A trio of 2016 graduates, along with one each 2017 and 2018, stood out at South Paulding High School in Douglasville, Georgia on Sunday March 8. The Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout tour rolled through the Atlanta area as the weather on the East Coast finally relented — this event was originally scheduled for February 22, only to be postponed due to rain.

Notre Dame commit Patrick McDonald (2016 RHP) attends the Woodberry Forest School in Northern Virginia, but is from Marietta in the Atlanta area. Back home in the Peach State for the weekend, the physical 6-foot-2 and 210 pounder showed two-way potential. His fastball had boring arm side life at 86-88, and complimented an upper 70s breaking ball with 11-to-5 shape and depth approaching the top of our scale. A low 80s changeup was his other secondary offering, and it rounded out a high level three-pitch mix.

The next best fastball velocity was turned in by 2017 C/RHP Cauy Williams (Woodland HS – Taylorsville, GA) at 86 mph. Williams has a frame with room to mature at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, and offers a well-rounded set of tools as a position player in addition to a quality fastball / breaking ball combo.

2016 RHP/3B Steven Parr (Commerce HS – Commerce, GA) topped at 84 mph, though he actually showed better as a position player. Also topping at 84 was 2017 Jackson Braden, another RHP/3B, only he showed better on the mound. 2018 RHP/3B Baley Coleman (South Paulding HS – Hiram, GA) topped at 83 mph, as did his South Paulding HS teammate and fellow 2018 3B/RHP Garrison Harless (Dallas, GA).

2017 SS/OF Cole Brannen

The best run time was turned in by 2016 OF Justin Stroud (Mary Persons HS – Jackson, GA) at 6.69. A right-handed hitter standing at 6-foot-2 and 190 pounds, Stroud also posted 86 mph to lead all players in raw velocity. He earned bat speed marks approaching the highest we can give, allowing for high grades on hitting ability and raw power.

2016 left-handed hitting shortstop, and Georgia Tech commit, Parker McCoy (Walton HS – Marietta, GA) was the next best runner at 6.84. McCoy is teammates with Carter Kieboom (selected for the 2015 Under Armour All-America Game) at Walton High School, making for a talented left side of the infield.

2017 SS/OF Cole Brannen (Westfield Schools – Elko, GA) was among the top 10 players at the 2014 Baseball Factory Rookie Pre-Season All-America Tournament, and has since committed to Georgia Southern. He posted 6.85 in the 60 yard dash, and showed a well-rounded set of tools — highlighted by left-handed hitting ability and defensive range in the infield.

2018 OF Jared Hart

In the spring of 2013, we ranked left-handed hitting OF Josh Hart #33 on our Top 100 High School Prospects list. A few months later, he was picked 37th overall by the Baltimore Orioles, and signed for a little less than $1.5 million. In March of 2015, two years later, we saw his younger brother for the first time.

2018 Jared Hart (Lassiter HS – Marietta, GA) stands taller than Josh, at 6-foot-2 and 170 pounds, and he bats and throws right-handed. He posted 6.85 in the 60 yard dash, and featured easy yet lively actions to hit and in the outfield. He, like his brother, has a high ceiling — and will certainly be a close follow for many, even though he is just a freshman now.

2017 C J.P. McGuire (Greater Atlanta Christian School – Norcross, GA) was second behind Justin Stroud in raw velocity, with a mark of 85 mph. A talented all-around defender behind the plate, he posted release times as low as 2.00 and showed soft hands to receive along with the ability to move laterally from his crouch to block. 2017 C Drew Hulsey (Commerce HS – Jefferson, GA) also posted a low pop time of 2.00.

2016 1B Wesley Brooks (North Gwinnett HS – Suwanee, GA) was a couple of ticks off the raw velocity lead with a mark of 84 mph, but easily posted the highest bat exit velocity of the day — notching 88 mph in that category.

The Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout Tour is rolling through all 50 states. Tryouts are held for players ages 12-14 and 14-18. Don’t miss your opportunity to Be Discovered.

Find an Under Armour Baseball Factory National Tryout near you and register online or call (800) 641-4487.