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Tournaments  | Story  | 5/28/2018

LP Memorial Notes: Days 3-4

Photo: Nolan McLean (Perfect Game)



An uncommitted righthander ended up closing out the win for 643 DP Cougars Sterling as Ty Floyd (2020, Rockmart, Ga.) took to the mound and worked a very efficient and quick two innings. The righthander showed a short, quick arm stroke that generated plenty of velocity in the 86-89 mph range while bumping 90 mph in his first inning of work. The pitch showed late life to it and he also threw a short curveball in the low-70s with traditional 11/5 shape and threw it for strikes. The delivery itself is a bit raw, there’s some stiffness to the front side and a bit too rotational with the upper half however it is extraordinarily low effort, and leaves to reason that there is a lot of velocity left I the tank for the young prospect.

Another young righthander showing good levels of velocity was Jaylon Buckley (2021, Union, Miss.) who ran his fastball up to 88 mph during his first inning of work. The arm action is full and loose through the back and he throws with some intent, though he creates good run on the fastball that mostly sat in the 83-86 mph range. Buckley throws a breaking ball with 11-to-5 shape in the low-70s but is also airly impressive as a two-way prospect. He has a lot of strength through the point of impact and creates some fluidity through extension. The two-way profile is very appealing, and Buckley has already made strides on the mound as he was topping out at around 81 mph at this time last season.

Buckley’s teammate Justin Bogard (2021, Loganville, Ga.) showed very intriguing tools with a clean lefthanded swing and traits that resemble that of a true centerfielder. Bogard has a short, crisp swing with advanced bat-to-ball skills that allows him to spray the ball to all fields and to beat out some hits with his legs. He fits the profile of a true leadoff type of hitter as his speed plays in all facets of the game, including defensively. Bogard made advanced reads on fly balls and has excellent closing speed; the centerfielder made a terrific diving catch during his game on Sunday, generating full extension as he sacrificed his body to made an outstanding grab.




The summer is always a keen time to re-evaluate prospects to see what gains they had made over the past year. Michael Braswell (2021, Mableton, Ga.) showed some increased velocity and overall pitchability as the 6-foot-1, 155-pound worked with a very effective three pitch mix. The fastball sat 84-87 mph with occasionally heavy plane when located in the lower third of the strike zone. The command of the pitch was a bit inconsistent as he would leave the fastball up from time to time, however he garnered a lot of swing-and-miss on the pitch as he sequenced effectively and his long limbs and moving parts created some deception for the fastball to sneak up on hitters.

Braswell featured both a curveball and a changeup that were both effective offerings. The breaking ball was in the 74-75 mph range flashing sharp depth and he was adept at locating the pitch within the strike zone. The changeup was thrown sparingly, in the 75-76 mph range, and although he slowed the arm the pitch had nice, late life to the arm side that worked well against lefties. Braswell has shown a lot of development on the mound and is still a touted prospect in the middle infield, though he should only continue to tick up velocity wise as he continues to fill out.

Kentucky commit and eXposure 17u Prime leadoff hitter John Rhodes (2019, Soddy Daisy, Tenn.) had a strong showing at the plate all tournament, including the first round of the playoffs where he notched three hard hit singles. Rhodes is supremely athletic, playing right field with a strong arm and showing off his speed from the leadoff spot, and can play virtually any outfield position well. The swing itself features plenty of bat speed with loose, fluid hands that work extremely well through the ball. The advanced strength in conjunction with the bat speed result in tons of impact velocity including multiple balls that left the bat at 90+ mph. Rhodes looks to be a good piece in an already impressive 2019 recruiting class for Kentucky and Rhodes is one to watch as the summer gets underway.

Twitchy, athletic, and uncommitted outfielders normally don’t last long on the open market as two-sport Hillgrove HS star Justin Tew (2019, Powder Springs, Ga.) showed off a lot of intriguing baseball tools with a very high ceiling for potential development and growth. The outfielder turned in a best run time, and a plus one at that, of 4.18 seconds to first base from the right side and the speed plays well both on the base paths and defensively. The raw hitting tools for success are present with fast hands and quality bat speed which allows him to create hard hit contact when on the barrel. The swing path will get long and inconsistent at times, but it looks really good when on time and squared up. The ceiling is very high for Tew and the athleticism he possesses both on the football field and the diamond are positive attributes.

