Started By
Message
re: Baseball Recruiting Discussion
Posted on 11/5/13 at 4:03 pm to CayceCock13
Posted on 11/5/13 at 4:03 pm to CayceCock13
Damn Flora living up to their baseball reputation.
1
Posted on 11/5/13 at 6:42 pm to Cockopotamus
Coach Hallett doing work. 
Played against him a few timeswhen he coached their in my BC days, we didn't like Flora very much.
Played against him a few timeswhen he coached their in my BC days, we didn't like Flora very much.
This post was edited on 11/6/13 at 12:04 am
Posted on 11/11/13 at 6:20 pm to CayceCock13
quote:
Kendall Rogers ?@KendallRogersPG 58m
.@GamecockBasebll with another big-time commit, this time 2015 C Chris Cullen (ranked No. 66 by PG): LINK … #Gamecocks #SEC
Coach Holbrook tells Coach Staley, " I can do that too, Coach!"
Posted on 11/11/13 at 6:57 pm to ConwayGamecock
Good pickup.
Posted on 11/11/13 at 8:17 pm to ConwayGamecock
Wow, Cullen is a National Level prospect, he was a PG 2nd Team All American Underclassmen. He's one of those recruits you get stoked about your BB team getting, but in the back of your head you're thinking, "Is he going to go pro after HS though?" He should be drafted in the first 6 rounds.
Posted on 11/11/13 at 8:19 pm to CockInYourEar
2016 RHP Christopher Machamer, PG #29 Overall Player for the '16 class, also visited this past weekend. He's a big time national prospect as well and throwing in the low 90's as a Soph.
Posted on 11/12/13 at 9:13 am to CockInYourEar
VIP Notes from 247 on Baseball Recruiting:
quote:
Recruiting
-- There were a couple of big unofficial visitors on campus over the weekend. Class of 2015 catcher Chris Cullen (Cumming, Ga./West Forsythe) and class of 2016 right-handed pitcher Christopher Machamer (North Canton, Ohio/Washington) both came down to see what the program had to offer.
Cullen committed shortly before the release of the VIP Room. We will have a detailed update on him very shortly. He had a collection of big offers, including North Carolina, Vanderbilt, Georgia and others.
It’s obviously pretty early in the recruiting process for Machamer, who is the No. 29 player in the country in his class and was topping out at 91 mph recently in Fort Myers, Fla. Top schools from all over the country are after him and while the feedback was positive about the Gamecocks, it’s going to be a while before he makes a decision.
-- Another player to keep an eye on is class of 2016 outfielder Dalton Griffin (Guyton, Ga./South Effingham). Recruiting coordinator Sammy Esposito recently made a trip to the Peach State to see Griffin at a workout. Griffin visited Georgia over the weekend and a commitment could be coming shortly. Griffin is kind of unknown on the national level because he hasn’t participated in any showcase events. Florida, Florida State and Georgia have all be in contact though, so the colleges known to pound the bushes for recruits know a little bit about him.
-- South Carolina also has its eyes on another catcher, but this one is in the 2016 class. Brad Debo (Durham, N.C./Orange) is a player at the top of the board maybe for the entire class right now. He will be on campus this Saturday for the Florida game. There are several big programs after Debo with one being North Carolina.
-- Another big unofficial visitor coming to campus this weekend is 2016 uncommitted player Drew Parrish (Rockledge, Fla./Rockledge). He is a two-way player who is being recruited primarily as a left-handed pitcher but he can also play some in the outfield. He plays showcase baseball for the Orlando Scorpions, a program that the Gamecocks are starting to recruit a little bit harder than in years past.
Posted on 11/13/13 at 9:16 pm to CayceCock13
Story about '15 Class Catcher Commit Chris Cullen.
Carolina landing Elite 2015 Catcher Recruit
Carolina landing Elite 2015 Catcher Recruit
quote:
Catcher Chris Cullen (Cumming, Ga./West Forsyth) became the 12th commitment for the Gamecocks in the 2015 baseball recruiting class on Monday night picking USC over finalists Georgia and Vanderbilt. Cullen had a boatload of SEC and ACC offers and is ranked as the No. 66 player in the country by Perfect Game.
