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VA/DC Scout Blog: Friday Double Dip

April 25, 2023
Jason Burton
Scouting Director PBR Virginia/DC

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We take a look at nearly a dozen players from Friday's action in Williamsburg and Glen Allen. 

Grafton

Colton Sandiford OF / Grafton, VA / 2025

Sandiford has a more mature, filled out frame and look for a sophomore. Proportional strength throughout the frame. Hands are relaxed and minimal load before firing through the zone. Really liked the hand and bat speed through the zone with impact at contact. Covered good ground in center field and seems to play with a high motor. Quick look, but liked some things I saw in that short viewing. 

 

 

 

Jamestown

Caleb Ammons SS / RHP / Jamestown, VA / 2024

5-foot-11, 175-pound two way athlete. Lean strength to the frame and still has some room to fill. First thing that jumped out was pregame defense. The actions and arm plays in the middle with some versatility to move around the infield if necessary. Slightly open stance at the plate, some moving pieces in the lower half on load and stride, and hands make a small circle on load. Vertical bat that loses connection on the back side and has some lift to the swing.

On the mound Ammons was very interesting. A pretty easy 85-87 and touched 88 once in the two innings that I saw. Pretty normal effort, shorter arm circle, and throws from a lower three-quarter arm slot. The junior right hander showed two breaking balls, a curveball at 69-72 mph with bigger 11/5 shape, and a slider at 73-74 with more lateral break. Small sample size, but I thought the breaking ball was more of a get over pitch to throw for strikes early in counts and the slider has finishing potential. Tight late break with a little depth that played well off of the fastball. Intriguing 2024 that has made a nice jump in the velo department and one to keep eyes on.

 

 

 

 

Mills Godwin

Hank Piersol RHP / OF / Mills Godwin, VA / 2024

Piersol is coming off of his commitment to VCU just a few days ago. The junior right hander came on in relief for Godwin on Friday and showed the raw arm strength that he has added in the past few months. Getting up to 90-91 a couple of times and showing a solid secondary offering with a 72-74 mph slider. The fastball struggled to miss bats at times, but did show good riding life through the zone and he should continue to add polish. The slider was the go to out pitch for him and landed it at a fairly good rate. 

 

 

 

Hunter Ross RHP / C / Mills Godwin, VA / 2024

Ross came on in relief for Godwin and was strong. Mostly fastballs in the mid 80's and was able to get Glen Allen hitters out with that pitch. Did show a 79 mph changeup with gradual fade. The breaking ball he used is the curveball. The curveball will need to firm and tighten up as he continues to prepare himself for the next level. 

 

 

 

Glen Allen

Christopher Johnson 1B / RHP / Glen Allen, VA / 2023

Johnson, along with Slough, is the centerpiece of this Glen Allen team. When he and Slough are going, this team is hard to stop. Plays a strong first base, power potential at any time, and can hit for average as well. Emotional player that plays hard and wants to win. 

 

 

Holden McKinney RHP / Glen Allen, VA / 2023

McKinney worked three innings of relief versus Godwin and only allowed one run while scattering three hits. None of his work was more clutch than the job he did in the seventh inning. The senior right hander left runners at second and third with nobody out and Glen Allen only leading by two. McKinney stuck out two straight before walking Cole Powers and then striking out the final Godwin batter of the night. 

 

 

Daniel Nienaber RHP / OF / Glen Allen , VA / 2026

This was my first time seeing Nienaber in game. There is a lot to dream on here with the freshman UVA commit. Easy 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame with plenty of room to fill out. Controlled tempo and slightly above normal effort to the delivery. Gets lower into the backside moving down the mound and the ball explodes out of the hand. The fastball was up to 89 early before fading just a touch to the 84-87 range by the third. The fastball stayed 87-89 from the full in the first two innings, but velo took a hit when in the stretch. The slider and changeup were advanced offerings for a freshman. The slider had softer 11/5 shape, used it to get ahead and finish, and was effective when in the zone. The changeup was really good for a freshman's third pitch. 76-78 mph with arm side fade and used it to both sides of the plate and to hitters from both sides. Lower elbow and the fastball tends to take off. Had some command issues at times and went deeper into counts, but the stuff is real and the ceiling is high for this freshman arm. 

 


 

 

Cameron Slough C / Glen Allen, VA / 2023

As stated above, Slough, along with Johnson, is the heart and soul of this Glen Allen team. He is the key to the engine. As much as he does behind the plate for the Jaguars, his offense is invaluable. Had two big doubles in the game on Friday night, one in the first to left center and one down the third base line in the middle innings that scored Whidbee all the way from first. CNU commit. 

 

 

Jackson Toole 3B / OF / Glen Allen, VA / 2025

Not a ton to say here that we have not already said. Hitter traits with corner outfield projection and is a better athlete than he gets credit for. Will continue to be a close follow for us the rest of the way and into the summer season. 

 

 

Colin Whidbee OF / Glen Allen, VA / 2026

This is my first time seeing Whidbee and he definitely passes the eye test. Listed at 5-foot-10 and 150-pounds, but seems longer than that. Lanky, thin frame with lots of room to fill out. Starts in centerfield for Glen Allen and shows a well above average run tool. At the plate it is a slightly open stance, evenly proportioned weight, simple stride on line, and hands load to separation. There is a slight arm bar that seemed to effect him getting back inside the baseball, but is athletic enough to make adjustments. Had a backside single off of solid velo. In his final at bat he laid down a sacrifice bunt where he turned a 3.98 home to first from the right handed batters box. Going to enjoy watching this freshman develop.