2021 WWBA World Championship Live Looks

Back at the beginning of October I went to the WWBA World Championships to see some of the top prep prospects in North America. I saw a lot of games, took a lot of notes, and captured so much video. Anyway, this is long overdue but I finally finished cutting video and refined my findings into this nice, fat live looks post. This is split into three sections; a table of high follows that caught my eye at Jupiter, notes on the prep hitters that are currently on our draft board, and notes on the prep pitchers that are currently on our draft board. Consider this a jumping off point if you are new to these names, or supplemental information if you are familiar with the prep class in the 2022 draft.

A quick note: Due to the nature of an event like WWBA, where there are upwards of 14 games going on at once on a spring training backfield complex, I did the best I could to see as many guys as I could—rather than following specific teams. This means that for the hitters I have written about, I may have seen only a handful of plate appearances, whereas for pitchers written up I typically have seen 100% of the innings they threw in Jupiter. So just keep in mind that the confidence interval is going to be higher for pitchers than hitters in this piece. Enjoy!


2022 High Follows

Player

Hometown

Commitment

Demonstrated Traits

RHP Javier Santos

Albany (GA)

NW FL State College

Live Arm, Fastball, Feel for Slider

3B/SS Cameron Decker

Evansville (IN)

UCF

Power, Performance, Physicality

RHP/C Tony Pluta

Palatine (IL)

Arizona

High Fastball and Breaking Ball Spin Rates, Live Arm, Creates Low VAA

RHP Matthew Matthijs

Greenville (NC)

North Carolina

Three Pitch Mix (FB/SL/CB), Projectable Frame, Creates Low VAA

RHP AJ Izzi

Plainfield (IL)

Wichita State

Live Arm, Fastball, Projectable Frame

1B/3B/OF Luke Adams

Hinsdale (IL)

Michigan State

Power with Projectable Frame, Athleticism

C/OF Grant Jay

Semmes (AL)

Dallas Baptist

Advanced Hitter

SS/2B Justin Vossos

Missouri City (TX)

Texas A&M

Advanced Hitter

SS/2B Travis Saunders

Copperas Cove (TX)

Texas Tech

Premium Defense Up the Middle

RHP Austin Williamson

Sherill’s Ford (NC)

South Carolina

Command, Breaker Feel, Changeup Flashes, Maintains Velo

RHP/1B Hunter Sloop

Concord (NC)

Tennessee

Huge Frame, Live Arm, Fastball, Breaker Feel

LHP Dakota Stone

Jacksonville (FL)

Jacksonville

Maintains Velo, Advanced Breaker Feel, Physicality

2B/RHP Gabriel Nard

Shaker Heights (OH)

Duke

Advanced Hitter, Physicality

RHP/1B Drew Lafferty

South Park (PA)

Kentucky

Two Way Potential, Power Bat, Three Pitch Mix (FB/CH/CB)

LHP/1B Caleb Clark

Orilla (ON, Canada)

Nebraska

Performance, Creates Tough Angle, Slider and Changeup Feel

RHP Aidan Weaver

Jamison (PA)

Duke

Big Projectable Frame, Lateral Slider

RHP/3B Isaiah Lowe

Shelby (NC)

Wake Forest

Creates Low VAA, Strong Lower Half, Upper Body Projection, Slider Feel

RHP Christian Foutch

Littleton (CO)

Arkansas

Ease of Operation, Attacks with Fastball, Changeup Feel, Projectable Frame


2022 Hitters On Our Board

Druw Jones, CF, Suwanee (GA), Committed to Vanderbilt

Dates Seen: 10/7, 10/10

Druw Jones certainly didn't have his best performance at the plate during the WWBA Championships, but take a look past the numbers and there's a lot to love. Jones showed a trained eye, quick hands, and a bat that motors through the zone. He also made some hard contact--albeit groundball contact--towards the end of the tournament. Jones has a lean, projectable frame to dream on, with off the charts athleticism and defensive ability in center. With a strong performance track record in showcases, there's no reason to fret about this bonafide first round talent.