Another uncommitted, up-the-middle type of player, Caleb Ketchup (2020, Marietta, Ga.) played surehanded and outstanding defense for the eventual champion Duluth Noles. Ketchup is extremely athletic up the middle, with quick and clean footwork and a real high-motor approach defensively. He goes all out for balls that are even remotely near him and he moves fluidly and gracefully up the middle where he made a number of highlight reel type of plays to his left. The offensive approach is a high-contact, high-speed approach as he bats leadoff and did a very good job at setting the table for a potent Noles offense all weekend long.

Jordan Walker (2020, Stone Mountain, Ga.) was just missing baseballs for a decent portion of the weekend, but he finally exploded onto a baseball during the big four-run rally in the bottom of the seventh as Walker punished a baseball that was 97 mph off the bat and traveled an estimated 397 feet for a long two-run shot. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound third baseman has an extra-long frame with a young look, he just turned 16, and lots of room on the build for added strength. That being said, he already has a tremendous amount of strength as his ability to impact baseballs off the barrel for high exit velocities is pretty impressive. The swing path is naturally lofted and the ball jumps off the bat, however he does swing-and-miss some particularly with breaking balls in the dirt. Walker also showed off his arm strength bumping his fastball up to 88 mph during a brief stint on the mound.




The Dirtbags certainly put their wealth of talent on display this weekend with at least six 90-plus arms and Nolan McLean (2020, Willow Springs, N.C.) was another who closed out a victory earlier in the weekend and started the championship game. McLean is a very physical righthanded pitcher, he ran his fastball up to 94 mph earlier this weekend, and that physicality plays well in the batter’s box too. The righthanded pitcher turned in three scoreless frames thanks to his 88-92 mph fastball with serious sink and run to the pitch. The arm action is very short through the back and he throws from a lower slot, both factors that help to create the sinking life on the pitch. He also showed a tight spinning curveball in the 70-72 mph range with 10-to-4 slurvy shape that could be thrown for strikes and had serious break to it.

643 DP Cougars made a deep run to the semifinals of the 14u division and Andruw Jones (2022, Suwanee, Ga.) really did it all for his squad. The bat was as good as ever, however the arm strength was on full display as he saved the game during the quarterfinals with a couple of impressive throws. Jones nailed a kid trying to advance to third and a few innings later threw a seed to home plate to throw out the game-tying runner and clinch the victory. The raw arm strength is impressive, he also made a heck of a throw from the warning track to third base on a line and is another tool in his arsenal. The bat was impressive too with multiple hits, including a 93 mph exit velocity triple, and he turned in consistent 4.4s to first base.

A teammate of Jones’, Jae Williams (2022, Atlanta, Ga.) was impressive for the Cougars out of the leadoff spot and set the table early and often. Williams is a high-waisted, highly athletic prospect who is a very good runner as he turned in a best run time of 4.3 seconds from the left side. The swing is short and contact oriented, though it gets slappy at times, and he doesn’t swing-and-miss much at all. The speed is the calling card however, as he stole multiple bags over the weekend and was constantly a threat with his feet.

Coming in relief during the Dirtbags Camo’s quarterfinal loss, Tucker Toman (2022, Columbia, S.C.) showed off a quick arm as well as two-way potential with his lefthanded swing. Toman ran his fastball up to 85 mph and worked mostly in the 78-83 mph range on the afternoon, with a short and quick arm stroke. The swing is clean with minimal moving parts and he showed the ability to create line drive contact to the pull side. The advanced arm strength is extremely interesting and Toman has legitimate two-way potential in his future.

Starting Rawlings’ first playoff game was righthander Zach McWilliams (2021, Hendersonville, Tenn.) and he showed off impressive arm speed and arm strength during the start. McWilliams started out pounding the strike zone with his 83-86 mph fastball that touched 87 mph once in the first inning.

Jude Gremillion (2022, Pride, La.) showed off his fleet of foot and some advanced contact skills. The swing path was a bit inconsistent, he gets ground-ball happy in an effort to put the ball in play and let his feet take hold at times, but he showed the ability to put the ball in play consistently. Gremillion turned in a best run time of 4.32 seconds to first base on a jailbreak ground ball and the speed is the selling point to the present profile here, though he is also a solid defender with good instincts in the field.

