By Chris Valentine
PBR Ohio Scouting Director

Keep an Eye on …

Chase Osterman, SS, Lakewood HS, 2014

6-foot, 175-pound infield prospect with athletic frame. Good defensive skill set. Moves well in both directions and creates angles. Uses short arm action with top velocity of 77 mph. Shows some quickness in his transfer. The left-handed hitter uses a short stride with good use of his lower half. Generated solid contact to all fields with signs of pull power. Overall fluid rhythm to his swing.

Complete Team 2 Analysis

BJ Donathan, C, Tippecanoe HS, 2014

5-foot-11, 190-pound catching prospect with solid frame and strong lower half. Strongest skills are behind the plate. Uses short arm action through high ¾ arm slot. Top velocity of 70 mph with accuracy to his throws. Split times between 2.00 to 2.09. Good direction with his feet. At the plate, he uses a short stride. Upper half tends to be a bit stiff, but shows some quickness in his swing. Top exit velocity of 84 mph off the tee. Slight uphill path to the ball with line drive production.

Daniel Nyquist, OF, Lebanon HS, 2014

5-foot, 190-pound prospect with solid frame and strong lower half. Best tool is his bat. Uses balanced approached with short stride. Knows how to hit. Uses short, level path to the ball. Minimal upper half load with short, uphill path to the ball. Shows some pop in his bat. Registered impressive 4.3 down the line. Projects as left fielder at the next level. Throws from ¾ arm slot. Aggressive in the field and plays through the ball.

Jackson Rucker, 1B, Liberty Union HS, 2014

6-foot-3, 240-pound prospect with big, thick frame. At the plate, the right-handed hitter starts with a tall stance. Uses a short stride. Loads his hands from shoulder slot. Short, compact swing with level path to the ball. Shows some quickness. Registered top exit velocity of 87 mph off the tee. In the field, he shows some softness in his hands. Uses long arm action with top velocity of 70 mph on his throws.

Jacob Zeek, RHP, Hamilton HS, 2014

6-foot, 175-pound right-handed pitcher with thin, athletic frame. His velocity was down on this occasion as we saw him a few ticks higher a year ago. Fluid motion in his delivery. Good inward turn. Lower half works but still has room to improve. Works from a high ¾ arm slot. Fastball sat 77-80 mph with some natural arm side run. Breaking ball sat at 62 mph with 11/5 action.

John Baumgardner, RHP, Greenville HS, 2014

6-foot-2, 185-pound prospect with athletic frame. Shows some pace to his delivery with big leg kick. Sits on the back side. Throws through high ¾ arm slot with short arm action. Fastball sat 75-78 mph with occasional run. Breaking ball showed some depth at 69 mph and changeup was down in the zone at 58-62 mph. Needs to maintain arm speed for both pitches.

Justin Feltner, C/2B, Kettering Fairmont HS, 2014

5-foot-8, 155-pound prospect with small, athletic frame. Behind the plate, he shows some quickness in his transfer. Uses short arm action. Tends to throw uphill. Reached top velocity of 65 mph with split times between 2.22 to 2.27. Will improve accuracy with better direction in footwork. In the field, his skills translate best at second base.  Shows range to his left and his right. Uses short arm action with some quickness to his transfer. Top velocity of 70 mph. Offensively, the right-handed hitter uses a short, compact swing. Rotational mechanics with good use of his lower half. Line drive type production with some pull tendencies in his swing.

Nicholas Emery, RHP, Olentangy HS, 2014

6-foot, 175-pound prospect with thin, athletic frame. Quick, fluid motion to his delivery. Shows short, stiff arm action. Fastball sat 78-80 mph. Showed good command of a 64-65 mph breaking ball with gradual 11/5 break. Also flashed a straight 72 mph changeup.

Ryan Penley, OF/3B, Sidney HS, 2014

5-foot-10, 170-pound prospect with athletic frame. Looks most natural at third base. Shows some quickness in his feet and throws well from multiple angles. Typically comes through ¾ slot with top velocity of 76 mph. From the outfield, he shows limited crow hop with top velocity of 77 mph. at the plate, he starts with a slightly open stance. Triggers swing with small leg kick. Tendency to bar in his load which creates some length. Still manages some quickness with his hands through the zone (top exit velocity of 91 mph). Ran a 4.5 down the line.

Ryan Reed, C/OF, Rossford HS, 2014

6-foot-2, 200-pound prospect with big, physical build. Uses short arm action with accuracy to his throws. Top velocity of 69 mph. Split times between 2.15 to 2.39. Will be aided by improving stance and direction in footwork. At the plate, the right-handed hitter starts with an open stance. Hands start from shoulder. Takes slight uphill path to the ball. Line drive production with some power in his swing.  Registered top exit velocity of 86 mph. Ran a 4.53 down the line.

Tyler Slawson, OF/1B, Richmond HS (IN), 2014

5-foot-10, 195-pound with solid frame. Uses short arm action with some length to his transfer at first base. Top velocity of 73 mph. From the outfield, he reached a top velocity of 74 mph. His best tool is his bat. Starts with an athletic stance from the left side. Uses a short stride. Good use of lower half. Simple upper half load but a bit stiff. Takes slight uphill path to the ball. Line drive production with some pull power in his swing. Top exit velocity of 83 mph off the tee.