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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/23/2019

PG 18u World Series Scout Notes

Parker Fronk      Jerry Miller      Tyler Russo     
Photo: Brody Westbrooks (Perfect Game)



Chase Hughes (2019, Conway, S.C.) started on the mound for Next Level Baseball and was lights out. Hughes had his fastball up to 85 mph and it had good arm-side run to it too. His slider was at 73 mph and it had good, tight break, which had hitters swinging and missing. He was able to command the zone very well with both of his pitches and that is a big reason why he was so dominant. He was able to get ahead of guys and really use his slider ahead in the count which got him most of his strikeouts. Hughes has a fluid delivery and pitches with a lot of confidence. Hughes, who is committed to Presbyterian, threw three innings allowing only one hit and striking out seven.

Another product of Next Level Baseball Elite who stood out on Friday was Kyle Merkle (2019, Lithia, Fla.). Merkle went 1-for-3 with a double to left-center that drove in three runs. Merkle has a big frame standing at 6-foot-6, 230-pounds and shows good athleticism and speed for his size. He does a good job getting his barrel into the zone and gets good extension through the ball giving him good pop. Merkle is a serious threat to drive the ball and has good pop to all fields. Merkle is also committed Presbyterian and he will be a fun player to follow the rest of the summer.



Wilberto Febles (2020, Miami, Fla.) started on the mound for Next Level Scout Team and was making the catchers glove pop. Febles had his fastball up to 89 mph while sitting 86-87. He also had good life with his fastball as it had good arm-side run. Febles also showed a tight-breaking curveball that elicited a lot of swings-and-misses at 72 mph. He stands at 6-foot, 195-pounds and has an athletic build with broad shoulders. Febles, who is uncommitted, has a live arm action and a smooth delivery. He threw two innings on Saturday while allowing only one hit and striking out three.

Coming out of the ‘pen for Next Level Scout Team was Alexander Diaz (2019, Hialeah, Fla.). Diaz, who is uncommitted, had his fastball sitting 86-87 mph and showed good command with it also. Diaz is 5-foot-7, 150-pounds, but has a strong frame and an athletic build on the mound. Diaz uses a high leg kick and gets down the mound very well which helps his fastball get on hitters. He looked comfortable going in on hitters and he gave up weak contact doing so. Diaz’ curveball was 73-74 mph which had good break to it and was comfortable to throw it in any count. He threw two innings allowing two hits and striking out two.



On the mound for CBC Elite on Saturday was Hector Baerga (2021, Ponce, Puerto Rico) and he threw a gem. Baerga threw five innings allowing only three hits and zero runs while striking out 12. He had great command with all of his pitches and that is why he was striking so many batters out. His fastball was 81-82 and he had great command with it. His curveball was 70-71, a pitch that had good break and he was able to throw it for strikes. He had a lot of success throwing his curveball to righties back knees and getting hitters to swing right over the top of it. This lefthanded pitcher is 5-foot-9, 135-pounds and has plenty of room to get stronger over the next couple of years.



Jack Murphy (2020, Tallahassee, Fla.) started on the mound for Powermill Brown 18u and showcased some electric stuff. Murphy had his fastball up to 86 mph and had good command, only walking one during his outing. Murphy also has a slider and a curveball both with good break as the slider sat around 79 mph and the curveball at 72 mph. He threw both of this pitches while being ahead in the count with his slider being a tight breaker and his curveball being more of an 11-to-5 breaker. Murphy is 6-feet, 150-pounds and has plenty of strength to add and fill up more. Murphy threw six innings and struck out six on Saturday.

The shortstop for Next Level Scout Team was Andrew Estrella (2021, Cutler Bay, Fla.) and he showed off his great tools on Saturday. Estrella is smooth at shortstop and makes plays look super easy and routine. He makes plays on the run with ease being able to drop his arm slot down and throw strikes across the diamond. Estrella is 5-foot-8, 125-pounds and has a good frame that he will continue to add strength to over the next couple of years. Estrella did not look like a player in the 2021 class as he fit right in with the 18u kids. He has good pop to his pull side and has good extension through the baseball in his swing. Estrella went 2-for-3 with a double, a run scored and three RBI.



