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2025 East Coast Super Sophomore Games: Team Maryland Notes

August 8, 2025
Jamie Naill Jr and Cole Ledger
Prep Baseball Maryland

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10 teams competed with players from Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Team Select at the beautiful UNC's Boshamer Stadium and Burlington Athletic Park in North Carolina. Team Maryland participated in a pro-style workout before playing three games vs. Team New Jersey (X2) and Team Pennsylvania. Below, our staff evaluates and provides video on each player.

Team Maryland Standouts

Dylan Baum SS / OF / North East High, MD / 2028

Athletic 5-foot-8, wiry infielder with versatility that should increase the stock as his high school career carries on. The hit tool sparks interest, spraying line drives to the middle of the field consistently, including a loud bullet into centerfield in-game over the weekend. The hands are fluid with rhythm, staying balanced through the approach with some sneaky pop on occasion. This is a “do-it-all” player that impacts in multiple facets. One to keep eyes on, especially if this frame really fills out and strength/physicality is added. - Jamie Naill Jr.

Max Darby C / RHP / John Carroll School, MD / 2028

The word “physical” is certainly one way to describe Max Darby’s game. Loud rounds during BP, showing off high-90s EVs across three different events over the last month, while showing off a power presence that is among some of the best in the MD ‘28 class. Caught a couple barrels during gameplay over the weekend while showing off some of the gap-to-gap juice. Swing decisions need to be more consistent, especially with pitches elevated over the zone. Defensively, it’s an above average arm behind the plate for the age, sneaking into the high-1.9s for pop times. It’s definitely a bat over an arm at this point, but certainly has the ability to compete in the zone on the mound, working into the mid-80s. - Cole Ledger

Charlie Delobe SS / RHP / Severna Park High School, MD / 2028

Won’t be a guy that blows you away during a workout, but will show consistency translated from the workout into a game setting. Throughout the weekend, Delobe found a couple barrels for loud outs while also showing off at multiple defensive positions across the infield. It’s another high contact guy that’ll put the ball in play while staying extremely simple. What really excited me though was the outing on the mound to wrap up gameplay. Delobe worked every bit of 85-86 through his first inning of work, competing in the zone with the fastball and slider. It’s a simple operation on the mound and as we see Delobe continue to grow and fill out his frame more, I wouldn’t be shocked to see him touching upper-80s next spring for one of the perennial powerhouses across the Old Line State. After seeing him in a brief look in the spring, this was the first chance to see him up close, and he is certainly one to circle. - Cole Ledger

Cooper DeWaal SS / RHP / Oakdale High, MD / 2028

The 6-foot-2, 185-pound shortstop put forth a dynamite performance, one that has officially put Cooper DeWaal onto the national scene throughout the prep ranks. Following a standout workout that saw DeWaal notch a 6.96 60-yard, a 96.4 max exit velocity, and an 87 mph infield velocity, the lean, yet strong shortstop showcased the hit tool right out of the gate in game one. Finished the game going 2-for-2 with two doubles and three RBI with some of the loudest barrels that the weekend had to offer. The hit tool is what sparks interest immediately, showcasing evident power to the pull side with some of the more intriguing barrel control in the class, utilizing strong wrists and whippy barrel action. The approach is to the middle and look for the power to increase as the body continues to mature. There’s intangibles to DeWaal’s game that you can’t teach… baseball IQ, quick twitch actions and raw strength that is hard to come by with a player at his age. This is certainly a name to circle as we inch closer to the 2026 spring season. - Jamie Naill Jr

Dominic Fantano RHP / OF / Appoquinimink High School, DE / 2028

Projection is the first word that comes to mind when I describe Fantano. It’s a high-waisted 6-foot-2, 158-pound frame with long levers that has plenty of room to fill out. It’s an arm first, bat second type two-way right now with plenty to like on both sides of the ball. The fastball runs into the low 80s, mixing a downer breaking ball with some swing and miss ability at the bottom of the zone and some developing tendencies to the changeup down. Longer arm action with some deception through, as this frame fills and the lower half strengthens, look for this to be a potential helium arm next spring. Line drive tendencies offensively allows for consistency at the dish and should add power as strength is added. - Jamie Naill Jr

