Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Burton's Scout Blog: Week 6

April 23, 2026
Jason Burton
Prep Baseball Virginia/DC


 
Follow @PrepBaseballVA
Facebook + Instagram


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 Scouting Director, will be delivering his weekly scout blog on some of the players he saw during his travels.

In week six, we take a look at six teams and nearly twenty talented players from around the state.

Burton's Scout Blog

Battlefield

Christian Gomez OF / LHP / Battlefield, VA / 2027

Was 1-3 with a double and a walk. It is a taller and more narrow stance, higher set hands, and is short to contact. Short and whippy barrel through the zone with above average hand speed and is more hands driven swing. Walked in his first AB and then backside double with a 4.47 turn.

 

 

Josh Gunning 3B / RHP / Battlefield, VA / 2028

Versatile two-way player that can do a little of everything. Contact bat that has shown the ability to control the zone. Was 0-1 and walked once and was hit by a pitch. Pretty consistent defender in the infield, clean pocket, active hands, short arm action with average arm strength, and can make plays on the run. Probably more second base/third base, but capable defender at all three. 

 

 

Teagan Leach LHP / 1B / Battlefield High, VA / 2027

Impressive day for the best hitter in the VA/DC Class of 2027. Best combination of hit and power, as well as the best in game power in the class, and maybe the best in game power of any player in any class. Willing and able to use the whole field, as displayed with his two backside bolts on the day. First base/DH left handed hitter with legitimate power upside with quality hand-eye and bat to ball skills.

 

 

Luke Raflo C / 3B / BATTLEFIELD HIGH, VA / 2027

Aggressive and attacking approach at the plate. Looked to do damage early in counts, seeing two pitches in his first two at bats before seeing eleven over his next two at bats. Was 0-3 on the night with three flyouts, but did not have a single swing and miss on the night. Biggest takeaway was the improved throwing ability from behind the plate. Quicker release and some improved arm strength. Multiple throws on the bag and threw out two runners during gameplay.

 

 

Collegiate

Corey Elliott 3B / SS / Collegiate, VA / 2028

Athletic frame with lean strength and good physical makeup. Hands are set away from the body before a later load. Twitchy hands and good mover out of the box. In multiple AB's last week, Elliott worked middle and backside gap well. Clears the front side and attacks contact out front. Will be an intriguing follow with his athletic upside.

 

 

Grady Seay C / 2B / Collegiate School, VA / 2030

Thinner athletic frame for the true 8th grader. Narrow and upright stance at the plate. Bat to ball and hand-eye coordination skillset that is certainly on the higher end for players in his class. Has some barrel feel and hitterish tendencies with the ability to adjust in the box. Really liked the feel to hit. Arm strength behind the plate is more average for his class. The defensive skillset will continue to progress as he matures physically. Think it is important to point out that he is an 8th grader playing varsity and while the defense may come across as average right now, it is certainly above average in comparison to players his age/class. Going to be an exciting LHH catcher to follow long term.

 

 

Emery Williamson RHP / 3B / Collegiate, VA / 2027

Saw some traffic and runners during his outing on Friday, but navigated his was through that pretty well. There were some defensive issues behind him at times that allowed some of those runners, but he minimized it fairly well. Mostly in the 82-84 mph range early on and used the breaking ball well, especially when he needed a strikeout or some soft contact. Full arm swing, high three-quarter slot, and lands slightly open. Landed 72% strikes during this outing. 

 

 


Highland School

Antonio Burke 3B / RHP / Highland School, VA / 2028

Under control and normal effort delivery. Full arm swing and above average arm speed that he generates very easy. Lands on line down the mound and it is a pretty simple and quiet operation that he should be able to repeat. Was almost exclusive fastballs, with just a few breaking balls mixed in that he was unable to land. The fastballs were 86-89 and touched 90-91 a handful of times. He can add 1-2 when he wants with minimal added effort. Pretty intriguing to see how easily he gets to the velo and how he can create the arm speed from his lower effort delivery. What he lacks in pitchability at this current time, he makes up for in ceiling/projection with the arm talent he possesses.

 

 

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

Another year of foolish power numbers for Gunning, blasting his 7th and 8th homers of the year. Gunning has driven in 22 runs so far and accounted for 28. While the batting average is down a little (current .355) and he has a few more strikeouts, the power he is producing in the front half of the order has been big for this Highland team. He can get to the power very easy in game and it plays to all fields, as displayed on Friday. In addition to his offensive contributions, in the few games I have seen of Highland this spring, he has shown some ability to be a serviceable corner outfielder. Some spatial awareness on the warning track Friday night catching a ball close to the wall early on, and had an outfield assist in the first game of the year I saw from the Hawks. William & Mary commit.