Termarr Johnson, SS/2B, Atlanta (GA), Uncommitted

Dates Seen: 10/7, 10/8

Power was light at the WWBA Championships, and even top end offensive prospects like Termarr Johnson weren't exceptions to that trend. However, that isn't to say that there wasn't anything positive gleaned from his play during the tournament. Johnson showed fluid motion and quick actions at shortstop, as well as his ability to cover balls well off the plate in two strike counts. This is still the most potent combination of hit and power amongst all preps in this 2022 draft class, and the defensive performance from a player that evaluators may think is bound for the keystone is encouraging.

Cole Young, SS, Wexford (PA), Committed to Duke

Dates Seen: 10/7, 10/8, 10/9

Cole Young had a solid tournament as the leadoff hitter on a stacked Canes National team. Young has a fairly unique crouched stance at the plate, but his quick trigger and whippy bat through the zone give him an ability to put a good swing on about anything in the zone. He's a very twitchy athlete with plus speed that should develop into a good defensive shortstop. Strong overall player that's looking to showcase more power leading into the draft.

Cam Collier, 3B, Austell (GA), Committed to Louisville

Dates Seen: 10/7, 10/8, 10/10

Cam Collier had a productive week in Jupiter, impressing on the mound and in the batter’s box. As a hitter, Collier is highly physical with unique swing mechanics--low hands with a long inward leg kick that strides out, generating the forward momentum that gives Collier his substantial raw power from the left side. On the mound, Collier touched 94 in a relief appearance and flashed a breaker and changeup, showcasing the arm that plays big at his natural position of third base.

Tommy Specht, OF, Dubuque (IA), Committed to Kentucky

Dates Seen: 10/7, 10/10

Tommy Specht hit the ground running--figuratively and literally--in Jupiter for the Cincinnati Reds Scout Team, as he consistently peppered line drives to the outfield and ran wild on the basepaths. Specht’s lower half, consisting of a toe tap and not much else, is as quiet as his barrel is explosive through the zone. He possesses a very potent combination of speed and raw power, and has room on his frame to get even stronger. An exciting outfield prospect with a big arrow pointing upwards amongst prep outfielders.

Gavin Guidry, SS, Lake Charles (LA), Committed to LSU

Dates Seen: 10/7, 10/9

Gavin Guidry's WWBA performance is a prime example of scouting what you see, not what you read. He went 0-fer for the entire tournament, which obviously isn’t great. But the quick footed shortstop put together good at bats and was driving the ball to his pull-side with backspin; something you like to see from a young player that is expected to get stronger and fill out their frame. How Guidry's frame develops is key to those long fly outs becoming doubles and home runs, but he's got the speed and arm strength to play every day at short.

Adonys Guzman, C, Valley Cottage (NY), Committed to Boston College

Dates Seen: 10/7, 10/8

Adonys Guzman had an impressive week in Jupiter as the starting catcher for the talent-laden MLB Breakthrough Series team, batting .400 with a homer in 17 PAs at the Worlds. Guzman has good bat speed w/ advanced feel for the barrel, and is one of the top catch and throw prospects in the 2022 draft class. There is some room for growth with identifying spin, but Guzman's raw strength gets into games on offense and defense, and he possesses the physicality and thick build to withstand the physical demands of the catcher’s position.

Eli Serrano, OF, Fuquay-Varina (NC), Committed to NC State

Dates Seen: 10/7, 10/8, 10/9

Eli Serrano’s body is one of the most projectable in the class, with a high waist and tons of room to add muscle on a 6-5, 195 lb. frame. He hits for impressive power now, utilizing strong upper body rotation and bat speed to lift the ball with force, and is capable of battling to get to his pitch. Serrano has very good straight line speed for his size and some twitchiness, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility to play him in the outfield long term. 

