VA/DC Midseason Momentum: Underclass
May 1, 2025
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As we approach midseason, we take a look at some upperclass players from VA/DC that have some serious momentum heading into the back half of the season, or into the playoffs for private schools.
*Please note that these are players that our staff has seen and these players have performed to the highest degree when our Prep Baseball staff has been in attendance.*
MIDSEASON MOMENTUM: UNDERCLASS
*Reflecting stats as of 4/27/25*
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Elijah Archer | 2028 | OF/1B |
Highland Springs |
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+ Click here for notes & video.One of the most impactful bats for a freshman that we have seen in a little bit. Archer turns out in-game exit velocites of 95+ mph on the regular. In addition to his ability to produce loud contact, there is well above average hit tool traits in there as well, especially considering he is a freshman. In thirty-eight plate appearances, the left handed hitter is rolling with a .412 BA, .474 OBP, 1.238 OPS, two doubles, two triples, two homeruns, ten RBI, a 1:1 K/BB ratio, and seven stolen bases. There are a lot of high school players who will not have that type of production at any point during their high school career, which is even more impressive for a freshman. In addition to some rare hit/power combo at his young age (still 15 yo), he is an above average runner at this point. It is more short burst speed and gets to top speed quickly, which in baseball, can be much more useful than the long top end speed runners. Recently Archer went 6-7 on the week with multiple XBH's and a homerun. |
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Grant Capel | 2028 | LHP |
Matoaca |
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+ Click here for notes & video.The young left hander has taken some big jumps this spring, not only in the velo department, but also in his pitchability. Capel has thrown twenty one innings this year, has a 3.5:1 K/BB ratio, and has allowed a batting average of .164. Capel has thrown versus some of Matoaca's toughest opponents this spring, including a five inning start this past Monday versus Glen Allen. He allowed one hit, no walks, and struck out eight. With each outing, he seems to be getting better and better, hence the Midseason Momentum. |
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Cole Cinnamond | 2027 | LHP |
Great Bridge |
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+ Click here for notes & video.The 6-foot-4 left hander is ranked at the #1 arm in the VA/DC 2027 class. This spring he has been pretty solid on the mound, especially for this being his first big task as a varsity player. Cinnamond has been up to 93 this spring, while also punching out thirty-two in twenty-one innings on the mound. While there have been a few games where the walk totals were higher than you would want, he still managed to minimize damage for the opposing offense. In addition to his imposing presence on the mound, Cinnamond is hitting .325 while starting at first base and just had a three hit game earlier this week, and also hit his first high school homerun. The sophomore is leading the team in RBI and is tied for the lead in strikeouts on the mound. |
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Noah Gray | 2027 | OF |
Miller School |
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+ Click here for notes & video.Gray is hitting .372 on the season, which is the team lead for one of the best teams in the state. Should go without saying, he also leads the team in hits, as well as runs scored and lowest number of strikeouts for any hitter with more than forty plate appearances. Not only has he been a menace to opposing pitchers at the plate, Gray is leading the Mavericks in stolen bases (16) and has not been caught stealing yet. While the power and impact are light, the bat to ball and ability to hit are well above average for his class.
