Sunday kicked off PBR Ohio’s Fall Prospect Program at the Ohio State University. Nick Swisher Field held many young high school prospects that were eager to be put on college radars.  An extremely wide range of ages attended the prospect program, as the class of 2014, 15’, 16’, 17’, and 18’ were represented.  Many players impressed during their in-game action of the prospect program, and it will be interesting to see how they perform in the coming weekends.

Below are the top performers along with pitcher velocity for each team.


Top Performers Team 1:

Daniel Nyquist (Lebanon HS, 2014) recorded two hits on the day.  The strong-bodied 2014 prospect smashed a double over the right fielders head, and also added a single up the middle.

Upper Arlington’s Mathis Newman (2014) had two hits on the day, singling in his first two at bats. 

Shortstop Thaddeus Ferguson (Mars Hill Academy, 2014) showed soft hands, and a quick exchange in the field.  At the dish, Ferguson’s right-handed stroke added a single.

2014 CHCA prospect, Ricky Silvestri showed a smooth left-handed stroke, with an uphill bat path.  Silvestri singled to center in game 1, and hustled to third on an error by the center fielder.

David Storer, Kevin Chonko, Spencer Yankle, and John Kunakowsky also added hard hit singles during the game.

Pitcher Velo’s Team 1:

Sam Ankrom, LHP, Thomas Worthington, 2014: FB- 78-82, CB 63-66, CH 67-70

Daniel Nyquist, RHP, Lebanon, 2014: FB 75-78, CB 69-71, CH 69-70

Mathis Newman, RHP, Upper Arlington, 2014: FB 80-82, CB 66-67, CH 67

Paul Smith, RHP, Mount Vernon, 2014: FB 71-73, CR 62

John Kunakowsky, RHP, Brecksville Broadview Heights, 2014: FB 75-78, CB 68-71

Edward Williams, RHP, Highland, 2014: FB 77-80 CB 73-76, CH 73-74


Top Performers Team 2:

Watkins Memorial's Doug Connor (2015) had an impressive day at the dish.  Connor displayed a lot of pop in his bat singling, and later doubling deep to center field.  He showed a good approach at the plate, and projects to be a middle of the order right-handed stick.

Clay Pittman (Tinora, 2014) had a similar stat line singling to left, and doubling down the left field line.  Behind the plate, Pittman recorded pop times between 2.00 and 2.09.

Another catcher for Team 2 had an impressive day as well.  2015 grad David Van Hove (Ashland) registered pop times around 2.11 and 2.13.  He showed good hands, and was very accurate with his throws.  Van Hove added a well-hit single to left field, driving in a run.

Right handed hitter Nate Rau (Bryan, 2015) singled twice in four at bats.  The middle infielder showed good actions on the base paths as well.

Others adding well-hit singles were Eric Callahan, Robert Engle, and Sam Montgomery.

Pitcher Velo’s Team 2:

Dante D’Andrea, RHP, Westerville North, 2015: FB 77-78, CB 64-67, CH 67-70

Matt Bogan, RHP, Mechanicsburg, 2014: FB 74-77, CB 66-69, CH 69

Robert Engle, RHP, Newark Catholic, 2015: FB 77-80, SL 65-67

Alex Harter, RHP, Liberty Benton, 2015: FB 79-81, CB 66-68, CH 62

Nicholas Jeffers, RHP, River Valley, 2014: FB 75-78, SL 65, CH 71

Cody Lyons, RHP, Bellefontaine, 2014: FB 78-81, CB 65-68, CH 75

Doug Connor, RHP, Pataskala, 2015: FB 80-82, CB 70-73, CH 72-73


Top Performers Team 3:

2015 graduates Jason Large (St. Vincent St. Mary) and Joseph Mezzanotte (Bellbrook) led the team both recording multiple singles in Game 2.

Pickerington Central’s Michael Barnabei (2014) showed a strong right handed bat, as he hit a sharp single to left, and smoked a ball right at the third baseman.  Barnabei also showed very impressive speed running a home to first in 4.18 seconds.

Collin Floyd, Racco DiLauro, Spencer Bycynski, and Gino Demarino showed a good approach at the plate and each came away with singles.

2015 graduate Josh Rogers (Bellbrook) recorded the highest velocity on the day.  His fastball sat 81-83 mph and topped out at 85 mph.  Rogers also showed two different breaking balls; a 68 mph curve, and 76 mph slider.

Left-handed pitcher Braun Miller (Sandusky Perkins, 2015) was one of the top lefties to take the hill.  Miller’s fastball sat 80-83 with some late life in the zone.  His secondary pitch was a 72-76 mph slider.  Out of ten hitters Miller punched out seven.

