Prep Baseball Report

Preseason All-State Showcase: Class of 2017 Pitchers



By Greg Williams
Pennsylvania Director of Scouting

and Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting

Of the close to 100 prospects to showcase their abilities over two days of the 2016 Preseason All-State Showcase, 17 worked out as primary pitchers. Today we continue our analysis of the event with those individuals. (Note: each player will be listed during the course of this series of articles at their primary position. An evaluation of a secondary position will be included with the player's primary position evaluation).

Michael Carr, 2017, RHP, Dallastown Area
6-foot, 180-pounder with solid three-pitch mix. Fastball sat 79-80, touching 81, out of a high three-quarter slot from a deliberate wind-up. Gathers himself over the rubber and maintains direction to home plate well. Has a feel for an upper-60s curveball with fairly tight rotation and short break. Also showed a mid-70s change-up with one-plane fading action.

Jack Dougherty, 2017, RHP/OF, Shipley School
5-foot-11, 165-pound primary pitcher sat 79-81 with arm-side run to his four-seam fastball out of a high 3/4 arm slot. The right also commanded a two-seam fastball at 75-77 with even heavier arm-side run. Dougherty also displayed a 71 mph curveball with tight, late 11/5 rotation, although he struggled commanding the pitch out of the stretch. The junior's 69 mph changeup is still a pitch that is being developed.

Right-handed hitter starts from a square stance and initiates his swing from a deep load. Utilizes a heel raise stride and flat barrel path while staying through contact well. Demonstrated the ability to barrel the baseball routinely with a bat exit velocity of 87 mph. Showcased athleticism by running a 6.93 60-yard dash and solid 81 mph arm strength from the outfield.

Mitchel Hoon, 2017, RHP/OF, Cumberland Valley
Starts delivery with an overhead rocker and exhibits above average arm speed out of an over-the-top slot.  6-foot,185-pounder's fastball at 83-84 was straight with some life to it, while he exhibited good feel for a tight 12/6 curveball with moderate-sized break at 72-74. Also featured a slider at 78-80 with short bite that acted more like a cutter, plus a mid-70s change-up with occasional dive or fade.

Right-handed hitter starts from an open stance and initiates his swing from a deep load with a short stride. Long, flat barrel path remains in hitting zone for extended periods of time. Displayed a feel for the barrel and an 88 mph bat exit velocity with limited weight transfer from the back side. Hoon ran a 7.32 60-yard dash and flashed above average arm strength from the outfield (89 mph) along with an ability to play through the baseball.

Adam Jeannette, 2017, RHP, Riverside
Long limbed, 6-foot-5, 185-pound righty sat 83-86 from a high 3/4 arm slot. The junior has a short arm circle to the high point of his delivery, but repeats his motion well and gets long out front with regularity. He displayed command of his fastball with some arm-side run. He wraps his 67 mph curveball with 11/5 shape and shows it early out of the glove. Jeannette also showcased a 77 mph slider and a 74 mph changeup with heavy fade at fastball arm speed. Command of four pitches, a projectable frame and repeatable mechanics make Jeannette a very interesting follow in this class.

Jimmy Kingsbury, 2017, RHP, Malvern Prep
6-foot, 170-pound righty sat 84-85 while topping at 87 mph during a very solid bullpen. The Villanova commit was down a few ticks from where we last saw him in November (sitting 86-87, topping at 88 mph), but displayed the same loose, repeatable delivery out of a high 3/4 arm slot. Kingsbury also flashed a 68 mph curveball with tight 11/5 rotation one of the best changeups of the day. The change sat 75-77 with arm-side run and some late sink at fastball arm speed.

Will Lozinak, 2017, RHP/1B, Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic
Athletic 6-foot-5, 205-pounder with a loose, clean arm action who throws out of a three-quarter slot. Fastball at 81-84 had consistent, hard armside bore and serious life to it. Best secondary pitch was a fading mid-70s change-up for which he exhibited good feel and threw with fastball armspeed. Curveball at 71-73 is showing signs of progress, although, given his lower arm slot, a switch to a slider could be in the offing.

Good athlete, especially for his size, as he ran a 7.19 60-yard dash and posted a 91-mph exit velocity. Right-handed hitter starts from a wide, slightly open stance and incorporates front knee roll stride to square. Is very heavy into his front side with lots of forward hip float, which caused him to drag the barrel and steer the ball to the opposite field just to stay in the hitting zone long enough. Defensively, he exhibited good hands and didn't air out his arm in order to save it for the mound, but has recorded 83-mph positional velocity in the past.

Angus Mayock, 2017, RHP, Conestoga
6-foot-3, 215-pound righty sat 83-86 with a free and easy delivery out of a high 3/4 arm slot. His fastball has late life, he creates above average tilt from his upright delivery and additional velocity is likely moving forward. Mayock's 72 mph curveball has tight 11/5 rotation and shows consistent two-plane break. The athletic junior also commanded his 79 mph changeup well with some arm-side run at fastball arm speed.

Santino Nave', 2017, RHP, Roman Catholic
5-foot-10, 165-pound righty continues to develop sitting 83-85 from a high 3/4 arm slot on this date. Nave' has a clean arm action and his hip coil delivery adds some deception to his delivery. The junior also displayed solid feel for his 75 mph slider and a 77 mph changeup with some arm-side run. Nave' pounded the zone throughout his bullpen and was able to hold his velo out of the stretch on all three pitches.

Zach Peters, 2017, RHP/3B, Warwick
6-foot, 195-pounder who exhibits good rhythm and tempo in his wind-up, stays on-line to home plate, and pitches out of a high three-quarter slot. Fastball at 82-83 was fairly straight with a bit of life. While the pitch was inconsistent on this day, he did flash a solid 12/6 curveball at 71-73. Also showed pretty good feel for a split at 73-75 with some tumbling action.

Right-handed hitter starts from an upright, slightly knock-kneed stance and strides to a wide base. Creates an armbar in his load, but still flashed some bat speed and an ability to consistently barrel the baseball in BP. Ran a 7.50 60-yard dash and posted 88-mph exit velocity. Defensively, his consistency fielding the baseball will improve when he learns to play lower to the ground and field the ball away from his body.

Nick Picariello, 2017, RHP/OF, Germantown Academy
5-foot-9, 185-pounder sat 82-84 from an over the top arm slot with a compact delivery. 11/5 curveball shows frequent hard-biting down action and Picariello displayed a solid feel for his 78 mph changeup.

Solid frame and athletic actions across-the-board make Picariello a definite two-way prospect in this class. The right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and utilizes a leg lift stride to initiate his swing. A flat barrel path and strong lower half leads to regular hard contact and a bat exit velocity of 91 mph. Picariello completed his day by running a 6.95 60-yard dash and flashed 90 mph arm strength from the outfield.

Jacob Rupp, 2017, RHP/3B, Central Cambria
6-foot, 185-pounder who pitches out of a high three-quarter slot with some funk in his delivery. Fastball sat 83-84 with some life out of his hand. Very good feel for a  mid-70s change-up with late sink that is in the discussion for best pitch thrown at the event.  Curveball with 11/5 action wasn't quite as sharp as previously seen, but he still showed a decent feel for the pitch that checked in at 68-70.

Right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and stays on top of the baseball. Swing has some stiffness as he keeps his hands in tight with a low launch point and doesn't get separation while drifting forward with his stride. Ran a 7.49 60-yard dash and posted 79-mph exit velocity. Defensively, he exhibited an accurate 82-mph arm across the diamond despite a funky arm action and low slot.

Daniel Sabath, 2017, RHP, Christopher Dock Mennonite
6-foot, 170-pound righty sat 79-81 from a 3/4 arm slot with a significant hip-coil to his delivery. Sabath also incorporates an overhead rocker that adds to the deception with some arm-side run to his fastball. The junior's changeup is thrown at fastball arm speed with the same fade and some late sink. Sabath's 73 mph slider gives him three quality pitches with a quirky delivery that will give him an opportunity to get outs early at the next level.

Matt Stevenson, 2017, RHP/3B, North Penn
6-foot-6, 215-pound righty displayed above average feel for two pitches out of a high 3/4 arm slot with some hip coil action to his delivery. Stevenson has a short take away but gets over his front leg well and his fastball that sat 82-85 showed late life with some arm-side run. The long-limbed junior also commanded his 78 mph changeup that flashed some late sink at near fastball arm speed. Stevenson's curveball is still a pitch in development. It shows 11/5 rotation at 69 mph. At 6-foot-6, Stevenson showcased above average command of his frame and athletic actions across-the-board that should allow for additional velocity yet to come.

Right-handed hitter hits from a slightly open stance and flashes some bat speed out of a two-part swing. Kept his eyes on plane and consistently barreled the baseball during his BP round. Ran a 7.11 60-yard dash and posted 90-mph exit velocity. Defensively, he's athletic for his size, has an accurate arm, and, while it takes a bit to get his XL frame going, showed an ability to complete the slow roller play.

Cory Storm, 2017, RHP/SS, Hollidaysburg Area
5-foot-10, 175-pounder who pitched around a three-quarter slot with a slinger arm action, although some front arm swim and a head whack led to inconsistencies in his release point. Stuff has carried over from the summer, as his fastball sat 83-85, a mid-70s change-up showed occasional fade, and he still flashes a tight slider at 72-74.

Right-handed hitter who hit from a slightly open stance and consistently barreled the baseball with some stiffness and strength in his swing. Ran a 7.13 60-yard dash and posted 88-mph exit velocity. Defensively, he tends to go straight at ground balls and would benefit from his pre-catch footwork setting him up to read hops (he currently has a tendency to let the ball get in toward his body) and not have to redirect his feet in order to uncork a throw to first base.

Hunter Treese, 2017, RHP/OF, Pine-Richland
5-foot-10, 165-pounder who pitches out of a high three-quarter slot with some arm speed out of a delivery that has some effort and a bit of recoil at the finish. Fastball sat 81-82, touching 83. Best secondary pitch was was a tight mid-70s slider, while he also showed some feel for a mid-70s change-up. Curveball at 68-75 was a distant fourth pitch on this day.

The right-handed hitter displayed an 85 mph bat exit velocity from a square stance with a leg lift stride. Treece is fairly short to the hitting zone and stays through contact well. He showed a solid feel for the barrel when he was on time with his stride foot. The junior ran a 7.21 60-yard dash and flashed athletic actions with 84 mph arm strength from the outfield.

John Udzinski, 2017, RHP, North Penn
6-foot-2, 175-pounder whose delivery features good tempo and some funk. Was really flying open with a big head/shoulder tilt, which hurt his ability to get his arm through and, consequently, led to him elevating the baseball. Fastball sat 75-77. Best pitch was an upper-60s change-up with occasional fade. Feel for curveball at 62-63 should improve as he learns to maintain posture and gets better extension out front.

Aidan Welch, 2017, RHP, Roman Catholic
6-foot-3 190-pound righty displayed increased velocity since we last saw him sitting 80-83 from a high 3/4 arm slot with a long arm action. The junior gets downhill well and displayed the ability to hold his velo from the stretch. Welch flashed a solid feel for a 73 mph slider and a 70 mph curveball with 11/5 shape. He displayed a 74 mph changeup with some arm-side run at fastball arm speed giving him a feel for four pitches.

Previous Preseason All-State News