Prep Baseball Report

Preseason All-State: Underclass - Quick Hits


Prep Baseball Georgia
Staff

FLOWERY BRANCH, GA - The Preseason All-State Underclass Showcase travels to IVSA where this invite-only event that features the top prospects from the 2027 and 2028 grad classes. Every year, the Preseason All-State Showcase highlights the Who’s Who of the Georgia baseball landscape. This event is limited and exclusive to the top prospects in Georgia and serves as a springboard as you enter the high school season. Throughout the week here at PBR, we will be pumping out the content from this event. Today, we present our quick hits and the players that stood out to our scouting staff during the event for the 2028 class. More articles and content wil be on the way to break down the entirety of the data collected. 

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Quick Hits

Jack Walsh, SS, Blessed Trinity, 2027
Walsh showed up to Preseason All-State with added strength and size that is really going to take his game to the next level. The clean glove work will give him a shot to see time in the infield and as he figures out his added strength at the plate he could have a couple really big years at Blessed Trinity.

Jake Spurlin, SS, Tift County, 2027
We recently saw Spurlin at a scout day in the fall and he looked even better than he did then. The round of BP was impressive, spraying line drives to all parts of the field. He posted a 93.7 max EV. Spurlin’s all around intangibles are going to give him a chance to have a big sophomore year at Tift.

Jack Simmons, C, Marist, 2027
This was our 1st look at Simmons and he had a strong day that will prove to be versatile on a stacked Marist squad in 2025. The frame is strong, and has great feel for the barrel. He posted a max EV of 91.9 with clean and effortless action behind the dish.

Carson Reeves, OF/RHP, 2027
Reeves showed up to Preseason All-State looking even stronger than he did in the fall. He could be a sneaky piece in a loaded Buford line up or on the mound. He posted a max EV of 95.2 and an average of 89.7. He also pulled down 91mph from the outfield which will soon start to translate even more on the mound. He was up to 84 on Saturday and 86 in the fall.


Ethan Wheeler, SS, Habersham Central, 2027
Wheeler was a big fall standout for us and could have a breakout sophomore year at Habersham Central. The frame is lean and athletic at 6-foot, 171-pounds. He posted a max EV of 92.4 with clean actions in the field.

 
Braden Little, OF/LHP, Gordon Lee, 2027

Matthew Lane, C, Jones County, 2027

Braylon Bowles, OF, Rabun Gap, 2027

Hudson Chadwick, 1B/LHP, Calhoun, 2027

Luke Winbush, 3B, Pope, 2027
Winbush came into the event looking to build off of a wholly successful freshman year, and the third-baseman proceeded to stand out in nearly every category. Quick-twitch toe tap trigger at the plate keeps Winbush balanced and on-time consistently with the aptitude to use the middle of the field well. Everything off the barrel is firm, posting an average EV of 88.2 (Max 93.9) and there’s plenty of room to get stronger. Sneaky arm strength with accuracy across the diamond, topping at 89 which was top 5 on the day. Formerly a backstop, Winbush hopped behind the dish and proceeded to put down the best pops of the weekend with a pair of 1.81s. There’s high-level defensive versatility here with a hit tool to match. Big spring incoming for the sophomore.

Andrew Brech, RHP/SS, Mountain View, 2027
Bigger, faster. Stronger was a theme for us coming into the weekend, and Andrew Brech epitomized those thoughts. Frame continues to improve, looking like he grew two inches over the last few months with a high waist and projection remaining. It started in BP with Brech where the line-drive oriented swing continues to catch barrels at a high-rate with budding juice coming. Max EV 99.8 for the sophomore. On the mound, Brech was up to a new PB of 91.2 with excellent feel to spin showing (Avg. 2567) and feel throughout the zone. Slider and changeup continue to make strides as well, and overall pitchability is steadily growing.

Hayes Maginnis, SS/RHP, Newnan, 2027
The ceiling just continues to grow for Maginnis. Already one of the top five players in the class and appears poised for even more this spring. The bat-to-ball skills remain pure for Maginnis who uses the whole field well while flashing some ability to turn on the ball with pull-side carry. Average EV was north of 90 with a max of 95, which is widely improved from the summer. Arm talent remains as high as you’ll find in the class with an event-best 93 in the infield and up to 90.2 on the bump. Upside as an arm is immense with a budding above-average CH at 78-80 and quick improving feel for a breaking ball. It’s a true two-way profile that has both a high-floor with a tremendous ceiling to come.

