2017 PG High School Showdown-Academies Event Page | Schedule
Avon Old Farms Winged Beavers (Avon, Conn.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Thomas Girard (RHP, 2017, Top 500)
- Jared Wetherbee (LHP, 2017, Top 500)
- Will Hesslink (DH/LHP, 2017, Top 500)
- Frank Driscoll (RHP, 2017, N/A)
- Hudson Haskin (OF, 2018, Top 500)
- Parker Haskin (C, 2019, Top 1000)
Hitting
Leading the offense will be the Haskin brothers, Hudson and Parker, as Hudson has been one of the top hitters for Avon Old Farms in the past. Last season Hudson Haskin hit .406 with five home runs. William Hesslink will both pitch and serve as the primary designated hitter for the Winged Beavers. Hesslink will hit near the middle of the lineup and will look to knock in some runs as well.
Pitching
The pitching for the Winged Beavers is led by two Division I signees in righthander Thomas Girard, a Duke commit, and lefthander Jared Wetherbee, an Elon commit. Girard was very impressive a year ago going 5-0 with 55 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched. Girard and Wetherbee should be the workhorses for the Winged Beavers but look for fellow Division I commit Will Hesslink, a Boston College commit, and Frank Driscoll to contribute as well.
Synopsis
After finishing 18-3 in 2016, the Winged Beavers look to build on the successful 2016 campaign and bring that energy into the 2017 season. Their pitching staff is very deep and includes three Division I commits but it will be up to the lineup to produce runs for the staff. Look for some key performances from guys lower in the lineup if the Winged Beavers make a run.
Bandits PR (Gurabo, Puerto Rico)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Ramon Agosto (2B, 2017, N/A)
- Leniel Colon (C, 2017, Follow)
- Luis Fernandez (MIF, 2017, N/A)
- Gabriel Velazquez (IF, 2018, N/A)
Hitting
The Bandits lineup is littered with highly athletic, up the middle players. Leniel Colon and Gabriel Velazquez are two guys to watch for near the top of the lineup. Colon brings a good approach and feel for hitting to the plate whereas Velazquez, the assumed leadoff man, will bring speed and a contact-oriented approach to the table.
Pitching
The pitching staff has a lot of righthanders on the staff and that included 6-foot-3 righthander Yaviel Colon. The entire pitching staff will be participating in their first PG event over the weekend so it will be interesting to see how the team reacts to the atmosphere of Perfect Game Park South at Lakepoint.
Synopsis
The entire team will be making their Perfect Game debut and should be interesting to keep tabs on. The lineup looks to be in pretty good shape with a lot of talent and athletic players in the box but the pitching will be a question mark. If they can receive quality contributions from the arms on their pitching staff the Bandits could be poised to make a run.
CBC Elite (San Juan, Fla.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Casey Todd (RHP, 2017, Top 1000)
- Luis Garcia (IF, 2018, High Follow)
- Leury Tejada (SS, 2018, High Follow)
- Harrison Ickes (RHP/OF, 2019, Follow)
Hitting
The lineup will feature two talented middle infielders in Luis Garcia and Leury Tejada presumably near the top of the lineup. Both have strong arms and are very athletic up the middle and should be a threat in the batter’s box too. Senior Luis Armando Hernandez is one of three seniors on the team and offers a good bit of positional flexibility as he can play both in the infield and the outfield.
Pitching
Righthander Casey Todd will lead the pitching staff, coming in as the highest ranked player on the team and another senior. Todd has been up to 86 mph on the mound in the past and his 6-foot-5 frame suggests there is more coming. Harrison Ickes will see time both on the mound and at the plate and Natahj Miller should contribute some as well.
Synopsis
The team features a lot of question marks but have strong seniors in Hernandez, Todd, and Miller. CBC will need a lot to break right for them to make a deep run but senior arms have a way of willing a team to win sometimes. They should be exciting to watch and intriguing to see how all of their talent fits together and plays on the field.
Central Pointe Christian Academy (Kissimmee, Fla.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Abdiel Lopez (OF, 2017, Follow)
- Dylan Ramirez (OF/LHP, 2017, Follow)
Hitting
Abdiel Lopez and Dylan Ramirez are the two senior outfielders on the Central Pointe Christian Academy squad who should lead the offense. Luis Antonio Cortes and Xavier Rivera are two other talented seniors who should make impacts in the lineup.
