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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/11/2019

16U WWBA: Day 6 Scout Notes

Jheremy Brown      Brian Treadway      Jacob Martin      Colton Olinger      Matthew Arietta      Drew Wesolowski     
Photo: Christian Little (Perfect Game)
2019 16U WWBA National Championship: Day 1 Notes | Day 2 Notes | Day 3 Notes | Day 4 Notes | Day 5 Notes

One of the breakout players of the tournament thus far has been Georgia Bombers center fielder Jalen Fulwood (2021, Johns Creek, Ga.), an uncommitted prospect who was detailed earlier for his abilities on the mound. Full of fast-twitch muscle and ultra-projectable at a long 6-foot-3, 175 pounds, Fulwood utilizes such a simple approach at the plate with lightning quick hands as he continuously found the barrel throughout Tuesday. He may not fully incorporate his lower half just yet in his swing though you wouldn’t be able to tell by the results as he whips the barrel with hard contact to all parts of the field. In their first game of the day, Fulwood picked up two triples in two innings, the first a liner to the right-center gap before turning around another line drive past the third baseman. The hit tool is impressive but so is the foot speed on the bases as he runs in fast-forward mode, accelerating very well around the bases as he was able to stretch yet another barrel into a triple later in the game. That same twitch and athleticism play well in center field where he’s able to patrol and cover ample ground with fluid movements and relative ease.

Hitting right behind Fulwood is another highly talented, uncommitted player in shortstop Rob Gordon (2021, Smyrna, Ga.) who has been on coaches radars since an outstanding performance at the Junior National Showcase. One of the more fluid defenders in the entire country, Gordon is nimble on his feet with lots of softness to his hands as he picked the backhand well and showed the ability to throw from multiple arm slots throughout the day. Offensively the tools are just as good and he’s still plenty projectable, showing balance through his load and despite the high leg lift trigger he remained on time and does a very nice job of generating bat speed through the zone. With separation out front as well as extension to his swing Gordon showed all his components on a triple which he busted out of the box and turned around first base in 4.48 seconds.

Lefthander Cade Fisher (2022, Lafayette, Ga.) had a nice collection of college recruiters behind the plate watching and the uncommitted arm impressed, allowing just one hit over three innings of shutout baseball. Staying shorter through the back with his arm stroke, Fisher shows present arm speed and manages to generate running life to his fastball which sat 82-85 mph throughout. At 6-foot-2, 163 pounds the upside is near limitless at this point and while he works across his body with his strike foot he’s able to generate angle on the heater and filled the zone well. The heater comes out of his hand cleanly and with little effort which pairs well with the physical projection, as does the comfort he shows in landing his curveball for strikes. A low-70s offering, Fisher’s curveball shows depth when working on top of the ball from a higher three-quarters slot and proved capable of consistently landing the pitch for strikes.

Perhaps the hottest name in the tournament amongst college recruiters, California shortstop Maxwell Muncy (2021, Camarillo, Calif.) picked up another knock Wednesday morning to finish the tournament with a .474 batting average, though every swing he took over the weekend was just as impressive as the last. The bat speed and overall barrel whip are among the best in the tournament and Wednesday afternoon we got to see his ability to recognize spin and adjust post-load. On a softer lefthander curveball that broke over the outer half of the plate Muncy had his weight shifted to his front side but did a nice job of keeping his hands back to barrel the ball hard through the right side for a line drive single.

Matthew Polk (2021, Long Beach, Calif.) came in later this tournament for GBG Marucci and though it was a one-game look, the UCLA commit was able to show off a full collection of tools and is one of the more intriguing players on the roster. Not overly physical at 5-foot-11, 170 pounds, Polk’s ability to generate bat speed with such a direct path is impressive, showing leverage through the zone with big power potential. He moves well in the outfield and takes good routes as he managed to cut down a line drive that looked like extra bases off the bat and also delivered a strike to home, showing his arm strength and carry out of the hand.

I’ve been able to track righthander Christian Little (2021, St. Louis, Mo.) ever since he made his Perfect Game debut two years ago in the 14U WWBA and while he has delivered some impressive performances from then to present day, Wednesday may have been his best one yet. Continuing to grow into his 6-foot-4 frame as he’s now listed at 205 pounds and may be stronger, the Vanderbilt commit was outstanding over his four innings of work, needing just 33 pitches to navigate his four shutout frames while pounding the zone with a 72 percent strike rate.

