Prep Baseball Report

Elite Prospect Showcase Analysis: Two-Way Players



By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting

and Greg Williams
Pennsylvania / West Virginia Director of Scouting

The 2016 Elite Prospect Showcase took place Saturday, October 29th at Keystone State Baseball Academy in Manheim, PA with nearly 70 prospects from four states displaying their skills. Today we conclude our analysis of all prospects in attendance by reviewing those players who showcased as two-way performers.

FINAL MEASURABLES for all prospects in attendance

Top Prospect

Austin Bradbury, 2019, OF/RHP, Cedar Cliff
At 6-foot-2, 190-pounds, Bradbury looks the part of a high school senior but has yet to suit up for his sophomore season. The right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and initiates significant barrel whip with a weight shift stride and strong hip rotation. Bradbury barreled the baseball consistently during his round of batting practice with a bat exit velocity of 94 mph. He showcased athletic actions in the outfield with 91 mph arm strength and above average foot speed (6.89 60-yard dash).

The righty sat 81-84 during his bullpen session with some hip coil to his delivery out of a high 3/4 arm slot. He also flashed command of a drop down fastball at similar velocity with some arm-side run. Bradbury's curveball shows 11/5 shape at 66-68 and he also displayed a slider at 72 mph. His changeup at 70-75 is his best secondary pitch at this point, showing arm-side run with good arm speed. While likely a position player at the next level, the sophomore shows the arm strength from the outfield that could translate into velocity spikes on the mound as well.


 

Other Participating Two-Way Players

Len Asari, 2018, IF/RHP, Cherry Hill East (NJ)
It's easy to overlook a 5-foot-6, 135-pound right-handed hitter, but that would be a mistake in the case of Asari, who ran a 6.90 60-yard dash and showed a good feel for hitting. Starts from an open stance and takes a controlled leg kick to square, holding his hands in a good launch position. Exhibits good balance and keeps head still throughout swing, staying inside the baseball and using the middle of the field during his BP round. Power not a big part of his game at the present time (76 mph exit velocity). Defensively, he has very good body control and his accurate throws have more carry than suggested by his 78 mph arm strength.

Compact delivery, lands across his body and throws out of a high three-quarter slot. Virtually every fastball he threw was pounded at the bottom of the strike zone with a little action at 78-79. Also featured a solid curveball at 68-69.

Connor Dewees, 2018, 3B/RHP, Red Lion Area
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter who posted a 90 mph exit velocity and ran a 7.21 60-yard dash. Repeated swing out of a slightly open stance, holding hands in a good launch position. Stayed inside the baseball and used the middle of the field during his BP round. Solid across-the-board defensive ability with 80 mph arm strength.

Kicks lead foot out of his balance point, pitching out of a high three-quarter slot with a bit of recoil on finish. Four-pitch mix included a fastball at 80-81, change-up at 70-73 with occasional sink, a big breaking 11/5 curveball at 61-64 that was at its best when he didn't slow arm and cast it, and a slider at 66-69.

Troy Emert, 2019, RHP/3B, Rockwood Area
5-foot-9, 170-pound frame. Stuff was a bit down from when we saw him two months prior. Pitched out of an over-the-top slot with a fastball that sat 77-78 (previously 80-81) and occasionally had late diving action. Also featured a change-up at 68-70 with a bit of sink and a curveball that he casts with 11/5 action at 61-63 (previously 63-67).

Right-handed hitter starts from an open stance and strides to slightly open. Wraps barrel behind head and spins on his back leg with heel retreating toward catcher, creating some length and limiting his bat speed. Barreled the baseball to the pull side during his BP round, while he recorded an 80 mph exit velocity and ran a 7.21 60-yard dash. Defensively, he showed some feel for coming to get the right hop and playing through the catch with his feet, while he also recorded 74 mph arm strength.

Jr Hahner, 2019, RHP/3B, Pottsville Area
Solid 6-foot-2, 180-pound build. Stayed on-line from a delivery that featured a high lead arm and slight hip coil into an over-the-top slot. Both two-seam and four-seam fastballs sat 75-77, with the two-seamer having a bit of tail to it. Best pitch was a change-up at 69-71 with consistent sinking action. An 11/5 curveball at 66-68 flashed some depth, primarily when he threw it out of the stretch.

