Tennessee Diamond Notes: Week 1

The Tennessee Diamond Notes is a 2024 content piece that will focus on highlighting some top performances across the state based on nominations from high school coaches. We will highlight those positions players, pitchers and two-way players every Wednesday of the high school season that are deserving to be highlighted based on their performance. 

Check out our scout blog HERE for games our staff was able to get out and see last week.

For now, let's take a look at those players from across the state highlighted in this week's Tennessee Diamond Notes. 

TENNESSEE DIAMOND NOTES: WEEK 1

Ari Bethea RHP / OF / Collierville, TN / 2025 Rankings  StateRank: 6 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 164 / POS: 47 The number 2 overall right-handed pitcher in Tennessee has consistantly gotten better since our time seeing him this past summer where he was a standout at Prep Baseball Future Games. He carried that success over to increased velocity to our Prep Baseball Tennessee's Preseason All-State event and has looked the part thus far this spring season. In his first outing, Bethea relieved 3 innings, racking up 7 K's to zero runs. In his first start, Bethea went 6.2 innings agasinst Briarcrest, limiting them to 3 hits and zero runs, while racking up another 12 K's to 1 BB. He did have his first early struggle of the season against Oxford (Mississippi) where he would go 4 innings giving up 3 earned runs on 4 hits while gathering 9 K's. The damage was mostly self-inflicted for Bethea giving up 4 BB, which is usually not like him. Look for him to bounce back in his next outing as Collierville gets closer to district series.

Dakota Adkins / Oliver Springs, TN / 2024 The uncommitted senior has been on a tear from the leadoff spot thus far this early spring accounting for 8 runs scored and a consistant on-base threat. He is hitting 9-17 (.529) with 4 doubles with 4 walks.

Ben Moore OF / 1B / Clarksville, TN / 2025 Rankings  StateRank: 139 / POS: 26 Through 5 Games, Moore has been Clarksville's primary DH in the bottom half of the order where he has done considerable damage. In 16 PA, he has hit for a .692 average with a .750 OBP, 1.827 OPS and 1.077 slugging percentage with 9 hits, 2 doubles, 1 HR, 10 RBI's and 5 runs scored.

Brodie Johnston SS / 3B / Boyd Buchanan, TN / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 4 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 150 / POS: 29 The former Prep Baseball Super 60 participant and Vanderbilt signee has been hot out of the game for Boyd-Buchanan slashing 11/19 (.578) 7-RBI, 4-2B, 2-3B, 1-HR, 6-SB, 4-BB, 22-TB.

Cooper Jones LHP / OF / Boyd Buchanan, TN / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 60 / POS: 7 Jones has been a reliable weapon in the 3-hole for the Bucs where he is hitting 12-23 (.521), 11-RBI, 1-3B, 3-2B, 18-TB, 6-SB, 2-IP, 0 H, 0 BB, 3 K. He will be a considerable two-way center piece for the club this seaosn and is already showing why.

Cayden King RHP / 1B / Middle TN Christian , TN / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 23 / POS: 4 King was a standout at our Prep Baseball Tennessee's Preseason All-State event where he showed off the ability with the arm, plus the future projection that he holds in the profile. He has been dominant thus far in his 1 outing (1-0), CG, 5 IP, 0 Runs, 3 H, 9 K, 0 BB and likely continues to build some forward momentum for himself leading into the rest of the spring.

Owen White C / 3B / Middle Tennessee Christian, TN / 2025 Rankings  StateRank: 75 / POS: 10 Another prospect that we have had the pleasure of seeing at a few of our Prep Baseball Tennessee events where everytime he jumps out at you with the continue rise in his game play and ability. He has been about as reliable as you could be hitting in the 3-hole for the Cougars where he is slashing 7-11 (.636), 2 2B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 7 Runs, .765 OBP.

England Bryan RHP / C / Middle Tennessee Christian, TN / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 8 / POS: 3 OverallRank: 275 / POS: 99 The Vanderbilt signee was a late addition to their class where he switched his committment just before signing day. He has been hot out of the gate with firm velocity in the low to mid 90's. We got our first look at him earlier this week where he went 5 innings, giving up only 2 hits to 9 K's and 3 BB. Through 2 games started he has pitched a total of 10 innings with 20 K's, 0 runs given up, 3 hits and 5 BB.

