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With the fall finally wrapped up and the 2017 baseball season coming to an end, we take our first and extremely way too early look and preview into the 2018 high school season. With this Spring Forward segment we will highlight players to watch over the high school season, separated by areas. Today we take our first look into hitters to watch for the 2018 high school season. Before Christmas, we will have looked into the following categories: 

Hitters
Power Hitters
Pitchers
Power Pitchers
Athletes
Defenders
Speedsters
Underclassmen
Two-Way Players
Projection
Teams
Sleepers

Hitters are pretty self explanatory, but we are highlighting those that show the consistent ability to make loud contact. This list isn't based on rankings, but more so those players we have had multiple opportunities to lock in on. 

FIVE HITTERS TO WATCH IN 2018

Kody Milton 3B / 1B / Severna Park, MD / 2018 The Severna Park third baseman had some of the most impressive statistics of any player around that state while doing it in less games due to the public school schedule. Those numbers made him a State player of the Year finalist as a junior and, spoiler alert, he will be on our shortlist for Preseason Player of the year this 2018 spring season. Milton combines the ability to drive the ball all around the field with the talent to put runs on the board in one swing.

 

 

Jose Rivera SS / 3B / C Riverdale Baptist, MD / 2018 Rivera also put up some of the highest hit totals last season, most impressive were his near 70 RBI during Riverdale Baptists season. Granted they do play one of the longest schedules in the state, but when your averaging  close to two RBI a game, that's impressive. Rivera has been battling injury of late, but when healthy, he is one of the top bats in the state with his ability to drive the ball in the gap and his knack for driving in runs.

 

 

Maxwell Costes 3b / rhp / Gilman, MD / 2018 Costes has been a big time player for Gilman since his sophomore season, and some considered him the top player in the MIAA last year. At the plate, Costes makes loud contact with strength to all fields. It's a pretty simple swing at the plate with explosiveness. A Maryland commit, Costes will potentiall join his brother, Marty Costes for at least one summer if Marty doesn't go in the draft after being a 25th Rd. Draft pick this past June as a draft eligible sophomore.

 

 

JP Murphy OF / Calvert Hall, MD / 2018 Murphy turned himself into a physical force for Calvert Hall last season, not only hitting for a high average, but also providing pop in the lineup as well. Murphy is a physical specimen at 6-foot-3, 195-pounds who shows explosiveness at the plateand the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Murphy will again anchor the Cardinal lineup this spring as they strive for a MIAA title.

 

 

John Dempsey 3B / 2B / Georgetown Prep, MD / 2018 Dempsey has a simple stroke at the plate with an ability to find barrel consistently. There is a reason the Georgetown Prep talent has consistently seen his name near the top of the lineup since his sophomore season for the Little Hoyas. Dempsey hits from the left side with a balanced and smooth stroke at the plate. Dempsey locks in at the plate with the knack to attack a first pitch or grind out an at-bat and waste a pitchers attempt to put him away. One of the toughest outs around.

 

Other Hitters to watch this 2018 Spring

Ryan Archibald, John Carroll
Zach Doss, North Point
Michael Marrale, Century
AJ Holcomb, Loyola Blakefield