2,072 MLB PLAYERS | 14,476 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
Tournaments  | Story  | 4/10/2013

PG HS Showdown Top Prospects

David Rawnsley     
Photo: Perfect Game
Also see: Perfect Game High School Showdown All-Tournament Team

One of the more interesting and indeed enjoyable aspects of watching these eight very high quality high school programs play for three days was the fact that the teams had a full spectrum of players from different classes, all the way down to several very talented freshman, playing key roles. With that in mind, we’ll break down a top prospect list into two groups, the Upperclassmen (Juniors and Seniors) and the Underclassmen (Freshmen and Sophomores).

Players listed in alphabetical order


Top Upperclass Prospects

C Kevin Abraham (2013/Mater Academy, FL): Abraham’s balance of offensive and defensive skills and tools always stands out well in game situations and did at this event, too.

OF William Abreu (2013/Mater Academy, FL): Abreu looks a bit bigger and stronger than the last time we saw him and if anything he has more power in his approach. The feeling on the PG staff has always been that he has very solid overall tools but no single standout tool, but it is beginning to look like power might be his top ticket.

RHP Tyson Albert (2013/Venice HS, FL): Albert has pitched at 16 Perfect Game events prior to the Showdown but had never topped 85 mph previously. He topped out at 88 mph this weekend while throwing a complete game shutout, a very positive sign for his development, especially considering his ability to throw strikes and work his curveball and change up down in the zone.

RHP Luis Alvarado (2014/Montverde Academy, FL): The 6-5/185 Alvarado has taken some very positive steps forward on the mound and threw a complete game on Saturday, topping out at 90 mph and showing a more refined breaking ball.

3B Dylan Busby (2014/Sarasota HS, FL): One at-bat stood out for the 6-2/175 right handed hitting Busby; the time he reached out on an outside low-80s fastball and looked like he hit a routine fly ball to right field at City of Palms Stadium that carried all the way off the top of the right field fence. He has lots of potential with the bat and is a good athlete.

SS Bryce Evans (2014/Savannah Christian HS, GA): We didn’t get any straight running times on Evans because his best work was being done on turns (first to third, home to second) but this young man can flat fly. He looked solid in the infield defensively as well.

SS Dalton Guthrie (2014/Venice HS, FL): Guthrie stood out in all areas, whether it be with his defense (check out his iHigh.com Navy Defender of the Week as shown below), his surprisingly powerful bat or his absurdly good baserunning skills. He’s just a fun player to watch regardless of what he’s doing on the field.

OF Josh Hart (2013/Parkview HS, GA): Hart didn’t do much statistically on offense in the four games but did show his range in centerfield on a number of occasions. His most interesting at-bat was hitting in the three-hole instead of leadoff when he turned on a ball and drove it to the warning track in deepest right centerfield. It was the longest ball I’ve ever seen him hit.

RHP/OF Keenan Innis (2013/Blessed Trinity HS, GA): Consider Innis (son of former big league reliever Jeff Innis) and infielder Connor Justus (below) in a similar way, especially as they are both committed to Georgia Tech. They are both two-way players with a very advanced ability to play the game on both sides of the ball. They should both be immediate contributors for GT.

SS/RHP Connor Justus (2013/Cartersville HS, GA): Justus gets the nod over Innis as a position prospect right now, although I’d rather have Innis on the mound. He plays well beyond his years and looks to have natural leadership abilities in addition to his physical talents.

2B Colton Lightner (2013/Venice HS, FL): The Showdown MVP (7-for-11, 4 runs, 3 stolen bases, multiple highlight reel defensive plays) isn’t as well-known as some of his Venice High School teammates such as Nick Longhi or Dalton Guthrie, but he has very legit tools. He and Guthrie form as good a defensive duo in the middle infield as likely exists in high school baseball and his bat and speed are next level tools.

