Prep Baseball Report

Preseason All-Long Island: Second Half Of The Pitchers Analysis



Dan Cevette
Director, New York

21 days ago PBR NY held its first ever Long Island/NYC Preseason Invite Only. The response was positive, the talent was heavy, and the smoke has finally settled. Let's take a look at the first half of the pitching reports from Feb. 20th. In no specific order.

John Braun, RHP, Comsewogue HS, NY (2016)
Braun stands a lean 5-foot-10, 145-pounds. From the mound he uses a side-step, high leg lift, heel faces the ground – toe points to sky, some shoulder rotation, hands near chin before separation. Back arm action, shorter, average stride landing slightly closed, throws from a high-3/4 slot with a fastball sitting 78 mph. Upright finish needs to work on more extension.

Michael Lazos, RHP, Hauppauge HS, NY (2016)
Lazos stands 5-foot-11, 165-pounds with an athletic build. From the mound he throws from the stretch, using a medium leg lift, hands relaxed near chest, separates as knee drops. Stays strong on back side, arm action goes back towards 2B, releases from an over-the-top slot, fastball sits 77 mph with some downward angle. He uses a longer stride, some head and shoulder tilt, finishes over his front knee with good extension.

Michael Ruggiero, RHP, Smithtown East HS, NY (2017)
Ruggiero has a projectable-lanky frame at 6-foot-0, 150-pounds. From the mound he starts with a wide setup, slight side step – rocking motion. Hands go high around head, separate high as knee drops, quicker arm action, releases from a high-3/4 slot with a fastball sitting 77 mph. Head and shoulders are in good position, long stride, solid finish over his front knee.

Connor Stapleton, RHP, Staten Island Academy, NY (2016)
Stapleton stands an impressive 6-foot-4, 215-pounds. From the mound he uses a side step, rhythm to his delivery, high knee lift, high hands. Arm action is down, circle is average. He stays strong on back side, longer stride, throws from a high-3/4 slot, upright on release with a long finish with good extension. Fastball was 77 mph with arm side run.

Aidan McGrath, RHP, Longwood HS, NY (2016)
McGrath stands 5-foot-10, 185-pounds with a solidly built frame. From the mound he uses a side step, high knee lift, tucks over the rubber, hands separate near his chin as momentum carries him forward. Straight back arm action to an over-the-top slot, long stride landing slightly closed, finishes over his front side, needs a bit more extension. Fastball was 77 mph with downward plane.

Brian Keenan, RHP, Miller Place HS, NY (2016)
Keenan stands 5-foot-11, 170-pounds with an average build. He uses a slow side step, knee lift about belt, hands break when knee starts going down. Longer arm action back towards 2B, throws from an over-the-top slot, long stride lands slightly open, nice extension on finish. Fastball sat 76 mph.

Matthew McMullen, LHP, LaSalle Institute, NY (2015)
McMullen stands a strong 6-foot-1, 220-pounds. On the mound he uses a quick side step, hands stay high throughout delivery, high knee lift. Arm action is straight back to SS, gets out in front with his stride too early, hands over front knee, releases the ball from an over-the-top slot, head on target, fastball was 75 mph but there’s more in his arm if he can tighten up his mechanics.

Vincent Borrelli, RHP, Sachem East, NY (2017)
Borrelli stands 5-foot-10, 180-pounds with a solidly built frame. Quick delivery, knee lift above belt, hands break as leg lowers. Drops hard on his back side, long front side, back arm action slightly towards 2B, long stride, releases from an over-the-top slot, nice athletic finish over front side, good extension.

Dominick Mark, LHP, Hauppauge HS, NY (2015)
Mark stands 5-foot-11, 180-pounds with strong lower half, thick broad shoulders. On the mound he uses a straight up knee lift, hands relaxed near chest. Drives hard towards home, long stride, arm action is back, slot is over-the-top, on finish his front knee has some give, pulls a little to the third base side with his head.

Brian Donnelly, RHP, Valley Stream South HS, NY (2016)
Donnelly stands 6-foot-0, 175-pounds with a thick chest, good size on the mound. From the mound he uses a side step, quick delivery, breaks hands as knee drops, shoulders tilt north, long back arm action, throws from an over-the-top slot, long stride, front knee gives some, long extension with head lean towards first base.

James Loesch, RHP, Shoreham-Wading River HS, NY (2016)
Loesch stands 5-foot-10, 170-pounds with a solid build. From the mound he uses a sidestep, good tempo to his delivery, knee lift gets just north of his belt, hands break as knee drops. Arm action is deep and shorter, long stride, throws from an over-the-top slot, finishes over his front knee.

Nicholas Lamari, RHP, Fordham Prep HS, NY (2016)
Lamari stands 5-foot-8, 160-pounds with a smaller built. From the mound he uses a side step, quick jerky knee lift about his belt, rotates shoulders, arm action is deep and longer, throws from a very high over-the-top slot, upright on release. Needs to lengthen out his stride more and get back extension and he will be just fine.

Mark Maurelli, RHP. Newfield HS, NY (2017)
Maurelli stands 5-foot-8, 141-pounds with a slender build. He uses a side step, high knee lift, drops on his back side, hands separate near his chin. He uses a longer arm action, throws from a high over-the-top slot, head tilt towards first base side, gets his head over his front side with a controlled finish.

Michael Donegan, RHP, Shoreham Wading River HS, NY (2016)
Donegan stands 5-foot-11, 160-pounds with a lean athletic frame. On the mound he uses a side step, tucks over the rubber, knee lift to his chest, hands rest on top of knee before breaking. Opens his hips up early, releases the ball from a high-3/4 slot, long stride, gets his back side through his pitches on finish.

John McCarrick, RHP, Shoreham-Wading River HS, NY (2017)
McCarrick stands 6-foot-0, 158-pounds with a lean frame. He uses a side step, good tempo, high knee lift, back and to 2B arm action, throws from an over-the-top slot, long stride, first base head lean, great finish over his front side, front leg has athletic extension.

Michael Santulli, RHP, Sachem East HS, NY (2016)
Santulli stands 5-foot-7, 125-pounds with a smaller, slender build. He uses a side step, upright slower delivery, knee lift above belt, hands by his face. Arm action is longer and back towards 2B, somewhat closed stride, throws from an over-the-top slot, finishes over his front side, gets back side through his pitches.

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