2018 Spring Scout Blog (Week 5)

Week 5 (April 30 - May 6)

2019 RHP Mike Limoncelli (Horseheads / Pittsburgh Commit)
Wiry frame with strength and athleticism oozing from his 6-foot frame. During the game Limoncelli showed premium arm-speed on both his fastball and curveball. The fastball sat 87-89 (peaking 91 MPH) with arm-side run at times. His curveball is devastating, sitting 77-78 with late tight shape, a pitch he shows a high level of confidence with.

2019 RHP @mikelimoncelli3 gets a strikeout in the 3rd inning of work.. the @Pitt_BASE commitment sat 87-89 (peaked 91) for most of game w/ an advanced sharp breaking curve at 76-78 pic.twitter.com/mCFF4lEnoV

— PBR New York (@PBRNewYork) May 1, 2018

2018 RHP Alex Bardo (Corning / Cortland Commit)
Full frame, commanded the zone with fastball, showed signs of arm-strength sitting 83-85 MPH with late sink, groundball contact type of pitcher. He showed a slurve type breaking ball that sat 68-71 with average shape. Very good looking arm that's headed to Cortland next year.

2018 RHP @bardoa15 w/ a strong performance tonight.. the @Cortlandbball commitment was around the zone all night, FB sat 84-85 w/ late sink, at times an 11/5 70 mph curve.. #BeSeen pic.twitter.com/40VtW6ru0K

— PBR New York (@PBRNewYork) May 2, 2018

2018 C Trevor Henemann (Corning / Canisius College Commit)
Handled Limoncelli of Horseheads with ease, soft hands with some lateral quickness, pop times in between innings were 2.06 with signs of arm-strength. In the box, took an 89 mph fastball 380 plus feet over the right-center field fence showing high-level bat-speed and strength. Headed to Canisius College next year and he will make an impact right away.

88 almost in the ?hole.. next pitch 89 mph and @Trevor_H_10 destroys it.. @GriffsBaseball @CPPBaseball @CorningHawks pic.twitter.com/i4bxYVqy8h

— Dan Cevette (@DanCevette) May 2, 2018

2018 RHP Shane Hammond (Union Endicott)
Appeared to be one of the better overall players on the field. On the mound, compact delivery from his 5-foot-9 sturdy frame. Fastball sat 82-84 MPH most of the game with late action and commanded both sides of the plate. Shows an above average breaking ball in the low-70's, hard shape and threw it for strikes when needed and in the dirt as a strikeout pitch. He also looked very loose and comfortable in the batters box driving the ball in two of his three at-bats.

2018 RHP Shane Hammond w/ a strike out early in the game.. Quick arm, several 84s, also continued to show a devastating CB through his outing.. Uncommitted and a bulldog.. @UEHSBaseball pic.twitter.com/codjGnmgHH

— PBR New York (@PBRNewYork) May 1, 2018

2018 SS Mason Ryan (Union Endicott / Elmira College Commit)
Best defensive player on the field, athletic actions with confidence. Loved his approach in the batters box, open stance and compact, loose hands and showed the ability to drive the baseball. Good looking player on both sides of the ball.

2018 RHP Arlo Marynczkl (Bethlehem / Siena Commit)
6-foot-6 200 pound right-handed pitcher. Pitches from a slightly higher than 3/4 slot. The fastball touched 86 MPH, mostly sat 84-85 MPH. The pitch has arm side run and he does a solid job of commanding the fastball. The breaking ball is 68-69 and big. the pitch is sweepy, breaks too much and is very hard to control. No sign of a changeup. The delivery is online and he stays with his arm. The frame is very projectable and he is going to throw gas at some point. The arm is loose, long and works freely. I really like the arm action. The secondary stuff needs to improve.

2019 RHP Cole Hedden (Niskayuna)
6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed pitcher. The fastball has arm side run, sitting at 80-82 MPH. The breaking ball has a very good shape to it, 68-69 mph with depth. The changeup is a good pitch, 66-68 mph, needs to throw it with better hand speed. The delivery is online, only from the stretch. The arm is short on the backside and quick out front. Added some pounds to this guy and he could be a serious arm. The tracking of the front shoulder comes offline at times. Competes well and works quick and aggressively.

2018 LHP Dominic Dirado (Vestal / Binghamton University Commit)
We got our second look of the season at Dirado versus Maine Endwell. He pitched 4 innings, yielded 1 hit, 1 R, 1 ER, 9 K, and 2 BB. He used his fastball, change-up, and slider regularly, with the change-up being consistently effective. Velos were 84 to 86 on his FB topping out at 87.  His changeup was at 76-77 and slider at 75.

2019 RHP Kyle Taborne (Vestal)
Another good look at Taborne.  He scatter 5 hits through 4 innings with 6 Ks and 2 BBs against a good hitting Horseheads team. Taborne’s fastball showed an increase in speed from earlier in the season at 85-86 and topped out at 87 MPH.  He worked it effectively low and inside for called strikes. He complimented the FB with a change at 73 for swings and misses and a curve at 62 for called 3rd strikes.

