Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Burton's Scout Blog: Week 5

April 24, 2025
Jason Burton
Scouting Director Prep Baseball Virginia/DC

 

Follow @PrepBaseballVA
Facebook + Instagram

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.*

Atlee

Chase Blumberg RHP / Atlee, VA / 2026

Not much to go into with it only being a one inning outing, but it was really good to see the velo jump. Very well could be a short max effort outing and would possibly not hold into a third or fourth inning of work, but nonetheless, it is good to see the arm strength to pair with his pitchability. Two pitches for strikes and up to 90 mph during this brief look.

 

 

Nicholas Gaines SS / OF / ATLEE HIGH, VA / 2026

Gaines has shown an improved hit tool and competitive nature in the box. Currently hitting .385 on the season. It is a hit tool bat, more line drives, and some occasional doubles. Compact level path swing and does a nice job staying inside at contact. Was 1-2 during this game, and drove in the only Atlee run of the night.

 

 

Cooper Molloy 2B / SS / Atlee, VA / 2026

One of the best hit tool bats in the region and state. Bat to ball skills, uses the whole field, and is the catalyst for this Atlee offense. Well above average defender, moves well laterally, and can make off platform throws/plays look easy. Had two singles on the night and made multiple plays at second base. George Mason commit.

 

 

Noah Yoder RHP / 1B / Atlee, VA / 2025

A much improved outing from my last look a few weeks back. The velo held better, especially considering it was a short rest start. While the velo was a tick better, control/command was much improved also. Works the glove side of the plate, especially versus right handed hitters. The breaking ball control and usage rate of the low-mid 80's offering was probably the biggest improvement. That was the difference maker for him during this outing, especially considering there are not a ton of swings and misses generated by the fastball. Has cemented himself as one of the most intriguing power arms in the country. Duke commit.

 

 

Cave Spring

Oliver Ingram RHP / 1B / Cave Spring High, VA / 2029

 

 

Evan Lee OF / LHP / Cave Spring, VA / 2027

High energy player, at the plate and on defense. While he is undersized, he plays much bigger than his frame. Above average arm strength in the outfield, has some footspeed and range, and some sneaky juice at the plate. Will be an intriguing follow this summer.

 

 

Sam Urgo C / 3B / CAVE SPRING HIGH, VA / 2027

 

 

Christiansburg

Mason Cullop RHP / SS / CHRISTIANSBURG HIGH, VA / 2026

 

 

Gavin Dow SS / 2B / CHRISTIANSBURG HIGH, VA / 2025

Concord commit. Caught my eye during pregame defense, as this was my first look at Dow, and my first time seeing Christiansburg in probably two years. Moves fluid, carries himself well at short, makes throws from different slots, showed solid arm strength, and just looks the part in the infield. Had a barrel to right center in his first AB (video below), but was ran down by the right fielder. Quick look, but solid first impression from the senior infielder.

 

 

Ethan Wayman RHP / 2B / CHRISTIANSBURG HIGH, VA / 2027

 

 

East Rockingham

Landon Bruce SS / RHP / East Rockingham, VA / 2025

 

 

Richmond Grayson Hammer 1B / RHP / East Rockingham, VA / 2026

 

 

Alex Jenkins SS / 2B / EAST ROCKINGHAM HIGH, VA / 2026

Jenkins was Mr. Do It All versus William Monroe. Multiple hits, 6.2 shutout innings, scored two runs, and just overall dominant performance. Not overpowering stuff on the mound, just pitches. 78-80 mph with the fastball, induced early weak contact, and challenged hitters. Was two for three at the plate with a double and got things going from the leadoff spot.

 

 

Eastern View

Isaac Babich SS / 3B / EASTERN VIEW HIGH, VA / 2026

 

 

Tyler Caperton SS / OF / Eastern View, VA / 2028

Like a few others in this freshman class, he just does not look like a freshman, especially on the defensive side. Had multiple plays on the night and made them look easy. Goes back well on balls that are shallow in the outfield, moves well laterally, and just has a pace and rhythm about him on defense. At the plate there has been some swing and miss and has certainly looked like a freshman on the offensive side. While there have not been great results in the six at bats I have seen, there is nothing alarming with the function of the swing that is cause for concern right now, again he is still a freshman.

 

 

Hanover

Will Hodges RHP / OF / HANOVER HIGH, VA / 2026

Liberty commit. Lower three-quarter slot, low elbow, and low release height. The fastball certainly has some induced vertical break that allows the fastball to play at the top. While it does have some sinker profile to it, he gets lift at the top, partially due to the lower elbow and lower slot. In our looks of Hodges, he comes across as an arm that has to work at both extremes of the zone (up and down), and has to stay out of the middle. Some guys are able to work in that in between, but I do not thing the fastball profile works best there. Mostly mid ot upper 80's fastballs and a handful of slurvy breaking balls throughout his outing. While he did pile up some whiffs in bunches, they seemed to come in bunches, and at the top of the zone. Tallied ten strikeouts over five innings of work, working mainly off of the fastball.

 

 

Bryce Krines RHP / RHP / HANOVER HIGH, VA / 2026

Two inning save by the Jacksonville State commit. Sat mostly in the low-mid 80's and touched 86. He showed a few more breaking balls in his second inning, but it was still mostly fastballs during this outing. The stuff was not overpowering, but he made big pitches when he needed them. 