Collin Wind LHP / Central Magnet , TN / 2025 The uncommitted junior has been lights out for Central Magnet where he went 5 innings; 2 walks; 14 strike outs; 0 hits; 0 runs given up in his first start of the season. He will be the Tigers go-to horse on the mound this season and is building himself some nice momentum early on this spring.

Andrew Hill 3B / SS / Knoxville Central, TN / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 70 / POS: 6 The ETSU signee has played double duty defensively where he has been Central's starting shortstop hitting in the 2-hole, while also racking up innings on the mound as their number 2 arm in their rotation. Thus far on the early season, he has thrown 7 innings, given up 0 runs and only 1 H to go with 12 K's and zero walks.

Owen McMahan LHP / 1B / Sycamore High, TN / 2026 The talented southpaw is getting early opportunities this spring for Sycamore where he has pitched 5 innings, given up 0 runs on only 3 hits with 11 K's. The fastball has sat in the low to mid 80's with developed feel for two quality secondary offerings.

Jackson Treece RHP / 3B / Coalfield, TN / 2027 The young freshman has given us numerous opportunities to see him where we got our first look at him this past summer and then early fall and continues to impress with his game play. In the 3-hole for Coalfield, Treece is hitting 7-10 (.700) 9 R, 7 RBI's, 2 2B's thus far while also providing two-way capabilities pitching with 4 innings, giving up only 2 hits and 1 run with 7 K's and zero walks. He will be a major factor for Coalfield over the course of the next 4 seasons.

Gunner Skelton SS / RHP / Columbia Academy, TN / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 17 / POS: 4 Another standout from our Prep Baseball Tennessee's Preseason All-State, Skelton gave us our first extended look at him this past summer at Prep Baseball Tennessee's Top Prospect Games where he wowed with both the bat and on the mound. He has continued to raise his gameplay where he comes in as a top-20 player in the 2026 class. Thus far on the spring, Skelton is hitting 7-12 (.583) with 1 double to go along with 2 RBI's and 2 stolen bases. On the mound he has throw 11 innings, giving up 9 hits with 2 runs and 16 K's to go with 4 walks.

Zach Creasy 3B / SS / Jackson Christian, TN / 2025 The uncommitted Jackson Christian product has been the model of consistency hitting 9-18 (.500) with an 1.411 OPS. He also has racked up 3 doubles, 9 RBI's with 5 runs scored along side 5 stolen bases. Creasy is hitting in the 3-hole for a young but talented Ealges lineup.

Isaiah Whited 1B / RHP / Bearden, TN / 2025 Rankings  StateRank: 121 / POS: 10 Whited has been a major factor for the Bulldogs hot start and early success where he has been getting it down on the mound and at the plate. In his win over McMinn Central, Whited went a total of 7 innings, giving up only 1 earned run, while finishing the game with 15 K's. He is also batting in the clean-up spot for Beardan and has been an RBI producer thus far this early season.

Brooks Wright C / RHP / Bearden, TN / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 7 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 248 / POS: 24 The Tennessee signee is off to a hot start in the 3-hole for a talented Beardan club where he is hitting .333 with 2 doubles and 3 homeruns early on this season to go with 6 RBI's. On the mound, he stands 1-0 with 6 innings pitched giving up 2 ER with 12 K's in a win over Cookeville.

Eli Brummett RHP / Oliver Springs High School, TN / 2025 The uncommitted Oliver Springs product got his first win on the early season in his first outing were he went 6 innings, giving up only 1 hit with 11 total punchouts and 2 walks. He will be a major arm for the team this spring and looks to build upon his early success.

Jojo Saleem OF / Briarcrest Christian, TN / 2024 The uncommitted senior has been a consistant factor in the leadoff spot where he continues to find ways to get on base for the Saints. He is hitting .353 on the young season with a .421 OBP, 1.186 slugging percentage, 1 double, 2 HR's and 10 RBI's. The raw power is evident with the frame and likely runs into his fair share of homeruns as the season progresses.

Evan Cope RHP / Bearden High School, TN / Cope has also been very instumental in Beardan's early success on the season where he has gone 2-0 on the mound firing a total of 11 innings giving up only 2 earned runs with 14 K's. Against Science Hill, he gave up 2 ER but with 14 K's in a complete game effort with only 1 hit.