Jordan's Scout Blog: Week 1
March 19, 2025
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Last week I was able to catch some scrimmage action and gathered notes and videos on teams in the state. Take a look at some standouts from this past week.
Amherst
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Jack Casey RHP / AMHERST COUNTY HIGH, VA / 2026Casey was efficient in his one inning of work. He was able to get ahead in counts with both pitches that set him up for success late in counts. It is more of an up tempo delivery with easy effort from a higher over the top slot. The fastball was working to the glove side at 84-86. The ability to spin the curveball for strikes was evident at 70-73. He was able to land it early in counts for a get me over strike then be able to bury in the dirt for a chase pitch with two strikes.
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Jayden Davis OF / RHP / AMHERST COUNTY HIGH, VA / 2026Davis had to pitch his way out of some adversity in his first outing of the spring, but there were definitely some bright spots in it as well. He is athletic with dynamic movement patterns on the mound. He maintains arm speed that gives some downhill shape on his pitches. He threw two innings picking up five strikeouts. He was up to 91 early in the outing grabbing a few 90’s as well but settled in at the 86-89 range. The fastball command was a bit scattered and got behind in counts but when it was in the zone it was effective with riding life. The curveball was the definite go to pitch to be able to get back in counts and being used as a finisher at 79-81. It has hard downhill depth with high spin that shows as a college ready breaking ball. The fastball command will have to get better for him to keep the pitch count down and get deeper into outings but the breaking ball is the bread and butter that can definitely help his success.
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Brennen Macheras LHP / OF / AMHERST COUNTY HIGH, VA / 2026It was my first look at Macheras and it was a solid showing where he picked up three K’s in the fourth inning. The thing that stood out the most was his ability to spin the breaking ball. It had more of a sweeping action at 72-74 that he liked to backfoot to right handed hitters. He used the fastball to get ahead in counts at 83-86 that he worked to the arm side with natural run. It is longer levers with room to fill that worked from a H ¾ slot. He gives this Amherst team some depth as a southpaw that can spin for strikes.
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Clover Hill
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Carter hine 2B / RHP / CLOVER HILL HIGH, VA / 2025Hine was able to find barrel after barrel where he had three hits on the day including two doubles. He sets the tone at the top of the order where he can work deep into counts and shows good pitch recognition. It is a hit tool that works gap to gap with doubles power. When he gets things started in that leadoff spot it gives the offense a jump start to do some damage.
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Carson Hupp OF / LHP / CLOVER HILL HIGH, VA / 2026Hupp had a standout day in different ways on Wednesday. He got the start on the mound and worked with pace and intent to put away hitters. The fastball was up to 80 and was able to land the curveball when he wanted. He also picked up a loud double to the pull side that brought in a run. He brings a left handed bat to the offense that could be a run producer in the middle of the order. His impact on both sides will play a huge part in their success this spring.
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Goochland
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Jackson Bell OF / 1B / GOOCHLAND HIGH, VA / 2026Bell was one of the guys that got the momentum started offensively for the Bulldogs. He came up to the plate with a runner in scoring position and snuck a ball down the third base line for an RBI double to get a run on the board. He is a physical athlete with above average bat speed that makes him a threat to impact the baseball each time he steps to the plate. It is more of a pull side approach but does have the strength to be able to work gap to gap with impact. He will be very important for this team because of his ability to impact the baseball can make him a big time run producer in this lineup.
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Great Bridge
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Cole Cinnamond 1B / LHP / GREAT BRIDGE HIGH, VA / 2027In two innings out of the bullpen, he gave a different look from the left side at 6-4 192-lbs. It was a quick first inning where he picked up two strikeouts. In his second inning he ran into some traffic when he got behind in counts and lost some command of the fastball but still managed to pick up two more strikeouts. The fastball was up to 91 and settled in at 86-89. He added and subtracted the velocity with the fastball when he needed to get back into counts. The feel for the slider was the best I have seen. He was able to start it in counts, finish counts, and get back in counts when needed. It is firm at 78-80 with short shape and late depth that he can bury for a chase pitch that produced whiffs. There is plenty of upside left and an important spring incoming for the sophomore lefty.
