Prep Baseball Report

VA/DC Scout Blog: May 3-May 4 Wrapup


Jason Burton
Scouting Director PBR Virginia/DC

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We take a look at video and notes on a dozen players from four teams. 

 

Gonzaga

Bryant James SS / Gonzaga, VA / 2026

This was my first look at the Duke commit and there was a lot to be excited about. The athleticism is off the charts. Just has a different bounce in the way he moves. Unlimited range, explosiveness, and was comfortable from a lower slot at second. The ball came out well even from that lower slot, but will be interested to see the arm from the left side at some point. At the plate, like other movements, the hands and bat speed are quick and explosive. Had a eight-plus pitch at bat in the top of the first versus one of the best arms in the state this season. Ended up striking out on a slider down, but overall it was a really quality at bat out of the gate. Popped up in his next two at bats. Although I did not get any run times or barrels, it is easy to see the upside and intrigue to this 2026. Currently resides at the number one spot in the 2026 class and after what we have seen from James in the last few weeks, I do not see much changing. 

 

 

 

Marcus LeClair 1B / OF / Gonzaga, VA / 2023

LeClair showed some rhythm in the hands at the plate. Had this barrel through the right side and still has some power to grow into with his long lanky frame. Sneaky good athlete, especially for his size and adds some value at the next level if he can play some corner outfield like he showed last Wednesday. 

 

 

 

St. Albans

Derek Desmarais SS / RHP / St. Albans, VA / 2024

Solid actions at shortstop with an accurate arm across. It is not an elite arm, but with his exchange and shorter arm action it could be enough, but is probably more suited for second, depending on the level. At the plate the swing has a chance to play at the next level. Short compact swing with quick hands. When the barrel stays through contact it shows some adjustability and doubles power in the gaps. Sometimes the path will get cut short and barrel will get out of the zone. The run tool is average and footspeed could slide him over to second, but a left handed hitting infielder with solid actions and some athleticism is always an intriguing follow. He was 82-85 on the mound and touched 86. There is some pitchability on the mound, but it is positional over arm right now. 

 

 

Myles Upchurch RHP / 3B / St. Albans, VA / 2025

Upchurch has been one of the most dominant arms in the state all spring. He has gotten the ball in some of the biggest games for St. Albans and has been superb in those games. The Maryland commit was not as sharp as our staff has seen him this spring. The fastball was 88-89 in the first before fading to more of a 84-87 in the second and would run a 88-89 when he wanted. It was control over command throughout the outing. The right-hander relied heavily on the slider-changeup combo, regardless of which side the hitter was hitting from. On Wednesday the 78-80 mph slider and the 79-83 changeup were both average in shape and feel. The slider was more of the out pitch and tended to have more depth and finishing traits when trying to backfoot it to left handers. The body projects, it is easy effort, has the tools, and even when he is not his sharpest he finds a way to compete and give his team a chance to win. Composed on the mound with some maturity and looks the part. Plenty of time left for this sophomore. 

 

 

 

 

Cox 

Ryan DeLashmutt RHP / OF / Frank W. Cox, VA / 2024

DeLashmutt came in and closed it down in quick fashion. Got up to 88 showing some of the velo upside. Breaking ball is a bit slurvy, but can throw it for strikes. The fastball has some ride to it and it has a chance to play up in the zone. Second look this spring, both late relief looks, but should be a high follow for 24's this summer. 

 

 

Macaddin Dye C / 1B / Cox, VA / 2024

Dye has really built on the frame adding some strength throughout. The strength translates into his game and it is functional. Slightly above average arm strength behind the plate. If the physical tools continue to transfer to the offense, look out for this 2024 Liberty commit to make a move up in the future. 

 

 

Austin Irby 3B / OF / Cox , VA / 2024

We touched on Irby a few weeks back and got a chance to lock in a little more this past week, especially on the defensive side. The ECU commit had a little more action at third on the day, especially lateral groundballs, as opposed to a few that brought him forward in the last matchup. The lateral range was a bit limited on the day, with it being more one step and getting caught on some in between balls. In pregame he did not look super comfortable with the playing surface, so that could have played into it some as well. At the plate I have seen two different hitters in the six-plus at bats this spring. At Cox a few weeks ago he was on time, comfortable, and just looked to be seeing it well. Last Wednesday he faced the same arm and seemed to be drifting into his stride a little bit and tended to be late getting down, which in turn caused him to expand and swing through a few pitches that he did not a few weeks ago. The patience was still there and he still seemed to have some zone awareness, but when he decided to swing everything was not connected and synced up as it was a few weeks back. He has been on a tear as of late and is one of the best bats in the 2024 class, as long as he is on time and working within himself. Look forward to following this 2024 riser in the months and year to come. 

 

 

 

Michael Irby RHP / 1B / Cox, VA / 2023

Our staff saw Irby at the Commonwealth Classic, so it was good to get a second look on the ECU commit. The Cox right hander is back healthy and ready to help the Falcons get back on top, the same place he helped lead them to a few years ago. Early on he was mid-upper 80's and used mostly fastball-slider. He started to work in a changeup later into his outing. Irby got into a few jams and had some high pressure pitches and situations, but did a good job navigating his way through and limiting the damage. 

 

 

 

Ocean Lakes

Colin Benson 3B / SS / Ocean Lakes, VA / 2024

Slightly open stance, hands set back, and keeps them inside through contact. Has a level path with some slight loft built into the swing. Doubles power with a little extra to the pull side. Solid actions at shortstop and a consistent defender. Had two hits on the day and will be a close follow this summer. 

 

 

Austin Crew OF / SS / Ocean Lakes, VA / 2025

The Ocean Lakes centerfielder is one of the better 2025 outfielders I have seen this spring. Long and rangy frame. Athletic, good angles and jumps off the bat, and is an easy mover in centerfield. I don't think it is necessarily an elite run tool, I just think he covers more ground and makes it look easier because of his reads and angles off the bat. At the plate he has solid bat to ball skills and some rhythm in the swing. It is a slower controlled swing. There does not appear to be elite hand or bat speed, but an accurate barrel and swing that is simple and on time. Some loft built in and doubles power. 

 

 

Blake Dickerson LHP / Ocean Lakes, VA / 2023

This is my second time seeing the Virginia Tech commit this spring, both times versus Cox. I prefer to see the better arms in the state versus the best offenses they will face because it gives me insight on both sets of players. In his first start the velo was down, the breaker was not sharp, and control was a bit scattered. Last Wednesday, the 6-foot-6 left hander was better early than he was during my previous look. When the fastball was in the zone, it missed more bats/barrels and seemed to be a bit more crisp in the first two innings. The velo was mostly 89-90 in the first two innings and touched 92 one time. He was able to get swings and misses in to left handers, got in on a few right handers, as well as getting to the arm side third and extended to right handers. The slider had more depth in the 79-83 range early on and used it to hitters from both sides. Had a third pitch that he used sparingly, a low 80's changeup. Once he got into the third inning he began to struggle finishing counts and started searching for the zone. The pitch count got up there pretty quickly. Dickerson got in too many three ball counts that resulted in multiple six-plus pitch at bats. Overall, I thought the stuff was better than my previous look, as the breaking ball had more depth and the fastball got more swings and misses in the zone. The command will need to continue to progress, as well as the fastball velo maintaining that 90 mph mark and flashing a few more 91-92's. Plenty of projection left to this left hander that make him very intriguing for some teams as we approach draft time. 

 

 

 

Ryan Gocio C / 3B / Ocean Lakes, VA / 2025