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High School  | General  | 2/25/2016

Regional HS Preview: Mid-Atlantic

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For all of Perfect Game's regional previews as part of the 2016 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.




2016 Perfect Game High School Preview Index

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

Traditionally, the Mid-Atlantic is a pretty strong area in terms of depth of baseball talent, due in part to a slightly warmer climate in some parts, as well as the fact that some of college baseball’s elite reside in the Carolinas and Virginia. Not to mention the fact that the three-time defending WWBA World Champion Evoshield Canes call the Mid-Atlantic home, another testament to the wealth of talent that is on display in the region.

As for the year 2016 in particular, there is a strong base of talent in both the senior and junior classes, with lots of depth across all positions, and notably a lot of multi-faceted prospects. There are a lot of players on the following list, and even some worthy of mention who didn't make this list, who have the potential to play multiple positions at the next level. Not necessarily as traditional two-way players, meaning those that can pitch and play a position on the field at a high level, but those who profile both in the infield and the outfield, can play either corner spot or can catch and play somewhere else. There is a lot of athleticism throughout.

As far as Perfect Game All-Americans, the Mid-Atlantic region was well represented in August, as usual. Third baseman Joe Rizzo, middle infielder Grant Bodison, two-way prospect Khalil Lee and pitcher Zachary Hess all made their way across the country to San Diego to strut their stuff in the All-American Classic, and did so with great success.


Mid-Atlantic Region High School Dream Team

C – Brad Debo, Sr., Orange HS, Durham, N.C.
Debo’s value resides mainly in his offensive prowess, as the lefthanded hitting catcher displays excellent raw hitting tools to go along with lots of strength and power, drawing some profile comparisons to 2015 second rounder Chris Betts. While some evaluators are split on whether or not Debo can catch at the professional level, he’s done nothing but hit the ball with authority whenever we see him, and generally speaking, if you hit, they’ll find a spot for you.

1B – Bryant Packard, D.H. Conley HS, Greenville, N.C.
Packard is a good deal more athletic than a typical first base prospect is, with good size but still projecting physically somewhat. He moves well and displays soft hands when scooping throws, but as with nearly all first basemen, his value is tied to his bat. Packard can hit, there’s no doubt of this, with a whole-field approach and smooth stroke with developing power, a combination that will play nicely at East Carolina.

MIF – Grant Bodison, Sr., Mauldin HS, Simpsonville, S.C.
Bodison may be worthy of inclusion on this list just due in part to the play he made at the PG National Showcase (see below), but in addition to that, he’s also a very good baseball player with professional projection. With twitchy athleticism, clean defensive actions up the middle and solid hit tool projection, he’s a potential impact performer in nearly every facet of the game, with a body that still projects very well.

MIF – Noah Campbell, Jr., Cardinal Gibbons HS, Durham, N.C.
Campbell, a junior, is a very twitchy, athletic prospect who is capable of playing in the middle infield as well as anywhere in the outfield. He’s a plus athlete with feel to hit from both sides of the plate, showing consistent barrel feel with the ability to use the entire field, along with an advanced approach that allows him to get on base at a very high clip, perfect for top-of-the-order hitting projection. Also a plus runner, he’s a stolen base threat every time he gets on.

3B – Joe Rizzo, Sr., Oakton HS, Oak Hill, Va.
Rizzo has one of the best pure bats in the country, with potentially plus hit projection from the left side of the plate to go along with quality power and a solid approach. He covers the plate extremely well and puts the barrel on everything he sees, using the whole field consistently and doing so with authority. His future defensive position may be in question, but his future potential with the bat certainly is not.

OF – Dean Looney, Sr., Butler HS, Matthews, N.C.
Looney may have the best raw bat speed in the class, and generates it from a very old school, low hand set stance. He has tremendous strength in his swing as well, generating plus raw power to all fields and some of the loudest contact we saw in 2015. He has the ability to hit home runs to all fields and can handle an outfield corner defensively just fine, probably profiling best in left field moving forward.

OF – Austin Beck, Jr., North Davidson HS, Arcadia, N.C.
Beck checks in on this list as perhaps the best raw defender, regardless of position, in the region. A plus-plus runner, Beck’s other tools are intriguing as well, with plus projection in the outfield, an above average arm from center field and a hit tool that is continually coming along. Beck being in the top 20 of the class of 2017 is well deserved, and the argument could be made that he has one of the top overall upsides of the 2017 class, regardless of position.

OF – Khalil Lee, Sr., Flint Hill HS, Centreville, Va.
Lee was also considered for the utility slot, seeing as he’s a legitimate two-way talent as an outfielder and a lefthanded pitcher, and the Perfect Game All-American has a chance to be a high-level player at either spot. With plus arm strength and quality athleticism, he projects very well in the outfield, and combines that projection with a simple, contact-oriented swing built for consistently driving liners all over the field.

UT – Justin Bullock, Jr., South Glanville HS, Creedmoor, N.C.
Bullock has projection and talent both as a righthanded pitcher and infielder, which is why he finds himself in the utility slot on this list. With a highly projectable frame and clean, loose arm action, it’s easy to think that he’ll eventually throw harder than the low-90s, where he currently sits. He also has quality hitting tools and could play third base at the next level as well.

P – Zach Hess, Sr., Liberty Christian Academy, Forest, Va.
The Perfect Game All-American has outstanding size and arm strength, standing 6-foot-6 with a broad, strong frame; and he touches as high as 95 mph on the mound. He’s also highly deceptive through his delivery, allowing his already plus fastball to jump on hitters that much quicker. His body, while well-built, still projects some to go along with good arm speed, making him a candidate to throw even harder in time.

P – Rian Haire, Sr., South Caldwell HS, Hudson, N.C.
Haire is going to find himself on this list several times, thanks to his overall feel for pitching and all that goes with it. He works in the low-90s with good life, some crossfire deception in his delivery, a quality breaking ball/changeup combo and the command to go with it—all from a well-built frame with excellent size. If he makes it to campus at South Carolina, expect him to be an immediate impact performer.

P – Bryse Wilson, Sr., Orange HS, Hillsborough, N.C.
Wilson can dominate with his fastball, which often sits in the 92-94 mph range, with solid life to the arm side and good plane. He works in the bottom of the zone and does so consistently, making it very hard to square him up even if hitters do get the bat on the ball. Adding in a solid slider at times and he’s a tough at bat for anyone and should continue to be a tough at-bat at North Carolina, where he is signed.

P – Hunter Perdue, Jr., Grassfield HS, Chesapeake, Va.
A junior prospect who is committed to Virginia, Perdue is a highly projectable righthander whose development has been on a consistently upwards trajectory since we first laid eyes on him. His arm works well and his body projects, so he should continue to add strength and velocity to his arsenal, which currently works with a fastball that can reach above 90 and a very good, tight slider than can miss bats.

P – Kyle Blendinger, Jr., Southwest Guilford HS, High Point, N.C.
Another junior prospect on this list, Blendinger may be in the running for the “best fastball” section of this write-up in next year’s Mid-Atlantic preview, thanks to the fact that it already can get to 92 mph and certainly projects for more. He’s able to use his size well by working downhill and will also show a sharp slider with good downward break, missing bats and getting weak contact with both the fastball and the slider.


Mid-Atlantic Region Top Tools


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