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Tournaments  | Story  | 7/17/2018

15u WWBA Scout Notes: Day 4

Photo: Ben Bosse (Perfect Game)

15u WWBA National Championship: Event Page | Daily Leaders
Scout Notes: Day 1 | Day 2 | Day 3

The 15u WWBA National Championship had a loaded day over at the LakePoint complex, as there were high level arms and bats patrolling the grounds from the 8am slot until the last slot of the day.

The South Charlotte Panthers split their doubleheader on Monday and one of the more impressive arms for the Panthers was Billy Barlow (2021, North Myrtle Beach, S.C.) who showed off some tools in a relief appearance. Barlow, who is young for the grade having just turned fifteen, ran his fastball up to 87 mph early in the start and though he is a bit callow, there are certainly things to like. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame is ripe for physical projection onto the frame with an arm stroke that works well through release and requisite quickness to the arm circle. The fastball worked mostly in the 82-85 mph range, bumping 86s and 87s when he needed to make a big pitch, and though the offspeed pitches need some refinement the fastball velocity and projection are big plays here.

Starting on an opposite field, in a thrilling back and forth game between the Banditos and GRB Rays, was Owen Washburn (2021, Webster, Wis.) who was part of a combined shutout effort by GRB to win the game by a score of 1-0. Washburn, who is still 14 and young for the grade, has a pretty mechanically sound delivery with a loose arm that gets downhill effectively. There is balance, loading, and driving toward the plate and the projectable righthander does have some present command too. He worked up to 83 mph with his fastball and sat mostly 78-82 mph to either side with some command. The slider was a very good pitch as he showed good feel for it and can throw it hard. The pitch worked up to 76 mph with some bite and shape to it, while also being able to slow it down and being able to land the pitch for strikes; he flashed a changeup at 70 mph.




Turning in one of the better statistical performances of the day was Twelve righthander Ben Bosse (2021, Brenham, Texas) and the 6-foot-1, 185-pound righty was dominant allowing only one hit in six shutout innings. Bosse is a broad-shouldered and physically projectable prospect, with a mostly clean delivery down the mound, albeit, with a shorter stride down the mound, which helps the fastball to create more sink when leveraged in the lower half of the strike zone and for Bosse to get over his front side very easily. The fastball worked up to 86 mph and sat in the 83-86 mph range for the entirety of the six inning performance. The loose arm stroke is pretty fast through the arm circle with some whip to the release and given the maintenance of velocity, command and the projection there, the ceiling is high. And that’s not even considering his very good curveball. The pitch is a high-spin pitch with sharpness, depth, and manipulation. Bosse can land the pitch pretty much wherever he wanted, and though he will slow at times, the offering is a true swing-and-miss pitch, and Bosse certainly looked like a top prospect during his outing on the mound on Monday.

Bosse’s battery-mate behind the plate, Dylan Leach (2021, Carthage, Texas), didn’t show up very heavily in the box score but the physical, switch-hitting catcher showed a pretty good swing from the left side of the plate while also showing very impressive defensive tools. The swing has natural loft and leverage to the path and given the frame and present bat speed, the power potential is there to hit the ball hard to the pull side, but presently the gap-to-gap strength certainly stands out along with the looseness of his hands through the swing. Leach was blocking balls in the dirt left and right while showing good flexibility and bounce behind the plate. The arm strength is certainly impressive as he sat in the 2.0s during warmups to second base and popped one time of 2.11 on a curveball during the game.

The 5 Star National versus Yalobusha Giants game was one of the better games this event with both squads boasting impressive pitching performances in a 2-2 tie.

Brodie Chestnutt (2021, Wray, Ga.) and Jackson Baumeister (2021, Jacksonville, Fla.) toed the rubber for 5 Star and both arms showed intriguing tools.


