Jordan's Scout Blog: Week 5
April 23, 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.*
Alexandria City
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Liam Jones RHP / 1B / Alexandria City, VA / 2025It was pure dominance coming out of the bullpen for Jones. He filled up the zone with the fastball and slider, working with quick pace and tempo. The fastball was 86-88 and got whiffs in the zone. He showed an advanced feel for the slider, being able to land it in any count that he wanted at 77-80. He is an athletic mover that throws with ease. He threw a little over three innings, only allowing one hit and racking up six strikeouts. He competes on the mound and fills up the zone that doesn’t want to give the offense an inch.
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Jason Kruczek RHP / OF / Alexandria City, VA / 2026It has been a while since we have seen Kruczek on the mound, and he is looking to pick up where he left off. It is a tough at-bat for righties with a short, whippy arm action from a three-fourths slot. The fastball jumps out of the hand with some sinking action that induces a lot of ground balls. The fastball worked up to 89, sitting in the 85-88 range throughout the outing with some command low in the zone to the glove side. He mixed in an upper seventies slider that got better as the outing progressed, generating whiffs in the zone as well as some chases out of the zone. The splitter was used exclusively to left-handed hitters that had some diving action in the low eighties. He worked into the fourth inning, only allowing two hits and picking up six strikeouts. It was a good sample size, as the workload should continue to increase as the spring goes on.
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Broadway
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Sy Crider C / 3B / BROADWAY HIGH, VA / 2025In an old-fashioned valley matchup, Crider put on an absolute show that led the Gobblers to a hard-fought win in extras. His high-end hit tool was on display all night as he turned in a four-hit night with five runs batted in and two home runs. It is a slightly open setup with quick hands that works gap to gap with the intent to do damage to the pull side. He brings a poised presence to the plate that is comfortable in any count, as well as using all parts of the field. Defensively he showed off some arm strength and accuracy on throws, including a big out to erase a runner at second in the late innings. He is a player that has a lot of experience and thrives in big moments.
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Colby Fesler 2B / SS / Broadway, VA / 2027Fesler got the start on the mound for the Gobblers, and he turned in a quality start. He worked seven strong innings, eight strikeouts, and zero earned runs. He worked the fastball in the low eighties to the corners to get ahead. The slider was the go-to pitch late in counts throughout the night, generating swings and misses in and out of the zone. He helped himself out early on in the game when he attacked a pitch and got a double to get the Gobblers on the board. It is a strong base with an uphill barrel path working from the middle to the pull side. He is a competitor on both sides that brings an edge to the game.
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Jackson Plogger OF / 1B / Broadway, VA / 2027It has been a strong start to the year for Plogger, and that continued Tuesday night. He turned in some quality at-bats with a two-hit night. It is a compact, athletic frame with some physicality. He shows barrel control and adjustability at the plate. He’s not afraid to use the whole field and hit in deep counts. It is a hit tool type of bat that can impact the game in different ways as an above-average runner.
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Cosby
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Greer Cabanban 3B / RHP / COSBY HIGH, VA / 2025Cabanban was impactful in different ways for the Titans that led them to the win. He got the start on the mound and had to work around some defensive miscues but still gave them a solid start on the mound. He ran the fastball up to 86, sitting in the 83-85 range. The mid-seventies changeup was the go-to secondary that worked well off of the fastball with some swing and misses in the zone. In a one run game in the late innings, he saw a fastball up and sent it out of the yard for a grand slam to extend the lead. It was a strong performance all around to step up in the big moments and deliver the win.
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Blake LaMattina SS / RHP / Cosby, VA / 2027When LaMattina steps on the field, he plays with such a calm and even-keeled demeanor that even in the biggest moments it seems like he isn’t fazed one bit. He had one of the biggest hits of the night, where he turned around a low nineties fastball and sent it out of left into the trees for a no-doubt solo home run to put the Titans ahead. You don’t see too many low nineties fastballs get turned around like that from a sophomore. He has quick hands and the ability to impact the baseball from gap to gap. He would pick up his second hit in his last at-bat of the night, being aggressive early in the count and turning the barrel for a line drive into left. There weren't many plays to be made at shortstop on the night, but when he did have the chance, he made them look routine. He shows fluid footwork and quick exchanges. There is plenty of arm and athleticism to be able to stay on the left side of the infield. He is definitely an impact player that will not be around long when August comes around.
