Prep Baseball Report

2017 PBR Future Games: Previewing Team Pennsylvania Position Players





By Greg Williams

Pennsylvania Director of Scouting
@pbrpennsylvania

This one-of-a-kind event features the best uncommitted Class of 2019 prospects and select 2020 prospects from our 30-plus state coverage area. The Future Games will take place on August 2 - August 5 (Wednesday-Saturday) at Grand Park, a state-of-the-art 22-field baseball complex located in Westfield, IN, just north of Indianapolis.

The Prep Baseball Report Future Games is the premier summer scouting event for Class of 2019 prospects and select 2020 prospects. Last year, more than 130 colleges from all over the country were in attendance. The Prep Baseball Report services are subscribed to by more than 700 colleges and pro scouts.

Every player in the PBR Future Games will be outfitted in adidas uniform, cleats and hat. Players will also receive maximum visibility from college coaches all over the country, in addition to being promoted through the Prep Baseball Report multimedia platforms.

Each state team will play three games Thursday through Saturday. On Wednesday, all position players will be put through a showcase workout in which they will run 60s, take batting practice and be evaluated at their primary position.

Today we conclude a preview of those prospects that will represent the Keystone State as members of Team Pennsylvania.

Team Pennsylvania position players

Bryce Behmer C / 1B / Lancaster Catholic, PA / 2020

Chance to be a premier defensive catcher. Solid 6-foot 180-pound build. Features a soft, strong glove hand when receiving. Quick feet and exchange, short arm action, upper and lower half work in sync. Throws are accurate with easy carry (75 mph arm strength from the crouch) while logging workout pop times of 2.00-2.08. Logged one in-game pop at 2.15 and impressively threw out a would-be basestealer from his knees on a pitch that rode down toward the left-handed batter's box; both throws were right on the bag. Right-handed hitter starts from an open stance and strides to square. Simple hand action in his load and took solid swings throughout game action. Ability to drive the baseball should come as his body physically matures. Posted 84 mph exit velocity and ran a 8.27 60-yard dash.


Mark Black C / OF / Serra Catholic, PA / 2020

5-foot-10, 175-pound right-handed hitter starts from a wide, square stance and initiates his swing with a heel-raise stride. Balanced swing with short load. Fires hands through the hitting zone with intent and showed ability to create back spin. Registered an 89 mph bat exit velocity and has run a 7.44 60-yard dash. Showcased pop times of 2.05-2.14 with 73 mph arm strength out of the crouch. Incremental improvements continue behind the plate. Still shows some stiffness, some of which can be attributed to work in the weight room and addition of 50 pounds to his frame over the past two years.


Nolan Bolton 3B / SS / Christopher Dock Mennonite, PA / 2019

Right-handed hitter with strength in his 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame (89 mph exit velocity). Starts from a slightly open stance and strides slightly closed. Pre-swing hand rhythm helps maintain some looseness, while he showed good balance during game action and consistently put solid swings on the baseball. Was not in attendance at day two of the event to run the 60 or get an arm strength reading, but he displayed good feet and arm strength during game play on day one.


Austin Bradbury OF / Cedar Cliff, PA / 2019

Toolsy 6-foot-2, 190-pound athlete. Right-handed hitter starts from an open, upright stance and strides slightly closed. Has bat speed and swings with intent (92 mph exit velocity), although path can get long, as he primarily employs a grip-it-and-rip-it approach in the box. Did show an ability to barrel the baseball to both sides of the field during his BP round. Long strides produced a 6.76 60-yard dash and 4.40 in-game home-to-1B time. Exhibited athletic actions in the outfield with a slingshot arm action that produced 93 mph arm strength.


Nick Breznak LHP / 1B / Lancaster Catholic, PA / 2019

6-foot-2, 175-pound two-way prospect has an athletic, projectable frame that is far from finished developing. Switch-hitter shows similar swing mechanics from both sides of the plate beginning from a square stance while utilizing a leg-lift stride to initiate his swing. Barreled baseballs with back spin from both sides with a 90 mph bat exit velocity. More complete swing from right side currently while he showed difficulties getting off his back leg in his left-hand swing. Ran a 7.46 60-yard dash and showcased athletic actions defensively with 84 mph arm strength across the diamond from first base.


Nick Embleton RHP / OF / East Pennsboro, PA / 2019

6-foot-2, 195-pound two-way prospect was fighting the flu but still impressed working solely as an outfielder at a PBR event in January. The right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and utilizes a leg-lift stride to initiate his swing. He flashed advanced barrel whip (91 mph bat exit velocity) and present power to all fields while creating backspin routinely in a solid round of batting practice. Showcased athletic defensive actions with advanced arm strength (90 mph) while running one of the quickest 60-yard dash times of the day at 6.83.


Kevin Karstetter 3B / SS / State College, PA / 2020

6-foot-2, 195-pound 3B/RHP with good blood lines; brother Ryan was a 19th-round pick of the Tigers out of State JC of Florida this spring. The right-handed hitter has shown power potential (90 mph bat exit velocity) and a projectable frame. Physical build most suited for 3B but has shown soft glove hand and solid footwork at shortstop as well.  7.00 runner has shown 82 mph arm strength across the diamond and broke onto the high school scene this spring hitting .333 with 21 hits in 21 games played as a freshman.


Jayson Kramer OF / Cumberland Valley, PA / 2019

5-foot-11, 170-pound left-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and incorporates a short, leg-lift stride to initiate his swing. Little wasted movement and solid feel for the barrel with a flat barrel path through the zone. Creates some backspin and displayed the ability to drive the baseball to all fields with a bat exit velocity of 83 mph. Ran a 7.28 60-yard dash and showcased solid defensive actions with accurate 79 mph arm strength from the outfield.


Steven Loden 3B / SS / Wissahickon, PA / 2019

6-foot, 190-pound left-handed hitter with projectable frame and present gap power. Current size and foot speed may keep Loden at 3B or eventually see him transition to a corner outfield position on the diamond. Shows athletic defensive actions with ample arm strength to remain in the infield. At the plate, left-handed hitter that starts with a slightly open stance and initiates his swing from a high hands load. Creates above average barrel whip and hits against a stiff front side with the ability to drive both gaps.


Connor Offshack SS / Malvern Prep, PA / 2020

Athletic infielder with good projection. Solid base and strength already present in lower half. Moves around well at shortstop and has an aura of "playmaker" about him. Hits from a crouched stance. Athletic 6-foot, 170-pound frame. Advanced all-around skill set led to ability to be an every day starter as a freshman at Malvern Prep, one of the top private school baseball programs in the mid-atlantic states.


Connor Rakow OF / Franklin Area, PA / 2019

Athletic 6-foot, 175-pound frame and athletic actions across the board make Rakow the a top outfield prospect in this class. Runs a 6.88 60-yard dash, and has showcased 85 mph arm strength from the outfield. Fluid right-handed swing produces an 88 mph bat exit velocity. The right-handed hitter starts from a square stance and utilizes a short, leg-lift stride and solid hip turn to create considerable barrel whip. Rakow gets to extension routinely and shows present gap-to-gap power with an above average feel for the barrel.

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