Eight Georgia baseball players made at least one of the two biggest national all-star games last summer, the Perfect Game All American Classic in San Diego and the Under Armour All-American game in Chicago.
The group includes three shortstops, three pitchers, a catcher and a center fielder. Two are going to Alabama, two to Clemson, two to Mississippi State and one apiece to Georgia and LSU.
Here’s a look at how those eight are faring in their high school seasons this spring.
C.J. Abrams, Blessed Trinity: Blessed Trinity is 17-3 and ranked No. 11 nationally in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25, and its best player is Abrams, a speedy shortstop who projects as a middle infielder or even center fielder at higher levels. He's the No. 2 high school prospect for the 2019 MLB Draft, according to Baseball America, and No. 6 per MLB.com. Abrams is hitting .400 with 13 extra-base hits in 70 at-bats for the Titans. He's stolen 19 bases. His speed from home to first base is 6.3 seconds. Abrams has signed with Alabama.
Myles Austin, Westlake: Long and slender at 6 feet, 4 inches, 185 pounds, Austin is a rangy shortstop. He's hitting .354 with four homers, 14 RBI, seven steals and a .405 on-base average. Austin has signed with Alabama.
Will Childers, Lakeside-Evans: Childers is a 6-foot-4 right hander who is committed to Georgia. For Lakeside, he is is 2-2 with a 2.33 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 27 innings. He struggled in his first two starts but has not allowed an earned run over his last 17 innings. His best fastball hit 94 mph. Childers also bats third on the team and has two homers and two doubles. Childers is the quarterback on Lakeside's football team. His father, Matt Childers, pitched a couple of seasons in the majors with the Brewers.
Daniel Espino, Georgia Premier Academy: Espino made news when he hit 99 mph at the Perfect Game All-American Classic in San Diego. He's the No. 3 high school prospect for the 2019 MLB Draft, according to MLB.com and Baseball America. He's 6 feet, 4 inches, 200 pounds. He doesn't play for a non-traditional high school that plays a mix of travel and high school opponents. Espino is a native of Panama who moved to the United States about two years ago. He has signed with LSU.
Jonathan French, Parkview: The top catcher in Georgia, French is performing like a state player of the year. He's hitting .528 with four home runs, seven doubles and two triples in 53 at-bats. He's a three-year starter with 15 career homers. Parkview, the defending Class AAAAAAA champion, is 19-2 and ranked No. 12 nationally in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25. French is committed to Clemson.
Nasim Nunez, Collins Hill: Nunez, a switch-hitting shortstop with a cannon for an arm, is hitting .333 with a .521 on-base percentage with 20 walks and 17 stolen bases. He's scored 25 runs. He also has eight doubles. Nunez, who is 5 feet, 9 inches, has been timed at 6.3 seconds from home to first, making him and Blessed Trinity's Adams two of the nation's fastest elite prospects. Nunez is committed to Clemson.
Landon Sims, South Forsyth: Sims is 2-0 with a 1.80 ERA. He's allowed only 15 hits and struck out 45 in 26 innings. Sims on Wednesday will be pitching against Orange Lutheran of California, the consensus No. 1 team in the country, at the National High School Invitational in Cary, N.C.Sims is the state's top pitching prospect. He's hit 97 mph Sims has signed with Mississippi State.
Andre Tarver, Ringgold: Tarver, a center fielder, is batting .594 with a .697 on-base percentage with six home runs for Ringgold, which is 16-4. Tarver is one of the state's best all-around athletes, and perhaps the state's best five-tool baseball player. He's 6-2, 210 pounds, and has an outstanding arm. He's made all-state as a football wide receiver. Tarver had two hits in the Under Armor All-America Game at Wrigley Field in Chicago. He's committed to Mississippi State.
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