Tri-State turned in a number of strong performances during the playoffs on the mound and the following are some abbreviated notes on the standouts from the champion of the 14u division:

Brock Porter (2022, Milford, Mich.) turned in what normally would have been the performance of the weekend as Porter continues to develop and improve on the mound. The righthanded pitcher worked his fastball up to 83 mph during the outing and he had complete command of a 12/6 curveball with considerable depth and a changeup as well. Porter was untouchable as he racked up fourteen strikeouts in a complete game shutout while only allowing one hit in the playoffs.

Bauer Brittain (2022, Shawnee, Okla.) closed out the contested semifinal game against 643 while running his fastball up to 83 mph. Everything works well in Brittain’s present delivery as he gets downhill effectively and works to both sides while being unafraid to work up in the strike zone. The arm stroke is longer through the back but Brittain was very on time and was impressive in a brief look.

Blaydon Plain (2022, Greenville, Fla.) started the semifinal game for Tri-State and worked up to 84 mph in the first inning of the game. Plain has a loose, shorter arm stroke through the back and releases from an extended three-quarters arm slot to create good arm side run. Plain attacked primarily with the fastball but did flash both a changeup and curveball at times, but worked quickly and efficiently through a tough lineup.

Reese Ratchford (2022, Sulphur, Okla.) was superb during the championship game for Tri-State as he one-upped Porter in tossing a complete game shutout with twelve strikeouts to seal the trophy and the MV-Pitcher award. The mechanics were very fluid with a loose arm stroke and worked his fastball to either side. The velocity peaked at 84 mph with a 78-82 mph range and the sharpness to the curveball and the ability to generate swings-and-misses were fairly impressive.

– Vincent Cervino



Armed with a big fastball and a devastating breaking ball, Peyton Fowler (2019, Phenix City, Al.) had himself a nice outing on the mound Sunday. He totaled six strikeouts in his three-inning appearance, and got them in a variety of ways, painting corners with the heater, paralyzing hitters with the 69-70 mph hook, and straight up blowing the fastball by for whiffs. He throws downhill, from an over-the-top arm slot and at 6-foot-4, he is very projectable, making it appear likely that he can add a few ticks to his 87 mph fastball in due time as he fills out a bit. A rising senior, the Alabama native will be intriguing to watch as the summer rolls along.

Jack Haley (2020, Peachtree City, Ga.) showed plenty of pitching savvy despite the lack of explosive stuff. With an uncomplicated, repeatable delivery, he attacks the zone and gets ahead of hitters, putting himself in advantageous situations with the count frequently. He can be quite economical, as evidenced by his eight-pitch first inning and showed the ability to limit damage caused by a shaky infield defense behind him. Despite a small disparity in velocity between his 69-70 mph curveball and his 71-76 mph fastball, Haley was able to give the hitters a different look with movement, resulting in six punchouts over his first three innings pitched.

With his team struggling to muster any offense whatsoever against a tough pitcher, Dalton Bowman (2019, Esom Hill, Ga.) broke open the scoring in a big way, unleashing a majestic shot to left for a solo home run. It was apparent right off the loud crack of the bat that ball would easily clear the wall. According to TrackMan, the blast registered a 93 mph exit velocity and traveled an estimated 358 feet. With a 6-foot-1, 200-lb frame, and good bat speed to complement, more power can be expected in the future from the primary catcher.

Mitchell Brown (2020, Hiram, Ga.) was all over the place on the basepaths Sunday morning. He started his day with a bunt for a hit down the third base line, recording a quick 4.12 home-to-first time and showing good instincts advancing to second as the defense tried to throw out a runner at third. Brown followed up by lacing a single the opposite way in his next at-bat and then displayed good patience drawing a walk. Eventually coming around to score in each instance, the on-base machine proved to be a big offensive threat, with very good contact skills and a good amount of moxie at the plate.

After not pitching for a year, Preston Gunnell (2021, Canton, Ga.) showed little rust on the mound, as he was accurate hitting his spots and maintained decent velocity on his fastball (80-82 mph) through his outing. Fairly tall and projectable, he probably has quite a bit of velocity in the tank to gain as he fills out. On the day, he threw 4 2/3 innings and struck out two in a win, not afraid to pitch to contact with a big lead and allow his good defense to make plays behind him.

