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Welcome to 2020 and the return of our Spring Forward series. While it may still be mid-January, the high school season is just around the corner, with public school tryouts beginning in a little over a month. In February, we will begin our detailed season preview, including Region breakdowns, Power 25 reveal, and the Preseason All-PBR Team. In the meantime, we will begin gearing up for the season by highlighting some storylines that we are keeping our eyes on this spring in this series.

The Virginia/DC Class of 2020is loaded with high-end talent that has a potential to be selected in the June Major League Amateur Draft. Some of these players will be traveling to Chicago in a few weeks for Super 60 and even more will be participating in the Mid-Atlantic Procase the following week. While we have had many players drafted in the recent past, this spring offers a chance for a larger number of prep players to be drafted in the top 10 rounds than has been had in Virginia recently.

Before we get to the list of players to watch this spring, we have to point out that there will be an omission from this list. The top-ranked player in the Virginia/DC Class of 2020 , and the seventh-ranked player nationally on the Prep Baseball Report Draft Board, which combines the top college and prep players, Potomac Falls LHP Nate Savino is expected to enroll early at Virginia this spring and forgo the draft process until the spring of 2022. Savino would have easily been a first round pick and potentially gone in the top five picks overall if he had chosen to pursue that path this spring.

Now for the list of players who we are expecting to be on scouts' watch lists this spring. There are always a few late bloomers who pop into the mix, so it is entirely possible a player that gets selected highly in June is not on the list below. Look for an upcoming story on players that are just outside of this group but could also end up being in the mix to be drafted.

 

Jake Berry LHP / Bishop O'Connell, VA / 2020 Berry is a Virginia commit and has suffered from some health setbacks early in his career, finally getting onto the mound again in the spring of 2019 and having a healthy season. Very tall lefty with some present velocity and a lot of projection left, he made a big jump in the fall and is a player scouts will check out with interest this spring.

 

 

Collin Bosley-Smith RHP / SS / Wilson , VA / 2020 Bosley-Smith is a big physical righty and a Duke commit. Fastball showed low-90s consistently in the spring of 2019 and his slider has some depth and sharp late break. The arm action and fastball/slider already have him as a must-see for scouts, and there is still room for him to add ticks to his fastball and show a change-up as well.

 

 

Trey Carter OF / RHP / Carlisle, VA / 2020 Carter is a Florida State commit and is the definition of toolsy. He has a big arm from the outfield, speed, and power at the plate, all of which are major draws for scouts. Also can work in the low-90s when he is on the mound.

 

 

Ethan Chenault RHP / SS / Miller School, VA / 2020 Chenault is a UNC Wilmington commit and also is a big projectable righty. Showed ability to touch into the 90s very early last spring and feel for his offspeed pitches. Assuming a velocity jump to consistently work in the 90s and touch higher he is a player to watch in the draft.

 

 

Brandon Eike RHP / 3B / Powhatan, VA / 2020 Eike is a North Carolina commit and has a physical baseball frame. Still a true two-way player, he likely is more of a prospect right now as a hitter. Arm strength in the field that shows with high-80s velocity on the mound, touching 90, last year. At the plate, has a knack for the barrel and has power to all fields. Mashed a home run in the Commowealth Games to right-center at Liberty.

 

 

Eddie Eisert SS / RHP / Bishop O'Connell, VA / 2020 Eisert is a North Carolina State commit and saw his draft stock jump late in the 2019 season as he put together a very strong fall. Also still a true two-way prospect, but like Eike he is probably more of a pro prospect as a hitter. at the moment He is a switch hitter with some power present but projection for more. Has speed as a tool as well and arm strength in the field that he carries to the mound with upper 80s velocity.

 

 

Braeson Fulton C / 3B / Riverheads, VA / 2020 Fulton is a James Madison commit is one of the best pure hitters in Virginia. High barrel ability with power potential to all fields. His release is quick and has arm strength behind the plate as well as being quick-footed for his position.

 

 

Trey Gibson RHP / Grafton, VA / 2020 Gibson is a Liberty commit and is a big-framed righty that fits the mold of what scouts are looking for. Worked consistently in the high-80s last spring with feel for two breaking balls that have swing and miss potential.

 

 

Avery Mabe RHP / George Wythe (Wytheville), VA / 2020 Mabe is a Virginia commit and also is a big framed righty. Has shown the velocity to be a player that scouts will check out as well as feel for his offspeed.

 

 

Quade Tomlin SS / Liberty Christian Academy, VA / 2020 Tomlin is a Liberty commit and is a well-rounded prospect. Short quick swing with batspeed and strength that has begun to turn into power. Accurate arm across the infield as well as soft hands and good feet defensively.

 

 

Andrew Ward LHP / OF / Fluvanna County, VA / 2020 Ward is a VCU commit and worked consistently in the high 80s during the spring of 2019. Has feel for both of his offspeed pitches and commands the zone with all three pitches which will draw some looks.

 

 

 

 

More 2020 Spring Forward