Prep Baseball Report

Western PA Summer Review Analysis: Classes of 2022, 2021, 2020


Dan Williams
Western PA Director of Scouting

2018 Western Pennsylvania Fall Review

The summer 2018 Western Pennsylvania Showcase event schedule continued on July 24th with the Western Pennsylvania Summer Review at Kelly Automotive Park in Butler, PA. Prospects gathered to put themselves on the recruiting radar by participating in a showcase workout followed by a nine inning game. Today we analyze the attendees from the Classes of 2020, 2021 and 2022..

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

Top Prospects

Anthony Sherwin, 2020, Penn-Trafford, SS

Anthony Sherwin7/2418 Defensively, actions are athletic with active feet working to and though the baseball achieving optimal angles and hops. Hands are soft and confident in funneling bottom up and out front. Transfer and throwing motion are clean and quick. Arm strength of 77 mph played up in game action secondary to quick release and accuracy.

Offensively, 5-foot-11, 165-pound left-handed hitter initiates swing from wide, neutral set up with heel raise and no stride. Weight shift is adequate followed by an aggressive hip turn. Achieves excellent leverage in staying behind the baseball and rotating into a firm front side. Hands are loose with considerable barrel whip achieved. Mechanics translate into an uphill swing path. A solid bat exit velocity of 87 mph was registered. Sherwin's overall skill set makes him a follow in the Class of 2020

Mason Bender, 2020, Fairview, OF/LHP

Mason Bender2/24/18 Defensively, gets behind ball and plays at it's height. Attacks and plays through ball on ground with proper technique and confident glove hand. Recorded 77 mph arm strength on throws from the OF. 

Offensively, 5-foot-8, 160-pound left-handed hitter initiates swing from open set up with subtle knee to knee movement and stride staying open. Separation is solid, weight shift is passive and hip turn is adequate. There is intermittent compromised backside release. Swing path is steep. Barrel feel was present with squaring of multiple balls during round of bp. A substantial for age bat exit velocity of 88 mph was registered. Athleticism and fast twitch skills make Bender an interesting Class of 2020 follow.

Nolan Lutz, 2020, South Fayette, C/1B

Nolan Lutz7/24/18 Defensively as catcher, 6-foot-1 physical frame presents large, soft wall in blocking. Flashes solid agility and lateral range. Glove hand is soft and confident in receiving and framing. Feet work well while arm stroke has length on throws of 69 mph from crouch. A pop time 0f 2.27 was registered.

Offensively, 6-foot-1, 195 pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with controlled stride staying neutral. Weight shift away from hands results in solid separation. Hands are quick and work directly to the baseball. Hip turn is intermittently passive with limited backside release. Lutz would benefit from being more aggressive in turning through the ball. A solid 86 mph bat exit velocity was registered. Overall presentation reflects potential as a next level power bat

Nicolas Plank, 2021, Bellwood Antis, C/3B

Nicholas Plank

7/24/18 Defensively as catcher, glove hand is soft and quiet in framing. Flashes excellent flexibility, agility and lateral range. Presents a soft, square wall with appropriate trunk angle in blocking. Feet are quick with transfer and arm stroke having length on throws of 72 mph out of the crouch. A pop time of 2.10 was registered. 

Offensively, 5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitter, initiates swing from neutral set up with controlled stride staying neutral. Weight shift and hip turn are aggressive. There is balance and rhythm. Bat path is flat and solid leverage is achieved through backside release and rotation into a firm front side. There is length. A bat exit velocity of 80 mph was registered. Overall swing mechanics suggest development into solid contact rate with gap to gap power. Plank's performance makes him a player to follow in the Class of 2021.

Remainder of roster (in alphabetical order)

Andrew Bokulich, 2020, Deer Lakes C/3B

Defensively as catcher, demonstrates soft, quiet glove hand in receiving and framing. Flashes soft wall and solid range in blocking. Arm strength of 70 mph out of crouch played to pop time of 2.27 on this day. 

Defensively as OF, gets behind and works through the ball both in the air and on the ground. Bokulich is decisive in reads and takes direct routes. 73 mph arm strength was registered on throws from the OF. 

Offensively, 5-foot-8, 150-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from narrow, neutral set up with leg hang and stride to neutral. Separation is solid. Weight shift and hip turn are aggressive. Leverage is present while staying behind the ball and rotating into a firm front side. Bat spends extended time in hitting zone.

Roberto Farfan Jr., 2022, Eden Christian Academy, 3B/C

Defensively as catcher, very young player showed adequate glove hand in framing and receiving. Range is limited in blocking and an upright trunk angle is present. Arm strength of 62 mph resulted in pop time of 2.72.

Defensively, at third base shows understanding of proper technique in working bottom up. There is tendency to play the ball deep and footwork is work in progress. Farfan would benefit from keeping feet active in working to and through the ball while gaining ground on throws across the diamond.

Offensively, 5-foot-9 165-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from narrow, open set up with toe tap stride to neutral.  Weight shift and hip turn are present. A bat exit velocity of 72 mph was registered. Farfan as very young player will undoubtedly see gains in overall game in association with continued physical maturation.

Michael Oblich, 2020, Cathedral Prep, C/3B

Defensively as catcher, glove hand is soft and confident in receiving and framing. Oblich stays square and presents soft wall in blocking. He would benefit from improving hip flexibility. Thereby, allowing presentation of lower, wider target and increasing lateral range. Transfer, feet and arm stroke are quick with 71 mph arm strength out of the playing to pop time of 2.25.

Offensively, 5-foo-11, 185-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from open set up with stride to neutral. Solid separation is achieved through weight shift away from hands. Hip turn is adequate. Leverage is achieved through staying behind the baseball and rotating into a firm front side. Barrel feelis demonstrated by squaring of multiple balls during round of BP. A bat exit velocity of 83 mph was registered.

Dominic Pieto, 2020, Pittsburgh Central Catholic, SS/3B

Defensively, actions are athletic with a soft, confident glove hand present in funneling bottom up and out front. Feet are active in working to and through the ball. Pieto registered 73 mph arm strength on throws across the diamond. 

Offensively, 6-foot. 180-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with reverse toe tap and stride to neutral. There is balance and rhythm with good separation achieved through weight shift away from hands. Weight shift and hip turn are aggressive. Bat path is short and flat. Barrel feel was evident in squaring of multiple balls during round of bp. A bat exit velocity of 79 mph was registered.  

Ryan Rametta, 2020, Kiski Area, RHP/3B

Defensively, hands are adequate. There is intermittent tendency to work top down and allow ball to get deep. Rametta would benefit from keeping feet active in following throws. Arm strength of 67 mph was registered on throws across the diamond. 

Offensively, 6-foot, 165-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from open set up with stride to neutral. Separation is adequate. There is reach with stride leg lending to an uphill swing path. Barrel feel allowed squaring of multiple balls during round of BP. A bat exit velocity of 82 mph was registered. 

On the mound, right-hander works out of low to mid 3/4 arm slot. Shows ability to repeat moderate effort delivery. Fastball sat 71-74 mph and was reasonably commanded during game action while flashing intermittent arm side run. CB at 58-62 mph had 11-5 shape and rolling action. Changeup at 68-69 was thrown with good sell.

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
2018 PBR Future Games (Pennsylvania Invite Only) PA 08/01 Grand Park - Westfield, IN
PBR Junior Future Games (Invite Only) NATIONAL 08/02 Grand Park - Westfield, IN
2018 Fall Kickoff Showcase PA 08/16 Millersville University
Play for Team PBR (Fall Kickoff Tournament) PA 08/17 Millersville University
Northern West Virginia College Prospect Showcase - 8.26.18 PA 08/26 Wheeling Jesuit University
2018 Eastern PA Fall Review PA 09/15 Widener University
2018 Western PA Fall Review PA 09/15 La Roche College (Pittsburgh, PA)
2018 Western PA Fall Scout Day (Invitation Only) PA 09/29 Allegheny College (Meadville, PA)
PBR Evaluation & Measurables Showcase PA 10/07 Keystone State Baseball Academy - Manheim, PA
2018 Elite Prospect Showcase (Invite Only) PA 10/27 Keystone State Baseball Academy - Manheim, PA
PBR Mid-Atlantic ProCase (Invite Only) PA 10/28 Keystone State Baseball Academy - Manheim, PA

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