Right-handed hitter starts from an open, narrow stance and strides to slightly closed. Would benefit from freeing up his hands, as he showed a tendency to tie himself up and carve the baseball the opposite way, not fully allowing him to tap into the strength in his frame. Does show power potential (86 mph exit velocity) and ran a 7.31 60-yard dash. Defensively, he showed a solid glove hand and accurate 76 mph arm strength out of an over-the-top slot.

Carter Heller, 2019, 3B/RHP, Faith Christian
5-foot-10, 180-pound right-handed hitter. Starts from a slightly open stance. Struggles to repeat swing that starts with his hands by his ear and abruptly jerks them down below armpit level for launch. Ran a 7.36 60-yard dash and posted a 76 mph exit velocity. Defensively, he recorded 76 mph arm strength and would benefit from improving his footwork so that he can put himself in position to be on balance and field the baseball out front more consistently.

Works fast out of a high three-quarter slot. Funky wind-up with slight hip coil and spins around his front leg. Fastball sat 78-79, while he also featured a slider at 66-70 and a curveball at 57-60 on which he will need to maintain fastball arm/body speed in order to generate the desired action.

Joe LaFiora, 2018, 1B/LHP, Neumann-Goretti
5-foot-11, 200-pound left-handed hitter. Starts from an open stance and strides to square, holding his hands in a good launch position. Head stays still, keeps swing simple, and has some pullside pop (88 mph exit velocity). Foot speed continues to improve, as he posted a 7.50 60-yard dash at this event. Good defensive actions with solid glove and 79 mph arm strength.

Repeated his delivery, which included a swinging gate front leg and open landing. Showed a feel for a three-pitch mix that included a fastball at 77-78 with armside run, a very good change-up at 70-72, and a big, slow 1/7 curveball at 58-60.

Kyle Laing, 2018, RHP/OF, Downingtown West
6-foot-1, 180-pound primary pitcher sat 80-82 with a long arm motion from a high 3/4 arm slot. Begins delivery with an overhead rocker and gets over front leg well. Curveball showed tight, two plane break with 11/5 rotation at 65-67. Also commanded a slider at 73 mph and a 73 mph changeup with late fade thrown at near fastball arm speed.

Laing showcased 85 mph arm strength from the outfield and ran a 7.53 60-yard dash. Right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and utilizes a controlled leg-lift stride to initiate his swing. Hands work well through contact and displayed some power to the pull-side with a bat exit velocity of 90 mph.

Ryan Lynn, 2018, IF/RHP, Butler Area
5-foot-11, 160-pound right-handed hitter who ran a 6.96 60-yard dash and posted an 82 mph exit velocity. Starts from an open stance and strides to slightly open, holding bat in a good launch position. Takes a short path to the ball, while he can get heavy into his front side, hurting his balance. Defensively, he moved with some rhythm, showed an ability to complete the slow roller play, and featured an accurate arm on throws of 78 mph across the diamond.

Pitching out of a high three-quarter slot, Lynn showed a quick arm with more to come from a fastball that sat 78-79. Best pitch was a tight 11/5 curveball at 67-68 that he located at the bottom of the strike zone, or below the zone but swingable. Also featured a split at 68-71 with solid tumble to it.

Colin Macko, 2018, RHP/1B, Crestwood
6-foot-4, 180-pound build with plenty of room to add strength. Stays on-line to the plate from a delivery that has some rhythm initiated by a sideways rocker step. Arm action includes a wrist wrap into a high three-quarter slot. Fastball sat 81-83, while slurvy curveball at 67-70 varied in shape from 11/5 to 10/6. Still developing a feel for his change-up at 73-74.

Left-handed hitter who ran a 6.97 60-yard dash and posted an 87 mph exit velocity. Starts from an open stance and strides to square. Has rhythm in swing that includes a controlled leg lift and ability to hit through contact. Moves well defensively, while featuring a solid glove hand and 78 mph arm strength.

Jacob McCaskey, 2018, IF/RHP, Deer Lakes
5-foot-11, 160-pound right-handed hitter who ran a 7.02 60-yard dash and posted an 86 mph exit velocity. Swings hard and flashes some bat speed. Hits from an open stance with an uphill path and would benefit from keeping the barrel in the hitting zone longer. Defensively, he showed a quality glove hand and 76 mph arm strength with some effort to his throw.

Attacks the zone out of an up-tempo wind-up. Pitches out of a three-quarter slot with hook out of glove and arm speed out front. Fastball sat 83-84 and he flashed a change-up at 71-72 with late diving action that has a chance to be a solid pitch for him. Also showed a slider at 69-72 and a curveball with similar shape at 67-69.