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Chestnutt, a recent Florida State commit, allowed just one unearned run on three hits in a little over three innings on the mound. The righthanded pitcher is a very lean and projectable 6-foot-3, 190-pounds with a loose arm stroke toward the back that projects nicely. The stride down the mound is a drifty one, and that forces the timing to be very sured up as the release point and the timing of the foot strike can lead to some control inconsistencies. The fastball worked up to 87 mph with short life out of the hand, such life that created some riding action when working up and run to the arm side otherwise. Chestnutt’s breaking ball was used sparingly in the form of a short slider that he garnered a couple of swings-and-misses on. Chestnutt certainly looks to be a strong piece presently for 5 Star and should be an even bigger one for Florida State.




A fellow Seminoles commit, Baumeister started in the lineup hitting as the designated hitter, but was quickly thrust into action in the fourth inning in relief of Chestnutt. Baumeister worked out of a jam, he did allow a run to score, and quickly ran his fastball up to 90 mph while also showing off a tight-spinning breaking ball. The long-libed, extra-large frame projects very nicely moving forward for Baumeister, a primary catcher, who is already athletic on the mound and repeats his delivery very well. He throws around his front side while landing crossfired from the start and releasing from a lower arm slot. This works for Baumeister and shows off the body control and awareness as he is able to throw a lot of strikes. The breaking ball had very good spin rates and good shape as well. He would cut it across and give it more slider shape at times, but the pitch functioned best as a big 11-to-5 breaker that he could land with good shape for strikes. Baumeister is certainly worthy of his No. 21 overall ranking, and he should only continue to get better, particularly on the mound where he’s just scratching the surface.

Starting on the opposite end of the field for Yalobusha was lefthander Colby Wallace (2021, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.) who was fairly impressive on the mound as a 6-foot-4, 195-pound lefthanded pitcher with good preset arm speed. Wallace was masterful in a little over five innings as he allowed only one earned run while striking out nine batters during the performance. The large frame is obviously ripe for physical projection, but so is the arm speed as the stroke is loose, efficient, and travels quickly through the arm circle. He worked mostly in the low-80s bumping 85 mph a couple of times on the radar gun, but attacked hitters with the fastball that showed some deception as Wallace hides the ball well. The breaking ball was a short offering, with some snap to it but he could locate it for strikes as well.

Former PG Select Festival participant Kemp Alderman (2020, Decatur, Miss.) had a very strong day at the plate, as both of his first two hits came off the bat at 102.3 mph and 100.5 mph, respectively. The physical righthanded hitter has a ton of present strength at the dish which allows him to routinely put up wildly impressive exit velocities on batted balls. The first hit came on an opposite field ground ball single, while the second was a screaming opposite field line drive that brought a run home. Alderman has shown improved ability to get to the outside part of the plate and drive the ball with intent to the opposite field, both singles came on outer half fastballs. The power is a big selling card here as it is loud to all fields, and though he didn’t catch during the game on Monday, he has shown plenty of arm strength to make him a threat to would be base stealers behind the plate.

HitFactory’s physical third baseman Cole Russo (2021, Tampa, Fla.) had a strong two game look on Monday that included highlights both on the offensive and defensive side of the ball. The 6-foot-1, 200-pound lefthanded hitting infielder has some strength and bat speed to the swing, and though the hands get tight at times he gets the barrel head out in front to drive the ball with intent. During the first game of the day against the South Charlotte Panthers, Russo drove a run-scoring triple that was well-struck off the bat. He goes to the opposite field well and does a good job at collecting his opposite field base hits. Russo also made a highlight reel play in the later game as he dove to his left to get a ground ball, gathered and set his feet, and fired a strike to first to nail the runner.




