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Tournaments  | Story  | 6/8/2018

PG East Cobb Days 3-4 Scout Notes

Greg Gerard      Vincent Cervino     
Photo: Max Soliz (Perfect Game)

PG/East Cobb Invitational (14u/16u/18u): Days 1-2 Scout Notes | Days 3-4 Scout Notes
PG/East Cobb Invitational (13u/15u/17u): Days 1-2 Scout Notes



Six-foot-5, uncommitted righthanders who throw in the low-90s don’t normally make it to their rising senior summer but Mikade Johnson (2019, Dacula, Ga.) is an exception here. The righthander is a tall and projectable arm with significant arm speed and a bit of rawness to the overall profile. The arm action is whippy with solid arm speed working his fastball into the 91 mph range as he sat 90-91 mph in the first before settling in around 87-90 mph. Johnson has a timing heavy delivery as he rotates through his upper half upon a stiffer front strike. This leads to some inconsistencies in terms of strike throwing as he’ll cut the arm across from time to time which can add some cutting life when working to the glove side. Johnson also showed a slurvy breaking ball in the low-70s. Johnson is a very intriguing arm with lots of raw arm speed and the frame that projects for much more additional velocity; the righthander shouldn’t be uncommitted for much longer.

Another uncommitted righthander was throwing at the same time slot as Johnson as Solomon Washington (2019, Brentwood, Tenn.) had a very good start for Knights Baseball. The righthander is listed at 6-foot-0, 180-pounds with a lean and projectable frame and an athletic overall delivery that sees him get downhill well. There were some strike-throwing issues  but the arm stroke is smooth through the glove transfer with a compact overall arm circle through the point of release. Washington bumped 90 mph early in the showing and sat mostly 86-89 mph throughout. He walked four but struck out six batters during his five innings on the mound and he also mixed in a softer curveball with 11-to-5 shape that he could throw for strikes effectively during the outing.




Purdue commit Adam Macko (2019, Stony Plain, Alberta) had a strong showing on the bump during a playoff win and has a lot of projectable tools on the mound. The lefthanded arm has a very fluid and easy delivery with a simple leg lift exclusively out of the stretch as he delivers on time and pounds the strike zone. The arm stroke is loose, clean, and on time as he whips it through the arm circle well. Macko worked in the 86-88 mph range throughout the performance as he mixed in a breaking ball in the 70-72 mph range with high spin rates. The offering showed traditional 1-to-7 shape and he landed the pitch for strikes with depth. Macko also flashed a changeup at 78 mph but turned in a very strong performance and is a projectable, young arm.




Rawlings Southeast National featured another intriguing arm in their earlier playoff win as Georgia Southern commit Jared Szabo (2019, Evans, Ga.) pitched a gem of a performance. Szabo struck out ten batters over six scoreless innings as he cruised to an easy victory. Szabo is extremely physical, at 6-foot-4 and 200-pounds, with a quick arm that features a stab in the back of the arm circle that travels quickly. That release point culminates with an extended three-quarters arm slot that creates good life out of the hand and he ran the fastball up to 91 mph in the first inning before settling in the 86-89 mph range for the rest of the performance. He pounded the lower third of the strike zone with some sinking life and generated a good amount of swing-and-miss on the fastball. The curveball was a quality pitch for Szabo as it was a power curveball in the 75-78 mph range that generated some swings-and-misses. Szabo is a physical, high-ceiling righthander who can spin it well and it was on full display during a dominant performance.




Ramsey David (2019, Dacula, Ga.) has done nothing but make jumps over the past year and during Team Elite’s playoff win David topped out at 92.4 mph with his traditionally hard, tight breaking ball. The Auburn commit came on in relief after the starter exited early, and David came right out firing bullets. He settled in the 89-91 mph range for most of the outing, working fastballs past the hitters to both sides of the plate. The delivery and arm stroke are both clean and balanced, as David repeats everything well to stay in sync with requisite arm speed. The breaking ball was a very good pitch, working in the 79-82 mph range that was a weapon early. He generated some chases on the pitch, but it functioned best as he would front and backdoor hitters to land it for strikes on both corners. David is an extremely talented arm and he is establishing himself early as one of the top high school pitching prospects in the state for next year’s draft.

Georgia Tech commit Andrew Jenkins (2019, Atlanta, Ga.) had a huge game during 643’s playoff victory over Team Elite. Jenkins launched two home runs, one each to the pull side and opposite field, and was a big reason why 643 advanced to the quarterfinal round. Jenkins is incredibly strong and offers significant righthanded juice. The first homerun saw Jenkins being strong enough to drive a two-strike breaking ball to the opposite field that went out at 92 mph off the bat. The second home run saw him turn over the barrel with very good present bat speed as it was a line drive shot that left the barrel at 101 mph. Jenkins is a supremely talented hitter that offers significant power and should slot in nicely with the rest of his talented 643 teammates the rest of the season.

– Vincent Cervino



Jared Jones (2022, Marietta, Ga.) is easily one of the more impressive 14 year old players that played in the 15 year old tournament. Jones certainly looks the part at a very physically advanced 6-foot-3, 220-pounds. The first thing that catches the eye is Jones’s ability to block the ball at catcher, his primary position. He does so very smoothly with plenty of quickness in either direction laterally. Bear, as his teammate’s call him, showed his strength in the batter’s box as well. A righthanded hitter with really quick hands at the plate laced a pair of triples on the day both to the opposite field gap.


