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Tournaments  | Story  | 6/8/2019

WWBA Qualifier Day 1 Scout Notes

Greg Gerard      Jacob Jordan      Brian Treadway      Jacob Martin      Matthew Arietta     
Photo: Parks Harber (Perfect Game)



Physical third baseman Parks Harber (2020, Atlanta, Ga.) had a nice day at the plate and although it only showed up as a 1-for-3 day, each of his trips to the plate resulted in barreled baseballs including a very high exit velocity lineout. Harber swings with intent and plenty of strength at impact. He gets the head of the bat out in front and meets it frequently on time. His approach is aggressive, but it plays well for him as he has bat-to-ball skills and hand-eye that not many other players can boast about. The swing displays plenty of power potential and will surely be showcased at Chase Field next week at PG National. The University of Georgia commit also showed his plate coverage and ability to hit pitches out of the zone on the barrel of the bat. In his second at-bat on Friday, Harber went down to get a curveball that was down and out of the strike zone to barrel it to the middle of the field for a single.

Bryce Symlar (2020, Columbia, Tenn.) is an outfielder committed to play for Jim Toman at Middle Tennessee State. Symlar is a plus runner as he showed on Friday morning laying down a drag bunt and posting a 3.97 second jail break home to first time to beat the throw. Symlar showed his speed on the base paths while staying disruptive with his quickness and high baseball instincts to take extra bases when given the chance. The MTSU commit finished his day 1-for-2 with a pair of stolen bases and runs scored while helping lead his Beast Mode Prime team to a 5-0 victory.

Uncommitted righthander John Armstrong (2020, Marietta, Ga.) worked a pair of innings in relief showing a fastball that had a wide range due to his varying pitching mechanics and arm slots. Armstrong pitches mostly from a submarine stretch-only delivery sitting 79-82 mph with his fastball. Coming from that slot, his fastball has natural arm-side life to it and is really effective against righthanded hitters given the tough angle. However, when he did pitch from an over-the-top arm slot, the uncommitted prospect from Georgia reached the upper-80s with his fastball, peaking at 88 mph. He only flashed the over-the-top delivery a handful of times in this appearance, but is able to command pitches from either side making him a really valuable asset to 643 DP Cougars 17U Pralgo’s bullpen.

-Gregory Gerard


Hayden Grier (2021, Marietta, Ga.) started the game behind the plate for East Cobb Colt .45 16U Premier and showed his leadership and ability to control the game. The 5-foot-9 backstop was consistently vocal with his teammates whenever the ball was put into play, easily helping them know which play would be the best to make. Never taking a play off, the catcher was also putting himself in the right spots to help the team. Fundamentally, he was very sound behind the plate, not allowing a single ball to get past him to the plate. Whenever a runner tried to steal a base on him, he was quick out of the crouch and had a quick transfer as he got rid of the ball.

Jonathan Franchi (2021, Marietta, Ga.) took over the second base duties for East Cobb Colt .45 16U Premier as they took the victory. The 5-foot-10 righthander would stand straight up at the plate with both elbows sticking out and the bat completely vertical. He showed good plate discipline during the game as he drew a walk and showed his ability to force the defense into tough plays by laying down a bunt and eventually ending on third due to a forced error. His speed came into play not only on the bases but also on the field. He has good range and was able to make plays that would be difficult for others relatively easy because his speed put him in a good position to field the ball.

David Bishop (2021, Marietta, Ga.) started at shortstop in the victory for East Cobb Colt .45 16U Premier and showed his all-around game in the process. In the field, he had good range and was able to take away hits up the middle and able to charge and make accurate throws off balance to first. The 6-foot-3 shortstop also showed his hitting prowess at the plate scoring twice and racking up two hits in two plate appearances. He has good speed as he beat out a bunt for a base hit and then drilled the baseball to the left-center gap for an RBI triple. As his body matures, he should add more power to his swing and making things more difficult for the opposition.

