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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/28/2019

Summer Showdown Scout Notes

Jacob Martin      Matthew Arietta      Jacob Jordan      Colton Olinger     
Photo: Walker Zapp (Perfect Game)

17u PG Summer Showdown Scout Notes

Grey Taylor (2021, Brookhaven, Ga.) has a medium and athletic 6-foot, 195-pound frame and plays for 643 DP Cougars 16u Sterling. The primary catcher got most of his defensive action in right field during the tournament. He took athletic movements in the outfield with solid range and good glove actions. Taylor fielded the ball out front and transitioned quickly to show off an above average arm. The righthanded hitter displayed good bat speed through the zone with barrel-to-ball skills. He adjusted to pitches, going with them to different fields, and had quick enough hands to make contact while making last second swing decisions. Taylor showed some thump off the bat going 4-for-8 in the tournament with one double and two triples.

Charlie Condon (2021, Marietta, Ga.) is a primary corner infielder with a large 6-foot-4, 180-pound frame and additional room to fill out. The righthanded hitter has a moderately long swing but generates whip, hitting the ball out front. Condon shows a lot of pull-side power with a swing on a level plane. He uses his current strength well and projects for additional power once he fills out further. Defensively, he displayed excellent athleticism at first base and advanced fielding ability. With soft hands, Condon made picking balls look easy and quickness in the feet gives him advanced range and reactions. He has an advanced defensive ability with a good bat and is projectable player overall moving forwards.

Alyjah James Richardson (2021, Mableton, Ga.) has a 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame with additional room to fill out as he pitched for 643 DP Cougars 16u Sterling. The righthanded pitcher worked online with a loose arm from a low three-quarters slot. He repeated his low-effort mechanics throughout the start and could generate more power from his lower half moving forward, meaning additional velocity could be left in the tank. Over 96 pitches the lanky righty averaged 83 mph on his fastball and touched 86 mph several times. He also featured a curveball with some real potential, taking sharp 11-to-5 action around 68 mph. The pitch had swing-and-miss ability but he lost the feel for it once in awhile, as it could be a really effective pitch with further consistency. Richardson also threw an occasional changeup around 76 mph. During the third day of the tournament, he threw 6 1/3 innings with four strikeouts, allowing three hits, four walks and two earned runs. He struggled with command a little bit but showed some real potential for the future.

Tyler Neely (2021, Union City, Ga.) is a lefthanded outfielder with a medium 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame and current strength and athleticism in the build. Starting in an open stance, he transitions into a medium leg stride generating force from his lower half. Neely elevates the ball frequently, swinging on a plane with natural upward extension. He made loud contact with a smooth and fluid swing that sends the ball to all fields. Defensively, the right fielder showed good range with an efficient first step and transitioned his smooth glove into an above average arm. Neely is a good all-around player with a lot of projectability.

Peyton Sower (2020, McDonough, Ga.) has a large 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame with current strength in the build playing first base for Team Halo. The lefthanded hitter used a large leg lift striding towards the pitcher before swinging with linear arm extension. He generated bat speed through the zone and hit the ball with force, elevating the ball or hitting it on a line with an opposite-field stroke. Sower’s bat has big and easy power, as evidenced by a 4-for-8 performance during the tournament with a double and a home run.

Switch-hitting outfielder and corner infielder Breon Horne (2021, College Park, Ga.) showcased his all-around ability with a large and athletic 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. Defensively, he started in center field but moved to third base later on in the game during the third day of the tournament. His quick-twitch athleticism was on full display, showing great range, quick first steps and a really strong arm; he made a jumping catch along the fence while playing third base. At the plate, the switch-hitter started in a spread and even stance from both sides of the plate. With quick hands and present strength, he created some bat speed through the zone while swinging on a level plane with some upward extension in the backswing. Horne typically hit the ball in the air or on a line. His speed is dangerous on the basepaths as he stole five bases during the tournament. He’s a really projectable all-around player moving forward.