He has always filled the zone and pitchability is a key staple in what he brings to the mound with a rhythmic delivery and advanced arm speed, but the projection he had shown as a 14-year-old arm is coming to fruition in terms of velocity. After touching a new high of 93 mph at the Junior National Showcase, Little proceeded to sit almost exclusively at 93 mph in the opening inning, touching a 94 while generating sinking life to the pitch as he lands closed off with his strike foot but still creates plus extension out front. While he only struck out three in the game, he managed to pick up plenty of weak ground ball contact, letting his all-PG Select Festival infield get some reps in behind him.

Little’s secondary offerings were as good as they have ever been as well, showing both a breaking ball and a changeup that have the potential to be plus offerings. He throws both a curveball and a slider, the latter of which showed late bite to the back foot of a lefthanded hitter at 79 mph. He didn’t go to the changeup often because he didn’t have to, but the first one he did throw at 83 mph with replicated arm speed and release showed nice diving life and had the hitter way out on his front foot.

Everything continues to progress for Little each time we see him and it’s safe to say there’s still another jump or two on the way as he continues to progress physically.

Ranked atop the class of 2021 rankings, shortstop Brady House (2021, Winder, Ga.) has continued to swing it well in my looks and put an exclamation point on a big win in the final game of pool play Wednesday afternoon. The strength is obvious from the moment he digs into the on-deck circle and he used that strength to barrel a no-doubt shot that nearly landed in the walkway behind field nine at Lake Point, registering at 94 mph off the barrel and traveled an approximate 389 feet.

On a team that features five of the top 10 players in the class of 2021, it’s shortstop Ryan Spikes (2021, Covington, Ga.) who I always seem to come away saying “man, he can play and consistently finds the barrel.” Wednesday proved to be no different as the University of Tennessee commit continued to show a natural feel for the barrel, spraying hard contact all around the field with a simple, yet highly efficient stroke through the zone as he went 3-for-3, raising his average to .444 for the tournament. Spikes opened the game with a single before once again showcasing his ability to drive the ball to the opposite field as he split the gap for a triple. Later in the game Spikes shows the strength in his hands as he muscled an end of the bat shot over the first baseman’s head and hustled out of the box to end up on second base, capping off a perfect day at the plate.

William "Pico" Kohn (2021, Verbena, Ala.) is currently ranked No. 427 in the class of 2021 and the young Mississippi State commit delivered an excellent performance Wednesday evening, capping off a five-inning run rule shortened game with a 10-strikeout performance. Standing at 6-foot-4, 195 pounds, Kohn presents obvious projection and while the fastball has continued to climb, there’s little reason to believe he has hit his ceiling.

Up to 88 mph in this look and sitting mostly in the mid- to upper-80s, Kohn’s velocity is noteworthy but the amount of empty swings and uncomfortable swings he accrued were just as impressive as he has the “invisi-ball” factor to his heater, hiding it well while working to a higher three-quarters slot. With the higher slot and quickness to his arm Kohn was able to power the ball downhill and got plenty of ugly reads from opposing hitters on the pitch while mixing into a pair of secondary pitches. His changeup is mostly true in life in the low-70s while mixing in a shorter breaking ball in the 73-76 mph, showing depth to the pitch which served as a key component in picking up ten punchouts while scattering just three base hits.

Lane Forsythe (2021, Humboldt, Tenn.) is going to be a very good player when he arrives at Mississippi State as the slick 5-foot-10, 168-pound shortstop moves extremely well at the premium position as has looked good throughout the week. The actions come easy from him with fluidity and balance to his footwork, showing soft hands out front while working through the ball and displaying enough arm strength across the diamond. His hands are just as loose offensively as he remains short and compact to the ball with his stroke, lining a hard line drive into center field during Dulin’s Dodgers opening round playoff victory. The tools are solid across the board and he’s been a staple atop the Dodgers’ lineup throughout his career.

-Jheremy Brown

In what was an entertaining game to watch, UA Building Champions 16U Navy beat 5 Star West 9-8. Ben Kudrna (2021, Overland Park, Kans.) got the start for BC and was very impressive, and the final line does not in any way tell the story of how he pitched.

