Georgia 2022 Rankings Update - Under the Radar Risers
April 25, 2022
Up 15 spots from No. 45 to No. 30 is SS Eric Snow (Mary Persons; USF). Snow may be one of the most underappreciated players in the entire state. He won’t jump out at you off paper, listed at 5-foot-10, 175-pounds, but he will make sure you won’t forget about him the moment he steps up to the plate. Simply put, Snow is a hitter, a gamer, and a grinder. The right-handed hitter made waves across the country last season as he broke the national record for triples. He is well on his way to another historic season with a batting average around .700 and 16 home runs. No explanation is necessary as the stats do the talking, but Snow can flat out rake with the best of them.
Flying up the rankings 41 spots since November to No. 33 is RHP Zach Harris (Cambridge; Georgia Southern). At 6 foot 1, 190 pounds with broad shoulders, long levers, and a built lower half, he’ll hold another 15-20 lbs comfortably. His delivery is the definition of high tempo, and his stuff brings the same energy. An old school overhead windup & short arm stroke from a low ¾ slot, you can hear his arm whip from layback through release point like he’s pitching a foot from your ear. An ancient pitching belief is that throwing a football builds arm strength and shoulder stability. That holds true in Zach’s case, as he’s QB1 for the Cambridge football team too. His FB sat 92-93 with an angry bore in our Georgia Dugout Club Tournament in near freezing temps, and has been up to the mid 90’s as it warmed up. Touching 100 mph down the line wouldn’t surprise us. Add in his low 80’s SL with late bang, and you’ve got a dynamite prospect.
Rising nearly 60 spots up the board from No. 95 to No. 37 is OF/SS Jackson Chirello (Etowah; Kennesaw State). When talking about under the radar prospects, Chirello might fit the description better than anyone. It is hard to imagine that looking at the left-handed hitter today. A long, lanky 6-foot-5, 185-pounds with a high level of athleticism, Chirello has one of the most projectable frames in the state. The work he has put into his frame over the past few seasons have paid huge dividends as he grew from 6-foot-2 to 6-foot-5 and packed on 35 pounds of muscle, going from 150 to 185. His athleticism and added strength play at the plate as he can drive the ball gap-to-gap with a quick, whippy swing. Chirello will also be able to stick in center field at the next level as he patrols the outfield with long, easy strides.
Up 32 spots from No. 85 to No. 53 is funky LHP Ryder Moye (Sequoyah; Wofford). There are very few pitchers more effective than a sidearm lefty with live stuff and pitchability. When you can’t see the ball until it comes out of the left hand batter’s box, it's quite a disadvantage to start with as a hitter. Moye has all of these unique characteristics and it doesn’t stop there. His wiry, gangly 5 foot 11 frame sets up across his body from the stretch adding to the unique angle his arm slot creates. His gradually snaking 84-86 T87 FB misses lots of barrels and he can locate it to both edges. He has two different impactful breaking balls. One is 70-72 from a low ¾ slot with a sharp, slurvy action and 2 plane depth. The other is a 67-69 sidearm sweeper that’s tough to square up. Can produce immediately for Wofford.
Up from No. 75 to No. 57 is Mr. Consistent, OF Jaden Anderson (Mount Pisgah; Georgia State). The stocky 5-foot-10 195-pounder sets up in a tall open stance and narrow base with a slow waggle in hands to keep him in rhythm. He’s got a handsy, high contact swing path on a naturally level plane. Has such impressive hand eye coordination that he can barrel any pitch in any zone, even when off balance. The more you watch him play, you realize he’s one of the purest hitters in the country. Makes consistent loud contact against top tier arms with the wood bat in his hands, which foreshadows what he’ll be swinging full time sooner rather than later. An A/AVG runner that plays plus due to instincts and first step. Those instincts and first step have the same impact in the outfield, where he has a quick exchange and a strong, accurate arm. An absolute steal for the Georgia State Panthers.
From outside the top 100 all the way to No. 62 is RHP Matthew Heard (Loganville; North Georgia). The 6 foot 2, 185 pounder has a large frame with long levers. One of the more athletic deliveries we’ve seen this spring, and it's very natural with no wasted movement. Simple windup with good direction from a nearly invisible short circle arm action ¾ slot. Running FB at 88-89 T90 that he likes to attack hitters inside with. Very good extension on FB glove side with angle. His SL 75-77 is a snap dragon that just falls off the planet. Throws a nice 70-73 CB for strikes that has serious potential. Could pitch at any college in the country.
Making the biggest jump in our entire 2022 rankings is RHP Carson Bryant at No. 72 (Perry; ABAC). Had one of the best performances we’ve seen all spring at our Georgia Dugout Club Tournament. Went 7 INN and held velo the entire way on his 87-89 T90 FB that comes straight from the ear with extraordinary running life. The 6 foot 1, 225 pounder with the body of a powerlifter can fill the zone and loves pitching to contact. His breaking ball is a 71-74 tunnels well with his FB and has late, slurvy action. Bryant is a sure starter in college who is a good blend of strikes and swing & miss.
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