Scouting notes from LakePoint

3/5/2016

Jr. SS Ivan Johnson, Kennesaw Mountain HS (GA)

The 89th ranked player in the 2017 class, Johnson and his Mustangs teammates took the field early this morning for a one game matchup with Virgil Grissom. Johnson showed the same smooth actions in the infield as well as a strong arm and good footwork around the bag during infield drills as well as in game. At the plate, he collected a pair of hits using a line drive swing plane showing plus bat speed. The Georgia Bulldogs commit is exceptionally balanced through his swing and showed the ability to drive the ball to all fields with a short, compact swing. 

So. RHP Abe Young, Three Rivers CC

The 6-foot-2, 190 pound right-hander took the mound for the Raiders in the first game of their split double header. He has a good build with present strength in his frame, but looks slightly shorter than his listed size. What Young lacked in prototypical size he made up for with intensity and pace on the mound. He used a short, compact arm action from a three-quarter release and generated good downhill plane. His fastball showed good arm-side wiggle and filled the zone with it, working inside and out changing the eye levels of hitters. He hit 89 mph numerous times and routinely sat 86-89 mph throughout his 8 1/3 innings. At times he would lose his release point, allowing a walk or two, but he battled well on the mound, working quickly and mixing pitches well. He also mixed in a power downward breaking slider with an 11-5 shape that hit 75 mph. Young also showed a changeup at 80 mph that showed some sink, but was very inconsistent in both its shape and break. 

For video of Young, please follow this link. 

Sr. 3B Gabriel Acevedo, University of Illinois-Springfield

The senior infielder delivered some of the loudest hit balls of anyone today at LakePoint collecting four hits including a line drive homer to left and a double off the outfield wall. On the day, Acevedo delivered four balls in play that left his bat 96.5 mph or higher, including the homer that was 100.1 mph. He starts with a wide base and high hand set, relying on a leg lift timing mechanism. His line drive swing plane, and ability to match that plane, allow him to deliver such hard contact when squared up. Acevedo also showed strong feel for the barrel and when to time its release into the swing. He also showed good explosion in his lower half with quick hands through the zone.

For video of Acevedo, please follow this link.

Fr. SS Michael Garvey, Guilford Technical CC

The talented freshman shortstop led off for the Titans and opened the first game with a loud double that one hopped the left-center field wall. Garvey has plenty of room to fill in his athletic 5-11, 170 pound frame and should continue to physically develop. He showed a quick bat and level plane with slight lift when his barrel release is timed appropriately. His quick twitch athleticism in the infield was also present with sound footwork and soft, sure hands. 

RS So. 1B Zach McCrum, Georgia Highlands

It had been almost a full week since he last made an appearance in this blog, but McCrum returned in a big way in Highlands' second game of their double header. He followed up a pitching changed by blasting his eighth homer of the season, a 369 foot homer that left the bat at 92.5 mph. McCrum broke out of his mini-slump in loud fashion. He showed his same bat speed and big strength as well as his natural lift in his swing. 

Sr. RHP Gavin Collins, University of Illinois-Springfield

Collins came in for the Stars in the eighth inning to try and lock down a split of their doubleheader with USML. Collins worked from an over-the-top arm angle with heavy downhill action from his 6-foot-2, 205 pound frame. He landed online, with a deliberate delivery towards the plate and long slightly stiff arm action. His fastball worked from 87-90 mph and touched 92, showing slight arm-side life low in the zone. He mixed in a hard breaking slider as well, but the pitch showed inconsistent at best. His command often varied between batters, challenging hitters inside well, then missing up the zone or outside. Collins battled well on the mound and ultimately earned the save for the Stars.