Nationals Arm Race

After a tumultuous college career, where will hess get drafted?
Photo via 247sports.

Its never too early to think about draft prospects.  In this case, the first cut of this post was saved in draft post format in June 2017.  Why so early?  Because that’s when we started to see collegiate “all-american” lists come out, and there’s a Freshman all-american designation for players who generally are going to be drafted in the 2019 draft.

We continually augment this post over the course of years and many posts, finally publishing just before the 2019 draft.  Today, 6/3/19, the day of the 2019 draft, we finally publish.

The College players are mostly drawn from my 2015 Local High School draft coverage, listing guys who were HS seniors in 2015 who went to 3-year programs and who are now draft eligible.  From that time frame, here’s the 2015 pre-season list and then the Post-Draft/post-signing coverage from 2015.  Pop-up guys plus non-MD/VA native players playing at MD/VA colleges are added as they become serious draft prospects.

Major Local College Draft Prospects for 2019

• Zack Hess, RHP from LSU via Liberty Christian Academy.  was draft-eligible soph in 2018, back to school.  Projecting as 2nd rounder but needs solid 2019.  #46 on d1baseball’s top 50 list Dec18
• Jake Agnos, LHP from ECU by way of Battlefield HS.  3.22 ERA in 10 mid-week/Sunday starts and 16 games overall.  #54 on d1baseball’s early 2019 list.  ECU’s friday night starter all year, finished with an 8-inning dominant regional performance and may get super regional appearance if ECU advances.
• Tyler Blohm, LHP from UMaryland by way of Spalding HS.  2017 Freshman all-american. #40 on d1baseball’s early 2019 list.
• Garrett Stallings, RHP from Tennessee by way of Grassfield HS in Chesapeake.  20 games, 8 starts as a freshman.  Struggled in the CWS regional, getting battered by Duke en route to a loss.
• Conor Grammes, 3B/RHP from Xavier by way of McLean HS.  Shot up to #30 o d1baseball’s Dec 18 top 50 list.
• Noah Song, Sr. RHP from Navy by way of Claremont, CA.  Has really shot-up on draft boards to be a 1st-2nd rounder with ridiculous K/9 rates, but what kind of Navy commitment does he have?
• Nick Morreale, RHP from Georgetown.  #85 on d1baseball’s Sept 2018 list.  Mentioned by Jim Callis by name as a DC metro talent to watch for.

Lesser Local College draft eligibles w/ Local Ties

• Paul Witt, SS from VMI.  d1baseball early 2019 list
• Nathan Eaton, RHP from VCU.  d1baseball early 2019 list
• Mac McCarty, RHP (reliever) from VCU: 2nd team pre-season All American from Collegiate Baseball
• Zach Biggers, 2B from Navy: 2nd team pre-season All American from Collegiate Baseball
• John Wilson, LHP for ODU: 2017 Freshman all-american.
• Kevin Kelly, RHP from JMU by way of Paul VI.  2017 Freshman all-american.
• Vinnie Pasquantino, a 1B from ODU by way of James River HS (Richmond); 2017 Freshman all-american.
• Spencer Horwitz, a C/1B from Radford by way of St. Paul HS in Timonium, MD:  2017 Freshman all-american.
• Andre Lipcius: 1B from Tennessee by way of Lafayette HS in Williamsburg, VA.  2017 Freshman all-american, starter/cleanup hitter for U-Tenn at regionals
• Brandon Raquet, OF from W&M.  2017 Freshman all-american.  Brother of Nats 2017 3rd rounder Nick Raquet.
• Kyle Battle, OF from ODU by way of Glen Allen.  2017 Freshman all-american.
• Fox Semones, DH/RHP from JMU by way of Hylton.  2017 Freshman all-american.
• Jared DiCesare, 3B from George Mason by way of Chantilly HS.  Cape Code league 2018.
• Logan Driscoll C from George Mason by way of Lake Braddock HS.  Cape Code league 2018.  Mentioned by Jim Callis as a sleeper in the draft as a decent-hitting catcher in a thin position.
• Wade Strain, RHP from William & Mary by way of Lake Braddock HS.
• Tanner Morris, SS UVA; long time dominant prep player with decent college career.

