CJ
DiNapoli

VA/DC Scout Blog

Athletic 6-foot frame with lean strength present throughout the body. We have seen DiNapoli previously and talked about him in a few scout blogs, but only on the offensive side. Tonight we got a chance to see him on the mound in relief of Allen. DiNapoli came on in the sixth inning and made pretty quick work that inning with a groundout to first base, followed by two strikeouts. In the seventh the control faded a little bit, but the velo remained the same. DiNapoli works with a normal effort delivery, hips and shoulders level, and lands slightly closed at foot strike. It is a slower build up delivery, arm swing is full, and has some arm speed through release. The varies by pitch, throws the fastball from a high three-quarter arm slot and then it drops to a three-quarter low three-quarter slot on the changeup. The fastball stayed between 86-88 mph during his outing. There was no real run or sink to the pitch and showed the ability to work it to both sides of the plate. I though the changeup was his best pitch on the night. Even though the slot varies, fastball arm speed remains present. The changeup sat 76-78 mph with some hard late arm side run to it and is very effective versus left handed hitters. DiNapoli profiles as a possible bullpen arm at the next level and will need to add some spin to his arsenal to get hitters off of the fastball, especially when facing right handed hitters. Strong athletic body, raw arm strength, and a higher end run tool with a chance to contribute in the outfield and on the mound. 

VA/DC Scout Blog

DiNapoli continues to show why he is one of the better all around uncommitted 2022 positional players in the state. Coming off of "quarantine" last spring I saw him in what were probably his first live at bats and he was strong. Had two homeruns in that look and the swing continues to play versus all levels of arms. A few weeks back I saw him versus two 89+ arms and he hit. Today he faced 86-89 and he hit. The swing is short and handsy, but he generates bat speed through contact and has nice feel for the barrel. Went backside for a single and then laced a double into left center field later on. DiNapoli is an above average runner that moves well in the outfield and possesses the arm strength to play all three. Had a 4.5 on the turn on his double and then later on grounded out, in which he ran a 4.2. 

VA/DC Scout Blog

DiNapoli has an athletic frame with lean strength present. Has some twitch in actions and sneaky strength built into his frame. Square stance and rhythm in the load. Weight starts on the front side before loading back into the swing. Hands stay tight and are short to contact with a level path. There is some hand strength and speed through the zone that allowed for a mishit ball in his first at bat to get through the infield. Later on in his third at bat Hanover tried to elevate a two strike fastball, but with DiNapoli's hand speed and short path to contact he got on plane nicely and hit a line drive back through the middle for his second hit of the night. High end runner with range and arm strength in the outfield and some two-way potential on the mound. 

Richmond Braves Workout

Athletic 6-foot, 170-pound frame. Has high end speed turning out a 6.85 60 on what tends to be a somewhat slow track. Raw arm strength from the outfield with a 87 mph positional velocity. Is a really solid defender in the outfield with the range and arm strength to defend multiple positions. Had the most complete day of any hitter turning out a 3-3 performance with a line drive single down the third base line in his first at bat. Second at bat he hit a ball out of left center. Followed that at bat up a few minutes later with a no doubter out of left center that cleared by an easy thirty feet. Starts from a square athletic stance, toe tap to stride, and minimal hand load with short path to contact. Gets out of the box really well and is a threat on the bases. DiNapoli also offers some two-way ability. On the mound he was 82-86 mph with the fastball and flashed a 74-76 mph breaking ball with 11/5 shape.

Mid-Atlantic Summer Championship

DiNapoli has an athletic frame with a lot of projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a balanced athletic stance, short stride on line. Simple swing, short to the ball with quick hands, uphill through contact with good extension. Hammered ball all day on Sunday, the swing in the video was a home run to left, also lined balls for deep fly outs in most of his other at-bats. Showed good approach using the whole field, with easy doubles power to all fields now and future home run power to all fields.

VA/DC Scout Blog

Another nice young arm for Lee-Davis. DiNapoli came in for relief of Strattman in the championship game and showed well versus a very good Benedictine offense. He threw two and one-third innings and allowed three hits while striking out three. The right hander starts with a small rocker step from a staggered stance. Waist high balance point and shoulders level and closed off moving down the mound. Lands slightly closed at foot strike. Shorter arm circle from a low hand break and throws from a high three-quarter arm slot. Fastball was 81-83 mph with some arm side run at times. Curveball had 12/6 action while sitting at 67-68 mph. Delivery was low effort and ball came out easy, as there should be plenty more in the tank as he continues to grow.