2014 Perfect
Game High School Baseball Preview Index
Mid-Atlantic Region: Delaware,
District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina,
Virginia, West Virginia
The
Carolina’s at the forefront
Looking
at the preliminary Perfect Game Top 50 High School Rankings, the
Mid-Atlantic region is led by two teams in North Carolina
(Fuquay-Varina and Roberson) and two teams from South Carolina (Flora
and Conway).
Flora
is led by three returning seniors – Madison Stokes, Banks Cromer
and Everett Eynon – who are all University of South Carolina
commits and look to lead Flora to another 3-A state championship. In
2013 the Falcons went 26-6 and swept Airport in two games by the
scores of 11-3 and 10-9 to capture the state championship. Stokes in
particular hopes to continue his winning ways, having won with Flora
while also being part of the 2013 WWBA World Champion EvoShield Canes
in Jupiter, Fla. last October.
One
of the biggest matchups for Flora in the regular season will occur on
March 29 against Lexington High School, a team that finished last
season ranked No. 6 overall and took home the 4A state championship.
They have however lost their leader from last season, PG All-American
catcher Nick Ciuffo who was drafted in the first round by the Tampa
Bay Rays.
Leading
the aforementioned EvoShield Canes team on the mound was Grant
Holmes, who looks to lead 36th ranked Conway High School
deep into the playoffs this year. Although he is known for everything
he does on the mound as detailed below, Holmes also handles the bat
well and shows good bat speed with big-time raw power from the
lefthanded batter’s box.
South
Carolina’s neighbor to the north also boasts two teams in the top
50, led by Fuquay-Varina, finishing last season 30-6 and falling one
win shy of capturing the state championship for the 4A
classification. They also have a pair of players that helped lead the
EvoShield Canes to victory in outfielder D.J. Burt (Chipola College
commit) and hard throwing Brett Daniels (North Carolina) who closed
out the win over the Florida Burn. Joining Daniels on the
Fuquay-Varina pitching staff is Jordan Bissette (North Carolina
State) who has started to see his velocity climb steadily into the
upper-80s.
TC
Roberson has a nice history of producing high draft picks and Braxton
Davidson is poised to join the likes of Cameron Maybin and Justin
Jackson as a first-rounder this June. Dominick Cammarata (Tennessee)
will handle the pitching staff from behind the plate and helps create
a formidable duo in the middle of the lineup. The Rams’ pitching
staff took a hit this December when senior righthander Katon Harwood
graduated a semester early to enroll at Appalachian State.
Talent
is abundant in the state of Virginia, evidenced by the number of
players making up the “Dream Team” below. With such a vast array
of talent around the state and in all classes, there should be
quality match-ups any given week.
Mid-Atlantic
High School Dream Team
Based
on present tools and position played for high school team
C
- Devon Fisher, Sr. Western Branch (Va.)
With
a strong 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame, Fisher has one of the top arms
from behind the plate in the 2014 class, showing plus arm strength
and carry on throws to second base. He receives with soft hands and
shows quickness in his lower half, allowing him to shift side-to-side
and block balls in the dirt. In the batter’s box Fisher shows
interesting power potential with solid bat speed and a sound
approach, translating to hard contact in game action.
1B
- Braxton Davidson, Sr. TC Roberson (N.C.)
Davidson,
perhaps the best pure hitter in the 2014 class, is a repeat selection
for the Mid-Atlantic Dream Team. The North Carolina commit did
nothing but solidify his reputation with the bat last summer and
fall, showing both his hit and power tool at all the major circuit
events. A lefthanded hitter, Davidson possesses strong pitch
recognition with very good bat speed and leverage in his swing. He is
a strong athlete with above average arm strength and shows balanced
actions on his feet around the first base bag. The sky's the limit
for Davidson who just turned 17 years old and is only going to get
stronger.
MIF
- Jack Gerstenmaier, Sr. Freeman (Va.)
Gerstenmaier
is a middle infield prospect who shows sound tools across the board.