Pitching
Ramirez will also pitch for Central Pointe Christian Academy and Michael Roque and Eduardo Mirando are two other senior starting pitchers. Some of the younger players like sophomore righthander Derek Ramos will also be asked to see time on the mound.
Synopsis
The team has seven seniors along with some sophomores and freshmen who should make impacts. They have some talent, albeit they are a bit young, but will need contributors to provide value on offense, defense, and on the mound for a chance to compete.
Cheshire Academy Cats (Cheshire, Conn.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Christopher Galland (OF, 2017, Top 500)
- Matt Mancino (RHP, 2017, Top 500)
- Jake Randolph (LHP, 2017, Top 500)
- Andrew Gorham (OF, 2017, Top 1000)
- Jay Devito (SS, 2017, Top 1000)
- James Judenis (RHP, 2017, Follow)
- JD Funk (OF, 2018, Top 500)
Hitting
A pair of Division I commits lead the way for the offense with outfielders Chris Galland, a Boston College commit, and Andrew Gorham, a Tulane commit, should be impact contributors. Gorham shows good power from the left side while Galland is very athletic at the plate with good strength presently. Galland is also a 6.7 runner and plays a strong centerfield. Jay Devito should also be a primary contributor to the lineup as the starting shortstop.
Pitching
The Cats have a trio of Division I commits in the starting rotation with Jake Randolph, a North Carolina commit, James Judenis, a Hartford commit. Matt Mancino is the third Division I commit as he has been up to 89 mph in the past and is committed to Clemson. Randolph has been up to 86 mph in the past and both players should have an impact. Gorham is also a secondary pitcher and the Cheshire Academy will be counting on secondary pitchers to throw some quality innings late in games.
Synopsis
The Cheshire Academy is very deep and talented heading into the Showdown with six Division I commits. The pitching staff is loaded with depth and talented arms and should be able to keep the team in almost every game. The offense has some question marks but with Galland leading the way the Cats look poised to make a deep run this weekend.
Choate Rosemary Hall Wild Boars (Wallingford, Conn.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Jack Hodgson (RHP, 2017, 397)
- Jake Mackenzie (SS/C, 2017, Top 1000)
- Tyler Daly (RHP/3B, 2017, High Follow)
Hitting
Team captain and the rare catcher-shortstop defensive combination is Jake Mackenzie and he leads the team on offense and defense. Mackenzie is a Fordham signee and will be a big part of the lineup to create runs. Kevin Nusdeo and Billy Schulz are two senior hitters who should also see a lot of time near the middle of the lineup.
Pitching
The star pitcher on the mound for the Wild Boars is top-ranked righthander Jack Hodgson. The Boston College commit was recently up to 90 mph at the WWBA World Championship in October. Righthander Tyler Daly, a Bucknell commit, should also be a top performer and pitches in the mid- to upper 80s. Nicholas Catandella and Ruben Kaplan are two other primary pitchers who will be important to Choate’s success in the Showdown.
Synopsis
The Wild Boars have some star talent in Hodgson and Mackenzie but will need contributions from the entire team to be successful this weekend. They do have some pitching with senior talent in both Hodgson and Daly, but the offense will be a concern. Mackenzie will be important in the lineup but the Wild Boars will look for contributions from everywhere. The program has been successful, amassing two league titles in the past four years.
Christ School Greenies (Asheville, N.C.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- William Fleming (RHP/SS, 2017, Top 500)
- Michael Reynolds (OF, 2017, Top 1000)
- Jackson Hipp (OF, 2018, Follow)
- McKinley Bell (OF, 2018, High Follow)
- Max LeCroy (2B, 2019, Follow)
Hitting
The Greenies are led by two-way talent and Wake Forest commit Will Fleming. The outfielder is listed at a very strong and physical 6-foot-5, 175-pounds. The Greenies have a strong trio of outfielders as well in Michael Reynolds, Jackson Hipp, and McKinley Bell. Jackson Hipp is one of the stronger hitters on the team with some pop in his bat and looks to hit line drives.