A projectable, athletic-bodied righthander, Kurdna has good room to fill out remaining on his frame and should end up with impressive physicality long term. There’s a fair bit to like about the mechanical profile as well and how it portends to strike-throwing, with a clean inline arm stroke that is timed up well coming through release, generating good plane to the plate from a high three-quarters slot. The fastball peaked at 91 mph early, settling into the 86-90 mph range for the majority of the outing, pounding the zone with the pitch, though he did leave some balls center-cut over the middle. He shows a very good curveball as well, working perfectly out of that high slot and showing good tunnel out of the hand, working the mid-70’s on an 11/5 shape with plenty of spin and depth. He also flashed a changeup that is the third pitch right now, but still demonstrated some feel for turning it over with fading action.

He was a little too contact-prone given the quality of the stuff, though he didn’t get squared up a ton with a few exceptions. There were some defensive miscues behind him that led to extended innings and an overall elevated pitch count, but the overall profile is excellent and the upside is vast.

Casey Casseen (2020, Carrollton, Ga.) got the start for 5 Star and was solid in his own right, really pounding the strike zone throughout his time on the mound and showing an intriguing two-pitch mix. His fastball peaked at 87 mph and sat in the 83-86 mph range throughout, pounding the strike zone to both sides of the plate with the pitch. His curveball is a good pitch as well, thrown with conviction and two-plane break. The consistency of the pitch was very good; thrown in the mid-70s with good command, showing the ability to land it for a strike pretty much whenever he wants. With the ability to pound the strike zone with two quality pitches, the presently-uncommitted Casseen should have plenty of interest.

Jonathan "Daniel" Braswell (2021, Monroe, Ga.) had one hit, but it was a loud one, hitting an absolute missile of a double that went over the right fielder’s head on a line, one-hopping the wall. The strength and bat speed combination Braswell possesses from the left side of the plate is impressive, as evidenced simply by that one swing, and the projection remaining on his body in conjunction with those other traits gives him a tremendous power ceiling long term.

Canes National advanced through the first round of the playoffs on Wednesday night, taking down Rawlings Southeast 6-3. Philip Abner (2021, Charlotte, N.C.) got the start and was wholly dominant over his four shutout frames, allowing just one hit and three walks while racking up six punchouts. Abner is a physical, broad, strongly-built lefthander with loud stuff, and the control of his pitches has developed well over the past couple of years, even if the overall command is still loose. It’s plus arm speed from the left side, running his fastball up to 94 mph several times early on before settling more 88-93 mph, generating excellent plane and angle to the plate and dominating in the zone with the pitch. He throws a slider as well, sitting anywhere from 77-83 mph, showing the ability to add and subtract on the pitch with very good overall feel to spin the baseball. He can back off of it and give it a bit more shape in the lower end of that velocity range, more so to land it for a strike, and he can also let it rip in the 80s with more bite for swings and misses. A Florida commit, Abner possesses monstrous upside on the mound.

Offensively, the Canes were again paced by Alex Mooney (2021, Rochester Hills, Mich.) and Daylen Lile (2021, Louisville, Ky.), both of whom went 3-for-3 with a double apiece. They’ve each been written about multiple times in great detail, so we won’t rehash that here, but suffice it to say that both are extremely talented hitters.

eXposure Prime got an opening-round playoff win late Wednesday night behind a shutout performance from Jake Poindexter (2021, Chickamauga, Ga.), a lithely-built righthander with a fast arm. There’s a lot of arm talent there along with a good amount of physical projection, sinking the fastball well down in the zone and working in the 85-91 mph range over the course of his outing. He pounds the zone with the fastball to both sides of the plate, consistently working down in the strike zone, and mixed in a quality breaking ball in the mid-70’s that does a nice job of both keeping hitters off balance and missing bats.

-Brian Sakowski

David Zamora (2021, Hamilton, N.J.) started behind the plate but still was able to dominate offensively in the big win for the Molina Stars. At the plate, Zamora was constantly making solid contact with the ball, driving two of his three hits deep into left field. Standing at the front of the batter’s box, the uncommitted catcher never allows the ball to even come close to the plate, let alone the box. By release his hands are throwing the bat to the ball, he shows his upper body strength as he can really drive the ball when he gets ahold of it. The balls didn’t often seem like they were going that far but the New Jersey native was able to get enough backspin to send it over the outfielder’s heads each time. On defense, Zamora was able to show off his strong arm as in the first inning he was able to gun down a runner on the base paths.



