry on his throws.

UT – Grant Cox, Sr., Greenville (S.C.)
Cox is a highly athletic middle infielder who just knows how to play the game. He shows off polished defensive skills with quick footwork, allowing for plenty of range to either side. He displays soft hands and fluidity throughout his actions before delivering a strong throw across the diamond, and has solid instincts up the middle and projects to stay there at the next level. Cox also excels with the bat and offers much more than just defense. With a short and compact path to the ball, Cox has quick hands and a fast bat coming through the zone. The swing is crisp and he shows plenty of strength off the barrel, both for average and for some pop, and plays very consistently against live pitching. Another athletic middle infielder who was considered is Trey Dawson (Hurricane, W.V.), a quick-twitch Louisiana State commit who shined on both sides of the ball last summer, showing strength with the bat and solid defensive instincts.

P – Cody Morris, Sr., Reservoir (Md.)
Like several players listed above, Morris has signed his commitment to the University of South Carolina and is the lone player to represent Maryland on the Dream Team. Standing at 6-foot-4 with long limbs and a loose arm action, Morris had a very productive summer, consistently dominating high-end hitters on the big summer circuit stages. Throughout the summer Morris worked in the low-90s with his fastball, peaking at 94 mph several times while showing late sinking action down in the zone. He generates the velocity rather easily from a high three-quarters arm slot and does a nice job of working down with the pitch. Though he shows a short 11-to-5 curveball with some depth, it’s his changeup that is his more advanced off-speed pitch. Maintaining his arm action and speed, Morris is able to mimic his release on the changeup, leaving his hand looking like a fastball. With proper spin and low-80s velocity, Morris generates late fading action on the pitch and is able to get swings and misses down in the zone.

P - Evan Sperling, Sr., Grafton (Va.)
Perfect Game was able to see Sperling throw frequently through the summer as he appeared in numerous WWBA tournaments along with participating in the East Coast Professional Showcase. A University of Virginia commit, Sperling stands at 6-foot-6 with a very strong and well-proportioned 215-pounds throughout his long build. He does a nice job of controlling his long levers on the mound and is able to generate tremendous extension out front at release. Throwing from a difficult low three-quarters arm slot with the extension, Sperling is able to create wicked sink and late arm-side run on his fastball that consistently worked in the low-90s last summer, peaking as high as 94 mph. The arm action is loose and he does a nice job of controlling the strike zone while showing a feel for both his curveball and changeup, each thrown in the low- to mid-70s.

P - Max Wotell, Sr., Marvin Ridge (N.C.)
If there was a category down below for the “most deceptive” pitcher in the region, Wotell would take it pretty easily. With a high leg raise and some cross-body action at release, Wotell is able to create very good angle and life on everything he throws. When he stays on top of the ball he creates solid downhill plane on his fastball that works in the upper-80s to low-90s comfortably throughout an outing, and peaked at 92 mph last summer. The future Arizona Wildcat shows a loose and quick arm, and with his athletic 6-foot-3 frame, still projects for more in the future. If not already an uncomfortable at-bat with the moving parts in his delivery and arm slot, Wotell offers two different off-speed pitches and knows how to locate them. His curveball works in the mid-70s and shows sharp 1-to-7 shape with late depth and life. Should Wotell make it to Tucson, you can look for him in the batter’s box as well as he shows a next-level hit tool from the right side with above average speed, making him an impact two-way player at the college level.

P – Nic Enright, Sr., Steward (Va.)
A Virginia Tech commit, Enright jumped onto the national scene in a big way and chose the brightest stage to do so. In just his third Perfect Game event Enright was handed the ball at the WWBA World Championship and had scouts looking through their programs to figure out who was throwing. They now know the 6-foot-3 righthander and will check on him this spring after showing a loose, repeatable arm action with the ability to pound the lower quadrants of the strike zone. He keeps his arm stroke short and simple in the back, allowing him to consistently get on top of the ball and generate downhill plane on his pitches. Enight's fastball works in the 88-91 mph range, bumping 92 while showing solid command to both sides of the plate. His curveball is the separating pitch however, showing tight spin with 12-to-6 shape in the mid-70s. According to TrackMan, Enright’s curveball had a 2850 spin rate in Jupiter, which is well above average, and like his fastball, commanded the pitch throughout the zone.

P – Bobby Nicholson, Jr., St. Anne’s Belfield (Va.)
A strongly built 6-foot-3, 215-pound righthander, Nicholson is the lone junior to earn a spot on the pitching staff of the Dream Team. The second University of Virginia commit on the staff, Nicholson drew comparisons to Cavaliers current Saturday starter, sophomore Connor Jones, after his performance at the Perfect Game Junior National last June. Nicholson works from an up-tempo delivery, hiding the ball very well through the backside before releasing the ball from a mid three-quarters arm slot. Consistently working in the 87-90 mph range, touching 91 in the summer, the ball jumps out of Nicholson's hand and features late and heavy sinking life with hard downhill plane. He lives low in the zone with his fastball and carries his velocity well over an outing. Pitching off his fastball, Nicholson also throws a low-80s slider with tight spin and big depth when he stays on top of the pitch. Maintaining his arm action Nicholson rounds out his arsenal with a low-80s changeup, a pitch that shows fading action down in the zone.


Mid-Atlantic Region Top Tools


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