Tyler Clayton (2019, Douglasville, GA), the 22nd-ranked LHP in the Georgia 2019 class, impressed on the mound, going the distance in a shutout. He yielded just two hits and a walk against seven punchouts over seven frames, attacking hitters with his 82-85 mph fastball and his 70 mph curve. He pitches with a repeatable, if unorthodox delivery, as he pauses in the middle of his windup before firing to the plate. His command doesn’t suffer for this hitch and it also helps to throw off the timing and mental awareness of hitters. His cool demeanor was also evident throughout the outing, and he showed good baseball IQ, snaring a comebacker and turning an inning-ending 1-6-3 double play rather than going after a runner at the plate. He is projectable and stands to gain some velocity in the near future.Clayton is also a legitimate two-way talent hitting in the cleanup spot for the Noles including a playoff three-run home run that left the bat at 91 mph.

– Cameron Hines



Draylin Holmes (2020, Griffin, Ga.) got day three at LakePoint started off with a bang when he drilled a home run over the left-center wall. Holmes displayed a quick bat and hands while also staying back on the ball with great arm extension. He was also the day’s starting pitcher for his 16u Diamond Aces squad. Draylin hit 82 with his fastball and also worked in a mid-60s curveball that he could drop in for a strike with ease. Holmes throws consistent strikes with a repeatable delivery and smooth mechanics throughout his windup and stretch. His arm slot and action is consistent with low effort, and he also stays sharp the deeper the game goes. His very productive two-way performance Sunday was the perfect way to get a full day slot of games underway.

Another very impressive performer early on was Jack Whitlock (2020, Alpharetta, Ga.) Jack garnered a two hit day verses 16u Monster baseball which included an opposite field RBI double. The lefthanded hitter displays a quick bat with definite gap power. He keeps his hands down on the ball and is able to extend the barrel through the zone with ease leading to consistent hard contact. Whitlock is very smart and instinctive on the basepath as well while also displaying quick hands and a strong arm at third base. The 6-foot-2, 190-pounder has a very athletic frame as well with room to grow.

One of the more intriguing pitchers on the day was Grant Hickman (2020, Northport, Ala.) who measures 6-foot-2 and 175-pounds. Grant worked mostly 80-82 on his fastball while also touching 84 on multiple occasions. He does an excellent job of keeping the ball down in the zone, hitting his spots with solid command. His delivery is clean and he pushes off his back foot very well. He throws his off-speed mostly in the low-70s and it almost resembles a slurve of sorts that he can throw for strikes and keep hitters off-balance. His velocity did fade a little bit late in his start but that will change as he continues to get stronger.

Bryce Troutt (2020, Alpharetta, Ga.) delivered a very solid two hit performance on Sunday, including an opposite field double to left-center. He battles at the plate with a very patient approach and a quick bat. Troutt really gets the bat-head out in front of the ball with great extension. He is also a smart baserunner equipped with good speed, he stole three bases in an earlier tournament game. Defensively, he utilizes a quick transfer a solid arm, really making him one of the anchors of the 16u Georgia Bombers.

Sam Patterson (2020, Kennesaw, Ga.) really put together a productive day at the plate on Sunday. Playing for the 2020 Georgia Scorpions Select, Patterson put together some great at-bats headlined by a triple to go along with 3 RBI’s. He is very patient and knows how to take the ball to the opposite field. In addition, he has good range defensively at second base, with good hands and instincts. Standing 5-foot-9 and 155 pounds, the 16 year old will only continue to get stronger to go along with his already advanced feel for the game.

Parks Harber (2020, Atlanta, Ga.) showed his all-around plus tools in a big way. The 6-foot-4, 200-pound Georgia commit tallied three hits, two doubles, and three RBIs in an impressive performance for the 17u 6-4-3 Cougars. His bat explodes through the zone with ease and he jumps all over pitches, but also has the patience to stay back and wait on the right one. He works with a very fluid swing to go along with good instincts on the bases even though he is not the fastest runner. At third base, Harber displays a very strong arm and quick hands with a good first step to the ball.

Reginald Austin (2022, Atlanta, Ga.) displays good instincts on the baseball field, highlighted by a stand-up double. He has a very quick bat to go along with very good speed. His quickness allows him to get his hands through the zone effectively and make consistent solid contact. The 5-7, 140 pounder made a big impact for his 14u 6-4-3 Double Play tournament team and he will continue to become more and more productive as he becomes stronger. Austin also pitched in the event, topping out at 81 mph and showing a sharp curveball. 

– Matthew Brothers
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