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The summer 2018 Western Pennsylvania Showcase event schedule got underway on June 20th with the Western Pennsylvania College Prospect Showcase in Erie, PA. 35 prospects gathered on the campus of Penn State Behrend College to put themselves on the recruiting radar.  Today we initiate our analysis of the prospects in attendance by taking a look at those who participated from the Class of 2021 and 2022.

+ For complete results from all prospects in attendance - CLICK HERE.

Top Prospects

Chris Juchno, 2021, McDowell, OF

Defensively, got behind and played through ball in air while following throws. Played ball on ground aggressively with good technique and confident glove hand.

6-foot-1, 185-pound left-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with controlled stride staying neutral. Separation, weight shift and hip turn are solid. Swing demonstrates balance, rhythm and athleticism. The hands work directly to the baseball achieving short swing path. Hand and hip quickness are evident at young age. Leverage is achieved through staying behind the baseball and releasing into a firm front side. Juchno projects as a middle of the order contact/power, run producing bat. He registered a bat exit velocity of 90 MPH and ran 6.78 60-yard dash. 

Phil Fox, 2021, Hempfield Area, OF/RHP

Defensively, demonstrates fluid, athletic actions in the outfield. Fox is decisive in reads, tracks well and takes direct routes. He demonstrated consistency in getting behind and playing through ball both in the air and on the ground. A strong accurate arm for age is shown with straight line carry present. Throws from outfield registered 83 MPH.

5-foot-9, 145-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from open set up with short, controlled stride to neutral. Rhythm is present and athleticism is evident. Balance is intermittently influenced by compromised backside release. Separation, weight shift and hip turn are solid. Swing plane allows bat to spend extended time in hitting zone. Hand and hips are loose and quick. A bat exit velocity of 85 MPH was registered. Overall, Fox as a young player demonstrates an advanced offensive skill set for his age.

On the mound, right-hander works out of a mid 3/4 arm slot with balance, rhythm and ability to repeat. Developing arm quickness is evident. Hip coil lends to deception and overall use of lower half is efficient. Arm action is loose and delivery is low effort. FB sat 80-82 and was commanded to all quadrants while lacking movement. CB at 63-66 showed 11-5 shape and, at best late, sharp break and moderate depth. CH was thrown with good sell, solid command and consistent late arm side run/sink at 67-69 MPH.

Aidan Kelly, 2021, Cathedral Prep, RHP/3B

Defensively, shows soft hands in funneling from out front and bottom up. Feet work well to the baseball and transfer is clean. Arm strength has improved six MPH from when last seen six months ago in registering 76 MPH on throws across the diamond.

5-foot-10, 195-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from open set up with short stride to neutral. Passive weight shift and intermittent early hand leak reduce separation. Hands work directly to the baseball. Hip turn is aggressive. Leverage is achieved through staying behind the baseball while releasing backside into firm front side. Overall mechanics show considerable improvement from presentation six months ago. A bat exit velocity of 85 MPH was registered.

On the mound, right-hander works out of mid 3/4 arm slot with moderate effort, repeatable delivery. Hip coil creates deception and is contributory to efficient use of lower half in young pitcher. FB sat 79-82 MPH with consistent arm side run and sink. CB at 66-69 MPH demonstrated 11-5 shape and at best moderate depth. SL was inconsistent at 66-68 MPH and 11-4 shape. Kelly did not throw CH.

Jackson Hower, 2021, McDowell, OF/RHP

Defensively, shows fluid, athletic actions in the outfield. Hower tracks well, is decisive in reads and takes direct routes to ball in the air. He demonstrates commitment to getting behind and playing through ball. Proper technique, aggressiveness and a confident glove hand are present in playing ball on the ground. Throws are consistently followed while staying in line. Arm strength of 83 MPH was registered.

6-foot-3, 175-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from slightly open set up with stride to closed. Separation is adequate. Weight shift is passive followed by an aggressive hip turn. Swing path is short with hands working directly to the baseball. Hower demonstrated the ability to create leverage while staying behind the ball. Hand and hip speed are present at a young age. A bat exit velocity of 81 MPH was registered.

On the mound, right-hander works out of over the top rm slot with balance and rhythm. Hower stays in line while showing the ability to consistently repeat his delivery. Levers are long and are utilized to achieve solid downhill plane. FB sat 76-78 MPH and was cut to glove side. CB at 62-65 had 11-5/6 shape and rolling action. CH at 69-72 was thrown with good sell and inconsistent movement.

Remainder of roster (in random order)

Joseph Amann, 2021, Cathedral Prep, OF

Defensively, shows tendency to drift to baseball. Aman would benefit from being more decisive in reads with commitment to getting behind and playing through the ball in the air. Shows confident glove hand and proper technique in playing through ball on the ground. 