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Josh Gunning | 2028 | SS/RHP |
Battlefield |
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+ Click here for notes & video.In a tough region/district, the freshman is hitting .333 on the year. While that is a solid batting average for a freshman on the varsity level, what is even more impressive is how he has handled himself as a starting shortstop. If you watch him move, he does not look like a freshman. There is a certain maturity to his game and he has not shied away from big moments. In multiple games this season he has come onto the mound in a tight game and performed extremely well. One game of note was when he came into a tied game versus one of the best teams in the state, Gainesville, and threw a seven pitch seventh inning to keep it tied. In addition to that one inning of work, he had the only Battlefield extra base hit that day. Maturity beyond a regular freshman, just simply looks the part, and his in game production has matched that. |
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Jaerron Johnson | 2027 | OF |
St. Christopher's |
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+ Click here for notes & video.A multi-sport athlete with physicality and athleticism that is just a little different. During the Commonwealth Classic tournament Johnson had a breakout game in their first game of the tourney, helping push the Saints through to the semi's. In addition to a strong showing during the tournament, Johnson is hitting .329 on the spring, with three doubles, two triples, and two homeruns. There is some untapped power there that he is beginning to show a little bit more frequently and should only get better. |
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Blake LaMattina | 2027 | SS |
Cosby |
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+ Click here for notes & video.LaMattina has long been regarded one of the top talents in the state. He is hitting .367, has a 1.093 OPS, has nearly double the extra base hits than he does singles, and has scored eleven runs. The biggest thing about LaMattina is that he seems to handle good arms better than he does average, or below average ones. The ability to hit and drive extra base hits from gap to gap is advanced for his age/class. It is more hit than raw power, but he has some natural loft and juice to the pullside that he just allows to happen and does not chase the power. |
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Mason Mantz | 2027 | C/OF |
Turner Ashby |
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+ Click here for notes & video.The guy you want at the plate when you need to get it done. Mantz always seems to come through in the clutch. The sophomore right handed hitter is batting .429 on the year, has a .500 OPB, three doubles, one triple, and one homerun. He has nineteen RBI, six stolen bases, and is fielding 1.000 with ninety-five putouts and ten assists. Mantz has above average hand-eye coordination, adjustability in the swing, and just has a knack to hit. He is one of the best pure hitters in this class. |
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Nico Moritz-Toledo | 2027 | OF |
Battlefield |
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+ Click here for notes & video.The speedy Virginia Tech commit is hitting over .400 this season, is 20+ in runs, RBI, and going to ecplise the twenty stolen base mark sometime soon (currently at nineteen). In addition to improved quality of contact when we have seen him, Moritz-Toledo has nearly a 3:1 BB/K ratio, showing improved bat to ball. The continued improvements in the bat to ball should only enhance the already near elite footspeed and how it plays in game. While personally he has had a pretty succesful sophomore season, the Battlefield team is currently undefeated, and the team's success this spring is a byproduct of his and others' uptick of production at the plate. |
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Luke Torres | 2028 | 3B |
George C. Marshall |
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+ Click here for notes & video.Another freshman that just seems comfortable in their own shoes. For essentially the entirety of their season, Torres has hit in the top half of their order, mostly in the top two. While there is still strength to be added for any big impact/power at the plate, he has shown solid bat to ball and hitter instincts to our staff. Torres is hitting .306 on the season with a handful of extra base hits, RBI, runs scored, and stolen bases. It has been a tough year for Marshall and some of that has probably impacted those numbers a bit with protection in the order and driving him in when he does get on. Like any freshman, there is much more growth to come, especially on the physicality side, but the instincts at the plate and his ability to adapt to the level has left our staff impressed. |
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Drew Wade | 2028 | RHP |
Miller School |
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+ Click here for notes & video.One of the most competitive young arms you will see. The kid is bulldog on the mound and his production has matched his approach. Wade has thrown just over twenty-five innings, allowed two earned runs, struck out nineteen, and only walked five. All while throwing mostly in late game situations with some added pressure. He doesn't shy away from it though, it is if he thrives in those spots. He has a 100% Save Percentage, while holding opponents to a .157 BAA, and a .553 ERA. Is it good stuff for a freshman? Yes. Is it big loud "varsity" stuff that would match those numbers? Not necessarily. The biggest difference maker for Wade is the mindset he brings to the mound. Like another member on that Maverick staff, he attacks and competes.
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Ryan Watson | 2027 | OF/1B |
Greenbrier Christian |
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+ Click here for notes & video.Watson has been a spark in the middle of the GCA order. His bat to ball has improved and he has maintained his ability to impact the game with his run production. Watson is hitting over .400 for the season with twenty RBI, over a dozen extra base hits, and four homeruns. Not bad for a middle of the order sophomore that has faced some tough arms this spring. Our staff has seen GCA multiple times and while he did have a homerun early on, when we have been in it has been more bat to ball, working counts, showing the ability to hit, and not just boom or bust. While there are some elite offensive characteristics for Watson, like bat speed, hand speed, and raw power, it is the addition to the hit tool that leads to him gaining momentum into the summer. |
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