Pitching
Fleming is the prize of the Greenies and the future Demon Deacon is already up to 88 mph with a lot of projection remaining on the frame. Fleming is one of three primary pitchers listed, with Hunter Macomber and Porter Thompson joining him, so secondary pitchers will be key. Guys like Bell and Reynolds will be relied upon on the mound in addition to contributing in the lineup in order for the Greenies to have success.
Synopsis
Christ School has a strong trio of seniors at the top. Fleming is the ace and will look to set the tone on the mound for the entire event. The two juniors in Hipp and Bell will be key contributors and the Greenies will be counting on them to be their usual selves. Overall they may run a little bit short, there are only twelve players listed on the roster, but have good talent near the top of the roster.
Conrad Academy Eagles (Orlando, Fla.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Michael Perez (LHP, 2017, Top 500)
- Chase Ritter (SS/UT, 2017, High Follow)
- Lucas Patterson (C/1B/LHP, 2017, Follow)
- Cesar Alvarez (1B/LHP, 2017, N/A)
- Marco Pujols (1B/3B, 2018, 376)
- Austin Davis (SS/OF, 2018, N/A)
- Chris Mondesi (3B, 2019, N/A)
Hitting
The Eagles boast two talented underclassmen in sophomore shortstop Chris Mondesi and junior first baseman Marco Pujols. Mondesi is an all-around athlete who is very good defensively and has a solid feel for hitting at the plate while Pujols boasts big power. Austin Davis, Lucas Paterson, and Chase Ritter are also sound contributors who give the Eagles good depth in the lineup.
Pitching
The pitching staff is led by senior and Florida International commit Michael Perez. The southpaw sits in the upper-80s with his fastball and will utilize a sweeping slider for swings and misses. Cesar Alvarez and Lucas Patterson are two senior players who are secondaries. The Eagles only have three listed primary pitchers so some of the secondary arms are going to have to pick up innings.
Synopsis
The Conrad Academy has a very complete team from top-to-bottom with depth at a lot of premium positions. Perez and the two bats of Pujols and Mondesi are ones to follow as they will be expected to help lead the team. Their arms might get thin as the tournament wears on but on paper the Eagles have the looks of a very impressive team.
East Cobb Baseball Academy (Marietta, Ga.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Zach Norman (C/OF, 2017, Top 1000)
- Bailey Hopkins (C, 2017, Top 1000)
- Drake Hamil (RHP, 2017, N/A)
- Zachary Ottinger (RHP, 2018, High Follow)
- Austin Hunter (UT, 2018, Top 1000)
Hitting
The two hitters who standout in the East Cobb lineup are utility man Austin Hunter and catcher Bailey Hopkins. Hunter has a solid overall profile and Hopkins, an Air Force commit, has very sound defensive tools with the ability to produce in the lineup as well. Zach Norman is athletic, a 6.97 runner especially for a catcher, and has some pop in his bat. Those three along with good depth lower in the lineup should work well for East Cobb.
Pitching
Junior righthander Zach Ottinger and senior righthander Drake Hamil are the top two arms on the pitching staff. Both are in the mid- to high 80s with their fastball and have sound approaches on the mound. Ottinger, in particular, has good size and athleticism on the mound and projects well with good present tools already. A lot of players have good arm strength on this squad so they won’t be afraid to use secondary pitchers in big situations.
Synopsis
From top to bottom East Cobb has a very talented team with good depth at nearly every position. They have thirteen players who are listed as pitchers on their roster with nine of them being primary pitchers. The pitching depth is there for head coach Matt Hightower so he will not be afraid to make a lot of moves. So long as the offense produces and receives contributions from the bottom of the lineup, they should be pretty successful.
East Cobb Saints (Marietta, Ga.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Trevor Austin (RHP/SS, 2017, Top 1000)
- Sam Warren (RHP/OF, 2017, Top 1000)
- Michael Buice (RHP/1B, 2018, Top 500)
- Jacob Berger (C/IF, 2019, High Follow)
Hitting
One of the strengths of this East Cobb team are the versatility of their players. There are only a handful of players on their roster with only one position listed and that allows head coach Bob Berry mix with the lineup and positions in the field. Trevor Austin and Sam Warren are two of their top two-way players who should make big impacts in the offense.
Pitching
Austin, Warren, and junior righthander Michael Buice make a strong trio of arms for East Cobb. Austin is committed to Mercer while Warren has big power at the plate and good arm strength, up to 88 mph, on the mound. Buice is a highly projectable righthander should work in the mid-80s. Evan Condon is another tall righthander who should make an impact as well.