Jae Williams (2022, Atlanta, Ga.) showcased five-tool potential while playing for 643 DP Cougars 15u Montgomery. The primary outfielder has a large 6-foot, 180-pound frame with current strength and athleticism. The athleticism and speed assist in his defensive ability as he glides across the outfield and shows good glove actions. The lefthanded hitter is a top-of-the-order speed and on-base threat. Using a short and compact swing, he typically works towards the pull side of the field on a line. Quick hands and present strength create bat speed and some thump off the bat. Consistency in his bat-to-ball skills would transform Williams into a dangerous hitter with all-around baseball ability.

Pitching for Team Halo, Jeremiah Newman (2021, Atlanta, Ga.) showcased legitimate pitching ability without necessarily filling up the box score. The righthanded pitcher has a 6-foot, 175-pound frame with a live arm action. Using an athletic leg lift, he works online towards the plate and could gain some additional velocity with further drive in his lower half. His live arm comes from a high-three quarters slot and he showed the ability to throw 90 mph on three occasions. The fastball averaged 87 mph overall but he lost some velocity when his pitch count crept up into the 30s and 40s. He also featured a slider and changeup from the same arm slot. The slider averaged 76 mph and took some decent horizontal movement while the straight changeup sat around 78 mph. He struggled with command during the outing but he painted some corners on occasion showing legitimate potential. With obvious potential on the hill, Newman could be a lethal pitcher with additional refinement.

In an entertaining and impressive show of defensive versatility, Andruw Jones (2022, Suwanee, Ga.) played first base, second base, shortstop, third base, left field, center field, right field and faced a batter on the mound during the third day of the tournament. Had the game not ended early due to the run rule, he most likely would have played catcher and finished playing every position in one game. Not much is left to be said about the five-tool Vanderbilt commit, who consistently showcases advanced all-around baseball ability.

– Jake Martin


Reginald Austin (2022, Atlanta, Ga.) is a highly ranked shortstop from Pace Academy. A sophomore in the fall, Austin performed well this week, earning MVP honors with his hitting and pitchability. With a strong and athletic, 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame, Austin ranks as the fourth-best shortstop in the state for his class, and within the top 50 nationally. At the plate, Austin uses a slightly open stance with low hands. He deploys a top-tap trigger for timing and maintains a short and quick, line drive swing path through the hitting zone with plenty of barrel control that results in a lot of hard-hit contact. Austin hit .385 through Saturday in five games, with seven runs scored and six RBIs. A consistent threat in the middle of 643 DP Cougars 15u Montgomery’s lineup, Austin did it all, showing good hand-eye coordination and current power to the gaps, and he left the yard on a long home run to the pull side.

On the mound, Austin was called upon on two separate occasions, yet earned the win in his second call on Saturday against organizational foe, 643 DP Tigers 16u Hawkins. Austin looked confident on the bump and uses an abbreviated windup from the first base side of the rubber. With a slow, balanced rhythm to his delivery, Austin allows ample time for his arm and body to work in sync, releasing most pitches out front with good extension. He used a three-pitch mix of a fastball (88-90) with bore and sink, curveball (67-68) with 11-to-5 shape and some depth, and changeup (70-72) with good arm speed and fade. Austin mostly mixed his fastball and curve in all counts to get ahead, but then started to mix his changeup as he went, really keeping the opposition off balance and guessing.