One of the more impressive performances of the day came from East Coast Sox lefthander Maddux Bruns (2021, Saraland, Ala.) as he was very impressive over his three-inning stint on the rubber. Bruns, a lean and projectable 6-foot-1 and 175-pound lefthander, did not allow a hit on the day while striking out six batters in his short start on the mound. The delivery is loose and easy with a very low effort arm stroke in the back while hiding the ball nicely. That, coupled with the big crossfire delivery, allow his stuff to play up significantly, though he will leave the fastball out and up at times when the arm can’t catch up. The fastball worked in the 80-84 mph range while bumping 86 mph in the first inning. The release point coupled with the body movement allowed Bruns to create significant angle to the glove side with the pitch and he would set hitters up nicely for the breaking ball. The pitch is one of the more advanced offerings in this age group as it worked in the 68-72 mph range with very high spin and significant sharpness and break. The 1-to-7 curveball could be landed for strikes, or buried for chases, such as when Bruns struck out a righthanded hitter after the batter had swung at the pitch that landed on his back foot. Bruns has a lot of very good components to build on pitching-wise and with the present velocity, feel for spin, and projection, he shouldn’t remain uncommitted for much longer.

Bruns’ shortstop behind him was Riley Maddox (2021, Pearl, Miss.), and though he didn’t notch any hits offensively the swing still projects well, while the defensive chops really stood out. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame is lean and apt for that of a prototypical shortstop at the next level. He moves well to either side with good first step quickness and the arm strength stands out as he can make plays deep in the hole. One play stood out as a hard hit batted ball ricocheted off the third baseman and Maddox was able to get to the ball and fire the ball across to get the runner. The footwork sets up to work nicely through the ball even on the run, as he made a play on the other side of second base and still threw a strike from a lower slot with good body control displayed.

– Vincent Cervino





Philip Abner (2021, Charlotte, N.C.) has made several strides forward since viewing him last at the PG Underclass event in Fort Myers this past fall. Abner has cleaned his delivery up some, is not throwing with as much effort and the liveliness of his fastball is much greater. His fastball has heavy cutting action throughout the ride to the plate. His fastball ranged from 87-89 mph while bumping 90 mph once and maintaining that range well. Abner lands slightly closed when he comes down the mound but the arm works well with plenty of arm strength and a full arm stroke. He gets natural cutting action on the baseball making it very hard for hitters to barrel his pitches up. He mixed in a 1-to-7 curveball that he showed some feel for and was not needed often as he more than often blew fastaballs by opposing hitters. The lefthander has a special arm in the 2021 class and countless college coaches were in attendance to see the 6-foot lefty take the mound.

Michael Braswell (2021, Mableton, Ga.) is an athletic 6-foot-1 righthander who can run his fastball up to 87 mph and live in the 85-87 mph for the entirety of his time on the mound. His athleticism is noticeable and has been throughout the summer as he has impressed as both a pitcher and a shortstop. Braswell has plenty of effort in his delivery but the arm works quickly and is explosive throughout while getting consistent mid- to upper-80s velocity out of his arm. Braswell creates a steep plane for the baseball and locates his three pitches well. One unique aspect of Braswell’s delivery is his ability to continue to locate his pitches while varying his windup speeds. His ability to mix three pitches for strikes, vary the tempo of his delivery, and having a lean and projectable frame make a good recipe for a big-time pitcher on the mound that will only continue to improve.

Brock Daniels (2021, Chesterfield, Mo.) has legitimate bat speed at his age and a controlled swing that makes hard, loud contact to the point of impact. Daniels has lots of balance to his stroke a very nice and clean swing all around. His first at-bat of the day resulted in a double that was ripped past an outreaching first baseman for a double down the line. The Missouri commit is a solid runner as he gets down the line well and would have likely stretched the double into a triple had the ball not gone into the first base bullpen. The leadoff hitter for the St. Louis Prospects is still young while having a very projectable frame. As he continues to get stronger, Daniels has a great chance to continue to improve his already raw hit tool.

Daniels’s teammate Mason Whiteside (2021, O’Fallon, Mo.) looked good at the plate as well on Monday afternoon as he has a unique swing that creates a lot of bat speed. Whiteside sets up with a very high hand set and an open stance. His big leg kick leads into his swing and is used for timing purposes. He tends to get out on his front foot at times but when letting the baseball travel and getting the barrel to the ball, the ball really jumps off of his barrel as it did Monday. In his first at-bat, Whiteside battled at the plate before knocking a triple deep to right-center field that left his barrel in a hurry. He later showed the ability to run by beating out an infield single running a 4.40-second home to first time.