Pitcher Velo’s Team 3:

Braun Miller, LHP, Sandusky Perkins, 2015: FB 80-83, SL 72-76

Brian Jewsikow, RHP, Springboro, 2015: FB 75-78, CB 60-61

Racco DiLauro, RHP, Akron Springfield, 2015: FB 75-77, CB 69-71

Ben Beachy, RHP, Springboro, 2015: FB 75-78, CB 61

Collin Floyd, LHP, Akron Springfield, 2015: FB 78-82, CB 64-68, CH 73

Michael Barnabei, LHP, Pickerington Central, 2014: FB 79-82, CB 65-70, CH 66-68

Josh Rogers, RHP, Bellbrook, 2015: FB 81-85 CB 68 SL 76


Top Performers Team 4:

Wayne high school’s Michael Warden (2015) stood out as one of the better all around players attending the prospect program.  The right-handed hitter uses the entire field, and hit two singles in Sunday's game.  In the outfield Warden showed good actions taking good routes to balls hit his way.

Matthew Matthaes (Olentangy Liberty, 2014) displayed a solid right-handed bat.  Matthaes shows good use of his lower half and looks to be a middle of the order bat.  He stroked a single to left field in the game.

Chase Antle (Grove City, 2015) had an impressive outing on the mound as he threw the 1st and 3rd inning.  His fastball sat 82-84 with a 67 mph curveball to go with.  Antle has a come at you kind of attitude as he throws on a noticeable downward plane.  He also featured a 74 mph changeup.

Blake Sells (Olentangy Orange, 2015), and Zach Santoro (Clinton Massie, 2015) squared the ball up in nearly all of their at bats.  Both recorded singles in the game.

Dakota Hawkins, Tyler Neal, and Joseph McGuinness each came away with a single to right field.

Pitcher Velo’s Team 4:

Chase Antle, RHP, Grove City, 2015: FB 82-84, CB 67, CH 74

Blake Sells, LHP, Olentangy Orange, 2015: FB 75-78, CB 66-69

Grant Helber, RHP, Olentangy, 2014: FB 74-77, CB 59-60, CH 72

Anthony Crow, RHP, Bishop Fenwick, 2015: FB 74-77, CB 60-63, CH 67-68

Evan Skinner, RHP, Grove City, 2015: FB 76-78

Nick Emery, RHP, Olentangy, 2014: FB 77-80, CB 63-69 CH 70-72


Top Performers Team 5:

2016 graduate Jack Schaller (Bowling Green) had the best day at the plate for Team 5.  Schaller went 3 for 3 on the day, all being singles. 

Jaret Montenery (Spencerville, 2018) is an interesting prospect.  He was the youngest player at the prospect program, but was able to hold his own on the field.  His best at bat included a single, which he stretched into a double, showing off his good speed.

Spencer Howell (Oakwood, 2015) showed a good approach at the plate, and pulled a double down the left field line.

Right-handed pitcher Jaret Edwards (St. Edward, 2016) looked impressive on the mound.  Edwards’ fastball sat 81-84 with arm-side run.  To pair with the fastball, he featured a 66-68 mph 11/5 tilt breaking ball. 

Pitcher Velo’s Team 5:

Jared Mitchener, LHP, Wilmington, 2015: FB 68-70, CB 59-60

Jaret Edwards, RHP, St. Edward, 2016: FB 81-84, CB 66-68

Trevor Anderson, RHP, Lima Shawnee, 2015: FB 74-76, CB 56-60, CH 69

Hunter Carson, RHP, Otsego, 2016: FB 80-84, CB 67-69

Josh Carver, RHP, Bowsher, 2015: FB 73-76, CB 62-63

Matt Wilch, LHP, River Valley, 2015: FB  76-78, CB 67-69

Hogan Pash, RHP, Bowling Green, 2015: FB 76-79, CB 64-66, CH 69-71

Korey Wright, RHP, Hamilton Township, 2014: FB 80-83, CB 68-70


Top Performers Team 6

Sam Grodhaus (Dublin Jerome, 2016) had a strong day at the dish in Sunday's game.  The right-handed hitter showed good knowledge of the strike zone, and stroked two singles.

Josh Clark (Zanesville, 2015), and Mitch Kelley (Marysville, 2016) both added singles that were driven into the outfield. 

Right-handed pitcher Alex Wright (Logan Elm, 2016) was the strongest pitcher on Team 6.  Wright sat 81-84 mph with a 67-73 mph breaking ball.  His fastball showed heavy run proving tough on right-handed hitters. 

An interesting left handed pitcher for Team 6 was Blaine Warhula (Wayne, 2015).  His fastball sat 77-80 with light running action.  Warhula featured two offspeed pitches; a 61-62 curveball with good depth, and a 70-74 mph changeup.

Pitcher Velo’s Team 6:

Alex Wright, RHP, Logan Elm, 2016: FB 81-84, CB 67-73, KN 65

Austin Cline, RHP, Ben Logan, 2015: FB 74-77, CB 68-69

Carson Glover, LHP, St. Charles, 2016: FB 67-70

Chase Beam, RHP, Highland, 2016: FB 70-73, CB 64

Zackery Arnold, RHP, Olentangy Liberty, 2016: FB 68-71, CB 61-63

Thomas Fleser, RHP, Big Walnut, 2016: FB CB CH

Blaine Warhula, LHP, Wayne, 2015: FB 77-80, CB 61-62, CH 70-74

Mitch Kelley, RHP, Marysville, 2016: FB 71-75, CB 62

Josh Clark, RHP, Zanesville, 2015: FB 76-79, CB 68, CH 72