Jon McCullough, 2020, 3B/RHP, Seneca Valley
Right-handed hitter with room to add strength to his 6-foot-1, 160-pound frame (and plenty of time to do so). Starts from a slightly open, narrow stance and strides to square. Collapses back leg, causing him to work uphill and underneath the baseball. Ran a 7.55 60-yard dash and posted an 81 mph exit velocity. Defensively, he recorded 77 mph arm strength and would benefit from fielding the baseball out front more consistently.

Abbreviated takeaway on separation into a high three-quarter slot. Fastball sat 74-76 and he showed a feel for an 11/5 curveball at 61-63, while he would benefit from maintaining fastball arm speed on his change-up at 64-66.

Jake Miller, 2019, RHP/IF, Cherry Hill West (NJ)
5-foot-11, 145-pound frame. Stop-and-start wind-up with stab/hook out of glove into a high three-quarter slot. Fastball sat 75-76 with occasional armside action and he showed some feel for a change-up at 68-70 with early fading action. Curveball at 63-64 had good shape to it, although he tended to bury it, while he also mixed in a loose slider at 65-67.

Right-handed hitter starts from an open stance and strides to slightly open. Keeps eyes level, while additional physical strength would help him shorten his swing path and minimize use of shoulders to get the barrel moving. Ran a 7.62 60-yard dash and posted a 76 mph exit velocity. Feet generally put him in position to field the baseball, although his throwing accuracy and arm strength (75 mph) were inhibited by dragging his back leg, which didn't allow him to follow his throw to its target.

Noah Miller, 2019, IF/RHP, Susquehannock
5-foot-11, 135-pound right-handed hitter who starts from an open stance with weight unbalanced to the back side. Despite a lack of physical strength, his hands work fairly well and he exhibits some ability to hit through contact. Ran a 7.75 60-yard dash and posted a 75 mph exit velocity. Defensively he recorded 74 mph arm strength and would benefit from playing lower to the ground so that he can field the baseball further out front of his body.

Deliberate wind-up into balance point and pitched out of a three-quarter slot with some arm speed out front. Fastball sat 74-76 and curveball sat 65-67, while he showed a good feel for his change-up at 67-70 with sink that comes out of the same window as his fastball.

Hunter Sentz, 2018, RHP/IF, Susquehannock
5-foot-10, 160-pound frame. Incorporates a slight hip coil and pitches out of a three-quarter slot. Aggressive out of balance point with some effort and recoil when throwing his fastball at 79-80. Would benefit from maintaining fastball arm speed on his 11/5 curveball at 62-63, while he showed an ability to throw his change-up at 72-73 for strikes.

Right-handed hitter who ran a 7.25 60-yard dash. Starts from a square stance and incorporates a waist-high leg lift. Has a feel for hitting against his front side and creating some lift with an exit velocity of 86 mph. Showed a solid glove defensively with accurate 75 mph arm strength.

Brett Steinle, 2018, OF/RHP, Seneca Valley
6-foot, 160-pound primary outfielder posted solid numbers across the board. Ran a 6.88 60-yard dash and showcased athletic defensive actions with 83 mph arm strength to home plate. The right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and initiates his swing with a controlled, toe-tap stride. Barreled the baseball consistently while creating some backspin with a bat exit velocity of 90 mph.

Steinle sat 77-78 from a high 3/4 arm slot while pounding the zone with a four-seam and two-seam fastball, the later of which shows some arm-side run. Also commanded a 63 mph curveball with 11/5 rotation and a 71 mph changeup thrown at near fastball arm speed.

Tyler Treese, 2017, RHP/OF, Hollidaysburg Area
6-foot, 170-pound uncommitted senior has battled through some injuries and impressed with a solid overall skill set. The primary pitcher sat 79-82 from a high 3/4 arm slot with good balance throughout his deliver. His 70 mph curveball showed tight 11/5 rotation and his 72 mph changeup is thrown with good sell that includes heavy fade action.

Treese ran a 7.23 60-yard dash and showcased solid straight-line carry on throws of 84 mph from the outfield. The left-handed hitter starts from a square stance and uses a leg-lift stride to initiate his swing. Treese showcased above average feel for the barrel with some present power to the pull side with a bat exit velocity of 86 mph.

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