Starting the game as the leadoff batter for the Florida Hurricanes 16U Platinum, Jay Allen (2021, Fort Pierce, Fla.) started the day strong with a loud leadoff home run to left field and continued to rake throughout the day. Standing at 6-foot-1 and weighing only 170 pounds, Allen looks like an athlete and really shows it through his play at the game. At the plate, the righthanded batter has a lightning quick swing that generates power while maintaining an ability to make contact. With a step towards the pitcher, the Florida commit is able to really get his lower body into the swing as well as he brings his hands forward and allows the barrel of the bat to meet the ball in front of the plate. With the power he possesses, which was first displayed by the home run he hit, it also translates to normal base hits as he sent a rocket of a single into left field in his second game of the day which was clocked at 100 mph off his bat. The ability to put the ball in play as well is crucial to his game because of his plus speed which puts added pressure on the infield to rush the routine plays. The speed also helps out Allen in the outfield as he patrols center field and is able to track down baseballs easily in the outfield.



Starting at first base for the Florida Hurricanes 16U Platinum, Jac Caglianone (2021, Tampa, Fla.) put on a clinic of making contact with the baseball. In countless at-bats Caglianone was able to drag out at-bats by fouling off pitches before finding something he liked and driving it for a clutch hit. The 6-foot-4 lefthander has a big load as he drops his hands parallel to his chest as he takes a long stride forward. As his left foot lands, the Florida commit shifts all of his weight forward as he looks to lunge forward to the baseball, bringing all of his momentum with him. With a very smooth swing Caglianone has good control of the path of the bat and is able to at least get some wood on the bat. He did display his big power when he is able to get a pitch that he likes as he collected two doubles in their first round playoff game and missed a home run by feet before it was caught by the right fielder. As he continues to mature, he will continue to be a fun player to see continue to grow in the game.



In the tough loss for Exposure 16U North Prime, there were some great things to see from Khristian Curtis (2020 Groves, Texas) as he entered the game in relief. Throwing for just over three innings of work, the righthander filled it up with a six-strikeout performance while only allowing two hits. Though he started to look a little shaky near the end of his stint, the Texas A&M commit showed stuff that has him ranked as one of the better arms in Texas. Working from a methodical windup, the righthander was able to deliver his various pitches from a high three-quarters arm slot. Curtis was able to bring his fastball up to a max of 89 mph but mostly sat in the mid- to upper-80s range. The fastball didn’t have much movement to it as it came in pretty flat. However, his two offspeed pitches generated the movement he needs to work. With a 12-to-6 curveball, it was a great switch of pace from the fastball as he had good command of the pitch and was able to drop it in with a mid-70s velocity. The slider was nice but definitely a pitch that with more work could turn into another out pitch he could throw. The combination of all three of those pitches was fun to watch when Curtis was confident in all three of them.

-Brian Treadway

Colin Husser (2021, Ponchatoula, La.) continues to get it done at the plate, as he is hitting .591 on the week with an on-base percentage of .615. His swing starts with an upright balanced stance and high hands. He uses and simple stride and quiet hand load to create separation pre-pitch. His bat path has some loft to it as he does a good job of getting extension through contact allowing him to drive the ball with authority to all fields. Once his weight is loaded in his pre-pitch timing, he does a good job of transferring it forward through the swing and hitting into a stiff front side. As an uncommitted outfielder he is an intriguing prospect with his lean 6-foot-6, 190-pound frame and the barrel to ball skills he possesses. He has displayed some power already on the week with two homeruns and projects for more power as he continues to add strength to his build.



Getting the start on the bump for the Dallas Tigers 2021 Hernandez in round one of the playoffs was Ryan Johnson (2021, Red Oak, Texas). Johnson displayed an electric fastball that topped out at 94 mph and sat 88-91 mph throughout his five scoreless innings of work. He also showed good feel for his two offspeed pitches, a curveball at sat in the mid-70s and a quality changeup that sat 78-80 mph. His curveball showed good depth with 12-6 break as he predominantly used it as a put away pitch late in counts freezing batters as well as getting swings and misses. His changeup showed some arm-side life as he was able to use it effectively against both righties and lefties with good arm speed creating deception out of the hand. His long lean 6-foot-6, 182-pound frame allows him to get good extension out front from his three-quarters arms slot, while his repeatable delivery and quick clean arm action allow him to fill up the zone and work ahead on hitters. He projects well moving forward with room to continue to fill out and add strength as he matures.

