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PreSeason All-State I: Rapid Reaction

February 14, 2020
John Nolan
Virginia Scouting Director & Managing Editor

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On Sunday, February 9, over 40 players from all corners of Virginia and DC descended on Ironbridge Academy in Chester, VA to take part in Session I of the 2020 Preseason All-State. It was an outstanding event with a ton of talent on display, here are some quick notes on a few players who really caught our staff's eye with their performance on Sunday. This was a very deep event, look for full analysis of all of the players in the coming weeks.

 

 

 

Mason Balsis C / OF / Patriot, VA / 2022

Balsis is a Virginia commit and is an elite catch-and-throw guy behind the plate. As usual, that was on display as his pop times were 1.90-1.97. He also showed some strength at the plate and that his power is beginning to manifest as well.

 

 

 

Jake Barker OF / 2B / Waynesboro, VA / 2022

Barker had a strong day showing his versatility. At the plate, showed a short line-drive swing that generates some loft in the gaps, he gets extension through the ball after being strong at contact. On the mound, showed a smooth easy arm action and his fastball sat 78-80, touching 81. Change-up had feel and armspeed at 70-71 and showed a curveball as well that was 63-65. Lot of projection to Barker's frame.

 

 

 

Seth Brooks RHP / OF / Glen Allen, VA / 2022

Brooks had a strong two-way day. At the plate, showed an easy fluid swing that is short to contact with strength at it and extension through the ball. Strong arm from the outfield also led to a strong showing on the mound. Fastball was 79-81, touching 82 and he showed a change-up that was 70-71 and a slider that was 64-65.

 

 

 

JT Carter C / 1B / Fredericksburg Christian, VA / 2021

Carter is a Gardner-Webb commit and again demonstrated his strength as a defensive catcher, his pop times were 2.03-2.10 with accuracy and some carry on his throws and he excelled in receiving during the bullpens. At the plate, he continues to develop and his swing showed strength and power, with a quicker bat and good strong extension through contact.

 

 

 

Addison Clark OF / 1B / Carlisle, VA / 2021

Clark is a VMI commit who has a ton of pop in his bat and that was again on display at the event. Showed power to all fields and had the second highest exit velocity at 97. Very strong at contact with extension through the ball, long arms create leverage to drive ball. 

 

 

 

Michael Dailey OF / Prince Edward, VA / 2022

Dailey has an athletic frame that still has some projection left to it, but it is clear that he added strength over the winter. He showed his quickness during the home to first. At the plate, hits from the left side and uses the whole field, quick to contact where he is strong with extension through contact. Has the ability to drive the ball to all fields where gap power is currently present, has a chance to develop more over time.

 

 

 

Brock Duff RHP / 1B / Liberty Christian Academy, VA / 2021

Duff showed his arm was ready for the spring season as well as feel for all three pitches. His fastball touched 85 and sat 82-84. He had good armspeed on his offspeed, with his change-up running 74-76 and his slider at 71-73.

 

 

 

CJ Faulkenberry SS / 3B / Colgan, VA / 2021

Faulkenberry was a revelation at this event. He has moved back to Virginia after being in North Carolina for his freshman and sophomore seasons. He has a strong frame that still has some projection left, at the plate he gets power from his base and is quick to contact with a lot of drive through the ball, power evident to all fields. Posted the top exit velocity at 99. Also showed arm strength in the field, taking balls in the outfield and at short, where his arm velocity was 87.

 

 

 

 

Clay Grady SS / 2B / Nansemond River, VA / 2022

Grady is a Virginia Tech commit. He had a strong day, showing his speed and quickness in the field as well as soft hands. At the plate, hits from the right side with a very short, quick swing, strong at contact. Swing works gap to gap with doubles power now, has a chance to add more pop as he adds strength to his frame, which has a lot of projection left to it.

 

 

 

Nicholas Morabito SS / 2B / Gonzaga, VA / 2022

Morabito has an athletic frame that has some projection left. He was quick during the home to first at 4.13 and that speed also translated to his defensive workout, where he had smooth actions and showed some arm strength. At the plate, simple swing that is short and quick to the ball, strong at contact with extension and some natural loft, gap power is easy now with a chance for more as he develops.

 

 

 

James Nelson 1B / OF / Trinity Episcopal , VA / 2020

Nelson is a Longwood commit that has an athletic frame that has present strength with some room to still add more to it. He hits from the left side and clearly has some pull side power. Good strong base, strong at contact and gets uphill through the ball, generating easy loft to his pull side, power is evident to the gaps and pull side, exit velocity was 97.

 

 

 

Camden Nuckols RHP / 1B / St. Christopher's, VA / 2022

Nuckols has a big physical frame and had a strong two-way day. At the plate, showed strength at contact and power potential from the left side. On the mound, showed four pitches, including a fastball that sat 82-83 and touched 84 as well as good feel for a change that was 72-74. Curveball was 73-75 and slider was 74-75.

 

 

 

Raphael Rodriguez SS / 2B / Thomas Dale, VA / 2020

Rodriguez is a Norfolk State commit. Athletic frame that has plenty of room to fill out as he adds strength in college. He has good lateral quickness and very soft hands, smooth exchange on the infield. At the plate, hits from the left side with a short line drive swing. There is loft built in but it currently works best gap to gap where he has some extra base ability.

 

 

 

Gabriel Sebastino SS / RHP / James River (Buchanan), VA / 2021

Sebastino has an athletic frame that has some projection left to it. Showed well on the mound and as a position player. At the plate, simple swing with good balance, short to the ball with extension through it, line drive hitter with extra base ability in the gaps and some remaining power potential to tap into. On the mound, throws from a higher arm slot with a easy loose arm action. Fastball was 80-81, touching 82. Showed good arm action on his changeup which was 70-71 as well as a curve that was 62-64.

 

 

 

Camron Smith LHP / 1B / Appomattox, VA / 2021

Smith has a very lanky frame with a lot of projection left to it. Looked good at the plate and on the mound, he has long levers and creates easy leverage in both places. At the plate, hits from the right side, stays inside and is quick to the ball with extension through it, line drive swing generates some carry in the gaps. On the mound, short quick arm action, throws from a lower three-quarters arm slot. Fastball was 80-82, touching 83. Showed two breaking balls with good armspeed, a slider that flashed good at 73-75 and a curve that was 72-74.

 

 

 

 

 

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