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Michael Williams RHP / COSBY HIGH, VA / 2025Williams was called in for relief in the fourth inning with runners on, and he minimized the damage. He would go on to close out the game from there, only allowing one run in relief to secure the win. It is full arm action from a high three-fourths slot with late intent. He ran the fastball up to 91 early and settled in at 86-89. The short-shaped slider was the go-to pitch to get ahead and finish counts at 77-79. He did have to work around some traffic in his appearance but made the pitches necessary to get out of innings.
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Hanover
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Gabe Jenkins 3B / OF / Hanover , VA / 2025Jenkins showed a veteran presence when they were down late in the game, and he recognized a breaking ball and sent it into left for a leadoff double. He’s a physical athlete that can impact the baseball as well as use his above-average speed to change the game. Defensively he has plenty of arm strength to stay at third, as he showed some arm strength off during the game. His ability to impact the baseball will be important as a run producer in the middle of the order.
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Danny Kilgore RHP / 2B / Hanover High School, VA / 2025Kilgore got the start on the mound for the Hawks, going three innings, only scattering two hits, and striking out three. He had to work around a defensive miscue early on, but he stayed composed and minimized the damage. He has an up-tempo delivery with late intent. The fastball was up to 88, sitting 85-87, with good riding life through the zone. The slider velocity has ticked up into the 77-79 range that has some late break that got some swing and miss in the zone. He has confidence in his stuff, and it plays in the zone. He will continue to throw big innings for the Hawks as the spring goes on.
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Bryce Krines RHP / RHP / HANOVER HIGH, VA / 2026While the setup wasn’t great for pitching video purposes, it was straight electricity out of the bullpen from Krines. He threw four strong innings, only allowing one hit and picking up seven strikeouts. Krines works with a quick pace, wanting to get the ball back and immediately attack hitters. It is an athletic, up-tempo delivery with a full arm action. He worked the fastball up to 87, sitting in the 83-86 range. The slider was effective at 74-76, working it to the outer edges and getting swing and miss. He has a certain bounce and confidence on the mound that gives you a back-end reliever feel, and he thrives in that role.
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Jackson Millan LHP / OF / HANOVER HIGH, VA / 2027It was a strong day for Millan as he made an impact at the top of the order. It was a multi-hit day as he was aggressive and confident in the box. The hands have good rhythm with a level barrel path that can hit to all fields. What really stood out, other than his feel for the barrel, is his instincts on the basepaths. He stole a couple of bases on the night when he had the timing of the pitcher and made it successfully. He plays instinctively on the basepaths, working on getting the timing correct when trying to steal a bag. He brings value with a left-handed bat that can make things happen on the basepaths.
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Glen Allen
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Daniel Nienaber RHP / 1B / Glen Allen , VA / 2026It was an up and down start for Nienaber, but he still showed some flashes of frontline stuff. He had to work around some traffic in the first and third innings but managed to get through four innings. He held velocity with the fastball, working 90-93. He had success with the fastball when he attacked the corners but ran into trouble when it leaked back over the plate. The feel for the slider was inconsistent early, but it got better later in the outing. The low eighties changeup showed some flashes of being a plus pitch with late fade and tumble. He picked up eight strikeouts in his four innings of work, having success late in counts with some chases with the high fastball. Getting deeper in games and missing a few more bats will be key for him and the Jaguars down the stretch.
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Manchester
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Asher Blalock SS / 2B / MANCHESTER HIGH, VA / 2026Blalock had the hot stick of the night, picking up three hits and leading the Lancers. He sprayed the ball to all fields, showing feel for the barrel. He’s comfortable hitting with two strikes and using the back side of the field. It is a slightly open setup with rhythm in the hands that keeps a short barrel path through the zone. Defensively he has range up the middle with his above-average speed. He has fluid footwork and good pace defensively. It is more of a second base profile long term, but the fundamentals make him more than serviceable at shortstop.
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Easton Butts C / 1B / Manchester, VA / 2026There were some quality at-bats when Butts stepped up to the dish. He picked up a hit to lead off the game, working the count and getting a single to fall into right. He would come back up later and use the other part of the field for a double. The swing plays to the big part of the field, working gap to gap. It is a relaxed, slightly open setup with a level barrel path that sprays line drives. He is aggressive with pitches in the zone, looking to get his best swing off. Defensively he did a nice job behind the plate, blocking pitches and presenting pitches well. The arm strength will need to improve if he is to stick behind the plate, but what you are buying is the bat.