He ran a 6.64 60-yard dash at the National Showcase last June, and
that speed and quickness translates well in the infield. His tools
play nicely in the middle of the diamond, showing lateral range to
both sides, smooth and quick hands and plenty of arm across the
diamond. A gamer and University of Virginia commit, Gerstenmaier's
hit tool may be his best attribute, and it plays extremely well in
game action. With a fluid righthanded stroke, he shows a strong feel
for the barrel of the bat, consistently squaring up live pitching
resulting in hard line drive contact. Gerstenmaier also shows a sound
approach with a knack for recognizing off-speed pitches and making
changes during an at-bat.
MIF
- Logan (LT) Tolbert, Jr. Wren (S.C.)
One
of two juniors to make the team, Tolbert has consistently shown off
his tools on the national level, competing with the EvoShield Canes
throughout the summer. With a smooth lefthanded swing, Tolbert shows
more power than one would think by eye balling his 6-foot-3,
180-pound frame. With a quick swing and solid leverage, the South
Carolina commit is able to see his power translate well into game
action. Tolbert shows polished, athletic actions up the middle with
quick feet and soft hands with above average arm strength. Look for
his skills to improve even more as he begins to add strength to his
frame.
3B
- Charlie Cody, Sr. Great Bridge (Va.)
Like
Braxton Davidson, Cody makes his second consecutive appearance on the
Mid-Atlantic Dream Team and also shows an advanced feel for the bat.
Cody ran a 6.61 60-yard dash at the National Showcase last June, and
his overall skill-set is similar to that of Jack Gerstenmaier. Cody
shifts his weight through his lower half well and shows fast hands
with looseness in his swing. He is able to create consistent, hard
line drive contact with the ability to hit to all fields. His
defensive tools are just as equivalent to the hit tool, as Cody has
no problem making a difficult play at third base look routine thanks
to balanced, athletic actions and a strong arm.
OF
- Brodie Leftridge, Sr. Saint Johns Catholic Prep (Md.)
Leftridge
is a quick-twitch athlete who projects to stay in center field at the
next level thanks to his plus arm strength (92 mph during outfield
drills at the 2013 National Showcase) and game-changing speed (6.5
second 60-yard dash). His speed allows him to cover ample amounts of
ground in the outfield and he also gets good reads on the ball coming
off the bat. The tool that projects the most with Leftridge though is
the bat, which steadily progressed throughout last summer and
exhibits potential for more power. With a lean, projectable
6-foot-1, 180-pound frame, Leftridge shows quick hands with the
ability to get the barrel to the ball and turn on high velocity.
OF
- Kevin Bryant Jr., Sr. Wade Hampton (S.C.)
Bryant
shows top-notch athleticism with outstanding strength and projection,
and it’s evident in every facet of his game. A sound runner with
plus arm strength (94 mph from the outfield at the National), Bryant
has the defensive tools to play right field at the next level,
whether it’s at Clemson or in professional baseball. He also shows
his strength in the batter’s box with a swing that has begun to
create consistent and hard contact. With explosive hands and sound
bat speed, Bryant has begun to incorporate his lower half into his
swing and can drive the ball to all parts of the field.
OF
- Kep Brown, Jr. Wando (S.C.)
It’s
hard not to notice Brown on the field as he stands head and shoulders
above everybody else, literally, with his 6-foot-5, 207-pound frame.
The most surprising aspect of Brown’s game is his foot speed –
6.72 second 60 yard dash – and coordination, a rare combination of
traits in taller, young players. A righthanded hitter, Brown gets the
most out of his height and long limbs, getting fully extended while
generating very nice leverage in his swing. At the point of contact
with the barrel, the ball explodes off, creating a sound that’s
different than most and carries very well to all parts of the park.
The power comes easy as Brown stays behind the ball and remains
balanced throughout his swing.
UT
- Ryder Ryan, Sr. North Mecklenburg (N.C.)
Ryan
defines exactly what a utility player is – a player who can play
more than one position at a high level. Ryan is able to excel all
over the baseball diamond, showing big arm strength with tools and
skill to play anywhere. His tools play well at third base in game
action, showing quick reflexes, a strong arm, and a smooth transfer.
His athleticism shines both behind the plate and in the outfield with
easy actions and a strong arm. On the mound he has been up to 92 mph
with a balanced delivery and the ability to generate downhill plane.
With the bat Ryan is able to drive the ball to all fields from a
balanced righthanded swing, generating easy bat speed with lift while
consistently squaring up quality offerings.
P
- Grant Holmes, Sr. Conway (S.C.)
Holmes
solidified his position among the top righthanded pitchers in the
loaded 2014 class last summer. He frequently peaks in the upper-90s
with his fastball, and thanks to his strong frame and stamina, he’s
able to maintain the mid-90s during the course of a game. Holmes is
able to overpower hitters thanks to an effortless arm action that
produces a fastball with plus life and the ability to spot throughout
the zone. A topic of discussion amongst scouts whenever Holmes is
pitching is whether he throws a slider or a curveball, as points
could be made for either pitch. The velocity of the pitch suggests
slider, but it’s really a power curveball and a present plus pitch
thrown in the mid-80s.
P
- Alex Destino, Sr. North Buncombe (N.C.)
Also
a candidate for the utility position, Destino shows big-time strength
in his lefthanded swing, but his equally powerful left arm trumps his
prowess at the plate. On the mound the South Carolina commit
typically sits 89-91 mph and touches 92 from a loose, easy arm
action. The ball jumps out of his hand cleanly, filling up the strike
zone with the ability to spot to both sides of the plate. While his
changeup is a work in progress, his slider is a very good breaking
ball presently, with late break and two-plane depth. He has a strong
feel and a polished approach on the mound with advanced pitchability.
P
- Derek Casey, Sr. Hanover (Va.)
With
a loose, lean, and projectable 6-foot-1 frame, Derek Casey has a
strong feel on the mound with smooth, repeatable mechanics. Last
October in Jupiter Casey showed his best fastball velocity, topping
out at 94 mph while sitting in the low-90s throughout his four-plus
innings of work. While his fastball stays true, he is able to elevate
the pitch with intent and generate consistent downhill plane. Casey
keeps hitters guessing by mixing in a sharp breaking 12-to-6
curveball with hard spin, a slider up to 81 mph, and he also flashes
a changeup with which he maintains similar arm speed as his other
pitches. A University of Virginia commit, Casey does a nice job of
using his lower half in his delivery, which in turn helps to maintain
velocity throughout an outing.
P
- Blake Bivens, Sr. George Washington (Va.)
After
topping out at 91 mph in August at the Atlantic Coast Top Prospect
Showcase, Bivens took his game to another level in Jupiter two months
later. There Bivens peaked at 93 mph with his fastball, getting good
extension on the pitch with pinpoint control to the lower half of the
strike zone. He shows the same control of a deep curveball with late
12-to-6 break in the upper-70s – peaking at 81 – and is
developing a feel for an upper-70s changeup. By filling up the strike
zone and staying low with his pitches, Bivens is able to induce
ground ball contact, rarely getting squared up by the opposing
hitters.
P
- Jacob Bukauskas, Sr. Stone Bridge (Va.)
Originally
a member of the 2015 class, Bukauskas reclassified and signed his
National Letter of Intent this past fall, allowing him to enroll at
the University of North Carolina a year early. With his overall
package on the mound, Bukauskas looks every bit the part of a member
of the 2014 class and will only improve as he continues to gain
strength. Throwing from a quick, compact arm action, Bukauskas
generally sits 88-90/91 topping 93 mph, while demonstrating the
ability to bring it in on the hands of right-handed batters. He
attacks hitters with a three-pitch mix, filling up the zone with
three potential plus pitches. The strongest of his off speed is the
changeup, a pitch with which he maintains arm speed and shows plus
fading action with command. Bukauskas shows the ability to spot his
slider throughout the zone with tight spin and late bite.
Mid-Atlantic
Region Best Tools
Best
Hitter for Average: Braxton Davidson, Sr. TC Roberson (N.C.)
It’s
not often you see a young power hitter lead a region in both the
average and power categories, but Davidson isn’t your typical
amateur hitter. While he is known for his power, it doesn’t come at
the expense of him making contact, as there aren’t frequent swings
and misses like with other power bats. He has explosive hands and
owns the inside part of the plate while demonstrating a strong
ability to hit to all fields with strength.
Best
Hitter for Power: Braxton Davidson, Sr. TC Roberson (N.C.)
