36 JULY 2019 • BASEBALLAMERICA.COM
BEST OF THE PREPS
by CARLOS COLLAZOETHAN HEARN, C
MOBILE (ALA.)
CHRISTIAN HS
Hearn wasn’t fazed by
Alabama’s 4A competition
and did what scouts expect-
ed from the top-ranked
backstop in the class, hitting
.482 with 11 home runs and
11 doubles. His lefthanded
power pairs nicely with his
defensive skills and plus arm
behind the plate. Hearn was
the first high school catcher
selected in the draft.
BRETT BATY, CI
LAKE TRAVIS HS,
AUSTIN
Baty posted the highest
average (.624) and most
home runs (19) of any All-
American and did so against
impressive Texas competi-
tion. He is perhaps the most
complete prep bat in the
country. He seemed like a
lock to move to first base a
year ago but has improved
his defense at third this
spring.KEONI CAVACO, CI
EASTLAKE HS,
CHULA VISTA, CALIF.
The biggest surprise of
the season, Cavaco wowed
scouts all spring with
his plus power, plus arm
strength (both from the left
side of the infield and on
the mound) and plus speed.
He hit .429 against Division I
Southern California compe-
tition and helped Eastlake
win the CIF San Diego sec-
tional.HUDSON HEAD, OF
CHURCHILL HS,
SAN ANTONIO
Head wasn’t seen much
on the showcase circuit last
summer but quickly wowed
scouts with his quick-twitch
athleticism this spring—
enough to make him the
Padres’ third-round pick. He
has exciting power-speed
potential and plenty of
upside as a defensive out-
fielder. Head hit .615 with 13
home runs and 34 steals.GUNNAR HENDERSON, DH
MORGAN ACADEMY,
SELMA, ALA.
Henderson’s biggest
improvement this spring
was with his defense at
shortstop, but he continued
to produce with the bat like
he did on the showcase cir-
cuit a year ago. He hit .554
with power (11 home runs,
17 doubles) and speed (31
stolen bases). Henderson
was the fifth prep shortstop
drafted this spring.CJ ABRAMS, MI
BLESSED TRINITY HS,
ROSWELL, GA.
Abrams showed elite
contact ability this spring
in Georgia’s highest classi-
fication. He drove the ball
for extra-base hits (17 dou-
bles) while proving to be a
nightmare on the bases for
pitchers and catchers with
80-grade speed he used
to swipe 33 bags. Abrams
also showed improvement
defensively at shortstop.RILEY GREENE, OF
HAGERTY HS,
OVIEDO, FLA.
Greene continued to look
like the best pure hitter in
the class. He hit .420 against
Florida 8A competition and
helped push Hagerty to the
regional semifinals. Scouts
were excited about the
progress of his supplemen-
tal tools—running, throwing
and fielding—while he
patrolled center field for
Hagerty in key tournaments.CORBIN CARROLL, OF
LAKESIDE HS,
SEATTLE
Carroll doesn’t play
against elite competition,
but he dominated his
Washington 3A opponents.
Carroll hit .540 with plenty
of pop (nine home runs, five
doubles, five triples) while
playing standout defense in
center field. There are few
holes in Carroll’s game, par-
ticularly now that his arm
strength has improved.COLLEGE
& HIGH
SCHOOL
AWARDSHIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICA TEAMBOBBY WITT JR., MI
COLLEYVILLE (TEXAS)
HERITAGE HS
Witt did everything
teams wanted to see this
spring while meeting high
expectations. He played
elite defense and hit .500
with 15 home runs and 17
stolen bases while leading
his Colleyville club to a 5A
Texas state championship.
The Royals made him the
second overall pick in this
year’s draft. HEARN AND BATY BY STACY JO GRANT; CAVACO, WITT JR., ABRAMS, GREENE, CARROLL, HENDERSON, ALLAN, ESPINO, LEITER, MALOME, PREISTER BY BILL MITCHELL; HEAD BY MIKE JANES/FOUR SEAM IMAGES.MAIN PHOTO: BILL MITCHELL