The St. Louis Prospects may have not earned a win in the contest but Zachary McKinnis (2021, Kickapoo, Mo.) showed big-time projectability on the mound with the ability to spin a curveball with lots of feel. McKinnis hides the baseball through the back as he stays compact with his arm generating low-80s velocity and running his fastball up to 85 mph.  His frame is noticeably projectable as he stands at a lean and believable 6-foot-2, 175-pounds. The arm works and the delivery is easy with plenty of looseness and the ability to repeat it well. On top of being so projectable is his ability to throw a sharp curveball that will only continue to get better as he matures. The pitch is a low-70s breaking ball with tight spin and he can land it for strikes consistently at the knees or bury it when needed. McKinnis has a high ceiling on the mound and will only improve in due time.

Crafty lefty Eli Runyan (2021, Graham, Ala.) took the mound for the Atlanta Warriors while making a strong showing on the mound early on in the summer at the PG Sunshine Southeast Showcase. Runyan is a young framed lefthander with low-80s velocity that projects for more as he continues to grow and fill out. He threw to the daily pitch limit in the win while striking out eight batters against a talent-filled St. Louis Prospects. Runyan has a long arm action and plenty of quick-twitch to his delivery. The arm is also quick and he gets extended out in front and the ball is well located when repeated out of his extended arm slot. He also showed some ability at the plate as he bats leadoff for his team. In his first at-bat of the day, he put a loose swing to the baseball and ripped it back up the middle for a single. Runyan is an interesting follow and could be a legitimate two-way prospect moving forward.

The son of a former Major Leaguer and multiple Gold Glove winner, Andruw Jones (2022, Suwanee, Ga.) put his outstanding outfield play on display in 643’s win. Making not just one or two diving plays in the outfield, but Jones showed off three diving plays to steal hits away from opposing batters. At the age of 14, there are not many players out there with more athleticism that what Jones possesses. The righthanded outfielder gets a good first step to the baseball and is able to use his good closing speed to track down baseballs well at his center field position.

In a start that was interrupted by a weather delay, Jaylon Buckley (2021, Union, Miss.) showed some things to like including his mid- to upper-80s velocity. Buckley has a loose arm and a smaller frame with plenty of physical strength present on his build. Buckley ran his fastball up to 88 mph with some command issues but when on time with his arm he was able to locate both of his pitches. One noticeable aspect of his delivery is the amount of extension he gets from his 5-foot-8 frame. He can get up to 6.8 feet of extension while consistently generating 2+ mph of effective velocity to his pitches in doing so. For instance, when the fastball comes in to the hitter at 85 mph, it appears to the hitter as 87 mph. The righthander from Mississippi has some tools to work with on the mound and with some refining and continued maturity, he could be a big-time arm in the 2021 class.

Possibly the top bat seen by this scout on Monday was Maryland commit Ian Petrutz (2021, West Deptford, N.J.). The lefthanded hitter is so relaxed in the box and the swing is pure with lots of bat speed and potential power present each time he comes to the plate. All three of his hits on this day resulted in singles, but the results are going to continue to come the way Petrutz swings the bat. His stance is open and the approach is as confident as you are going to find from a 15 year old hitter. The lefthanded hitting outfielder has extremely quick hands that are direct to the baseball and help create the bat speed mentioned. Petrutz looks to punish the baseball each time up to the plate and was effective in doing so in this viewing.

– Gregory Gerard. 