 

 

Kaden Zimorowicz RHP / SS / Highland School, VA / 2027

Seems like the JMU commit enjoys pitching at RF&P under the lights. Roughly one year ago, almost to the week/date, Zim delivered an electric outing in the Commonwealth Classic championship game. Once again, he did not disappoint. Velo was a tick down early, but it held well and even ticked up just a bit. Builds up pace and intent to slightly above normal effort. Showed four pitches and used all of them in different spurts. A little more slider over curveball early and then leaned into the curveball more in the second inning. Similar shapes, more speed difference and not as sharp of downer action to it. The changeup seemed to be more kick/split change and killed spin. It is a really solid third or fourth pitch. Gets lower into the backside moving down the mound and rides the back leg. Allowed only two hits over five innings, facing only fifteen hitters over his second through fifth innings of work versus a solid offensive club in Western Branch. Got better as the outing went on and continues to trend up with the overall skillset on the mound.

 

 


Miller School

Mandela Browman OF / Miller School of Albemarle, VA / 2026

In comparison to how the rest of the season has gone, it was a quieter night. Walked twice, a groundball single, a groundout, and a stolen base. Showed some zone awareness and did not really go out of the zone for any pitches, nor did he have any swings and misses. Attempted a few bunts early in counts, but did not get any down. 

 

 

Jay Dorsey III SS / 2B / Miller School of Albemarle, VA / 2029

Young infielder that shows some maturity beyond his years. Vocal in the infield, did not seem afraid of the moment at the plate, and some bat to ball skills. Has a lot of maturing to do physically and will have to get stronger to get the barrel moving for some impact long term, but his ability to handle the bat and simply put bat to ball at a solid rate was something that stood out. Mostly groundballs and line drives middle to backside. Certainly contact and hit over power and impact right now, but naturally that will improve as he matures.

 

 


St. Anne's-Belfield

Brooks Fox C / 1B / St. Anne's Belfield, VA / 2026

A couple of big at bats on the day for the senior left handed bat. Had a double early on and then a massive two run homerun in the late innings. His two run blast proved to be the game winning hit/RBI for the Saints. 

 

 

Parker Thomas C / RHP / St. Anne's-Belfield, VA / 2028

Came in for extended relief and ended up getting the win. Worked 3.1 innings, allowed one hit, three total baserunners, and struck out three. Worked 85-86 mph with the fastball and threw 64% strikes. Landed a low 70's slurvy breaking ball for strikes.

 

 

Will Yow SS / OF / Saint Anne's-Belfield, VA / 2026

First week back for the UVA commit. The offense is in early season form, after being out for the last two-ish months. Athletically he looks in good form, making multiple plays side to side and coming forward. Much more natural athlete and defender moving side to side and working outside of his body versus balls right at him. Had a few balls in play on the day, including reaching on an error on a flyball, a bunt attempt (3.51 Home-1st), a groundout to third, and a strikeout. Will take a little time to get back into the swing of the offense.

 

 

Western Branch

Matthew Poore RHP / 3B / Western Branch High, VA / 2029

Like Waddell, saw Poore this preseason and he certainly stood out. While probably more arm right now, it is a heavy barrel at the plate and probably more impact over hit right now, but focusing on the arm part in this eval and look. Durable and solid frame with a stronger lower half. Control over command right now, better feel for the fastball to the glove side. Was facing a physical, fastball hitting team, and lacked the ability to land the breaking ball consistently in this outing. The fastball was 85-87 T88 and showed a slurvy breaking ball in the low-mid 70's Even though it was a tough outing and matchup for the freshman, he never backed down. Kept attacking hitters and did not show any signs of being timid. Arm strength with some toughness and compete.

 

 

Ryan Waddell SS / RHP / Western Branch High, VA / 2028

Saw Waddell in the preseason and could tell there was something there (in a couple different ways). In the few looks we have had, he has certainly proved that theory correct. Pitches and competes with a different edge and attitude. Is not afraid of the moment, and has the stuff to back it up. Came on in relief and pitched at 87-89 T90 for his near three innings of work. Struck out seven and did not allow a hit, while walking one. Because the way the stuff plays, he is going to be a higher volume arm in terms of pitches. He is not your early count pitch to contact guy. Threw 42 pitches while facing his nine hitters, throwing 69% strikes. The slider/sweeper is a little bit more lift and horizontal > depth and could be a legitimate out pitch. Would like to see it in the 76-78 range, but still a really solid pitch for a sophomore, even at its 73-75 mph current velo.