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#JL SQUAD Featured: Jake Madden
Our first glimpse of Jake Madden came from high school video footage provided to us by his agent, Tucker Ward of RAW Sports Management. At first glance you'd see a no-brainer future major league star. With a tall, lengthy and athletic frame Madden dropped easy high 90s fastballs and featured plus off-speed pitches, making him appear like a giant among boys in High School. This is the kind of pitcher you see all over the draft in bonus land right out of high school. On the surface he held all the cards with a great Agent in Tucker Ward, the high celing tools and being committed to the University of Alabama to land over-slot signing bonus.
However, as happens in this game, Madden was faced with the adversity of an elbow injury as a Senior in High School and opted for Tommy John surgery, effectively pushing his timeline draft timeline back a year. Rather than Alabama as a Freshman, Jake set out to be a true JUCO Bandit, heading to national powerhouse baseball factory at Northwest Florida State.
After excuciating rehab and tireless work, Jake showed up to NWFS healthy and did not disappoint. Madden showcased his mid-90s fastball, a plus slider and change-up to compliment it all. With a strong season under his belt, Jake was invited to all the MLB top prospect showcases and impressed enough to get himself drafted by the Anaheim Angels.
Madden signed and was immediately assigned to Inland Empire where he slotted into the rotation and climbed the prospect rankings all the way to 12th highest rated prospect in the system. This prospect clout comes with some uncertainty, especially in July when Major League baseball's trading deadline happens. Madden found himself as the headliner in a deadline deal that sent All Star CJ Cron and Randal Grichuk to the Angels and Jake headed to Colorado. Ironically, Madden's new team the Fresno Grizzlies were playing in IE that weekend so the move was as simple as changing clubhouses.
Upon joining the Colorado Rockies Madden showed up immediately on the Rockies' top 30 Prospects List at the 23rd spot.
It's been electric to partner with Jake while he's grown from a JUCO Bandit to a top prospect, and we're looking forward to the continued success.
Now let's take a look at Jake's glove set up:
MODEL: DR03, 12.50", RHT
CUSTOMIZATION: Slim Reaper Custom Logo; Finger Hood shifted to middle finger
WEB: Closed Web- Two-Piece
#JLSQUAD Featured: TJ White
At 6'2" 210 lbs, T.J. White shines as a rising star within the Washington Nationals organization. In a Nationals org crammed with MLB Pipeline top 100 prospects, T.J. has found himself right in the thick of the Nationals top 10 since being drafted and signed as a 17 year old out of Dorman High School in South Carolina.
Growing up in South Carolina, T.J. tried his hand at Football, Basketball, and Baseball. His mother, Elizabeth Wells-White shared that Flag Football didn't work out for him because as a 5 year old he was stiff-arming everyone when he carried the ball. With his size advantage, that didn't go over so well. Ms. Wells-White said "That was a big no-no" with a laugh. In YMCA Basketball young T.J. White earned the nickname Baby Shaq for his size advantage and physical style of play. But Elizabeth shares "His heart was always in baseball since the time he was 2 years old."
In High School T.J. honed in on baseball and set out to master it. White was praised by Coaches and Administration at his High School for constantly seeking out feedback at the end of every season and then spend all summer working his butt off to get better. This unwavering commitment to his craft has always set him apart. Today you can find him on backfields refining his skills with a full bag of JL Glove Co. baseball gloves or spending extra time grinding out technique in the cages. There's no doubt this willingness to work is what allowed T.J. to quickly learn the footwork nuances and fielding challenges to seemlessly move from Outfield to 1B in his second year in the Washington Nationals organization.
As one of just four players age 18 or under in 2022, the switch hitting White put on a show at Single A Fredericksburg, batting .258 with 11 tanks and 52 RBI. The future for T.J. is going to be electric. Needless to say, we're honored to have T.J. on the squad.
Let's take a look at T.J.'s glove setup:
Model 1: JL Glove Co. AD 21, RHT
Size: 12.75'
Features: DNA, Pro-Stock Japanese Kip, Custom 1B Glove, H-Web
Colorway: Black, Grey, Standard JL Glove Co. Wrist Logo colors
Featured as primarily at 1B this year for the Wilmington Blue Rocks, the AD21 Custom 1B Glove has been the weapon of choice in 2023 for T.J.
Model 2: JL Glove Co. DLH42 RHT,
Size: 12.75"
Features: DNA, Pro-Stock Japanese Kip, Custom Outfield Glove, H-Web
Colorway: Black, Grey, Standard JL Glove Co. Wrist Logo and Marketings
The DLH42 Outfield glove features a deep pocket and slight pinky and thumb flare, making it the perfect Outfield Glove.
Model 3: JL Glove Co. JP17, RHT
Features: DNA Custom Infield Glove, Pro-Stock Japanese Kip, I Web
Size: 12"
Features: DNA, Pro Stock Japanese Tanned Kip leather, Custom Infield Glove
T.J.'s JP17 Dual Welting crown pattern is the perfect infield glove for 3B play and for training purposes in the outfield.
Now it's your turn. Go create your own DNA story:
