NHSI Day Two Prospect Notebook

CARY, N.C.—The second day of the National High School Invitational included 12 games, with USA Baseball shifting four games from Friday to the back end of Thursday. The most impressive performance, as far as draft-eligible players go, came from Merritt Island (Fla.) High shortstop Brady McConnell, who went 2-for-4 in his first game and 3-for-4 in his second game.

McConnell, a Preseason first-team All-American, showed all the tools on Thursday. Prior to his first game—against Huntington Beach—McConnell took a very impressive infield. He showed smooth hands and threw with carry. McConnell cleanly fielded with his backhand and made an accurate throw from the hole, flashing plus arm strength when he let loose.

In his first plate appearance, McConnell watched the count to 3-1 before being caught out front and slicing a ball foul. On 3-2 he hit a hard ground ball at the pitcher and reached first base in 4.11 seconds to beat out an infield single. He chased a low pitch to strike out in his second plate appearance; with first base open, McConnell hustled to the bag and reached in 4.3 seconds but was still thrown out. He popped up in his third plate appearance. In his fourth time up, McConnell swung at an offspeed pitch to start the count. Then on 0-1, he ripped a hard ground ball down the third base line for a double, turning around first in 4.50 seconds.

McConnell showed well in his second game, too. In his first time up, he bunted up the third-base line and reached first with a single in 3.7 seconds. After falling behind 0-2 with a swing and miss at a fastball down and away and a foul ball, McConnell worked back to 2-2 in his second time up before hammering a hard line drive to the gap in left-center field for a triple. In the third, McConnell hit a ground ball up the middle that was scored an error by USA Baseball but could have easily been ruled a hit, as McConnell reached first in 4.00 seconds.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, McConnell fielded a ball deep into the hole, turned and made a jump throw to first a la Derek Jeter. McConnell’s throw hit the first baseman’s glove, but the runner beat it out by a step.

“I thought I had a shot and I was thinking ‘Should I do it? Should I not?’ But I just did it and it was a good throw, but he made it by half a step,” McConnell said of the throw.

In his fourth and final trip to the plate in the sixth, McConnell pulled a sharp line drive to left field for a double. The strong performance in game two could set McConnell on the right direction.

“I’ve struggled so far, just waiting on the ball, and I think my approach is starting to get a lot better,” McConnell said. He’s been a little more patient and tried to wait for pitches that he could drive. “It felt good to get the barrel on the ball a couple times.”

McConnell’s teammate, junior righthander Mason Denaburg had himself an outstanding game on the mound. Denaburg, a Florida commit, struck out 11 batters in six shutout innings, walking two and allowing three hits. His fastball bumped 93 mph early, and he pitched at 88-91 as he settled in. Denaburg was able to spot his curveball for strikes, showing sharp horizontal sweep away from righthanded hitters. He also showed feel for locating his low 80s changeup. Denaburg is a solid athlete on the mound and his arm works well, consistently finding his three-quarters arm slot. At the plate, Denaburg went 3-for-4.

News and Notes

Orange (Calif.) Lutheran High center fielder Garrett Mitchell showed off his plus bat speed in batting practice. He shot line drives to both gaps and pulled home runs. In game action, Mitchell went 1-for-4.

In his first plate appearance he went with an outside pitch and hit a ground ball to shortstop for a fielder’s choice; Mitchell reached first base in 4.10 seconds. In his second time up, Mitchell swung and missed at an outside fastball on 1-0, then chased a high fastball on 2-1. He then struck out swinging at a 2-2 pitch down and away. In the fifth inning, Mitchell hit a ground ball through the right side for a single. He hit a routine flyout to center field in the seventh.

American Heritage shortstop Mark Vientos went 0-for-3 with a walk. He popped up, grounded into a fielder’s choice, and flew out to center. He showed quick reactions at shortstop; on a blooper down the left-field line, Vientos nearly made the catch, ranging far from shortstop. He doesn’t have elite footspeed, but his instincts could give him a chance to stay in the dirt long-term.

Archbishop McCarthy (Southwest Ranches, Fla.) righthander Daniel Federman took a loss at the hands of South Hills (West Covina, Calif.). Federman showed a lively fastball, thrown mostly at 88-91 in the early innings with late life through the zone. Federman’s curveball didn’t show a ton of bit or shape, but it moved late with short vertical break. He starts his delivery with an overhead hand pump, and his arm action has a bit of a dice roll wrap in the back. Federman has a fluid, athletic motion and could develop into a very good college pitcher for Miami, where he is committed.

South Hills junior righthander Brandon Dieter shoved against No. 1 Archbishop McCarthy. The Stanford recruit commanded a deceptive four-pitch mix and showed the ability to locate his fastball down and to both sides of the plate. He pitched at 86-88 with his fastball early on and had feel for his breaking balls and changeup. Dieter’s advanced command will make him a name for scouts to monitor next summer.

South Hills shortstop Jacob Amaya showed quick hands and barrel awareness. Amaya stood out as an underclassman at the 2015 Tournament of Stars. He is playing well in front of the right people this week and he will continue to be monitored as the tournament shakes out for the remainder of the week. Amaya is committed to Cal State Fullerton.