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Tournaments  | Story  | 4/1/2019

PG Elite Showdown Quick Hits

Photo: Drew Burress (Perfect Game)



Jackson McKenzie (2023, Fairhope, Ala.) was highlighted last week for the East Cobb Astros as he pitched a gem in the championship game to secure a win. This weekend McKenzie was back on the mound with even better command and a steep downhill plane on his fastball. The lefthander sat 80-83 mph with his fastball and mixed in a true 12-to-6 curveball for strikes when ahead in the count. McKenzie pitches from an over the top slot creating that downhill plane while staying closed off with his front side as the arm comes through. This adds deception to his delivery as he did a really nice job of locating the fastball at the knees to earn the victory and striking out six batters.

Drew Burress (2023, Perry, Ga.) has proven to be one of the top 14u players in the country in early looks at the 2023 class. The primary outfielder hit a pair of baseballs on Sunday in bracket play for two different no-doubter home runs to left field. Burress swings with intent to impact the baseball with strength from his hands and wrists. He has advanced strength throughout his frame and his lower half is utilized well into the swing as well. He creates good bat speed and combined with his strength the baseball jumps off of his barrel when on time.

Blake Grimmer (2023, Spring Lake, Mich.) is the cleanup for the 5 Star National lineup that is full of heavy hitters. Grimmer is a 6-foot-1 lefthanded hitting shortstop with outstanding physical projection still remaining. His swing projects so well as he, like his teammate Drew Burress hit a ball out on Field 2 at East Cobb over the weekend. Grimmer has loose hands that play very well into the swing with present jump off of his barrel that plays well to both outfield gaps.

Carlos Elian Martinez (2022, Coamo, Puerto Rico) has a loose lefthanded swing in the two hole for 5 Star National. Making the trip from Puerto Rico for the weekend’s event, Martinez had a really successful weekend at the plate barreling the baseball from foul line to foul line. Martinez takes a big stride into contact as he is able to fluidly work his hands and hips into the swing. He is able to create leverage when hitting the ball out in front as he did on Saturday ripping a double down the right field line.

Chase Meyer (2023, Canton, Ga.) pitched in a relief appearance for the East Cobb Astros over the weekend and featured intriguing stuff on the mound. His fastball ranged from 78-80 mph while topping out at 81 mph once as well. Meyer, has a clean arm and a projectable 5-foot-11, 145-pound build with plenty more room to fill in due time. Meyer pitches from a crossfire delivery with plenty of deception and a loose arm. His delivery creates deception to hitters and his minimal effort exerted shows that there is likely plenty more velocity in the tank in the future for Meyer.



Dylan Loy (2023, Sevierville, Tenn.) was featured for a short stint on the mound on Saturday for 5 Star National. The lefthander from Tennessee featured some of the best velocity seen by a lefthanded pitcher in the 2023 class and he also shows plenty of projection as well. Standing at a lean 6-foot, 145-pounds, Loy is extremely projectable at his young age and his fastball sits in the low-80s as well. Topping out at 83 mph in this 20 pitch appearance, Loy also featured a big breaking ball with 1-to-7 shape. The combination of pitches was more than enough to dominate opposing hitters during the PG 14U Elite Showdown.

Rob Duvall (2023, Lawrenceville, Ga.) looks every bit of the part of a powerful lefthanded hitter. Duvall is certainly that as his lefthanded swing projects for plenty of power with present juice to the pull side gap already. Duvall had a pair of doubles in Saturday’s action with one of those being a ground-rule double to deep right field. The physical primary catcher creates extension through contact and has the ability to create leverage into his swing. His raw bat speed and loud barrel skills are certainly worth following as he continues to mature.

Dylan Cupp (2023, Cedartown, Ga.) is a high energy player who showed two-way talent over the weekend. The shortstop and leadoff hitter for the East Cobb Astros is certainly a future prospect in the infield, while also showing an intriguing talent on the mound as well. Cupp sat 79-81 mph while also showing heavy sinking action on his fastball. He stays online to the plate and throws with plenty of intent. He is able to locate to all parts of the strike zone and mix in a changeup with similar sinking action as his fastball.

Dakota Secrest (2023, Lucasville, Ohio) pitched an outstanding game in the quarterfinals for 5 Star Midwest. Secrest is a 6-foot righthander with a fastball that tops out at 80 mph and command that allowed him to fire five innings of one hit baseball with nine strikeouts and just one walk. Secrest does a nice job of repeating his mechanics while maintaining his fastball in both the windup and the stretch. Secrest also has an advanced feel to spin a breaking ball that showed tightness while working as a swing-and-miss pitch for him in this outing.