Harry Ford (2021, Kennesaw Ga.) helped lead Team Elite 16U Prime defensively. Starting at catcher, Ford helped his pitchers get a firm hold on the game as he was able to effectively frame pitches for strikes that other catchers may not have been able to get. Baserunners had a difficult time stealing bases from him as he showed a tremendous pop time and gunned down any runner that dared to test him. The Georgia native is very mobile behind the plate and glides to block balls that were going to the backstop.

-Brian Treadway


Jackson Kemp (2020, Gainesville, Ga.) got off to a strong start in the 2019 WWBA 17U National Championship Qualifier on Friday. The uncommitted catcher went 1-for-2 with a double, three RBI, a run scored, and a walk. Behind the dish, Kemp plays solid defense. He blocks the ball well, has quick hands, framed several balls to earn strike calls, and is a good receiver with strong, sure hands. Although Kemp didn’t get the chance to throw out a baserunner, he did flash a strong arm when throwing down to third. At the plate, the 6-foot-2, 215-pound prospect takes full advantage of his strong lower half. After a minor toe tap, he plants his front leg and begins his compact swing. Power is surely not an issue, as the 18-year old’s bases loaded double made it to the center field wall on a line. Both his body and skills are very projectable, as a Top-50 catcher nationally, it is only a matter of time until Kemp is off the board.

Evan Boyle (2019, McDonough, Ga.) is lefthanded pitcher that is committed to Georgia Tech. At 6-foot-5, 188 pounds, tall and lanky in the best way to describe his frame. He has long arms and legs as well. Boyle releases the ball from a three-quarters arm slot after a high leg lift and long extension down the mound. The arm action is fluid and projects well. His fast ball sat in the low 80s but he touched 86 mph before an hour rain delay. The lefty mixed in a sweeping curveball as well that sat in the 71-73 mph range. With five strikeouts in four innings of work while giving up one hit and one walk, it is safe to say Boyle had a quality outing.

Hunter Gray (2020, Woodstock, Ga.) had a lights out performance Friday afternoon for the East Cobb Astros 17U Orange. The Lipscomb commit went 1-for-2 with a home run, three RBI, and a run scored. At 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, the first baseman couldn’t fit the profile any better. With a large, filled-out frame, Gray played sound defense at first. He showed flexibility, the ability to pick balls well, and even flashed the leather on a hard ground ball down the line. At the plate, the righthanded hitter showed power to the opposite field with a long home run. The swing generates lift and gets the ball in the air. Gray drops his back elbow early, swinging the barrel up through the zone. He does a good job of keeping weight back and driving the ball with torque from his lower half.

Dwight Allen (2020, Milton, Ga.) played well Friday for the Duluth Noles 17U. Allen had a strong day at the plate going 2-for-3 with two base hits. At 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, the University of Georgia commit has a lean athletic frame with a muscular build. Allen shows speed and present strength. The toolsy center fielder reads balls well off the bat with a quick first step and exceptional range. At the plate, the 17-year-old stands in the box with an open stance and wide base. He utilizes his quick hands to get his barrel down through the zone quickly. Allen has gap-to-gap line drive pop and projects well.

-Jacob Jordan


Will Portera (2020, Memphis, Tenn.) is a switch-hitting infielder committed to Alabama. He has a medium and athletic frame with room to fill out and add strength. Playing second base for Team Georgia 17U National, he has plenty of athleticism and arm strength to play shortstop. While manning the middle infield, he displays quick feet and quick transfers from glove to hand. His arm strength is incredibly powerful from second base and above-average at shortstop. The footwork is efficient and contributes to consistently accurate throws. He only batted lefthanded during his game action. Before stepping in the box, he stares at his bat as a mechanism to remain focused and mentally in the game. His stance is open and very crouched. The leg kick is almost like a hook before stepping towards the pitcher during his hand load. His hands are quick and loose, he swings with an all-fields approach. The lower half and quick hands generate good bat speed and strength. He makes loud contact consistently.

From one Alabama commit to another, Brayden Rowe (2020, Warrior, Ala.) showcased an impressive arsenal of pitches over six innings pitched. With a medium and compact 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame, the righthander currently possesses lower half strength and good arm speed. Using a simple step-back windup, his delivery transitioned into a high leg kick and a full arm stroke. His strong legs assist him in getting downhill efficiently. He tunnels pitches incredibly well. The fastball sat between 86-89 mph and he hit a pair of 90 mph heaters as well. He maintained velocity from start to finish. His curveball is really impressive, taking 10-to-4 or 11-to-5 movement and sitting around 78-80 mph. He had confidence to throw it in any count for a strike or a swing-and-miss pitch. He also featured an occasional fading changeup around 80-82 mph. All three offerings come out of the same arm slot. Rowe struck out 13 hitters in six innings.

Blake Redman (2020, Kennesaw, Ga.) is a middle infielder with impressive defensive ability and speed. With a slender frame, the 6-foot, 160-pound infielder has room to fill out further. Playing second base, he has enough athleticism and arm strength to play shortstop. A fast-twitch player, Redman features a smooth glove, good footwork, quick transfers, and plus speed. He moved incredibly well to both sides and he made a diving stop near the second base bag. The glove-to-arm transfer is really quick. A righthanded hitter, he features a very small leg trigger as a timing mechanism. His swing is short and simple with quick hands. The plane of his bat path is level and he typically hits line drives for singles. The speed he displays helps him on offense and defense. He stole second base successfully on a lefthanded pickoff attempt and ran from first to third with ease.

-Jake Martin


Andrew Frank (2021, Sandy Springs, Ga.) is a 5-foot-8, 145-pound, right-handed pitcher from North Springs Charter High School in Atlanta, Ga. Frank was rewarded the start this afternoon at Brook Run and did not disappoint, going the distance in a run-rule shortened game. Frank is a lean, wiry-framed athlete with room to fill on his not-yet matured frame. He pitches from a full wind-up from the first base side of the rubber with an up-tempo, balanced delivery and arm action that is smooth and unrestricted through release. Frank was able to stay in control and dominated his opponent on the day, mixing his two-pitch mix with efficiency and effectiveness, while filling up the strike zone with good control of his pitches and feel for his curveball. Andrew’s fastball has some riding life and sat around 72-73 mph yet he did top out at 76 on the afternoon. He did a nice job mixing his 67-70 mph curve, which displayed good shape and the ability to locate it in the zone for strikes. Also, Andrew was able to throw his curveball in all counts which proved his advanced pitchability and kept his opponent guessing. Lastly, Frank showed good athleticism helping him get off the mound quickly giving himself ample time to use his soft hands and field his position well. Overall, very impressive performance by the young man.

Ben Fox (2021, Atlanta, Ga.) an incoming junior in the fall, Fox started this afternoon for his team, 643 DP Jaguars 16u Mang and picked up where he left off last week at the 16u PG-East Cobb Invitational where he received All-Tournament Team honors. Fox was dominant from pitch one this afternoon and used a plus two-pitch mix for his age, showing good feel on the mound and excellent pitchability. Fox’s repertoire consists of a mid-70s fastball with life and run, and a good curveball consistently clocked in the mid-60s, with depth and occasional bite down in the zone. What stands out the most while watching Fox pitch is how comfortable he is with his curveball. Fox continually showed confidence and feel for his 1/7 breaking curve, throwing it in all counts and occasionally double, even tripling up with the offering receiving a lot of swing-and-miss from his opponent. Fox was also impressive as he showed what is the start of average command even though he is still developing as a pitcher on the mound. He successfully moved in and out with his fastball which helped the offering play up and helped him get ahead of almost all hitters he faced. Ended the day with a two-hitter. Extremely high upside left-hander with an excellent two-pitch mix who exudes confidence in his stuff and his ability.

Connor Hommes (2020, Aurora, Colo.) is a 6-foot, 190-pound corner infielder. An incoming senior at Cherokee Trail High School in his hometown, Hommes showed tools all over the field on Friday afternoon, which helped lead his team, Slammers Baseball 17u Stevenson, to a 2-1 victory. Hommes is a strong, athletic kid with some room to fill in his current state. At the plate, Connor uses a square stance with hands near his pec. A short step starts his swing and he consistently does a nice job getting his hands and weight loaded on his backside. He demonstrates keen barrel control and good hand-eye coordination as he consistently showed ability to barrel up pitches and shoot hard contact into the gaps with his line-drive swing path. Bat is very short and quick, yet stays through the hitting zone a long time. In the field, Hommes has soft hands, with a glove and instincts that can handle the hot-corner. He has good quick-twitch actions and showed confidence in his ability on his way to making all plays hit his way on the afternoon. Paired with his future average glove is a strong, accurate arm that again helps him profile to third. He showed consistent on-line and strong throws across the diamond, with carry through the bag. Lastly, Connor moves well in all facets of the game.

