Preseason All-State: Middle Infielder Reports

February 1, 2023
PBR Georgia Staff

The Preseason All-State was held January 8th at LakePoint Sports. This event was a great chance to see where the athletes were at after a long off season of hard work. These players will be names that we follow throughout the high schools season. The Preseason All-State is a great time for us see these athletes before their season begins. These players went through extended pro-style workout that included batting practice using Trackman and Blast Motion, ran the 60 yard dash using Swift Performance, and much more. Pitchers were able to throw in simulated bullpens during the workout and were able to get numbers and metrics off of our Trackman unit, such as pitch velocity, spin rate, horizontal & vertical movement & much more. There were some players who showed up and continued to build off of prior performances, but there were also some new names who jumped onto our radar with a strong showing on Sunday.

Continuing our post-event coverage for this event, we take a look back at all infielders that were in attendance at the event.

Top 10 Prospects

Connor Shouse SS / RHP / Pickens County, GA / 2024

Rankings StateRank: 11 / POS: 6 OverallRank: 109 / POS: 28

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds.
Hits: SH.
Power: 100 max exit velocity, averaged 88.9 MPH. 398' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-95 mph.
Defense:
Run: 6.88 runner in the 60

Keon Johnson SS / RHP / First Presbyterian Day, GA / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 3 / POS: 3

Positional Profile: SS/RHP Light tower power potential. Great makeup and very toolsy.
Body: 6-2, 190-pounds. XL frame with coat hanger shoulders, lean strength throughout.
Hits: RHH. Good body control, swing develops in perfect sequence. Hip pace/knee 2 knee clearance in lower half, attacking stride that catches the ball out front. Separation timing, torque at landing are optimal. Manipulates Path. Bat Spd+Strength. Dynamic all fields swing path thats short and direct. Launch angle and loft fits the profile of many power hitters at games highest level
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 88.8 MPH. 346' max distance. Big power to all fields for age, mixture of top spin and back spin.
Arm: RH. INF-90 mph.Short, loose arm action to an over-the-top slot, ultra quick arm speed, easy effort carry across the diamond, accurate, one of the strongest arms in the class.
Defense: Fields position athletically, plays through with active feet, quick to spot, soft glove, funnels into mid section and gathers lower half, quick exchange.
Run: 7.03 runner in the 60.

Julian Carter SS / 2B / Riverwood, GA / 2025

Rankings StateRank: 19 / POS: 5 OverallRank: 207 / POS: 55

Positional Profile: SS/2B High ceiling with an interesting all around game.
Body: 6-0, 160-pounds. Medium, wiry strong frame, long levers.
Hits: RHH. Wide, athletic base, shoulders & hips square to plate. Quiet movement in hands with extremely fluid one piece load with very good separation timing. Hips are engine of swing and he uses them very well to create momentum and gradual separation. Knob led path thats short to, long thru. Optimal launch angles at contact create loft. The stronger he gets, the more his power potential will show.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 78 MPH. 267' max distance. Ball carries to both gaps with consistent back spin.
Arm: RH. INF-79 mph.Full circle, H3/4 arm action.
Defense: Footwork at SS is special, as is the glove. Smooth exchange
Run: 7.21 runner in the 60.

Jackson Uggla 2B / SS / North Cobb Christian, GA / 2024

Rankings StateRank: 92 / POS: 1

Positional Profile: 2B/SS Some of the more advanced offensive intangibles in the state.
Body: 5-9, 175-pounds. Stocky frame, proportional with athleticism.
Hits: RHH. Balanced, strong stance with a high back elbow, weight distributed evenly helps trigger load. One of the cleanest forward moves in the state. Downward action in swing with good barrel lag, direct hip rotation, and shoots liners all over the diamond with power developing
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 83.6 MPH. 328' max distance. Mixture of backspin and top spin to all fields.
Arm: RH. INF-81 mph.short AA with a H3Q slot
Defense: will become lighter on his feet with further maturity, good reads on short hops
Run: 7.35 runner in the 60.

Chrstian Starks 2B / RHP / Pickens , GA / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 27 / POS: 1

Positional Profile: 2B/RHP High ceiling bat for class.
Body: 6-1, 160-pounds. Broad shoulders, long levers, tons of room to fill out.
Hits: RHH. He has good hip pace, rides the backside in stride creating some of the best linear connection in the class as the hands are thrown. His weight distribution at landing is perfect, and he routinely catches the ball just outside his front foot for big exit velocity barrels innate ability to match pitch plane with his short, direct path that gets optimal extension.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 77.7 MPH. 305' max distance. Repeats swing better than most his age, gap to gap juice.
Arm: RH. INF-79 mph.Needs work on shortening arm action to fit in IF, as well as changing arm angles on certain plays. Big arm swing L3/4 slot.
Defense: Solid balance, moves to ball with aggressiveness. Stays down through ball well.
Run: 7.56 runner in the 60.

