Prep Baseball Report

New York Games: NYC/Long Island Position Player Analysis



Dan Cevette
Director, New York

The New York Games took place July 7-9, hosted in Rochester NY - allowing over 180 high-level NYS baseball players the chance to be seen on a larger platform. Over 70 colleges and a handful of MLB scouts made their way to Rochester in hopes of uncovering a hidden Gem. Three players have already committed to D1 programs due to their high-end performance at our event and many more are taking visits and weighing college offers.

Here's a look at the NYC/Long Island position player reports from our New York Games:

NYC/Long Island Team

Isaiah Spears, C, John Jay Campus, NY (2016) Strong, thick body standing at 5-foot-7, 195-pounds. Receives pitches with clean and soft glove control, has average footwork and keeps a wide base, arm slot is a high-3/4 and has an average transfer. At the plate is relaxed and slightly open with setup, has a clean and smooth load, takes a short stride to the pitch, hands are compact and strong through the zone, has some uphill tilt with his swing plane and finishes with balanced, athletic look.

Santino Ycaza, C, Brentwood HS, NY (2016) Stands at an athletic 5-foot-9, 170-pounds. Has good feel behind the plate, receives with clean, soft hands, has an average transfer and decent footwork, releases with an over-the-top arm motion and has good arm strength. Starts with a slightly opened stance, uses a fluid load and long stride to the pitch, hands stay short to the ball and shows average bat speed, bat path has some extension and hitter stays balance through the point of contact and finish.

Irvin Cespedes, SS, Lajara Baseball Academy, NY (2016) Has an athletic body and stands at 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. Very rangy and aggressive tendencies in the field, has a great soft glove with extremely quick hands, showed a clean and loose arm action with great arm strength and carry to the target. At the plate was very relaxed and balanced at setup, had a smooth load and a short stride to the pitch, had great bat speed and made solid, compact connection, has some uphill tilt in swing but stays very athletic after the point of contact and into the finish.

Paul Dominguez, MIF, Rocky Point HS, NY (2016) Athletic frame of 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Extremely clean and smooth as a fielder, has a great glove and quick hands, able to move side to side and has good range, good transfer from glove to throwing motion, versatile arm slot with a great arm across the diamond. At the plate starts with a slightly opened stance, takes short stride to the pitch and has fluid load for timing, hands are short and quick through the zone, maintains a level bat path and make consistent contact, has a solid line drive mentality.

Ryan Duda, OF, Shaker HS, NY (2016) Has strong, solid body frame at 5-foot-11, 215-pounds. Showed good approach in the outfield, able to play through the ball well and has good transfer and solid glove work, throws at a high-3/4 arm slot with solid carry to the target. At the plate has a closed stance, takes a short stride, has a very compact and strong swing through the zone, gets long, full extension and shows power potential with consistent solid contact and a slight uphill tilt in swing.

Anthony Mantova, OF, Colonie HS, NY (2016) Athletic, thick body at 5-foot-7, 165-pounds. Showed good approach in the outfield, able to play through the ball well and has good transfer and solid glove work, has good range, throws at a high-3/4 arm slot with solid carry to the target. At the plate shows a very athletic setup and stance, takes a short stride and is fluid with hand movement, hands are short, quick and stay level through the hitting zone, makes solid contact and has a balanced finish.

James Weisman, OF, Rocky Point HS, NY (2017) Has an athletic frame at 5-foot-10, 175-pounds. Has a good feel for position, fields the ball cleanly, soft hands and quick to transfer, shows great range and lateral movement to the ball, good arm action with a high-3/4 arm slot. At the plate is very athletic and relaxed at setup, uses a smooth load and short stride to the pitch, hands are long over the plate with great extension through the zone, has solid projection as a hitter with consistent contact and power potential.

John Tiberia, 3B, Horseheads HS, NY (2017) Solid, athletic frame at 6-foot-0, 185-pounds.  Clean and smooth instincts in the field, has good hands and glove work, has a good transfer with average arm strength, releases at a high -3/4 arm slot and shows great accuracy to target. At the plate begins with a slightly opened stance, takes a long stride to the pitch and has average hand speed through the zone, makes solid contact and has some extension, finishes high but remains balanced after contact.

