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High School | General | 2/23/2018

High School Notebook: Feb. 23

Vincent Cervino

Greg Gerard

Photo: Perfect Game

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

High School Notebook: Feb. 16

Mason Denaburg, RHP/OF, Merritt Island (Fla.)

Turning in a dominant performance in a preseason setting in front of numerous scouts was PG All-American and Merritt Island HS ace Mason Denaburg. The righthanded pitcher, and Florida signee, showed off his usual power fastball, working in the 93-96 mph range while topping out at 97 mph in the first inning, with plus sinking life to the pitch and the ability to locate it to both sides of the plate with ease. The arm speed is exemplary, but the biggest change Denaburg made from the summer to this spring has to be the development of his breaking ball which is more of a nasty slurve-pitch now. The pitch mostly shows 10-to-4 shape and break to it and was in the 77-80 mph range during his start. Denaburg got around the pitch a bit early on but it showed plus later on in the game and he racked up double-digit swings and misses on the breaking ball and it showed lots of power to it. After a rocky first that saw Denaburg give up a couple of runs, he was in straight cruise control sitting in the 90-94 mph range with the power fastball/curveball combination showing dividends. Denaburg also showed a straight changeup, at 84 mph and 86 mph, that he threw exactly twice. He showed clearly why he is projected to be a first round pick as he came in at the No. 22 slot on the first edition of the Perfect Game Top 250 Draft Prospects.

Carter Stewart, RHP, Eau Gallie (Fla.)

Coming in at one slot higher than Denaburg on the Draft Top 250 at No. 21 is Carter Stewart, who plays his high school baseball just down the road from Denaburg. When you think of Stewart the first thing that comes to mind is the curveball as his is the best breaking ball in this year's prep class. In this look the pitch wasn't as sharp as it was over the summer, however he still rattled off a few absolute knee bucklers. The pitch worked in the 80-83 mph range with significant bite and down action, showing plus at times during the performance and projecting at double-plus. The fastball also took a considerable jump as the Mississippi State signee worked in the 91-94 mph range while topping out at 95 mph. There were only two pitches below the 91 mph mark, at 90 mph, and the fastball was pretty true in terms of life. Stewart also flashed a changeup at 82 mph with a good amount of arm-side run that projects well. If there is a concern with Stewart it would be the length of the delivery and arm stroke. The length of the arm action can be difficult to repeat at times especially as he drifts a bit through extension, but he was very timed up during this preseason look and showed yet again why the PG All-American is considered to be a first round pick for this June's draft.

Nick Pogue, RHP, Eau Gallie (Fla.)

It's a rare phenomenon to have a top-flight draft prospect on a team, however it's even more rare to have two arms who are considered Top 5 rounds talents on the same team and pitch back-to-back in the same game. That's exactly what happened in this game as Nick Pogue relieved Carter Stewart after three innings. Pogue looked noticeably stronger with long limbs and broad shoulders. The delivery allows Pogue to get significantly downhill as the Florida signee really creates a lot of plane on the fastball. Speaking of his fastball, Pogue took a jump in velocity as he worked in the 90-93 mph range while touching 94 early in the start. The velocity settled in the 89-92 mph range but the plane was devastating, particularly in the lower third of the strike zone. Pogue's breaking ball was also a solid pitch during this look as it worked in the 79-81 mph range with 11-to-5 shape and depth to it. The pitch overall has above average potential but he would get around it from time to time, and he also flashed a striaght 82 mph changeup.

Elijah Cabell, OF, TNXL Academy (Fla.)