Malachi Butler, SS, McEachern, 2027
Butler grew in spades throughout 2024 with big reps as a freshman SS for McEachern and standing out in many settings throughout the summer, yet even more growth was shown on Saturday. Simple actions from the left-side allow Butler to spray balls from gap-to-gap well and still has plenty of growth to come physically. Arm strength was greatly improved from the summer, up 6 MPH from 83 to 89, and doing so with on-target throws. Set to be an even bigger piece for McEachern this spring and an easy name to know for years to come.

Bryce Carter, C, Parkview, 2027
Carter flashed an all-around profile on Saturday that should give him a real chance to earn playing time for Parkview this spring. Physical frame at 6-foot-0, 181-pounds with real tools that stand out on both sides of the ball. Present bat speed and feel for the barrel led to an impressive round of BP that featured a 70% hard-hit rate and average EV of 91.0 (Max 97.5). Well-leveraged path carried balls deep into both gaps. Behind the plate, Carter got out of the crouch well with accuracy in the throwdown. Posted the 2nd best pop of the event at 1.85. Really encouraging performance from the sophomore.

Caleb Hudson, OF/RHP, Carrollton
From top to bottom, the dual-sport sophomore put down one of the best performances of the day fresh off of football season. Stout and athletic at 5-foot-10, 168-pounds, Hudson opened his day with a blazing, weekend-best 3.62 in the 30, flashing an elite first step and closing speed. BP was equally impressive where the linear bat path has cleaned up a ton and finds hard-hit line drives across the field with ease. The ceiling in CF is immense where Hudson pairs the plus speed with present plus arm strength (94 OF velo) from an extremely clean slot. High-level upside on the mound showed as well this weekend, working in the mid-80s with feel to spin and land for strikes. Slider has made strides at 74-76, beginning to look like a put-away pitch and changeup feel is present. The two-way profile is as high you’ll find in the class and appears poised for the biggest spring of his career so far.

Pearce Henry, OF, Maynard Jackson, 2027
It was a first look at Henry, and it’s a profile that looks like instant impact for the Jags this spring. Lean 6-foot-1, 167-pounds shows plenty of projection remaining with some wiry strength throughout. Creates good separation at the plate with accuracy in a direct path that creates loft at contact. Present impact in the barrel with an average EV of 92.4 (Max 98.1) and much more to project down the line. Henry also showed solid arm strength from the outfield, grabbing 89 with carry.

Beau Bruns, C, Cherokee Bluff, 2027
The well-rounded profile that Bruns offers will be vital in Bluff making another deep playoff run this spring. Real strength in the 5-foot-10 frame that shows up frequently at the plate. Drove balls with some carry back up the middle and into the gaps well. Max EV 91.4. Defensively, Bruns offers some versatility aside from offering an above-average glove behind the plate. Consistent 1.96-2.01 pops with big-time arm showing at 80. 86 from the hot corner as well with some good footwork and flexibility showing.

Bobby Frierson, 3B, St. Pius X, 2027
Frierson looks the part of a future power bat for St. Pius X with some flashes of it showing this past weekend. Physical frame at 6-foot-3, 220-pounds with advanced feel for the barrel showing already. Posted a 83% hard-hit rate for his round while staying simple in his approach and working gap-to-gap with carry. Impressive 92.5 average exit velocity with a max of 99.3. Definitely more in the tank with Frierson as well making the power potential substantial going forward.

Jackson Norwood, 3B/RHP, Etowah, 2027
The raw tools for Norwood continue to stand out every time we see him, whether in-game or a setting like Saturday. Ultra-projection at 6-foot-4, 200-pounds and still just 15 years old. The sophomore generated some loudest contact of the day, posting the 3rd highest EV at 101.8 with plus bat speed flashing throughout (Max 83.2). Potential for a power arm on the mound is real as well, running it up to 87 on Saturday while showing flashing of a changeup and curveball. Still maturing as a baseball player but the tools are obvious with plenty to take stock in.

Aiden Watson, SS, Harrison, 2028
In our 1st look at Watson he had a strong showing across the board. During his round of BP he posted a max exit velocity of 92.9 and max distance of 328ft with a sweet spot of 83%. The frame stands out at 5-foot-11, 174-pounds as a freshman. The bat speed was on full display at 76.1. The actions in the infield were smooth and effortless with a 83mph posted velocity across the diamond. Watson is going to be a freshman to keep an eye on Harrison with the ability to be a 5 tool guy in the future.

Zach Koons, SS, Greater Atlanta Christian, 2028
Koons has the chance to be a 4 year guy for GAC. The glove has really stood out, and will allow him the ability to stick in the line up. The frame is lean and athletic with plenty of room to add on and get strong. He posted a 90.9 max exit velocity with a heavy line drive round and a max distance of 329ft. Koons just has the moxie of a ball player that is going to perform for years to come.

