Scout Blog: Nansemond River & Grafton
March 18, 2020
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Last week we got a chance to see Nansemond River and Grafton. Here are eight players, four of which are uncommitted, that stood out that evening.
Nansemond River:
Cam Pittman LHP/OF Nansemond River 2021
Athletic, physically strong athlete. Premium runner out of the box and in the outfield. At the plate appears as a contact bat with some doubles power. Has ability to speed defenses up and force mistakes on any ball put in play. On the mound Pittman was 75-78 mph with a fastball that worked to both sides of the plate. Slider was 67-69 mph with loose shape and average feel.
Ayden Stuffel LHP Nansemond River 2022
Compact athletic frame. Left handed arm that works with some pace, intent, and has some effort in the delivery. Quick arm from a three-quarter arm slot. Lands closed down the mound, works against a soft front side, and glove is disconnected at foot strike. Fastball stayed down in the zone and worked to both sides of the plate at 78-80 mph. Flashed some arm side run to the arm side and the fastball got in under right handers hands. Had average feel for a 1/7 breaking ball at 68-69 mph. Should be an interesting arm to follow as he continues to grow and add strength.
Gavin Gregory RHP Nansemond River 2021
Projectable athletic frame at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds. Regular effort in the delivery and works with some pace. Strong balance point gathered over the rubber, flexion in back knee, and lands on line. Short quick arm action throwing from a three-quarter arm slot. Is efficient around the zone and worked a very quick fifth inning with a limited number of pitches. Gregory sat 84-85 mph and touched 86 once with the fastball. Appears to have more in the tank. The fastball showed some nice arm side run to the glove side. Fastball spin rate stayed 2400+ and got up to 2561. Breaking ball had solid depth and 11/5 shape at 70-73 mph and 2300+ spin rate.
Bryson Dansberry 2B/SS Nansemond River 2020 Radford
Athletic frame with some projection left to it. Premium runner on the bases. Short path the ball with quick hands. Had a double down the left field line. His elite speed caused some havoc every time he put the ball in play and when he was on base. Has ability to hit for average with some doubles power. Fluid defender at second base. Soft hands, quick exchange on pivots, and feet worked around the bag. Has ability to stay at second base at the next level, or could easily play two to three outfield positions.
Grafton:
Mark Petko RHP Grafton 2020 Barton College
Projectable athletic frame. Down and out stride landing on line. Short quick arm action from a three-quarter arm slot. Regular effort in the delivery and showed some rhythm on the mound. Fastball was 86-88 with 2350-2480 spin rate and carry through the zone. He had some feel to both sides of the plate, but seemed to really work well to the arm side getting in under right handed hitters hands. Breaking ball had tight 11/5 shape with depth and was swing and miss. Breaking ball sat 72-74 mph with 2400+ spin rate and feel for the zone. Was a really impressive arm and is arguably the top 2020 uncommitted arm in the state.
Trey Gibson RHP Grafton 2020 Liberty
Big physical frame with athleticism. Regular effort on the delivery. Loose arm from a three-quarter arm slot. Gibson offered a four pitch mix with feel for all four pitches. Fastball was 90-92 early and tended to work to the arm side. Once he settled in he sat more in the 87-90 range and had some feel to both sides of the plate with a 1900-2100 spin rate and topped at 2214. Slider was 80-83 mph with tight late two-plane break. Gibson had an advanced feel for a cutter that got up to 88 mph early and settled in at 83-85 mph with 2300-2439 spin rate. Flashed a few changeups that displayed hard fade at 82-84 mph. This is a name that could certainly be rising up the draft boards as we get deeper into the spring and closer to the draft.
Tyler Cotten C Grafton 2020 Charlotte
Physical catcher with athleticism. Displayed some hand strength handling two top end arms. Throws to second displayed plenty of carry and were fairly accurate around the bag. At the plate Cotten has a balanced athletic setup, level path to contact, and finishes the lower half with some aggression. Has some pull side power in the swing and barrel stays in zone on contact. Had some long foul balls to the pull side early in the first game and then used the middle and backside of the field in some following at bats.
Compact athletic frame. On the mound worked with some pace and intent. Drop and drive delivery that landed slightly closed. Short deceptive arm circle from a three-quarter arm slot. Fastball showed some carry through the zone at 80-83 mph and challenged hitters in his one-plus innings of work.