DC/MD/VA Local Prep players for 2019

• Zach Agnos, RHP from Battlefield.  Brother of legendary local player and ECU starter Jake Agnos.   1st team all 6-A North Region 2018 as a junior.  NovaNine as a junior. early commit to ECU (where his brother goes).  1st team VHSL class 6 all-state in 2018 as Junior.  2nd team All-Met 2018 as junior.
• Brody Mack, 1B/LHP from Potomac.  2nd team all 5A North Region as a sophomore in 2017.  Cardinal District POTY as a Jr 2018.  NovaNine as a junior.  1st team VHSL class 5 all-state in 2018 as Junior.
• Carson Swank, SS from Riverside.  Dulles District POTY in 2019 as a junior.  Class 4 Region Co-player of the year in 2018 as a junior.  Diamond Elite summer team.  NovaNine as a junior.  Early Yale Commit.  All Met 1st team as junior in 2018
• Clark Klitenic, LHP from St. Albans (via Bethesda, MD).  IAC POTY, All-Met 1st team as a junior.  Committed to Duke.
• Tyler Demartino, Inf.  Evoshield Canes Prospect WWBA 2017 championship team.  PG Nationals 2018.  Early commit to West Virginia.  Canes Nat’l team WWBA 2018
• Cortland Lawson, SS/RHP from Paul VI in Fairfax (by way of Potomac Falls, VA). Evoshield Canes Prospect WWBA 2017 championship team, early commit to Tennessee.  At PG Nationals 2018.  Canes Nat’l team WWBA 2018
• Michael Bauma, INF from Sherwood HS.  All Met 1st team as junior in 2018.
• Ryan Terrents, SS Huntington HS.  All-Maryland State by PBR in 2018 as a junior.  Mid-Atlantic Red Sox summer team.  2nd team All-Met 2018 as junior.
• Brady Pearre, SS/3B from Poolesville HS.  Evoshield Canes Prospect WWBA 2017 championship team, early commit to  High Point.
• Lyle Miller-Green, RHP at Lake Braddock.  2nd-team all 6A North Region as a sophomore in 2017.  Early commit to Va Tech.   2nd team VHSL class 6 all-state in 2018 as Junior.
• Ben Vok, RHP from Sherwood (Olney): Montgomery County pitcher of the year as a Jr in 2018.
• Ethan Lipp, RHP from Madison.  1st team all 6-A North Region 2018 as a junior.  Evoshield Mid-Atlantic.
• Matt Howat, LHP from Madison.  1st team all 6-A North Region 2018 as a junior.  Marucci Stars summer team.
• Dylan Wilkinson, SS from Fairfax.  1st team Class 6 Occoquan all-region as a junior.  MVP Royals summer team.
• Magnus Ellerts, RHP from Woodbridge.   1st team Class 6 Occoquan all-region as a junior.
• Luke Burner, ? position from the Highland School (Warrenton): All VISAA-II state 2018.
• Nick Lockhart, RHP Woodgrove HS.  2018 All Region 4C selection.  Early Virginia Tech signing.
• Michael Tolson, RHP Stafford HS.  2018 All Region 5C selection.  2018 Commonwealth district POTY as junior.  ODU commit.
• Dylan Weber, LHP Dominion HS.  2nd team all Region 4C 2018 as junior.
• Thomas Keehn, SS DeMatha HS.  PG Nationals 2018, early commit to Duke.

Extended DC/MD/VA Prep players (outside DC Area) on the radar.