Angelo Baez, MIF, Mount St. Michael Academy, NY, (2016) At 5-foot-9, 165-pounds has an athletic frame. Has good fielding instincts, very clean with footwork and approach at the position, shows a lot of range and ability to move laterally, glove stays open and fields ball out in front, quick transfer, clean and multiple arm slots with good arm strength and carry to the target. At the plate hitter is relaxed and balanced at setup, smooth load and short stride to the pitch, hands to the ball are quick and short through the zone, has good extension and makes solid contact.

David Reynoso, MIF, Walter Panas HS, NY (2017) Slender, athletic body type. Aggressive approach to fielding, has great hand and glove action, smooth and soft receiving skills, shows great range and ability to either side, very versatile arm that is clean and loose, quick release with quality arm strength to the target. At the plate hitter is slightly opened at setup, fluid load and short stride to the pitch maintains balance, hands are short to the ball and shows average speed through the zone, makes good contact and has a fairly level bat plane.

Justin Adams, 3B, Westlake HS, NY, (2016) Athletic frame at 5-foot-10, 165-pounds. Clean instincts in the field, has average hands and glove work, has a good transfer with average arm strength, releases at a high -3/4 arm slot and shows good follow through to the target. At the plate begins with a slightly opened stance, takes a short stride to the pitch and has an average loading mechanism, has a slight uphill tilt in bat plane but has short, quick hand path through the zone, and is able to make consistently solid contact.

Lucas Terwilliger, OF, Scotia-Glenville HS, NY (2017) Slender, athletic body frame. Very quick footwork with aggressive tendencies in the field, fields ball with from either side and is able to make quick, smooth transfer into his throwing motion, arm strength is a plus and has a very clean, loose arm action to target. At the plate hitter is very relaxed and balanced at setup, smooth load and short, balanced stride to the pitch, hands are short to the ball stay level through the hitting zone, good contact hitter.

Dillan Wilkinson, OF, Liverpool HS, NY (2016) Stands at an athletic looking 5-foot-9, 165-pounds. Clean and smooth footwork with great range and feel for the position, glove stays open out in front and has good follow through to his target, arm slot is high-3/4 with average arm strength. At the plate hitter is very relaxed and balanced at setup, smooth load and short, balanced stride to the pitch, hands are short to the ball and have a slight uphill tilt through the hitting zone, solid contact hitter with a lot of upside in the future.

Jason Pienda, 3B/1B, James Monroe HS, NY (2017) Solid frame, very athletic looking 6-foot-0, 215-pounds. Shows great instincts as a fielder, good range with quick footwork at position, hands and glove work well together when receiving and transferring to throw, excellent arm action that is clean and loose to the target along with plus arm strength. At the plate hitter is relaxed and balanced at setup, has a smooth load and short stride to the pitch, hands are compact and strong through the zone, gets full extension while maintaining balance during his finish, makes solid contact with power potential. Very projectable hitter who has a lot of upside in the future.

Joe Iengo, 1B, Iona Prep, NY (2017) Athletic, big and solid frame at 6-foot-4, 190-pounds. Clean and smooth instincts in the field, has good hands and glove work, has a good transfer with average arm strength, releases at a low -3/4 arm slot and shows good accuracy to target. At the plate has a relaxed and balanced setup, smooth back load and balance to the pitch, hands are slightly long over the plate, has some uphill tilt in bat path, but makes good contact and finishes in a balanced position. 

Jake Rugaber, OF, Fairport HS, NY (2016) Slender, athletic at 5-foot-10, 175-pounds. Clean and smooth instincts in the field, has good hands and glove work, has a good transfer with average arm strength, releases at a high -3/4 arm slot. At the plate shows a very athletic stance and good balance, takes a short stride and uses a smooth load to the pitch, has a very quick bat and great hands through the hitting zone, keeps the bat plane level and makes solid contact, with continued hard work has great projection as a hitter.

Elliott Goldstein, 1B, Half Hollow Hills East HS, NY (2017) Athletic, slender frame. Clean instincts in the field, has average hands and glove work, has a good transfer with average arm strength, releases at a high -3/4 arm slot. At the plate shows a very relaxed stance with good balance, takes a short stride and uses a smooth load to the pitch, has a long bat and hand path but makes solid contact, keeps the bat plane level with some uphill tilt, will improve with strength gains and hard work.

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