5-foot-9, 150-pound, right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral with stride staying neutral. There is subtle bat wrap. Separation, weight shift and hip turn are solid. Balance and rhythm are present and bat path is flat. Good leverage is achieved through appropriate backside release into firm front side. There is intermittent difficulty covering away. A bat exit velocity of 77 MPH was registered by young player showing potential of developing into sound, offensive threat.

Ben Berdine, 2021, Warren, 1B/RHP

Defensively, works bottom up with adequate hands. Feet work well around the bag and long frame plays at first base.

6-foot-2 160-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral, wide set up with stride staying neutral. When on time, weight shift and hip turn are aggressive with hands being short and direct to baseball. Leverage is solid with a level swing path present. Timing was inconsistent on this day. A bat exit velocity of 76 MPH was registered.

On the mound, works out of mid 3/4 arm slot showing good balance and ability to repeat delivery. Berdine would benefit from a more aggressive hip coil and greater backside load. FB sat 77-78 MPH with subtle arm side run. CB lacked depth having an 11-4 shape and rolling action. CH at 64-66 demonstrated arm side fade while being thrown with slight slowing of the arm. Developing arm strength, long levers and athleticism make Berdine a follow in Class of 2021.

Jack Malec, 2021, Cathedral Prep, 3B

Defensively hands and feet are adequate while working bottom up. Transfer is clean and throwing motion is long. Male would benefit from being more aggressive in attacking and playing through the ball.

6-foot-3, 170-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from open with small leg kick and stride staying open. Weight shift and hip turn are aggressive with solid separation achieved. The bat spends considerable time in hitting zone with a flat path present. There is subtle front knee softness following heel plant.  Malec would benefit from consistently releasing into a firmer front side. Overall a young player who shows potential of developing into a consistent run producer. A bat exit velocity of 82 MPH was registered.

Jace Miner, 2021, Brookville, LHP/OF

Defensively, tends to catch ball flat-footed. MIner would benefit from being more consistent in getting behind and working through the ball in the air. He attacks and plays through the ball on the ground with proper technique. Arm strength of 72 MPH was registered on throws from the outfield.

5-foot-10, 135-pound left-handed hitter initiates swing from open set up with knee to knee leg kick and stride staying slightly open. Weight shift, hip turn and separation are solid. There is rhythm to swing while achieving leverage through routinely staying behind the ball. There is some difficulty in covering away. Hand and bat speed are developing in young player. Barrel feel was evident in squaring multiple balls during round of BP. A bat exit velocity of 77 MPH as recorded.

On the mound, left-hander works out of a mid 3/4 arm slot with loose arm action. Shows ability to repeat delivery. Miner strides closed creating crossfire action. Glove hand stays low reducing deception and allowing hitter to see ball early. FB sat 70 MPH with sink and run. CB at 58-62 showed 1-7 shape and rolling action. CH was thrown with reasonable sell and inconsistent command and movement.

Austin Moore, 2021, Cathedral Prep, LHP/1B

Shows solid athleticism around the bag. Feet have tendency to become sedentary. There is some inclination to work top down. Transfer and throwing motion are clean.

5-foot-9, 155-pound left-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral with aggressive leg kick and stride staying neutral. Hands work from a low position and there is substantial length. The back elbow is passive in load and leaks in front of hands when connecting creating drag. Hands are loose and quick to the baseball. Separation, weight shift, hip turn and backside release are solid. Moore registered an advanced, for age, bat exit velocity of 90 MPH. Natural ability to separate, quick hands and associated bat speed allow for potential development into power bat.

On the mound, left-hander works out of high 3/4 arm slot with low effort repeatable delivery. Balance, rhythm and a loose arm action are present. Overall lower half mechanics are solid. Arm speed is developing with FB sitting 72-74 MPH and flashing arm side run. CB showed 1-7 shape, limited depth and spotty command. Moore did not throw a CH.

Curtis Miller, 2022, Cathedral Prep, 1B/OF

Defensively, Miller is somewhat tentative in reads and routes. He would benefit from working to get behind and playing through ball in the air. There is confidence in glove hand while playing ball on the ground. Arm strength of 61 MPH was registered on throws from the outfield.

6-foot-1, 140-pound left-handed-hitter initiates swing from open set up with reverse toe tap and stride to neutral. Shows good balance and rhythm with adequate separation. Weight shift and hip turn are solid. Hands work directly achieving short bath path. Bat is on plane early and maintained late in hitting zone. Miller's swing mechanics suggest coming strength gains, in young player, will result in gap to gap power and consistent contact. A bat exit velocity of 76 MPH was registered.

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