Dawson Campbell (2022, Marietta, Ga.) is a 5-foot-9, 160-pound outfielder and pitcher from Pope High School. A sophomore in the fall, Campbell has raked at Perfect Game events dating back to 2017 as he has a lifetime average of .356 and this week has been no different, as he batted .417 through five games. In the box, Campbell employs an upright stance with hands high near his ear. He uses a step to start his swing, then fires his hips through as he keeps his weight and hands loaded on his back-side. Creating a lot of torque, Campbell releases his hands through the hitting zone and displayed good hitability and hand-eye coordination as he showcased hard hit contact to all fields. A good athlete, Campbell is light on his feet and definitely possesses the type of speed that makes the defense rush. Dawson showcased his speed at the plate and in the field as he has legged out two triples, had three stolen three bases and made all of the plays in the outfield. Campbell has good anticipation in the outfield with good first-step quickness. He takes clean routes to balls hit his way and has the ability to make plays with his glove with confidence. Up to 81 on the mound, he went 4 1/3 innings in relief to help secure the 7-5 victory and send his club into the semifinals.

The big story for Max Eichenberger (2022, Canton, Ga.) is what he did for his club Saturday morning at Brook Run. He got the start and was excellent, pitching them into the quarterfinals with a complete game, five-hit shutout. A top 10-ranked catcher for the 2022 class in Georgia, Eichenberger uses a smooth tempo to his delivery and has a clean, unrestricted arm action through release that he used to keep his repertoire low in the zone and fill up the strike zone all game long. The righthander used a two-pitch mix to consistently get ahead of NextLvl 16u Patel, mixing in all counts as he went with his mid-80s fastball with arm-side run and a high-60s curveball with good depth and 11-to-5 rotation with good bottom through the zone. Eichenberger showed confidence on the mound and went at his opponent with a fearless approach, battling each pitch all game long. A good athlete, Eichenberger fields his position with soft hands and confidence.

Anri Gu (2021, Mississauga, Ontario) made a huge splash in his first Perfect Game event this week in Georgia while playing for the Mississauga North Tigers. The 5-foot-10, 150-pound southpaw and outfielder was excellent on the mound and at the plate all tournament long as he’s hit at a .692 clip through Saturday after four games, and received the win during his team’s first pool play game Wednesday morning at Brook Run. At the plate, Gu, a southpaw, sets up with a square stance and low hands outside his chest. He has a simple approach to the hitting and uses a small step to start his swing, then loads his weight well on his back-side before firing his hips and hands through the hitting zone, generating consistent hard-hit contact into the gaps. He showed some raw power in games this week and has a clearly advanced hit tool for being 15-years old. Bat speed and leverage are both present in his swing and indicate added power is not far off. Gu has a mature approach at the plate and keen hand-eye coordination that makes him a threat every time he steps into the box. A good athlete, Gu, has good first-step quickness out of the box and on the bases as he legged out extra-base hits with a triple and two doubles in 13 at-bats. He has natural instincts on the bases and plays with aggression. On the mound, Gu used an up-beat tempo to his delivery and displayed good rhythm and timing through release. He mixed his two-pitch repertoire of a high-70s fastball and high-60s curve as he went to keep hitters off balance and regularly get ahead of batters.

Elijah Jones (2021, Peachtree City, Ga.) is a 6-foot, 175-pound, righthanded pitcher and third baseman from Starrs Mill High School in Fayetteville. A junior in the fall, Jones has pitched very well at Perfect Game events over the last two years as his win on Wednesday extends his winning streak to seven, making him a perfect 7-0. Pitching for his club, Home Plate Chilidogs 16u Argila, Jones went four innings, allowing an unearned run on no hits while fanning five opponents during his 62-pitch outing. He uses a full windup where he sets up from the first base side of the rubber. He has good tempo and timing through release, as he deploys a two-piece, quick arm action that delivers his repertoire from a high three-quarters slot. Jones’ repertoire consists of a fastball in the high-80s, which has tailing and sinking action through the zone, and a high-60s curveball, with good shape and feel for the pitch. Jones filled up the zone to both dexterities as he mixed both of his pitches in all counts and delivered strikes at nearly a 70 percent clip. A good athlete, Jones fields his position well and pairs his defensive actions, with strong, accurate throws to bases.