OF/1B/LHP Nick Longhi (2013/Venice HS, FL): Longhi’s bat was quiet except for one game when he had a pair of doubles, but he showed is tools in other areas. He played a solid centerfield after Venice’s regular centerfielder was injured, then struck out six hitters in 2 2/3 innings in the final game while topping out at 90 mph.

LHP Mac Marshall (2014/Parkview HS, GA): There is no question that Marshall has top three round draft potential. He topped out at 93 mph and showed very good curveball spin at times. He also has limited command at present, tending to miss up consistently when overthrowing, and is very emotional on the mound, which leads to the aforementioned overthrowing. But one won’t find many better arms in the 2014 class.

LHP/1B Michael Mediavilla (2014/Mater Academy, FL): The 6-3/205 Mediavilla is a legit two-way prospect who pitched at 86-87 mph with very good command and hit cleanup in a very powerful Mater Academy lineup. He should keep adding velocity.

C Michael Rivera (2014/Venice HS, FL): It was a hard decision between Rivera and his fellow Florida commit Lightner for Most Valuable Player, as Rivera went 7-for-12 with an eye opening 8 RBI along while catching four shutouts on defense. He packs some serious power in his 5-9/180 frame that was highlighted by his near home run off hard throwing left handed pitcher Mac Marshall.

OF Sam Roberts (2013/Blessed Trinity HS, GA): Roberts hit for the cycle over the four games, with a single, double, triple and home run and hit the ball hard a number of other times while showing very good bat speed. He’s a senior without a college commitment despite very good grades, and there could be a story behind that that we aren’t aware of. But he is definitely a quality Division I talent if there are college coaches looking for a strong armed power hitting outfielder.

OF Dylan White (2013/Sarasota HS, FL): The Miami signee certainly stands out as a 6-5/225 centerfielder and leadoff hitter in Sarasota's lineup. He was intentionally walked a couple of times with men on base as a sign of respect. In addition, White’s jumps and range in centerfield were surprisingly good for an athlete of his size.


Top Underclass Prospects

SS Trevor Brown (2015/Parkview HS, GA): That a program the caliber of Parkview is starting two sophomores in the middle infield is telling about those two youngster’s ability levels. Brown is a very, very slick and polished defender who showed the ability to make all the plays.
SS Cash Case (2017/Montverde Academy, FL): Case is only an 8th grader but plays with the Montverde varsity, as a) Montverde is a private K-12 school that can play players of that age, and b) Case is very, very good for an 8th grader. We didn't get a long look at him at this event but will be keeping a close eye on him in the future.

2B Daino Deas (2015/Parkview HS, GA): Deas is a live bodied second baseman who shows a very aggressive right handed swing with some present bat speed. Just as impressively, the sophomore showed no fear at all in a couple of key situations and came up with big hits against good pitching.

OF/RHP Will Hodges (2016/Savannah Christian HS, GA): Hodges counts the A’s outfielder Josh Reddick among his relatives and it’s easy to see his athletic genes. He was up to 83 mph off the mound as a freshman and had big right-handed bat speed from a complicated but effective Gary Sheffield-type approach.

SS Chase Marini (2016/Savannah Christian HS, GA): Marini’s counting numbers didn’t stand out in Fort Myers but his number of hard contacts and deep drives to left field certainly did as a sign of present and future power. He’s evidently a budding three-sport star as a football quarterback and basketball point guard from what we’re told.

OF Daniel Reyes (2015/Mater Academy, FL): Reyes is listed at 6-2/185 as a sophomore and looks and acts stronger and older than that. He had a four-hit game in the Showdown and consistently hit the ball hard the entire three days. He could develop into one of the top bats in the class.

C Cody Roberts (2015/Blessed Trinity HS, GA): The younger brother of senior outfielder Sam Roberts (see above), Cody Roberts has the same type of aggressive right handed swing as his brother and looked solid behind the plate as well.

SS Deyvid Silva (2015/Mater Academy, FL): Silva was the starting shortstop for the talented Mater Academy club and was very smooth and polished defensively.
PG Special Events
Travel, Lodging, Entertainment
PG Partners
Recommended
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2024 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.