One of the toolsiest prospects in this draft class for Florida is Elijah Cabell and he showed a bevy of tools during batting practice before the game and during it. The raw bat speed and power potential are dazzling for Cabell as he has plus bat speed and easy plus raw power, if not more. The swing gets through the zone so quickly and the LSU signee's strength is evident as the ball jumps off the barrel with such ease. Another plus tool in Cabell's arsenal is his arm strength which grades out as a plus tool and a difference maker. Should he stick in center field at the next level having plus arm strength certainly helps. Cabell didn't do much in game – facing Mason Denaburg can do that to you – but he showed off his quickness beating out an infield single/error in the first inning. Cabell struck out in his second at-bat and laced a hard hit groundout in his third at-bat. The results weren't there during the game for Cabell but he will be followed very closely all spring and will be one of the top outfield prospects in the class as he comes in at No. 67 on the Top 250.

David Luethje, RHP, Vero Beach (Fla.)

David Luethje and Vero Beach opposed Stewart, Pogue and Eau Gallie High School during a stacked game prospect-wise. Luethje, a Florida commi,t is also on the Perfect Game Top 250 at No. 155 and showed off projectable stuff highlighted by his slider. The pitch showed solid average at best during his performance and worked in the 78-81 mph range showing late bite down and to the glove side. The pitch was best when he threw it to hitters of the same handedness and it ran out of the strike zone for ugly chases. Luethje's fastball was up to 90 mph and sat in the upper-80s for most of his performance. The fastball velocity has been better in the past, however there was still significant plane and some arm-side run to the pitch as well. Luethje has a good tempo and rhythm on the mound with a full, simple arm stroke that he is able to repeat effectively. The indicators are there for Luethje and he certainly has a lot of time this spring to impress evaluators as he has the tools and skill-set for it.

Hunter Patteson, LHP, Vero Beach (Fla.)

Relieving Luethje was underclassmen Hunter Patteson, a 2019 graduate committed to UCF. Patteson came out of the bullpen and showed off a very strong arsenal as well as a highly projectable, long frame. Standing at 6-foot-3, 170-pounds, Patteson has long, gangly limbs with tons of room for additional strength and size to the build. He features a pretty clean and compact arm circle with a low effort delivery and the ball comes out of his hand cleanly, and with command, with his best command coming to the arm side. The fastball worked in the upper-80s, topping out at 88 mph, with significant run to the arm side that allowed the pitch to play up. He sequenced and tunneled extraordinarily well as the changeup would look like a fastball out of the hand and fool hitters. The breaking ball could be throw for strikes as well. When you put it all together you have a long, projectable leftahnder with three pitches for strikes and command, which means Patteson may be getting looks himself next year come draft season.

Jonathan Gates, LHP/1B, Nature Coast Technical (Fla.)

Another PG All-American to be seen out in the field, J.P. Gates is the star of the Nature Coast Sharks and showed his value to the team during his first start of the season. Gates jumps out with the top polish out of any of the prep arms in this year's class and showed exactly why having no signs of rust from the offseason. The Miami signee worked 89-91 mph throughout with good run to the arm side and the ability to command the fastball to either side and hit spots with ease. Gates is notorious for pounding the strike zone and also does so with a full arsenal at his disposal. The changeup is a pitch that has shown above average potential in the past for the southpaw, up to 85 mph, however he didn't go to that pitch as much as the slider, which has made big improvements and showed plus potential. Gates' slider worked in the 83-86 mph range, topping out at 87, with significant bite and two-plane snap. For the most part, Gates just pounded fastballs by the opposition, and in particular the development and advancement of the slider is noteworthy and should be monitored closely. Gates is also a legitimate two-way prospect, spending his time at first base when not on the mound. The first swing of the season for the lefthanded batter was a no-doubt bomb deep to the pull side. The No. 76 player on the Top 250 should be an impact two-way player for Miami should he get there, and should probably get looks to two-way in pro ball as well.

Franco Aleman, RHP, Alonso (Fla.)