2018 OF Devon Brown (Vestal)
The 6-foot-one 170 pound Brown (R/R) played all 3 outfield positions in his 5 games this week.  Over 5 games this week Brown had the hottest bat for Vestal. He was 11 for 16 with 3 2B, 3 BB, 8 R, 3 RBI, 1 K hitting from the 9th spot in the lineup.  A speedy runner, Brown will be playing wide receiver for Hartwick College next year.

2019 OF/P Ryan Kerley (Vestal)
This compact 5-foot-8 170 pound OF played all 3 outfield positions in his 5 games for Vestal this week as well as DH.  Kerley throws right and bats left and has fence clearing power to the pull side. Hitting leadoff, this week Kerley was 10 for 16, 3 3B, 2 2B, 6 R, 8 RBI, 5 BB, and 1 K.  He continued to demonstrate power to both gaps. A true lefty stick in the leadoff spot.

2018 SS Owen Dando (Vestal)
The 5-foot-11 160 pound shortstop remained hot at the plate from week to week.  In 5 games of work at shortstop, Dando was 11 for 20, 1 3B, 6 R, 6 RBI, and 1 K.  At SS, Dando (R/R) continues to play solid defense maintains .970 fielding percentage.

2018 RHP/INF Dylan Richards (Johnson City / Keuka College Commit)
The 6-foot 190 pound senior (R/R) pitched and played shortstop. Richards exhibited tremendous patience at the plate.  He walked 4 times and scored a run, inducing 21 pitches from the pitchers he faced.

2018 SS/RHP Nolan Tofte (Owego)
Tofte (R/R) played shortstop in our second look at him.  He was 2 for 4, 1 R and had 2 of Owego’s 4 hits in the game against Vestal.  He hit 2 line drive singles and covers the plate well.

2018 1B Frank Wayman III (Horseheads / Herkimer CC Commit)
Physical 6-foot-2 191 pound first baseman (L/L) can swing it.  Hitting in the 3 hole, Wayman went 3 for 3, HR, 2 R, 3 RBI, BB for Horseheads against solid pitching.  He drove a 2-0 86 mph fastball on a line over the right center fence for a 3 run HR.

2018 OF/LHP Brayden O’Connell (Horseheads)
O’Connell (L/L) is 5-foot-9 150 pound and plays OF and  pitches. Hitting in the 6th spot in the lineup, he went 1 for 2, HR, 3 R, 3 RBI, HP, SAC bunt, and SB for Horseheads.  He drove a 1-0 85 mph fastball well over the 377 foot CF fence for a 3 run HR. O’Connell is a sub 6.8 second 60 runner and covers gap to gap in the outfield.  

2018 RHP/1B  Nate Toms (Colonie /Siena Commit)
6-foot-4 frame with athletic movements and a strong build.  The Siena College commit was signed as a RHP but will get a chance to swing the bat at the Division 1 level.  Went 4-5, 5 RBI’s with a double and 3 run HR against Shen.

2018 RHP Salvatore Fusco (Colonie / UMass Lowell Commit)
The 5-foot-9, 165 pound RHP threw 5 innings with 11 K’s.  FB was consistently upper 80’s, sitting 85-88 MPH. Thin frame with high leg kick and repeatable delivery.  Throws with high ¾ (almost over the top) motion and good arm side movement. Impressive 92 pitch outing.

2018 SS, Matthew Wimmer (Columbia)
Versatile middle infielder, went 2-3, 2 RBI’s vs. Shen with a double and HR.  Went 1-3 with a HR vs. Shaker.  Consistent defensive player with some pop in the bat.

2020 LHP Bryce Reimer (Sullivan West)
Durable frame in 6-foot-2 220 pound range. The LHP repeats his delivery from a ¾ arm slot. Showed some quickness in the arm and was able to work his FB to both sides of the plate at 79-81 MPH, touching 82 MPH. Flashed an above average breaking ball with late depth and 2-to-8 shape. Showed a same plane change up in between innings but did not go to it during game action. Also worked a cutter in the mix that would benefit from more of a fastball approach with it’s release.

Scouting Director @CoachJed was scouring the snowy Catskill Mountains and came across NYS Games invitee 2020 LHP Bryce Reimer (Sullivan West) 79-81, touching 82 MPH on a wet 39 degree day. Big time 2-to-8 CB with late depth at 67-68 MPH. Durable 6-foot-2 220 lbs.#shapethestate pic.twitter.com/ZQtIxhmLh5

— PBR New York (@PBRNewYork) May 1, 2018

2021 3B/OF Jacob Yager (Tri-Valley)
Athletic, wiry frame with squared off shoulders and room for continued physical gains at 6-1 185 pounds. Did not see much action defensively but shows a relaxed approach at the plate with decent bat speed for a freshman. Turned around an 82 MPH FB for a long triple to right center; battles in the box, can work deep counts.

