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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/7/2019

16u WWBA: Day 2 Scout Notes

Jheremy Brown      Greg Gerard      Jacob Jordan      Jacob Martin      Brian Treadway      Matthew Arietta      Colton Olinger      Jered Goodwin     
Photo: Hagen Smith (Perfect Game)

16u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 1

Righthander Peter Heubeck (2021, Baltimore, Md.) quickly checks a lot of boxes that you look for in a young pitching prospect, from the highly projectable 6-foot-2 frame, to the live, loose arm stroke and overall ability and athleticism on the mound. Already committed to Wake Forest, Heubeck didn’t have his best stuff in my first look but he didn’t have to as the potential is clear after even just a couple of warmup pitches.

Utilizing a very simple set of mechanics out of the windup, Heubeck quickly gathers on his back side and lets his whip of a right arm do most of the work, generating solid extension out front with a clean release and jump out of his hand. While he was up to 89 mph in this look and lived comfortably in the upper-80s throughout, reports have Heubeck already working into the low-90s, a more than believable mark given just how easy the velocity comes from his hand. The future Demon Deacon wasn’t his sharpest over his four innings of work as he scattered three walks over his 92 pitches but there’s little doubt about what he creates as his heater shows sinking life down in the zone when in sync with his delivery. And given the simplicity of his delivery, as he incorporates more of a gather and drive down the mound, along with physical maturation, you should expect a big jump from the Maryland native in terms of velocity.

Heubeck’s changeup may have been his best secondary pitch of the day as he did a nice job of maintaining on the mid- to upper-70s pitch, peaking at 80 mph, with a mimicked release and diving life to the bottom of the zone. He also showed both a slider and a curveball, the latter of which showed some depth with 11-5 shape up to 72 mph while his slider showed distinctly different shape up to 73 mph with more of a sweeping finish given his release and slot.

The arm talent and physical projection are two big checks in Heubeck’s favor and he’s one arm to monitor closely moving forward as he should only continue to make jumps moving forward.

One bat who didn’t seem deterred by Heubeck’s stuff on the mound, and likely anybody in the country for that matter, is Florida Burn third baseman Tommy White (2021, St. Pete Beach, Fla.) who has already established himself as one of the top bats and consistent offensive performers in the country. White, who is currently ranked No. 74 in the country, looks the part of a power hitting third baseman at a broad shouldered 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, and that’s exactly what his tool set says as well with a couple of loud barrels on day two and steady defense at the hot corner.

The best way to describe the bat speed from White is violent, and I mean that in the best way imaginable as he goes to the plate looking to destroy the baseball with each and every pass while showing an IQ in the box and solid pitch recognition. It didn’t take the NC State commit long to leave his impact on the game in the early morning slot, driving a fastball to the opposite field over the right fielder’s head for a double, plating two runs. His second barrel of the day may have been even more impressive though as we got to see his approach with two strikes, noticeably shrinking his stance in the box but still maintaining control of the bat as he ripped another hard liner into the opposite field.

Defensively, he showed balance to his actions at the hot corner as the ball seemed to find him regularly in the first couple of innings, showing softness to his hands and plenty of arm strength across to complete the play. The actions at third, coupled with the strength and overall abilities with the stick, make White an alluring prospect who scouts will be certain to follow over the next couple of years.

Currently uncommitted, outfielder Marcus Brodil (2021, Dunedin, Fla.) showed tools and athleticism from the left side of the plate for the Florida Burn Saturday morning, showing a loose stroke and comfort handling the barrel. Full of quick-twitch muscle, Brodil connected for a triple in the bottom of the third, lining an 86 mph fastball that just got by the left fielder, still displaying the same overall looseness and quickness to his hands. And while his first at-bat ultimately resulted in a strikeout looking against Heubeck, we got to see Brodil fight off the full array of pitches, spoiling a couple of tough ones throughout the at-bat.

Standing at 6-foot-4, 180 pounds, righthander Luke Holman (2021, Sinking Spring, Pa.) certainly looks the part of a future workhorse on the mound and the uncommitted Pennsylvania native had his fair share of college recruiters looking on during Saturday’s start. His command wasn’t the sharpest over his five innings of work, walking four, but he managed to escape unscathed by scattering just two base hits, a total that matched what he produced offensively for himself including a double in his first at-bat.

While there’s some length to his arm stroke through the backside, there’s also lots of arm speed for Holman as he works to an over-the-top slot and when he’s in sync he managed to power the baseball downhill. Despite topping out at 90 mph and living in the upper-80s throughout with firm life through the zone, Holman went to his curveball early and often with mixed results which is a reason for those aforementioned walks. The velocity on the fastball comes easy for Holman and it appeared to jump on hitters rather quickly, things that will only continue to play up as he refines his lower half mechanics.

A 70-74 mph pitch, Holman’s curveball showed true 12-6 shape with solid depth when working on top of the ball, showing tight spin though his release point was inconsistent on the offering and he’d get under it at times. That said, he had plenty of confidence in it and never strayed away while also mixing a changeup in a similar velocity range.

There aren’t many times throughout a tournament where a couple of committed arms lock horns and gather a mass of college coaches who are there just to watch, but the matchup between Oklahoma State commit Hagen Smith (2021, Bullard, Texas) and Louisville commit Carson Liggett (2021, Overland Park, Kan.) did just that. Smith, who is making just his second start in a Perfect Game event, came into the tournament as the No. 47 ranked player in the country and after what he showed Saturday evening, it’s safe to assume he’ll be seeing that number rise.

Listed at 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Smith checks nearly every box with a single pitch as he makes for one of the most uncomfortable at-bats in the tournament. Sat in the low-90s, showed a potential plus slider and is young for the grade as he has yet to turn 16. His delivery isn’t conventional as there are moving parts and limbs flying, only adding to the discomfort, while working to a lower three-quarters slot on his fastball that opened up sitting predominantly at 92 mph, bumping a 93 and rarely dipping below 91 mph. It wasn’t until the third inning that he ran into some trouble with his command, walking the bases loaded, and prior to that bout of fighting his command he pounded the zone with late life, making for an unfair matchup. He maintained his velocity well out of the stretch too, showing the same up-tempo release without much drive out of his lower half.

