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Burton's Scout Blog: Week 1

March 19, 2026
Staff
Prep Baseball Virginia/DC


 
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Throughout the VA/DC high school season, our staff travels far and wide to identify the best players in the Commonwealth. In additon to that, our staff delivers evaluations and video to assist players in their recruiting process. Every week our staff members provide notes and video in an assortment of scout blogs. Jason Burton, the Virginia/DC Scout Director, will be delivering his weekly scout blog on some of the players he saw during his travels.

In week one, we take a look at nearly two dozen players from four teams, including sixteen uncommitted players.

Burton's Scout Blog

Bishop O'Connell

Cam Bates SS / RHP / Bishop O’Connell High School , VA / 2027

Not a ton to add here. Bitterly cold day so trying to take that into account as well. Lacked control in the first, best and most competitive pitch during that inning was probably the slider, but still struggle to land any of his three pitches. Started off 86-88 and then more 84-86 on the back half of the first and through the second. Control was better in the second, but it was still overall below average control. Benefited from some out of the zone chases on fastballs up and breaking balls down. In my looks, has not been a command arm, but has generally been much more competitive in the zone, so adding that there was probably some weather and feel issues in play here. 

 

 

Lucas Grubb OF / RHP / Bishop O'Connell, VA / 2027

Long and lean frame with above average strength for his size. Starts slightly open and lands closed at stride. Smaller lift to stride and got the foot down on time. Arms he was facing were light on velo, but have seen plenty of hitters still late, he was not one of those today. Was on time and at times early, and did not get cheated in his swings. Did expand the zone a time or two with a chase, but was on it when it mattered. On the day he was 1-2 with a double and a hard hit line drive to right field that was misplayed. 

 

 

Bryant James SS / Bishop Denis J. Oconnell High School, VA / 2026

Athletic, twitchy, bounce, lean strength. These are a few words to describe some of the things that first jump out with the UVA commit. James had three plate appearances on the day. While he was 0-1 with a sac fly and a walk, he did barrel up a line drive to left field in the first inning, but was tracked down. Had minimal action at short, but did have one play that put him on the move and was able to show off the arm strength. Will certainly get back in on him in the next few weeks to see the AB's versus competitive arms, as this look was versus velo and stuff that was on the lighter end.

 

 

Chaz Walker OF / 1B / bishop o'connnell, VA / 2026

 

 

Jack Woda C / OF / Bishop Denis J. Oconnell High School, VA / 2026

Woda was 3-3 on the day, hitting a backside homerun in his first at bat and then getting on via an infield single in his second at bat. The East Carolina commit also swiped three bases on the day. Due to the competition level of the arms they were facing, there is not a ton to add on where the swing is at right now. Woda is hitting .636 right now, has a 1.947 OPS, and has swiped five bags. Especially with runners on in front of him, Woda could have a big year for DJO. 

 

 

Gonzaga

Gary Barton III 1B / RHP / Gonzaga College High School, VA / 2028

1.1 innings of work. Mostly fastballs and was able to miss bats and barrels with the fastball. Stayed to the gloveside of the right hand dominated lineup and was able to expand the zone late in counts. 

 

 

Charlie Garten OF / LHP / Gonzaga College High School, DC / 2029

A competitive edge and ability to pitch that you do not see from many freshmn, especially considering the opponent and the lack of "high end stuff".  The fastball was mostly upper 70's and had multiple 80-81's during his outing. Garten threw a changeup at will during his first inning or so of work before mixing in a 2/8 breaking ball. The breaking ball is soft in terms of velo, but he could throw it for a strike just about whenever he wanted. The biggest thing that stood out about Garten, outside of his competitive nature, was his ability to stay out of the middle of the plate. He worked to both sides with multiple pitches and did not drift into middle-middle very often. 