Jaxon Holder (2021, Aubrey, Texas) can flat out pick it at third base. His first-step quickness and ability to read the ball off the bat allow him to put himself in good position to make any play from the hot corner. His glove presentation works well out front of his body allowing him to funnel the ball into his body as he receives it. From there his strong arm and quick release allowed him to get the ball to first base in a hurry as he showed his ability to make throws on the run and from different arm angles. At the plate his lefthanded swing showed some pop with a triple to the pull side. He starts with an open, upright stance, and high hands as he generates power from his strong lower half through the swing and gets great extension through the ball at contact. The Dallas Baptist commit still has room to fill out on his lean athletic frame as he continues to grow and mature.



Colby Frieda (2021, St. Johns, Fla.) looked really good in his two innings of relief, giving up no runs on no hits while striking out three. His fastball topped out at 91 mph as he showed the ability to command it to all four quadrants of the zone and particularly good when down in the zone where he created good plane from his high three-quarters arm slot. He flashed a good slider on one of his strikeouts with tight spin and some good bite to it. His deliberate smooth delivery stays on line creating good direction to the plate as his short compact arm action is clean and get good extension out front on both of his offerings. The uncommitted right hander projects well moving forward with room to fill out as he adds strength on to his lengthy 6-foot-2 190-pound frame.

Jackson Mayo (2021 St. Johns, Fla.) displayed some of the pop in his at-bats in round one of bracket play at the 16U WWBA National Championship. The uncommitted lefthanded outfielder was able to use his patience approach to hunt his pitch and barrel it up when he got it. His swing starts with an upright stance and even base with his weight slightly shifted towards his back side. He uses a toe-tap trigger and quiet hand load to create separation before his fluid bat path works through the ball with loft. His quick hands allow him to make contact out front as he is able to drive the ball to his pull side with authority. On the bases his speed and good jumps allow him to steal bases and get himself into scoring position for the rest of his teammates. His 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame is long and athletic with room to fill out and he adds strength and continues to mature.

Armondo Navarro (2021, Del Valle, Texas) may not look like the conventional leadoff hitter but he did a great job of getting his Austin Banditos Black 2021 club going with an opposite-field triple to start off their round one bracket play game at the 16U WWBA National Championship. The 6-foot-2, 210-pound first baseman starts his swing with a tall, slightly open stance, and high hands. He does a good job of staying in the zone and taking aggressive swings on his pitch when up in the count. His ability to let the ball travel and stay connected with his front side through his swing allows him to hit the ball from gap to gap with authority as his strong lower half generates power through his swing. His large physical frame presents present strength throughout his play and will only continue to get better as he continues mature.

-Colton Olinger

Aidan Meola (2021, Toms River, N.J.) showcased a large 6-foot-2, 188-pound frame with strength and some athleticism in the build. The primary third baseman displayed solid range and a smooth glove at the hot corner. His athleticism and reaction times assist in his defensive ability. The arm is above-average across the infield and he gets rid of the ball quickly. The righthanded hitter starts in a moderately open stance with an even base and a high back elbow. Taking a medium leg stride, he maintains balance from his lower half and transitions into a swing on a level plane. He employs a line drive approach and he generates some hard contact due to quick hands and good bat speed. The swing is smooth, but he keeps his back elbow tight to the body and shoots his hands through the zone, giving him the ability to hit to the opposite field. He has a good understanding of the strike zone and will go with pitches to either side of the field.

UNC-Charlotte commit Sergio DeCello (2021, Oxford, Ohio) is a switch-hitting infielder with a medium 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame and quick-twitch athleticism. The primary shortstop played third base for the Cincinnati Spikes. Defensively, he showed a smooth glove with really quick transfers and good hands. He releases the ball quickly across the infield with short arm action, generating good power and accuracy. The switch-hitter only hit from the left side of the plate during the sixth day of the tournament. Starting with a simple and quiet stance, he uses a small leg stride for timing. The swing is short through the zone on a level swing plane as he typically generates line drives. Employing a contact-oriented approach, he showed advanced bat-to-ball skills with good barrel control. His hands led through the zone and he hit the ball to the opposite field during every at-bat.

