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Burton's Scout Blog: Week 3

April 2, 2026
Jason Burton
Scouting Director 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 three, we take a look at a large group of teams and players from the Richmond area, as well as the beginning of my trip to the western part of the state. 

Burton's Scout Blog


Central (Wise)

Ethan Foster 2B / SS / Wise Central, VA / 2028

Not a ton to add here. It was a quick look with only two at bats on the night. The thought when we have seen Foster is that he has a chance to hit long term. Nothing changed that mindset during this game. Had 6-8 swings during those two at bats, did not swing and miss once. While other hitters were struggling to cover the stuff from Skeen, Foster was on it. He saw all three pitches and was consistent in his approach. Grounded out in his first AB and then doubled in a 10+ pitch AB during his second at bat of the game. 

 

 



Clover Hill

James Nigriny 3B / RHP / CLOVER HILL HIGH, VA / 2027

Listed at 6-foot-2, 170-pounds and looked every bit of it. Lean frame with functional athleticism. Normal to light effort delivery, lands open getting down the mound, and works from a low slot. Definite sinker makeup to the fastball and showed some ability to run the 79-83 mph offering back over the glove side third of the plate. The 70-72 mph breaking ball tended to back up in the few that I saw and showed a little feel for a low 70's changeup from the same low slot. 

 

 



Douglas Freeman

Jack Adams SS / OF / Freeman High, VA / 2028

 

 

Matthew Berrey OF / 3B / FREEMAN HIGH, VA / 2027

Berrey is a name that showed up in the coach submitted Diamond Notes last week so wanted to get out and see him early this season. Left handed hitter with a balanced setup, aggressive early in counts, length in the swing out front, and showed some feel for the barrel. It is a short toe tap to stride, hands are quiet, and the whole operation has a hitter feel. There are not a ton of moving parts in the swing and is seemed like he was able to repeat the operation pretty well. Had a line drive in his first two at bats working back through the middle of the field. 

 

 



James River (Midlothian)

Alex Adams C / OF / James River High, VA / 2029

First time seeing the left handed hitting catcher. Solid physical makeup, listed at 5-foot-11 and 170-pounds. One of the biggest takeaways was how he handled himself behind the plate and during at bats. He just did not give you the feeling that he was a freshman. Adams was catching two pretty solid arms, and looked comfortable handling them. Slightly above average arm strength on his pops between innings. solid receiver, and did not look overmatched when he was at the plate. Will be one that we check back in on a couple times this spring.

 

 

Wil Camera LHP / 1B / James River High, VA / 2028

Big night for the left/left sophomore. Camera just always seems to show up in game. In the second inning he went down and got a pitch at the bottom of the zone and lifted it for a homerun out of right center. Later on he got his hands on top and inside outted a pitch to left field for a single. For a while now, Camera has shown the ability to produce offense in game in a variety of ways, and it seems that he handles the lower half of the zone better than elevated offerings. He was the only Rapids player with multiple hits on the night.

On the mound, Camera was up to 86 from his higher slot. It is a whippy arm with some arm speed through release. Leans on his bigger 12/6 curveball whenever he wants and showed a slider and changeup to compliment the fastball/curveball combo. That was one of the first times I have really seen the slider used as more than just a show pitch. Thought he had solid feel for it and it compliments the breaking ball well. 

 

 

Jayden Grant SS / RHP / James River, VA / 2026

Grant has really evolved into a solid defender and overall solid positional player. Early on it was fairly solidified that it was arm first, but the profile has evolved over time. Fluid mover in the infield and his long and athletic frame gives him range and some hope for added strength in the future that could help the impact at the plate. Had a big double to put James River back in front in the later innings.

 

 

Nate Reed RHP / OF / James River (Midlothian), VA / 2026

Control and command have been a question mark for Reed for the last year or so, but early this season, he seems to have answered that question. Large to XL 6-foot-5 frame with functional strength. Fairly normal effort to the delivery, medium length to the arm swing, and lands on line. The fastball was 88-90 T91 on the night and seemed to be much more under control, specifically on that pitch. Not sure if he is differentiating the fastball between a four and two-seam, but he threw a couple of hard sinkers with late bite that were really good. Like the fastball, there was much improved feel for the slider and changeup. Early on, he threw the slider for a strike just about whenever he wanted. That pitch sat between 78-81 mph and has a chance to be an above average pitch at the next level. Showed a few 82-83 mph changeups, more so to left handed hitters, but like the other two pitches, a much better feel for the zone with it. The first inning was around six pitches, every one for a strike, and that trend continued into the second. Summing it up, the overall competitiveness in the zone is much improved and the stuff will have a chance to play so much better due to his ability to land all three pitches. With his physicality, I think this arm has a chance to throw hard and make an impact at the next level.

