Power 25 HS Preview: #24 Winder-Barrow Bulldogs
January 20, 2023
We will begin to preview our Power 25 rankings each day until the season begins. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Top 10 in each GHSA classification as well as a Power 25. Be sure to follow PBR Georgia on twitter for live action each week, as our staff travels throughout the state to cover baseball in the great state of Georgia.
High School Name: Winder-Barrow Bulldogs
Coach’s Name: Brian Smith
Classification: GHSA Class 5A
2022 Record: 20-11
Region: 8-5A
No. of Returning Starters: 7
Team Strengths: Pitching Staff
Top Returning Players:
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RHP Layton Pruitt (Georgia College, 2023)
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RHP Brooks House (Alabama-Birmingham, 2023)
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C Carson Royal (LaGrange, 2023)
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3B Ryan Ford (Georgia College, 2023)
Top 2024 Prospects:
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SS Jack Perno
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RHP Gabe Tatum
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OF Ryan McNally
Top 2025 & 2026 Prospects:
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LHP Ayden Hall (2025)
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C Camden Hodge (UGA, 2025)
Team Outlook
Coming off a great ‘22 season the Bulldogs look to take their new region by storm and make it back to the state playoffs. They will now stack up against Loganville and Flowery Branch to see who comes out on top. Winder-Barrow will return two of their top bats in UGA commit Cam Hodge and Georgia College commit Ryan Ford. Both Hodge and Ford posted close to a .400 batting avg. for the ‘22 season. Hodge will see if he can top his 7 homerun freshman season with senior Ryan Ford at his heels with 5 a year ago. Ford is one of the top 2023 3B in the state of Georgia. The Bulldogs will be returning Layton Pruitt and Brooks House on the mound. Pruitt, a Georgia College commit, has been up to 88mph. Brooks House will be going to Alabama-Birmingham next year. We saw him up to 89mph at our event in June. I would expect to see him getting into the low 90’s with his 6-5 frame. Gabe Tatum is another name to remember for the ‘23 season. He was at our showcase in June and impressed with a 6-7 frame, and a fastball close to 90. The Bulldogs have the tools to put together a great 2023 campaign. They will open the season February 3rd vs Mill Creek.
UGA Commit Camden Hodge
‘25 C Camden Hodge (@TEAMELITENATION; @WBdiamonddoggs) hammers one over the CF’s head for an RBI triple. Mature, high-waisted frame with a nice approach and barrel direction in the zone. Strong flick of his wrists get the baseball to jump off his bat.@ShooterHunt #PBR15uNat pic.twitter.com/jiLkoYyY4y
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) July 12, 2022
Gabe Tatum
‘24 RHP Gabe Tatum(@WinderDoggs) is a 6’7 190 lb athlete who oozes projection. Balanced delivery w/ gd tempo, compact+well sequenced. Wicked angle from full circle AA+OH slot, easy arm spd. Strong on backside w/ impressive direction. FB 84-85 T86 bore, CB 68-70 snap @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/46h7F57hdj
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) March 31, 2022
Ryan Ford
‘23 3B Ryan Ford(@WBdiamonddoggs) is a DUDE. Didn’t see 4-4 HR performance 4/27, but loud all fields contact every AB I’ve seen. Simple timing w/ hands & stride, balanced base. Repeats launch position & path at high level. Fast but HEAVY hands thru contact. @ShooterHunt 6’1 225 pic.twitter.com/4ZubXS5l9S
— PBR Georgia (@PBRGeorgia) April 28, 2022