Duke commit Generoso Romano (2021, Roseland, N.J.) showcased a projectable 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame while playing third base for the Tri State Arsenal Scout Team. Defensively, he showcased really athletic movements at the hot corner. A smooth glove, quick transfers, fluid movements, and a strong arm were all on full display. His athleticism and defensive skill give him the ability to play shortstop as well. The righthanded hitter starts in a moderately open stance with high hands and a high back elbow. Using a toe-tap trigger towards the plate before taking a long stride, he torques his hips while generating force from his lower half. The hands are quick and create bat speed on a linear swing plane. He typically hits line drives up the middle and to the pull side with some pretty solid force. His frame could fill out further and he could gain some serious power in the future.

Alabama commit Noah Miller (2021, Fredonia, Wis.) is a switch-hitting middle infielder with quick-twitch athleticism and a medium 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame. The primary shortstop showcased an excellent glove with smooth and fluid actions defensively. He displayed solid range, really quick transfers, a quick and accurate throwing arm, and good footwork. His highlight play showed him range deep into the six-hole and making a strong throw on the move to get the runner at first base. Batting from both sides of the plate, he starts in an open stance with a narrow base and a high handset. Lefthanded, his hands start more parallel to his body while they stay farther back batting righthanded. Using a large leg stride, he maintains a short and repeatable swing on a level plane from both sides of the plate. Has really good bat-to-ball skills and he controls the barrel well. Takes a line drive approach with the ability to hit the ball to all fields. Good all-around player moving forward.

Marcus Franco (2021, Miramar, Fla.) showcased an extra large 6-foot-3, 224-pound frame with a lot of present strength in the build, playing for Elite Squad 16U National. The Florida International commit is a primary first baseman but slotted in the lineup as a designated hitter. The righthanded hitter starts in an open stance with high hands. When he steps in the batter’s box, his intention is to do damage and hit the ball far. His strong lower half transfers power into the swing on a moderately upward swing plane. Mass combined with acceleration equals force and his large frame combined with extra quick hands generates a lot of force and bat speed. Ball completely jumps off the barrel. His hitting ability was on full display during the sixth day of the tournament as he went 3-for-3 with a long double to left-center field.

Florida commit Jorge De Goti (2021, Miami, Fla.) showcased a projectable 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame with room to fill out and great ability on both sides of the baseball. The primary shortstop and part-time outfielder played left field during the sixth day of the tournament. His athleticism assisted in his ability to take really good first steps and display solid range. The arm strength from the outfield is excellent after fielding balls fluidly out front. His defensive skill set should give him interesting versatility at any infield or outfield position moving forward. The righthanded hitter starts in a moderately open stance with a wide base and high handset. Using a medium leg lift and stride, he incorporates his lower half well into the swing. Bat through the zone is on a level plane but he can certainly elevate the ball with some upward extension. Swing is smooth and fluid with loose and quick hands. Showed legit barrel-to-ball skills with line drive tendencies and an ability to elevate the ball to all fields. The loud contact-inducing hitter finished the day with a 2-for-3 performance with two doubles, two RBI, and one run scored.

LSU commit Samuel Dutton (2021, Southside, Ala.) proved why he is one of the top righthanded pitching prospects in the nation. Medium and athletic 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame with strength proportioned evenly in the build. Had a lot of mound presence. Using a high and athletic leg lift, he uses his lower half exceptionally well as he works downhill and online towards the plate. While his back foot pushes off the rubber, his stride leg completely straightens before working downhill as he gains additional extension into his delivery that would not be possible for someone his size unless they had extreme athleticism and flexibility. Really live arm action from an arm slot in between high three-quarters and over-the-top. His mechanics were fluid and he repeated them well. The combination of lower half strength and arm action resulted in a fastball that averaged 88 mph but touched 93 mph in the first inning. His athleticism resulted in extensions on his fastball from 6-foot-2 to 6-foot-6. He also featured a sharp and effective curveball around 74 mph that was used as a swing-and-miss pitch and as a pitch that could be thrown for a strike. He commanded the zone incredibly well and worked both sides of the plate with ease. All told, he threw three scoreless innings with an astonishing amount of strikeouts, eight, while not allowing a walk and only allowing two hits. Great ability and skill, interesting talent to watch in the future.