“I wanted to talk to the players more than the previous visit,” Cullen said. “The players enjoy everything about South Carolina. They have fun on the field and always have fun at practice. They enjoy going to school there and the campus. That pushed me over the edge and helped me to see I’ll have a great time there in the future.”
“Other than the amazing facilities they have there, I had a great relationship with the coaches and players there,” Cullen said. “I felt like everything clicked. They made me feel comfortable. I believe the coaches will develop me, send me to the next level and achieve my ultimate goal of going to the pros. I have trust in the coaches and get along with them well. I feel like South Carolina is where I need to be.”
“My versatility is a big thing that recruiters usually talk about,” Cullen said. “I play a solid catcher and third base. Offensively, I swing a hot bat. I am a gap-to-gap hitter and have some power to leave the yard. I’m a team player and I’m always there to encourage my teammates. I kind of see myself as a leader on some of the teams I’ve been on.”
He is currently ranked as the No. 7 catcher nationally in the 2015 class and participated with Team USA baseball.
“There’s always room for improvement,” Cullen said. “I’ve got to get stronger. I’m a smart baseball player but I still have a lot to learn about the game. Behind the plate, the coaches can help me learn how to call the game. I definitely need to get stronger and smarter on the field.”
Posted on 11/14/13 at 9:47 am to CayceCock13
SPURlative Awards by JW on 247 on this upcoming Recruiting Class of 2014.
SPURlative Article
SPURlative Article
quote:
Best position player - Clark Scolamiero
We have maintained on this site for a long time that Scolamiero, an outfielder, is the best position player in the state. He’s also the best position player in the class. The left-handed hitter will come to South Carolina with a great chance to figure into the starting outfield next season with the top four current players all being juniors and potentially leaving for professional baseball. Scolamiero is already an elite defensive outfielder. He has a strong plate approach, works walks and will hit for a high average. Over the course of the last few months, Scolamiero has worked hard on his speed and a better time is expected from him for Pro Day in January. He has the tools to be an early impact player and three-year starter at South Carolina.
quote:
Best pitcher - Alex Destino
There really just are not a lot of pitchers out there like Destino, who stands 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds throwing from the left side. He’s a power arm and has been as high as 93 mph on the radar gun drawing the attention of professional scouts. He’s high on the MLB boards right now and there’s certainly a chance that he doesn’t attend school. That being said, right now, Destino is a Gamecock. He’s got a developing breaking ball that hovers around 80 mph to go along with an already pretty good changeup. This is a pitcher-heavy class and many guys could fit into the spot but Destino earns the honor by a nose.
quote:
Biggest upside - Clarke Schmidt
Schmidt, a right-handed pitcher, has shown flashes of being a top player nationally on the mound. He’s currently ranked the No. 207 player in the country by Perfect Game but, at times, he’s looked top 100. Schmidt first jumped onto the radar for pinpoint command but he’s recently found more velocity on his fastball occasionally creeping up to 91 mph. He sits comfortably in the upper 80s but there have been times on the big stage where he’s lost his command. The key for Schmidt is finding consistency - both in his velocity and control as he has great potential with both. He can put it all together and be one of the top players in this 2014 class.
quote:
Best late get - Jared Martin
This came down to two players - Martin and Stokes - and both are huge pickups very late in the process. Martin gets the honor, at least in part, because he comes in to play at a huge position of need next year. The Gamecocks will lose Grayson Greiner to the draft next June in the first two rounds. Current freshman Logan Koch is already on the roster and will undoubtedly have a few games under his belt but two catchers are a must at the college level and Martin will come in with two years of junior college experience. He hit .354 last year with three home runs and 45 RBIs. He also threw out 9 of 17 base runners. Martin was the last member of the 2014 class and definitely one of the most important. That's not to take anything away from freshman catcher commitment Hunter Taylor, who had a great summer with the EvoShield Canes and came up with some huge hits. There's a lot to be said for experience and Martin will have that in spades.
quote:
Biggest sleeper prospect - Tyler Johnson
One player who flew under the radar during the recruiting process was Johnson, a Richmond, Va. native who had interest and offers from Army, Navy, Virginia Tech and a little bit from Virginia before committing to the Gamecocks. Pitching coach Jerry Meyers discovered Johnson and tabled the first big-time offer to the right-hander. Still, Johnson doesn’t receive a lot of national love, despite the fact that he’s beaten some of the top showcase programs in the country and led his high school team to the state championship game. Johnson comes a little bit quietly to South Carolina in a big class of pitchers but he’s certainly one to keep an eye to contribute over three or four years.