Throughout the outing, Smith unleashed a couple of sliders to the back foot of righthanded hitters that simply weren’t fair, maintaining the same slot and arm speed on the 77-80 mph pitch with late lateral bite. It proved to be a true swing-and-miss offering when down in the zone as it would flatten a bit when up, but when everything was on it shows the makings of a real plus pitch. All the ingredients are there for Smith to continue to climb and become a big name in the class of 2021.

Not to be overlooked, Liggett took the tough luck loss, as one pitch in the bottom of the seventh determined the outcome of what felt like a championship type game. Only needing 82 pitches to navigate 6 2/3 innings of baseball, Liggett pounded the strike zone with a three-pitch mix, all of which read fastball out of the hand from the same high three-quarters release point.

Strongly built with broad shoulders at 6-foot-1, 195 pounds, Liggett lived comfortably in the 86-90 mph range throughout his time on the mound, bumping 91 and 90 mph on his final two fastballs of the day. From the higher slot, Liggett is able to create significant angle and plane to his fastball, making for a different kind of uncomfortable at-bat than Smith as the heater jumped on guys quickly as he pounded the strike zone.

Like Smith, the slider proved to be an unfair pitch and had people talking behind the back stop as the mid- to upper-70s pitch shows hard and late biting life from the same slot, breaking late at the plate and leaving hitters little chance. He punched out 10 on the day and went to his changeup often as part of a three-pitch mix, running it up to 81 mph with fading life and maintained arm speed.

Jude Putz (2021, Village of Loch Lloyd, Mo.) may not have filled up the box score, but he’s an uncommitted shortstop who college coaches will be certain to bare down on this weekend thanks to his athleticism and overall feel for the game. A twitchy 5-foot-11, 160-pound table setter atop the lineup, Putz put together a really nice at-bat against Smith as he fouled off a couple of tough pitches, both sliders and fastballs, to ultimately work a walk, showing quick hands at the plate and confidence in the box. His defensive actions are what stood out the most and grabbed your attention even in a pitcher’s duel, showing quick feet with range, soft hands and a fluid funnel to complete the play.

Payton Green (2021, Cary, N.C.) and Alex Mooney (2021, Rochester Hills, Mich.) are two similarly built, rangy and athletic shortstops who swung the bat well, amongst a host of others, for the Canes National team. Currently uncommitted, Green will have his suitors to choose from in regard to colleges as his abilities in the infield, physical projection and overall swing aren’t easy to find at this point of the recruiting process. After a loud double that rattled off the left field fence on opening day of pool play, Green again picked up another double off the fence before clearing it entirely and going half way up the hill at Brook Run. The swing itself is a loose one with lots of extension out front and balance to his swing, all components that will only continue to improve in terms of production as he fills out his twitchy 6-foot-2 frame.

Mooney was talked about briefly in the day one notes for having a plus arm from third base and on Saturday he was able to show off his swing, one that features lots of leverage and is going to hit for a lot of power at physical maturation. Similar to Green, Mooney shows a fluid stroke through the zone, staying direct to the ball with his hands while showing an overall feel and comfort in the box that you don’t always find at the 16U level.

Getting the start for the Canes National 16U team was Chase Burns (2021, Hendersonville, Tenn.), a physical 6-foot-2, 194-pound righthander out of Tennessee who is currently uncommitted. Given the contingency of college recruiters who were looking on and the overall arsenal he was able to produce, it’s only a matter of time before Burns makes his decision for where he’ll be playing at the next level after appearing in just his second Perfect Game event of the summer.

Like other arms detailed above, Burns works to a near over-the-top slot, which when coupled with his closed strike foot and cross-fire release, made for significant plane and consistent cut action to his fastball. He attacked hitters with his fastball, living in the 88-91 mph range early and often in his start, generating big extension out front despite a limited gather and drive off of the rubber. His curveball has a chance to be a difference maker as well, showing big 12-6 shape with late biting depth up to 82 mph, maintaining that same release point well on the pitch.

Matthew Porchas (2022, Ladera Ranch, Calif.), a member of the 2018 PG Select Festival, got the start for the Canes National 15U on an adjacent field and the 6-foot-3 righthander showed why he’s so highly ranked in the ’22 national rankings (currently No. 7). A recent commit to the University of Texas, Porchas wasn’t his sharpest as he surrendered five earned over four innings of work, though what he’s able to produce is more than enough to get excited about.

Already strongly built at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds, Porchas shows fluidity to his delivery and a whip-like arm action, living in the 87-90 mph with his fastball for now though given how the ball jumps and the low-effort release, expect that number to continue to climb in a big way. When his delivery was in sync he was able to create solid plane with riding life through the bottom of the zone with extension out front. His slider shows equally as much potential in the 76-80 mph range, showing tight spin and late tilt with a mimicked release on the pitch.

Starting at shortstop for the Dallas Tigers is a player I’ve been able to track since he was 14 in Jordan Lawlar (2021, Irving, Texas), a Vanderbilt commit. Every summer I see him he continues to improve physically, which translates well to his overall game. An already above-average defender at a premium position, Lawlar went to work right away on a well-struck ball that appeared destined for left field through the six-hole but instead was snagged by a fully-extended Lawlar who sprung to his feet and made it into a bang-bang play. The defense is for real and the strength has translated well offensively, showing solid present bat speed through the zone and though he didn’t drive anything in play, he did turn on an inner half fastball with ease for a long foul ball that jumped hard to his pull side.

Two bats who did put the ball in play for the Tigers in a loud way was Ryan Walker (2021, Coppell, Texas) and Nathan Humphreys (2021, Desoto, Texas). Walker, a righthanded stick, took an upper-80s fastball up in the zone to the opposite field gap for a double early in the game, showing a direct swing with quickness to his hands. Digging in from the left side, Humphreys showed a quick, linear stroke through the zone on an elevated fastball that he didn’t miss, driving it half way up the net into right-center field for a no-doubt blast, one of three total home runs hit on the night between the two clubs.

-Jheremy Brown



Jay Woolfolk (2021, Midlothian, Va.) is a really impressive athlete with outstanding arm strength that he is able to correlate to the mound. Woolfolk was listed to start the afternoon game for the Virginia Cardinals but instead came into the game in relief, firing fastballs at 91-93 mph while touching 94 mph once as well. Using that tremendous arm strength, Woolfolk gets back through the arm circle reaching back with a long arm stroke and generating that low-90s velocity. Woolfolk’s slider really flashes with tight spin that produced a spin rate right around 2400 RPM when at its best. Woolfolk throws with some effort and showed the ability to command the two-pitch combination when releasing out in front. He did have a tendency to release with some effort and short his full extension, but when doing so properly, the fastball was overpowering and the breaking ball was a swing-and-miss pitch. 



