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Eastern PA College Prospect Showcase Analysis: Class of 2016

January 25, 2014

By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

This week has been devoted to analyzing the talent in attendance at the Eastern PA College Prospect Showcase held on January 20 at The Phelps School. Today we conclude our analysis by taking a look at the pool of 19 prospects from the Class of 2016.

Top 10 Prospects

Danny Long1. SS/RHP Danny Long (Pennridge HS)

Long showed well in all facets of the game and demonstrated signs of a big upside that make him the Top Prospect in this class at the event. He posting a 7.03 in the 60-yard dash, the tops at the event on a very slow surface. Long flashed some bat speed and quick twitch that indicates power potential (89 mph exit velo), even though his swing also has a bit of stiffness right now. In the field, the 5-foot-11, 180-pounder's actions and arm (80 mph) are solid, although he would benefit from fielding the ball further out front. On the mound, his 80-82 fastball has some arm side action, while he showed a decent feel for his changeup at 66 mph. He will need to tighten up his 65 mph, 11/5 breaking curveball.

2. C Ryan Guckin (Avon Grove HS)

Guckin exhibited solid receiving skills and a very good feel for deadening dirt balls softly in front of him, while popping times of 2.10-2.15 to second base. He showcase a 71 mph arm, a clean transfer and quick feet on throws from the crouch. The 5-foot-8, 175-pound right-handed hitter starts from an open stance with a high hands load and strides to slightly open. In his round of batting practice, he routinely attacked the baseball (88mph exit velo), showed a feel for the barrel, and got good extension through contact.

3. 1B Billy Brittingham (Germantown Academy)

Brittingham showcased an 81 mph bat exit velo and the ability to barrel the baseball regularly with some pop in his bat. The left-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and strides closed. Brittingham showcased the ability to drive the baseball to all fields. The 5-foot-11, 205-pound sophomore showcased agility around the bag at 1B and a 71 mph arm across the diamond.

4. SS/2B Nate Fassnacht (Ephrata HS)

Fassnacht showcased one of the stronger infield arms of the day at 80 mph across the diamond. The 5-foot-9, 155-pound middle infielder showed a soft glove hand and the ability to pay through the baseball. The switch-hitter displayed quiet actions from both sides of the plate that allowed him to routinely square the baseball to all fields. His dominant right-side swing produced a bat exit velocity of 80 mph and the ability to drive the baseball on occasion. Fassnacht's left-handed swing is flatter, and a bit longer at 74 mph. The sophomore showcased improving foot speed at 7.30 (60-yard dash).

5. C Justin Smith (Warwick HS)

Despite a hitch that creates some length, Smith exhibited a fairly smooth stroke with some bat speed and the ball came off his bat well when he stayed through contact. The left-handed hitter's hands worked well allowing him to consistently barrel the baseball with a bat exit velocity of 78 mph. The 5-foot-11, 185-pounder posted pop times of 2.00-2.13 on throws of 70 mph out of the crouch, even though his over-the-top slot and upright throwing stance limited his carry.

6. OF/C Jared Urban (Coatesville HS)

In his round of batting practice, Urban flashed very good bat speed with a smooth swing and extension through contact. The 5-foot-9, 160-pound left-handed hitter showed a high hands load, quiet actions and the ability to make consistent hard contact with a bat exit velocity of 73 mph. Urban ran a 7.30 60-yard dash and showcased a 70 mph arm from his outfield position. The sophomore, who also catches, popped times of 2.13-2.18 on throws of 70 mph from the crouch and would benefit from raising his slot to improve his accuracy and prevent his throws from tailing.

7. OF Daniel Zamarin (Germantown Academy)

Zamarin is a right-handed hitter that showed a very quiet approach at the plate from a slightly open stance. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound sophomore used a high hands load and quick hands to barrel the baseball routinely with a bat exit velocity of 84 mph. Zamarin showcased an accurate 77 mph throwing arm with solid straight line carry from his outfield position.

8. OF Ryan Jacobs (Boyertown HS)

Jacobs has an athletic 6-foot, 180-pound frame and ran a 7.40 60-yard dash on a slow track. The right-handed hitter starts from an open stance and strides to closed. He utilized a high hands load and an 82 mph bat exit velocity to barrel the baseball consistently in a solid round of batting practice. Jacobs showed athletic actions and straight line carry to throws of 79 mph from his outfield position.

9. C Tim DiLoreto (Christopher Dock Mennonite HS)

DiLoreto is a 5-foot-9, 150-pound catcher that shows promise. The right-handed hitter uses a slight leg lift trigger from a square stance to generate barrel whip with a bat exit velocity of 76 mph. DiLoreto showed balance throughout his swing and stayed inside the baseball well to repeatedly barrel the baseball to all fields. He showed athletic actions behind the plate and above average blocking abilities. DiLoreto ran a 7.56 60-yard dash and showcased pop times of 2.16-2.25 on throws of 73 mph from the crouch.