Synopsis
After finishing 29-9-1 a year ago the East Cobb Saints look very deep and talented throughout the roster. Austin, Warren, and Buice should provide value both on the mound and at the plate and talented sophomore Jacob Berger will be important to the team success as well.
EMB Gold (Dubuque, Iowa)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Garrett Finley (1B/C/RHP, 2019, N/A)
- Max Hansen (SS/2B, 2019, N/A)
- Sam Link (SS/2B, 2019, N/A)
- Wyatt Morgan (3B/C, 2019, N/A)
- Calvin Harris (C/UT, 2020, 54)
- Payton Quagliano (3B/1B, 2020, N/A)
Hitting
The star of the EMB Gold team, and the MVP of the 14u PG Select Festival in the fall, is the talented Calvin Harris. He is one of the top freshmen in the country and already may be the most advanced hitter on the EMB Gold team. Sam Link and Max Hensen will also provide some offense and play up the middle on defense.
Pitching
EMB Gold has three listed primary pitchers in Hensen, Payton Quagliano, and Mike Roth. Quagliano is also a freshman who will be stepping into a presumed large role and Roth comes in at a listed 6-foot-8, 230-pounds on his profile. With a lot of this team being very young it will be interesting to see how their pitchers respond to older competition.
Synopsis
For a lot of players on this team the Showdown will be their first PG event. Harris is the only player on the team with notable PG experience so this weekend will be fun on our end to seeing how well the players will compete. The big test will be for a team that is primarily freshmen and sophomores to see how they stack up against older competition.
Homeplate Citadels (Peachtree City, Ga.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Ivan Johnson (SS, 2017, 53)
- Kyle Maldonado (RHP, 2017, High Follow)
- Chase Taylor (C, 2017, N/A)
- Makenzie Stills (2018, RHP/MIF, 66)
Hitting
The star on offense for the Citadels is Georgia commit and shortstop Ivan Johnson. The switch hitter can get it done from both sides of the plate showing plenty of pop from both sides as well. He is a very good baserunner and has very good defensive tools at shortstop with soft hands. Jacob Miller and Chase Taylor should also add some important at-bats with Taylor being nicknamed “Clutch” for his ability to come through in tight spots.
Pitching
In a similar vein to Johnson, the star on the pitching staff is uber-talented junior Makenzie Stills. The Vanderbilt commit may not have the prototypical size of a flamethrower but he has been in the low-90s for some time topping out at 94 mph in previous PG events. Kyle Maldonado and Jake Pratt are two other pitchers to watch out for as they have a solid pitching staff.
Synopsis
With the star power of Johnson and Stills, the Citadels are in good shape heading into the Showdown. Both are the caliber of player who can completely take over a game when they are involved and Stills always steals the show when he is on the mound. Homeplate has quality throughout the roster and as long as they play up to their capabilities it should be a successful tournament for them.
Knights Academy Knights (Nashville, Tenn.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Drew Cummings (LHP, 2017, N/A)
- Mark Myers (C, 2019, N/A)
Hitting
The top hitter on the Knights is sophomore catcher Mark Myers. The catcher has some pop from the right side and shows that ability in game often. The Knights have some depth, primarily in the infield, which will allow head coach Coby Ginsberg to mix and match as he sees fit. There are a lot of younger players on this team and they will have to step up in the lineup.
Pitching
The pitching staff is led by senior lefthander Drew Cummings. He shows a solid three pitch mix of fastball, curveball, and changeup with the fastball working in the low-80s. Ryan Carneal and Tyler Cummings are two juniors who are listed as primary pitchers and should expect to make some big starts for the Knights.
Synopsis
The Knights Academy is in their first year playing baseball and in being an academy. As such there are often struggles to starting a program but they do have the advantage of being associated with the Knights Baseball travel organization. The Knights are very young, only three seniors on the team, but the Showdown will be a good opportunity to measure themselves against top competition.