The starter for the Virginia Cardinals was uncommitted righthander Drue Hackenberg (2021, Palmyra, Va.). The physical righty pitches with an effortless delivery with some of the easiest arm strength any scout is going to see. The arm works and stays online to the plate while sitting in the 87-90 mph range with his fastball. Hackenburg is able to get downhill and also features a mid-70s curveball with some later bite as well. Hackenburg’s command was not outstanding in this contest but surely has promising stuff on the mound. The velocity comes so easily, and the arm action is clean through the back while the lower half stays in good direction to the plate. It was a short look, just 25 pitches for the uncommitted pitching prospect, but certainly one of note as the fastball, curveball combination has a chance to be extremely dominant.

A pair of shortstops in the Virginia Cardinals-Rawlings Southeast MAD Mavericks matchup made a strong impression on Saturday as Corey Adams (2021, North Chesterfield, Va.) for the Cardinals and Sam Kirkpatrick (2020, Franklin, Tenn.) of the Mavericks showed plenty of athleticism up the middle and a nice approach at the plate.

Adams was the starter at shortstop in the Cardinals first game of the day at East Cobb and then switched over to second base in the afternoon matchup across town. Adams is an athletic player with plenty of quick-twitch muscles present on his frame. The 6-foot, 165-pound middle infielder has lots of room to fill and has quickness to his feet both in the dirt and getting down the line. At the plate Adams takes a stride into contact and gets the hands going through the hitting zone with plenty of bat speed to the point of contact.

Kirkpatrick made plays all over the field, ranging in all directions to make outstanding plays with the glove. Kirkpatrick has high-quality hands up the middle and quick feet that make all the right moves to the baseball starting with a quick first step. The most impressive play Kirkpatrick made on the day was a Jeter-esque play ranging to his right and making a clean backhand stab and firing a strike to first base. The exchange was so quick from his glove to his hand as he threw off balance with plenty of strength behind the ball to first base. Defensively, the uncommitted middle infielder made all kinds of elite level plays while the bat is a developing tool to Sam’s repertoire.

For the second week in a row in Georgia, Aaron Downs (2021, Pella, Iowa) has had a loud impression with the lumber. Downs, a Louisville commit, knocked a home run to his pull side the very next at-bat after just missing one foul down the left field line. The physical righthanded-hitting third baseman has impressive bat speed that generates huge juice when meeting the ball on time. Downs did just that on his home run as he used the torque of his hips and the wrist strength he possesses to muscle the ball over the left field wall. The third baseman for the East Coast Sox Select is a strong-framed 5-foot-11, 205-pound infielder with outstanding muscle present especially in his legs. Downs, with continued development to his barrel skills, is only going to improve and prove himself as one of the top third basemen in the country in his 2021 class.

Reginald Austin (2022, Atlanta, Ga.) is an athletic, young two-way talent who showcased himself on the mound on Saturday afternoon as he topped out at 87 mph with his fastball and consistently sat in the mid- to upper-80s with the heater during his two-inning stint. Austin overpowered the opposing hitters with his fastball and produced swings-and-misses with his 11-to-5 curveball. Austin has a full arm action and plenty of athleticism to his delivery on the mound. He repeats well and gets downhill with his release to provide some advanced feel for the strike zone as well.

Jordan Little (2021, Charlotte, N.C.), a lean and athletic pitcher from North Carolina, pitched in front of a slew of college recruiters on Saturday as he faced off against a talented East Coast Sox group. Little held his own well enough on the mound sitting in the upper-80s with his fastball, reaching 88 mph with it. The righthander stands at a believable 6-foot-4 and projects well physically. The arm is a full through the back while it does wrap some causing for the inconsistencies with his release and command. Little did flash promising stuff even though the box score may not have indicated it. The righthander struck out four and got swing-and-misses with both his fastball and breaking ball. He did show that he could elevate the hitter, causing the opposition to be late and swing through it. The uncommitted pitcher has a breaking ball that complements the heater well while sitting in the low-70s with it. The offspeed offering showed best when throwing it with similar arm speed as the fastball.

-Gregory Gerard

Virginia Tech commit Mason Albright (2021, Thurmond, Md.) showcased his powerful arm and medium 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame while pitching for the Mid-Atlantic Red Sox 16U. The lefthanded pitcher starts with a medium leg lift before working downhill and online towards the plate. He throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with live arm action and repeats his mechanics well. His arm stops before reaching his plant hip, meaning he might be able to benefit from some additional follow-through. Despite this, his arm and lower half strength generated a fastball that touched 91 mph and averaged 87 mph throughout his start. The arsenal was rounded out with a good straight changeup around 78 mph and a 12-to-6 curveball around 74 mph. The mechanics and arm slot were the same for all three pitches, meaning he did a good job of pitch tunneling. He also located well on the edges of the strike zone but lost some command periodically. All told, he threw five innings of two-run baseball with nine strikeouts, three walks, and only three hits allowed against a tough Dulin’s Dodgers team.

Ryan Shieh (2021, Upper Marlboro, Md.) is a catcher with a medium 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame and current athleticism in his build. Behind the plate, the Maryland commit showed good footwork and quick transfers with a decent arm on throws to bases. He registered pop times right around two seconds, some clocking in right below or right above. He also received the ball well and used his quick feet to block pitches effectively. The righthanded hitter starts in a moderately open stance with an even base and a high back elbow. Using a high leg kick and a medium stride, he transfers weight from his lower half into his swing. The swing is pretty smooth and fluid on a linear plane. Hands are quick and create bat speed, hitting the ball with a little bit of thump. He employs a line drive approach, mainly to the pull side, but has the ability to elevate the ball. His one hit was a line drive single in the left-center field gap. One of the at-bats ended in an out but was hit well to the left fielder.