 

 

Grayson Reece SS / 2B / HANOVER HIGH, VA / 2026

The defensive capability has always shown well, but the offense has been slow to come along. However, Reece put some quality swings together on Friday night. Had a sharp single early in the game and followed it up with a lineout to shortstop later on. With the offense beginning to potentially turn the corner, this one could start to gain some steam heading into the summer.

 

 

Hidden Valley

Hunter Mixon 3B / RHP / Hidden Valley, VA / 2026

 

 

King George

Cooper Sobota OF / King George High School, VA / 2026

XL frame 6-foot-4, 235-pound junior. Right handed hitter with evident raw power and has the strength to impact the ball and drive runners in. This was the first look for me at Sobota, but certainly seems more run production profile with 1B/DH positional possibilities. 

 

 

Anthony Turner SS / RHP / KING GEORGE HIGH, VA / 2028

Have seen video of Turner and gotten some feedback from other sources, but first time seeing the longer limbed freshman. Lanky frame with room to fill and still has some projection left. Square setup, quick reverse toe tap to load, no seperation and space created with the hands, and a more short and direct swing path. Flew out to right center on a good swing in his first at bat and would reach on a single/E4 in his next AB. Liked some of the contact skills for the freshman, especially facing an upperclass arm that others were not seeing as well. 

 

 

Louisa

Eric Davis OF / LHP / LOUISA COUNTY HIGH, VA / 2026

Square and slightly upright in stance. Picks up and put down to stride, hands load and separate, and path has some length at times. Strengths are middle to pull and can impact the ball at times. Chase and swing and miss in his first at bat, but was on barrel his next two at bats. Had a well struck ball during his second at bat, but it was ran down in center. He would later single through the right side. Looks to hit when he is in the box. More corner outfield profile. 

 

 

Salem (Salem)

Mason Hale OF / OF / Salem (Salem), VA / 2026

Similar to White, this junior plays with another level of energy. Gets out of the box and showed his above average run tool. Square stance, relaxed hands with a vertical bat in setup, loads to separation, and has a level path through the zone. Not a bunch of high quality contact on the night, but showed some bat to ball skills and the ability to impact the game with his athleticism and footspeed.

 

 

Trace Monroe LHP / OF / SALEM HIGH, VA / 2025

On a cold and windy night, the VMI commit was very efficient in the zone and worked quick through the Hidden Valley order. Low to mid 80's with the fastball, a softer low 70's breaking ball, and worked both sides of the plate with the fastball. To the gloveside Monroe has some crossfire in on right handers and had some run when working to the arm side. The velo was down a tick from where I saw him last year, but the conditions may have a little to do with that, as well as pitching into a 20+ mph head wind. The breaking ball, while he did land it at times, lacked teeth and finishing ability. 

 

 

Brayden White SS / RHP / Salem (Salem), VA / 2026

Athletic defender that works really hard to set up throws and attacks forward. Made multiple plays at short and showed the ability to throw on the run with accuracy. At the plate it is solid bat to ball, doubles power, and gets out of the box. Average run tool that plays a little quicker on the bases. Had a double early on and a ground out to third in his next at bat. 

 

 

St. Anne's Belfield

Waylon Ammons RHP / 2B / St. Annes-Belfield, VA / 2027

 

 

Jack Fisher 3B / RHP / St. Anne's-Belfield, VA / 2027

Has come on for STAB as a middle of the order impact bat. Square stance, hands pre-set back, more direct to contact from an already separated position. Level path to contact, stays over his backside, and swing gets out of the zone quick. Has some pull side tendency to the swing and has the ability to impact it to that part of the field. Had a hard hit ball to right field early on and a single later on. Improved bat to ball and impact should continue to pick up as he matures.

 

 

Brooks Fox C / OF / St. Anne's Belfield, VA / 2026

The arm action has cleaned up a bit and the arm strength has improved some. The bat still carries the profile. Can impact it from the left side, and does so to both gaps. Did a nice job in his first at bat going with a pitch into left center. 

 

 

Chase Miller OF / RHP / St. Anne's-Belfield, VA / 2028

 

 

Townsend Peper RHP / Saint Anne's-Belfield, VA / 2025

It is a thin, somewhat lanky frame. While the velo has plateaued a bit from a summer or so ago, now sitting in the low-mid 80's, but the cutter can certainly beat hitters and win games. Spammed the cutter at 74-77 mph, and while it can blend some shape with a slider, he landed it at will and used it versus hitters from both sides.

 

 

Ryan Steeper 2B / RHP / St. Annes-Belfield, VA / 2026

More compact frame. Has been a mainstay in the STAB program for the last two seasons, and is a big piece of their puzzle once again. Steeper worked in the 78-82 range early on and filled up the zone. Not overpowering stuff, just pitches. At the plate is probably where the next level profile lies. Historically, he has shown the ability to handle good arms, with some sneaky juice to the pullside. 

 

 

William Monroe

Gavin Gilbert C / RHP / William Monroe, VA / 2027

 

 

Nolan Lamm RHP / OF / WILLIAM MONROE HIGH, VA / 2027

Was a pretty cold day, but sometimes those are the days you see more than the warm sunny days (grit, toughness, ability to pitch, etc). While the velo was down a bit (81-84 T85), he was in the zone and competed during his four-plus innings of work. Found some bats and barrels early, mostly with the fastball, but was able to start landing the slider pretty consistently and that slowed down the East Rock offense. Showed what appeared to be two breaking balls, a curveball at 72-74 mph and a slider at 76-78 mph. Landed both breaking balls, but the slider is the winner. Is an arm to check in on again in a few weeks.