Blake Cyr, MIF, Windemere (FL), Committed to Miami (FL)

Dates Seen: 10/7, 10/10

Blake Cyr showed off his hitting chops at Jupiter this past October, getting on base at a .400 clip and adding a home run for good measure. Cyr has quick hands and has a knack for finding the barrel, which allowed him to battle in two strike counts and put good swings on balls he could drive. There's some power that could be unlocked by using his upper body more in his swing, but he does have some present pull-side power by consistently attacking the ball out in front. Cyr is a good runner and a twitchy athlete that's capable of playing up the middle, and could start to sneak up draft boards this spring.

Max Martin, SS, Edgewater Park (NJ), Committed to Rutgers

Dates Seen - 10/7, 10/9

Gavin Guidry is the big name on Knights Knation, but fellow middle infielder Max Martin had evaluators buzzing by the end of the tournament. Martin has strong wrists and plus bat speed, and had some of the hardest contact I saw in Jupiter. Additionally, the pitchers he got hits off included AJ Izzi and David Lally, guys with big stuff and prospect pedigree. Martin is a high rising prep bat in the upcoming class, and a top follow for scouts with southern New Jersey in their purview.

Tucker Toman, 3B/SS, Columbia (SC), Committed to LSU

Dates Seen: 10/7, 10/10

Tucker Toman is a lean, high-waisted switch hitting infielder that has serious power potential. Twitchy and strong, he can take the time he needs to identify pitches and still catch the ball out in front with force. Toman did a good job elevating the ball from the left side all weekend, and whatever he adds from the right side is icing on the cake. As an infielder, Toman has average speed and a good arm from the left side of the diamond, with his frame and twitchiness working in his favor towards sticking at shortstop. Part of a stacked 2022 recruiting class for LSU, and trending up into first/second round consideration on draft boards.


2022 Pitchers On Our Board


Hayden Murphy, RHP/3B/SS, Chula (GA), Committed To Auburn

Date Seen: 10/8

Hayden Murphy had a strong performance in a Friday afternoon start for Team Elite/Braves Scout Team, throwing 4.2 scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. He works from a three quarters armslot and generates great extension, really drives off his back leg. While there is effort to his velo, Murphy keeps his head on target through release. Sat in the low 90s throughout his outing and touched 94 with a four seam fastball that had generic shape but lots of live through good spin rates, and flashed some above average carry when Murphy got on top of it. Leaned on a low 80s changeup that got plenty of whiffs, with upwards of 20 inches of armside run. Advanced feel and shape for it as a prep. Mixed in a low to mid 80s slider that has good shape but is limited movement wise by low spin rates at present. Projectable arm with room to grow into more velocity.

Eli Jerzembeck, RHP, Charlotte (NC), Committed to South Carolina

Date Seen: 10/7

Eli Jerzembeck threw well on Thursday in a matchup with fellow right handed prospect arm Christian Foutch. He held the San Diego Scout Team to two runs in six innings of work, and struck out ten batters. He sat 89-92 with his four seamer, touching 93 with good carry and some natural cutting action. The go-to secondary is a mid to high 70s curveball with strong shape and vertical depth, which got a lot of whiffs and flashed plus in this outing. He showed a changeup in the low 80s that needs some work, but the ability to spin a breaking ball gives him some choices in how to develop a third pitch. Mechanically, he's a tall-and-fall righty with a quirky feature where he brings his hands behind his head before firing his quick arm from a three quarters slot. Large, high waisted with room to add muscle--particularly in the lower half.

Levi Huesman, LHP, Hanover (VA), Committed to Coastal Carolina

Date Seen: 10/8

Huesman’s performance against the Dallas Tigers--a seven inning completo with 17 strikeouts and no runs allowed--was the talk of the tournament. He worked off a low 90s fastball that touched 95, getting whiffs up in the zone and commanding it to both sides of the plate. Main out pitch was a mid 70s curveball that he landed on the gloveside black at the knees all outing long, with hitters from both sides of the plate whiffing on it consistently. Sprinkled in a low 80s changeup that had strong depth and flashed above average a few times, though he lost the release points at times and elevated it to right handed hitters. Works from a lower three quarter armslot, with plus arm speed and has some room left to add muscle on a 6-0, 185 lb. frame. While there is effort to his velo, he repeated his delivery consistently and had strong command of his arsenal throughout this outing.

