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Tournaments  | Story  | 3/2/2020

PG Spring Season Opener Notes

Greg Gerard      Drew Wesolowski     
Photo: Perfect Game
Caleb Brown (2024, Lilburn, Ga.) flashed his athleticism both at shortstop and at the dish. Very projectable build with a high waist showing room to fill out the young frame. Proved to have some range with a strong arm across the diamond on defense. Had a great weekend at the plate as the right-handed hitter found the barrel in almost every at-bat. He sprayed the baseball to all fields and tallied an extra-base hit to his name as well.

Connor Shouse (2024, Ball Ground, Ga.) took the mound for the East Cobb Astros early in Saturday’s action and asserted himself right away. The right-handed pitcher went right after hitters as he utilized drop and drive mechanics proving to be repeatable. Everything he threw moved and he flashed three-quarter arm slot that was hard to pick up out of hand for opposing hitters. His fastball was up to 77 mph with plenty of arm-side run. He mixed in a plus curveball that he tunneled well while getting swings and misses. He struck out eight batters while only walking two in his outing. He projects well on the mound as the pitchability is already visible.



Grayson Baldovin (2023, Lilburn, Ga.) showcased to be a solid top of the order bat as he played centerfield & middle infield as well. At the dish, he took a simple approach with quiet hands as he threw the barrel at the baseball. He showed complete confidence as he was not afraid to take a count deep, ultimately proving his legit lead-off hitter skills. He went on to steal three bags on the weekend and knocked in a few runs as well. His athleticism showed in the field as he played multiple positions well. Fundamentally sound in all aspects of the game.

Jordan Thompson (2024, Riverdale, Ga.) was by far one of the biggest power threats in the event this weekend. He flashed a physical 6-foot frame with broad shoulders and a very sturdy lower half. The right-handed hitter proved to could generate some leverage at the plate as he went on to swing it with intent. Not only did he find the barrel consistently, he drove it into the gaps with some pop. Late in the action on Sunday during a semi-final game, he led off an inning with a towering deep fly ball to left that bounced off the wall for a stand-up double. Although he was stranded and did not score, he got his point across that he is to be known as a power threat. Most impressively, he moved extremely well for a young man of his size and is someone to keep a very close eye on as he progresses down the road.

Tate Strickland (2024, Powder Springs, Ga.) utilized a long, lean frame with nothing but upside and room to fill as he hopped on the mound for the East Cobb Astros during Saturday’s action. The right-handed pitcher was free and easy with the arm action as he delivered from a three-quarter slot. He ran his fastball up to 78 mph and shows plenty more in the tank down the road. He went right after hitters and although he got hit around a little bit, the upside is showing in a big way with some coaching and adjustments to his approach. He also flashed a tight spinning slurvy hook that he landed for strikes. He projects as a someone who will throw hard one day.

Brett Andrews (2024, Stone Mountain, Ga.) showed to be one of the top catchers in the event. He sat athletically in his stance and proved to have very soft hands as he spotted up on the corners. Fundamentally sound catcher with a great feel for keeping the baseball in front of him. Hosed a runner at second late in the action during the playoffs Sunday. Proved he could get it done at the dish as well. In the same game, he battled in an eight pitch at-bat and went on to single up the middle and knock in a run. A solid defensive catcher who can swing it at the dish, valuable to say the least.

Ethan Rucker (2024, Marietta, Ga.) flashed an athletic frame as he took the mound for 643 DP Cougars Hawkins and he dominated. The right-handed pitcher took the mound in a 1-0 game and it was up to him to hold the lead. With a whippy arm and a downhill delivery, he carved up the opposing team. He pounded his spots with the fastball as it was up to 71 mph. He also mixed in a curveball that he tunneled well. He only gave up a hit and no runs as he struck a guy out as well. His emotions carried over to his team as he was an ultimate competitor on the mound. He ended up getting the save and ultimately pushed his team into the semifinals.

Jacob Burnham (2024, Key West, Fla.) got the start for 5 Star Lassitter in the semis and went on to fill it up. The left-handed pitcher worked quickly and went right after hitters. Worked with a high leg lift to drop and drive mechanics. The high waisted south paw proved to have some pitchability. The fastball was up to 75 mph early in his outing as he hit his spots throughout the entire outing. He struck out 6 batters as he went 6 2/3 innings as he pitched a gem giving his team every chance to win. Although 5 Star did not win, Burnham cemented himself as a legit southpaw with nothing but upside in his future.



Drew Sofield (2024, Hiawassee, Ga.) proved himself to be one of the top pitching prospects of the weekend. The left-handed pitcher flashed a large frame with an already filling out build. The southpaw took the mound for the East Cobb Astros during the semifinals and he got to work. He ran his fastball up to 82 mph and mixed in a nasty slider that he dropped on the back foot of righties. Although his outing was not stellar from a statistical standpoint, he checked every box as far as projectability and pitchability go. He will be someone to keep a close eye on as the body is already present and the arm is fluid and loose.