Carson Ray SS / 2B / Woodward Academy , GA / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 40 / POS: 7

Positional Profile: SS/2B Well rounded SS with nice bat 2 ball skills.
Body: 5-11, 155-pounds. Large frame with strength throughout, long levers.
Hits: RHH. Unorthodox separation but hand eye is undeniable, and translates very well to game vs quality arms. Good lower half move. Very impressive inside out path that creates backspin lasers to oppo gap. Showed improved ability to front arm shrink and turn barrel in tight space. Got stronger over winter as well.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 80.7 MPH. 309' max distance. Back spin lasers to oppo gap, starting to do same pull side gap.
Arm: RH. INF-82 mph.Clean 3/4 arm action.
Defense: Plays through the ball with confidence, fields out front, soft glove, funnels into mid section, quick exchanges, gets rid of the ball fast.
Run: 7.47 runner in the 60.

Landon Kemp SS / RHP / Cherokee Bluff, GA / 2025

Rankings StateRank: 103 / POS: 17

Enter Analysis Here

Caden Kessler OF / RHP / Effingham County, GA / 2024

Rankings StateRank: 158 / POS: 32

Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-0, 177-pounds. Large frame, plenty of room to fill out.
Hits: RHH. Base just outside shoulders, barrel set up vertically. Good rhythm between hips & hands. Extremely clean little c load that creates effortless twitch in hands. Well sequenced. Short to, long through path with perfect launch angle for loft.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 87.8 MPH. 340' max distance. Back spin doubles and more to pull side. Tons of carry.
Arm: RH. INF-82 mph.Full circle arm action 3/4 slot.
Defense: Positions himself well, sure hands with consistent exchange.
Run: 7.41 runner in the 60

Ben Fussell SS / RHP / Coffee, GA / 2026

Rankings StateRank: 45 / POS: 8

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-8, 160-pounds. Large, stocky frame.
Hits: RHH. Athletic base with optimal balance and weight distribution. Very quiet, simple actions with perfect separation timing creating torque into landing. Short, direct path, top hand palm up thru contact.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 81.3 MPH. 316' max distance. Backspin to both gaps.
Arm: RH. INF-77 mph.Short, sidearm slot.
Defense: Solid footwork, solid hands.
Run: 7.32 runner in the 60.

AJ Rice SS / RHP / Pickens, GA / 2026

Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-10, 150-pounds. Medium frame, wiry strong w/ long levers for height.
Hits: RHH. Gradual move forward creates slight separation between lower & upper half. Very balanced throughout with good body control for size. Level, contact oriented path. Very consistent barrels.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 78.5 MPH. 284' max distance. Line drives to all fields.
Arm: RH. INF-82 mph.Very clean 3/4 arm action, quicker releease.
Defense: Nice anticipation, reads hops well. Hands push thru ball subtly stopping all bad hops. Momentum always going toward bag.
Run: 7.86 runner in the 60.

Best of the rest (alphabetically)

Collin Ewaldsen, Appling County, 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/SS Potential to throw really hard.
Body: 5-11, 155-pounds. High waist, long arms for height. Medium frame.
Hits: LHH. Medium base, slightly open with good rhythm in hips & hands. Well timed separation. Good feel for inside out swing, can manipulate barrel to different pitch locations.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 77.3 MPH. 282' max distance. Line drives to both gaps.
Arm: RH. INF-90 mph.Short circle arm action H3/4 slot. Tons of arm speed.
Defense: Solid footwork, sure hands and positioning.
Run: 7.16 runner in the 60.

Braden Gabel, Mount Paran, 2024
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-8, 155-pounds. Medium frame, some length.
Hits: RHH. Tall setup with medium base, high hands just above head. Repeats load and launch position. Well timed stride. Downhill path that levels out on time to match plane.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 79.7 MPH. 283' max distance. Backspin to both gaps.
Arm: RH. INF-82 mph.Short, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Solid glove, needs to be more aggressive to baseball.
Run: 6.93 runner in the 60.

Ellington Hodge, Decatur, 2024
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-1, 170-pounds. High waist, broad shoulders, long levers.
Hits: RHH. Strong, athletic base with optimal balance. Good rhythm between hips & hands, impressive feel for separation timing. Short, direct path.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 77.7 MPH. 288' max distance. Back spin line drives to both gaps.
Arm: RH. INF-87 mph.Short circle arm action from L3/4 slot. gets ball out quick.
Defense: Plays low to ground with very good balance and quick feet. Sure hands with quick exchange.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60.