-Jake Martin

Andrew D'Alessio (2021, Staten Island, N.Y.) is a 5-foot-11, 160-pound righthanded pitcher and infielder from Xavier High School in Manhattan. Andrew has an athletic frame with good size and strength to his current build, yet still has some room to fill before reaching physical maturity. D’Alessio, who came into the day ranked as the No. 10 shortstop in his home state for the 2021 class, got the start for his club, CBA Northeast and did not disappoint those in attendance at St. Pius X High School on Wednesday. D’Alessio uses a full windup from the first base side of the rubber. He deploys a slow and controlled tempo to his delivery and demonstrates good rhythm and timing with his upper and lower half, allowing his arm to travel unrestricted and on time through release. Arm works well, as he has a long arm circle in back with slight hook, and then delivers his repertoire from a three-quarters to low three-quarters slot which remained consistent throughout his start adding deception as he went. Uses his current size and strength to his advantage as he does a good job extending down the mound and getting his hand out front with good extension prior to release. On the afternoon, Andrew used a two-pitch mix of a fastball (81-84 mph) with down-plane action and some life, and a curveball (70-71 mph) that showed proper 11/5 break with good depth. When Andrew would get on top of his curve it would show more plus action with late, sharp bite. D’Alessio when all was said and done, went four full, allowed a hit, and struck out five of his opponents on his way to earning the win for his club moving his strikeout total for the tournament up to eight in seven innings. Lastly D’Alessio helped himself at the plate as he went 1-for-3 with a triple down the line where he displayed good hand-eye coordination barrel control, and good athletic actions with awareness on the bases with good first to third footspeed. There is no questioning D’Alessio’s athleticism, as he was able to use his current toolset and contribute for his club all over the field on Wednesday. A high upside talent with next level ability who has two more years of high school to develop with plus potential down the road.

Brad Myers (2021, St. Petersburg, Fla.) is a 5-foot-8, 155-pound outfielder from Northeast High School in his hometown. The physically mature Myers has good strength to his current build and used his evident athleticism in all phases in the game Wednesday night at East Cobb in the opening round of the WWBA 16U National Championship’s playoffs. Playing for his club, Florida Rebels, he was red hot at the plate going 3-for-3 in two games with a single and a double in the night cap. Myers has a short, compact swing at the plate, with loose wrists through the ball and feel for the barrel. He has a sound approach at the plate and uses the whole field. A tough out, Myers has first-step quickness both out of the box and in the outfield. He has good body control, and vision, seeing the ball off the bat enabling him to get good jumps on balls hit his way. Despite the short sample, he has good instincts and trusts his ability on the field. A solid competitor, Myers plays the game the right way and is fun to watch compete.

Treyton Rank (2021, Acworth, Ga.) is a large-framed, strong, and physically mature infielder and battery-mate from Buford High School. A junior in the fall, Rank, a highly-ranked pitcher, played second base for his club East Cobb Astros 16U X and contributed in a big way with his bat going 2-for-4 with a double and four RBI in the playoff win at East Cobb last night. At the plate, the righthanded hitting Rank uses a slightly open stance with low hands outside his pec. He has a double toe tap to start his swing and then strides forward while loading his weight on his backside. Following his step, Rank fires his hips and hands forward towards the pitch with good vision and hand-eye coordination. He displayed the ability to regularly get on plane with consistent hard contact to all fields. He is able to see the ball very deep, with good feel for wood, and current bat speed and leverage in swing indicate future average power. A good athlete, Rank moves well for his size on the bases with athletic ability and hustle. Arm works well at second with quick, accurate release and on-line carry through the bag. Already committed to Florida State University, Treyton will plan to join the Seminoles after his senior season in the fall of 2021.

Will Robbins (2021, Cumming, Ga.) was impressive on Thursday night as he outlasted Karson Ligon (2021, Sarasota, Fla.) in what had the making of a solid pitching duel prior to the start of the game. Ligon, who was up to 92 on the gun, eventually fell short in the affair, as Robbins pitched East Cobb Astros 16U X to a 6-1 victory in the first round of the playoffs at East Cobb Wednesday night. Robbins was dominant all game long, as the highly-ranked southpaw got the start for his club making his third appearance in the tournament this week in Georgia. Robbins has good size and strength currently, with a large, physically mature frame. He uses an abbreviated windup from the first base side of the rubber, with a slow pace on-line delivery as he released his repertoire from a high three-quarters slot. Robbins had good feel for his two-pitch mix of a fastball (84-86 mph) with life and angle, and a curveball (66-70 mph) with good rotation and depth. As Will settled in, he showed the ability to mix both pitches in all counts to both dexterities. He has better control of his repertoire than command, yet he has good feel on the mound, and knows how to pitch. He displayed good athleticism fielding his position on a couple opportunities with the ability to move well to cover bases when necessary. A solid competitor, Robbins battled all game long with fearlessness, and the ability to attack hitters with aggression and purpose. Robbins has all the tools you look for in an amateur southpaw, and it will be interesting to see where he ends up pitching at the next level in the years to come.

