NHSI Top Propects – Hagen Danner, Nick Pratto, Brady McConnell, Garrett Mitchell, Austin Martin

From  Baseball America - USA Baseball’s National High School Invitational, now in its sixth year, has become the top high school regular-season event in the country. This year’s event features 16 of the country’s top teams, populated with 11 members of Baseball America’s Top 100 High School Prospects. Records and rankings are through games of March 19.

 Huntington Beach (Calif.) HS - Seniors Hagen Danner and Nick Pratto both could be selected on the first day of the draft. Both starred—along with many Huntington Beach players—in California’s 2011 Little League World Series victory and both went on to become decorated players for the 18U national teams that dominated international competition in 2015 and 2016. The righthanded Danner throws a mid-90s fastball and tight breaking ball, while also showing consistent game power and advanced feel for hitting. Some scouts believe the lefthanded Pratto to be the best pure hitter in this year’s high school class. He pitches in the upper 80s to low 90s and has an outstanding changeup

When The Giants Come To Town - Hagen Danner is a 6'2", 185 lbs. RHP out of Huntington Beach, CA.  Hit and pitched for a team that won the Little League World Series when he was 12 years old.  He's a 2-way player for Huntington Beach HS piching and catching, but most scouting reports emphasize his pitching.  He has a conventional windup and delivery with a high 3/4 release point.  The FB gets up to 94 MPH and he has a nice curveball and a developing changeup to go with it.  He is listed as a top 10 2017 draft talent on most early boards, but is committed to UCLA.  Honestly, if I didn't know he was listed that high, I would say he should go to school.  I know you can't turn down top 10 money, but he just looks like a college pitcher to me, someone who might be a top 10 pick in 3 years if he gains some strength and velocity and polishes his game.

           

PG – Nick Pratto can really hit and Upper 80's with more to come. Very projectable.

                  

Merritt Island (Fla.) HS - Lead by All-American shortstop Brady McConnell, the Mustangs are poised for a run in 2017 as they look to build off a strong 20-8 campaign last season. McConnell, a Florida recruit, offers a blend of speed, defense and pure hitting ability. He has the potential to be a first-round draft pick in June.

PG - Brady McConnell is a 2017 SS/2B with a 6-2 175 lb. frame from Merritt Island, FL who attends Merritt Island HS. Very projectable athletic body, lots of quick twitch athleticism at present with more strength to come. 6.42 runner, quick actions at shortstop with big range, plus raw arm strength, accuracy can improve but gets big carry from the hole, graceful actions on the move. Right handed hitter, has explosive hand speed to contact, ball jumps hard with power and leverage, big stride into contact will create occasional timing issues but has high end offensive potential. Has all the physical tools. Good student, verbal commitment to Florida. Selected for the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

           

Orange (Calif.) Lutheran HS - Orange Lutheran has a storied tradition, having been ranked in Baseball America’s Top 25 in six of the past eight years. Coming off a 22-9 season in 2016, the Lancers have seven returners in their lineup for 2017, led by senior All-American outfielder Garrett Mitchell. The UCLA recruit is a five-tool talent with an elite combination of power and speed.

PG - Garrett Mitchell is a 2017 OF with a 6-2 200 lb. frame from Orange, CA who attends Orange Lutheran HS. Very athletic build with plenty of present strength and room for more. Outstanding runner, 6.35 in the sixty, consistently runs sub-4.00 home to first base from the left side, gets out of the box quickly and runs hard. Shows very good raw arm strength from the outfield with carry and accuracy from a compact arm action and release. Left handed hitter, hits from a spread straight stance with good balance in his approach, simple load and shift, has the strength to generate very good bat speed and can turn on balls and drive them, ball comes off the barrel hard, will occasionally drop his back shoulder. High ceiling athletic talent. Good student, verbal commitment to UCLA. Selected for the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

           

Trinity Christian HS, Jacksonville, Fla. - the Conquerors return prominent 2017 prospect shortstop Austin Martin. Martin, a Vanderbilt recruit, has quick feet and excellent infield actions

            PG - Really impressed in Jupiter both in the field and with the bat