Prep Baseball Report

Maryland Freshman Free Showcase: Early Thoughts


Kyle Campbell
Maryland Scouting Director

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Over 50 prospects from across the Old Line State and Delaware came to the Lab at Rawlings A's last Saturday for our first PBR Maryland event of 2019. Players from the 2022 and 2023 graduating classes were put through an indoor workout where they showcased themselves in front of the PBR Maryland scouting staff. Below are some early thoughts on some players that stood out. 

 

Pitchers / Two-Way Players

 

CHRISTOPHER BEATTY JR.

RHP / OF / ARUNDEL, MD / 2022

Extremely projectable 6’2’’, 145 lb. frame and long, lanky body type. Beatty Jr. sat 81-83 mph during his bullpen and showed a change-up and plus breaking ball. Breaking ball had big shape at 68-71 mph with hard 12/6 downward action and tight spin. Change-up was 64-67 mph. The Arundel High School prospect showed command of all three pitches throughout the bullpen and is a very special arm in the 2022 class. Beatty Jr. also threw 83 mph from the outfield and showed a short, quick swing and line drive approach at the plate. 


GAVIN BIGELOW

RHP / SS / ARCHBISHOP CURLEY, MD / 2022

Bigelow had a nice Freshman Free Showcase showcasing himself at shortstop and on the mound. The 5’10’’, 145 Archbishop Spalding prospect from the 2022 class showed a quick bat at the plate and solid line drive approach. In the field, Bigelow moves well with soft hands and a quick release. Throwing with long arm action, Bigelow filled up the strike zone during his bullpen with a three-pitch mix. He threw a fastball that sat 75-76 mph, change-up at 70-72 mph with slight fade, and a breaking ball at 63-67 mph with tight 11/5 shape.


JACK BUSSARD

LHP / 1B / MCDONOGH, MD / 2022

Another extremely projectable prospect that stands 6’2’’ is McDonogh’s Jack Bussard. The 2022 lefty is long, lanky, and showed very quick arm speed. Bussard sat 74-77 mph with a 61-64 mph curveball, 64-68 mph slider and heavy 72-74 mph 2-seamer. Pitches with some tempo and hides the ball well. Another very special arm to follow in the 2022 class. Bussard also doubles as a first baseman playing with loose actions and good footwork around the bag and turning the double play. At the plate, Bussard is a line drive type hitter with occasional pop and a longer swing path. 


ANDREW POWERS

1B / OF / TBD, MD / 2023

Powers is a 6’0’’, 170 lb. 1B/OF and left handed pitcher from the 2023 class. He showed good footwork and athleticism around the bag, soft hands and quick, clean exchanges. At plate, Powers hits from a slightly open stance with his weight preloaded on the back side. Stays behind the ball well and gets good extension through contact. Line drive type hitter with some pop in the bat. Powers was also very impressive on the mound where he pounded the strike zone and showed command of his pitches. He featured a fastball that sat 70-75 mph from the left side, a 73 mph 2-seamer with lots of arm side run, and a 57-62 mph curveball with big shape and hard 11/5 downward bite. Really going to be a fun two-way 2023 to watch develop in the years to come. 


TYLER REINERT

2B / RHP / CONRAD, DE / 2022

Reinert had an all around very nice showing at this year’s Freshman Free Showcase. Off the bump, Reinert sat 81-83 mph with a big 57-59 mph 11/5 breaking ball and 62-65 mph change-up. Also a middle infielder, he is very athletic and moves well playing with active feet and sound actions. Reinert wrapped up the event with a couple nice rounds at the plate. Hitting from a slightly open stance, the Conrad (DE) 2022 product showed some bat speed and power. 


CORBIN WARNER

LHP / OF / ARUNDEL, MD / 2022

Warner is a two-way left-handed pitcher and outfielder from Arundel High School. He sat 74-76 mph off the bump with a 63-67 mph slider and 63-67 mph change-up. Warner pitches with good rhythm, a controlled delivery and throws with easy effort. The 2022 showed a quiet load at the plate and really stays behind the ball well. A line drive type hitter with some pop and a slightly uphill swing path. 

 

Catchers

 

MATT GORMLEY

C / 1B / ARCHBISHOP SPALDING, MD / 2022

Gormley is quiet behind the plate and receives pitches very well. The Archbishop Spalding 2022 showed a quick transfer and clean exchange gaining ground on throws to second base. At the plate, Gormley hits from a balanced, slightly open stance with quicks bat speed and good extension through contact. Line drive type hitter with power and squared up several balls during his BP rounds. 