quote:
Best interview - O'Kevius Conway
Many of the players in the 2014 class are on the reserved, quiet side. Conway fits into that category in a lot of ways but he also is one of the most respectful players in the class when dealing with the media, very open and a good quote. Conway is just returning to the field after spending 10 months on the sideline recovering from an ACL injury. Conway was always open to talking about his injury and the trials to overcome.
quote:
Impact freshman - Madison Stokes
The adage in baseball is if you hit, you play. Stokes, a former commitment to The Citadel, is the best hitter in the class when looking at both average and power. While he comes to school as a shortstop, he could easily make the move over to third base, which is a position that could lay vacant after this season, depending on who the coaches decide to play there in 2014. Stokes would be a very good defensive third baseman but his bat may be too good to keep him out of the lineup in some capacity. Stokes is a versatile player defensively but he certainly has a bat that can play immediately.
This post was edited on 11/14/13 at 10:12 am
Posted on 11/15/13 at 8:16 pm to CayceCock13
From JW earlier today:
I'll find the notes and post them in a few.
ETA: Nvm, the VIP notes I posted earlier on this page are from this week and talk about him.
quote:
South Carolina picked up a 2016 outfield commitment, Dalton Griffin, late Thursday night. I'm driving in the rain right now. Will type up some notes soon. There were some notes in the VIP room this week about him.
I'll find the notes and post them in a few.
ETA: Nvm, the VIP notes I posted earlier on this page are from this week and talk about him.
This post was edited on 11/15/13 at 8:36 pm
Posted on 11/18/13 at 7:42 pm to CayceCock13
Recruiting Notes
VIP Recruiting Notes:
VIP Recruiting Notes:
quote:
-- While there was a big group of visitors on campus, there were only a pair of big-time uncommitted prospects in for the Florida football game, both are 2016 players. One of the top targets - perhaps the top target - in the class is Catcher Brad Debo (Durham, N.C./Orange). Debo visited with his father and had a great time at the game. North Carolina and N.C. State are the other primary players for Debo’s services. The Wolfpack have been pushing hard for a commitment while the Tar Heels are very involved as well.
The Gamecocks have extended an offer to Debo and feel good about their chances at this point. He spent a great deal of time talking with players currently committed while on the visit, namely 2015 shortstop LT Tolbert. There isn’t a timeframe for Debo to commit but we will not rule out a decision sooner rather than later. He’s been on visits to each school.
Tolbert is the Bryson Allen-Williams of the baseball program. He recruits very hard for the program, he’s a great player that other great players want to play with and he has the type of personality that other people want to be around. Tolbert, as evidenced by his interaction with Debo, will recruit players from other classes, too. He was instrumental in landing 2016 infield commitment Grant Bodison.
-- The other big uncommitted prospect on campus for the game was left-handed pitcher Drew Parrish (Rockledge, Fla./Rockledge). While he’s a two-way player, he’s considered more of a pitcher right now by many. As a 2016 prospect, there is plenty of time to decide where he fits the best or if he can be a legitimate two-way prospect at the college level. The most important thing for the staff was to get him feeling good about the program at an early stage. The feeling is that was accomplished on the trip as he was very impressed by the atmosphere at Williams-Brice Stadium. Parrish, who is currently ranked as the No. 65 player in the country, does not plan to make a decision until next summer. He’s visiting several schools this fall.
-- Look for the Gamecocks to try to make a move with 2017 infielder Mason Streater (Duncan/Byrnes). He will visit for the Clemson game in a couple of weeks and is one of the early top players in the class. He started at shortstop as an eighth grader for Byrnes, which is a good baseball program. Streater, as a freshman, is also a backup safety on the varsity football team. He wants to play baseball in college and he’s also very close with 2017 quarterback Jake Bentley (Duncan/Byrnes).
