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High School  | General | 4/1/2018

2018 NHSI Top Prospects

David Rawnsley
Photo: Perfect Game

2018 NHSI: Day 1 Notes | Day 2 Notes | Day 3 Notes

Congratulations are in order for Orange Lutheran High School who won the 2018 NHSI tournament for the second straight year. They entered the event ranked 13th in the nation and are sure to move up this week’s National High School Top 50 after their impressive performance that not only including the championship, but also a win over No. 1 Calvary Christian in the semifinal round.

This Top Prospect list takes into consideration just the performances at the NHSI with as little weight given to past evaluations as possible, while acknowledging it is not possible to have eyes on every player and every game of a four-day, four-field event.


Class 2018

Jordyn Adams, OF, Cary, N.C
Adams was the talk of the event, as the previously unheralded football standout showed dynamic tools, including 80-grade speed and a surprisingly polished bat for his relative inexperience. Byron Buxton comparisons and first round talk followed, although the only sure thing moving forward is that Adams will be getting huge attention over the next two plus months before the draft.

Nolan Gorman, 3B, Glendale, Ariz.
Gorman showed his big raw power well in batting practice, although it was muted somewhat by opposing pitchers working around him in games. While some scouts have questioned his lower half quickness and range this spring, he looked quick and agile defensively at third base with a strong arm and a very quick release.

Matt Liberatore, LHP, Peoria, Ariz.
Liberatore's one-hit performance was a strong outing, although maybe not what some teams picking near the top of the draft were looking for. It was especially impressive when he ratcheted up his velocity to 91-93 mph during the bottom of the seventh inning of a tie game.

Brice Turang, SS, Corona, Calif.
Turang put on a solid performance, showing off his latent power and bat speed in batting practice while continuing his high average, high on-base approach in games, including reaching base four times in one game on three singles and a walk. He is a polished defender at shortstop with plus range, especially going back on pop ups.

Joe Gray Jr., OF, Hattiesburg, Miss.
Gray had a very strong event, using his shorter and much improved swing to rifle singles and doubles around the field when he wasn't patiently drawing walks. His grace and arm strength in centerfield remains one of his strong points as well.

Cole Winn, RHP, Anaheim, Calif.
Winn certainly moved up draft lists with his six inning shutout performance, which featured a steady 92-94 mph fastball he commanded well in addition to both a slider and curveball that were used wisely. The transplanted Southern Californian showed a better delivery and better control than he showed last summer.

Triston Casas, 3B/1B, Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Like most of the highly ranked prospects in Cary, Casas was pitched to very carefully throughout the event and did his best to not expand the zone while waiting for a pitch he could drive. As a bonus for scouts, especially those who think he might be able to play third base at the next level, Casas was an impressive 90-93 mph off the mound during a short relief appearance.

Alek Thomas, OF, Chicago, Ill.
Thomas had a strong event showing off his quick-twitch athleticism, speed and lefthanded bat speed in leading Mt. Carmel's strong offense. He plays with an energy that maximizes his speed, consistently turning in 4.1 run times to first and always being a threat on the bases.

Christian Scott, RHP, Coconut Creek, Fla.
Scott defeated his second top 10 team in two weeks, throwing a complete game win against Hattiesburg after having beat then No. 1 American Heritage the week before. He pitched primarily off a 90-94 mph fastball and finished many hitters off with a sharp-breaking curveball.

Raynel Delgado, SS, Miami Lakes, Fla.
Delgado showed his athleticism and agility well on defense at shortstop and looks to have a long future at that position. A switch-hitter, he also showed easy plus bat speed and plenty of power from the left side.

Cole Henry, RHP, Florence, Ala.
Henry didn't hit the 95-97's that he was reportedly touching early in the season but worked primarily in the 91-93 mph range in his early innings, with his changeup being a solid second pitch.

Roberto Pena, 3B/RHP, Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Pena is one of the top two-way prospects in the country and showed well on both sides of the ball, hitting a pair of doubles in one game and throwing six shutout innings, topping out at 91 mph, in another contest.

Jayce Easley, SS/2B, Glendale, Ariz.
Easley excelled on both sides of the ball, showing quick and athletic actions on defense in the middle infield along with a quick and slashing lefthanded approach. He looks like a perfect successor to Nick Madrigal at second base for Oregon State next year.

Emilio Rosas, SS, Yorba Linda, Calif.
Rosas has long been one of the better offensive middle infield prospects in the senior class and did nothing to change that evaluation this week, consistently hitting the ball squarely with lots of gap-to-gap power.

Jack Dragum, RHP, Mechanicsville, Va.
Dragum is a physically mature righthander with a compact arm action and deceptive delivery that enables his stuff to play up. He worked in the 88-92 mph range and used a tight curveball for his out pitch.

Will Ripoll, RHP, New Orleans, La.
Ripoll is a similar pitcher to Dragum, with a medium build and a deceptive delivery that makes his 88-91 mph fastball play up to hitters. His hard power curveball was his out pitch and he showed the ability to manipulate the shape and location well.

