- Full name John Paone
- Born 06/16/2006 in
- Profile Ht.: 6'3" / Wt.: 210 / Bats: R / Throws: R
Top Rankings
Draft Prospects
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School: Lawrence Academy, Groton, Mass. Drafted/Committed: Virginia
Age At Draft: 19.1
BA Grade: 45/Extreme
Paone solidified himself as the top high school prospect in New England early on in the spring of 2025, continuing an ascension that began the previous summer when he showed off an improving fastball and reached 96-97 mph by the fall. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound righthander sat 92-95 mph this spring in Massachusetts, delivering his fastball from a low slot along with some deception in his delivery, which he rotates through well as he gets down the mound. Paone also is capable of ripping off an 80-85 mph slider with two-plane break and spin rates into the 2800-2900 rpm range, though his feel for the pitch is inconsistent. He ties his arsenal together with a mid-80s changeup that has average shape but lags behind the rest of his mix in its development. Paone has a fiery, demonstrative mound presence. Paone turned 19 in June, so he’s older for the class, and he could be a tough sign—he previously was committed to Duke before flipping to Virginia to follow head coach Chris Pollard. His talent fits best in rounds four to six.
Scouting Grades: Fastball: 55 | Slider: 55 | Changeup: 45 | Control: 45.
