2,075 MLB PLAYERS | 14,476 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
High School  | General  | 2/16/2018

High School Notebook: Feb. 16

Vincent Cervino      Greg Gerard     
Photo: Perfect Game

The high school notebook is designed to share notes and video on players that stand out during the high school season and new features will be released regularly. This will include in-game looks, reports, analysis and video from Perfect Game's scouting staff. If you have news on a player in your area that is performing at a high level that we should have eyes on please reach out to Vinnie Cervino at vincent@perfectgame.org. Also feel free to share your video highlights on Twitter @vcervinopg.




Ben Harris, LHP, Milton (Ga.)

The lefthander got the nod for Milton High School and was pretty sharp in terms of fastball command early on. The southpaw looks noticeably stronger and more filled out than in previous viewings, and still works with an athletic and balanced delivery. Harris worked in the 86-89 mph range and bumped a 90 mph pitch or two on a few scouts' guns and worked the pitch to both sides of the plate with ease. The breaking ball worked in the low-70s with shape but the command of the pitch wasn't as sharp, however he landed a few for strikes in his one inning of work. The command of the fastball is what stood out for the Virginia commit, especially this early in the season as he looks to get ready for the regular season to get underway. 




Anthony Seigler, C, Cartersville (Ga.)

Cartersville's Seigler also got himself a full day's work in as he did almost everything on the baseball field. Seigler caught two innings and had a number of opportunities to show off his above average arm strength behind the dish. He popped a 2.07 in-game time later in the contest and the arm strength was a real weapon to keep runners tight at first or even to back-pick a runner at second base. The flexibility and athleticism behind the plate obviously stand out and the receiving continues to improve. The Florida commit launched a grand slam during his final at-bat and showed off some pop while also demonstrating that he has some of, if not, the best feel to hit in the entire Georgia draft class. Although his professional career is likely behind the plate, Seigler is a downright wizard on a baseball field and tossed an inning lefthanded. The fastball came out of the hand with good sink and run while the pitch sat in the 86-88 mph range. He showed three pitches, a tight slider up to 77 mph and feel for a changeup at 79 mph, and showed again his versatility on a baseball field. 




Cooper Stinson, RHP, Norcross (Ga.)

A number of professional scouts were in attendance for one of the few games scheduled to go off on Monday night, thanks to a large amount of rain over the weekend, and righthander Cooper Stinson (2018, Peachtree Corners, Ga.) toed the rubber in the opening game of the season for Norcross and Dunwoody high schools. The righthander stands at a stout and extremely physical 6-foot-6, 240-pounds with long limbs and an extremely low-effort level through the point of release. Stinson attacked hitters with a primarily two-pitch mix, a fastball/slider combination. The extended release combined with the length of the frame allowed the Duke commit to create easy, downhill plane to both sides of the plate, while the velocity of the fastball was in the 90-92 mph range for the first few innings, he touched a 93 and a 94, and dipped as the outing went on. The slider showed average at times with tight break and downward bite, with the velocity up to 87 mph and in the mid-80s consistently, however he would drop slot and get under the pitch at times. All in all, this was a strong showing for Stinson in the first game of the season and the slider was downright filthy at times. 





Ethan Hankins, RHP, Forsyth Central (Ga.)

In perhaps the most heavily scouted game of this young season, the No. 1-ranked prep prospect on the Perfect Game Top 250 Draft Prospects, Ethan Hankins, was wildly impressive in his first start of the season. The 6-foot-6 Hankins is the picture of projection even though he already features a fastball into the mid-90s. Against Buford for his first start, the fastball worked in the 92-95 mph range early on and sat comfortably in the 90-93 range throughout. Hankins has easy plus arm speed with incredibly smooth and effortless mechanics that reflect his transition to a professional starter as the next logical step. The life and command of the fastball was exceptional as the Vanderbilt commit showed consistent plus sinking life and could command to either side of the plate with ease, as Hankins only had one three-ball count all night and tossed three no-hit innings. Toward the end of last summer Hankins' breaking ball was getting evaluated as a 60 grade pitch by some and he used the curveball sparingly in his opening start. The pitch didn't live up to a plus rating, but he tossed a couple for strikes just to show it as he needed only the fastball to blow away the competition. Every Hankins start is sure to be a frenzy all spring, and if game one was any indication the attendance is going to be warranted with an outstanding performance. 

– Vinnie Cervino



 

Taj Bradley, RHP, Redan (Ga.)

Bradley started the game on the mound for Redan High School and was electric in his two innings of work. Bradley has a clean take back to a loose and easy arm action that is effortless at release. He showcased the ability to command three pitches for strikes including a 90-93mph fastball with angle, a sharp 77 mph slider, and an 85-86 mph straight changeup. Bradley opened the eyes of many scouts in attendance especially with how easy the ball jumps out of his hand.


  

Luke Bartnicki, LHP, Walton (Ga.)

Bartnicki is well known already and as the season started for the Walton Raiders, the Georgia Tech signee got the nod on the bump against a talented South Forsyth team. Bartnicki threw four innings in front of a number of professional scouts looking on. The first inning showed the most impressive stuff in terms of velocity and projection as the fastball sat at 89-92, touching 93 mph. He threw that fastball along with a pair of off-speed pitches. His slider was short-breaking at 81 mph and his changeup was 82 mph with some deception. There is likely more velocity in the tank for Bartnicki and it would not be surprising if the senior from Marietta, Georgia made that jump over the course of this spring.

Landon Sims, RHP/OF, South Forsyth (Ga.)

Sims started opposite Bartnicki and showed big-time pitching prospect-type stuff on the mound. The righthander sat at 90-93 mph with his fastball and did pump out a 95 on the last pitch of the first inning that concluded an inning in which he struck out the side. Sims may throw with some effort, but the delivery is repeated and it shows with his great control. The Mississippi State commit commanded three pitches for strikes and the changeup was his off-speed pitch of choice. The pitch showed good deception and had hitters continually leaking out onto their front foots for soft contact. The righthander is a top arm to keep an eye on in the 2019 class.

– Greg Gerard


PG Special Events
Travel, Lodging, Entertainment
PG Partners
Recommended
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2024 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.