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Tournaments  | Story  | 6/7/2019

PG-EC Invite: Day 4 Scout Notes

Greg Gerard      Drew Wesolowski      Brian Treadway      Jacob Martin      Colton Olinger      Matthew Arietta      Jacob Jordan     
Photo: Caleb Ketchup (Perfect Game)

2019 13u/15u/17u PG-East Cobb Invitational: Day 2 Scout Notes | Day 3 Scout Notes

Caleb Ketchup (2020, Jonesboro, Ga.) is a quick-twitch shortstop who had a feel for the heroic in his team’s first round playoff game on Thursday. Ketchup came to the plate in a tiebreaker situation in the bottom of the eighth inning down one run. He put a quick and compact stroke to a full count fastball and drove it way over the 320-foot fence for a walk-off grand slam. Ketchup is a really athletic middle infielder with a clean and quick stroke at the plate. His barrel feel and ability to make the ball jump off of his barrel have been noteworthy this week as he knocked an opposite field home run Wednesday and followed that up with a bomb to his pull side for a game-winner. His footwork in the middle infield, like his swing, is quick and athletic with a sure glove and the ability to throw from multiple arm angles. The University of Georgia commit has had a big week at the plate in the PG East Cobb Invitational and will be a fun player to follow throughout the remainder of the summer circuit.




Tennessee commit Nathan Smith (2021, Thomasville, Ga.) made the start behind the plate for the East Cobb Astros on playoff day at the PG East Cobb Invitational and really impressed in both areas of his game, at the plate and behind it. The righthanded hitting catcher has a balanced swing at the plate with a line drive swing plane. He gets his hands going into the swing with a leg lift trigger that produces some bat speed through the hitting zone. His at-bat in game one of his team’s double header included a deep ground-rule double to the pull side gap flashing his potential power at the plate. There is plenty of strength at impact and his defensive ability behind the plate is just as impressive as his offensive ability. The Tennessee commit has a strong arm and quick footwork out of his crouch with the ability to throw with accuracy both coming to his feet as well as from his knees.

Will Sanders (2020, Atlanta, Ga.) will pitch at PG National next week, but prior to that the tall and athletic righthander pitched for the East Cobb Astros in the Quarterfinals of the PG East Cobb Invitational on Thursday afternoon. His fastball reached 91 mph multiple times early and settled in the upper-80s consistently in the outing. It is worth noting that the righthander touched 90 mph on his 108th pitch of the contest showing the arm strength he presents as well as his already outstanding stamina on the bump. The South Carolina commit has a slight crossfire delivery with a full arm action and a downhill plane to his fastball. He showed great feel for a slider and even more so for his changeup that sat anywhere from 79 mph to 84 mph with tumble. The slider flashes sharpness late and is a pitch that really shows big-time potential. Sanders was marvelous in this contest tossing 6 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run and striking out five.

Camden Hill (2020, Madison, Ala.) showcased his two-way potential in a big way during Thursday’s playoff action as he started a quarterfinal matchup sitting 87-89 mph and showing a swing in the cleanup spot in the order that oozes power potential. Hill has a compact arm action on the mound and a fastball that jumps out of his hand. The pitch features plenty of life to armside out of his hand while he also offers up a pair of secondaries that project well. The curveball flashed above-average bite late on its ride to the plate. The pitch lived in the upper-70s and truly will be a weapon with refinement as it is already a swing-and-miss pitch.

Dylan Lesko (2022, Buford, Ga.) made an appearance in relief for the East Cobb Astros and ultimately earned the win for his team as he reached a new best velocity with his fastball up to 92 mph. Lesko has a clean arm action and an online delivery that is so easy and repeatable. The arm works so well and the ball really jumps out of his hand. Lesko sat in the low-90s pretty consistently in this appearance while dipping to 89 mph on a pair of occasions. He also featured a sharp breaking ball in the mid-70s that has plenty of potential moving forward. The command was not as outstanding as it has been in the past for the top ranked player in the 2022 class as he did miss over the heart of the plate some for barreled contact but the uncommitted righthander worked around a pair of hits to fan three hitters via the strikeout and earn a victory.

-Gregory Gerard




Gene Kolarik (2020 Crown Point, Ind.) showed a very large frame with an athletic, filled out build. The big righthanded pitcher worked with a short step before moving into a fluid delivery. He stayed on plane while working from a high three-quarters arm slot. He likes to use a longer arm action and mixed up pitches well. The Illinois State commit flashed a fastball sitting 82-85 and topped out at 86 and an 11-5 shaped curveball sitting 74-76. The projectable righty went 2 2/3 innings in his outing early in bracket play and tallied two strikeouts.

Antonio Barranca (2020 York, Penn.) flashed a very big frame with a strong build and a sturdy lower half. The catcher showed mature mechanics behind the dish. He kept everything in front of him and stole some strikes for his pitcher with soft hands. He showed a sub 2.2 second pop time to second in between innings and kept the opposing team from stealing all game long. He got it done at the plate as well. Barranca had a spread-out stance with a high hands. The righthanded hitter created some separation and relied on his excellent hand-eye to square the baseball up. With his linear swing path, he ripped a single right back up the middle with an exit velo over 90 mph in bracket play early in the day.




Charlie Taylor (2020 Dunwoody, Ga.) showcased a medium frame with an athletic, strong build and showing some room to fill. The Tennessee commit proved to be an asset both behind the plate, and in the batter’s box. The catcher showed great hands with a quick transfer throwing down. His throws were on the money as well with some life to his throws. The righthanded hitter showed some pop at the plate as well. He worked with high hands and worked into a short toe tap for timing. He relied heavily on bat speed and got the barrel out front creating loud contact. With repeatable mechanics, look for him to continue to grow into an athletic two-way catcher. Taylor helped his team get the win with a base knock, including an RBI and run scored. With the win, his team advanced deeper into the playoffs.  




Kristian Campbell (2021 Marietta, Ga.) showed a taller frame with an athletic, lean build and room to fill out in the future. The shortstop flashed some serious range moving both ways well. He flashed an accurate arm as well with mature mechanics for his age. The Georgia Tech commit also got it done at the plate today in the playoffs. He went 2-for-4 with a couple of base knocks and a run scored. He used a more upright stance at the plate with high hands. Campbell had a linear swing plane and used a gap-to-gap approach. Look for him to continue to project well with some physical gains. 




Cade Smith (2020 Southaven, Miss.) flashed a medium frame with an athletic, lean build with a strong lower half. The righthanded pitcher showed poise on the mound with a confidence that was easy to detect. He had a longer arm action and then delivered from a high three-quarters arm slot. He was deceptive and mixed pitches well while pounding the lower half of the zone. The Mississippi State commit showed easy velo while he shut down the opposing team late in the playoffs. He struck out eight batters in five innings pitched and only gave up three hits. His fastball sat 90-92 while topping at 93 and showed slight arm side run. His off-speed stuff did not disappoint either with a big, tight spinning 11-5 curveball in the mid- to high-70s and a changeup with late break in the mid-80s. Keep an eye on Smith down the road as he continues to prove to be one of the top arms in the nation for his class.

-Drew Wesolowski


Jonathon Stevens (2021, Ashland, Ky.) looked dominant on the mound as he helped East TN Crusaders 15U advance to the semifinals. The righthander threw a strong fastball that would touch the lower- 80s. He had an ability to throw hitters off balance with a 12-to-6 curve that would top at a velocity of lower-70s. Standing at 6-foot-1, Stevens showed a steady delivery, with very little head movement and would launch with his right leg towards the plate. He showed good composure from the stretch, having a quick delivery and maintaining his velocity. The Kentucky native held the opposition in check with his pitching prowess, giving up no runs on one hit over six innings while striking out nine batters.

Ryan Cismesia (2022, Acworth, Ga.) was completely in control of his game as Titans Baseball 15U White battled in the quarterfinal matchup. The lefthander pitched through six excellent innings, piling up out after out with his deceptive pitches. The southpaw had control of all of his pitches, making it difficult for the opposition to get anything going. The Acworth native threw from a three-quarters delivery and worked both sides of the plate, very rarely leaving anything for a hitter to do something with. Even in tough situations, Cisemsia was composed and worked out of them unscathed.

