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VA/DC Scout Blog: #8 Cape Henry at Nansemond River

March 24, 2023
Jason Burton
Scouting Director PBR Virginia/DC

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We take a look at some video and notes on eight total players from Tuesday's game in Suffolk. 

Cape Henry

Payton Friske LHP / 1B / Cape Henry, VA / 2024

This was my first time seeing the left-hander. Friske looks the part. Listed at 5-foot-11, 155-pounds, I think it is time he updated his height/weight on his profile. Definitely has shot up a bit in the past year or two. Pretty easy operation on the mound. Still some projection left to the frame. The fastball was 81-83 and touched 84 once and showed two secondary pitches. The slider sat 76-78 mph and with it being so firm and still having some shape, you have to believe there is more velo there outside of the 81-83. Started using the changeup more in his second and third innings and it was pretty effective. More projection left to this arm and should get better throughout the season. 

 

 

 

Garrison Wight OF / RHP / Cape Henry , VA / 2024

Wight came on in relief in the sixth inning and showed a little velo jump from where we have seen him. The fastball was 83-86 in his short work and showed what appeared to be a 78-79 mph two-seam, or potentially a firm changeup, where he killed the spin and had a little sink to the pitch. Wight did show two breaking balls which were more slurvy action with 11/5 shape at 72-73 mph. Had one strikeout in his inning of work. 

 

 

 

 

Nansemond River

Robert (Buddy) Baker, V OF / LHP / Nansemond River , VA / 2025

Baker had a really strong relief performance on Tuesday. Three innings on the mound and under forty total pitches. Works from a higher slot with some arm side run on the 81-82 mph fastball. Got a few swings and misses with the fastball, but it was the slider that was the big winner on the day for Baker. The 70-73 mph breaking ball had 1/7 shape and depth. It was an above average high school pitch and should only get better with added velo and maturity on the mound. He showed the ability to throw it for strikes at a pretty regular rate and helped him work his was through the Cape lineup fairly easily.

 

 

 

Drew Barbosa 1B / RHP / Nansemond River , VA / 2024

 

 

 

Konner Johnson SS / OF / Nansemond River, VA / 2025

Johnson was a spark plug at the top of the lineup. Compact frame, slightly open stance, simple load and swing. Contact bat with doubles power that he displayed in his first at bat. Hands are fairly short to contact and has solid bat to ball. Active defender in the infield. 

 

 

 

Caden Mintz 3B / RHP / Nansemond River, VA / 2025

This was my first time seeing Mintz in game and was very impressed with the offensive skillset. Got a chance to take in BP and he was definitely one of the standouts. Easy flow and rhythm in the hands and the ball jumped off to the pull side with ease. Definitely some sneaky pop for a fairly thin frame. Displayed a solid hit tool in game and the ability to put the bat on the ball and handle all quadrants. Had a backside double in his first at bat on a low 80's fastball that was off the outer edge. In his next at bat he singled through the right side. Mintz is aggressive and has the hand eye and bat to ball to make him a very intriguing sophomore to watch. 

 

 

 

Darnell W. Parker Jr. SS / 2B / Nansemond River, VA / 2023

This was my first time being able to see Parker in person and there were some easy takeaways from the look. First off, Parker has some advanced tools on the defensive side. The hands work, glove presents well, works through the catch, and most of all are the angles and reads off the bat. He is always setting himself up for the throw and works through the catch into the play. Parker showed some aggression early in counts at the plate, but did not necessarily expand the zone. Was out front on a groundball to second base in his first at bat and turned a 4.50 home to first time. The Washington State recruit walked in his next two at bats before sending a solo homerun out of left field in his fourth and final at bat of the night. 

 

 

 

 

Thomas Wolfe RHP / 3B / Nansemond River, VA / 2023

Wolfe threw four innings in his start on Tuesday. The fastball worked in the 84-86 range early before fading just a touch to the 82-84 range. The Hampden-Sydney commit was able to land mostly fastballs early and found some bats in the first, but settled in well and got the breaking ball going on the backend of his start.