Burton' Scout Blog: 3/25/24
March 25, 2024
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Dominion
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Cayden Suchy LHP / Dominion, VA / 2024Suchy was up and down in this shorter start. Got three innnings of work in, throwing nearly eighty pitches and struggled to finish counts at times. The fastball was in the 86-89 range early and touched 91 once. In the second and third innings of work the velo fluctuated ranging anywhere from 83-87 mph. He showed two breaking balls, displaying the best feel for a bigger curveball in the low 70's. Showed a firmer and sharper slider, but lacked feel for the pitch on the night. Possibly his best and most consistent offspeed pitch was a changeup that he got multiple swings and misses on, showing it to right and left handers.
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Spotsylvania
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Jake Herbst SS / 2B / Spotsylvania, VA / 2025This was my first time seeing Herbst and he was easy to spot as soon as pregame defense started. Pretty easy and fluid actions at short. Throws from multiple slots, accurate, works well around the bag, and has average arm strength. Thin and lanky frame that has some room to fill. Wider base, hands set back, and makes a small load before delivery a level path through the zone. In his second at bat he had a flared single into right field and followed that up with a line drive single into left center during his next at bat. Slightly above average runner with the tools to potentially stay in the middle long term. Also jumped on the mound in relief and brought a different look from a really low sidearm, to almost submarine slot. I saw him face three hitters where he sat 77-79 mph and showed two secondary pitches from a tough slot and made some big pitches to work out of a jam.
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Nate Johnson RHP / 3B / Spotsylvania, VA / 2026Long and lanky frame with room to fill. Hands start at the midline and load fairly deep to separation and a slight arm bar. Head stayed behind contact and had a level path through the zone. Worked more middle and backside during this game.
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Josh Perez RHP / 1B / Spotyslvania, VA / 2026Perez has a thicker, durable 6-foot-1 frame. He works from a lower three-quarter arm slot with well above average arm speed and generates it pretty effortlessly. For the first three innings the velo held pretty strong in the 87-90 range with more 89-90 early and more 87-88 in the third. He touched 91 on the second pitch of the game. The fastball has hard sink and when he gets it in on right handers, it is virtually impossible to get the barrel there. Perez showed two breaking balls early on, both sitting in the 70-72 range. The curveball has softer and bigger shape and is more of a get over pitch, while the slider has tighter shape and sharper depth. He used the curveball more early on and then leaned towards the slider a bit more later on. He showed a fourth pitch early on and used it more frequently as the game went on. The changeup was lethal when he stayed behind it and turned it over late. The first few times he threw it, he got inside of it and it kind of lifted and faded to the arm side, but when he stayed behind it and turned it over late, it was a really really solid pitch that got some bad swings and misses. Command got scattered in spurts, but he competed in some high leverage situations and worked his way out of trouble.
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Culpeper
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Gavin Alvarado SS / 3B / Culpeper, VA / 2025Lean athletic frame. Well above average runner and versatile athlete. Started at shortstop and showed some potential to stay in the dirt. Average hands and average arm strength with accuracy across the infield. Moves well laterally and has the footspeed to cover ground at short. Balanced and square stance at the plate, hands are set forward, and swing varied with the path. Even and negative counts he was a bit shorter and had a steeper path with the barrel getting in and out. When in plus counts, the swing had some length and he was looking to do damage. Finished the night 1-3 with a walk and one stolen base.
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Tyrus Nobbs 3B / RHP / Culpeper County, VA / 2026Strike thrower and competes in the zone. Nobbs held his 81-83 through the fourth inning and pounded the zone with the fastball early and often, especially to the glove side. Started to mix in offspeed a little bit heavier in the third inning and beyond, but still established early advantage counts with the fastball. Racked up six strikeouts over his five-plus innings of work and allowed four scattered hits throughout his outing.
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Bishop O'Connell
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Noah Haught SS / RHP / Bishop O'Connell, VA / 2025In my first look at Haught in almost a year, he has made some pretty big strides. Showed better bat to ball and the little bit of strength he has added has translated into more impactful swings at the plate. Had an excuse me single in the first on a two strike check swing. Most impressive thing of the at bat, he got out of the box on a grounball to the second baseman and beat out an infield single with a 4.0 H-1st time. His second at bat he turned around a 2-0 fastball for a lineout to center, then singled to right center, and finally singled to left field. Was 3-4 on the day and his best swing resulted in the out. From short, the hands work, obviously has the footspeed to stay, and has probably an easy 60 arm across the infield. Most importantly he knows when to use it and can use it with accuracy. Was the most impressive all around prospect on the field during this look.
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Truman Leckey C / OF / Bishop O'Connell, VA / 2025Jumpstarted the O'Connell offense when he absolutely demolished a 3-2 fastball over the left field wall. Square stance, small lift to stride, and hands work in rhythm with the leg lift. Kept his hands inside of this pitch and allowed him to get it out front and elevate the fastball.
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Drew Markey RHP / RHP / Bishop O'Connell, VA / 2026Different and somewhat funky look from the sophomore right hander. Hands break early, hand gets behind the hip, and then moves into a three-quarter arm slot. Slower paced buildup with some late intent to the delivery. Softer shape to the breaking ball that as mostly in the 72-74 mph range (2400~ RPM). Also showed a low 70's changeup. Had four strikeouts over his two and two-thirds innings of work.
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Jack Rampy RHP / 2B / Bishop O'Connell, VA / 2024Saw Rampy at least two times last season and came away just as impressed as I was last year. Similar velo, but probably showed a better and more consistent ability to throw the secondary for strikes. Heavy mix of spin and changeups, especially to the front end of that lineup and kept hitters off balance. Heavy bowling ball sinkers and uses it to both sides. Struck out the first four hitters and ended up with six strikeouts over his three innings of work.
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