2019 INF Luke Gold (Ballston Spa / Boston College Commit)
Sets up wide with his fee and the bottom half is under control throughout the swing, The path is flat to contact, slight length and good power potential. The hands work fluid during the swing and he shows the ability to hammer spin pitches. Connected on two 2-run homeruns.

2019 RHP Mike Poirier (Ballston Spa)
Athletic 6-foot-0 right-hander who pitches out of a deliberate lift and go. The arm slot is slightly above 3/4 and the arm works clean. Everything he threw has movement and sink. FB sat 81-83 MPH. The slider is small and shows well when he stays through it at 73-74 MPH. The changeup has the right action, needs more consistency to be a competitive pitch but he has a feel for it. Really has an idea of how to pitch, with strength, a long toss program he can reach his ceiling.

2018 RHP Tony Poveda (Guilderland / Oswego St. Commit)
Fastball sat 86-87 MPH; slider is 78-79 with plus action. Also works a CB at 74-75 MPH . Very few changeups in game. The delivery is online with his feet and the arm comes at the hitter at a slightly higher than 3/4 delivery. The arm is quick and the delivery is repeated at a quick tempo. Shows good athleticism on the mound and quick feet on the pick. The slide step is used in the stretch, as he is 1.2 to the plate out of the stretch.

2019 SS Santino Rosso (Victor)
5-foot-10 middle infielder with impressive skill set; Offensively - quick to the ball, keeps bat on level path through the strike zone, makes intelligent adjustments during at bats; consistent barrel contact, has gap power; quick out of the box, pest on the basepaths. Defensively - shows consistent pre-pitch movement, clean and agile footwork, soft hands, sure glove, smooth and easy transition between glove and throwing hand, strong arm across the infield.

2018 OF Louie Schafer (Victor)
6-foot-2 corner outfielder with impressive potential at the plate; strong, with powerful set of hands, good plate coverage, quick hands allow him to turn on inside pitch, keeps bat on level path through strike zone with upper cut after contact, makes consistent barrel contact, uses lower body to generate power; Defensively gets a good read on contact off the bat, runs intelligent lines to the ball, satisfactory arm.

2019 2B/SS Ryan Lukas (Victor)
5-foot-10 middle infielder with disciplined approach; Offensively he stays short to the ball with good plate coverage, keeps bat on level path through the strike zone, uses all fields with gap power.  Defensively he showed soft hands, sure glove, smooth and easy transfer to throwing hand with strong arm, notable pre-pitch movement, clean and agile footwork.

2019 RHP Owen Delforte (Victor)
5-foot-9 RHP who commands a variety of pitches; strike thrower with repeatable motion, effectively changes eye levels on hitters with an upper 70s fastball, can work both sides of the plate; tight spin on 10-to-4 breaking ball that he can throw in any count, consistently induces weak contact; at the plate he stays short to the ball, keeps bat on level path through the strike zones, uses all fields with quick hands.

2019 OF Sam DiGiacomo (Victor)
5-foot-10 disciplined outfielder. Lead-off man who makes consistent barrel contact, uses all fields with gap power, short to the ball with quick hands, effectively uses counter rotation between upper body and lower torso to create power at the plate. In the outfield he gets good reads on contact, uses speed to make difficult plays look easy, sure glove, strong arm.

2019 SS/RHP Chad Gartland (Irondequoit)
6-foot-0 athletic middle infielder and starter; On the mound he shows clean arm action out of ¾ slot, late-run on his fastball induces weak contact, induces weak contact with second breaking pitch that he uses to get outs, can work both sides of the plate and effectively changes eye level, demonstrates positive hip tilt at the balance point; Offensively - impressive ability to blend hitting for average with power; quick hands with advanced plate coverage, makes consistent barrel contact, keeps bat on level path through the strike zone, uses all fields with gap power; At SS he flashed impressive range, capable of using backhand at short to take away hits in the hole, strong enough arm to make play across infield, sure glove, smooth and easy transfer from glove to throwing hand.

2019 1B/LHP Nick Serce (Irondequoit)
Powerful starter with intriguing potential; clean and easy arm action, creates weak contact by using height to create downward action, works both sides of the plate impressively, effective changes speeds to keep opposing hitters off-balance; At the plate powerful pull hitter, strong and quick hands allow to turn on inside pitch, disciplined enough to protect outer half, makes consistent barrel contact, effectively uses counter rotation between upper and lower half to create power.

2019 C Jackson DeJohn (Irondequoit)
6-foot-2 catcher with impressive skill set; strong, quick hands which he uses to drive ball to all fields, short to the ball with compact swing, keeps bat on level path through the strike zone with slight upper cut, effectively uses lower body to create power. Behind the plate the underrated backstop has all the necessary tools, sure glove, makes fluid adjustment to backhand, smooth and easy transfer from glove to throwing hand, strong and accurate arm, clean footwork.