 

 



Manchester

Landon Anderson 1B / LHP / Manchester High, VA / 2028

There is some toughness and compete to this sophomore left hander. Does not have overpowering stuff, but does not back down from attacking hitters. Slightly above normal effort, whippy arm action, and works from a low three-quarter arm slot. Down and out to stride, landing on line at footstrike. The fastball was 82-83 during his first two innings of work and used a 72-74 mph slider. Was working at a 60% clip for strike percentage during his four innings of work. It was a very quick and clean first inning before having some traffic over the next few. Regardless of the situation, Anderson seemed to stay composed and kept the same mindset and level of compete. Allowed five hits, two earned runs, three walks, and struck out six. 

 

 

Easton Butts C / 1B / Manchester, VA / 2026

Easton VanDyke SS / RHP / MANCHESTER HIGH, VA / 2027

Listed at 5-foot-9, but certainly that height and weight have not been update on his profile. Lanky and athletic frame, above normal effort delivery, and a pretty good mover on the mound. Lower hand break, medium length to the arm swing, and really turns the corner with above average arm speed. Did a really nice job maintaining his arm speed and intent on the slider. The fastball was low-mid 80's and had some carry through the zone. The slider was the winner though. Not a firm slider in terms of velo (72-74 mph), but was a really solid secondary offering. Came out well and had finish at the plate with some long term potential to be a legitimate out pitch at the next level. That night, it showed to be an above average breaking ball for a high school arm. 

 

 




Prince George

Camden Barnes 1B / RHP / Prince George High, VA / 2027

Have seen a handful of at bats from Barnes so far this spring and the one thing that has been consistent with him is he hits. Multiple doubles and just seemed to be on barrel every single AB I saw. First base/DH profile with some power potential and some feel to hit.

 

 

Logan Heath RHP / Prince George High, VA / 2026

Have seen the Longwood commit twice early on this season. Once in a hold situation and the other in a start. While there were some differences in his approach and attack, it was similar results. Effort and intent that was certainly more ramped up in the one inning hold situation, as opposed to the start on Monday morning. In the start it was above normal effort, but he seemed to manage the intent a little better without really sacrificing the stuff. Would still say more reliever profile right now, but some potential for bulk/middle relief. The fastball in both outings has been 87-90 and has grabbed a few 91's along the way. Definite ride and run fastball that can get some whiffs at the top. The slider is a legit out pitch and has the chance to be an above average pitch at the next level. 

 

 

Jack Mozucha C / RHP / Prince George High, VA / 2027

In his first few innings of work Mozucha was 85-86 and touched 87. It is a longer arm action and posts up. The fastball has some carry at the top of the zone and got some swings and misses in the top half of the zone. The breaking ball is more slurvy at 71-75 with varied shape. More depthy to the arm side half and more horizontal break and run away from hitters to the glove side. Piled up ten strikeouts over 4.2 IP, walked one, and allowed two earned runs on five hits. 

 

 



Union

Kamron Bishop 3B / RHP / Union High School, VA / 2027

Slightly closed off stance, balanced setup, and hands are quiet on load. Flatter path through the zone and more direct to contact. Hit over power with some occasional doubles power. Had a double to deep left field early on where he got the hands in was able to keep it fair. Bishop had two hits on the day, with two RBI and two runs scored in the Bears' win.

 

 

Liam Skeen RHP / SS / Union, VA / 2028

Skeen was in complete control of this one. Came out 86-89 in the first inning, landed the slider early and often, and was getting whiffs in the zone and chases out of the zone on both pitches. The control was improved, specifically his ability to locate the fastball to the glove side. It is a super short arm action, but he is able to generate above average arm speed and maintains it on his slider and changeup. While he only went to the changeup once in game, I thought it showed extremely well in the bullpen. The arm speed was there, he showed feel for the zone with it, and it looked to play well off of the fastball. Like the changeup, the slider had really good arm speed and he was able to land it consistently in game. It is generally tighter in shape with some downer action, although at times it does have some horizontal shape. The slider was 77-80 mph and is an above average high school pitch, especially when talking about a sophomore. While the intensity and higher effort level remain, the pitchability seems to be improved. Competitor on the mound and has an attacking demeanor.