Prep Baseball Report

Underclass Games Analysis: MIF Reports from Sept. 7th



Dan Cevette
Director, New York

The Underclass Prospect Games were a huge success, bringing young players together from all over New York. The exposure PBR gives is crucial for players trying to play baseball at the next level. We would like to give a special thanks to all the players, parents, help, and Horseheads HS for making Sept. 7th a truly special day for us.

The scouting notes on the MIF are now complete, lets take a look at what Sept 7th had up the middle.

Elliot Hillman SS (Bath Haverling HS, 2016)
At 6-foot-0 165-pounds Hillman has the frame to hold an extra 20-25 pounds of good weight. At SS he gets behind the ball, fields athletically out in front, he uses a fast transfer to a short arm action throwing from a mid 3/4 slot. He gets his back side through his throws with arm strength at 76 mph. His 60 time was 7.6. At the plate his setup is wide with weight shifted back. On the pitch he opens his front leg up early, drops his hands, bat path is slightly inclined through the zone, extension through contact with a high finish. Exit velocity was 77 off a tee.

Matthew Kruszka RHP/MIF (Gowanda HS, 2017)
In the field he charges the ball hard but in control, stays low fielding out in front of his body, he funnels the ball high near his arm pit to a quick, short arm action from a low 3/4 slot. His arm strength was 74 mph. At the plate he starts upright and balanced with his hands above his shoulder with hand movement. On the pitch he loads back, brings his front knee back and strides forward for timing. He uses a short path, hands stay inside the ball, bat plane is slightly inclined, shoulder height finish.

Joseph Kruszka RHP/SS (Gowanda HS, 2016)
He moves quick to the ball staying very low and keeping his feel moving. His funnel is high to a long arm action from a mid 3/4 arm slot with arm strength at 77 mph. At the plate he sets up wide with his weight back, hands shoulder height. On the pitch he back loads with a leg kick, works hard at keeping his hands inside the ball, needs more extension through contact, bat plane is slightly uphill with a shoulder height finish.

Zach Penksa SS (St. Marys HS, 2017)
Penksa stands 5-foot-8 155-pounds with a slender build. In the field he moves quick to the ball, staying behind and fielding low and out in front. His transfer is quick and clean, short arm action to a mid 3/4 slot with arm strength at 68-68 mph. At the plate he starts upright with his feet shoulder width apart. On the pitch he drops on his back side and takes a long stride for timing. His work hard to stay inside the ball, bat plane is level through the zone, some extension through contact with a shoulder height finish. Exit velocity was 74 mph. He ran a 7.3 60 yard dash.

Erika Uhlinger SS (Copenhagen HS, 2017)
Uhlinger stands 5-foot-8 150-pounds with a small frame. He moves to the ball timing out his strides, staying low and glove out in front. His transfer is quick, throws from a mid 3/4 slot with arm strength at 65 mph. His 60 time was 7.5. At the plate his setup is slightly crouched at the knees, feet shoulder width apart. On the pitch he uses a short stride, cocks his wrist for timing. His bat stays level through contact with a high finish showing some balance through his swing. His exit velocity was 73 mph.