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With Fall Signing Day behind us and the 2017 season essentially complete, PBR VA/DC will look ahead to the upcoming spring and the 2018 season in our Spring Forward series, which will run on the website in the coming weeks. In this series, we will focus primarily on players that we have seen this year and are looking forward to seeing again in 2018, these posts will not have anything to with prospect rankings.

Today we take a look at some of the hitters across the commonwealth to check out. These young men are some of the top in their trade and worth the price of admission to see.

 

Spring Forward: Hitters

 

Wesley Clarke C / 1B / Liberty Christian, VA / 2018 Clarke (South Carolina) is a stellar combination of hit and power tool coming from the catching position, which is almost unicorn-like when it comes to the scouting world. A smooth swing at the plate with explosiveness makes Clarke stick out in any game, combine that with his youthful frame and room for growth make him one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2018 class.

 

 

Adam Hackenberg C / Miller School , VA / 2018 We previously spoke about offensive catchers being almost unicorn like, and the Virginia 2018 class just so happens to have two of them as top players in the state. Hackenberg (Clemson) brings a powerful upside at the plate, with a natural ability to drive the baseball. A former football star as well, he keeps his strong linebacker-like frame to create an imposing threat when stepping into the plate. Hackenberg will again anchor the middle of the Miller lineup in 2018 in their quest to repeat as VISAA Division II champs.

 

 

Tevin Tucker SS / 2B / Prince George, VA / 2018 Mentioned earlier in our RVA Athletes to watch, Tucker's (West Virginia) combination of speed and athleticism make him such a fun player to watch. Tucker can beat you whether its a drive to the gaps or a chopper in the infield that he can run into a single with his top end speed. This smooth shortstop is one of my favorite players to watch in the state.

 

 

Thomas Francisco SS / 1B / Abingdon, VA / 2018 Arguably the best pure hitter of the commonwealth resides in our southwest corner on a mega-talented Abingdon squad. Francisco brings a smooth left-handed stroke at the plate filling up the middle of the order. Don't be surprised to see a high average and a fair share of balls leaving the yard from this talented East Carolina commit.

 

 

Nick Biddison SS / C / St. Christopher's, VA / 2018 Biddison was one of my favorite player I got to see last year year, showing an explosive bat at the plate with great balance. Biddison has a knack for getting a lot of barrel on the baseball in his swings. The Virginia tech recruit should have another big year for St. Christopher's.

 

 

Travis Reifsnider 3B / Collegiate, VA / 2018 Another projectable bodied left-handed hitter, Reifsnider has a smooth stroke at the plate and should continue to develop power at the plate. The JMU commit will be a big threat in the middle of the order for a talented Collegiate lineup

 

 

Kyle Novak SS / 2B / James Madison, VA / 2018 Though we aren't sure what position Novak is going play at the next level, there is not questions about his offesive ability at the plate. This middle infielder should be in the conversation as one of the best pure hitters in the commonwealth with his excellent bat control and ability to get barrel on the baseball. Novak has excellent balance at the plate and very rarely gives away at bats to pitchers.

 

 

Justin Starke C / Prince George, VA / 2019 One of the breakout players of the 2017 was Starke who really came into his own for Prince George hitting in the three hole. He will get plenty of opportunity to drive in runs with Tevin Tucker hitting in front of him. Starke brings gap strength to the plate and should be a doubles machine this spring.

 

 

Quade Tomlin SS / Liberty Christian, VA / 2020 Virginia's top sophomore truly sticks out with his surprising maturity at the plate and ability at his early age. Tomlin put up a strong freshmen campaign for LCA in 2017 and that trend should continue this spring. This lefty shows the ability to hit for average with some power potential on a dangerous LCA lineup this spring.

 

More spring forward