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Previewing the Elite Prospect Showcase: The Pitchers

October 22, 2013

By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

Justin VardianThere is less than two weeks until the culminating event of the fall, the Elite Prospect Showcase. Registrations for the event will not close until October 29, but today we begin the process of looking at some of the top prospects by position that are scheduled to attend.

The Class of 2014 will be highlighted by RHP Justin Vardian (Bishop McCort HS). He is coming off an eye popping performance at the annual pro showcase in Morgantown, WV this past Sunday. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound righty topped all arms at the event, sitting 87-88 and touching 89 mph. Uncommitted senior RHP Zach Newmyer (Red Land HS) will also participate. He is coming off a strong junior season going 6-2 with a 1.36 ERA in 56.2 innings of work. Newmyer sits in the low 80's with arm side run to his fastball out of a 3/4 arm slot. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound righty has shown continual improvement over the past two years and should continue to see velocity gains heading into his senior season.

The Class of 2015 will showcase C/3B/RHP Zach Minnick (Logan HS, WV), ranked No. 1 in WV and No. 19 in the PBR combined rankings for the class. Minnick sits in the upper 80's off the mound and touched 90 mph at the Midwest Future Games in August as a member of Team Pennsylvania. RHP Rhett Jacoby (Parkland HS) will also represent the class of 2015. The 6-foot-3, 195-pound righty showed well at the PA Underclass Games in July, sitting 83-85 with a quality 75 mph curveball. Jacoby has a free and easy arm action and is primed for a move up the rankings from his current spot at No. 46 in PA.

LHP J.J. Bleday (Titusville HS) ranked No. 2 in PA and No. 15 in the PBR combined rankings will represent the Class of 2016 very well. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound lefty sits in the mid-80's with a hard breaking 71 mph curveball. He is the younger brother of Virginia freshman Adam Bleday.

RHP Matt Gorman (Penn Charter HS) should stand out among the Class of 2017 pitchers in attendance. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound righty will get a taste of high school action for the first time this spring. He is capable of running his fastball into the low 80's.

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