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Casey Cuddyer SS / 3B / GREAT BRIDGE HIGH, VA / 2026Cuddyer is one of the top hitters in the state regardless of class and it is many things that he does that makes him that. On Saturday he picked up a hit in his last at bat with a line drive single into right. The big thing that stood out in his at bats was his ability to make adjustments. He was given tough pitches to hit throughout the day but his willingness to make adjustments each at bat shows a maturity and high IQ that he has for the game. He can spray the ball to all fields and the ability to hit with two strikes makes him a tough out each at bat and that showed. His game is very instinctive and that makes the game look a little slower for him to his advantage.
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Andrew Griffin OF / 2B / Great Bridge, VA / 2026Griffin turned in quality at bat after quality at bat showing good feel for the barrel and pitch selection turning in a multi hit day. He showed an aggressive approach attacking pitches in the zone picking up a single and a double on the day including a loud lineout. It is a hit tool type of bat with wiry strength that works gap to gap. He brings athleticism and a quality bat to the lineup that can give some offensive production.
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Hickory
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Jake Cozart LHP / 1B / HICKORY HIGH, VA / 2026It was a good early look as Cozart looked comfortable on the mound in a brief outing. He went two scoreless innings attacking the zone early and inducing weak contact for outs. It is a lanky 6-4 195-lb frame with more room to add strength. The arm works with a repeatable delivery from a H ¾ slot. He showed a four pitch mix with the ability to land all four for strikes. He used the fastball and the curveball to get ahead early in counts. The mid 70’s slider was used late in counts with some sharp depth. The changeup was the winner at 75-78 that had late fading action that got some chases that he used against right handed hitters. It is a starter profile that has pitch ability and knows how to use his repertoire to get outs.
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Kellam
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Chase Brindisi SS / RHP / Kellam HS, VA / 2027It was a quick and efficient outing in one inning of work. He attacked the zone early and often with the fastball at 82-84. He worked the fastball to the corners and the hitters could not make an adjustment. It is a longer arm action from a H 3/4 slot with easier effort. It was good to see him maintain composure and attack a veteran lineup. He can be a solid arm that could contribute regularly to this Kellam rotation.
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Cristian Hamilton OF / RHP / Kellam , VA / 2026Hamilton had a big hit in an important spot where he covered the outer half and was on time for an upper 80's fastball for a line drive single into right. It is a lean, athletic frame that shows the ability to use the whole field offensively. He can be a important piece for this offense that can be versatile and make things happen.
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Lafayette
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Brady Isaksen RHP / OF / LAFAYETTE HIGH, VA / 2025Isaksen got the start and had success early. It’s a loose whippy arm from a higher slot that has late intent. He gets downhill on the fastball that was up to 86 early and settled in at 81-84. He mixed in a few curveballs for strikes that had bigger shape to keep hitters off balance. His arm will be relied on to be the frontline arm that takes the mound in the big games to give them a chance to pick up quality wins.
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Ocean Lakes
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Aiden Skalski LHP / OF / OCEAN LAKES HIGH, VA / 2028Skalski got the start for the Dolphins and it was a solid inning of work. He worked mostly with the fastball and the changeup. The fastball was up to 78 that he worked to the corners with some arm side run. The low 70's changeup was the go to pitch where he would start counts as well as finish counts with some fading action. He also mixed in a bigger shaped curveball. It is a slim frame but the ability to pitch with the feel for the changeup was a good sign from the southpaw.
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Spotswood
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Carter Lenz RHP / OF / SPOTSWOOD HIGH, VA / 2025Lenz was sharp in his outing on Thursday night. He went two scoreless innings while picking up four strikeouts. He was able to get ahead in counts with the fastball that was 86-89. He showed feel for the curveball that he used late in counts at 79-81 that got swing and miss in and out of the zone. His ability to manipulate the curveball to use it as a get me over strike then to make it a chase pitch was very effective in the outing. It was a good early look as he is one of the top remaining uncommitted arms in the 2025 class.
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