This post was edited on 11/18/13 at 7:43 pm
Posted on 11/22/13 at 1:34 pm to CayceCock13
HS/Travel Ball Coaches Thoughts on Players in '14 & '15 Class
Class of 2014:
Class of 2014:
quote:
LHP/OF Alex Destino - We just need him to be the leader I believe he can be. He’s a leader by example and it’s showing on the field this fall. He’s getting the younger guys on the field and bringing his senior classmates out to the field with him. His intensity in the weight room has increased. He’s understanding that it transfers out onto the field. I told him I was going to have him to 96 mph by the time the season starts. He has high expectations placed upon him. I’ve told him to go out and do his thing. He’s accomplished a lot and he’s in an elite group. He has to be himself and everything will be OK. - North Buncombe High School coach Matt Landreth
quote:
RHP Junior Harding - When he comes to school, he’s going to step in right away and be an impact guy as a freshman if the draft doesn’t get him. He is mid-90s with his fastball right now and he’s starting to get good command of his slider right now. His slider is 85 mph and he has plus stuff right now. He eats up that closer role; he’s not scared of anyone. There’s nothing bad to say about him. He works out every day, even on days he pitches he wants me to take him to the weight room. He lives for it. I think he’s going to be an impact guy right away if he shows up on campus. Getting him to school is the biggest challenge. - EvoShield Canes U17 coach Jeff Petty
quote:
RHP Tyler Johnson - He knows heading into South Carolina that he needs to be physically stronger and that’s an area where he’s made big strides. That’s a place where freshmen are unaware. The guys who have been in the program are physically stronger than the freshmen are. One thing I did with him this summer is I always threw him against the best competition we’d play so he’d get familiar with facing top hitters before he heads to school. In high school, he doesn’t always face great competition. He accepted that and he always wanted to pitch against the best teams. Early on, he showed he wasn’t scared against facing top teams. He embraced it, wanted the ball and he does play with a chip on his shoulder. He’s had to deal with some jealously from people. People try to criticize and he’s handled that. He just keeps working hard. He has had a lot of very good performances against good teams and great kids committed to big schools. Every time he took the mound, he was solid. I always knew as soon as his velo went up, the big schools would want him. - Richmond Braves head coach Eddie Jones
quote:
OF Clark Scolamiero - This summer, he’s been working on putting his tools together. With his speed, he’s progressed in his 60, with his aggression on the bases, and running with his head up on the bases has been a huge improvement. In centerfield, he’s getting great jumps and learning to put himself in position where he doesn’t have to dive. Arm wise, it’s gotten stronger every time he’s been on the field. He’s learning to long-hop the baseball to get the throw into bases quicker. Offensively, he struggled early in the summer but he’s learning his niche at home plate with his stance and his hands. He’s looking for more extension through the baseball. One area he lacks in his game is power. Overall, he’s turned himself into a baseball player and he’s not just an athlete playing centerfield. He has a great chance to go in and play. He can help if he’s not a starter in a lot of different ways. - West End Baseball head coach and Greenville High School assistant Jeff Young
quote:
RHP Clarke Schmidt - I saw him first as a sixth grader and he was a yard rat. He was always around the game and you could tell he was a pretty special ball player. It was probably between his freshman and sophomore year when you could see the maturity and the little twitch action in his arm. His velocity went up at least eight or nine miles per hour and has continued to increase since then. He’s always had the intangibles, it was just whether his body was going to catch up with his talent. On the mound, he had very good control last year and velocity, for a junior, was very good. Where he needs to improve is putting guys away early in the count. Sometimes he’d get ahead early in the count and it’d turn to 2-2 or 3-2. Keep his pitch count down and get that out pitch earlier in the count. - Allatoona High School coach Keith Hansen
quote:
C Hunter Taylor - Hunter Taylor has been our best hitter all summer. His approach at the plate, staying inside the ball, hitting it the other way and can hit it for power. Catch-and-throw wise, he’s one of the best guys we have and he receives well. Our pitchers really like throwing to him. South Carolina recruited him as a catcher but I don’t know if they know what kind of bat they’re getting. His bat, though, plays right away because of the appraoah that he has. Some of our guys have a long swing but he has a relaly good approach at the plate and it pays dividends for him. - EvoShield Canes U17 coach Jeff Petty
