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By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting

C.D. Hylton High School RHP/SS Fox Semones has committed to attend James Madison University to play baseball in the fall of 2016. He is the latest player from the 2014 Fall Top Prospect Games to commit to a Division I school, joining a group of over thirty so far to do so. Semones is a part of what figures to be an outstanding and deep Hylton rotation next spring, which will also feature Ryan Billy (RHP, 2016) and Trey Shepard (RHP, 2016). Semones will also be the table setter for a Bulldog lineup that be anchored by Richard Ortiz (C, 2017) and Benjamin Marotske (OF, 2016).

Semones hits from a slightly open stance that is athletic and balanced. He has a smooth load with a short leg kick. He maintains his balance through his swing and has a fluid rhythm. He has above average bat speed that generated and exit velocity of 88 mph off of the tee at the Pre-Season All-State Showcase in February. He is short to the ball with good extension and is a line drive, gap to gap hitter. At short, he throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with accuracy. He has soft hands, clean exchanges and fluid footwork that allows him to play through the ball. He is very quick out of the righthanded batter’s box, going home to first as quickly as 4.01.

On the mound, Semones has a smooth, drop and drive delivery and throws from a high three-quarters arm slot. He has a loose arm action and a lightning fast armstroke that generates easy velocity. His shoulders are uphill and closed as he strides on line to a slightly open landing before coming to an athletic finish. In February, Semones’ fastball was 83-85. At the 2014 Fall Top Prospect Games he was 86-88 in his first inning of work, touching 89. His fastball has hard run on it. He also throws a sharp, 10/4 slider with full armspeed that runs in the low to mid 70s and fading changeup with good armspeed that is in the low 70s.

When he arrives at James Madison, Semones will be a member of new head coach Marlin Ikenberry’s first full recruiting class. Semones will be given every opportunity to play the middle infield when he steps on to campus. He is a rangy athlete that has the athleticism to stick at SS. As his bat improves, he could find himself as a top of the order bat that can get on base and cause havoc. Semones could also see time on the mound in late inning situations depending on his use in the field.  Based on his projection and athleticism, JMU should be very happy for years to come.

Congrats Fox!