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Prep Baseball Scout Day: Bombers Academy - Quick Hits

September 10, 2025
Prep Baseball Georgia
Staff

CARROLLTON, GA - The Bombers Academy Scout Day took place on September 7th as staff traveled to Central HS. This event was a good chance to see a widespread of talent from the area from the 2028-2030 Classes.

View all stats from the event HERE 

Today, we take a closer look at some of the top performers from the event on Sunday. ⤵️

Quick Hits

Bradley Willingham, SS, 2028, Central
Willingham has been a consistent performer and a big winner amongst staff across the past couple of years. Physical and athletic at 5-foot-11, 158-pounds, Willingham opened the day with barrel after barrel in a pull-side heavy approach. The RHH stays compact with fast hands and present feel for the barrel and maintains good balance though impact. Finished with a Max EV (94.3) as well as running a 7.1 60. The actions in the infield stand out as well with soft hands and quick lateral actions. Produced a Max IF velo of 77 MPH. Willingham is coming off a huge freshman campaign as an everyday starter and looks to build on it as he gears up for his sophomore season.

Carter Loren, 3B, 2028, Ranburne (AL)
Lean and athletic at 6-foot-0, 155-pounds, Loren produced a mature round of BP with barrel after barrel. Shows fast hands that turn the barrel over in an instant with good balance and leverage throughout the zone. Finished with a Max EV of 92.1. Loren finished with an event best 60 at 7.02 as well. The defensive actions across the dirt stood out with soft hands, good footwork, and smooth transfers. Loren, an athletic mover on the mound followed by a quick arm, put together an impressive bullpen session. As he filled up the zone with feel for all 4 of his pitches. Fastball lived 74-76 with life out of the hand. Curveball/slider mix paired well off the fastball with good depth in the mid to upper 60s. Changeup created arm-side fade in the upper 60s. It was an all-around impressive profile on display for Loren across the event with projectability remaining.

Lucas Turnipseed, 2B/OF, 2028, Villa Rica
Coming off an impressive showing at the Labor Day Challenge last week, Turnipseed carried it over into the event. Lean and athletic 5-foot-11, 155-pounds, Turnipseed stays well-balanced and leveraged in-zone with present feel for the barrel. The ability to hit the ball from line to line really stood out for the LHH. He finished with a Max EV of 87.9 and a Max Distance of 332ft. Turnipseed also clocked one of the event's best 60s at 7.15. There are strong traits across the board for Turnipseed with much more to project upon physically and the Villa Rica OF looks poised to make an impact with the Wildcats in the Spring.

Andrew Corbett, 3B/OF, 2028, Carrollton
Physical and broad-shouldered at 5-foot-10, 168-pounds, Corbett possesses an obvious physicality in the box. The RHH found the barrel regularly in a loud round of BP and produced a Max EV of 94.0. Delivers a well-leveraged barrel through the zone in a linear path that creates carry to the pull-side. There is budding impact in the barrel with plenty of strength to project upon.

Xavier Hernandez, UT/RHP, 2029, Carrollton
Xavier Hernandez certainly turned heads and put his name on radars this weekend. A switch hitter, he showcased the ability to drive the ball to all fields during BP while posting a max exit velocity of 84.4. His arm strength stood out as well, recording the day’s hardest outfield throw at 81 mph. On the mound, Hernandez features a quality two fastball blend with the four seam showing late life with carry and the sinker offering run/ride traits. He complements the arsenal with a slider that flashes late depth and helps keep hitters off balance. Defensively, Hernandez shows good actions on the dirt, fluid throws, and nice range. Will absolutely be an intriguing follow over the coming summers, as Hernandez will be just getting into high school next fall.

Rance Merrill, OF/RHP, 2028, Ranburne (AL)
Merrill put together a strong bullpen this past weekend, working 73–74 and consistently filling up the strike zone. He paired it with a breaking ball that showed two-plane action and did well keeping the ball down, where he appeared most comfortable. At the plate, Rance turned in a quality BP round, showing a controlled hinge in his load that helps generate power while getting his hands in position to drive the baseball.

Ronny Artola, 3B/RHP, 2029, Carrollton
Artola turned in one of the stronger BP rounds, showcasing strong hands and bat speed that generated loft and loud contact to his pull side. He stands 5’10 with room to add height and strength, though his current tools are already noticeable. Defensively, Ronny moves well across the infield with good range and clean arm action, posting one of the higher infield velocities of the day at 75 mph. On the mound, he worked with low-effort, repeatable mechanics while attacking the zone. His fastball sat in the mid-70s and touched 78, complemented by a breaking ball with late bite and downward action. Artola profiles as a prospect to keep tabs on, as the soon-to-be Carrollton High School product made a solid impact throughout the event.

Cason Jones, SS/RHP, 2028, Ranburne (AL)
Jones stood out as one of the more impressive two-way players across the entire showcase. Posting a 7.18 in the 60, he shows solid athleticism within his 6’0 frame and carries future projection. At the plate, Casen turned in a strong BP round highlighted by a Max EV of 87.6, consistently driving balls line-to-line. He works with good rhythm in the box, using a toe tap load and showing advanced bat-to-ball skills. Equally notable was his bullpen session to finish, where he showcased a sidearm delivery that generates heavy arm-side run on the sinker. He pairs it with a late-sweeping slider that tunnels effectively off the sinker, while also mixing in a changeup that adds depth and keeps hitters off balance.

Rylan Hester, UT, 2028, Carrollton
Hester projects as a dependable player being able to play wherever a coach may need him. The 5-foot-11, 140lbs UT player showed out on the field, proving he can play anywhere. Offensively, his contact ability and emerging strength point toward a balanced hitter with upside. Hester sets up with a balanced stance and smooth load, producing a quick, direct swing path. Strong hands and solid bat-to-ball skills make him a tough out. With a 7.27 60, he moved with good body control and accelerates well enough to be a threat when smart on the basepaths.

Jaxon Watkins, 1B, 2029, Villa Rica
Solid foundation in the outfield and the ability and athleticism to handle infield duties at 1B. His combination of consistent contact at the plate, reliable defensive actions, and developing strength give him clear upside as he continues to mature physically. At the plate, Watkins hits from a balanced, athletic stance with a controlled load and smooth rhythm. The swing is short and efficient through the zone. Shows strong hands and quick bat speed, with a max EV of 82.7. In the infield, Watkins displays good glove work. Moves well horizontally with quick feet, staying low and under control. Gets the ball across the diamond efficiently with a 7

Kennedy Cantrell, C, 2028, Alexander
Cantrell unquestionably turned some heads at the Bombers Scout Day showcase. The 5-foot-8, 135-pound switch hitter posted a max EV of 79.4 and a 2.32 catcher pop time. The accuracy from behind the dish is definitely something to keep an eye on. At the plate, Cantrell has a very simple load with a good barrel path. She showed that he can keep her swing level on both sides of the plate consistently allowing her to attack the gaps. The switch hitter works the ball to all parts of the field making her an extreme threat at the plate.