Mississippi State commit Lane Forsythe (2020, Humbolt, Tenn.) showcased a medium 5-foot-10, 168-pound frame while playing shortstop for Dulin’s Dodgers 16U Ince. The athletic middle infielder displayed a smooth glove, quick transfers, good range, and a fluid arm across the infield. He played the position so effortlessly, making it look easy. The righthanded hitter starts in an open stance with a narrow base and low hands. Using a medium leg lift and stride, he took a short and repeatable swing on a level plane. His hands are pretty quick and he showed good bat-to-ball skills with an ability to hit to all fields. Typically hitting line drives, he profiles as a contact hitter, but his projectable frame and current bat-to-ball skills could translate into more power in the future. During the third game of the tournament, he went 2-for-3 with a run scored and a walk. Really good player moving forward.

Braden Montgomery (2021, Madison, Miss.) showcased a projectable 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame with athleticism and some strength. The primary outfielder started in right field for the Dulin’s Dodgers 16U Ince. His athleticism played well in the outfield as he displayed good range and a good first step. The calling card in the outfield is his arm, as he transfers the ball well and rifles it back into the infield. He caught the ball on a potential sac fly situation but made the runner think twice as he threw a hard strike right to the catcher’s glove. The switch-hitter only had two plate appearances and walked twice, once from the right side and once from the left. He starts with a wide base in a slightly open stance and high hands. He employed a toe-tap trigger for timing. Batting lefthanded, he hit a pair of foul balls and displayed really fast bat speed from quick hands.

Tommy Tavarez (2021, Brooklyn, N.Y.) displayed a medium and athletic 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame with room to fill out while playing for Team Warstick National. The primary shortstop showed some quick-twitch athleticism defensively. Good range, quick transfers, a smooth glove, easy picks, and a solid arm, he showed it all defensively. His highlight play showed him jumping for a throw down to second, making the catch and tagging the runner in between his legs. The righthanded hitter starts with a wide base in an even stance with high hands and a high back elbow. Using a high leg lift and not a lot of stride, he showed a smooth and fluid swing and quick hands. Swing plane is level but he creates lift through extension in his backswing. Hits the ball with hard contact and elevation, should play for more power once he fills out and adds additional strength. The ball was hit to all fields as he went 1-for-3 with an RBI. All of the at-bats that ended in outs were hit with good contact on the barrel.

Clemson commit David Lewis (2021, Taylors, S.C.) showcased a medium and strong 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame for Canes South 16U. The primary third baseman was slotted into the lineup as an extra hitter to start the game and did not see any action at the hot corner. The righthanded hitter looks to do damage when he steps in the box. Starting with an even base in an open stance, he uses a large leg lift and long stride, generating a lot of force from his lower half. The swing plane was linear through the zone, but his backswing showed some upward extension, as he attempted to lift the ball with hard contact. His one hit of the game showed him hitting the ball out front for a hard hit double to left-center field. It was a few feet short from being a home run. Using an aggressive approach, he swung and missed at a few pitches. The power is certainly present and with a little added consistency, his presence at the plate should strike fear into the hearts of pitchers.

Kade Grundy (2021, Somerset, Ky.) displayed an electric arm with a 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame while pitching for the Cincinnati Spikes. The Louisville commit racked up eight strikeouts across 6 1/3 innings with one earned run and three walks allowed. The righthanded pitcher used a high and athletic leg lift before working downhill and online towards the plate. His strong lower half generated power as he got good extension, pushing off the mound with his back leg. Using a high three-quarters arm slot, his arm showed some pretty live action. The mechanics were pretty smooth and repeatable, he maintained velocity throughout the entire start. The fastball averaged 89 mph and touched 91 mph several times. He also featured a straight changeup around 80 mph that looked like his fastball until it dropped off the table and a breaking pitch with 10-to-4 action that averaged 75 mph. All three pitches played really well and he had a good feel for all of them. He did feature some inconsistent command as he was able to paint the corners, but he also walked three hitters. The stuff is certainly present and the command is there for the most part, he is a really projectable pitcher moving forward.

From one Louisville commit to another, Kurtis Reid (2021, Hamilton, Ohio) showcased an athletic and projectable 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame with some present strength. The primary shortstop displayed a really smooth glove and good footwork defensively. His arm played well from different arm slots and locations on the field as he also displayed solid range. The righthanded hitter starts with a wide base, high hands, and a high back elbow. His medium leg lift for timing is preceded by quick hands through the zone. The swing path is on a linear plane and typically hits line drives or ground balls to all fields. Makes hard contact pretty consistently and should profile for some additional power once he fills out further. All around projectable player moving forwards.

Revy "Trey" Higgins (2021, Oxford, Ala.) is a switch-hitting outfielder with a large and athletic 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame with present strength in the build. The uncommitted center fielder showed good range and athletic movements defensively. His size and power probably project him as a corner outfielder moving forward but he played well in center field. Despite being a switch-hitter, he only batted lefthanded during the third day of the tournament. Starting with an even base in a moderately open stance, he took a medium stride before showcasing extremely quick hands and good bat speed through the zone. Swing is on a linear plane but he creates backspin and gets a lot of lift on the ball. Mechanics of the swing are smooth and repeatable. He typically hits the ball out front to the pull side, at least batting lefthanded. The combination of bat speed and lift resulted in a long home run over the right field fence. Really interesting uncommitted hitter.

James Madison commit Bryce Suters (2021, Broadway, Va.) displayed a medium 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame with present strength and athleticism for the Richmond Braves 16U National. Listed as an outfielder and third baseman, he played second base during the third day of the tournament. He showcased some athletic movements at the keystone and made quick transfers on double plays. His arm is really good at second base and would definitely play at third base. Based on his performance during the third day of the tournament, he could have interesting defensive versatility moving forwards. The righthanded hitter starts in an open stance and uses a toe tap before taking a long stride. His hands are quick and he takes a short swing on a linear swing plane. He made loud contact several times on a line.

Florida commit Braden Calise (2021, Fort Pierce, Fla.) played a smooth defensive shortstop for the Florida Hurricanes 16U Platinum. The 6-foot, 170-pound middle infielder has a medium and athletic frame with room to fill out. Defensively, he made it look easy with a smooth glove, quick transfers, and good footwork. The righthanded hitter starts in a wide base with high hands and a high back elbow. He takes a toe tap for timing while loading his hands. The swing is smooth and short on a linear plane. His quick hands create decent bat speed and he makes pretty good contact on a line. He also has excellent bat-to-ball skills and employs a contact approach. He still has room to fill so he could gain more strength and hit for power in the future.