ETHAN MCNALLY

C / RHP / N/A, MD / 2023

McNally is a 2023 grad with a long, lanky frame that had a very nice day at the plate. Hitting from a balanced, slightly open stance, McNally showed quick hands and some fast bat speed. Short, compact swing and line drive type hitter with occasional pop. Squared up several ball in his BP rounds. He also showed the ability behind the dish to stick pitches and catch and throw with a 72 mph positional velocity. 


MASON MORRIS

C / 3B / MILFORD, DE / 2022

Morris solidified himself as one of the top players in the 2022 class with a very impressive showing at this year’s Freshman Free Showcase. The Milford (DE) catcher is well built at 6’0’’, 180 lbs. and can really do it all. Morris recorded the top 10-yard split time at the event with a 1.59, the top positional velocity of all catchers at 74 mph, and top exit velocity at 92 mph. Behind the dish, Morris is very relaxed and receives extremely well. He showed a quick transfer on catcher pops and really stood out even more so at the plate hitting. Hitting from a balanced, slightly open stance, Morris has a smooth back load and quiet approach until contact. He showed quick hands and fast bat speed staying short to the ball with a more level swing path. He attacks the ball with intent and showed mega power throughout his rounds in the cage. Big time prospect in the class of 2022. 

 

Infielders

 

BRENDEN ANDERSON

3B / OF / SUSSEX CENTRAL , DE / 2022

Anderson is a 5’9’’, 150 lb. 3B/OF prospect from the Sussex Central in Delaware. Hitting from a balanced, square stance at the plate, Anderson uses a high leg kick load and attacks the baseball at contact. The 2022 prospect showed a quick, compact, level line drive swing with occasional pop present. Showed good balance throughout the swing and stays behind the ball very well. In the field, Anderson showed fundamental footwork and quick, clean exchanges recording a 76 mph positional velocity.


GARRETT GRIEBEL

SS / 2B / KENT ISLAND, MD / 2022

Griebel showed good footwork and actions at shortstop playing with soft hands and showed quick, clean exchanges. The Kent Island class of 2022 prospect also showed that he can really swing it at the plate. Hitting from a taller, slightly open stance at the plate, Griebel is short to ball with quick hands and some fast bat speed. A line drive type hitter with gap power, staying behind the ball well with good balance throughout the swing. 


DALLAS VAUGHAN

3B / SS / RIVERDALE BAPTIST, MD / 2023

Vaughan showed athleticism both in the infield and at the plate. Working through the ball at shortstop with fundamental footwork and a solid base. At the plate, Vaughan showed some pop in the bat with a short, quick swing and line drive approach. Still a lot of room for growth from this solid 5’11’’, 170 lb. class of 2023 prospect. 

 

Outfielders

 

NICHOLAS ALEXANDER

OF / SS / WALT WHITMAN, MD / 2022

The 2022 Walt Whitman High School prospect was one of the top statistical outfielder’s at the Freshman Free Showcase. He showed good run through footwork and a live arm with a positional velocity of 78 mph. Alexander is a switch hitter and also recorded the second highest exit velocity at the event at 86 mph. Hitting from a balanced, slightly open stance from both sides, Alexander showed a quick compact stroke and stays behind the ball well. A nice line drive type hitter with some pop and quick bat speed.


JOSHUA BRAXTON

OF / C / LOYOLA-BLAKEFIELD, MD / 2022

The solid 5’9’’, 175 lb. Loyola-Blakefield outfielder lit it up in the cage. Hitting from an open stance at the plate, Braxton uses a small leg kick load for rhythm and timing. He is short to the ball and has quick hands, fast bat speed and explosive lower half involvement. Power is present in this 2022 who also recorded a 79 mph positional velocity and good run through footwork from the outfield.


ZIMIR GARDNER

OF / 1B / SUSSEX CENTRAL, DE / 2022

Gardner is a long, lanky, athletic outfielder from Sussex Central in Delaware. The 2022 prospect works through the ball in the outfield and hits from a balanced, square stance. Gardner’s swing is athletic and he stays short to the ball with a slightly uphill swing path. Power is present as the ball jumps off his bat. 


ADAM HICKS

OF / RHP / NA, MD / 2023

Hicks is a another very nice outfield prospect. The 2023 grad is athletic and hits from a balanced, slightly open stance at the plate. A line drive type hitter with occasional pop; Hicks showed a quick, compact swing and stays behind the ball well. Exciting young prospect to keep an eye on from the Gambrills area. 

 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE COMPLETE STATS FROM THE EVENT

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