 

 

Matteo Pipia 3B / RHP / Gonzaga College High School, VA / 2028

Taller and evenly distributed setup at the plate. Higher posture with the torso and tends to narrow up in his lower half and working above the ball with the barrel. His best impact and carry in pregame BP was to the middle and backside of the field, while it seemed to be more top spin and line drives to pull. In game Pipia was 1-3 with a single. Athletic frame and some long term potential to add functional strength. Run tool will need to continue to improve to stay on the left side.

 

 

Declan Schnabel 1B / 3B / Gonzaga College High School, VA / 2027

Physically put together as well as you will find for a high school player. Maintains functional athleticism, especially for his size and offensive profile. His first round of BP was impressive, launching homerun after homerun to all parts of the park, including a few that were a long ways out of left field. In game it was more groundballs in terms of results, while basically everything in BP was in the air. Tends to get a little wider in game and forces some action down, potentially preventing him from tapping into some of the power that he possesses. A little more balanced and staying centered could allow him to create some plane and impact the ball more in game. Ran a 4.26 Home-1st in game, showing his above average athleticism for the frame.

 

 

Dylan Waits SS / 2B / Gonzaga College High School, VA / 2026

Is the tone setter in the lineup for this Gonzaga team. Simple and balanced setup at the plate, head is quiet, lower set hands, and whippy barrel through the zone. More hand speed than strength and bat speed. Works the middle and backside really well, as highlighted with his in game results. Good mover out of the box and an above average runner. Really like the athleticism and ability to produce quality swings at the plate. Senior Future Games alum. Washington & Lee commit.

 

 

Harper Waters OF / Gonzaga College High School, DC / 2027

Watched Waters work during pregame BP. Rangy outfielder that moved well from gap to gap and went back on batted balls pretty well. He is a pretty easy mover and has the footspeed to stay in center. Average to slightly below average arm strength. 

 

 

Braxton Williams LHP / OF / Gonzaga College High School, VA / 2029

Our staff saw Williams during the preseason. The one thing that stood out was the changeup. The young left hander used it effectively in stretches during this outing, but was unable to get the mostly upper 70's fastball past the Highland hitters. This was certainly a feet to the fire type of outing with Williams getting the start versus the #12 ranked Highland team, but he never backed down from attacking the strike zone and Hawks hitters. 

 

 



Highland

Wright Broadhead OF / 3B / Highland School, VA / 2028

Like some others on this roster, Broadhead has added significant strength in the offseason. The movement, angles, and overall comfortability in right field seemes to be much improved. At the plate it is a square stance, weight distributed over the backside, a little hand wiggle into the load, and medium length path to the swing. This is a run production type of bat that will need to drive baseballs. Was 2-4 on the day with a triple off the wall in deep CF/RCF. Above average power potential, defensive profile more RF/1B/DH, and am average to slightly below run tool. 

 

 

Paolo Francioli C / 2B / Highland School, VA / 2028

First thing, it is good to see him healthy after missing some time in the fall. He got things started right away with a single through the left side in his first at bat. His second at bat was a line drive right at the shortstop. Deeper hand load with a more direct path to contact. Whippy barrel that produced line drives and contact driven approach.

 

 

Ryan Gaines RHP / OF / Highland School, VA / 2028

Early outing for Gaines, but is a great place to start the 2026 season. Four innings, one walk, no hits, no runs, and seven strikeouts. Velo held pretty well. He would dip down to the 86-87 range in his third inning of work, but then would decide to grab 88-90 when he wanted to finish hitters. It was a RHH dominated lineup, but early on he established the inside half of the plate and it opened up the glove side later on. In addition to that, the fastball seemed to help the breaking ball out. The slurvy breaking ball is on the softer side, working in the 72-75 mph range. Gaines landed it at a fair rate and it is more starter than finisher in terms of pitch ability. Really strong outing and it will be interesting to see how the secondary and spin continue to develop this year.

 

 

Jake Gunning 1B / OF / Highland School, VA / 2026

Not much to say about the William & Mary commit, he just hits. Higher contact percentage, feel for the barrel, and his power shows up in game, without him having to really chase the impact. Has made the transition to left field, where he threw out a runner at the plate in the first inning. He had two hard hit balls, including a two-run homerun in the first. Should have a big season, especially if others around him continue to produce offensively.

