Burton's Scout Blog: Week 8

Brayden Cronin 3B / RHP / Chantilly High, VA / 2028

A really big night for Cronin on Monday. Having been in a variety of spots in the lineup recently, he handled himself well in the leadoff spot. Did not have a swing and miss until his final at bat of the night, was on barrel and on time, controlled the zone well, and showed some added strength. Led off the game with a solo homerun out of right center. Followed that up with a hard hit ball to center, then a backside single in his third at bat. 

While he was good at the plate, he was even better on the mound. 75% strikes, only 16 balls thrown on the night, and just over 9 pitches an inning (65 total in 7 IP). While he did not get really any swings and misses with the fastball, he showed a really solid feel for it to the glove side of the plate, and spun a breaking ball for strikes whenever he wanted. Of the first 13 breaking balls he threw, he landed 11 of them for strikes. It was his best out pitch and best swing and miss pitch of the night. While it will need to firm up, his early feel for the strike zone with that pitch was impressive. The fastball was 83-85 T86 and held that velo through the 4th inning. The stuff alone will need to continue to grow, but the pitchability and competitiveness are there. Even when he gave up two in the third, he never wavered from attacking hitters.  

Henry Brown 3B / 1B / Frank W Cox High, VA / 2026

Having not seen Brown on the mound in an extended outing in a bit, he was really good on Friday. Around 65% strikes, threw quite a few sliders for strikes (called and whiffs), and attacked hitters from the jump. Outside of a solo homer in the second, there were really no high stress/high leverage situations that the VCU commit got himself into. Allowed three hits, walked one, and struck out nine. It got to a point that you just knew Brown was going to finish counts with the mid-upper 70's slider, and hitters simply could not layoff of it. With his higher usage rate on the breaking ball, it allowed the fastball to play a tick better than its mid-upper 80's velo. In addition to it playing better off the slider, his ability to flash some above average control to the glove side with that pitch expanded the plate for him. 

Adding to his night, Brown hit a solo homer in the third to tie the game up. Brown had two hits on the night and he walked twice as well. Brown was named Player of the Week last week because of this dominant performance versus a Power 25 opponent.

Makinlee Apperson OF / OF / Eastern View High, VA / 2027

Square stance at the plate, hands preset back, with more of a weight shift to load than lift to stride. Quick level path to contact and has average to slightly above bat speed. Long and athletic frame with some range and instincts in centerfield. Athletic makeup with the chance to be a solid defender in center/left.

Tyler Caperton SS / RHP / Eastern View High, VA / 2028

Between Jordan Jones and myself, we have took in 21 innings with Eastern View over a eight day period. One of the biggest reasons was to log AB's and innings from this talented sophomore infielder. I will run through a few things pretty quickly before getting a little more in depth. The profile right now is probably more athlete, projection, and position value over present polish and present impact. Caperton has a thin and athletic frame that has added good weight and should continue to. He is an above average runner that plays a little quicker in game because of his motor and aggressiveness. He is a good mover defensively that can make the hard ones look easy at times, but can also create some angles and plays for himself that could be a grade simpler at times.

The offense is the biggest area for growth. Solid bat to ball, short to contact, LH swing works and has a chance to play, RH swing is even shorter and can be a little pushy (only saw 2 AB's from that side). It is contact and bat to ball over impact and power. Had probably average to slightly above average swing decisions and did not really swing and miss during his AB's. Good hand-eye coordination and has the athleticism to adjust in the box. During a few AB's that Jordan saw, and maybe a time or two in the 7 or so at bats I took in, some of the timing was off at times. It varied in terms of being a little out front sometimes and then being a little late a few other times. Hitting is timing, but regardless of early, on time, or late, Caperton still managed to get bat on ball, showing some adjustability. The timing gives some variance to the quality of contact, but both should continue to get better as he matures.

Now for the most important part of all, the diligence, focus, and approach he took to everything he did in those three games is hard to explain. From watching him in the dugout, to watching him prepare on deck, approach and patience in the box, groundballs in between innings, movement and communication between pitches, and everything in between. It was refreshing to see, because you do not see it much at this level. It displays maturity and intent to his actions, which coupled with his athleticism and tools, leads you to believe he has a bright future. It is not something you see every day, especially when watching some others on the same field take a very different approach to the game and their preparation. These are the things that separate the average from the good, and the good from the great. 

Brady Drew SS / RHP / Greenbrier Christian, VA / 2026

‘26 Brady Drew had two hard hit balls last night, including a solo homerun in the B2 to put @BaseballGCA on the board.

Later had a well hit ball to CF that got ran down. @BradyDrew2026 #VAHS26 pic.twitter.com/3KHuQcKuwU

— Prep Baseball Virginia/DC (@PrepBaseballVA) May 2, 2026

Clayton Moore RHP / OF / Greenbrier Christian Academy, VA / 2028

The sophomore right hander has kinda exploded on the scene this spring for GCA. Listed at 6-foot-1, 166-pounds and both seem a shade light. Higher waist, proportional physical traits, and appears fairly even distribution of weight throughout the frame. Normal to maybe slightly above effort level. Full arm swing and above average arm speed from a lower three-quarter slot. It is a whippy arm and between the arm, frame, and way the arm works, leaves some room to believe he is going to add more velo in the future. The fastball was up to 91-92 a few times in the first and was still grabbing an occasional 90 in the third. Settled more 86-89 deeper into his outing. He could not land the breaking ball in the first and the control was still up and down at times, but it flashed as an above average HS pitch with a chance to be average at the next level (long term). Did show a split, but lacked feel for that. Seemed to be working around that and pulling it glove side. The control and command was up and down, throwing 59% strikes during this outing. While the stuff has a chance to play when in the zone, the misses were uncompetitive at times and the overall control came and went in spurts. Had four walks and four strikeouts, and from simply following box scores and tracking production, the more 1:1 K/BB seems to be common. Is a true sophomore and seems to still be growing into his body. As he matures physically, some of the consistency of movements could clean up and allow him to repeat a little more consistently. Projection arm with some real velo upside. Definite high major follow this summer.

Nate Moseley RHP / 1B / Yorktown High, VA / 2027

Large and durable frame for the junior right hander. Worked 4.2 innings of relief where he threw 78% strikes, gave up four hits, no walks, and struck out seven. Normal effort delivery, down and out to stride, short arm action, and works from a higher three-quarter arm slot. Showed three pitches, but mostly a fastball/breaking ball mix. The fastball was 83-85 mph in the first two innings of work. He showed a softer, gradual shaped breaking ball that he landed for strikes at a high rate. 

‘27 Nate Moseley (Yorktown)

On in relief. Large frame, short AA, and has shown 3 pitches. Gave up back to back singles in T4, otherwise been quick counts and AB’s.

FB 83-85
SL 71-74
CH 75#VAHS26 pic.twitter.com/V4XavXnPHL

— Prep Baseball Virginia/DC (@PrepBaseballVA) May 4, 2026