Next Level Academy (Montgomery, Ala.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Myles McKisic (SS/OF/RHP, 2017, 461)
- Paul McIntosh (C, 2017, 492)
- Stephen Cullen (3B/1B, 2017, Top 500)
- Baker Weldon (OF, 2017, Top 500)
- Jacob Gilliland (RHP, 2018, Top 500)
- CJ Keckler (C/RHP, 2018, Top 500)
- Khalil Dunn (OF, 2018, Top 1000)
Hitting
Next Level Academy boasts a very deep lineup with a couple of nationally ranked players as well. Myles McKisic is the rare athlete who could handle shortstop or centerfield and is an upper-80s arm from the bump while Paul McIntosh has big power from the right side with a very strong arm. Stephen Cullen, Baker Weldon, and Khalil Dunn should add depth and intrigue to an already very strong lineup.
Pitching
The two guys to watch out for here are McKisic and junior righthander Jacob Gilliland. McKisic is a very athletic 6-foot-2, 184-pounds and gets downhill well. He primarily uses a fastball-slider combination on the mound that can be devastating. Gilliland is a Mississippi State commit and another highly projectable righthanded arm.
Synopsis
Overall the team is very deep at a number of key positions, especially throughout the lineup. They have plenty of talented seniors and juniors that are a threat from 1-through-9 that can be dangerous to an opposing pitching staff. The key for Next Level will be to get quality outings from their starters and limit opposing offenses. They certainly have a good shot to make it deep in the Showdown.
North Shore Twins (North Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Steven Moretto (IF/C, 2017, Follow)
- Sam Shoemaker (RHP, 2017, Follow)
- Robert Mackie (OF/RHP, 2017, N/A)
- Thomas Neal (RHP/OF, 2017, N/A)
- Noah Or (C/IF, 2017, N/A)
- Dion Wintjes (C/3B, 2018, N/A)
Hitting
The talent for the North Shore Twins starts with their depth at the catcher position. Steven Moretto will play third but likely will see the majority of the time at third base as the starting quarterback for the football team has a pretty strong arm. Noah Or and Dion Winters all have strong receiving skills with Or being a dangerous line drive hitter.
Pitching
North Shore has a couple of arms who are intriguing as well with righthander Sam Shoemaker leading the way. The Hawaii commit throws well in the upper-80s with a shark breaking pitch that complements the fastball well. Robert Mackie is another pitcher who will see important innings as he pitches in the mid- to upper 80s with a three-pitch mix.
Synopsis
The British Columbia natives have talent throughout the roster but one of the keys will be staying fresh throughout the travel process. Traveling all the way from Canada can be a burden on any team, but they have the skill and depth throughout to make some noise early on in the Showdown.
Okotoks Dawgs Baseball Academy Diggity Dawgs (Okotoks, Alberta, Canada)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Shaun Atamanchuk (RHP/1B, 2017, High Follow)
- Sore Graversen (1B/LF, 2017, Follow)
- Will Undershute (LHP, 2017, Follow)
- Tyler McWillie (RHP, 2018, Top 1000)
- Graham Brunner (LHP, 2018, High Follow)
- Cesar Valero (UT, 2019, N/A)
Hitting
One of the top position players for Okotoks is the talented sophomore Cesar Valero. The swiss army knife can play nearly any position on the field and has good balance in his swing that impressed at the World Showcase a few months ago. Sore Graverson is the senior first baseman who will also see time in left field and has shown sound hitting abilities in the past and is commited to Indian Hills Community College.
Pitching
There is some depth on the pitching rotation with a couple of Team Canada’s Junior National Team attending. Junior southpaw Graham Brunner is one of the names to watch as he will work in the low- to mid 80s with a loose arm and a good approach on the mound. Tyler McWillie and Will Undershute are two other arms who work in similar fastball ranges with good qualities on the mound.
Synopsis
After finishing as runner-up in the Showdown-Academies a year ago, the Okotoks bring another talented squad in 2017. They have a good foundation of arms to work with some potentially talented and unknown bats making the trip down south. If they take a similar route as last year, the Diggity Dawgs will find themselves deep in the playoffs yet again.
Ross Rams (Cincinnati, Ohio)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Thomas House (RHP, 2017, High Follow)
- Zach Evans (IF, 2017, N/A)
- Tyler Flick (IF, 2017, N/A)
- Drew Huffman (RHP/1B, 2017, N/A)
- Sam Stepaniak (OF, 2017, N/A)
Hitting
The evaluation of the lineup for the Rams starts with two talented bats in the infield in Tyler Flick and Zach Evans. Both Heidlerburg University commits, Flick is a solid all-around player affecting all aspects of the game and Evans shows an approach in a similar vein. Sam Stepaniak is the power bat for the Rams and will likely hit in the middle of the order and look to be driving in runs all weekend.