Jett Lovett (2021, Newnan, Ga.) is a 5-foot-9, 150-pound, lean and athletic outfielder from Newnan High School. Lovett came into the week ranked as the 24th-best outfielder in Georgia for the 2021 class and continues to lead the way with his advanced hit and power tools. At the plate, Lovett went 9-for-13, hitting .692 with six extra-base hits, which includes three home runs in consecutive days at Brook Run Park. Lovett completes his impressive stat line with six RBIs, seven runs scored and a stolen base showcasing a very impressive week at the plate, leading all hitters on the Top Performer list for the tournament. At the plate, he uses a short, quick swing path with good hand-eye coordination and plenty of barrel control through the hitting zone. He shows time and again the ability to turn it loose with excellent bat speed that produces hard hit contact to the gaps. He showed the ability to also square up pitches he could handle, showcasing good feel for wood with leverage in his swing which may indicate future average power down the line. Lovett, who is a strong, athletic player, still has room to fill in his frame to reach physical maturity, yet he is very projectable athletically as his tools and ability translate all over the diamond. His speed works for all three outfield spots and he has good anticipation and first-step quickness with the ability to run down all balls hit his way. He is aggressive on the bases and uses long strides and accelerating speed underway to stay light on his feet and move first-to-third with ease.

– Matt Arietta


Walker Zapp (2022, Auburn, Ala.) had a monster game on Wednesday for Team Elite 15u Prime. The catcher went 2-for-3 with a double, home run, and two RBIs. He showed a lot of pop to the pull side with his home run leaving the yard in straightaway left and his double splitting the left-center field gap. The 15-year old sees the ball well and makes solid contact with feel for the barrel. Defensively Zapp was solid behind the plate with sure hands and an adept ability to frame. His arm projects and shows present strength with plenty of time for him to shave time off his pop. Physically, his 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame is filling out into a solid build with present strength.

Anthony Bonacci (2021, Peachtree Corners, Ga.) showed some potential on the mound Wednesday for East Cobb Prime 16u Zilleox. Although the righthander struggled with command, he showed some upside. The 16-year old’s mid-80s fastball with late life projects and he paired it well with a low-70s sweeping curveball. Bonacci’s arm works well throughout a long fluid arm action that looks effortless with a high three-quarters arm slot and good extension towards the plate. Physically, a lean 6-foot, 180-pound frame with a muscular build projects nicely along with the arm. Bonacci is uncommitted.

Austin Emener (2020, Lizella, Ga.) showed upside in his start for the 643 DP Cougars 16u Sterling on Thursday. The southpaw went five innings while allowing two runs on three hits and five walks with eight strikeouts. His command was spotty at times, but overall Emener threw well. A low- to mid-80s fastball with run worked well with a very impressive mid-70s changeup and loopy high-60s curveball. The 6-foot-3, 190-pounder’s quick arm works fluidly through his compact arm action and three-quarters arm slot. The uncommitted 17-year old has the potential and stuff to be successful at the next level if he continues to develop and fill out his frame.

Michael Zarrillo (2021, Atlanta, Ga.) had a solid game on Thursday for 643 DP Jaguars 16u Mang. The shortstop made solid contact all game, including hard line drive double to left field. The switch hitter hit his double righthanded, demonstrating pull-side pop. He has quick hands and drives the ball. At short, Zarrillo is smooth with soft hands and an effective arm. Physically, there is present strength in his wiry athletic 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame as the 16-year old projects well and shows promise as he continues to develop.

– Jacob Jordan


Glenn Green (2021, Tyrone, Ga.) displayed a live arm in his solid three-inning outing, where he struck out five while sitting 84-86 mph and topping out at 88 mph. His high three-quarters arm slot helps to create good downward plane as his repeatable delivery allowed him to establish his fastball early in counts. With his secondary, he showed a short, sharp-breaking slider that sat 71-74 mph. Green does a nice job of repeating his quick, short arm action as he gets to the same release point with both offerings. His quick arm and long lean build are very projectable moving forward as he continues to fill out and mature.

