Prep Baseball Report

VA/DC Class of 2027 Spring Update: Risers


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Prep Baseball Virginia/DC

 

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While there was no expansion to this rankings update, we did see plenty of movement throughout the Top 125. Today we want to highlight five players that have made a jump inside the rankings. Included in this story are videos and insights into the movement for each player.

VA/DC Class of 2027: Spring Risers

*Players listed in alphabetical order*

Josiah Joyner RHP / SS / LAKELAND HIGH, VA / 2027

Every bit of his listed 6-foot-3, 178-pound frame. Long levers, proportional strength throughout, and simply looks the part. Joyner has been the workhorse for Lakeland this spring and has more than shown the ability to become a frontline arm. The projectable right hander has thrown just over thirty-four innings, striking out forty-three, and allowing a .183 opponent batting average. Allowing ten earned runs on the year, he has allowed eight of them in two starts, dominating in his other six outings. One of the outings included was a complete game versus Great Bridge where he struck out eleven and did not allow an earned run. The velo has been in the upper 80's and with his frame, has a chance to add more in the future. While there is room for improvement with command at times, there is plenty to like about this 2027 arm.

Brady McCormack RHP / 1B / MONACAN HIGH, VA / 2027

Large 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. The frame has really filled out since our last look at the Cardinals Scout Day. It is a normal effort delivery, a short quick arm action, and lands on line moving towards the plate. The slider is a solid 74-77 mph with some 11/5 shape and future upside. This is a young arm, just turning sixteen recently, and still has some long term upside.

Bryan Miller jr C / RHP / WOODGROVE HIGH, VA / 2027

Versatile, athletic, competitor, and toolsy, Those are just a few words to describe the sophomore catcher. In our few looks this spring there are a few things that are evident about Miller. He has solid bat to ball skills and shows the ability, long term, to hit for better than average. There are some bat to ball skills from the left side and he shows an above average run tool. Average to slightly above average arm strength behind the plate, is a solid receiver, and is more than athletic to contribute in left field. Miller has the arm strength, athleticism, and movement patterns to be succesful on the mound, but it is probably more athlete that pitches than pitcher. He was up to 89 in a short outing that we saw, but there is so much value with a left handed hitting catcher, especially an athletic one, that it would be tough for the arm to overtake the positional value.

Wyatt Parker SS / 2B / MECHANICSVILLE HIGH, VA / 2027

Extremely young and athletic infielder with well above average arm strength. Long and thin frame for the not even sixteen year old sophomore, which is very rare these days. In the past, Parker has shown his defensive upside and ability to defend on the left side, while the run tool and and offense have been a bit behind. The run tool continues to improve, nearing above average, and as he adds strength to the high narrow waisted frame, the run could get even better. In addition to the improved run, the offense has seen some significant steps forward. Bat to ball has improved and his impact to pull has improved as well. Next step for the offense would be showing improved usage of the middle of the field with some similar impact as the pull. 

Sam Szefc RHP / SS / BLACKSBURG HIGH, VA / 2027

Two-way talent for the sophomore arm and left handed hitter. Szefc managed to throw a five inning perfect game for Blacksburg in front of our staff a few weeks ago. During that outing he sat 86-88 and threw just better than 70% strikes along the way. In addition to his success on the mound, he had a multi-hit day at the plate. It is a compact left handed stroke at the plate and he showed the ability to use the whole field, but it is on the mound where it jumped out the most that day. Confident, attacking, and just looks to have a different demeanor than he does positionally.