Trinity Prep NHSI Preview

USA Baseball’s annual high school tournament, the National High School Invitational, is one of the premier high school tournaments in the country and one of the biggest events on the draft schedule as well, bringing together 16 of the top teams in the country. This year’s tournament will have some of the most impressive talent in the event’s seven-year history and will take place in Cary at USA Baseball’s National Training Complex from March 28-31. Baseball America will preview teams as we lead up to the event.

Overview

Trinity Prep (Winter Park, Fla.) High enters the 2018 NHSI with an experienced team that returns eight starters and its entire starting rotation from a team that went to the regional semifinals and lost to eventual state champion Calvary Christian (Clearwater, Fla.) High in Florida’s 4-A classification last season.

Senior righthander Slade Cecconi is the team’s top draft prospect and No. 1 arm, but Cecconi, who is a Miami commit, hasn’t yet thrown this spring due to injury. Cecconi remains unlikely to pitch during the NHSI, but, when healthy, Cecconi throws in the mid-to-upper 90s and has several quality secondaries.

Even without Cecconi, Trinity Prep’s second and third arms—2019 righthander Andrew Roberts (Florida commit) and 2019 lefthander Zach Holcomb (uncommitted)—should give the team a chance to be competitive, especially in combination with solid, all-around team offense and defense.

2018 Tulane commit and shortstop Ethan Groff is a smooth defender up the middle and should bring some power to the lineup while his double-play partner, sophomore Jacob Starling, can pick it at second and should be a reliable leadoff bat.

Trinity Prep’s depth on the mound will be its biggest question mark this weekend, particularly if Cecconi doesn’t toe the rubber.

Head Coach: Trevor Berryhill

2017 Record: 13-10

Projected Lineup