Anthony Herron, 1B, Chicago, Ill.
The 6-foot-2, 245-pound Herron is as strong and well put together as any player in the country and it shows in his exit velocities and the way the ball carries off the barrel. He has a patient and well-timed approach at the plate and can punish any pitcher's mistake.

Brandon Davis, SS, Kenner, La.
Davis is a football standout who is a bit raw on the offensive side of the ball but his high-level athleticism and high energy on the field really shine on defense. He could really blossom with more time and repetitions on the baseball field.


Class of 2019

Hunter Cope, RHP, Newport Beach, Calif.
Cope is not only an intimidating 6-foot-11 righthander but is also a surprising good athlete for his size and age, something that is really highlighted in his sound delivery and repeatable mechanics. Cope topped out at 92 mph with his fastball and showed a full four-pitch arsenal, including a changeup he used effectively against lefthanded hitters.

Ryan Keenan, OF, Lighthouse Point, Fla.
Keenan is a live-bodied lefthanded hitter with very good running and bat speed. He plays the game with a high speed motor as well, which makes his tools all play up.

Ryan Cabarcas, LHP, Pembroke Pines, Fla.
The 5-foot-11 Cabarcas has some of the best feel for pitching in the 2019 class and has been a consistent high-level performer both in the spring and summer. His fastball topped out at 89 mph to go with a solid curveball and an outstanding changeup.

Mykanthony Valdez, 1B/DH, Davie, Fla.
Valdez is one of the strongest players in all of high school baseball regardless of class and a threat to change the score with any single swing.

Daniel Batcher, LHP, Lakeland, Fla.
Batcher is a very similar pitcher to Cabarcas with a tick less raw stuff but the same command of a three-pitch arsenal he uses with maturity. He struck out 10 hitters during his start, with his changeup often serving as his out pitch.


Class of 2020

Liam Norris, LHP, Cary, N.C.
Norris solidified his position as one of the top sophomore pitching prospects in the country, working a fastball in the 88-92 mph range to go with both a slider and a curveball and a polished approach on the mound. Driving in the winning run in Green Hope High Schools semifinal win was icing on the cake.

Christian Rodriguez, RHP, Corona, Calif.
Like 2019 top prospect Hunter Cope, Rodriguez is a very tall and lanky 6-foot-7 righthander with advanced coordination and delivery mechanics for his age and size. He worked in the 88-92 mph range with a severe downhill angle to the plate from a high three-quarters release point and showed plenty of promise on his mid-70s curveball.

Chad Born, OF, Plancentia, Calif.
Born was one of the hitting stars of the event as the leadoff hitter for the champion Orange Lutheran team. The righthander has outstanding barrel-to-ball skills and squared up the ball solidly in virtually every at-bat while showing a flair for the clutch hit as well.

Max Rajcic, RHP, Fullerton, Calif.
The 6-foot Rajcic is a two-way standout but his best moments were on the mound. He threw a 95-pitch complete game featuring a very steady 90-93 mph fastball and a big-breaking curveball from a mid three-quarters arm slot that has extreme sweeping action. Most impressively, Rajcic maintained his raw stuff and command the entire game.

Edward Howard, SS, Lynwood, Ill.
Howard is a long and rangy shortstop with very athletic and fluid actions on defense and the arm strength to make difficult plays. He also flashed a strong righthanded bat and is a very projectable young prospect.

Enrique Bradfield, OF, Hialeah, Fla.
Bradford is one of the fastest players in high school baseball and uses that speed aggressively in all aspects of the game. His bat speed and ability to drive the ball is also steadily improving as he gets stronger.

Dante Girardi, 2B, Boca Raton, Fla.
Girardi bears more than a passing resemblance to his father and plays the game with the same energy as well. He's a sure-handed defender at second base with good bat speed for a sophomore and had a strong tournament, including one three-hit game.

Travis Warinner, SS, Glenale, Ariz.
Warninner is a bit undersized at 5-foot-8, 150-pounds but has a very live body and all the actions and quickness to play the middle infield at a high level. He takes a surprisingly aggressive and full righthanded swing with plenty of bat speed.


Class of 2021

Grant Taylor, RHP, Florence, Ala.
Taylor is one of the top talents in the 2021 class and while he "only" pitched in the 86-89 mph range in Cary, short of the regular low-90s he posted all last summer, he especially impressed with the tight spin and power in his upper-70s breaking ball.

Devin Futrell, LHP, Pembroke Pines, Fla.
Futrell is a very projectable 6-foot-3, 160-pound southpaw with a long and loose build and a very fluid and easy delivery. He topped out at 84 mph and showed good feel and sequencing for his curveball and changeup.

Alonzo Tredwell, RHP/1B, Coto de Caza, Calif.
The 6-foot-5 Tredwell is a two-way prospect who hits in the middle of the Mater Dei lineup already as a lefthanded hitting first baseman, while working in the mid-80s off the mound.
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