As per usual, Canes National put on a full display of their loaded crop of talent, starting with Rocco Reid (2021, Greenville, S.C.), who got the starting nod on the hill. With a very low-effort delivery and clean, repeatable mechanics, Reid sat around 83-86 mph with the fastball, occasionally touching 87. It proved to be a fastball-heavy mix for the Clemson commit on Monday, who stymied the opposition over three scoreless innings with five punchouts. He was capable of painting both the glove-side and arm-side corners to either batter and was seldom seen leaving anything over the middle of the plate. He also mixed in a changeup, showing good feel to locate it down in the zone for strikes. Reid, the top lefty, and fifth-ranked player overall, in the South Carolina class, also controls the running game well, keeping baserunners at bay with a nice pickoff move.

Daniel Corona (2021, Brooklyn, N.Y.) came on in relief of Reid and showcased some electric stuff. He possesses a very quick arm with loose and fluid action and was running the radar gun up to 88-91 mph. Super athletic and projectable, Corona appeared to exert minimal effort while reaching such high velocity. The fastball has a good deal of arm-side run to it, and the curveball, disguised superbly with almost identical arm speed and from the same slot, has nasty vertical break that drew some whiffs and continued to fool batters even when thrown in succession. It was a short one-inning look at the Wake Forest commit, but the sky-high potential could be seen immediately. He is a clear two-way threat, ranked second among shortstops in the New York class, and it is a little scary to imagine how good he could become in the next few years.

Canes National is not without its impressive hitters, either, highlighted today by Ryan Clifford (2022, Raleigh, N.C.) and Payton Green (2021, Cary, N.C.).

Clifford is a strong and athletic center fielder, physically advanced for this age group, and that’s not to mention that he is playing up a level. The lefthanded three-hole hitter seeks to take the ball up the middle or to the opposite, seen in the first inning where he laced an RBI double to left with an inside out swing. For reasons unbeknownst, the opposition shifted him as if he were a pull-happy hitter in the next at bat, but he again made strong contact to the opposite field, which looks to be a repeatable trait. The Raleigh native displays a patient approach at the plate and looks as if he could develop some legitimate pop sooner rather than later. He patrolled centerfield comfortably, ranging in to make a sliding grab look easier than it probably was. Clifford’s ceiling is ridiculously high, and in the second game of a split doubleheader at LakePoint, he recorded 98 mph exit velocities on consecutive batted balls.

Green has a quiet stance that allows him to stay on time at the plate, and he really got the barrel out front to mash a double in his first at bat. An East Carolina commit, he makes things happen on the basepaths with his speed, stealing third and forcing a wild throw that allowed to trot home. While listed as a primary second baseman, ranked second there in the North Carolina class, he can handle either middle infield position, manning shortstop today and saving a run with a backhand stab on a dive.

Despite the wealth of talented players on the Canes, they were toppled by a plucky Florida Grinders squad in what should be considered one of the upsets of the tournament thus far. This surprise result was spearheaded by John Holl (2021, Sanford, Fla.) who notched three hits and two RBIs. This included a clutch go-ahead single in the sixth inning where he turned on 90 mph heat with ease. The bat speed, above average, was also evident when it helped him lead off the game with a triple to the pull side. The Florida International commit has some wheels around the bases and this speed plays in center field, too, where he shows good range. A tall and athletic type, Holl, the fifth-ranked outfielder in the Florida class, projects nicely and the contact skills displayed today are very encouraging.

Brody Drost (2020, Sulphur, La.) is one of the more complete hitters seen by this scout in the tournament thus far. A patient hitter who controls the zone well, Drost swings with intent when he gets his pitch, and levied some massive damage against the opposition Monday with an inside-the-park home run and a triple. The round-tripper in particular stood out, a 368-foot missile that one-hopped the center field wall and left the bat at 91 mph. The LSU commit flashed nice speed in both instances, probably advancing one base further than most players would have in the same scenarios. The number one overall player in the Louisiana class, Drost has a great feel for the barrel and gets good extension in his swing. He is also a talented arm, throwing 87 mph in the past, and will warrant some additional attention on the hill in the future.

