Prep Baseball Report

Unsigned Senior Spotlight: Ryan Mergener (Portage Central HS)



By Mike Penn
Michigan Director of Scouting

It is a sobering thought for many players in the Class of 2014 that they are now heading into their senior year. I had to ask myself whether it was too early to start labeling players as "unsigned seniors." But the reality is that the summer recruiting scene is in a white-hot glow right now and players in the Class of 2014 should be considered just that: unsigned seniors.

Players from across the state and the region are fielding phone calls for the first time (since July 1) and Top Prospect Games have come and gone.  The grind begins.  

With that in mind, we start a series on our newly minted unsigned seniors leading up to our Unsigned Senior Games in August. Today we start with Ryan Mergener (SS, Portage Central HS).

Mergener has slowly climbed our board.  From the time we first saw Mergener back in the summer of 2012, he has only improved.  

Since that time he attended our prospect camp and few other events, including Top Prospect Games.  Mergener has made a name for himself and been one of the fastest risers in the class.  The scrappy Mergener runs well at 6.90 in the 60.  He has plenty of arm strength at 83 mph across the diamond. 

Most importantly, Mergener seems to always have a knack to find the barrel during games.  He consistently makes hard contact and handles the bat well.  Seemingly he is the prototypical two-hole hitter who handles the bat well and can do all of the little things a ballplayer needs to do. 

Mergener with his consistency of play, versatility and high level of exposure this summer, Mergener has started to pick up attention from several Division I and II schools.