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The week of April 11th brought plenty of action in Richmond. I made my way around central Virginia to check out some committed and uncommitted talent. See video and notes on nine players from some of those games. 

JR Tucker

Caleb Wood OF / RHP / JR Tucker, VA / 2025 5-foot-11, 175-pound solid frame. Normal effort delivery, level hips and shoulders, and lands slightly open. The arm is pretty short with some funk and deception. Low three-quarter slot through release and work slightly across the ball. The fastball sat at 80-83 mph early on with slight arm side run. The fastball worked best to the glove side and he showed the ability to throw it for strikes pretty consistently. The breaking ball sat at 67-71 mph with short 11/5 shape. It would occasionally back up out of the hand, but did get some whiffs on it when he got it to the glove side where it showed a little more depth. The freshman worked five innings, gave up one run, and struck out seven along the way while only walking one.

 

Patrick Henry-Ashland

 

Patrick Brizendine LHP / 1B / Patrick Henry (Ashland), VA / 2023 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. Low effort delivery, hips and shoulders level, and lands closed at foot strike. Full arm action and works from a three-quarter arm slot. Delivery and release has some crossfire to it and that stands out especially on the breaking ball. The fastball sat mostly 82-84 mph in the first two innings and touched 85 once. The breaking ball sat 67-70 mph and had a longer 2/8 break with some sweeping shape. Showed a couple of changeups at 76-77 mph early on. Did not give up a run in his four-plus innings of work and only allowed two hits.

 

Deep Run

 

Trey Gauch RHP / 3B / Deep Run, VA / 2024 Touched on Gauch a little bit last week, but got to see a more extended outing from Gauch. While the control was scattered at times, Gauch showed the ability to work out of some tough situations and limited the opposing offense early on. The fastball sat in the 81-84 range his first three innings and touched 85-86 a handful of times. Displayed the ability to spin the breaking ball consistently for strikes. The 68-70 mph curveball had a bigger gradual 12/6 shape. Was able to get it over early and finished some counts with it as well. Worked four and two-thirds innings, scattering five hits. As the command/control refines he will be more efficient with his pitch count and will limit some of the high stress situations.

Manchester

Aiden Harris 3B / RHP / Manchester , VA / 2024 Touched on Gauch a little bit last week, but got to see a more extended outing from Gauch. While the control was scattered at times, Gauch showed the ability to work out of some tough situations and limited the opposing offense early on. The fastball sat in the 81-84 range his first three innings and touched 85-86 a handful of times. Displayed the ability to spin the breaking ball consistently for strikes. The 68-70 mph curveball had a bigger gradual 12/6 shape. Was able to get it over early and finished some counts with it as well. Worked four and two-thirds innings, scattering five hits. As the command/control refines he will be more efficient with his pitch count and will limit some of the high stress situations.

Donavan Jeffrey 1B / RHP / Manchester, VA / 2025 Jeffrey is listed at 6-foot-2, 200-pounds. Advanced physicality for his age/class. Watching BP Jeffrey showed a very controlled, easy swing. Stayed inside at contact, used the whole field, and did not try to do too much. In game Jeffrey took a similar approach to his at bats. Square stance, simple stride, and hands make a small load. Level path to contact and a high finish. Was fairly patient, did not whiff at any pitches on the day, and had a very loud out to left center field. Jeffrey has a chance to be a big time impact bat long term and should continue to trend up as he matures and add strength to an already advanced frame.

Jackson Wise SS / 3B / Manchester, VA / 2024 Wise stands around 6-foot tall with a lanky, thin frame. Led off for Manchester and was very aggressive at the plate. Square stance, lifts and replaces, and lands square. Hands separate and drop slightly on load. Did a pretty good job matching the pitch plane with his hands and hit against a firm front side. Again Wise was very aggressive early in counts and had a pretty accurate barrel. Interesting first look at the athletic outfielder.

James River (Midlothian)

Callum Early SS / 2B / James River (Midlothian), VA / 2024 Athletic 5-foot-11, 155-pound frame. Early impressed on Thursday due to his athleticism and offensive versatility. At the plate it is a square setup, wraps on load, and uses a small lift and stride forward landing square. In his first at bat he squared up a breaking ball on the inner half, but the center fielder tracked it down in right center. In his second at bat Early had a perfectly placed bunt single that he pushed right by the pitcher. He did a nice job of staying under control, setting the angle, and keeping his eyes behind the barrel. Ran a 4.1 home to first on that single. In his next at bat he went down and got another offspeed pitch, this time shooting it through the left side for another single. Early had a nice feel for the barrel and showed balance throughout. Athletic middle infielder to keep eyes on.

 

 

Eli Reid 1B / James River (Midlothian), VA / 2023 Large physical frame. Exaggerated closed stance. Hands load to separation and a slight arm bar. The path to contact is a bit longer, has a slight uphill tilt, and tends to get out of the zone quick. Reid was very aggressive early in the count and expanded the zone. Displayed solid bat to ball tools and will benefit from being more selective early in counts. In his third at bat he got an elevated pitch early in the count and stayed inside it for an opposite field homerun.

 

 

Judd Zegarra 3B / RHP / James River (Midlothian), VA / 2024 Listed at 5-foot-10, 160-pounds and appears to have added some strength to the athletic frame since the last time we saw him. At the plate the stance starts and finishes square. The lift is a little different, as it picks up and moves forward hovering before landing on line. Hands stay tight and are short to contact. Zegarra's timing was a bit early during his at bats and he got out front with his balance due to the early timing. Despite being a bit early in timing, he still managed to put the ball in play, spraying groundballs around the infield. Shows some solid bat to ball skills. Athletic defender with lateral range at third.