-Jake Martin

Colton Hegwood (2021, Brandon, Miss.) was lights out in all aspects for the East Coast Sox 16U Elite. The shortstop went 3-for-3 with a single, double, triple, RBI, and two runs scored, while also having a great game defensively. At the plate, Hegwood hit hard line drives all afternoon and showed both pull-side power and power to the opposite field. He uses his lower half well and generates good bat speed while getting extended through zone. He sees the ball well and makes solid contact. Defensively, the uncommitted 16-year-old was an anchor at short and made all his plays with ease. He showcased a strong arm and raw athleticism with soft hand and a sure-fire glove. The lefthanded hitter currently stands at 5-foot-11, 160 pounds with a wiry, athletic build. He showed some real potential on Saturday and could be a special player.

Colin Daniel (2022, Warrior, Ala.) showed great upside on the mound Saturday for East Coast Sox Elite. The righthanded 15-year-old threw all four innings of a run-rule win while giving up three runs in the first. After a rough start, he settled in and pitched well. He worked off a fastball that sat consistently at 85 mph with arm-side run and he flashed feel for a sweeping curve in the low-70s. Mechanically, the arm works extremely easy and is fluid throughout a compact arm action with a three-quarters release. Daniel’s 6-foot, 175-pound frame with a lean build is headed in the right direction physically. He is certainly a player to keep an eye on as he continues to develop.

Vincent Trapani (2021, Eau Claire, Wis.) dominated in his abrupt outing on Saturday morning for GRB Rays 2021. He went 1 2/3 innings with four strikeouts while allowing one hit. The righthander commanded an 88-90 mph fastball that was up to 91 with late life and a sharp late breaking slider at 75 mph. Trapani generates tremendous arm speed in a long fluid arm action with a high three-quarters arm slot. He also messes with hitter’s timing with a long pause in his delivery. The University of Arkansas commit’s live arm landed him in the top-100 overall players nationally and the No. 1 overall player in his home state of Wisconsin.



Wilson Zuck (2021, Appleton, Wis.) had an outstanding performance for GRB Rays 2021. He went 3-for-3 on the day and was a base hit shy of the cycle. He hit a double, triple, and home run with five RBI on the day. The uncommitted 17-year-old shows tremendous power to the pull side with a compact swing. The righthanded hitter’s home run hit the roof of the LakePoint maintenance building just beyond the left field wall of field 15. Zuck didn’t get a ball in right field but seemed to have a pretty good arm in warmups in between innings. There is present strength in his 5-foot-10, 190-pound frame that plays well in game. Zuck is batting .833 through two games of the 16U WWBA National Championship.

Jaden Henline (2020, New Cumberland, Pa.) impressed during a short stint on the mound in the closing role for Holeman Hurricanes 16u Elite. He threw 1/3 inning, while allowing a hit and a walk with a strikeout. His fastball sat in the high-80s and was up to 91. He paired it with an impressive mid-70s sharp slider with depth. The arm was higher effort and a little wild at first, but the Penn State commit shows upside. He releases from a high three-quarters arm slot with a very quick and whippy arm action.

-Jacob Jordan

Kemp Alderman (2020, Decatur, Miss.) is a 6-foot-4, 240-pound prospect, with good size and strength to his current frame. Kemp came into the game ranked as the top catcher in his home state and No. 13 overall in his class, yet played third base yesterday at East Cobb. At the plate Alderman sets up with an open stance and low hands close to his chest. He has a small step which starts his swing, and then rocks into his weight transfer to his backside while keeping his hands still in a good launch position. Kemp displays good vision at the plate, and stays patient as he sees pitches deep, catching many pitches on the barrel for loft power and plenty of home run potential. Kemp swings a hot bat, where he already looks adjusted to the wood, going 1-for-1 at the plate with a long home run, a walk, run scored and three runs batted in. At the hot corner today for BPA 16U, Kemp performed well despite being out of his primary position, as he made a couple of plays showing athleticism, soft hands, and strong, accurate, throws through the bag with plenty of carry. Alderman, who graduates following the 2020 school year, holds a commitment to the University of Mississippi.

Ethan Anderson (2022, Virginia Beach, Va.) is a 6-foot-2, 205-pound switch-hitting backstop from Frank W. Cox High School in his hometown. Although Anderson is ranked by Perfect Game as the best catcher in Virginia and third nationally for the 2022 graduating class, we saw Anderson at third base for his club Baseball U Prospects during the nightcap at East Cobb yesterday. At the plate, Anderson went 2-for-2 with two doubles, which had line drive trajectory to the pull-side gap, and a total of three RBI, helping Baseball U Prospects to a one run, 8-7 victory. Anderson, who has good size and current strength to his build, sets up in the box with an open stance and hands high near his ear. A large step starts his swing as he steps to square, and upon foot strike, shoots his hips through the zone while keeping his hands outside his chest and loaded a long time. He tracks pitches really well, and has a keen eye and barrel awareness, so that when he does shoot his hands through, he consistently matches plane, and makes hard barreled contact due to his tremendously quick hands, wrists, and bat speed. Anderson is a good athlete for his size and moved well out of the box and on the bases while legging out his extra-base hits. In the field, he showcased soft hands and sound defensive actions despite not playing his main position. Arm works well from third, as he consistently displayed strong, accurate throws with carry through the bag. A good athlete, Anderson moves well for his size. It is nice to see you can put him elsewhere in the infield, giving him a rest from catching, yet keeping his advanced bat in the lineup.  Anderson, only a sophomore in the fall, has already committed to continue his baseball career at the University of Virginia following his high school career. Very high upside talent.

Jacob Lapp (2021, Andover, Mass.) is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound righthanded pitcher from Phillips Academy in his hometown, where he is an incoming junior in the fall. Lapp got the start for his club, New England Ruffnecks 2021 at East Cobb yesterday morning and was spectacular as he went all five innings in the run-ruled shortened affair. Lapp has a steady tempo to his windup paired with clean mechanics, and a long-circled, smooth arm action that he delivers from a three-quarters slot. Lapp is athletic on the mound and showed to get over his front side well down the mound, keeping his offerings low in the zone. He also moves well off the bump, into an aggressive fielding position where he has soft hands and moves well to cover bases. Lapp displays a two-pitch mix of a fastball with tail and sink (77-81 mph) and a curveball, with 12/6 action and depth. (67-72 mph). He was able to fill up the zone all afternoon ending near a 70 percent strike percentage when all was said and done, mixing as he went in all counts. Through five complete, Lapp surrendered two hits, and struck out six, walking one and receiving the win in the early going of the 16U National Championship. A high upside talent, Lapp will for sure appear again in bracket play as this tournament rolls on.

