By: Austin Alexander – February 2, 2025 Banner weather, big stock jumps, talent-laden field theme of showcase Groundhog Day 2025 was another banner celebration of high school baseball for prep players, pro scouts and Diamond Prospects! Just like the old movie where the same day repeats itself, our staff and scouts could get used the identical weather that we enjoyed and the talent we watched on a sun-splashed Sunday. River Bluff High, again, played host to our most enjoyable event of the year, the 19th Annual Lon Joyce Pro Day! Friday rain threatened but did not force us to alter any aspect of our gameplan that saw 27 (out 30) Major League clubs represented, a top-tier facility and talent on the roster commanded attention too. We cranked up at precisely 10 AM and threw the final pitch 190 minutes later, in between some memorable performances paced the day. DP’s Pro Day has a very decorated list of players over its nearly two decades of history, 223 performers from this event have been drafted, many of which are still presently playing professional baseball, 29 Big Leaguer’s once wore this same jersey, likely with all of the same nerves and anticipation as this year’s crop. There is a good chance that 2025’s field will add to the growing total of success stories. With scouts huddled around the finish line, we fired off the 60’s on time and 19 players shot through with sub-7.0’s. Spring Valley 2025 Jayden Williams (6.49, Citadel signee), left, took top honors in this category edging out Sterling Coaxum (P27 Academy, 2026, Clemson commit), right, who posted a 6.65. Not far behind were Logan Newcomb’s 6.75 (2026, P27 Academy, Coastal Carolina commit), Landon Carter at 6.78 (2025, P27 Academy, Central Arkansas), Ezra Essex‘ 6.68 (2025, P27 Academy, Oklahoma St.) and Oceanside’s Andrew Palmer chimed in with 6.83 (2025, East Tennessee St.), respectively. Another aspect we began a few years back is putting the radar gun on defensive player’s throws. The top outfield bolt came from Byrnes senior and Lander signee Jaxson Camp at 95 MPH (right). The top velocity during the infield portion was turned in by a pair of juniors, Ole Miss commit Taj Marchand (James Island, left) and Wolfpack commit Landon Church (West Forsyth, NC) who each registered 91 MPH across the diamond. In a cast of sure-handed athletes with some flair, Church arguably flashed the best actions of the middlemen. The catchers were also a group that did not disappoint as seven of them unloaded a pop time under 2.00 seconds. Committed to The College of Charleston, junior Banks Wickersham’s (Ft. Dorchester), left, 1.87 narrowly beat out the 1.89 posted by Skyler Hegler (P27 Academy, 2025). Wickersham was last year’s ‘top pop’ and has a shot to go for the 3-peat next year! Catawba Ridge 2025 Sam Schwamb had the best arm strength chiming in at 83 MPH. Then the part we enjoy the most! High school hitters wielding wood is not always the most endearing of acts to witness, but each year at Pro Day it’s a blast to see while proving to be expensive in the ‘lost baseball’ department! Fortunately, this year’s weather permitted us to ‘bang away’ on the field as hitters took aim at the scoreboard, batter’s eye and the huge press box wall in right field. In his Pro Day debut, Jackson Winer (Bishop England, 2025, pictured at top and right) clanged a few off the massive structure in right with an array of 99 MPH exit velos. His bat bolts were equaled by Dutch Fork junior Ethan Offing (left). DP Disclaimer: The names in this category could be far longer. Please see video when available. The bullpens are what normally pulls in quite a few cross-checkers and even scouting directors most years too. With a minimal list of invited arms each year, we went one at a time on the live mound and a steady stream of 90+ fastballs blew in as our Trackman rang out pleasing numbers on our iPad and TV display; all data will be published this week on the website. Southpaw Jackson Winer kept his stellar day going as he paced the way topping out at 95 MPH, a trio of others rang in with 94’s: Dawson Siffri (JL Mann), Zane Stahl (2025, P27 Academy) and Gavin MacDonald (2025, Legion Collegiate). But it did not end there as we paraded one premium arm after another to the bump. In all, on Sunday 23 different guys eclipsed the 88 MPH barrier. Seventeen total moundsmen touched 90 MPH or better, 8 more at 92+. Please digest what you just read…quite impressive for a February day on the eve of prep practice in cool weather! The usual prospects showed up and served as the cornerstone to another successful event, but the new names to pro scouts pushed Pro Day into what we’d consider as another very productive day for high school baseball in South Carolina, again! Based on what the decision-makers saw on this day, they will have to spend plenty of time in the Palmetto State this spring and just wait until this deep list of 2026’s are draft-eligible! {60’s / MPH / POP & MPH / Defensive MPH/ Exit Velo} NEW! Trackman Data: Position Players NEW! Trackman Data: Pitchers NEW! Video Footage – Player Profiles Pro Day Memories: Taylor Black dp Twitter Burrell’s Bonus: As players were still filing in on Sunday morning, and prior to our player meeting, longtime scout and friend Kevin Burrell offered to speak to the participants before the day got underway. The former pro player and Chicago White Sox evaluator of 34 years presided over the young men and ended in prayer to jumpstart pro day. Thank you to my brother in Christ “KB” for taking some time for DP and our participants! Special Thanks: DP would like to express a heartfelt appreciation to Flicks by Patel and G-Photography for their hard work and outstanding pics plus footage from this Sunday’s Pro Day. Outstanding job Harsh Patel and Gia Palacios! DP Fist Bump: A special thanks are in order to River Bluff …
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