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High School  | General  | 3/4/2022

HS Showdown Scout Notes: Day 1

Jason Phillips      Colton Olinger      Tyler Russo      Jered Goodwin     
Photo: Brady Neal (Perfect Game)

Jackson Ferris, LHP, IMG Academy (Fla.) 

The No. 1 ranked left-handed pitcher in the 2022 high school class did not disappoint in his start against the Huntsville Panthers from Huntsville, Ala. at the 2022 PG High School Showdown. The Ole Miss commit from Mount Airy, N.C. tossed 6 no-hit innings with 13 strikeouts on just 75 pitches in the 8-0 combined no-hit victory. The southpaw was his dominant self with a fastball that sat in the low-90s with a high of 95 mph which he established to both sides of the plate early on while expanding up in the zone late for early punch outs.  

He incorporated his plus breaking ball the second time through the order, varying speeds and depth ranging from 73-79 mph. He flashed a changeup in low-80s as a third offering which he didn’t need as he pounded the strike zone at a 70% strike rate. With approximately 75-100 major league scouts in attendance, Ferris delivered and solidified his Perfect Game ranking as the top left-handed prep pitcher in the nation. With a performance like that with so many decision makers in attendance, Ferris should certainly hear his name called on Day 1 of the Major League Baseball Draft.  




Brady Neal, C, IMG Academy (Fla.) 

The left-handed hitting catcher from Tallahassee, Fla. showed why he is the No. 2 ranked backstop in the country as he delivered on both sides for the ball in the 8-0 win over the Huntsville Panthers from Huntsville, Alabama. The LSU commit finished the night going 2-for-4 at the plate with a double, two runs batted in and did a masterful job behind the plate in the combined no-hit victory. He started the scoring off for the Ascenders in the bottom of the first inning out of the three-hole with a single up the middle to knock in a pair as the Ascenders cruised to victory. He later added a long double down the right field line and came around to score in the three-run sixth inning to put the game out of reach. His full range of talents were on display as he threw a runner out at second base on a stolen base attempt while catching 13 strikeouts from left-handed starting pitcher Jackson Ferris. He and Ferris worked extremely well together as they mowed down the Panthers lineup over six innings and guided right-hander Allan Gil to a clean seventh inning on just 12 pitches to close out the game. An ultra-talented backstop that receives and blocks well with a cannon behind the plate that can swing the stick in the box, Neal should hear his name called in the 2022 Major League Baseball draft after reclassing up from the 2023 class at the end of the 2021 high school season. 


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