Our summer schedule kicked off Wednesday June, 2, 2021 at M.L. Tigue Moore Field, home of the Ragin Cajuns of the University of Louisiana.  Over 60 of the state's top prospects from the 2022-2024 classes came together for what turned out to be an incredible day of baseball.  The event started out with players running the 60 yard dash, then batting practice, to defensive work, and ending with two separate games.  Familiar faces continued to show off their talent and skills, while there were also some new names who made big splashes.  Below, we take a look at some of the standout performers from the event.

 

PITCHERS

2022 LHP Ian Johnson (Teurlings Catholic HS)

Worked his sinking FB up to 81 mph, but it was his breaking ball that really impressed.  Johnson spun his CB up to 2499 RPM per Trackman Baseball.  An interesting arm to follow this summer.

2022 LHP Tanner Roberts (Live Oak HS)

Roberts is a guy that has been talked about a lot since last summer.  He struggled with control early on on Wednesday, but once he settled in, he showed that he can compete with just about anyone in the state by working his heavy, sinking FB up to 90 mph.

2023 RHP Tate Hess (Singer HS)

The uncommitted RHP out of Singer HS made a name for himself as a freshman and took another step forward on Wednesday.  The last time we saw Hess, he worked his FB up to 84 mph.  On Wednesday, he sat 85-87 mph, topping out at 88 mph.  Physical and imposing 6'2" 220 lbs. frame; Hess should be a name on recruiters radars this summer

2023 Riley Marcotte (Loreauville HS)

The 2020 Future Gamer led Loreauville HS to the state semifinals this year and we had a chance to see the southpaw again on Wednesday.  Wiry and athletic frame; Marcotte worked his FB up to 84 mph, sitting 80-83 mph.  The arm works and there's more in the tank as he continues to mature and add strength.

 

CATCHERS

2022 C Barham White (Ouachita Christian HS)

Leadership, communication, and playing with energy are things you look for in a catcher, and he certainly displayed those during the gameplay portion on Wednesday.  A "captain" on the field; White played with tons of energy on Wednesday and received the ball extremely well.  We expect him to get a ton of looks this summer, especially since he is also an excellent student with a 30 on the ACT.

2023 C Jake LaRocca (St. Louis HS)

A 2019 Junior Future Gamer and newly crowned Division II State Champion; LaRocca showed his skills off at a new position - Catcher.  Above average arm strength from the crouch that resulted in a 76 mph positional velocity.  LaRocca has always been able to hit and is now a super attractive prospect behind the dish.  

2024 C Zach White (Ouachita Christian HS)

Catching must run in the White family, as Zach is the younger brother of Barham, who also stood out on Wednesday.  Posted a 77 mph positional velocity from the crouch with advanced actions behind the plate for a 2024. 

2024 C Cooper Winchester (St. Paul's HS)

Defense has been Winchester's primary carrying tool in his young career.  On Wednesday, he flashed some big time power during Game 2.  A switch hitter; Winchester belted a ball from the right side to that hit off of the billboard in LF for a 3 R HR.  

 

INFIELDERS

2023 SS/C James Reina (St. Louis Catholic HS)

Reina started at 2B and hit in the two hole for Division II State Champion St. Louis Catholic HS.  On Wednesday, the gritty infielder had a really good day showing off improved speed by posting a 7.15 in the 60 yard dash.

2024 1B/LHP Trey Hawsey (West Monroe HS)

Hitting cleanup as a freshman in high school is tough, especially at the 5A level, but Hawsey managed to do just that for West Monroe HS.  The state's 6th ranked player in the 2024 class recorded a new personal best in exit velocity at 96 mph.  

2023 SS/2B Nicolas Schwing (Mandeville HS)

Schwing was apart of a young Mandeville HS team that just barely missed the Class 5A playoffs.  He showed improvements to his game by posting a personal best 7.29 60 and 81 mph positional velocity.

2023 3B/SS Reid Snider (St. Louis Catholic HS)

A 2019 Junior Future Gamer; Snider continued show off his hit tool on Wednesday by taking a good round of BP with a max exit velocity of 89 mph.  He also showed an improvement in his speed by posting a 7.29 in the 60.

2023 SS Dylan Thompson (Sam Houston HS)

Thompson has been a familiar face at our events over the last two years.  The Texas A&M commit continued to impress and increase his stock on Wednesday.  He made several really nice plays during Game 2, including a diving play in the 4 hole at second base.  Offensively, he looked on time every at-bat and enjoyed a multi-hit day.  

