Texas Scout Blog: Week 4 Games
March 21, 2024
The Texas Scout Blog provides insider information and scouting notes from the Prep Baseball Scouting Staff during the season. This running blog will feature information on underclass prospects, unsigned seniors, draft prospects, and anything else that is notable. We will provide a wide range of information, including player evaluations, Video, Stats, and more. Below are the standout players from week 4 of the TX HS Baseball Season.
+ 2024 RHP Kadyn Leon - Lake Travis - Uncommitted
Leon got the start in a big rivalry game against Westlake. He went 5 innings for the Cavaliers and although he walked 6, he was able to make big pitches in big spots to get them out of innings. He allowed 2 hits and struck out 5. The fastball was 89-91 T92 but mostly 90-91. The SL is a good pitch that he does a good job keeping arm speed up with. The CH was used more often and to both RHH & LHH. Look for Leon to come off the board soon as he is one of the best uncommitted 2024 arms in the state.
+ 2024 RHP Gavin McCullough - Lake Travis - Uncommitted
McCullough came on in relief for Leon in a tight game. The Senior was lights out and never allowed the Chaps to think they were back in the game. He struck out 3 and allowed 1 hit while walking none. He was up to 89 with the FB, mostly 86-88. He throws a SL at 81-93 and a CB at 73-75, the SL being the better of the two getting swing & miss. McCullough is a competitor and could help a program on the mound at the next level.
+ 2024 C Gavyn Schlotterback - Lake Travis - Paris JC Commit
Schlotterback made his presence known early in this district rivalry game, cutting down a runner at second on a 1.97 pop time and a perfect throw. This was a big momentum swing early and the Cavaliers didn’t look back. He would go on to drive in a run in the 3rd on a double to give LT a 2-0 lead. He is a good defender behind the plate and an important piece to the LT lineup in the 3-hole.
+ 2025 SS Kayson Cunningham - SA Johnson - Texas Tech Commit
Cunningham continues to show the hit tool off every time I see him in action. The TTU recruit does a good job hunting his pitch and being aggressive when he gets it. He almost left the yard in his first AB of the game but set the tone for the Jags with a leadoff double. He drove in another run later in the game on a hard hit single. Cunningham looks the part on the dirt as well and has the athleticism to play MIF or OF.
+ 2024 INF Chad Pantuso - SA Johnson - TAMUCC Commit
Pantuso has impressed me multiple times this spring. The senior hits in the heart of the order and has a knack for finding the barrel. He got the Jags on the board in this game with a 2 RBI double to LF. He has some pull side power from a smaller frame and has a good approach at the plate.
+ 2025 C Masa Chilcutt - SA Johnson - Texas Commit
Chilcutt isn’t the most imposing figure in the box but his barrel skills are apparent. He has a simple approach and knows how to hit. He had a pair of RBIs on a sharp single ro right in this game. The Texas commit is athletic behind the plate and can really block the baseball at a high level to both sides. He doesn’t get much action on the base paths because the opposing teams respect his ability to control the run game.
+ 2025 RHP Ethan Baiotto - Southlake Carroll - Uncommitted
Baiotto has created some of the most buzz amongst college coaches early this spring. The Jr. righty has really elevated his profile with more physicality and an uptick in velocity. His fastball has been up to 93, and he holds his velo well. The other thing that makes his fastball so good is he can really sink it, and it is tough to elevate the pitch. He also throws a slider and split change. He really kills the spin on the split and the slider seems to be the pitch that generates the most swing and miss for him. He has a chance to be the next P5 arm to come out of Southlake.
+ 2024 LHP Cooper Powell - Colleyville Heritage - Texas Commit
The future Texas Longhorn got the start against his district rival Grapevine and did more than enough to give his team a chance to win. Powell showed a 3 pitch mix with a fastball that sat 86-88 in this outing. He has been higher in the past, but he still pitched effectively with the heater. He also threw a slider in the mid 70’s that plays well against both lefties and righties. I also really liked his changeup. He threw it in the low 80’s with great arm speed and the bottom really fell out. Powell can pitch and he has a true 3 pitch mix he can use to get hitters out.