Matthew Gannon RHP / SS / Sanford, DE / 2028

Long 6-foot, 172-pound two-way with projection and a ton to like on both sides of the ball. Probably an arm over bat right now, the fastball reaches into the low 80s consistently with the ability to ramp up into the mid 80s at times, showcasing feel for both sides of the plate and the ability to tie right-handed hitters up on the inside corner. The breaking ball shows flashes of plus potential, especially when down in the zone and plays well off the heater coming out of a similar tunnel. At the dish, it’s an aggressive, yet controlled middle of the field approach with the ability to turn and burn on inside pitches to the pull side gap. Power will continue to increase as the frame fills, and look for this to be yet another highly athletic, intriguing two-way to come out of Sanford High School. - Jamie Naill Jr

Diarmuid Gardiner RHP / SS / Walt Whitman High, MD / 2028

Special, special young two-way player that needs to be on college coaches radars. The body or raw metrics don’t, and may never jump off the page, however, between the lines, I’d pick “Puck” Gardiner to be on my team any day. It’s an arm over bat right now, running the fastball into the upper 80s (Topped 88 in game) with some swing and miss ability with the slider and a devastating changeup that is thrown with confidence to both right-handed and left-handed hitters. The hit tool sparks interest and possesses some sneaky juice to the middle of the field, showcasing quick hands and a heavy barrel through the zone. Middle infield profile with positional versatility should only add to Gardiner’s recruitment portfolio, and the arm talent is one of the best in the class across Maryland. - Jamie Naill Jr

Mason Glover C / OF / Sussex Academy, DE / 2028

Overall, a very impressive weekend from the top-ranked catcher in the class. Consistency as usual in the workout, posting standout numbers all around. Averaged ~1.95 pop times, ran a 6.75, and we continue to see the strength and exit velocities increase, up to 96.9 max EV on the event. The hit tool also continued to impress in-game, including a walk-off 3 RBI double in Game 2 against Pennsylvania. When looking at the arm, the strength is certainly there as the arsenal continues to polish. Strike % varied through his two innings on the bump, running the fastball up to 87 while mixing in both secondary pitches to keep hitters off balance. As control with the fastball increases and with the secondary mix projecting to take a jump this winter, this will be a can’t miss player heading into next summer. - Cole Ledger

Paxton Green 3B / RHP / Parkside High, MD / 2028

It feels like every time we see Paxton Green in a game setting, he finds a way to produce one way or another. One of his biggest hits of the weekend came in the first game with a backside double down the right field line, which starts to show a pattern with this corner infielder. The ability to work the opposite field is impressive with occasional gap-to-gap juice. As strength is added to the frame, we could continue to see the power upside tick up. On the bump, it may have been the best outing we’ve seen, turning in 4 strikeouts over two scoreless innings with no walks against New Jersey. It’s a simple operation with a little bit of intent behind the delivery, but works primarily low-80s fastballs with the occasional breaking ball. - Cole Ledger

Noah Hecht 3B / SS / Bethesda-Chevy Chase High, MD / 2028

This is a highly intriguing player in my eyes that could very well take off in the next 6 months. The hands and barrel awareness play at a high rate at the dish, staying on the ball with the ability to spray line drives to all fields that should progress into gap-to-gap power as the body matures. It's a rhythmic operation at the dish, utilizing the lower half well with some quick-twitch in the body that entices me to think this is a hit tool that is on the brink to explode. As pretty much every 2028 across the country, the body still needs to mature and add strength, however, the core strength is already present and should increase over the fall and winter months. - Jamie Naill Jr