quote:
RHP Braden Webb - Braden was really good for us last year. He had a really good high school season. He tweaked his back during high school season and came back too early. This summer, we probably brought him on too early. We shut him down for about three weeks and put him on a throwing program. He’s back to form now, low 90s fastball with a plus curve ball. He competes, loves to compete and I know he’s really frustrated with his start to the summer. But he’s healthy again, back where he was, and we’re really excited about that. He’s one of the best arms we have. He’s another guy who can compete for a weekend job, as long as he stays healthy. - EvoShield Canes U17 coach Jeff Petty
quote:
Util. Jared Williams - Jared had a good summer. He’s starting to be more situational at the plate. Bunting the ball, pushing and dragging, he’s gotten a whole lot better at this summer. Arm strength is going to be an issue with him. He’s got the speed but his game, his baseball instincts, are very, very high. You’re just looking at a very good baseball player. - Diamond Devils coach and Diamond Prospects area scout Barry Mabry
Posted on 11/22/13 at 1:35 pm to CayceCock13
Class of 2015:
quote:
OF Danny Blair - Danny Blair is just a complete athlete for us. He’s a five-tool guy. He hits leadoff for us most of the year but we’ve moved him around some. When he hits the ball, it goes. He has plenty of athleticism as our centerfielder. He runs the ball down well. One of the things that comes along as he matures will be more arm strength. Building some more instincts will help. With the tools he has, he’s going to be a contributor to that program when he gets there. Another thing for him, with his speed, is he needs to develop a little more of a short game. Being able to bunt for a hit, put the ball in the hole. He’s got a live bat. - EvoShield Canes U16 coach John Batchelor
quote:
RHP Kaleb Bowman - Kaleb is one of our better guys. On the mound, he’s a competitor. One of the things you love about Kaleb is he wants the ball in any situation and we’ll give him the ball at the beginning of the game or out of the bullpen. He’s got the mentality to close. He’s strong mentally out there. South Carolina is recruiting the arm but I think his immediate impact is a Bobby Wahl type of guy - maybe come in and close or be a late relief guy. With his stuff, he’s got a live fastball and a quick arm. He repeats his delivery, which gives him ability to locate his offspeed and his slider is getting there. The big thing for him is being able to pitch efficiently. At the higher level, he needs to be a little more consistent and more efficient on the mound. - EvoShield Canes U16 coach John Batchelor
quote:
OF Kep Brown - He’s a raw power guy and a very toolsy kid. A lot of pressure has been put on him because he’s so young and was an early commit. The swing is getting a little long, and he needs to shorten up, but raw power is his key attribute. He’s a speedy guy for his size at 6-foot-5. I don’t know if he projects in the outfield; he may have to move to first base, but he can hit. - Diamond Devils coach and Diamond Prospects area scout Barry Mabry
quote:
RHP Cody Morris - Cody has been our best pitcher this summer. He’s a big power guy. The velocity sits around 90. You don’t find many 16 year olds with that kind of arm. What makes him special is he keeps the ball down in the zone. And the plus breaking ball. As he continues to develop his changeup, he’ll be a big guy. Cody will be a gem and has the opportunity to step into the weekend rotation right off the bump. He’s lean and he needs to get stronger. That will be a big thing for him but we look forward to seeing where he ends up.
quote:
SS LT Tolbert - There’s not a lot you can say about LT in a bad way. For him, you can tell he’s been taught to play the game the right way. He’s one of our best guys, if not the best. He has solid instincts on the bases and defensively. He runs our defense for us, knows where to be in situations and is a great leader. He’s definitely been our leader this year not only verbally but by his actions. He picks guys up when he needs to and gets on them when he needs to. He’s a completely player. He’s a great shortstop. Speed wise, he can improve there. That may be the only thing that holds him back a little bit. The bat is live, he has great hands. He has a live arm if they want to use him on the mound but I think he plays shortstop. - EvoShield Canes U16 coach John Batchelor
quote:
LHP Logan Allen - Logan is one of the best pitchers, if not the best, in the state of North Carolina. The world is his oyster right now. He’s got an opportunity to play at several major college programs. Having a left-handed pitcher who can run it up into the 90s is something anyone would like to have. He’s a smart kid who knows how to pitch. The upside for him is his ability to get better. A lot of guys, they’re throwing 90 now but I think he’ll sit 90 and reach 93. He’s going to be a big arm when he gets to college.