Jacob Rochester (2020, Fairburn, Ga.) is a 6-foot, 185-pound utility infielder from The Heritage School, near his hometown. An incoming senior in the fall, Rochester showed good feel for the game with the bat and glove this afternoon in a well-fought matchup versus Sox Baseball 17U. At the plate Rochester displays confidence and wants to hit. He generates good bat speed and does a nice job staying short and through the ball. Jacob continually showed power to the gaps with a line drive swing path. In the field, Rochester has range and good anticipation which helped him show his easy actions both with his feet and glove consistently getting in a good fielding position. Has ability to stay up the middle with current skillset. Arm works well, with on-line carry and accuracy. Speed translates to all facets of the game as well. Overall, good athlete with Baseball IQ and confidence in his abilities. High up-side individual who has been named to a number of All-Tournament teams at Perfect Game events in the past.

Logan Seehafer (2019, Hampton, Ga.) is a 5-foot-9, 160-pound lefthanded pitcher and recent graduate of Hampton High School in his hometown. The Andrew College commit is currently ranked by Perfect Game staff as the No. 39 lefthander in the state and inside the Top-500 nationally in the current graduating class. With good strength to his frame currently, Seehafer showed the ability to battle hitters all afternoon on his way to a seven-strikeout outing where he scattered four hits over four innings and unfortunately was left with a no-decision to show for his effort. Seehafer pitched well on the day and looked comfortable on the mound while showcasing an impressive three-pitch mix of a low-80s fastball with run and life, a 1/7 curveball in the low 70s with depth and feel, and a changeup in the mid- to high-70s that had good arm-speed and fade through the zone. Logan showed the ability to pitch with confidence and mix all three of his offerings increasing his effectiveness on the day. A good athlete, Seehafer showcased the ability to field his position and move well on defense as well.

Noah Sweatman (2020, Gay, Ga.) is 5-foot-11, 195-pound righthanded pitcher who plays for Sox Baseball 17U. Sweatman earned the start this afternoon for his team versus Home Plate Chilidogs 17U Copeland at Brook Run, and was impressive all game on his way to pitching his team to a win. Sweatman used his good pitchability and a solid, up-beat tempo to attack his opponent’s lineup and consistently get ahead of hitters leading to a lot of soft contact and swing-and-miss results. Sweatman has sound mechanics, and showed good rhythm and timing with his smooth, free-and-easy arm action. Noah featured a pitch repertoire of a low-80s fastball with life and arm-side run and a curveball with depth and good shape which was clocked consistently in the high 60s occasionally touching 70 mph. He demonstrated the ability to mix both his pitches and locate all afternoon for strikes helping him scatter five hits over six innings of work, in a time-shortened affair.

Chay Yeager (2021, Fayetteville, Ga.) is an extremely athletic, sure-handed middle infielder who showed abilities all over the field this afternoon at Brook Run while competing with Home Plate Chillidogs 16U Argila. Yeager is a toolsy switch-hitting, athletic ballplayer who is currently ranked as the No. 15 shortstop in the state of Georgia in the 2021 class. An incoming junior at Starrs Mill High School in his hometown, Yaeger possesses a current carry tool with his glove yet demonstrates good hand-eye coordination, a quick trigger, and good barrel control at the plate. He moves well out of the box and on the bases as well as at shortstop. Glove is definitely his top carry tool at this time. He is a good athlete with quick twitch reactions and good range at short. He has soft hands and a good glove. Showcased the ability to get to all balls hit his way with range and swift actions. Has a strong accurate arm which he showed numerous times today across the diamond with carry through the bag. Very exciting player to watch. Plays the game hard and the right way.

-Matt Arietta
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