After
beating out several worthy seniors last spring, Davidson becomes a
repeat selection for the best power in the Mid-Atlantic Region. Using
his strong 6-foot-3 200-pound frame, Davidson creates easy loft and
pull-side power thanks to his present plus bat speed. He showed his
power throughout the summer, putting on an impressive display at the
Rawlings Home Run Challenge as part of the 2013 National Showcase in
the Metrodome, hitting multiple shots into the upper deck of right
field. He also took flame thrower Tyler Kolek deep at the Tournament
of Stars, a blast that reached the highway overlooking right field,
an estimated 500 plus feet away.
Best
Baserunner: Troy Stokes Jr., Sr. Calvert Hall College (Md.)
Stokes
is a quick-twitch athlete and prototypical table-setter that most
teams would love to have at the top of their order. A strong runner –
6.47 second 60-yard dash at the National – Stokes has the baseball
IQ that allows his speed to translate well into game action, knowing
when to swipe a bag and stretching extra base hits.
Best
Defensive Catcher: Devon Fisher, Sr. Western Ranch (Va.)
The
University of Virginia commit shows a strong feel behind the plate
with smooth defensive actions. He shows the ability to block balls
well in the dirt, shifting his weight nicely and getting his
shoulders squared to the ball. But where Fisher excels – and
opposing team notice quickly – is with his arm strength. He is
outstanding at controlling the running game, delivering missiles to
second base with plus carry and accuracy.
Best
Defensive Infielder: Henry Davis, Sr. Mayo High Tech (S.C.)
Davis
is a quick-twitch athlete who moves extremely well on his feet,
showing lateral range to both sides. He exhibits balance throughout
his defensive actions with soft hands and arm strength across, tools
that will allow him to stay at shortstop at the next level of
baseball.
Best
Defensive Outfielder: Brodie Leftridge, Sr. St. John’s College Prep
(Md.)
Leftridge
has all the defensive tools to stay in center field at the next
level. With quick feet and the ability to read the ball well off the
bat, Leftridge covers vast amounts of ground with solid range and
athletic actions. His arm strength also thwarts runners from taking
extra bases as he delivers strikes in game action with strong carry
and accuracy.
Best
Infield Arm: Logan (LT) Tolbert, Jr. Wren (S.C.)
Tolbert
shows a loose, quick and strong arm across the diamond, with his top
throw registering at 89 mph. As he continues to fill out his frame,
the arm strength will only continue to develop as the ball leaves his
hand cleanly.
Best
Outfield Arm: Kevin Bryant Jr., Sr. Wade Hampton (S.C.)
Although
his release may need to be shortened, there is no questioning the arm
strength of Bryant in the outfield. With his top throw from the
National Showcase clocking at 94 mph, Bryant shows big carry with
accuracy and should see his strength continue to improve.
Best
Fastball: Grant Holmes, Sr. Conway (S.C.)
As
noted above, Holmes has a fastball that has topped at 98 mph and
consistently works in the mid-90s. The radar gun readings are eye
popping, but his delivery and the life his fastball generates are
just as appealing. He attacks batters, pounding the strike zone with
a plus fastball, a pitch he is able to throw with surprising low
effort.
Best
Off-Speed Stuff: Grant Holmes, Sr. Conway (S.C.)
This
is the pitch that helps to separate Holmes from the other power arms
in the 2014 class. His power curveball is a present plus pitch with
big depth, and he overmatches pretty much every batter at the high
school level with it. Holmes throws his curveball with confidence
with the ability to locate it throughout the zone, getting hitters to
swing over the top of it.
Best
Command: Jacob Bukauskas, Sr. Stone Bridge (Va.)
Along
with having a strong feel for a three-pitch mix, what will help make
the transition easier for Bukauskas – who jumped from the 2015 to
2014 – is his ability to throw to spots and set up hitters. He
works all three pitches low in the zone with late life and knows how
to use them, spotting well to both sides.
Best
Pitchability: Alex Destino, Sr. North Buncombe (N.C.)
Using
simple, repeatable mechanics, Destino stays poised and shows a
polished approach on the mound. With a fastball in the low-90s and a
feel for both a changeup and breaking ball, Destino is able to make
each pitch play up in game action, building each off one another
while executing his pitches on the outer and inner black to opposing
hitters. He is consistent with his mechanics and shows very strong
command throughout any given outing.