Gavin Gebhardt, SS, Cambridge, 2028
Gebhardt was fresh off the hardwood on Friday night to Preseason All-State on Saturday. The athleticism really stook out in the fall and carried that straight into the event. The frame is lean and athletic with smooth actions in the field. He will have a chance to be an impact guy on the mound and at the plate the next 4 years for Cambridge. The bat speed stood out amongst his freshman peers at 77.5. He stayed through the middle of the, spraying balls to the back net.

Gavin Boykin, C, Hillgrove, 2028
Boykin was a player we had coming to Junior Future Games over the summer, but had an injury right before the event. We were eager to get eyes on him, and he had a really impressive day. He has been known for his defensive ability behind the dish and put that on full display with a 1.96 pop and a 77mph throw. The strength and skill is there at a young age and with the lean 6-foot frame he is only going to get stronger. He had a loud round of BP, spraying balls to all parts of the field. Boykin is going to be a freshman to keep an eye on for years to come.

Colin Anderson, 3B, Etowah, 2028
The expectations for Anderson were high coming into the weekend after not seeing the freshman in this setting since the 2023 Junior Future Games, and Anderson lived up to the bill and then some on Saturday. Balls exploded off the barrel in BP showing effortless ability to snap the barrel through the zone in an accurate, uphill path that generates easy loft to all-fields. It’s a combination of present plus bat speed with an average of 78.9 and huge strength in the 6-foot-0, 200-pound frame that allowed Anderson to produce a 92% hard-hit rate in his round with an average EV of 97.8 and multiple triple digit bolts. It’s a highest-level power ceiling for Anderson with long-term potential to stick at 3B as well.

Connor Tysver, C/1B, St. Pius X, 2028
Tysver showed well throughout the fall as a middle-of-the-order bat for Smartense 15u, and continued that upward trend this past weekend. Physical, high-waisted 6-foot-2, 228-pound frame shows great balance at the plate with present bat speed and some heaviness in the barrel. Generated quality exit velocities (Max 94.0) while carrying balls to the pull-side with minimal effort. Moves well in the crouch for his frame, posting a best pop of 2.08 while showing a strong and accurate arm. High-floor hit tool with some budding power could earn Tysver playing time early at St. Pius.

Lio Garcia, SS, Buford, 2028
Widely known already as having one of the best gloves in the class, Garcia is now quickly catching up with the stick, showing huge tools with real impact in the barrel. The shortstop syncs up extremely well from the right-side creating some separation and staying balanced through the zone. Hand and bat speed really stand out with a robust average bat speed of 80.4 and exuding excellent feel for the barrel. Garcia used the whole field in his round of BP while showing impact with a max EV of 99.8. Defensive actions remain pure with fluid lateral range and present arm strength that shows accuracy from multiple angles. Polish is obvious in the profile but the ceiling can be even higher than we thought.

Colton Whittington, SS, Stratford Academy, 2028
It was our first look at Whittington this past weekend, and there’s easy to see projection in both the frame and profile. Lean 5-foot-9, 135-pounds, Whittington utilizes the wiry strength in the frame well with a well-leveraged swing that catches balls out front consistently with some whip in the barrel. Ball carries well to the pull-side, generating 340ft max distance and sneaky impact with a max EV 94.7. The shortstop established himself as a name to know for us and could be one to watch over the next few years.

Nicolas Culotta, SS, Walnut Grove, 2028
Another first look this weekend came in the form of the Walnut Grove shortstop. Athletic build with long levers at 5-foot-11, 164-pounds, Culotta flashed shades of a future impact bat at the plate with advanced feel for the barrel and present above-average bat speed (Max 79.3). Shows ability to both stay compact while manipulating the barrel through the zone to create length. Found barrels at a high-clip, running a 73% hard-hit rate with an average EV at 91.5 (Max 97.5).

With plenty of projection remaining in the frame and obvious present tools with the bat, Culotta could be a fast riser among the 2028 ranks.

Joey Martincavage, UTL Blessed Trinity, 2028
Martincavage put together a strong day across the board working at both 1B and the OF. He had some of the higher velos amongst the freshman with 86 across the infield and 88 from the outfield. During his round of BP he posted a 93.3 max EV with a simple approach and short bat path. He was also in the low 80’s on the mound. He will be one to keep an eye on as a versatile athlete that can contribute in a lot of different ways for years to come.

Brantley Willis, OF/RHP, Pierce County, 2028
Willis has made some big strides since we last saw him in May. His exit velocity went up nearly 10mph and his max distance went from 270ft to over 300ft on Saturday. He was 86 from both the outfield and the infield with natural arm strength that he is really starting to figure out with the added size. On the mound the fastball average is up 5mph and flashed 3 pitches for strikes.