MD/DE Scout Blog: Walt Whitman at Walter Johnson
April 21, 2023
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It was a battle of two perennial powerhouse teams in Montgomery County on Thursday night, as Walter Johnson played host to Walt Whitman. Both teams possessing an abundance of both committed and uncommitted talent certainly made this game a "must watch" across the state.
Walter Johnson handed the ball to one of their top arms in uncommitted Junior Jay Wandell, while Walt Whitman went with their Senior leader in Lion Gardiner (Holy Cross). Whitman struck in the top of the first, as a leadoff walk to start the inning ended up at third after an errant pick off throw, putting a runner at third with no outs. After a strikeout, Senior Mitchell Hwang (Tufts) would cash in with a RBI groundout to put the Vikings up 1-0. Walter Johnson would tie the game and eventually take the lead in the bottom of the second, as Sophomore Shaun Rudick laced a 2 out RBI single into centerfield, followed by a huge RBI double off the bat of Junior Vance Bonior to take a 2-1 lead. Things would start to unravel for the Vikings in the third, as Walter Johnson would score two off of two bases loaded walks to take a 4-1 lead into the 4th. An RBI groundout in the fifth by Junior Jake Goldberg would push the lead to 5-1, and that would be the final score, as Wandell was practically lights out on the evening.
Walt Whitman
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John Wayman OF / SS / Walt Whitman, MD / 2024It was my second opportunity to see the uncommitted Junior outfielder, and the bat continues to impress. In the leadoff spot for Whitman, Wayman consistently showcases a really nice mix of patience and aggressiveness that makes him one of the more dangerous hitters across the county. The ability to shorten up with two strikes is impressive, and the whole field line drive approach is consistent, with strength portrayed to the pull side. The hands work quick with some whip in the barrel, staying level through with athleticism and a quick foot step out of the box. Certainly an uncommitted outfielder that should rise up some college recruiters charts in the very near future.
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Lion Gardiner RHP / SS / Walt Whitman, MD / 2023Gardiner was not as crisp as he was when I saw him last week, walking four across is three innings of work, however the arsenal was still electric. The fastball sat in the low 90's early, settling in at 88-91 with his patented "hammer" slider that still produced whiffs. It was just one of those nights Gardiner could not produce a consistent feel for the mix, and falling behind hitters early made it difficult. The slider spin was up on the night, reaching 2800 rpm and averaging around 2700 rpm. Finished his night working three innings, punching five and giving up four earned runs.
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Walter Johnson
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Jay Wandell RHP / RHP / Walter Johnson, MD / 2024The uncommitted Junior got the start for Walter Johnson, and although he didn't necessarily "light up" the radar gun, the arsenal and effectiveness of mixing speeds produced consistent weak contact. Working with easy, quick arm action out of a three-quarter slot, the delivery was repeatable for most of the outing and the three pitch mix was thrown in any count. Showcasing late run/sink, the fastball worked to both sides of the plate at 83-84 mph, touching 85 and 86 once each. Featured a bigger 12/6 curveball that showed gradual shape at 71-72 mph and a tight slider that lived outside to right-handed hitters at 73-74 mph. It's an intriguing arm and frame that is still developing, making Wandell a very interesting uncommitted Junior that is highly touted across the state. Finished the game picking up the win, working six innings, giving up just one earned run, eight strikeouts and a 64% strike percentage.
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Vance Bonior C / OF / Walter Johnson, MD / 2024My first look at Bonior on Tuesday made my trip to Walter Johnson Thursday even more intriguing, and I was certainly excited to get my eyes on the uncommitted Junior backstop one more time. The frame is physical with proportional strength throughout and some sneaky athleticism that bodes well for the future. The moxie and confidence at the dish jumps out, and facing low 90's fastballs certainly does not faze the big fella, as Bonior was getting off his "A" swing consistently throughout the night. The hands are strong and quick, incorporating a smooth back load with some rhythm and twitch that produces plenty of backspin to the pull side. A high contact rate, the strength is gap-to-gap with advanced power to the pull side and a keen ability to get the barrel to the baseball. I like the actions behind the dish as well, showcasing a plus arm and quick feet out of the crouch with throws that show carry to the bag. Finished the game 2-for-3 with an RBI double and a walk.
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Shaun Rudick RHP / 3B / Walter Johnson , MD / 2025A player who jumped on the scene for me on the night was the uncommitted Sophomore. A player with plenty of positional versatility, Rudick showcases excellent awareness for the barrel with the ability to lace line drives to all fields and staying middle with the approach. The hands show rhythm and some quickness with solid balance throughout and a controlled, simple stroke that has fluid actions. Once the frame fills out and size is added, look for Rudick to make some waves throughout a very very talented 2025 class in Maryland.
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