-Matt Arietta



With pool play ending today and bracket play kicking off tonight, for many it was the last day to showcase what they had to offer before they head back to their respective communities. One of those who took advantage was Bryce Brownlee (2021, Hot Springs, Ark.). The medium-framed righthanded pitcher started the game for the Rawlings Arkansas Prospects and dueled a stack East Cobb Astro’s lineup. Brownlee had a great three-pitch mix that he did a good job of utilizing while pitching to contact. He worked all quadrants of the plate while flashing a visible quick pace, keeping his defense behind him in the game. He ended up with four strikeouts and gave up four hits in his 3 1/3 innings pitched while giving his team a chance to win before he left the game. His fastball showed late life while staying on plane, sitting 84-87 while he touched an 88 early in his outing. With him pitching off his fastball, his offspeed stuff consisted of a tight-spinning slider in the low- to mid-70s with a spin rate of 2,200-2,350 rpm and a nice diving changeup in the upper-70s. In between him dealing on the mound, he got it done at the plate as well, leading his team in the offensive category. In the first inning, he ripped a double to center field that had an exit velocity of 90 mph as he knocked in two runs for his squad. With his dynamic abilities, he will be a very interesting follow down the road. Oh, did I mention, he is uncommitted.



A loaded East Cobb Astro’s lineup, as noted above, was sparked by the leadoff hitter and Georgia Tech commit in Kristian Campbell (2021, Marietta, Ga.). The athletic shortstop showed off a lanky frame with plenty of room to fill out down the road. He kicked off the first inning with a triple dead over the center fielder’s head with an exit velocity of 94 mph that left the bat with the loudest contact of the day. He went on to show off his skillset by gliding around the bases and he would later go on to score as well. In a later at-bat, he battled deep into a count while fouling off multiple pitches before taking a less than desirable swing on a great inside fastball delivered by Brownlee (detailed above). He ended up taking the baseball to right field for a single that would later go on to spark a big inning for his team. Campbell also flashed the leather in the field with some rangy plays. He scooped a slow roller and then threw a nice off-balance strike to first to get the runner just in time and save his team a run. The Georgia Tech commit shows all the tools and will be a good follow for the draft here in a few years.

Even with a bevy of commits looming this week, Khristian Curtis (2020, Groves, Texas) took it upon himself to separate himself from the pack. The Texas A&M commit certainly passed the eye test as he should a very large, lanky frame and plenty of room to fill out down the road. The fast twitch shortstop showed off great arm strength across the diamond as he went on to record a few put outs. The projectable athlete also showed an oozing confidence at the plate. He was somewhat pitched around during his at-bats today as he recorded a couple walks, but he eventually found a pitch to hit, driving a single back up the middle. With his physical frame, the sky is the limit for this young man as all he needs to do is continue to hone in on his game. Keep an eye out on the young 2020 to continue to make big strides and make a big splash on the scene at the next level.



As the action rolled on, righthanded pitcher Jaylon Buckley (2021, Union, Miss.) perked ears as he pounded the glove on Field 1 at East Cobb. The No. 1 righthanded pitcher from the class of 2021 went on to prove why he holds that ranking. Buckley worked with a higher leg kicking while coiling at the top before striding out and releasing from a low three-quarters arm slot. With his stocky, strong lower half build, he utilized his strength to his advantage as he lost little velocity during his outing of 5 1/3 innings. His fastball showed some arm side run with slight sink as he delivered his heater 84-87 while touching a couple 89s early in the outing. His swing-and-miss pitch may have been the best in his arsenal as he spun a nice slider showing late break with tight spin in the mid-70s with a spin rate average around 2,400 rpm. With Mr. Buckley being uncommitted, it will be fun to watch the recruiting process open up on one of the top arms in the southeast for his class. Look for the projectable righthanded pitcher to come off the market here very soon.

-Drew Wesolowski
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