Pitching
The pitching is led by righthander Thomas House. He shows a four-pitch mix featuring both a slider and a curveball while working in the mid- to upper 80s. Drew Huffman will also see time on the mound with a good approach from the rubber.
Synopsis
Ross is a smaller school from Ohio but has a talented assortment of players littered throughout their roster. They may not have as much high-end talent as some of the other teams in this event but they have sound approaches and are well coached.
Southern Illinois Batters Box (Swansea, Ill.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Max Schaefer (LHP, 2017, High Follow)
- Connor Breyer (SS, 2017, Follow)
- Matthew Toohey (LHP/OF, 2017, Follow)
Hitting
The offense will be led by senior infielder Connor Breyer. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound shortstop will likely hit in the middle of the order and be an important leader throughout the weekend. Two-way prospect Matthew Tophey will also see some time in the box and he has a fly-ball approach at the plate with athleticism throughout.
Pitching
Southpaw Max Schaefer is the name to watch for Southern Illinois heading into this weekend. The lefthander will work in the low- to mid 80s with a good approach on the mound. Toohey has topped out at 81 mph in the past and utilizes a simple delivery and good pitchability to get hitters out.
Synopsis
Southern Illinois will enter the Showdown with a little less depth than some of the other teams but with versatile athletes throughout the roster. How they shake out in the playoffs will ultimately depend on how well they perform but they have some players who can make a big impact on the final score of a game.
The Kings Academy Knights (Woodstock, Ga.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Joshua Hayes (SS, 2017, Follow)
Hitting
The Knights boast a roster of fourteen players comprised of mostly primary position players. They are led by Pensacola State commit and infielder Joshua Hayes. He is one of seven seniors on the team including third baseman Josh Fox and catcher David Fulcher who will be looking to make big impacts over the weekend.
Pitching
The pitching depth is a concern for The Kings Academy as they only have two primary arms listed on their roster: lefthander Andrew Riley and righthander Chip Vollenweider. The burden will be on those two to take the ball and last deep into games. Their secondary arms are all sophomores so it will be interesting to see how they handle the stage
Synopsis
The Knights are another young team that will be interesting to watch to see how their guys handle the atmosphere of the Showdown. It comes down to pitching for The Kings Academy and if they can receive quality contributions from guys they weren’t expecting to rely on, then they can surprise some teams and last well into the weekend.
TNXL Academy Ducks (Longwood, Fla.)
Top Prospects (Position, Class, PG National Rank)
- Jack Leftwich (RHP, 2017, 47)
- Oraj Anu (OF/1B, 2017, 55)
- Brady Smith (C, 2017, 141)
- Michael Spears (OF, 2017, 382)
- Ryan Dease (RHP, 2017, 480)
- Ben Good (RHP, 2017, Top 500)
- Michael Largey (1B/OF, 2017, Top 500)
- Elijah Cabell (OF, 2018, 10)
Hitting
Perhaps the strongest team on paper boasts perhaps two of the top outfielders for the senior and junior class in Oraj Anu and Elijah Cabell, respectively. Anu is an uber-athlete with big pop from the right side and will see time in the outfield and at first. Cabell might have the best arm strength in the class and has loud hitting tools at the plate as well. Florida commit Brady Smith and Ole Miss commit Michael Spears are names to watch for as well.
Pitching
One of the starters who is making waves in terms of his draft prospects is righthander Jack Leftwich. The righthander has been sitting in the low- to mid 90s recently with a strong starter’s arsenal. Righthander Ryan Dease will also pitch over the weekend and has been up to 90 mph in the past. Ben Good and Tyler Jones are two other power righthanders who should make immediate impacts for the Ducks.
Synopsis
On paper, TNXL looks to be one of the most talented teams in the event. The Ducks have ten Division I commits, including five of those to the SEC, and have a very deep pitching staff and batting order. So long as the Ducks play to the best of their ability and don’t have any down games, they look like a safe bet to make a deep run at the Showdown.