The talented sophomore got the start against district rival and state #1 Flower Mound and while the results weren’t what he wanted, Schultz showed some premium stuff. He was 87-89 and hit 90 once, and showed decent command of the pitch. He gave up some hits, but very few were barreled up. He has good feel for spin, as he threw his slider in the mid to upper 70’s with spin numbers nearing 2700 rpm’s. He also throws a curveball and a changeup, with the change showing to be a useful weapon against lefties. Schultz is going to be a good one, and he will get more chances in that rivalry.
Hutchinson really impressed us last fall at Weatherford Jr. College when he took a round of BP that averaged over 100 mph exit velocity. So, I was excited to see him in game action, and the Yale commit had a couple barrels in the game. He had a RBI 2B that got to the wall in a hurry, and then later in the game he smoked a ball dead center into the win that he barreled also. Hutchinson has some big time power and is a great get for Yale.
It was my second time seeing Flashnick this spring and I walked away more impressed than the first time. Flashnick didn’t have anything to show offensively, but he had one barrel against good velo and the swing works. As he gets stronger, I am a big believer in the hit tool. Flashnick also showed out on the dirt. He was all over the place from his shortstop position and had a nice catch on a dropstep to centerfield. He came in nicely on a couple ground balls, and the arm works and will get stronger with maturity. Left Handed hitting shortstops are fun and Flashnick has a chance to be a really good one.
+ 2024 LHP AJ Ripley - JJ Pearce - McLennan Commit
Ripley has long been a personal favorite of mine. I am a sucker for fastball command and Ripley has some of the best in North Texas. He got the start against Jesuit to open up district and not only did he show fastball command, he decided to go PR and hit 93 on the gun. Ripley’s velo has seen an uptick this year and he has become one of the best pitchers in the DFW. He can also really spin a breaking ball and throws it to righties and lefties. The future McLennan Highlander looks to keep the pipeline of high end arms going from Pearce to MCC intact.
The future Horned Frog had to face the above mentioned Ripley, and the talented sophomore more than held his own. It was a tough matchup L on L, but Barber had a big RBI single and took good swing after good swing in there. I have seen him handle velocity well both times I have seen him this year and he is only going to get stronger. Barber’s hit tool has a chance to be one of the better ones in the ‘26 class in Texas, and I am excited to see him continue to progress.
UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| DFW Rising Stars ID | TX | 03/30 | Lake Dallas High School - Corinth, TX |
| San Antonio Rising Stars ID | TX | 04/10 | Cornerstone Christian High School - San Antonio, TX |
| Houston Rising Stars ID | TX | 05/07 | The John Cooper School |
| 2024 TX Rising Stars Games (Invite-Only) | TX | 05/18 | Prestonwood Christian Academy - Plano, TX |
| Five Star Performance Scout Weekend | TX | 05/25 | DFW |
| Dallas Summer ID | TX | 05/28 | Lake Dallas High School - Corinth, TX |
| Canes Southwest Scout Weekend | TX | 06/01 | Waco |
| Austin Summer ID | TX | 06/04 | Liberty Hill High School - Liberty Hill, TX |
| San Antonio Summer ID | TX | 06/05 | Cornerstone Christian High School - San Antonio, TX |
| Top Prospect Games: San Marcos (Invite-Only) | TX | 06/18 | Texas State University - San Marcos, TX |
| Houston Summer ID | TX | 06/19 | Rice University - Houston, TX |
| Top Prospect Games: College Station (Invite-Only) | TX | 06/25 | Texas A&M University - College Station, TX |
| Top Prospect Games: Fort Worth (Invite-Only) | TX | 06/25 | Texas Christian University - Fort Worth, TX |
| Fort Worth Summer ID | TX | 07/02 | Weatherford College - Weatherford, TX |
| Future Games (Class of 2026/27) | NATIONAL | 07/24 | LakePoint Sports |
| Junior Future Games (Class of 2028/29) | NATIONAL | 07/24 | LakePoint Sports |
| Senior Future Games (Class of 2025) | NATIONAL | 07/24 | LakePoint Sports |
| North Texas Senior Games | TX | 08/06 | Weatherford College - Weatherford, TX |
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