Cameron Orr (2021, Cameron Park, Calif.) is a 6-foot, 185-pound switch-hitting utility player who also pitched this afternoon at East Cobb for his club BPA Black 16U. Orr was stellar on both sides of the ball today as he went 4-for-4 with a double, three RBI, and a run scored. At the plate, Orr has a short, quick swing path that he uses to make a lot of barreled contact with power to the gaps. He has very good hand-eye coordination that he displayed in each at-bat today at East Cobb with good rhythm and timing at the plate, keeping his quick bat on time through the hitting zone with a level to upright swing. Orr is a good athlete and has good speed out of the box and on the bases where he already has two stolen bases in the tournament. On the mound, Orr got the save yesterday afternoon, and showcased an advanced two-pitch mix of a fastball (76-81mph) with arm-side run and a curveball (65-66 mph) with good depth, 11/5 shape, and the ability to locate it for strikes. Orr mixed his two pitches in all counts as he went making him very hard to figure out and adding to his effectiveness. Orr is a good athlete and can field his position well off the mound, making strong, accurate throws to bases. Orr is a prospect to watch moving forward as he is already hitting .667 in two games in pool play thus far.

Caden Shapiro (2021, Toronto, Ont.) is a 6-foot, 170-pound strong and really athletic ballplayer from Upper Canada College, a private school in Toronto. Shapiro contributed at the plate in a big way during the morning matchup at East Cobb yesterday. With the bat, Shapiro went 3-for-4, with a double to the oppo-gap, three RBI, and a run scored. The lefty sets up in the box with a square stance, and uses a large, hanging leg kick for timing. Upon foot strike, Shapiro fires his hands through the zone where he showed the ability to turn it loose with excellent bat speed. He has proper hitting mechanics and a fluid stroke that produces plenty of hard contact all over the field and into the gaps with regularity. Shapiro is a good athlete and his speed works on the bases and in center field, where he played this morning in the first game. He moves well with first step quickness and has a smooth glove in center field. Shapiro has a live arm as well with good instincts and strong, accurate throws to bases. Pitched in the Toronto Mets’ second game of the day last night at LakePoint, and recorded the save where he scattered five hits, two strikeouts, and two walks over the last three innings. He has a two-pitch mix of a fastball (80-83 mph) and a curveball (68-70 mph). Huge drop off in velocity between his fastball and curve kept hitters out front for weak contact and generated a lot of swing and miss during the outing. Shapiro’s pitches move a ton, with his fastball showing heavy sink, and the curve with proper 12/6 tumble with depth. Shapiro is a good athlete with plenty of tools to help a team win at the next level. High up-side talent to monitor moving forward this week in Atlanta.

-Matt Arietta

Nick Bitsko (2021, Doylestown, Pa.) and Nikolas Mazza (2021, Madison, Miss.) combined for five shutout innings of no-hit ball, while both righties ran their fastballs into the 90s and combined to strike out 10.

Bitsko, coming off his outing last week at the 17U WWBA National Championship, touched 97 mph in the first inning before settling in and sitting 93-96 mph. He was very efficient throwing just 46 pitches in his three innings of work. He showed plus feel for his curveball ball with 12-6 shape to it as he maintained good arm speed and arm slot while it sat 78-80 mph. His third offering, a changeup, showed some arm-side life with the ability to throw it with great effectiveness to lefthanded hitters. The Virginia commit has a large physical frame with a strong lower half. He does a good job of driving down the hill well maintaining his line to the plate.

Mazza came in in relief and picked up right where Bitsko left off. Mazza’s fastball sat 86-88 mph and topped out at 91 mph. He also showed feel for a breaking ball that sat in the mid-70s with some slurvy break to it. His simple delivery and quick arm action allow him to repeat his high three-quarters arm slot on both of these offerings creating good deception as hitters struggled to pick it up out of the hand leading to lots of swings and misses. A primary middle infielder, he showed some serious tools on the mound working downhill and creating good plane down in the zone while maintaining his line to the plate. His lean 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame leaves room to continue to add strength as he matures and fills out.

Jae Williams (2022, Atlanta, Ga.) found himself on base in three of his four at-bats. His combination of hard-hit balls, good speed, and balanced approach allowed him to put himself on base for a 6-4-3 DP 15U Cougars lineup that has been clicking through the first two days of the 16U WWBA National Championship. He showed the ability to pull the ball with authority when he ripped and RBI triple down the right field line. His compact swing path and quick hands allow him to get the bat head out front while he keeps his hands to the inside part of the ball creating a true ball flight with little hook in its carry. His ability to get in hitter-friendly counts allows him to hunt his pitch, where when his leg kick trigger is on time he has the ability to drive the ball from the left-center field gap to the right field line. His good speed puts pressure on the defense as he gets down the line and, plays well in the outfield allowing him to run down fly balls.

Fabian Guillen (2021, Marietta, Ga.), another strong physical bat in the 6-4-3 DP 15U Cougars lineup, displayed some power with a line drive triple to his pull-side gap. His swing starts with a wide base as he gets his weight loaded on his backside before he does a good job of transferring the weight back forward through his swing hitting into a stiff front side using his lower half to help create some of his power. His bat path showed some present loft with a high finish through contact creating backspin on the ball as he gets back on plane through his swing. At third base he showed good first-step quickness getting his feet in position to work behind the ball with plenty of arm strength to make the throw across the diamond.

Jake Elbeery (2021, North Andover, Mass.), a Notre Dame commit, stayed hot at the plate, now hitting .429 on the tournament and helped get his Sow Baseball New England 16U team going in the first inning with a rocket line drive single to right field. His swing is compact and quick to the ball with a long, high finish creating good extension through the ball and allowing him to get on plane with his bat path. His lower half transitions well through the swing allowing him to use his strong legs to help produce some of the power in his swing. Defensively at third base he does a good job of working behind the ball with good glove presentation as his footwork carries him through the fielding process towards his target for a string accurate throw across the diamond. His 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame has present strength and projects well moving forward to produce more power number as he continues to fill out and mature.

