Burton's Scout Blog: Week 4
April 10, 2025
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The Prep Baseball Virginia/DC staff makes their way across the Commonwealth and DC throughout the spring to assist high school players in gathering evaluations, including video and some data, that allow our staff to assist in the potential recruitment of student-athletes.
Take a look at a few games and players that stood out over the past week of play.
*Schools and player names are in alphabetical order.*
*If a player does not have a profile, we do not have the ability to feature them in a story.*
Bishop O'Connell
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Shota Fogus RHP / OF / Bishop O'Connell, VA / 20265-foot-11, 175-pound frame for the true junior right hander. Was mainly fastball-slider in this short relief appearance. High three-quarter to near over-the-top slot. The fastball worked mostly 85-88 and touched 89-90. Showed solid feel for the glove side outer third of plate. When he missed, he generally missed to the glove side and they were competitive misses. Slider was 70-73 and it was slightly loose in shape and tended to work up in the zone. College of Charleston commit.
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Noah Haught RHP / SS / Bishop O'Connell, VA / 2025Haught is a thin and athletic frame that stands at a listed 6-foot, 165-pounds. Slower buildup in the delivery and some late intent moving down the mound. More down and out delivery and lands on line. Medium length on the arm circle and works from a low three-quarter slot. The fastball was up to 93 in the first inning and ended up settling more 87-89 as the outing went on, grabbing an occasional 90. The slider was 79-82 mph. He was able to land the slider when it backed up to the arm side half of the plate and when he tried to get it away, he tended to pull it and miss off/down. Got two quick outs in the first and then lost some feel for the zone, running the pitch count up a little bit to start the game. Ended up working three innings during this outing. Richmond commit.
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Walker McElwain 1B / RHP / BISHOP DENIS J. OCONNELL HIGH SCHOOL, VA / 2027
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Chaz Walker OF / 1B / Bishop O’Connell, VA / 2026
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Jack Woda C / 3B / Bishop O'Connell, VA / 2026Got a chance to see six at bats this week from the East Carolina commit, as well as see him behind the plate for eleven innings. Had a few well struck balls on the week, working middle to pull on his best swings. Square stance, reverse toe tap to stride, and lands on line with a slightly wider base. Creates some space with his hands on load, swing has some length at times and got disconnected on a few swings. Behind the plate, Woda works from almost exclusively a one knee down setup. He is an average receiver with above average arm strength. Exchanges in the middle of the body, the arm swing is a little longer and deeper in path, and works from a three-quarter arm slot. Athletic makeup with well above average run tool that could allow some versatility down the road. On the bases, would like to see that footspeed play with more frequent steal attempts, but he did show some solid instincts on anticipating dirt ball reads.
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Collegiate
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Michael Chambers SS / 2B / Collegiate School , VA / 2026
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Carter Mitchell 1B / OF / Collegiate, VA / 2025Mitchell has show his power on multiple occasions in front of our staff this spring, this time sending a two run homerun out of left center field in the first inning. Mitchell got a changeup on the inner half and did not miss it. In his next few at bats they tended to stay with the firm stuff. In addition to his offensive contributions, Mitchell got the start on the mound and kept things very tight for his three-plus innings pitched. Mitchell sat mostly in the mid 80's and got up to 87 in this outing. He had some small stints of scattered command, but mostly escaped those situations, especially early on. William & Mary commit.
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Highland
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Wright Broadhead 3B / OF / Highland School, VA / 20275-foot-11, 195-pound frame for the true sophomore. Two years ago you could see that the body had some projection, but it was a bit soft and you wondered where it would go. The body has continued to transform. It has leaned up, added functional strength, and has maintained the offensive upside that has only added to the intrigue. Had two hits on the day, both balls back through the middle. The setup is slightly uprightm reverse toe tap to stride, minimal load, and stays short to contact. It was good to see him staying short to contact during his at bats and it allowed him to stay inside of pitches and get the barrel through the zone. Played right field during this game. While there is some arm strength, there is still some development and comfortability to be gained in the outfield. Could very well still work corner infield long term, but due to this upperclass heavy team, he will more than likely see most of his time in right. Although there is a learning curve, this could be a plus down the road with him being comfortable at multiple positions and adding to his value as a player.
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Benjamin Cardone C / SS / Highland School, VA / 2025One of my favorite players to watch. The kid just plays the game hard. He is aggressive at the plate, but it is approach based and he controls the zone well. From my looks over the past year, Cardone has shown solid pitch selection and has a fairly accurate barrel. Last week did not prove any different. Was on time and produced loud contact multiple times. On the bases he has aggressive reads, out of the box and on steal breaks. Strong athletic frame, high energy, and versatile.