10. SS/2B Riley McGinley (Owen J. Roberts HS)

McGinley is a right-handed hitter that starts from a square stance and stays inside the baseball well. The 5-foot-8, 145-pound middle infielder showcased a short swing path and the ability to barrel the baseball routinely with a bat exit velocity of 70 mph. McGinley ran a 7.53 60-yard dash and showcased a 74 mph arm across the diamond. He displayed a soft glove hand, the ability to play the ball on the move and a knack for throwing from several arm angles.

best of the rest

LHP/OF Brady Abel (Central York HS)

Abel is a 5-foot-8, 125-pound left-handed hitter that starts from a slightly closed stance. The sophomore showcased a 68 mph bat exit velocity from the tee. Able ran an 8.06 60-yard dash and displayed an accurate 66 mph arm from the outfield. The lefty sat 68-70 from the mound out of a 3/4 arm slot. Abel also commanded a 60 mph 11/7 breaking curveball with tight rotation and a 63 mph changeup that showed some arm side run.

OF Greyson Avots (Conestoga HS)

Avots is a broad shouldered right-handed hitter that showcased an 80 mph bat exit velocity while barreling the baseball frequently. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound sophomore has a tendency to pull the bat head through the zone, but the baseball jumps off his bat when centered. Avots ran a 7.55 60-yard dash and showcased an accurate 76 mph arm from the outfield.

OF Alex Freud (Malvern Prep)

Freud is a right-handed hitter that starts from a slightly open stance. He used a lift-and-replace stride foot and a short swing path to square the baseball often during batting practice with a bat exit velocity of 73 mph. The 5-foot-10, 155-pound sophomore ran a 7.48 60-yard dash and showed an accurate 73 mph arm from his outfield position.

OF Philip Johnson (The Shipley School)

Johnson showcased a slightly open stance and a line drive approach from the right-hand side of the plate. The 5-foot-10, 150-pound sophomore squared the baseball frequently with a bat exit velocity of 73 mph. Johnson ran a 7.69 60-yard dash and displayed an accurate 73 mph arm from the outfield.

SS/2B Kevin Kirk (Coatesville HS)

Kirk is a 5-foot-8, 140-pound right-handed hitter that starts from a square stance with a high hands load. The sophomore showcased a bat exit velocity of 62 mph and squared the baseball frequently with a tendency to pull the bat head through the zone. Kirk ran a solid 7.33 60-yard dash on a slow track and displayed a 67 mph arm across the diamond. He is likely to see continued improvement as he gets stronger and his frame fills out.

SS/2B Kyle Rossi (Central Bucks South HS)

Rossi is a 6-foot-1, 165-pound middle infielder with an athletic frame that showcased good feet and the ability to play through the baseball. His 72 mph arm across the diamond will continue to improve as his frame fills out. Rossi ran a 7.54 60-yard dash and displayed a 78 mph bat exit velocity from the tee. He utilized a high hands load to barrel the baseball frequently using all fields. Although he has a tendency to cast his hands and get a bit long with his swing, he showed signs of some gap power.

2B/OF Tyler Rossi (Central Bucks South HS)

Rossi hits from a square stance with a lift and replace stride foot. The right-handed hitter displayed the ability to square the baseball often during his round of batting practice with a bat exit velocity of 72 mph. Rossi ran a 7.34 60-yard dash and showcased a 68 mph throwing arm from his middle infield position. He demonstrated the ability to play through the baseball and should develop additional arm strength with additional physical growth.

2B/RHP Max Schwartz (Germantown Academy)

Schwartz is a left-handed hitter that showed good rhythm to his swing and a bat exit velocity of 71 mph. The 5-foot-10, 155-pound sophomore starts from a square stance and displayed a flat bat path in consistently barreling the baseball. Schwartz ran an 8.40 60-yard dash and displayed a 69 mph arm across the diamond from his middle infield position. He showed the ability to play the ball on the move with a soft glove hand. Schwartz will need to continue developing arm strength and foot speed in his progression as a prospect.

3B Josh Shultz (New Oxford HS)

Shultz is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound right-handed hitter that showcased a square stance with no stride. He barreled the baseball frequently during his round of batting practice with legitimate power potential to the pull side. Shultz displayed a steadily improving bat exit velocity of 82 mph. The sophomore ran a 7.53 60-yard dash and showed an accurate 71 mph arm across the diamond. Shultz has shown steady development over the past year and appears ready for a solid sophomore season.

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