2021 Prep Class: Big Arms, Georgia Athletes Show Out Early
With states opening up and restrictions being lifted, major league organizations and college programs are back on track for draft evaluation. It’s still not back to total normalcy, because many were relegated to watching the most recent showcase by a live video feed, but players were on a field showing their skills. That’s a refreshing sight for evaluators.
That showcase was the Perfect Game National Showcase held June 17-21 in Hoover, Alabama. It marks the first evaluation event for the 2021 prep class as the primary draft class. If those several days are an indication, it should be an exciting class to follow for the next year, especially within the state of Georgia.
Just north of the state is the home of the showcase’s top performer, Chase Burns. The right-hander out of Tennessee, and a Vols commit, hit 99 mph and sat mid-to-upper-90s. He mixed in impressive sliders and changeups. He has huge present strength from a 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame. This is what a top prep arm looks like.
Just south of Georgia is the home of right-hander Andrew Painter. The Florida commit was already known as one the top 2021 prep arms and further solidified it by hitting 96 and showing three solid pitches. He’s already 6-foot-7, 225 pounds, and will only get stronger.
Another 6-foot-4 right-hander is Christian Little, considered one of the top prep arms for the class. The Missouri native and Vanderbilt commit hit 95 and has more than enough for a starter’s arsenal. Maddux Bruns is a left-hander from Alabama who hit 97, while Washington native Max Debiec and New Jersey native Chase Petty also touched 97.
The class has its share of ultra-talented arms with big velo. Sixteen pitchers hit 95 mph or higher.
On the other side, there was plenty to like from position players, especially those within easy driving distance of many Braves fans.
Michael Braswell is a known name for the 2021 class as a toolsy shortstop with the prototypical size/athleticism combination scouts love to see at that age. From Mableton, Georgia, and a South Carolina commit, Braswell has solid arm strength for the left side, smooth, quick actions, and power potential at the plate with great bat speed and lift. He will likely be a high draft choice for an organization that covets high-ceiling prep talent.
Kristian Campbell is another tooled-up shortstop from Georgia (Marietta) and a Georgia Tech commit. He needs to continue to get stronger, but the projection is in the frame, and he has present bat speed and lift. It may take a little longer, but there’s solid power/speed potential in Campbell.
After Campbell, the state of Georgia also boasts high-level prep shortstops Ryan Spikes and Rob Gordon. Both showed well at the showcase. In front of all of them is potential No. 1 overall pick Brady House, a big shortstop from Winder-Barrow High School. House didn’t participate in the showcase, but he has off-the-charts bat speed and power potential dating back through his entire prep career, and he could very likely be the first prep player chosen next June.
Catcher Harry Ford is an intriguing name to remember. From Kennesaw and a Georgia Tech commit, Ford is a tooled-up backstop with more athleticism than you typically see from the position. He runs an absurd 60 time for a catcher and has explosive actions behind the plate and in the box, giving him the total package as a solid receiver with feel and athleticism, a great arm, and power potential with the bat.
The rest of the names are some that stood out to me over the course of watching the showcase video and previous player video. It’s by no means a complete list. I compiled a lot of notes that aren’t even published here that will be expanded upon over the course of the next year with in-person looks and sources. I tend to focus on local (GA, SC) players because I will see them more often, but any player who stands out to me gets a note either now or in the future.
Other notable Georgia prep names to remember from the showcase:
OF Thaddeus Ector (Tyrone, South Carolina commit) - Outstanding athlete; power/speed potential; switch hitter with feel on both sides; present power in barrel; fluid defender and good arm.
OF Christian Smith (Atlanta, Vanderbilt) - Lean, projectable athlete; it’s all about what he can become; lengthy frame but excellent runner.
SS/3B David Bishop (Marietta, TCU) - Lengthy frame with some projection; smooth swing with slight lift and good bat speed; power potential; good feet and average arm.
OF Jquann Smith (Statesboro, Uncommitted) - Fastest runner in class; 6.2 60 is crazy fast; outstanding athlete with lean frame; quick bat; contact approach.
RHP Logan McGuire (Acworth, Georgia Tech) - Good athlete on mound; quick arm; up to 94 with downhill plane; excellent changeup; flashes tight slider.
South Carolina names to remember from showcase:
RHP Carter Daniels (Columbia, Georgia Tech) - Up to 95; outstanding athlete on mound.
RHP Daniel Brooks (Mount Pleasant, College of Charleston) - Huge height/length at 6-foot-8; typical syncing concerns for size; up to 93 with riding life; makings of solid curve with downward action.
SS/2B Tyler Christmas (Summerville, Duke) - Great athlete with speed; run-first profile with bat-to-ball ability.
Others who stood out to me:
OF Braden Montgomery (Mississippi native, Stanford) - Premium athlete; power/speed potential; smooth, repeatable LH swing with great bat speed; big arm strength and rangy; up to 93 on mound.
LHP Drew Gray (Illinois native, Arkansas) - Huge LH projection; up to 93 with huge ride and extension; tight slider bores in on RH from tough angle; changeup has good arm action with late fade and present feel.
OF Victor Rodriguez (Florida native, Uncommitted) - Classic RF profile with size/power/arm strength; maybe best raw power in class; huge present strength and pop in barrel; easy massive bat speed; 105 exit velo; fluid actions in RF with big arm strength.
OF Daylen Lile (Kentucky native, Louisville) - Special bat-to-ball ability; natural feel for the barrel; manipulates his LH swing effectively to find the barrel; smooth actions; good athlete.