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Judah Parks RHP / OF / Manchester, VA / 2026It was a solid outing for Parks as he went six shutout innings and picked up eight strikeouts against Clover Hill. He really set the tone early, establishing the slider. He was able to start counts with the slider as well as using it as a finisher. It worked in the low seventies with some sweeping action. The fastball worked well off of the slider in the 85-87 range, working up to 88 earlier in the outing. The fastball generated whiffs up in the zone late in counts. He flashed an upper seventies changeup to left-handed hitters that had some late fade. It is a short, quick arm that throws with some intent. It is lean strength in the frame but still more room for velocity. He’s an effective arm that attacks the zone, and has the ability to spin for strikes.
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Northside
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Evan Bruce OF / RHP / NORTHSIDE HIGH, VA / 2026Bruce was a run producer at the top of the order for the Vikings with a multi-hit day. He showed some aggressiveness with runners in scoring position and had a couple of singles in some important spots. He has good rhythm in the hands that get in sync through the zone with a level barrel path. He shows some good bat-to-ball skills, being able to hit the ball to all parts of the field.
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Mason Stanley 2B / SS / NORTHSIDE HIGH, VA / 2026Stanley got the offense started in the bottom of the first with a leadoff triple to deep center field. It is a balanced setup with some rhythm in the hands that keeps a short, level barrel path with line drive tendencies. He brings an aggressive approach to the plate, looking to get swings off early in the count. The bat continues to stand out since the fall, showcasing the ability to hit in game to all parts of the field. Defensively he made the routine plays at shortstop, working with good pace and attacking the baseball. His athleticism allows him to play different positions in the infield. He’s a high-energy guy that can get the offense going at the top of the order.
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Brett Taylor SS / 3B / NORTHSIDE HIGH, VA / 2027Taylor impacted the game immediately in his first at-bat where he was aggressive early in the count and hit a hard line drive into left for a single. He has some physical tools that are different from others in this class. He brings his switch-hitting ability that can impact the baseball on both sides. Defensively it is a corner profile long term, but he has enough arm strength to be able to stay on the left side of the infield. There is some polishing to do on the all-around game, but the tools that he brings are impactful to the game.
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Justin Tucker 1B / RHP / Northside, VA / 2027It was a two-hit day, including a solo home run in the bottom of the third. In his at-bats he showed the comfortability to be able to hit in deep counts. It is a quiet setup with minimal hand movement that keeps a simple load with some natural loft in the swing. He also got the start on the mound, filling up the zone and pitching to contact to secure the win for the Vikings.
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Salem
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Brayden White SS / RHP / Salem (Salem), VA / 2026It was a strong offensive showing from White on Thursday night. It was a multi-hit day that led the offense for the Spartans. He picked up a single back up the middle and a double that brought in a run. It is a slightly open setup that keeps a short barrel path through the zone. He has zone awareness and a feel for the barrel when he steps up to the plate. He has added some evident strength to the compact frame that showed well in the game. Defensively he showed well, as he can defend in the infield with range and fluid footwork. He is very fundamental and does what he needs to make plays in the dirt consistently.
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Turner Ashby
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Mason Mantz C / OF / TURNER ASHBY HIGH, VA / 2027It was multiple times that Mantz came up to the plate in big spots for the Knights, and he came through. His first clutch hit came in the bottom of the fifth with a two-run single to cut the lead down to one. He would then come up to the plate in the bottom of the ninth and hit a three-run home run to tie the game. He is a compact athlete with added strength that showed well in the game. He plays with a high motor at all times and loves to compete in any setting.
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Western Albemarle
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Jack Parkins C / SS / Western Albemarle, VA / 2026Parkins was on barrel throughout the night when he stepped up to the plate. He picked up a big hit to score a run. He worked middle to pull side with line drive tendencies. It is a balanced setup with a toe tap load that gets some natural loft in the swing. He was aggressive early in counts with a feel for the strike zone. It is a wiry, athletic frame that plays with high energy and passion that you can just feed off of.
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