-Brian Treadway


Jae Williams (2022, Atlanta, Ga.) showed a medium and athletic frame standing at 6-foot and weighing 180 pounds. During the first day of bracket play, he played a highly athletic left field and hit out of the leadoff position. In the outfield, he took efficient routes and read the ball well off the bat. The first action he received in the outfield resulted in a diving catch near the left field line. As his frame and positioning would suggest, he possesses above-average speed which assisted his efforts in the outfield. The athleticism and abilities play like a center fielder. The lefthanded hitter has a short and compact swing and he keeps his hands inside the ball through the hitting zone.

Cade Fisher (2022, Lafayette, Ga.) is a lefthanded pitcher who uses pristine location, pitch tunneling, and craftiness to generate success on the mound. Standing at 6-foot-2 and weighing 155 pounds, the southpaw has a lanky and projectable frame with room to fill out. His windup starts with a small sideways step and transitions into a medium leg lift and high hands. He uses his long legs and the power they provide to get significant extension towards home plate. The arm slot is between high three-quarters and over-the-top. His pitch arsenal includes a fastball with tail, a straight changeup, and a curveball. He tunnels all three pitches incredibly well as they all look like they are thrown with the same effort and from the same arm slot. The lone arm slot can generate a pitch tailing away from righthanded hitters, a changeup that goes straight down and an 11-to-5 curveball. The fastball averaged 78 mph and he hit 80 mph several times. His changeup sat around 70-72 mph while his curveball was 68-70 mph. All three pitches could be thrown for a strike and he painted the corners consistently. All told, Fisher threw 6 2/3 innings with 11 strikeouts, one walk, and two unearned runs. With his projectable frame and current ability, look for positive things to come in the future from this pitcher.

Jason Avila (2022, Riverdale, Ga.) is a center fielder with a small, athletic frame who possesses raw speed and athleticism. Despite his small frame, the lefthanded hitter consistently made hard contact with the barrel of the bat. His stance starts with a wide base and high hands. He uses a leg trigger for timing pitches and employs a short stroke with a level swing path. The balls are usually line drives and hit near the middle of the field. His speed is lethal on the base paths. After smoking a line drive over the center fielder’s head, he showed no hesitation rounding second as he made it to third standing up. He also hit an infield single that was fielded cleanly. Through two games, Avila went 4-for-5 with a triple. If his frame fills out, he could be a legitimate power/speed threat in the future.

William Steele (2022, Hoover, Ala.) is a switch-hitting catcher with above-average ability behind the plate and at the dish. He only swung lefthanded in his game action. At the plate, he has an open and crouched stance with a swaying bat. His fairly large leg kick helps him generate strength from his powerful base. The swing is smooth, compact, and on a level plane that typically generates line drives and elevation. He regularly made loud contact and had good barrel-to-ball skills. Defensively, Steele made accurate and powerful throws to bases. The arm strength is certainly present. He received pitches fairly well and assisted his pitcher in getting called strikes on the corners. His strong 5-foot-10, 185-pound frame could fill out even more generating additional power at the plate and arm strength.

-Jake Martin


Josh Tate (2022, Fayetteville, Ga.) an athletic, quick-twitch middle infielder, showcased his athleticism and power in both of Home Plate Chillidogs Thompson 15U’s bracket play games. He starts with an open stance and his weight slightly shifted forward. From there his quiet stride and load allow him to get his weight shifted to his back side before his quick compact swing. He displayed great barrel-to-ball skills with loud contact all day. His gap-to-gap approach allows him to utilize his athleticism and take extra bases on balls hit to the outfield. At shortstop his good first step and lateral quickness allow him to get to balls hit deep in the hole. His 5-foot-11, 155-pound frame projects for more power and speed at the plate as well as in the field as he continues to fill out.

Bogan Simmons (2022, Fayetteville, Ga.) was solid in his 1 1/3 innings of relief allowing no runs on no hits while striking out three. His ability to pound the strike zone while locating his mid-80s fastball to all four quadrants allowed him to dominate hitters. He utilizes his simple repeatable delivery to create good linear movement towards the plate. His lead leg blocks out with his lower half before driving down the mound off his backside explosion. With a high three-quarters arm slot he creates good plane when he is able to locate in the lower part of the strike zone. His long lean build projects well for added velocity as he continues to mature and fill out.

Grayson Taylor (2022, Acworth, Ga.) a lefthanded hitting catcher was 2-for-2 with two RBI on the day. He starts with an open stance and high hand set. His quiet stride and load allow him to get his weight shifted to his back side before a compact swing. Great use of his lower half and high finish combine to produce a smooth swing that displayed present pull side power. Behind the plate his ability to work through the ball at the bottom of the zone and transferring of weight side to side allow him to present strikes well on the edges of the zone. His strong arm and solid transfer continually allow him to be in the 1.95-to-2.00 range on his pop times to second base. At 6-foot-1, 195 pounds he projects well to continue to add power and strength as he continue to fill out.

Everett Cooper (2022, Owings Hills, Md.) a long, lean switch-hitting middle infielder showcased his great athleticism with an inside the park home run from the left side of the plate. From the left side of the plate he starts with an open stance and high hand set. His big leg kick and load create good separation before his quick hands and strong lower half explode through the ball at contact. His level swing path produces solid line drives with plenty of strength to split the gaps in the outfield. On the bases his long strides allow him to cover ground quickly. With plenty of room to fill out his 6-foot, 165-pound frame he projects well to continue to add more power and speed as he continues to mature.

-Colt Olinger


Brayden Broome (2020, Ringgold, Ga.) is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound utility-type ballplayer from Ringgold High School in his hometown of Ringgold, Ga. Broome, who is currently hitting over .300 for the tournament, had a nice outing this morning against the Georgia Bombers 17U where he went 2-for-3 with a double and two stolen bases. At the plate, Broome appears balanced with hands outside his pec and a slightly open stance. He steps to square for timing and does a nice job using his quick wrists and hands to create bat speed through the zone with extension. He showed the ability to stay direct to the ball and hunted fastballs on the afternoon, making a lot of hard contact. Currently, power is to the gaps in a small sample, yet there is enough strength and hand-eye coordination to lead one to believe there is more there. Broome has speed and good instincts on the bases. He plays with aggression and his glove and arm work well in right field. Makes all plays in the outfield look easy. Very good athlete.

Evan Carter (2020, Johnson City, Tenn.) is a 6-foot-4, 180-pound center fielder. Carter performed very well this morning at Allatoona High School, showing advanced tools all over the field on his way to a 2-for-2 day at the plate versus Royals Scout Team 17U with a triple, two walks, and three runs scored. Carter appears very comfortable in the box, as he sets up with an open stance and hands near his ear, with a slow bat waggle used for timing. He uses a large leg kick to start his swing and demonstrated the ability to keep his weight and hands back really well through hip fire. Carter has a quick, line-drive bat path with plenty of plate coverage and barrel control. He demonstrated good hand-eye coordination all afternoon as he continually sprayed pitches he saw into the gaps. Evan showed patience and discipline at the plate as well, reaching base in all four appearances. Carter showcases good speed all over the field. He moves well out of the box and glides around the bases and showed good footspeed while legging out a triple during his first at-bat this morning. He has a high baseball IQ, and good acceleration on the bases. Smart runner who is not afraid to swipe a base. Profiles well in centerfield with sound defensive actions. Very reliable fielder who showed the ability to run down all balls hit his way.

Brandt Pancer (2020, Suwanee, Ga.) is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound righthanded pitcher from Suwanee, Ga. An incoming senior at North Gwinnett High School in the fall, Pancer uses a slow, even-tempo windup from the first base side of the rubber, and has a rather quick, fluid arm action with a hook in back. Body works well with his arm through delivery as he was consistently on time and displayed good balance and athleticism. Pancer showed a two-pitch mix out of the bullpen this morning consisting of a fastball (87-88 mph) with some riding life, and an 11/5 breaking curveball with three-quarters break, depth and feel. Pancer appears confident on the mound and comes right at his opponent’s lineup attacking each hitter and mixing his offerings throughout all counts. Control is better than command at this time, but Pancer has good pitchability currently. A solid and dependable right-hander, Pancer is currently ranked as the No. 8 righthanded pitcher in the state of Georgia for the 2020 class by Perfect Game and inside the Top-100 nationally.

Garrett Sagro (2020, Cumming, Ga.) is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound lefthanded pitcher from North Forsyth High School in his hometown of Cumming, Ga. Garrett has a lean, athletic frame with some room to fill to reach maturity. Sagro delivers from a high three-quarters arm slot, with a quick, short-circled arm action and some recoil upon delivery. Sagro fits the bill of a “crafty lefty” and showcases a repertoire of a mid-80s fastball with some angle and life, and a good 1/7, three-quarters breaking hook with depth and feel, clocked in the high-60s. Garrett has good pitchability and appears confident in his present abilities on the mound. Sagro battled hitters in a mop up role on his way to recording both outs he needed via the strikeout. Impressive small sample showing this morning at Allatoona High School.

Cole Smith (2020, Conyers, Ga.) is a 5-foot-11, 178-pound middle infielder from Heritage High School in his hometown of Conyers, Ga. He currently possesses good size and strength to his frame and showcased excellent athleticism all morning at Allatoona High School in all phases of the game. Smith is currently hitting .462 for the tournament with a 2-for-3 showing this morning versus Royals Scout Team 17U. Smith was consistently on time and on plane producing multiple hard contact results that shot into the gaps with regularity. He uses a slightly open stance with low hands near his pec. Smith steps to square and does a nice job loading his weight and hands back with a quick line-drive swing path and mid-back finish. He showcased plenty of bat speed, and barrel control and looks comfortable at the plate with a sound approach. Gets out of the box well and moves light on his feet. Consistent excellent times down the line. Alert on the bases as well and displayed the ability to get a good jump on a successful stolen base attempt. Solid defender where his speed translates to both middle infield positions as he showed solid range with good anticipation and first step quickness helping him track down all balls hit his way in all directions. Arm had carry through the bag and showed plenty of arm-strength for shortstop. Overall, Smith showed confidence in his ability and present actions. Heads-up player with a promising future in the game.

-Matt Arietta


Peyton Moseley (2019, Acworth, Ga.) played well Thursday afternoon for 643 DP 17U Coleman. The LaGrange commit went 1-for-3 with a double and a run scored. The righthanded hitter flashed power with his double to the left-center gap. He also flashed speed on the base paths. The righthanded hitter stands tall in the batter’s box with an open stance and wide base. A toe tap gets him in rhythm and his quick hands do the rest. He is a line drive hitter that can do major damage with one swing. A 6-foot-1, 188-pound frame is filled nicely with a muscular build, the body and power both project well.

Wesley Franklin (2020, Lilburn, Ga.) showed good potential on a rainy Thursday afternoon for Team Elite 17U Scout Team. Even though he finished the day without a hit, the Georgia commit still showed promise at the plate, as well as in the field. At third, the righthander flashed the leather, as he assisted in throwing out of a stealing baserunner with a quick tag, made strong accurate throws, and played smooth fundamental defense. At the plate, the 6-foot-2 195-pounder made hard contact with ball, he just couldn’t seem to find open grass. He stands tall and narrow in the box and starts his swing with a minor leg kick and hand load. The swing is compact and effective. Franklin is a young, exciting player that projects well.

William Underwood (2020, Marietta, Ga.) led the way for DRB Elite 17U in the Quarterfinal round of the 2019 17U Perfect Game East Cobb Invitational. The uncommitted 17-year-old went 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI, and a run scored. He also threw two innings in relief, allowing no hits, no walks, no runs, and posting one strikeout. At the plate, Underwood’s hard line drive two-RBI double started a rally for his team. In fact, Underwood came back up in the same inning and hit an RBI single with two outs. Underwood stands in the box with a slightly unorthodox stance. He stands straight up in the box with his hands close to his body down around his abdomen, with the bat straight up in the air. From there he starts a small leg lift and extends his front leg and loads his hands. He gets the barrel on plane and down through the zone. Flashed pull-side power as well.

-Jacob Jordan
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