Coming out of the ‘pen for Hit Factor 18u Elite and showing his dominance was righthander Jacob Heath (2019, Seffner, Fla.). Heath ran his fastball up to 87 mph and was sitting 84-85. He has a big frame standing at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds with broad shoulders and a wide chest. His 70-71 mph curveball had hitters swinging and missing at it all throughout his outing. Heath works very quick on the mound and works at his rhythm controlling the game. He pounds the zone with strikes and gets ahead of hitters by throwing all of his pitches for strikes. He lived down and out with his fastball, which produces a lot of takes and weak contact. Heath, who is uncommitted, threw 3 1/3 innings not allowing a hit or a run and striking out four.

-Parker Fronk



Brody Westbrooks (2019, Cumming, Ga.) was outstanding in the quarterfinal round as he took a perfect game into the fifth inning, before allowing a hit and a pair of walks over the last three innings, finishing the seven-inning shutout with 11 strikeouts. The Georgia Tech commit stands at a physical 6-foot-3, 200 pounds with a very strong lower half that allows him to repeat a very controlled and balanced delivery. He worked a lively fastball consistently at 87-88 mph, bumping a few 90s, and held his velocity well all the way through the outing. There is some length to the arm when he drops it behind his back leg, but the quickness of it gets him back on time with the rest of the body as he strides down the mound. His go-to secondary pitch was a tight curveball that broke hard and late as he landed it to both halves in any count. The high level of pitchability mixed with the upside in the strength of the body makes Westbrooks a potential impact righthander once he steps on campus in the fall.



Nick Skaggs (2019, Biloxi, Miss.) was also outstanding in the quarterfinal round as he tossed five innings, allowing just one hit and a pair of unearned runs, while striking out 10. One of 10 Pearl River Community College commits on the talented Mississippi Rays team, the righthanded primary catcher has a legitimate chance to pitch at the next level given the movement of the two pitches he flashed. The fastball showed plus run when thrown as a two-seam to the inner half as he broke multiple bats working up to 89 mph and sitting comfortably at 85-87 mph. The curveball flashed above average potential as it stayed tight and caught only part of the zone. There is a high level of athleticism in the delivery and he fields his position extremely well, coming off and making a diving play on a slow roller to the arm-side and throwing out a runner at home. The arm is electric through a high slot that allows it to catch up to some of the inconsistencies in the lower half of the delivery. Skaggs went 2-for-2 including a double in this look, finishing the week at a solid 7-for-16.

Bryson Ware (2019, Madison, Miss.) is an elite level talent that will also be making his way to Pearl River Community College and should find a high level place to play after a year or two of playing there. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound shortstop has a body to dream on with endless projectability in terms of both athleticism and strength. There is plus bat speed in the swing with good, natural separation as he stays on plane and creates solid contact. He showed some violence in the upper half in the follow through, but the body stays fluid through contact. Ware finished the week 8-for-17 with a double and a pair of very loud triples, including one on the first pitch of the game in this look.



Kian Knutson (2020, Tampa, Fla.) is an uncommitted outfielder with highly athletic actions and a strong body that produces some tools that should play well at the next level. The swing is short and quick to the ball with some bat speed to back it as he creates natural separation and meets the ball out front well. He profiles out as leadoff contact hitter with speed that will turn singles into doubles, but there are some swing-and-miss tendencies at the moment as he gets a bit antsy at the plate. There is a level of discipline at the plate that shows that he can see the ball well out of the hand and use his athleticism to adjust his body to the pitch and stay on plane. There is high upside given the athleticism and potential to be an above average runner who will hit for a high average.

-Tyler Russo

Talented teams and individuals from near and far hit the ground running in Fort Myers as the annual PG 18U World Series got underway on Friday. Many of this year’s participants are heading to outstanding college programs in a few weeks and are getting a few extra innings of prep in before they move on to the next level.

The Banditos Georgia nine is a scrappy bunch and boast a line-up littered with hitters. Alan Thacker (2020, Cartersville, Ga.) is an uncommitted rising senior at Cartersville HS who showed a number of college coaches in attendance that he can drive the ball. He uses a sound lower half and a short, quick swing path to hit the ball to the deepest parts of the park. His big home run to left-center field helped propel his club to a solid win.