Jake Hembree (2023, Hiram, Ga.) pitched another gem for the second weekend in a row for the East Cobb Astros. Hembree sat in the upper-70s from his lefthanded delivery and clean arm action while topping out at 80 mph on several occasions. Hembree did not have quite the command as in the weekend before but was still able to limit opposing hitters while striking out seven with his fastball, curveball combination of pitches.

– Greg Gerard



Cole Taylor (2023, Buford, Ga.) is an athletic middle infielder who showed some versatility at the plate as well. A top of the order hitter with good balance between power and contact. His lower half is strong with a simple approach. He throws his hands at the baseball with a line drive swing plane. Taylor is a lefthanded hitter who can create hits with speed out of the box. He impressed with the glove as well showing off a good arm across the diamond.

Dylan Wittke (2023, Lawrenceville, Ga.) has a big frame with tons of potential on the mound and at the plate. He sets up at the plate with an open stance, a high hands and a good leg kick looking to drive the ball in the gaps. He has a great mound presence as well. With a fluid arm action coming right over the top, he showed a fastball in the mid- to upper-70s and a great cutter he brought in on the hands of opposing lefthanded hitters. Wittke has big-time projectablility with his frame both on the mound, and at the plate.

Jesse Duong (2022, Cumming, Ga.) is a strong, stocky catcher with a great baseball IQ. A leader on the field, Duong called his own games behind the plate and did a great job in doing so. He showed soft hands receiving the ball well. Duong has a nice pop time which kept runners in check and a good bat as well. His swing is short with a simple approach as he looks to hit the ball for power while having no problems finding it.  Duong has the potential for a power hitting, great defensive catcher in the future.

Nicolas Perez (2022, Isabella, Puerto Rico) is an extremely talented middle infielder with a lot to offer. Physically advanced for his age with a great feel for the game, he showcased a great glove at shortstop and an even better arm. Perez is a great hitter at the plate as well. He sets up with an open stance and a relaxed approach. Perez trusts his hands to get the job done and succeeded all weekend. Perez drove the ball to all fields for power and simple contact all weekend.

Andrew Elkhill (2023, St. Augustine, Fla.) is a lefthanded pitcher with a lot of potential. He utilizes a big leg kick with a very steep delivery. Elkhill creates arm side run on his fastball that lived in the mid- to upper-70s. Elkhill pitches from a three-quarters arm slot with a nasty 2-to-6 curveball creating plenty of swing-and-misses. He did a great job of holding runners with a good pick off move as well.

Daniel Parris (2023, Knoxville, Tenn.) is a righthanded pitcher with an athletic build. He throws multiple pitches effectively and is not afraid to throw any pitch in any count. He has a quick and deceptive delivery that can disrupt the timing of hitters. He works quickly, keeping his teammates involved in the game. He pounded the lower half of the zone all game long in Friday’s contest. He was not afraid to attack hitters on the inner half of the plate. Parris has a live fastball that sat in the upper-70s as well as a great curveball and a nice changeup.

Alex Urias (2023, Cumming, Ga.) is a legit prospect who is a true gamer. A lefthanded pitcher with great stuff and easy velocity sitting in the mid- to upper-70s. Urias is fluid on the mound with a lively fastball that runs hard on its ride to the plate.  Urias has a sharp curveball making his fastball look even more dominant. Urias has projectable velocity with another gear that he can likely reach in due time. He showed potential at the plate as well driving in a few runs with a short and quick line drive plane swing.

Alex Karst (2023 Smyrna, Ga.) has a tall and projectable frame looking to burst onto the scene. Karst is a corner infielder with a great presence on the mound as well. Methodic on the mound with a big high leg kick and steep delivery, his arm action fluid creating an upper-70s fastball and a very sharp curveball. Karst is a raw talent who dominated hitters during the weekend.

Destin Coursey (2023, Cumming, Ga.) is a middle infielder and a true ballplayer. He showcased a great glove with a decent arm across the diamond as well. He is a great athlete with a smaller frame. He came into the game as a reliever for Team Elite and rose to the occasion. Coursey has a fluid arm and a three-quarter arm slot. Coursey pounded the zone with a mid-70s fastball and sweeping slider. He is also a good hitter at the plate with a contact first approach. Plenty of fast twitch present relying on his hands to get the job done.

Jackson Miller (2023, Dallas, GA) is a lanky prospect with much to offer. He is a great defender at third base with a weapon for an arm. Miller has coordinated feet underneath him as well. Miller has great instincts at the hot corner with a no-ball-gets-by type of mentality. Miller also came in to pitch for the Acworth Warriors and shut down the opposing team with a mid-70s two-seam fastball and big curveball.

– Drew Wesolowski
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