Jurrangelo Cijntje, BHP, Pembroke Pines (FL), Committed to Mississippi State

Date Seen: 10/7

Jurrangelo Cijntje is a unicorn, an ambidextrous pitcher with serious stuff from the right side. In his Thursday evening start against Baseball Northwest, he sat 90-94 MPH with a lively, spin efficient four seam fastball from the right side that touched 95, and paired it with a high 70s breaking ball with big lateral break and plus potential. Showed a right handed changeup at 81 vs a switch hitter that had good armside run with nascent feel on the release point. From the left side, the fastball was in the mid 80s and the breaker was in the low 70s with big sweeping movement. Conventional wisdom suggests that Cjintje will scrap his left handed arsenal in the future and develop strictly as a righty, but with big extension and a lower three quarters arm slot from both sides, he creates uncomfortable ABs and could still be effective with below average velocity as a southpaw. He's on the shorter side at 5-11, but should still add some muscle on a lean, high waisted 167 lb. frame.

Jaden Noot, RHP/1B, Oak Park (CA), Committed to LSU

Date Seen: 10/7

Jaden Noot took the ball for MLB Breakthrough Series in the opening game of their pool vs. Slammers Baseball, and fired four scoreless innings with eight strikeouts. Noot looks every bit the part of a major league starter, at 6'4" 235 lbs. with a thick lower half. His arm action is clean with plus speed, and was able to get to his velocity easy in the first two innings of his start. He showed more effort in subsequent innings to maintain that velocity, but stayed balanced and repeated his delivery while keeping his head on target through release. Noot's fastball sat in the low 90s with plenty of life and touched 95. He worked off of a low 80s slider with good sweeping movement and a more vertical mid 70s curveball with a big hook, mixing in a change with some armside run at 81-82 that he showed good feel for.

Owen Murphy, 3B/RHP, Riverside (IL), Committed to Notre Dame

Date Seen: 10/8

Owen Murphy started Friday's game for Team Elite at third base, then took the ball in relief of Hayden Murphy (no relation) and did not disappoint. He sat in the low 90s with a fastball that topped out at 94, with a max spin rate in excess of 2600 RPMs and max induced vertical break (IVB) of 21 inches. He paired that up with a high spin slider in the 78-82 MPH range that featured strong depth and sharp bite. Showed a firm change at 84 with late movement late in outing. True two way player that brings athleticism to the mound with a drop and drive delivery that helps him stay on top of his pitches and maintain a low release point. Shows intent and bulldog mentality with each pitch, and creates deception with his quick and shortened arm action.

David Lally, RHP, Grand Blanc (MI), Committted to Notre Dame

Date Seen: 10/7

David Lally opened the tournament for the Cincinnati Reds Scout Team, and was able to battle his command and put together three scoreless innings in his start. Big projectable 6-4, 210 lb. frame, has an uptempo delivery and works from a low three quarters slot. Short arm action creates deception that, in conjunction with the lower arm slot, makes for uncomfortable at bats vs. right handed hitters. Fastball sat at 89-93 MPH and touched 94 with some late cutting action, worked mostly off a power curve at 79-80 with sharp downer movement. Sprinkled in a changeup at 82-84 that showed some promise, but also was hard to sell the arm when he dropped it on a few occasions.

Bradley Hodges, LHP, Fleming Island (FL), Committed to Virginia

Date Seen: 10/7

Bradley Hodges came on in relief of Jurrangelo Cjintje on Thursday night and shut down opposing hitters from Baseball Northwest, striking out seven batters in three perfect innings of work. His trebuchet-esque overhead arm slot really helps him carry a fastball that sat 88-90 MPH, as well as generate strong vertical depth on a mid 70s slider and an arcing low 70s curve. Hodges is a good athlete with a repeatable delivery that generates big downmound extention, and should be able to add more upper body strength on a high waisted 6-1, 180 lb. frame.