Gehrig Wright (2021, North Port Fla.) attacked hitters with his fastball which sat at 83-84 mph and topped out at 86 throughout his five innings of work. He showed the ability to land all three of his offerings for strikes. He backed his fastball with a hard slider that sat 75-77 mph and a 72-74 mph changeup that had some arm-side run to it. He did a nice job of repeating his smooth arm action and getting to his three-quarters arm slot. His compact, repeatable delivery maintained good direction towards the plate as he worked down the mound. His 6-foot-4, 180-pound frame is projectable moving forward as he has plenty of room to fill out and add strength.

Hunter Gulledge (2021, Dallas, Ga.) sat 83-85 mph with his fastball and topped out at 87 mph in his 1 2/3 innings of work out of the pen while striking out three. His fastball showed good life out of the hand with a 2,100-2,200 rpm on his spin rate. He backed the fastball primarily with a changeup that sat 76-78 mph with some fading action. His third offering, a curveball, sat in the mid-70s with some depth and 11-5 shape as he was able to land it for strikes. His 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame leaves him with room to fill out as he continues to mature.

Josh Tate (2021, Fayetteville, Ga.) continued to prove his great feel for the game offensively as well as defensively. At the plate he starts with a quiet set up, wide base and high hands. His level bat path stays in the hitting zone for a long time allowing him drive the ball to all fields with authority. His quick hands help to produce some of his power as he is able to split the gaps for extra bases. Defensively his high baseball IQ and fast-twitch athleticism allow him to range well left and right as his hands work well out front of the body with good glove presentation. His ability to work through the fielding process with his feet carries well into his throws where he showed plenty of arm strength to make all the throws. His lean athletic frame still has room to fill out and add strength moving forward which will only add more to his game.

Harris Bell (2020, Gainesville, Ga.) had an impressive outing for Line Drive Academy on the last day of pool play as his four shutout innings of two-hit baseball with 10 strikeouts helped lead his team to victory. He commanded the zone with his mid-80s fastball that topped out at 88 mph and showed good carry through the hitting zone with a 2,200-2,300 rpm spin rate. He used his 72-74 mph curveball with two-dimensional break to keep hitters honest as he did a nice job of repeating his arm action with both pitches. His three-quarters arm slot came from a long smooth arm action as he worked directionally down the mound towards the plate. His 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame has room to continue to fill out.

Bradley Frye (2021, Marietta, Ga.) finished the tournament with an even .500 batting average as he helped lead his East Cobb Astros 16u team to a playoff appearance. Bradley’s bat provided a spark all weekend long at the top of the lineup as he continually found barrels producing line drives all over the field. He starts with a balanced stance and high hands before getting his weight transferred to his back-side with a leg kick trigger. His barrel works the inside part of the ball as he showed the ability to match pitch plane well going down to get the ball and hitting it hard on a line. His ability to transfer his weight through his lower half in his swing allows him to produce more power with the potential to split the gaps as he stays mostly to the middle of the field with his approach. Defensively his glove works fluidly out front while funneling the ball before getting off a string throw. His lean 6-foot-1, 155-pound frame has room to continue adding strength moving forward as he fills out and matures.

Xavier Meachem (2020, Winterville, N.C.) showed the ability to compete as he pitched himself out of some big situations in his four innings of work while he allowed just one earned run. The North Carolina A&T commit sat 84-86 mph with his fastball and topped out at 88 mph a handful of times. He also showed the ability to mix in a good breaking ball that sat 75-77 mph with swing-and-miss type action on it. The tight spin on the breaking ball and repetition of his high three-quarters arm slot create deception out of the hand, often leaving hitters frozen in the box. His quick, clean arm action works well as he showed the ability to create better plane and arm-side run on the fastball with the more extension he got to the plate. His strong lower half helps to produce drive down the mound as he maintains a good line to the plate allowing him to land both offerings for strikes.

– Colton Olinger
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