Prep Baseball Report

Rankings Spotlight: Alex Amos, SS/RHP, Millbrook, 2016



Follow @PBRVirginiaDC

By Sammy Serrano

Director of Scouting

Alex Amos:  ranked #10 in Virginia and #97 Nationally


High School:
Millbrook
Position: SS/RHP
College Commitment: Pittsburgh

Get to know prospect Alex Amos...

PBR:  Tell us where you grew up, when did you start playing baseball, and who were your baseball influences and why?

Amos:  I spent the early part of my life living in multiple places.  I began my baseball career as a T-baller in Fairmont, WV and got to fill in on my brother’s 8-year-old machine pitch travel team when I was 4.  I then moved to Bettendorf, IA and played on my first travel team, The Quad City Hitmen, at the age of 7.  I then moved to Winchester, VA and started playing baseball for the Winchester WILD when I was 8. It is kind of cool that I still play with some of those players like Trey Braithwaite.

My baseball influences were my big brother, Matthew, and my father. They always encouraged me to get better and strive for more.  I have had great support and coaching since I was a young player and I believe that has led to my baseball IQ being high.  We also hosted Winchester Royal players for the last 7 years and that motivated me to want to play at a high level of college baseball.  I got to spend time with John Leonard and Mickey Wiswall from Boston College and Bryan Woodall from Auburn.  They all went on to minor league careers and we got to watch them play in big college games.

PBR:  You have been receiving a lot of notoriety lately. How does it feel?

Amos:  Great, it feels good to see that all my hard work has paid off.  I also understand that the most important play is the next one and that I have to stay focused and work hard toward the next time I play. 

I had some interest over the summer, but things really took off this fall after I joined The Stars and I performed well at the PBR event at the University of Virginia.  Carson Carroll and Mike Colangelo have taught me so much about playing baseball and going through the recruiting process. 

PBR:  You are committed to Pittsburgh. Tell us who were in your top three, your best offers, and why you chose the school you did?

Amos:  The University of Pittsburg, Radford University, and William and Mary.  I chose PITT because of the great coaching staff, facilities, and the strength of the ACC schedule.  I think the opportunity to attend an urban university with great athletic programs fits exactly with what I was looking for.  It is also an outstanding educational university that will set me up for success after my baseball playing is done.  Radford had made me an offer and I really like the direction of their baseball program.  William and Mary liked me as a catcher during the summer but kind of backed off when I decided that I didn’t want catch in college. 

PBR:  We know you’re a very talented player. Tell us all about you.  What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Amos:  My strengths would probably be my baseball IQ, overall athleticism, and I am very confident with my defensive skills.  I feel like I can play all 9 positions at a high level.  I think my biggest opportunity is to continue to develop my hitting skills.  I have improved over the fall and start hitting with some power, but still have a lot of room for improvement.  I could always be bigger. 

PBR:  You’re ranked in Virginia and Nationally by Prep Baseball Report VA/DC (PBR). How does that feel considering the size and talent in the state?

Amos:  It is an incredible feeling when you look at all of the talent in Virginia.  We may not be the biggest state but Virginia always has success at the National Events.  The Cardinals won the Perfect Game Underclass and we (Stars Baseball) didn’t lose a game.  I am grateful that I play with great players on the Stars and at Millbrook that push me to get better.

PBR:  What's your training look like this winter? Goals for the spring? 

Amos:  Currently playing high school Varsity Basketball, hitting the weight room religiously, and focusing on getting stronger.  I have put my baseball equipment away for about two months, but plan on starting to hit and throw this month.  I have found that stepping away every now and then helps get me reenergized.  My goal for spring is to bring home a State Baseball Championship.  I plan to make the transition from Catcher to Shortstop, improve my offensive numbers, and pitch effectively when needed.

PBR:  How was your high school season last year?

Amos:  We lost in the Virginia 4A state championship and our record was 24-2 Team record? Post season awards?  First Team All-Conference (Util), All-District (Util/Catcher), and Second Team All-Region. I hit .373, threw out 70% of attempted base stealers, and a 0.00 ERA in about 10 innings pitched.

PBR:  Preview your high school season? How will your team be this year? Expectations?

Amos:  Millbrook is expected to go deep into the playoffs and contend for a State Championship.  We have to replace Jacob Jaye at SS who went to VMI and Mattie Hendershot at 1B who went to Shenandoah University.  We return all of our top pitchers and the remainder of our starting lineup.  We have a talented group that will see many of us go onto college to play.

PBR:  How are your academics? GPA? ACT? SAT? Any academic awards? 

Amos:  I am solid academically with a 3.5, but haven’t taken any of the enrollment exams yet.  I plan to take them in the spring.

PBR:  Who is the best player you will see this spring? Best team?

Amos:  That would be tough to say.  I get the opportunity play with a number of great players at Millbrook.  We have 4 players already signed or committed and I would expect more over the next couple of years.  We also hope to play deep into the playoffs where we will probably see Nathan Trevillion, RHP, Amherst County, 2015 (Liberty Signee, Ranked #3 in VA and #52 Nationally) and Evan Sperling, RHP, Grafton, 2015 (UVA Signee, Ranked #2 in VA and #17 Nationally).

Hanover is the defending State Champion so they are the best team until someone knocks them off.  They had a lot of seniors last year but they seem to just reload every year.

PBR:  What is the most memorable moment in your baseball career to this point?

Amos:  I have had so many great memories and met so many great people, but my Top 2 have to be committing to Pitt and reaching the State Championship game last year.  Hopefully there will be more to come.

PBR:  Tell us something about yourself others don't know but would like to know.

Amos:  I’m a talented juggler and was Nationally Ranked as a youth wrestler.

related content:

major announcements: