Prep Baseball Report

MD/DE Scout Blog: Northeast at Severna Park


Jamie Naill Jr
Maryland Scouting Director

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Anne Arundel County had themselves an intriguing matchup last night, as Severna Park hosted Northeast (AA) in what turned out to be one of the better games we've seen thus far this Spring. With the game tied at four in the bottom of the sixth, the Falcons scored four, led by a huge two RBI single off the bat of Senior Nathan Clarke (Lebanon Valley). Junior southpaw Nathan Murphy (George Washington) would come in to slam the door in the seventh, as Severna Park escaped with an 8-4 victory.     

 

 

Northeast

 

Nathan Wilburn OF / 2B / Northeast-AA, MD / 2023

It was an intriguing look at the physical 6-foot-2, 160 pound uncommitted Senior. A two sport athlete (football), it is easy to see the athleticism and pure explosiveness in the actions. Wilburn wasted no time in making an impact in this one, as he ambushed a high fastball and deposited it deep over the centerfield wall for a solo homerun in the first inning. The hands work quick with some explosiveness through, staying level with the path and creating some natural lift. The feel for the barrel is present and the ball certainly comes off well, staying middle with the approach and strength to both gaps and alleys. 

 

Lonzo Drummond IV OF / LHP / Northeast-AA, MD / 2024

A player that is starting to gain traction across the state is Drummond, and the uncommitted Junior two-way flashed tools consistently throughout the night. It's a lean, ultra-athletic frame with plenty of room to fill out and add strength. The run tool is advanced, showcasing quick twitch actions on both sides of the ball and a quick first step out of the box at the dish. It's a balanced setup at the plate, utilizing rhythm and a smooth back load and a level path to contact. The approach is to the middle, staying within himself with line drive tendencies that show consistent fluid actions. Notched two hits in the game; a single up the middle and double down the right field line.

The more prominent look in my eyes was the actions on the bump. Drummond came out of the 'pen in the sixth inning and showcased a quick arm with a two pitch mix that certainly shows promise. The fastball comes out well in the low 80's, working to both sides of the plate with occasional arm side run and late life through the zone. The slider is developing, but does show promise when in the zone with tight shape and some depth toward the bottom quadrant of the zone. You will see a tick up in velo as the frame fills out and strength is added to the lower half. If the feel for the zone advances, look for Drummond to take reigns as a highly touted uncommitted southpaw in the 2024 class. 

 

Jayden Saraullo 1B / LHP / Northeast , MD / 2026

A member of our PBR Junior Future Games team last Summer, I was extremely intrigued to see the lefty both at the dish and on the bump. A Freshman making a huge impact on varsity, you can certainly see the intrigue that Saraullo possesses and the competitiveness and confidence is something that stands out. Strength is already present in the frame and will only get stronger as the frame continues to mature. On the bump, Saraullo mixes his three pitch arsenal well with solid drive down the hill, getting over the front side with easy intent generated. The fastball showcases occasional cut action in the upper 70's with the ability to fill up the zone to both sides of the plate. The curveball is the go-to pitch that struggled with feel early in the outing, but showed promise late. Showcasing bigger 1/7 shape, the big bender induces weak contact with some swing and miss tendencies towards the bottom portion of the zone. Saraullo also mixed in a low 70's slider/cutter that showed feel in to right-handed hitters.

The bat is special and looks to be above the arm for now. Hitting out of a crouched stance with rhythm and a bigger leg kick load, the hands get through the zone quick with a level path to contact. Consistent twitch in the hands and actions, the approach is to all fields with the ability to get the barrel to tough pitches in all quadrants of the zone. Went back side double early in the game and followed it up with a laced single up the middle. 

 

Severna Park

 

Angel Santiago-Cruz SS / RHP / Severna Park HS, MD / 2024

Another opportunity to get eyes on one of the top uncommitted Juniors across the state. The book continues on the two-way, and last night Santiago-Cruz showcased the strength and prowess in the bat once again. Early in the game he pulled his hands in really nicely and hooked an inside slider down the third base line for a double, showcasing the ability to use the whole field effectively. Slight twitch in the hands with explosiveness and feel for the barrel. 

 

Kody Phillips C / 2B / Severna Park, MD / 2024

It was another opportunity for myself to get eyes on the uncommitted Junior backstop and the skillset certainly stuck out again. The hands show rhythm at the dish with some quick twitch actions and whip in the barrel. The approach is to the middle, staying true to a line drive approach gap-to-gap. The ability to create occasional lift bodes well for the future, as the frame continues to fill out and strength is added. I really like the actions behind the dish, as Phillips showcases quick feet and and an accurate arm that shows some carry to the bag. 

 

Sean Williams RHP / OF / Severna Park , MD / 2024

The MD/DE 2024 class is really starting to come together and righty Sean Williams is putting his name towards the top of some of the more highly touted uncommitted arms in the class. Williams got the start for the Falcons on the bump and was fairly dominate throughout, racking up 10 strikeouts through his six innings of work, giving up just 2 earned runs. The fastball ticked up in velocity since the last time I saw him, sitting 87-89 mph and touching 90 twice through the first two innings. Working with shorter arm action out of close to an over the top slot, the fastball worked to both sides of the plate with occasional cut action and easy, controlled intent down the bump. The feel for the big 11/5 breaking ball was on, living low in the zone and inducing plenty of weak contact and some knee-buckling actions at 70-73 mph. Williams also featured a "killed spin" changeup down in the zone at 80-83 mph that is still developing but looks to be a nice third pitch that plays well off the FB/CB. The composure and ability to change eye levels with the fastball is intriguing, allowing Williams to continue to climb to the top of a very deep and talented uncommitted class of 2024. 

 

Nathan Murphy LHP / 1B / Severna Park, MD / 2024

I try to condense the scout blogs to uncommitted players throughout the Spring season, however, Murphy was just too dominate not to write about in this one. The George Washington recruit came in to slam the door in the seventh, striking out the side and showcasing the devastating two-pitch mix to the fullest. The fastball shows easy ride through the zone at 85-87 mph, getting up to 88 mph once with the ability to throw it to all quadrants of the zone with effectiveness. The curveball is thrown with some of the more confidence across the state, showcasing tight 1/7 shape with some depth at 74-76 mph. Murphy fills up the zone and stays away from the middle of the plate, mixing his speeds and keeping hitters off balance.