2014 NHSI – Day 1 Reports & Observations
With the first day of games in the books at the 2014 National High School Invitational, we offer some reports and observations on top players. Not all top players are mentioned here, please check back for updates following the completion of play on Thursday.
CLOVIS (Clovis, CA)
The Cougars feature a strong middle infield combo, with senior Jacob Gatewood (Univ. of Southern California commit) and junior Tevin Mitchell. Gatewood is heavy on tools, as we saw at the 2013 Under Armour All-America Game, while Mitchell is an instinctual player with usable hit and field tools.
Gatewood made hard contact in his last at bat, with a fly out to center that even into the wind pushed the CF back a few steps. It was his best pass of the day, and it looked like he just missed it. His hands worked well during pre-game infield, He has plenty of arm to play the left side of the infield, and as usual his actions are fluid and athletic.
Mitchell had several quality at bats, working deep into counts and making solid contact to the opposite field. He has the look and feel of a "baseball player", with good awareness and skills he can apply to game situations.
CORAL SPRINGS CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (Coral Springs, FL)
2014 right hander Touki Toussaint started for the Crusaders, just as he did in the 2013 Under Armour All-America Game. He reached 94 with his fastball, and spun his usual tight breaking ball with depth to its downward action. Through 6 innings of work, he punched out 12 and allowed just 1 hit. He issued 5 walks, but stranded each of the baserunners and allowed no runs, and earned the win in a 1-0 victory over Orange Lutheran.
Toussaint's battery mate was senior Benito Santiago, a Univ. of Tennessee commit. His defensive skills are advanced, he handled Toussaint's stuff with ease – which is no small task – and kept the pace of the game moving nicely. He has plenty of arm strength, along with a clean release. He collected one of the two Crusader hits on the day (Toussaint had the other).
Senior Jeremiah Muhammed, scheduled to attend Miami Dade CC, recorded the save with a scoreless seventh inning. The 6-foot-4 and 220 pound right hander worked between 85 and 89 with his fastball, struck out one and walked one.
DYER COUNTY (Newbern, TN)
Senior left hander Paxton Stover, a Mississippi State commit, started on the mound for the Choctaws. He pitched from a three quarters slot, and showed feel for a three pitch mix. Fastball was around 84 with tailing arm side life, topped at 86. Breaking ball was in the low to mid 70's with sweeping action. He showed the ability to move his fastball around the zone, worked quickly and threw strikes with secondary offerings. Over 6 innings of work, he scattered 5 hits and punched out 6 against just 2 walks and 1 earned run.
THE FIRST ACADEMY (Orlando, FL)
Senior left hander Foster Griffin, a Univ. of Mississippi commit and 2013 Under Armour All-America Game participant, started for the Royals and recorded a complete game shutout victory. He allowed three hits and two walks against 8 strikeouts over seven innings of work. He topped at 91 with his fastball, pitched in the upper 80s, and featured great feel for his change up. He effectively mixed in his breaking ball as well, giving him a solid three pitch mix and command of his best two. His delivery is athletic and he generates quality stuff with little effort. He is a right handed hitter, and collected two hits in three at bats on the day.
In a short look, senior OF Adam Haseley (Univ. of Virginia commmit) offers an interesting run-hit combination. He is a quick twitch athlete, and relies on quickness to hit more than rhythm or fluidity. His left handed stroke is short, and he appears to run very well (I didn't get any run times today).
GAINSEVILLE (Gainsville, GA)
Though he is more widely recognized as one of the top position players in the 2014 draft class, senior Michael Gettys (Univ. of Georgia commit, and 2013 Under Armour All-America Game participant) started on the mound for the Red Elephants. He worked in the upper 80s with his fastball, and touched 90 quite a few times. He allowed two earned runs in a complete game victory over a talented and accomplished Venice (FL) High School team. In addition to his fastball, he featured two types of breaking balls. He threw a lot of strikes with a low 70s version, and was able to bury a mid to upper 70s version with more depth and a shorter break. He was effectively pitched around in his trips to the plate, but gathered a big crowd of interested observers with each trip.
MOUNTAIN POINTE (Phoenix, AZ)
The Pride have three University of Arizona commits, one of which is senior shortstop Cole Tucker. He is a switch hitter, and stands a wiry 6-foot-3 and 185 pounds with long limbs. His defensive actions are fluid, and his hands work well both with the glove and bat. His stroke is handsy and built for line drive type contact, as evidence by his two singles in four trips to the plate today. He is also a heads up base runner, thanks to a combination of instincts and speed. He is unique in that he is a "baseball player" with present ability AND projectable tools.
ORANGE LUTHERAN (Orange, CA)
Senior right hander Garrett King, a Univ. of Nebraska commit and 2013 Under Armour Pre-Season All American Tournament participant, threw a complete game gem for the Lancers. He allowed only two hits and issued no free bases, and struck out six over six innings of work. At 6-foot-4 and 175 pounds he has leverage to drive his pitches on a good angle down to the bottom of the zone. A lone earned run was the difference in this pitchers duel between he and Touki Toussaint of Coral Springs Christian. He was efficient and filled up the zone, going right after hitters.
PARKVIEW (Lilburn, GA)
Among the most impressive offensive performers on the day was draft eligible junior Isiah Gilliam. He is a switch hitter, and stands at 6-foot-3 and 215 pounds. His at bats today were from the left side against Regis Jesuit right hander Zach Heath. He singled twice up the middle, featured quick hands and a clean stroke. His approach appeared mature in those at bats, he took some pitches until he got something he could handle – and then he let the ball travel and drove through it with authority. He stole a base and featured an athletic run stride, no small task for someone of his size.
REGIS JESUIT (Aurora, CO)
Senior middle infielder Max George, an Oregon State commit, collected three hits in three at bats and added in a sac for good measure. He is an instinctual player with usable hit and field tools. He has a knack for finding the barrel in game at bats, and has awareness necessary to play in the middle of the field.
Junior third baseman Matt Schmidt featured natural talent both with the glove and to hit. His hands worked defensively and his actions were athletic to allow for glove side range to complete a tough play. Offensively, he showed good hands to hit and made solid contact to the opposite field. At 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds he has a frame to get bigger and stronger.
VENICE (Venice, FL)
Senior catcher Michael Rivera, a Univ. of Florida commit and 2012 Team One Futures East participant, had three hits in four trips and drove in two of the three Venice runs on the day. He has a great feel for the game, and has a proven knack for finding the barrel and driving in runs. He is solid defensively, with a good combination of skills and instincts.
Check back Thursday for more reports, a full day of games is scheduled to get more games in ahead of the chance of rain Friday and Saturday.
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