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Brooks Graham OF / 2B / HIGHLAND SCHOOL, VA / 2025
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Ethan Hudson RHP / OF / HIGHLAND SCHOOL, VA / 2026Not a ton to go through, as Hudson made quick work of his two innings of relief on the day. 66% strikes in this outing, allowed one hit, and struck out four. The William & Mary commit worked in the 85-87 range with a tight mid 70's slider that had late depth. There is controlled late intent in the delivery, he repeats well, and attacks hitters. If this team can get to the last six or nine outs with a lead, he will be tough to manage in those late game situations.
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Weston Lillard RHP / Highland , VA / 2025Virginia Tech commit. 6-foot, 190-pound even frame. Low three-quarter arm slot, shows mostly two pitches, and the slider has some putaway qualities to it. While the fastball is a higher spin pitch, it is more sinker profile and is best when down. The slider is firm, sitting 80-82 with 2600~ RPM, and tends to be more of a finisher.
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Matthew McCauley LHP / 1B / Highland , VA / 2026While the Richmond commit showed three pitches in his relief outing, he was most succesful with the fastball. The mid to upper 80's fastball overpowered hitters that otherwise seemed comfortable with that velo in some previous at bats. He would run it in on right handers with some angle at times, but was most succesful on the arm side half of the plate. Arm side run to the fastball and while it does not have a ton of lift, it does carry through the zone and leave some promise for some future velo. The secondary is certainly serviceable at the high school level, but will need to continue to develop as he matures and gets closer to moving to the next level.
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Paul VI
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Thomas Jewett SS / OF / Paul VI, VA / 2026While there was not a ton of offense to go around for anyone on the PVI team that day, Jewett had one of the better swings on the day, but it resulted in a flyout. While there is not much to discuss on the offensive side, there is plenty to break down defensively. While it is a compact 5-foot-7 frame, he plays with more range than the frame would suggest. Quality first step, good angles off the bat, and moves really light and free working laterally. Average to slightly above average arm strength, but more so than the strength, it is the quick exchange to release with accuracy to the bag that stood out. He came forward well, moved to the glove side with ease, and made play after play. While he did not get an out on one ball up the middle, it was quite possibly the most impressive play of the day due to the distance travelled to get there and the spin and quick release. Yes the throw was slightly off line, but not enough to question the accuracy, especially considering the difficulty of the play. This is an infielder that is certainly trending in the right direction.
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Landon McGinn RHP / ST PAUL VI CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL, VA / 2026
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Brenden Moehnke RHP / Paul VI Catholic , VA / 2025
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Owen Peltier SS / OF / Paul VI, VA / 2026
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St. John's
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Jackson Bringger SS / 2B / ST JOHNS COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, VA / 2027Athletic and slightly compact 5-foot-9, 160-pound frame. Above average runner, can defend in the middle, and handles the bat well for his age/class. More bat to ball, contact oriented approach at the plate with a chance for some more consistent doubles power as he matures. Square stance, early step to stride, and medium length to a level path. Had a 4.22 Home-1st time on a bunt.
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Ren Devereux RHP / 1B / ST JOHNS COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, VA / 2025While there has always been some upside to the stuff, early on the Penn State commit lacked pitchability. It was effort, intent, and attack, but it did not always translate into quality outings where he worked deeper into games and maintained his stuff. Now, Devereux has flipped another switch. He is showing three pitches, throwing them all for strikes, maintaining velo, limiting free passes, and has really taken a step forward in the pitching department. The St. John's starter worked six innings, allowed two hits, no runs, and struck out seven. He was up to 93 mph early on and showed a downer slider, as well as a changeup that he used sparingly. Maturity and growth on the mound is the story for this senior arm.
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Nick Felton OF / ST JOHNS COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, VA / 2025While he can make it look easy at times in the outfield, it is the improved bat to ball and impact that stands out the most with Felton. Essentially every game we have seen of him this spring he is producing solid contact and showing improved barrel rate at the plate. While I think there is some untapped power in this frame, it is more line drive and contact driven approach. I think the lack of power output is more approach and philosophy based, as opposed to actually lacking the ability and potential to produce the power. Uses the middle of the field well. Longer strides, well above average runner, and yet another example of a St. John's late jump guy.
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Nate Hawton-Henley OF / SS / ST JOHNS COLLEGE HIGH SCHOOL, VA / 2025Jordan Jones called this one early on. The new hand setup, better balance, and selective approach at the plate has led to better quality contact. The bat to ball has always been really strong, but it has not been until lately that the impact has gotten better. Still seems to be best impact to the middle and backside, but he has shown an improved ability to turn on pitches to the pull side. Advanced run tool, advanced arm strength, and ability to play all three positions in the outfield. Maryland commit.
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Sean McCabe RHP / 1B / St. John's College High School, VA / 2025We have touched on McCabe's performances of the past and it is the same story, just a different day. Mid-upper 80's, a lot of strikes, using two to three pitches throughout his outings, quick innings, and does not give you anything free. The College of Charleston commit is the definition of what a pitcher is. He has a quiet confidence on the mound and will attack hitters, regardless of the count, situation, or anything else in between. Six innings of work on the week, allowed only two hits, and no runs.
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