  

The 8 a.m. time slot was where Carson Montgomery (2020, Windermere, Fla.) was first used in relief for Team Elite Prime 15u. The commitment to Florida State came in firing and filling the strike zone with a fastball that sat 91-93 mph and a power curveball in the 81-83 mph velocity range. Montgomery arm is extremely strong and that is obvious with the velocity that he produces on his fastball. Montgomery showed the ability to pound the strike zone to either side of the plate with both of his pitches. The fastball was overpowering with some angle down the mound. His arm works with a full arm action with a slight flare of the wrist at take back. Montgomery worked a perfect pair of innings in relief striking out four batters.

Gerald (Cross) Jumper (2021, Jonesboro, Ark.) got the nod of the hill for round one of playoff action for the Dulin Dodgers Prime club and was good in doing so. Jumper has a deliberate delivery with a very quick pause at the balance point before driving off the mound to produce a fastball up to 86 mph. Jumper ran his pitch count up quickly and struggled some to consistently locate the fastball, but the velocity was ahead of his age and the delivery may project for more moving forward. Jumper’s arm is a bit long in the back, but it is quick and mostly on time. The commitment to the University of Tennessee is worth a follow as he continues to progress and an intriguing overall athlete at 6-foot-2, 190-pounds.

Khaden Washington (2020, Fort Smith, Ark.) continued his nice week of play with a squared-up double to right field. Creating lots of leverage and raw strength at the point of contact and through contact, Washington hammered the double with an impressive exit velocity. The ball left his bat at 100 mph. It is obvious by just looking at Washington that he is a physical player especially for his young age of 15 years old. Listed as a pitcher-only, Washington showed on this day that he can swing the bat as well all while standing at a believable 6-foot-3, 230-pounds.

Matthew Buchanan (2021, Lebanon, Va.) was the starter for game one of playoff action for Team Elite Prime 15U. The sure pitchability of Buchanan is what sets him apart from other pitchers. Topping out at 84 mph from his lefthanded arm, Buchanan pitches from one of the more polished deliveries in the entire 2021 class. The arm really works nicely and is quick from his clean action projecting for plenty of velocity as he continues to mature. In this game, Buchanan was lights out in his 4 1/3 innings on the hill striking out 10 with no runs and two walks.

Thomas Dilandri (2021, Las Vegas, Nev.) is as combined physically as he is athletically and his ability to hit the ball on the nose is unmatched. Dilandri put on a power display as well as an overall ability to flat out hit this week at Lakepoint. Hitting two separate balls that left his bat at 101 mph. One being a long home run to his pull side and the other being a line drive single up the middle. Dilandri has lots of bat speed present in his swing generated by his strength and use of his hips. The rising sophomore from Nevada is a top 100 player in his 2021 class and with the way he plays and the profile in which he possesses, he will likely rise up the ranks quickly.


 

Max Soliz (2021, Houston, Texas) had the top offensive performance during the afternoon’s playoff games as Team Elite Prime 15u won both of their contests Thursday. Soliz has a unique swing as he starts with his hands very deep in the loading zone. As the pitch is coming, Soliz strides relatively long into contact, but he is continually on time with strength through contact that makes the ball jump off of his barrel. On a pair of doubles in the game, Soliz showed that strength driving the ball deep to his pull side including one that hit the top of the fence just missing a home run. The Arkansas commit also plays well behind the plate with a really strong arm.

Nick Demarco (2021, South Elgin, Ill.) is another player who had a nice day at the plate on playoff day and showed advanced all-around tools. First coming at shortstop, ranging to his right quickly and making a play deep in the hole. Demarco impressed multiple college coaches that were in attendance with the play. Later in the game offensively, Demarco showed the ability to make hard contact and put pressure on the defense with good speed down the line. On one fielder’s choice in particular, Demarco beat out a would be double play by sprinting down the line and posting a 4.37-second home-to-first base time. The uncommitted Demarco is a high follow prospect and it is interesting to think how high his ceiling is.




Grant Taylor (2021, Florence, Ala.) set a new event record with his fastball on Thursday by bumping a 94 mph fastball. Taylor sat in the 89-92 mph range while hitting 93 mph once and 94 mph once as well. Taylor’s fastball showed plenty of angle to the plate and also mixed a curveball into his arsenal with hard 12-to-6 bite up to 78 mph. The two pitches helped him tally up seven strikeouts in his 4 1/3 innings of relief. Taylor is a big pitcher standing at 6-foot-3, 215-pounds and is as intimidating an opponent as any on the mound especially for his age.

Taylor’s arm works from a full arm action with a tight front side arm. His lower half is used well getting down the mound and generating outstanding velocity. His arm is exceptionally strong although the arm is not too fast. The standout aspect of his delivery is the use of his lower half and it works well into his delivery. The LSU commit is certainly mature beyond his years physically and on the mound and there is no reason to believe that the velocity jumps are done in his progression.

– Gregory Gerard
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