• Jamari Baylor, SS Benedictine HS (Glen Allen).  At PG Nationals 2018.  Top 100 d1baseball ranked player in VA.  Committed to JuCo.  VA Gatorade POTY 2019.
• Zack Beach, 1B/DH from Atlee HS in Mechanicsburg.   2nd team all 5A North Region as a sophomore in 2017.  Early commit to Coastal Carolina.
• Jamison Covey, RHP from Colonial Richardson HS in Preston MD.  Early commit to Ole Miss.  On the stacked East Coast Sox Select WWBA 17 team.
• Griffen Agee, 1b/LHP from Jefferson Forest HS in Forest (Lynchburg), VA.  Early commit to UVA.  Evoshield Canes Prospect WWBA 2017 championship team.  PG Nationals 2018.  Canes Nat’l team WWBA 2018
• Marcus Lee Sang, OF from Northern HS in Olney, MD.  2018 Area Code Games
• Geo Rivera, RHP Lafayette HS in Williamsburg.  2018 Area code games.
• Jimmy Starnes,  RHP IMG Academy (by way of Richmond VA).  PG Nationals 2018, early commit to West Virginia.
• Casey Greene, 3B/RHP from Benedictine HS in Chesterfield, VA.  Evoshield Canes Prospect WWBA 2017 championship team.  Early commit to Coastal Carolina.  Canes Nat’l team WWBA 2018
• Liam Deegan, 3B from Mils Godwin  HS in Richmond.  Early commit to UVA, top prospect PBF 2018.  At PG Nationals 2018.
• Carson Jones, LHP from Deep Run HS.  Early commit to UVA, top prospect PBF 2018.
• Reece Early, of/RHP from Gerstell Academy in Reistertown, MD.  Evoshield Canes Prospect WWBA 2017 championship team.
• Drew Harlow, SS/RHP from Halifax County HS in Halifax, VA.  Evoshield Canes Prospect WWBA 2017 championship team.
• Jacob Williams, 1B from Harrisonburg HS.  2nd team all 4A West Region as a sophomore in 2017.
• Austin Custer, SS/RHP from Bassett HS in Fieldale, VA.  2nd team all 4A West Region as a sophomore in 2017.  Dirtbags summer team.
• Ricky Jones, OF/CF from Hopewell HS.  1st team all 3A West as a sophomore in 2017.  1st team VHSL Class 3 all-state 2018 as junior.
• Dylan Young, RHP from Chesapeake-AA.  All Anne-Arundel county in 2017 as sophomore.
• Garrett Stanard, 2B from Arundel HS.  All Anne-Arundel county in 2017 as sophomore.
• Justin Starke C from Prince George HS.  2nd team VHSL All state 5A as sophomore in 2017.  2nd Team All-Richmond 2017 as sophomore.  Early commit to VMI.
• Bryce Frederick, SS Dulaney HS.  All-Maryland State by PBR in 2018 as a junior.
• Buck Forbes, RHP for Prince George HS.  Pitched 1-hit shutout in 2018 state title game as junior.  1st team VHSL class 5 all-state in 2018 as Junior.
• Andrew Potojecki, RHP for Chatham HS.  1st team VHSL All State Class 2 2018 as a junior.  Dirtbags  WWBA 2018 team, early commit to Longwood.
• Justin Lewis, 1B for Virginia HS.  1st team VHSL All State Class 2 2018 as a junior.
• Pell Collins, 2B for LCA.  1st team VHSK All State Class 4 2018 as a junior.
• Emmanuel Johnson, OF for LCA.    1st team VHSK All State Class 4 2018 as a junior.
• Brooks Mazey, 2B Deep Run HS. 1st team VHSL class 5 all-state in 2018 as Junior.
• Ahmaad Goldson, Util Menchville HS.  1st team VHSL class 5 all-state in 2018 as Junior.
• Ethan Iannuzzi, OF Cosby.   1st team VHSL class 6 all-state in 2018 as Junior.
• Zane Eggleston, RHP Manchester.  2nd team VHSL class 6 all-state in 2018 as Junior.
• Tanner Barrs, RHP Abingdon HS.  1st team VHSL Class 3 all-state 2018 as junior.

Sources used

• Collegiate Baseball All-America freshman team for 2017 grabbing VA-tied names
• Local HS draft-prospects to keep an eye in for the 2016 draft, my own post here, capturing big-time names who went to 4-year schools.
• All-player lists from 2017 for prep areas in DC/MD/VA, looking for sophomores of note.  See this link for Virginia lists at NovaBaseballMagazine.com.
• National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) 2017 Freshman All-American Team
• 2017 All Anne-Arundal county team looking for Sophomores.
• 2017 VHSL all-state teams, looking for sophomores.
• 2017 All Richmond Metro looking for sophomores.
• 2017 Evoshield Canes Prospects WWBA roster, which WON the WWBA fielding a team of entirely underclassmen.
• D1baseball Feb2018 early list of 2019 prospects
• Fangraphs Feb2018 early 2019 list of prospects
• PrepBaseballReport Virginia HS 2018 previews
• 2018 6-A North Region teams, looking for Juniors and all Class 6 Occoquan Regional teams, looking for juniors.
• 2018 All-District teams, looking for Juniors.
• 2018 Evoshield 17U rosters for summer 2018 (mostly 2019 class)
• 2018 All-Maryland Prep Baseball Report juniors.
• 2018 Nova Nine looking for juniors.
• VHSL 2018 All State teams looking for juniors
• NovaNine 2018 top Juniors auxiliary list
• Washington Post All-Mets 2018 looking for juniors.
• WWBA 17U 2018 rosters for major teams.  Canes National, Mariucci Red, Dirtbags All-black, etc.
• 2018 Area Code Games rosters.
• d1baseball 2019 top collegiate prospects.
• Dec 2018 d1baseball draft board updated
• Dec 2018 mlbpipeline top 50 draft prospects
• 2019 pre-season All American list from Collegiate Baseball