 

 

Matthew McCauley LHP / Highland , VA / 2026

Three innings of work for the senior Richmond commit. Worked in the 85-88 range in his first two innings of work. Ended up working three innings, allowed six hits, one walk, three unearned runs, and three strikeouts. The fastball has an immense amount of arm side run and he was able to expand the strike zone to the arm side versus right handed hitters. Both the slider and changeup are firm and carry solid arm speed. Got himself into a few jams with runners on, but was able to work out of those situations. 

 

 

Quinn Peck 1B / OF / Highland School, VA / 2027

As stated with Broadhead, just massively bigger and stronger. Minimal stride, more coil and unravel to the swing, and has the strength to mishit balls for extra bases. Thought he did a nice job of shrinking and staying in a tight window on his swing, getting the barrel through for some impact to pull. Torso tends to posture up as the swing uncoils, aiding in being able to clear that barrel on the inner half. Had two doubles and a backside single, going 3-3 on the night with 4 RBI. 

 

 



Spotswood

Camden Blank SS / 2B / Spotswood, VA / 2026

When you watch an infielder work, this is what it should look like. Active feet and hands, clean exchanges, improved arm strength, and just plays with a different pace. Just once, show up to the field and really watch infielders work. If you are at a Spotswood game and you watch Cam and then watch everyone else, you should be able to see, if just looks and feels different. At the plate he had two hits, but more singles and groundballs on the day. Solid contact rate in a small sample size on Wednesday night and will be interesting to watch if the added strength translates into added impact at the plate.

 

 

Landon Buracker OF / Spotswood High, VA / 2028

Buracker was on barrel multiple times during his AB's vs Albemarle. He attacked counts early and displayed some feel for the barrel. Toe tap to stride, wider base at finish, and a flatter path through the zone. During his first at bat he jumped an early count fastball for a fly out to center field. In multiple at bats, he did a nice job of getting on plane with the pitch and sending it back where it came from, working more the middle of the field. Above average runner that was aggressive on his reads and stole two bases on the day. Also showed off his footspeed in center, ranging back and in the gap a few times to track down fly balls.

 

 

Kade Carrier 2B / C / Spotswood High, VA / 2027

First saw Carrier this summer at a VBS Elite Scout Day. Undersized, but plays with a higher motor and handles himself really well behind and at the plate. Square setup and relaxed hands at the plate. Small lift to stride and stays pretty simple in the swing. Short path to contact with hit > power and works the middle and backside of the field well. More contact driven and hit for average type of bat, but has shown some feel to hit and ability to play multiple defensive positions. Just gives you the feel that he's a baseball player. No huge tools and not a ton of projection, but shows up, produces, and gives you all he has every day.

 

 

Tyler Howard 2B / RHP / Spotswood High, VA / 2028

From the first time we saw Howard, it was just something different about this arm. Combined for a no hitter last spring as a freshman, then put the Blazers on his back in the state title game, then showed extremely well at the East Coast Super Sophomore Games and Future 50. He has turned heads around the region and shows no signs of slowing down. Long and thin frame, effortless delivery, and just looks like he is playing catch on the mound. Velo was a tick down from where I thought he would be, but understandably so after being under the weather last week. Regardless of where the velo is, he always seems to produce strong outings. 6.1 IP, 3 H, 0 Runs, 10 K's, and 72% strikes. He worked in the 83-85/86 range into the 7th and grabbed a few 87's early on. He would grab 86-87 just about whenever he wanted, especially when ahead in the count, but it was the changeup that was the big winner. For the first three innings, Howard did not throw a changeup for a ball. Every single one was either a called strike or a chase/whiff. He did not really bring out the slider until the 5th and 6th innings when he started spinning that for strikes at will. For the first start of the year, minus a velo bump, he could not have been more impressive.