2024 1B/OF Jackson Landry (Ascension Catholic HS)

Physical and imposing 6'4" 205 lbs. frame; Landry showed improvements in multiple areas on Wednesday.   Recorded a personal best 7.19 60 time, almost a half-second improvement from January, as well as a 78 mph positional velocity, which was a +3 mph jump from January. 

 

OUTFIELDERS

2023 OF/LHP Reese Dean (Central Private HS)

We've had the opportunity to see Dean several times over the last couple of years and it's of no surprise why he was named MVP of his district this year.  The sophomore posted a personal best 6.76 time in the 60 and a max exit velocity of 85 mph. 

2022 OF/LHP Jackson Ford (Holy Savior Menard HS)

Seeing hard work pay off is truly rewarding for prospects and after Wednesday, Ford should know that his hard work is paying off.  Recorded personal bests in the 60 with a 6.85 time, 81 mph positional velocity, and 91 mph exit velocity.

2022 OF Jude Gremillion (Central BR HS)

Gremillion was an everyday starter for a Central BR HS team that was one win away from reaching the Class 5A State Tournament.  He did a lot of things well on Wednesday that included a max exit velocity of 87 mph, 86 mph positional velocity, and 6.83 60 time.

2023 OF/LHP Griffin Cooley (Kinder HS)

One of the biggest winners of the day in the OF group had to have been Griffin Cooley.  The L/L prospect out of Kinder, LA took a really good BP round, sending several balls deep into the gaps and hit one out to the pull side that recorded a max exit velocity of 95 mph.  He also recorded a 6.82 in the 60 and threw 85 mph from the OF.

2023 OF Barrett Newman (Parkway HS)

A physical and athletic build at 6'1" 194 lbs; Newman enjoyed a nice day on Wednesday.  Posted a 7.04 in the 60 and threw 85 mph from the OF.  He hit one of the hardest balls during Game 2 that landed in the RCF gap for a triple.

 

TWO-WAY PLAYERS

2023 C/3B Luke Benoit (Sulphur HS)

Benoit was a regular in the Sulphur Tors lineup this spring and was a guy we were told to keep our eye on by Head Coach Sam Moore.  Showed soft hands, athletic footwork, and good arm strength by posting an 85 mph positional velocity.  Solid receiver behind the dish with a quick transfer and athletic footwork.  Also, ran a 7.37 in the 60.

2024 RHP/SS Grant Breaux (Catholic BR HS)

The last time we saw Breaux in January he ran his FB up to 84 mph and sat 80-83 mph.  On Wednesday, Breaux took a huge step forward in his development as he sat 86-87 mph, topping out at 88 mph.  Posted a 7.09 in the 60 and threw 87 mph across the infield as well.  

2024 RHP/SS Garrett Taylor (St. Frederick HS)

Team Louisiana owner Jeremy Picard tabbed Taylor as one of his 2024 prospects to know and after Wednesday, we definitely agree with him.  Showed a short and quick arm action, working his FB up to 84 mph, sitting 80-83 mph.  Posted a 7.08 in the 60 as well.

2022 RHP/3B Stewart Bonnecaze (Episcopal BR HS)

Bonnecaze has battled some injuries over the past year, but looked to be getting back to form on Wednesday, which should create some buzz this summer.  Ultra-projectable 6'3" 185 lbs. frame with more strength to come.  Worked his FB up to 87 mph, sitting 83-86 mph.  What was most interesting was his extension per Trackman baseball that was consistently 7 FT. plus.  Also, posted a 7.15 in the 60 and took a good BP round showing off gap to gap power.

2024 SS/RHP Trip Dobson (Catholic BR HS)

Dobson made a good first impression back in January at the Louisiana Knights showcase and continued to show well on Wednesday.  The physical RHH flashed some power in BP and recorded a max exit velocity of 95 mph.  Worked his FB up to 83 mph on the mound as well.

2023 LHP/1B Van Mayhall (Catholic BR HS)

Another interesting two-way prospect out of Catholic BR HS; Mayhall has a lot of upside.  The southpaw created some very deceptive "cross-fire" action on the mound with his FB/CB combo.  Ran a 7.23 in the 60 as well.

2023 LHP/OF Harrison Waghalter (Catholic BR HS)

The future of the Catholic BR HS program looks to be just fine thanks to prospects like Waghalter.  He showed a tick up in velo on Wednesday, topping out at 84 mph, a +3 mph jump from November's All-State Games.  Ran a 7.25 in the 60 and smoke a line drive right at the SS during Game 2 of the day.