Dimitri Angelakos (2024, Woodstock, Ga.) played the game with some twitch and was a pleasure to watch at shortstop. Great first step quickness and an advanced feel for the position that was easily visible. Arm strength starting to show as he was very accurate to the bag. At the dish, the right-handed hitter took a top of the lineup approach as he sprayed the baseball around the park on a line. He was very comfortable in the box as he racked up four singles on the weekend. His best at-bat of the week came late in the action on Sunday in the semifinals as he singled to score in the tying run late in the action. With his overall feel and athleticism, he will be someone to closely monitor as the physical strength comes in over time.

Thorpe Musci (2024, Lilburn, Ga.) proved himself to be a big, physical right-handed pitcher as he came in for relief late in the semifinals for the Meridian Panthers. Musci utilized simple mechanics as he was balanced throughout before he delivered from a higher three-quarter slot. He did a good job of landing online consistently and worked downhill. The big righty went on to run his fastball up to 82 mph as the heater proved to be very heavy. He pounded his spots and showed nothing but a bright future as he projects to be a hard throwing righty. With his gamer mentality and physical attributes, he will be someone to closely monitor.

-Drew Wesolowski

William Hamacher (2025, Marietta, Ga.) is a small, yet athletic player who stood out at the top of the champion East Cobb Astros’s lineup in the 13u division. Hamacher shows an advanced feel for the barrel while also being disruptive on the base paths with good instincts.

Kade Kisz (2025, Woodstock, Ga.) showcased some of the best bat speed of any player at the 13u level. Kisz has one of the more tall and athletic frames to go along with a sweet right-handed swing that just missed a home run off of a 79-mph fastball in one at-bat in particular.

Jax Bishop (2025, Rome, Ga.) had the viewers looking on in the championship game buzzing as he topped out at the best velocity of the event with an 83-mph bolt. His arm action is loose and whippy through the back as the ball already jumps out of his hand well while also showing a tight curveball with later bite.

Tyler Holmes (2024, Tifton, Ga.) really stood out for his defensive prowess and outstandingly advanced hands at shortstop. The switch hitter from South Georgia had most of his reps at the plate during the event from the left side where his hands work well into a fluid stroke.

Jackson Bradfield (2024, Canton, Ga.) is a physically advanced right-handed hitting third baseman. Every swing Bradfield took on the weekend was with intent to drive the ball to both gaps. He connected on a bomb and also drove a fly ball off of the wall to the opposite field during his team’s four-game weekend.

Jaxon Walker (2024, Lenoir City, Tenn.) put together a strong performance with some of the best stuff from a pitcher on the mound. Topping out at 82 mph with his fastball, Walker pitched five innings punching out eight batters and allowing no runs in a win. Walker also has impact strength at the plate from his strong lower half with a gap-to-gap approach while having power potential in the future.

Antonio Fawcett (2024, Chicago, Ill.) first stood out for his range and athleticism in the outfield for the Ohio Spiders. He followed that up on Sunday with a homerun in the semifinals that came off his barrel well while showing a lift and direct hands to the baseball.

Sammy Ericson (2025, Canton, Ga.) is a two-way talent for GA Academy who stood out for his line drive swing plane and ability to execute a middle of the field approach while also touching 77 mph with his fastball. The delivery and arm strength are a bit raw, but the athleticism along with the ability to hit with consistency stand out in Ericson’s game.

Chase Fralick (2024, Peachtree City, Ga.) has a level swing and two-hand finish. The left-handed hitting infielder put several good swings on the ball and controlled the hitting zone although the hits were not always falling.

Jay O'Neal (2025, Cedartown, Ga.) has extremely advanced pitchability for his age. O’Neal already has three pitches that he can throw for strikes as he struck out a batter per inning with only one walk in his five innings of work. The fastball tops out at 74 mph with sinking action, curveball has short bite in the mid-60s and changeup as tumble out of his hand all coming from a compact arm action.

Erik Parker (2024, Snellville, Ga.) has an ideal frame to dream on for many years to come. The shortstop is a standout athlete at the 14u level and made big-time plays both at short and in the batter’s box. His right-handed swing produced several high exit velocities with plenty of ease to his stroke and power potential to come as he fills out.

Caden Marcos (2024, Acworth, Ga.) is also one of the top players at the 13u level in attendance at the Spring Season Opener. Marcos is an athletic defender who made a slow roller play with ease and showed a gap-to-gap approach at the plate with plenty of power to come in the future. The young 2024 graduate has a really high ceiling as a player to follow from 643 for years to come.

Ford Thompson (2024, Snellville, Ga.) has a really clean left-handed delivery with a fastball up to 75 mph, the ability to repeat his mechanics and pound the strike zone. Thompson has the ability to sink the fastball well and go to his solid curveball for swings and misses or soft contact.

Andrew Karhoff (2025, Akron, Ohio) is a physical standout at the 13u age group. Standing already at a completely believable 6-foot, 180 pounds and likely even larger than that on the eye test, Karhoff hopped on the mound and topped out at 79 mph with a sharp breaking ball after being up to 82 mph in January at the PG East MLK Tournament. 

-Greg Gerard
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