Prep Baseball Report

Previewing the Elite Prospect Showcase: The Outfielders



By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

Gabe WitmerThere is less than two weeks until the culminating event of the fall, the Elite Prospect Showcase. Registrations for the event will not close until October 29, but today we take a look at two of the top outfield prospects that are scheduled to attend.

Gabe Witmer (Twin Valley HS) is ranked No. 78 in the PA Class of 2015 and runs a 6.95 60-yard dash. The 5-foot-9, 150-pound OF has good range and a strong 84 mph arm. The junior also tops out in the low 80's from the mound. Witmer showed the ability to barrel the baseball consistently during his round of batting practice and went 2-for-6 during game play at the Top Prospect Games in June.

J.J. BledayJ.J. Bleday (Titusville HS), ranked No. 2 in PA and No. 15 in the PBR combined Class of 2016 rankings, has been previewed already as a pitcher and has the athleticism to be a legitimate two-way prospect. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound lefty has shown an 85 mph arm from the outfield and an 89 mph bat exit velocity at the plate. He is a long strider that shows effortless actions in the outfield, but covers a lot of territory quickly. Bleday has a natural lift to his left-handed swing that produces backspin and carry to both gaps. While he is likely to follow in his brother Adam's (Virgina freshman) footsteps as a pitcher at the next level, the possibility does exist that schools will recruit him as a two-way threat.


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