Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 6 Providence Catholic

Alex Alberico, RHP/OF, 2022: Alberico is a highly-touted uncommitted sophomore who should have the opportunity to impact the varsity club this spring. Alberico’s best trait is a strong right-handed arm but he may get to compete in the outfield as well at some point. Alberico emerged on the mound at the PBR Illinois Limited Series and earned an opportunity as one of the few 2022 pitchers to represent Team Illinois at the Future Games. 

Below is a report and video from the 2019 Future Games:

2019 Future Games: 6-foot, 188-pound, right-handed pitcher, strong lower half, well-proportioned frame. One of the strongest arms in the Illinois’ 2022 class. Was one of two 2022 arms on Team Illinois. Simple delivery, posts into back leg, rides back hip down the mound, works on-line, lands square and will spin off on finish at times. Arm works long, clean and ultra-quick out front; high ¾ to over-the-top slot. Extremely impressive one-inning stint in the first game of the week. Worked a perfect inning with one strikeout and two flyouts. Showed advanced feel for his three-pitch mix throughout. Fastball comes out of the hand clean, four-seam life up in the zone, sat 86-88 mph. Went to the curveball in any count, high-volume of strikes, feel, 11/5 shape, tight spin, 72-74 mph. Also, showed feel for a changeup at the bottom of the zone, 75 mph.

Alex Alberico (7.31.19)

What role Alberico could play this year on the mound remains to be seen but he has the power arm that could play in the back-end of a bullpen. He also has a strong lower half that should help him maintain velocity and stuff if he were stretched out and used as a starter. Regardless, Alberico is one of many talented pieces Coach Smith will have to choose from this spring. 

X-FACTOR

Ben Vitas, INF/RHP, 2020: Vitas, a Central Michigan commit, will be relied on heavily this spring for the Celtics. The 6-foot, 165-pound, two-way prospect, should be one of the top arms in the rotation and will also play an infield spot when not on the bump. With the graduation of ace RHP Bryce Barnett (Arizona State commit), the Celtics will be looking for someone to fill those shoes. Vitas may not have to be the only arm staff to do so, but his ability to be a go-to arm as well as a reliable position player will be crucial to the 2020 season.

On the mound, Vitas does not over power with his stuff but he is as polished as they come, understands how to pitch, has a feel for all of his offerings and also will have three years of varsity experience. He has a clean arm, sits anywhere from 83-85 mph with hard arm-side-run that he can work to either side of the plate and has more velocity to come. Vitas also throws a sharp, tight breaking ball at 73-75 mph with swing-and-miss potential.

OUTLOOK

As you can see by the “Top Players” listed above, the Celtics have one of the deepest and most talented rosters in the state. Despite losing a couple of high-end talents due to graduation, the bulk of the roster returns with seven starting position players as well as six arms who saw time last season. Besides that, the Celtics have plenty of young talent working their way through the system ready to add even more depth and talent if needed.

One of the key pieces Providence will look to fill from last season is on the mound with the graduation of ace RHP Bryce Barnett. The aforementioned, RHP/INF Ben Vitas will play a role in doing so but he won’t be alone. Fellow senior RHP/OF Ryan Manikowski (Creighton commit) has the stuff and experience to give the Celtics a senior-laden, one-two punch at the top of the rotation. Manikowski has dynamic stuff including arguably the best slider in the class that he is not afraid to show off. He also has a whippy arm, fastball that has been up to 88 mph and seemingly much more in the tank.

Ryan Manikowski (5.22.19)

Alongside Vitas, Manikowski and sophomore RHP Alberico, mentioned above as a newcomer to watch, there is a host of other arms who will add depth and fight for pivotal roles. Four senior arms to watch for are RHP’s Daniel Dombrowski (Benedictine), Gustavo Gamboa (uncommitted), Aidan Goggins (Lincoln Land JC) and Ken Middleton (Parkland JC). 

A couple of juniors in the mix should be RHP’s Kyle Hussey and Cain Headrick. Headrick is a strong-armed position player, who can play all over the diamond but also opened some eyes when he hopped on the mound at an event this winter. Headrick, an uncommitted 5-foot-11, 180-pound junior, sat 86-88 with the makings of serviceable off-speed. With the depth listed above, they may not need Headrick on the mound but an 86-88 mph arm to have in your back pocket is a nice luxury to have. 

A freshman who emerged this winter as someone to watch in the coming years, especially on the mound, was RHP/INF Ryan Hussey. Hussey has an easy, athletic and quick arm that sat 81-82 mph, touching 83 and projects for much more velocity to come as he fills out his 5-foot-11, 160-pound frame. Hussey also throws a curveball with depth on an 11/5 plane as well as a deceptive changeup with feel down in the zone.

Positionally, the Celtics look to have just as much depth as the pitching staff, including six returning starters. They do not have star-studded talent up-and-down the lineup but they should be a lineup full of tough outs and players who know how to handle the bat. Vitas and Manikowski will both factor into the lineup when they are not on the mound. Alongside them should be seniors, INF Jake Hesselman, INF Brendan Slota (Lindenwood), OF Luke Pell and INF Jake Mucha, all of whom bring experience from last year. Some other seniors who will be fighting for spots will be INF Bryce Backal (Wisconsin-Whitewater), INF Mitch Bahnaman (Lewis) and INF George Pavlopoulos (Dubuque).

Junior Ryan O’Neil returns at shortstop after starting as a sophomore last season. Fellow juniors C Jake Rybka, UTIL Cain Headrick, INF/RHP Kyle Hussey, INF Justin Janowski and 1B Brant Singler are all in the mix as well. 

Waiting in the wings of all of the aforementioned talent is freshman SS Ryan Jefferson. Jefferson is an athletic left-handed hitter and one of the top defensive shortstops, in regards to freshmen, that we have seen to date. Jefferson has a smoothness and fluidity to all parts of his game, can make all the plays defensively and is surely a name that will make noise in years to come. 

Ryan Jefferson (2.16.20)

BOTTOM LINE

Reading through all of the names that could impact the Celtics this spring could make one dizzy. The amount of depth and experience is the biggest strength of the 2020 club. Sprinkle in plenty of talent to go along with that depth and you have an extremely dangerous team that should have high expectations this spring.

It may take a while to figure out roles for all of the different pieces at play but if it comes together, they will be a team nobody will want to square off against in a one-and-done playoff format. A format that the Celtics are no stranger at conquering.