Jose G. Santiago-Rios (2020, Sugar Hill, Ga.) is a solidly-built, 6-foot, 200-pound righthanded hitter for the Banditos who gets his barrel to the ball with each pass. His flatter bat path has a slight lift at contact, and he has the power to leave any ballpark.

Drew Powell (2019, Tampa, Fla.) is a solidly-built lefthanded swinging outfielder for Hit Factory Tampa 18U Elite. The 6-foot, 210-pound Plant HS grad is somehow uncommitted, but his ability to power the baseball can and will certainly play at the college level. He uses a classic swing path with a slight lift at contact and can drive the baseball with authority. He is extremely patient at the plate and highly selective, rarely expanding his zone unnecessarily.

Kade Manderschied (2019, Riverview, Fla.), an uncommitted Strawberry Crest HS grad, is an athletic 6-foot-2, power righthanded stick.  He sees the ball deep in the zone and uses a sound lower half, plus torque, and a quick trigger to consistently drive the ball to both gaps.

The East Cobb Yankees brought a club loaded with talent to Florida’s southwest coast. Each player on the Yankee roster is worthy of note, but a few have stood out.

Georgia Tech commit Austin Tienda (2020, Canton, Ga.) is a gifted and athletic 6-foot-3, 180-pound rising senior at Sequoyah HS. The sturdy righthanded hitter has a very quick trigger and gets his barrel to the ball with each pass. Tienda is also a gifted center fielder who possesses great range and a plus throwing arm that is highly accurate.

Chase Engelhard (2020, Atlanta, Ga.) is a twitchy and brilliant middle infielder who will play his college ball at Tulane. The 6-foot, 170-pound rising senior at Riverwood HS can make all the plays on the infield and his throwing arm is strong and true. He is the consummate line drive contact hitter who uses the entire field to drive the baseball with authority. He rounds his game out with advanced speed and an aggressive running style that is very instinctive.

Lipscomb University commit Terry (Trey) Ham (2019, Perry, Ga.) is a very talented catcher for the Yankees. The stout, 6-foot-2, 210-pound backstop is a heady receiver who calls an advanced game. He is a sound field general who possesses a plus throwing arm that is highly accurate. The righthanded swinger uses his knowledge of the strike zone to help with his top-end skill at the plate.  His classic swing path allows him to drive the ball to all ball with authority to all parts of the field.

Southpaw Tyler Watson (2020, Jones Creek, Ga.) toed the bump for the Yanks in their first game victory over the Miramar Canes. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Georgia Tech commit is a smooth-tossing, mechanically sound strike thrower. His easy style allows him to consistently pound the zone with a very active fastball that was thrown to both sides of the plate. He complemented his well-commanded heater with a sharp breaking and tight spinning curveball that showed late depth at the dish.

Barrel-chested power righthander Wyatt Copeland (2020, Peachtree Corners, Ga.) followed Watson on the bump for the Yankees in their game one victory. There is very little deception in and with Copeland’s game. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound bulldog reliever uses a quick pace and a no-nonsense style to get ahead, stay ahead, and put hitters away. His sound three-pitch mix was highlighted by a heavy sinking fastball that is a bat breaker.

Georgia Tech commit Michael Sorrow (2019, Fayetteville, Ga.) is a talented righthanded hitting first baseman for the East Cobb club. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Woodward Academy grad is a patient hitter who commands the zone. He sees pitches deep and uses an inside-out path and a middle-of-the-field mentality to drive the ball to the center of the diamond and to the opposite field gap.

Ben King (2019, Calhoun, Ga.) is another future Yellow Jacket. The Georgia Tech commit is a power righthanded pitcher who uses classic mechanics and a powerful lower half to deliver an advanced three-pitch mix. His fastball, which shows plus arm-side run and heavy sink, was consistently clocked in the 83-86 mph range and touched 87 mph on occasion. He complemented his very heavy sinking fastball with a sharp, 72-76 mph, quick sweeping breaking ball that was clocked that he ably added and subtracted velo on. Lastly, he also showed a commendable 78-79 mph changeup that showed some late tumble at the dish.

Gage Morris (2019, Cartersville, Ga.) is also an outstanding presence on the hill for the Yankees. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound LaGrange College commit uses a whippy, a very low three-quarters slot and two sound pitches to dominate opponents. His 75-77 mph fastball always moves, and he has a great ability to throw his active heater to all four quadrants. His 64-65 mph slider is a sweeper that he can also throw to both sides of the plate.