Teddy Deters (2021, Maple Plane, Minn.) and Koby McBroome (2021, Shakopee, Minn.) were the catalyst at the top of the order for the MN Starters 16U. They combined to go 4-for-6 on the day with three runs scored and three more driven in.

Deters got the scoring started early in the bottom of the first with a line drive double to left center field that plated one before finishing the day 2-for-4 with a double and a single. His level bat path allows him to stay through the contact zone as he finished with good extension on a level plane. His quick hands work to the inside part of the ball as he swings with intent every time he gets a chance to. The primary infielder showed good athleticism while playing in center field with good reads in the bat and the ability to close on the ball quickly. His 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame already has some present strength which should only continue to get better as he fills out and matures moving forward, adding more power to his bat and helping in the outfield.

McBroome was able to get on base in his plate appearance and set the table for his teammates after, working the count full and singling on the seventh pitch of the at-bat a sharp line drive the other way. His compact swing showed the ability to spray the ball from gap-to-gap as he works quick and compact to the to the inside part of the ball while letting it get deep in the hitting zone. His line drive approach works well with his athleticism as he is able to put the ball in play at a high rate and pressure defenses with his good speed. At shortstop he does a good job of getting himself in position with good lateral quickness as he ranges either left or right. His strong arm is accurate across the diamond as it is aided by his ability to work through the ball in the fielding process. His 5-foot-11, 155-pound frame has good projectability moving forward as he continues to fill out and mature moving forward.

Landen Looper (2021, Frankfort, Ill.), a Louisville commit and the No. 2 pitcher in the 2021 class for the state of Illinois, was very efficient in his four innings of work, throwing just 40 pitches. He topped out at 86 mph with his fastball while sitting 82-84 mph from his high arm slot. His arm slot allows him to create good plane on the fastball while staying on a good line to the plate. He does a good job of blocking with the front side as drives down the mound creating power in his lower half off of his back leg. His curveball sat 70-72 mph with some bite to it and a slurvy breaking action. His ability to command these two offering kept hitters off balance and produced three strikeouts and lots of weak contact making it easy for his defense to play behind him. His 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame has good projectability moving forward as he still has room to fill out with added strength moving forward as he continues to mature.

-Colt Olinger



Starting the game for Game On Stealth, Coleman Willis (2021 Warner Robins, Ga.) turned in a strong performance in the disappointing loss. Throughout the game, Willis constantly was facing pressure on the bases but pitched around it effectively and never gave up an earned run during his stint. The 6-foot-6 righthander had good control of his pitches through most of his game. The fastball for Willis consistently sat in the upper-80s and eventually hit 90 on a couple of his pitches. Complementing the Georgia commit’s fastball was a strong hook that had a sharp 12-to-6 break to it. The pitch had great movement coming from his high three-quarters delivery. Though Willis only struck out one batter during his start, he did a good job of limiting damage and making clutch pitches in high leverage situations.

Eli Runyan (2021 Bowdan, Ga.) took the ball for Warriors Baseball 16U Meigs and helped keep them close in the close loss. Runyan went five strong innings for his team and only gave one earned run through that time. The lefthander worked from a low three-quarters delivery and had pretty good command of his pitches through the majority of the game. The South Alabama commit brought his fastball up to the mid-80s and maxed at 86. However, as the game went along, there was a dip in velocity and his last fastball that was thrown landed at 80. The 6-foot southpaw had great movement on his curveball that had sharp 11-to-5 movement and kept hitters off balance as he struck out five batters in his work on the mound.

For FTB Tucci 16U Rodriguez, they threw out Michael Marrero (2021 Kissimmee, Fla.) to be their starting pitching and he turned in a great performance to keep the chance of victory close through the entirety of the game. The primary outfielder worked the entire game and looked untouchable for all but the first inning. Working from his low three-quarters delivery, Marrero generated a lot of movement on his late-breaking 11-to-5 curve. Coming at the hitters in the low-70s, the slight bend at the end of the pitch kept hitters swinging and missing all night. On top of the curve, the Bethune-Cookman commit also brought the heater in the mid-80s, maxing out at 87. After giving up the only run of the game in the first inning, the righthander followed with five shutout innings. Even though Marrero will get the loss next to his name, he pitched great with nine strikeouts while only giving up two hits.

Ranked as one of the top righthanded arms in the state of New Jersey, Sean Hard (2021 Mahwah, N.J.) through an unbelievable game for US Elite 16U National with five no-hit innings in the tough loss. Throughout the night, Hard made his pitching look easy as he consistently kept runners off base and had complete control of his pitches from the get-go. Working from the windup for the majority of the night, the righthander has a very repeatable routine with a smooth rock back and then a strong step towards the plate. The uncommitted pitcher’s fastball sat in the mid-80s the entire night, maxing out at 87. The curve had a sharp break to it as it came in at various speeds in the 70s. The 11-to-5 break had hitters fooled and they never were able to get a good hit against him except for the RBI double he gave up in the sixth to break the scoreless tie. Overall, it was a performance the New Jersey native should be pleased with as he only gave up two hits and struck out eight batters through his six innings of work. 



Going toe-to-toe with Sean Hard was Austin Grause (2021 Tampa, Fla.) who started for Hit Factory Pro. Just like Hard, Grause turned in a stellar performance of six-plus innings of dominant pitching. Working from his windup, the righthander was slow and particular with his mechanics and delivered strikes consistently to the plate. With a three-quarters arm slot, the South Florida commit was able to get nice downward movement on his pitches and good break with his curveball. Bringing in his fastball in the upper-80s the entirety of his time in the game, the Florida native rarely gave up any hard-hit balls. Grause had good command of his off-speed stuff as well as his curve had a sharp-break to it and was able to locate it effectively through the course of the game as he ended up with eight strikeouts in the shutout. Almost going the distance, Grause gave up no runs through his time in the game and was blessed with strong defense throughout as his team picked up the win.