The regular season for Alonso HS started with a really high-profile game as they matched up with Jefferson HS for a battle of traditional Tampa-area powerhouses. Alonso started righthander Franco Aleman who is a name to know for this year's draft as he is slotted in at No. 129 on the Top 250. There is a lot of room to dream and project on Aleman, who, at 6-foot-6 and 215-pounds with incredibly long limbs, has the build and frame to throw smoke one day down the line. During the first start of the year Aleman was sharp with his fastball working 88-92 mph and topping out at 94 mph for the evening. Aleman's arm stroke is longer through the back, which can lead to some command issues later down the line, however he was extremely timed up during his first start. Aleman got on top of the fastball well and could work the pitch to both sides with boring run to the arm side. Aleman's breaking ball was able to be thrown for strikes and was very effective as a change-of-pace pitch. The Florida International signee looked in midseason form, striking out 11 batters in five shutout innings, and it wouldn't be surprising at all to see him into the upper-90s by season's end.

Mike Dominguez, RHP, Jefferson (Fla.)

Opposing Aleman on the hill is junior ace Mike Dominguez, an uncommitted righthander who worked into the low-90s during his start. Dominguez has a shorter overall frame, only listed at 5-for-10, but has exemplary arm speed which allows him to generate his fastball into high velocities with relative ease as there isn't much effort to the overall release of the fastball. The pitch worked in the 88-91 mph range and topped out at 92 and Dominguez did a good job at keeping the pitch in the lower third of the strike zone consistently to induce ground ball contact. The curveball was a difference maker during the game for Dominguez as he was able to land the pitch for strikes and induce swings and misses with consistent 11-to-5 shape to it. Dominguez was dealt the hard luck loss – it's tough when the opposing pitcher tosses a gem – but he looks to be poised for another big season as he led the team in ERA last year as a sophomore.

Robby Martin, OF, Jefferson (Fla.)

A Florida State signee, Robby Martin has the rare honor of saying that his first official at-bat of the spring was an intentional pass, as Alonso did not want to pitch to the physical lefthanded hitter with a runner in scoring position. Martin is extremely strong and physical, as he's listed at 6-foot-3 and 185-pounds but he looks like he's put on some additional strength, and hits in the middle of the Jefferson lineup in the No. 3 hole. Martin led the team in batting average, hitting over .400, and has lots of lift and leverage to the swing path. He laced two hard hit singles during the game, one to the pull side and one to the opposite field, showing his willingness to take what is given as he's no stranger to being pitched around. Martin showed off good arm strength in the outfield as well and has been recorded up to 90 mph in the past, fitting the right field profile nicely. Martin is likely in store for another monster season, and although his team lost in game one, Martin started the year batting 1.000.

– Vinnie Cervino

Jackson Phipps, LHP, East Paulding (Ga.)

Jackson Phipps (2020, Dallas, Ga.) started on the mound for the East Paulding Raiders on a very comfortable Tuesday night at LakePoint and ran his fastball up to 91 mph. Over the span of his outing, his fastball worked from 86-90 mph. Phipps settled in nicely on the mound after the leadoff hitter tripled as he would go on to strikeout the next four batters he faced with his fastball/curveball combo. The ball comes from a low arm angle and a crossfire delivery. Phipps' arm works well with plenty of looseness to it and his delivery overall. The front side gets a bit tight at times and rushes through the delivery causing balls to spike, but overall the delivery is clean and he commands the strike zone well.

Zachary Maxwell, RHP, North Paulding (Ga.)

Zachary Maxwell (2019, Acworth, Ga.) made a very strong relief appearance for North Paulding High School in their game at LakePoint Tuesday night. Maxwell worked multiple innings that included a dominant third inning in which he struck out the side on with an overpowering fastball/curveball combination. Although Maxwell throws with some effort, his 88-91 velocity range was maintained throughout. In his first inning, Maxwell even notched a pair of 92 mph fastballs. He creates lots of angle on his pitches due in large part to his big 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame. The Georgia Tech commit has a full arm action and a very good secondary pitch in his curveball that sat at 75-78 mph with tight spin and good downward tilt. Maxwell's command is what stood out most in Tuesday's outing as the big righthander seemed to be able to locate the fastball and curveball to whichever part of the strike zone he wanted to.

– Greg Gerard

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