Garrett Horn (2021, Kernersville, N.C.) was 83-87 mph from the left side for Dirtbags Haynes and proved difficult for hitters to square up. He did struggle to throw strikes at times, once walking three batters in a row. Still, it was positive to see him escape this jam unscathed, striking out the next two hitters before inducing a groundout. He settled in to find a rhythm thereafter, more consistently getting ahead and avoiding lengthy and tedious innings. He relied very heavily on the fastball, as hitters couldn’t catch up, and didn’t offer a good look at the breaker. Should he develop a quality one, he could have some interesting potential based on the effectiveness and velocity of the fastball.

Over at Cartersville Baseball Complex, Cylis Cox (2021, Staunton, Ill.) toed the rubber for the St. Louis Prospects Scout team. He was reasonably impressive in a short viewing, topping out at 84 from the left side and offering some deception with a slight element of crossfire to his delivery. This resulted in some quick outs via weak contact, and he mixed in a 12-to-6 curveball infrequently that had a decent amount of drop to it. Cox, the top lefty in the Illinois class, repeated his mechanics well today, leading to good control with just one walk, and finished with four scoreless, hitless innings.

– Cameron Hines



Rene Lastres (2021, Hialeah Gardens, Fla.) had a strong morning at the plate in Elite Squad 15u National’s win. Lastres was 2-for-2 with a pair of hard-hit balls during the game, and he finished with four RBI on the day. Lastres’ first hit of the day was a triple to dead center field that left his bat at 88 mph. Lastres runs well, and he was able to leg out the triple pretty easily. In his second at-bat, Lastres jumped on a fastball and sent it deep over the wall in left. Lastres is a physical kid standing at 6-foot-1, 185-pounds, and he has good strength and bat speed for a rising sophomore. The uncommitted primary catcher will be a hot commodity in what is becoming a loaded 2021 class.

Another bat that put on an impressive display of power on Monday was Alex Ulloa (2021, Cutler Bay, Fla.). Ulloa was 1-for-2 at the plate with a no-doubt home run over the wall in left field. Ulloa’s shot was impressive to say the least, and the display of power caught the attention of everyone in attendance. The ball left Ulloa’s bat at 91 mph, and traveled an impressive 338 feet. Ulloa is committed to Miami, and the 5-foot-11, 170-pound shortstop gets the most out of his frame at the plate. Ulloa plays the game with passion and intent, and it will be exciting to follow him as his career goes on.

Another name to watch for is Kobe Andrade (2020, Corpus Christi, Texas) of the Banditos Scout Team 15u. Andrade was 3-for-6 in two games on the day, highlighted by a 2-for-3 day in the afternoon contest. Andrade has great speed on the bases, and it also is on display when he is patrolling center field. Andrade covers a lot of ground in the outfield, and is a sure handed option for any college team willing to take a chance. Andrade’s two hits this afternoon were a hustle double and an infield single where he flew down the line. Andrade plays the game hard, and he is a 2020 outfielder to keep an eye on over the next two years.

Andrade wasn't the only player to show off good wheels in the outfield on Monday as Georgia Roadrunners 15u leadoff man Bryant Herring (2021, Hampton, Ga.) also put on a great display. Herring 2-for-3 at the top of the order, collecting two RBI and three stolen bases. Herring was electric on the base paths, and he also played a solid center field. Standing at 5-foot-7, 140-pounds, Herring knows his strength is on the run and he plays to his strengths well. Herring is a patient hitter, and his quick and short swing goes direct to the point of contact. Herring is also an uncommitted outfielder.

On the mound, Colby Holcombe (2021, Florence, Ala.) showed some very projectable skills in his two innings of work. Holcombe worked up to 88 with a heavy fastball on Monday, and he was also able to show feel for a good slider in the mid-70s. Holcombe is a physical kid standing at 6-foot-6, 230-pounds, and he gets the most out of a repeatable lower half. Holcombe has quick arm action, and the entire package projects well as he continues to mature and develop. Holcombe creates good plane with his fastball, and it was able to really sneak up on hitters throughout his outing.

– Nate Schweers
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