Posted on 11/26/13 at 8:00 pm to CayceCock13
quote:
Impact freshman - Madison Stokes
The adage in baseball is if you hit, you play. Stokes, a former commitment to The Citadel, is the best hitter in the class when looking at both average and power. While he comes to school as a shortstop, he could easily make the move over to third base, which is a position that could lay vacant after this season, depending on who the coaches decide to play there in 2014. Stokes would be a very good defensive third baseman but his bat may be too good to keep him out of the lineup in some capacity. Stokes is a versatile player defensively but he certainly has a bat that can play immediately.
I know him and his family very well. Great kid, wants to be a Gamecock shortstop. Knocks the cover off the ball and has a cannon for an arm. No danger of him going in the draft because he comes from big money.
We're going to be very happy with Maddy on the roster.
Posted on 11/26/13 at 10:29 pm to scrooster
Saw him in the playoffs last year, was very impressed by him.
Posted on 11/26/13 at 10:50 pm to CayceCock13
quote:
Saw him in the playoffs last year, was very impressed by him.
Yeah, his brother plays for The Citadel is the only reason he was originally committed to attending there. He really always wanted to be a Gamecock. Kid is a player. Holbrook and Company got a steal getting him. He's like Connor Shaw on a baseball field ... lives and breaths the game. Has since he was old enough to pick up a ball and bat. Just a damn smart, savvy, baseball player that plays the game with a lot of hustle.
Posted on 12/7/13 at 2:33 pm to scrooster
From JW on 247:
quote:
(Durham, N.C./Orange). The staff first identified him as a target back in mid-October and had the chance to see him play in Florida at a Perfect Game tournament.
There were some loose ties with recruiting coordinator Sammy Esposito and Brad Debo’s father, Tony Debo, who was a sportscaster in the Raleigh area and covered N.C. State when Esposito was a player and his father the coach. While those helped, Esposito was first intrigued by Debo seeing him on the field.
The first thing that jumps out is Debo’s ability at the plate. He has a great looking swing from the left side with a lot of bat speed. He hits the ball hard and hits it with a lot of power. Ball flies off his bat pretty well in the one game that I saw him. Debo doesn’t get cheated when he’s at the plate.
Defensively, I didn’t get to see much of him but he was throwing bullets to second base. I’m told he’s 1.8-1.9 seconds pretty consistently with his pop times. He has great build for a catcher standing 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds. He’s well put together right now as just a sophomore in high school.
Debo is ranked as the No. 3 catcher in the country and the No. 27 player regardless of position. Being that he’s a sophomore, it’s impossible to project anything about the MLB Draft.
I will say that I really like 2015 catcher Chris Cullen and Debo in the 2016 class. Both are very balanced players at their position in that they can hit and play defense. The position in the future is in very good hands long term.
This post was edited on 12/7/13 at 2:34 pm
Posted on 12/7/13 at 3:09 pm to CayceCock13
quote:
Debo is ranked as the No. 3 catcher in the country and the No. 27 player regardless of position.
That's what I'm talking about.
Posted on 12/17/13 at 7:09 pm to CayceCock13
quote:
Debo is ranked as the No. 3 catcher in the country and the No. 27 player regardless of position. Being that he’s a sophomore, it’s impossible to project anything about the MLB Draft.
... which means we'd better not count on him enrolling. Great commit though!
Posted on 1/10/14 at 7:34 pm to scrooster
Coach Espo breaking down each recruit from the 2014 Class:
quote:
LHP/OF Alex Destino - We’ve got to get Destino. He can be a front-line, weekend arm right away. He can also hit in the middle of our lineup from Day 1. He’ll be a high draft pick. Upper 80s, low 90s fastball with a lot of power on the offensive side. He’s a perfect guy for college to come in and be a designated hitter and pitcher. He can come in right away and be a weekend guy and hit four, five, or six in the lineup. Big-time power and big-time breaking ball.
quote:
RHP Junior Harding - Has been closing for his travel ball team but he does a little bit of everything in high school. He has the closer mentality. He’s a shorter right-hander in the low 90s and he’s been a little bit higher than that. He has the mentality of a guy you’re looking for to pitch at the end of ball games.
quote:
RHP Tyler Johnson - Projectable right-handed pitcher and has a prototypical body. He’s upper 80s right now but projects well. He has a good breaking ball and will get into the low 90s as we put some weight on him. We saw him on our field a couple summers ago. Coach Meyers liked what he saw, we offered him and he committed.
quote:
C Jared Martin - He’s a two-year starter at Chattahoochee Valley. He’s a good defensive catcher with a very good arm. He has the ability to hit for some power and a good average. He was one of their top RBI producers as a freshman and will be in the middle of the lineup this year at Chattahoochee. He has the potential to come in and be our starting catcher next year. He has played a lot of baseball, caught some good arms and comes in with two years of college experience. He’s an older, mature guy.
quote:
RHP Brandon Murray - He was a camp evaluation. He came last fall and was 90-91. He kind of burst onto the scene this past summer and has been all the way up to 97 mph at the national showcase. He pitched in the AFLAC game and was with Team USA at the Tournament of the Stars. He was a big-time arm in Jupiter, Fla. this fall. He probably has the most upside or biggest arm out of anyone in the class. He can have a good breaking ball at times.
quote:
RHP Dylan Rodgers - He’s 88-91 at SMC and will be a frontline guy for them this year. He was their best pitcher late in the year in their run to the JUCO World Series and was their Game 1 starter. He has a good slider. He’s a tall, skinny guy who can fill out and can go high in the draft. He has a projectable and quick arm. He’s gotten better each year. He was a pitchability guy in high school but has made a nice jump in velocity.
quote:
RHP/MIF Clarke Schmidt - I really liked him down in Jupiter this fall. You sit and watch and think if he keeps doing the right things, he’s going to be really good. He’s got a good arm and I really like his curve ball. He’s usually a strike thrower. He’s gotten better every time out. He’s an athletic pitcher who is also a shortstop, so he brings that athleticism onto the mound. He has the potential to be a frontline arm.
quote:
OF Clark Scolamiero - He’s got a chance to be the next great outfielder in line with Jackie Bradley Jr. and Evan Marzilli as a left-handed hitter. Good defender and some power will come in his bat as he gets older. He’s a solid hitter and a top-of-the-lineup guy. He’s a plus defender who has a chance to take over for Tanner English right away. He’s no doubt the best outfielder in the state of South Carolina and there’s no comparison there with anyone else in the state.
quote:
INF Madison Stokes - Athletic infielder, big, strong kid who can play short or any of the infield positions. He was recruited to come in and be a middle of the lineup hitter and play somewhere in the infield. Hopefully he can come in and produce right away for us. He’s got the size and ability to be a front line infielder for us. We were looking to add another hitter and infield in the classes going forward. We were able to get a local kid who has a chance to be a power bat and an excellent defender as well.
quote:
C Hunter Taylor - He can really hit. Physical, right-handed hitter and a catcher with good arm strength. He’s an offensive guy right now and he’s hit in every tournament and at every level. He’s one of the top-ranked catchers in the country. We’re bringing him in next year to compete for the starting job. He can be a middle of the lineup kind of hitter. He is a clutch performer coming up with big hits, game-winning hits for his showcase team throughout the summer and the fall.
quote:
RHP Braden Webb - He’s a big-arm right-hander who pitched in the AFLAC All-American game and Area Code Games. He’s a highly-ranked guy out of Oklahoma who has been up to 94 mph on his fastball. He has good run and sink on his fastball. He has some good pitchability with a plus breaking ball.
quote:
2B Jared Williams - He’s probably the second best infielder in the state behind Madison Stokes. He’s just a baseball player; he can play anywhere. Plays second, short, third and can also go in the outfield. The best way to describe him is just a baseball player. He can bunt, hit-and-run, moves the baseball - he’s a baseball rat. He can fill in at any spot in the infield but also has the ability to run out in the outfield. Handles the bat well. He’ll be either a top of the lineup or bottom of the lineup kind of guy because he can really move the baseball. He’s gotten so much bigger and stronger. He looks physical, too. The weight room will do wonders for him when he gets here but he already looks like he belongs.
This post was edited on 1/10/14 at 7:35 pm
Page 8 of 18
Popular
Back to top
Follow SECRant for SEC Football News