Chase Hellings 1B / RHP / Bullis School, MD / 2028

Yet another high profile, highly projectable 2028 across Maryland that certainly sparks interest on both sides of the ball. Standing at a long, yet strong 6-foot-2, 180-pounds, the power shows flashes at the dish with plenty of pull side strength on display during BP, producing 90+ mph exit velocities with ease at the dish. The hands produce some bat speed through the zone with an uphill path that allows backspin to be created. It’s more of a line drive approach in-game and the power should translate in the coming months as AB’s are stacked. High power ceiling with some two-way ability, running the fastball into the low 80s as well. - Jamie Naill Jr

Adam Lynn C / RHP / Severna Park High, MD / 2028

Lynn split time across Team Select and Team Maryland during Super Sophomore, showing off above average abilities behind the dish with a hit tool that continues to rise. Starting with the defensive ability, Lynn shows off quick transfers while already touching into the high-1.9s for pop times. If the arm strength can continue to improve over the offseason, there’s the potential to get the pop time into the low-1.9s. At the dish, there is certainly strength that can be added to the frame, but has shown flashes when making adjustments in the box on the fly, working all parts of the field with the ability to work the opposite field. An intriguing prospect that could be another name to circle in Severna Park as the strength improves over the offseason. - Cole Ledger

Micah Nelson OF / LHP / Saint Mark's High, DE / 2028

Outside of DeWaal, there may not have been another bat that impressed in-game as much as Nelson did over the course of the weekend. Personal-best metrics in the 60 and during BP stood out on Friday before collecting three hits over two games on Saturday. The biggest aspect of Nelson’s game that continues to stand out is the pitching side of things. The southpaw tossed three scoreless innings against a loaded Pennsylvania lineup, being the big contributor in a massive win. High strike % and control of the zone is Nelson’s biggest advantage while also mixing shapes with the breaking ball for whiffs. I wouldn’t say either side of his game has broken away from the other, so both sides are definitely going to be a high follow as we head into the fall campaign. - Cole Ledger

Jerome Alejandro (JA) Stephens OF / LHP / Mcdonogh School, MD / 2028

A highly dynamic athlete, the wiry, 5-foot-11, 160-pound outfielder certainly turned heads during the workout on Friday, turning in an impressive 6.75 60-yard coupled with an 84 mph outfield velocity and an explosive 102 mph exit velocity. It’s a quick-twitch operation at the plate with the ability to utilize the plus athleticism to his advantage, turning the barrel at a high rate and showcasing loud strength to the middle of the field. The ball explodes to the pull side gap with power that is still evidently untapped. As the barrel awareness and control increase, look for this to be a “can’t miss” left-handed hitting outfielder to keep close eyes on throughout this class with tools that jump off the page. - Jamie Naill Jr

Blake Wheatley SS / 3B / St. Michaels Middle/High School, MD / 2028

If you’re looking for a hard-nosed “winner” on a baseball field, look no further than Wheatley. Possessing a wiry, 5-foot-8 frame, Wheatley has intangibles that can’t be taught and always seems to impact the game in one facet or another. The hit tool is strong to the middle of the field, showcasing a consistent ability to spray to both gaps with occasional backspin to the alleys. Power is still developing and should increase as the frame fills out. Defensively, the actions are quick and fluid, showcasing low 80s arm strength across the diamond with accuracy. A big spring on the cusp for Wheatley, look for the 2026 calendar year to be the best yet to come. - Jamie Naill Jr

Brian Wright SS / OF / Gov. Thomas Johnson High, MD / 2028

Slick fielding middle infielder with positional versatility and still plenty of room to mature the body. It’s a high contact bat, staying middle with the approach with line drive tendencies that should continue to create more and more backspin and power to the middle of the field. A switch-hitter for the time being adds to the value of Wright and should progress as AB’s continue to stack up. Swing decisions and strength in the body are the two main things to keep eyes on and as they progress, the quality of the at-bats should follow suit. - Jamie Naill Jr