Nate Kittredge, Kings Ridge, 2024
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-9, 167-pounds. Medium frame, stocky build.
Hits: RHH. Athletic base knees inside feed for good center of balance. Very subtle hand movement and quiet head. Simple forward move and gains optimal ground in lower half. Short & direct. Turns barrel in tight space well.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 81.5 MPH. 303' max distance. Back spin gappers to pull side.
Arm: RH. INF-80 mph.Quick, short circle arm action H3/4 slot.
Defense: Solid anticipation and sure hands. Very good feel for changing arm angles.
Run: 7.63 runner in the 60.

Cedric Langford, Westlake, 2026
Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 5-7, 130-pounds. Medium frame with present strength.
Hits: RHH. Narrow base, slightly open setup. Nice fluidity throughout well sequenced swing. Good feel for separation timing and stays balanced start to finish. Short to, long thru path that adjusts well to different pitch locations.
Power: 84 max exit velocity, averaged 71.3 MPH. 291' max distance. Line drives with back spin to all fields.
Arm: RH. INF-72 mph.OF-73 mph. Short arm action, OH slot.
Defense: Solid footwork, hands.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60.

Brayden Leonard, Alpharetta,2024
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-9, 155-pounds.
Hits: RHH.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 81.8 MPH. 355' max distance.
Arm: RH. INF-86 mph.
Defense:
Run: 7.08 runner in the 60.

Seth Pettett, Sequoyah, 2025
Positional Profile: SS/C
Body: 6-2, 168-pounds. Large frame with long levers.
Hits: RHH. Tall stance with narrow base, knees inside feet. Rhythm between hips & hands. Toe tap timed well, nice separation timing with optimal stride length. Short to, long through with some sweep to path.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 80.6 MPH. 282' max distance. All fields line drives.
Arm: RH. INF-75 mph.OH slot, 2 piece.
Defense: Solid footwork, nice feel for backhand. Keeps momentum through ball. Reads hops well.
Run: 7.22 runner in the 60.

Ryder Register, Blessed Trinity, 2026
Positional Profile: 2B/SS
Body: 5-9, 160-pounds. Proportional frame with lean strength.
Hits: RHH. Good rhythm between hips & hands. 2 piece load loses fluidity with slight pause. Nice separation timing. Somewhat direct with occasional swepe in path.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 79.5 MPH. 309' max distance. Line drives to pull side.
Arm: RH. INF-83 mph.Clean, short circle arm action 3/4 slot.
Defense: Momentum moves toward bag at all times, glove tap before funneling ball in. Exchange works.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60.

John Stuetzer, Pope, 2025
Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 5-11, 180-pounds. High waisted, lean muscled athletic frame.
Hits: RHH. Relatively narrow, slightly open base. Sinks into backside well and head stays behind ball consistently. Nice feel for hip/shoulder separation. Somewhat efficient uphill path with occasional sweep.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 79.2 MPH. 347' max distance. Top spin and back spin mixture to pull side gap.
Arm: RH. INF-82 mph.Short, quick arm action L3/4 slot.
Defense: Advanced footwork laterally, momentum always moves thru ball. Soft hands, reads hops.
Run: 6.92 runner in the 60.

Carson Shaver, Wayne County, 2024
Positional Profile: 2B/RHP
Body: 6-3, 175-pounds. Broad shoulders, long levers.
Hits: RHH. Medium, slightly open base with quiet hands. Feel for separation timing. Sweeping path.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 72.4 MPH. 312' max distance. Top spin line drives.
Arm: RH. INF-83 mph.Fluid, full circle arm action 3/4 slot.
Defense: Solid footwork and funnel, sure hands.
Run: 7.59 runner in the 60.

Wes Taylor, Calhoun, 2026
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Large, stocky build.
Hits: RHH. Base just outside shoulders, active movement in hands. Very simple forward move with quiet stride. Head stays still. Short, direct path.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 81.5 MPH. 320' max distance. Line drives all fields.
Arm: RH. INF-77 mph.2 piece arm action OH slot.
Defense: Solid footwork, sure hands. Keeps momentum through ball and toward bag.
Run: 7.80 runner in the 60.

Mylon Uribe, Woodstock, 2024

Positional Profile: 2B/SS
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds. Larger frame with long levers, present athleticism.
Hits: LHH. simple, open stance with lower hand setup nice swing with a heavy barrel, shows ability to adjust quickly to pitch location
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 79.5 MPH. 277' max distance. line drive, all fields approach with some juice
Arm: RH. INF-81 mph.short AA, adjust slot based on where he fields the ball, good feel
Defense: soft hands, waits until perfect moment to get them down and field the ball, high IQ
Run: 7.56 runner in the 60.