The Mississippi Rays club is stacked with projectable talent, many of whom will be heading to traditional NJCAA powers in the Magnolia State. Matt Delano (2019, Biloxi, Miss.) is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound righthander who is heading to Mississippi Gulf Coast CC to play his college ball. His advanced three-pitch mix features a solid 83-86 mph fastball that he pitches to both edges and all quadrants. His 10-to-4 sweeping 73-74 mph slider is a great compliment to his heavy sinking fastball. Lastly, he mixed in a commendable 74 mph changeup that showed tumbling action at the dish.

Nick Skaggs (2019, Biloxi, Miss.), who was a teammate of Delano’s at Biloxi HS, will play his college ball at Pearl River CC. The athletically-gifted righthanded hitter uses a short, compact, and very quick swing path to drive the ball especially well to the pull side. He is especially adept at getting his barrel to the ball with each pass. He is also an advanced runner with elite speed and is both aggressive and heady on the basepaths.

Next Level Baseball’s Riley Borgert (2020, Pinetta, Fla.) is an uncommitted, slick-fielding middle infielder who has quick feet, a smooth glove and a strong accurate arm that allows him to make all the plays on both sides of the bag. The 5-foot-8, 142-pound rising senior at Madison County HS is an energetic dynamo who brings an edge to the field and certainly projects to the college level.

Powerfully-built, righthanded swinging, 6-foot, 200-pound Allen Brown (2019, Conway, S.C.) is bound for Presbyterian College this fall to continue his playing career. The Loganville Christian Academy grad has a classic righthanded slugger’s swing path that incorporates a sound lower half with a slight lift at contact. He consistently gets his barrel to the ball and can drive pitches to all parts of the ballpark. He is also an accomplished runner with an instinctive and aggressive running style.

Another Presbyterian commit, Chase Hughes (2019, Conway, S.C.), flashes raw power and an advanced ability to drive the baseball to the pull side. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound righthanded swinger uses a path that shows plus torque and a sound lower half. He consistently gets his barrel to the ball with a slugger’s lift at contact.

Next Level Baseball-Florida is another sound club that features an imposing and relentless offense, backed by sound pitching. Michael Todd Reed (2020, Monticello, Fla.) is a 6-foot-2, 165-pound righty with a quick right arm and a plus two-pitch mix. His lively fastball sat in the 84-86 mph range and touched 87 mph. He also mixed in a plus 77 mph sharp and tight spinning slider. The rising senior at Lincoln HS uses smooth and consistent mechanics that he routinely repeats.

Shawn Snyder (2019, Tallahassee, Fla.) followed Reed to the hill and completed the staff no-hitter for Next Level-Florida. The Lake Sumter CC commit was truly impressive, striking out the final seven hitters of the game. The lefty pitches off an active fastball that was consistently clocked in the 80-83 mph range and touched 85-mph range on numerous occasions. His tight spinning, 12-to-6 breaking curveball that was thrown between 73-74 mph, was a wipeout swing-and-miss pitch for the accomplished and promising lefty.

Jaden Rudd (2021, Lynn Haven, Fla.) is one of the younger players in the 18U event and is also one of the most accomplished hitters in Fort Myers this week. The twitchy, lefthanded swinger shows a short, quick, and direct path and a middle-of-the-field mentality to consistently get his barrel to the ball. He is also a plus runner with projectable speed.

Athletically-built, lefthanded swinging Florida Atlantic commit Victor Castillo (2019, Tallahassee, Fla.) is a talent. The twitchy athlete shows an easy, smooth, and consistent swing path that allows his barrel to get to contact in a hurry. He possesses advanced pull side pop. He is also a plus runner with an aggressive and instinctive style. He can and will take the extra base.

Matthew Moss (2019, Gainesville, Fla.) is another accomplished Next Level-Florida hitter. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound uncommitted F.W. Buchholz HS grad certainly has the offensive ability to play at the next level. His simple, yet powerful approach that incorporates a plus lower half with very quick hands, allows him to drive the ball to the deepest parts of the ballpark. His flat path has a slight lift at contact, and he always appears to be on time with each pass.

-Jerry Miller
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