With a scoreless tie looking inevitable for Hit Factory Pro, Jonathan Vastine (2021 Bartow, Fla.) came up to the plate with the lead run on first and delivered what would be the winning run to the plate with an RBI double to the right-center gap. The 5-foot-11 shortstop has a smooth swing that is quick to the baseball. When the uncommitted lefthander is able to get the barrel to the ball, the ball really jumps off of the bat which was displayed with the go-ahead hit. To go along with Vastine’s ability to hit, he also has good skills on the basepaths. The Florida native has plus speed on the bases and complements that ability with heads up baserunning. Always being aware of where the ball is being thrown and where people are on the field benefited Vastine, as he was able to advance to third easily on an overthrow to a cutoff man. Though he didn’t score, his at-bat was the difference as the run which scored was the only run that crossed the plate in the 1-0 victory.

-Brian Treadway

Jac Caglianone (2021, Tampa, Fla.) has the look of a true workhorse lefthanded pitcher at 6-foot-4 and 192 pounds.  He has wide shoulders and long arms with plenty of room to fill out.  He uses a side-step delivery and redirects down the mound.  He is a bit inconsistent repeating right now and can get out of his base at times. When he is on time with his process it is loose and easy with arm-side run in the mid- to upper-80s range. The curveball he mixed was loose at times but did show promise when fully extended. Offensively, he has long levers and very quick core speed.  He keeps his barrel going through contact and has big raw power when he gets the bat out front.  There is some rawness to his overall game, but the upside is mammoth.

Shane Panzini (2021, Spring Lake, N.J.) came out firing Saturday morning with steady 89-91 fastballs.  He has a strong country body and looks like he is going to be a workhorse as he continues to develop.  He maintained his velocity throughout his outing and does not have effort in his delivery.  He has good arm speed and the ball came out heavy, getting a ton of swing-and-miss at the top of the zone.  He used the fastball at the top to tunnel a solid 11-5 curveball that he showed good feel to land.  His changeup is another solid offering, giving him a true three-pitch mix.  The third offering had late sink as he kept his arm speed and release point well, and got some swing-and-miss from lefthanded hitters.  Panzini struck out eight hitters in his three innings of work today.

Jay Bant (2021, Wall Township, N.J.) is extremely strong for his class.  He is stocky and barrel-chested with top-of-the-scale hand strength.  His bat is explosive to contact, and he turns well using aggressive core strength.  He is compact throughout and showed very good barrel accuracy this morning. He has an all fields approach, runs well underway, and had good instincts.  The lefthanded hitter leaned on an outer half fastball and hit a laser line drive that got to the left-center field fence in a hurry. It’s easy to dream on him hitting in the middle of the order at the next level.

Jordan McCants (2021, Cantonment, Fla.) is exciting to watch the different ways he can impact a game.  He has a slender frame with long arms and spring to his step.  He is a long and easy strider and gets up to top speed in a hurry, as shown by his bunt hit at 3.81 to first base. He did a little of everything in this game, showing great range in the outfield and the ability to read angles.  He pressed the defense with his exciting speed.  McCants also showed his ability to drive the ball with intent as he led off the game with a triple to center field.  His barrel has serious flick through the zone and the ball comes off loud when its squared.

Jackson Baumeister (2021, Jacksonville, Fla.) is a known two-way player on the national level with the ability to change the game at any time at the plate, defensively, or on the mound as he did today.  His delivery is simple and rhythmic, and his top-of-the-scale athleticism helps him repeat easily.  The low three-quarters arm slot creates major deception and he is able to manipulate his 88-90 fastball to all four quadrants of the strike zone.  He used a two-seam to the bottom that got sink and a four-seam to the top that seemed to explode on hitters.  His curveball is tight and has late downer break and he showed feel for it to both sides of the plate.  He flashed a changeup that has fade and is a weapon against lefthanded hitters.  Baumeister took the mound in the fourth inning with two outs and would strike out nine of the next 10 hitters without allowing a baserunner.  He was in complete control and cemented himself as one of the top arms in the class.

Andrew Schmid (2021, Fair Haven, N.J.) is a very rangy shortstop that was all over the field defensively. He made multiple movement plays today and seemed to do so with ease.  He made plays coming in and to his glove side that he showed the ability to change arm angles and throw accurately on the run.  The pinnacle of his day came on a backhanded play that he had to slide and catch, put his back foot in the ground, and show enough arm strength to get an out at first base.  He had a quick transfer on all plays and has confidence to make the routine and advanced plays.  He also shows good bat speed, controls the zone well, and competes on every pitch when in the batters box.  The uncommitted shortstop should not be on the market very long.

Jay Allen (2021, Fort Pierce, Fla.) is as good of an athlete as there is in the 2021 class.  He has a high waist, long legs, and a proportioned upper half that will fill out nicely as he matures.  He is an elite runner and showed great instincts on the base paths today. His first step in center field is quick and direct to run down balls in the gap, as he had to do a few times during Saturday’s game.  During his doubleheader day, he went 1-for-3 with three walks, two stolen bases and a run. He has elite twitch in his bat and his raw barrel speed is obvious to the naked eye.  He is very competitive by nature and will do anything to help his team win.  He is fun to watch.

Coleman Willis (2021, Warner Robins, Ga.) is as projectable as you can draw up a righthanded pitcher.  He has a lanky 6-foot-6 frame weighing only 180 pounds currently.  He has knees and elbows flying all over during his delivery but showed impressive functional athleticism.  He repeated well and used an extended release point naturally.  He created downward plane that was tough to match for hitters. His curveball has great 11-5 shape and he threw it consistently in the low to mid-70s.  It looks like a future plus pitch as he learns to accelerate his hand through his release.  The type of arm he showed today, with added weight and strength, it seems like he will make a big jump in the near future.

Yoel Tejeda Jr (2022, Davie, Fla.) is a unique young position prospect that has as much upside as any hitter that will be on display this week.  He is 6-foot-6 and a slender 195 pounds, and you wouldn’t question that if you were asked.  He switch-hits and has impressive bat-to-ball skills from both sides.  On Saturday he swung left handed, and showed the type of upside being referenced.  He took a fastball that was left over the middle of the plate and hit a towering home run to right field.  It was a no-doubt shot as soon as it hit the bat.  Any time his long levers create space out front he has the ability to change the game in a hurry.  When Tejeda adds strength, we could be talking about his herculean lofted home runs for the next three years.

-Jered Goodwin