2024 Pre-Season Top 100 Prospects Led by SS Jackson Holliday
Introducing the pSTFERA Suite - a new set of predictive ERA-estimators based on the Stuff of a given pitch, put on an ERA scale.
UConn vs. Georgetown was a matchup of two better teams in the Big East. UConn came into town and ended up sweeping the Hoyas. I attended the Sunday game featuring Georgetown left-hander Everett Catlett, an intriguing draft prospect for the 2024 MLB Draft. Here are a few names that stuck out and could gain some interest on draft day.
Well, life happens, right?
I’ve been boarded up with a ton of school in recent weeks and it’s been tough to find time to write up reports and clip together film for these. With that said, it’s still a goal to post these reports and film for readers, so while it’s late, you still get to enjoy it! This edition features players from the Duke/Clemson series and the UNC/Georgia Tech series that I scouted in middle/late March. The UVA bats and players from the Texas A&M/South Carolina series will be posted at a later date, hopefully as soon as possible.
Last weekend, I traveled to Bethlehem, PA to see two of the top Patriot League teams in action, Lehigh University and Army. Lehigh was able to take game one in extras and Army pitchers dominated games two and three. While there is a lot of good talent on both sides, I am going to be highlighting what I saw from Lehigh third baseman Rafe Perich, Lehigh right-handed pitcher Cole Leaman, Army catcher Derek Berg, and Army right-handed pitcher Mike Ruggieri.
Rafe Perich - 3B, Lehigh
3-12, 1 2B, 1 RBI, 1 Sac Fly
Perich, overall, had an uneventful weekend against Army. In game one, he went 0 for 3 with a walk-off sacrifice fly on a deep line drive to right center. In game two, Perich was 1 for 4 with a double laced into the left center field gap. In game three, he went 2 for 5 with a relief pitching appearance, although having to leave the game early with an arm injury in the ninth inning.
While Perich may have had a quiet weekend, his 2024 season has been anything but quiet. So far he has started all 27 games for the Mountain Hawks, posting a .335 average, .528 slugging, and a .496 on-base percentage (1.131 OPS). Those numbers are currently ranked 2nd, 4th, and 3rd in the Patriot League, respectively. Also on the season, he has tied his career high in home runs with 6 while recording a 16.5% walk rate and an 11% k rate.
The ‘24 draft-eligible junior stands at 6’2” with a strong, athletic base. He’s a decent runner on the bases and is very quick at the hot corner. He’s a smooth defender with an effortless, strong arm that is playable at the next level. While he has the athleticism to play the outfield, I don’t see why he couldn’t stick at third base. He has a level swing path allowing him to hit to all fields. Perich likely projects as a 2025 draft pick and will be a player to watch for both the remainder of this season and next as well.
Cole Leaman - RHP, Lehigh
4 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 2 BB, 3 SO
Leaman started game 1 of the weekend for Lehigh. This is only his second start after suffering a groin injury a couple of weeks ago. He was taken out of the game in the top of the fifth inning after throwing 75 pitches. Leaman’s fastball was in the 91-93 mph range topping out at 95 with arm side run. He was also able to get plenty of swings and misses with his 80-83 mph sweeping slider. He also featured a mid-80’s changeup as well as a mid-70’s curveball.
So far this year, Leaman has made five starts, not including the injury where he faced only one batter. In those five starts, he has pitched 19 innings with 25 k’s, 10 walks, and a 1.90 ERA. The combination of his massive uptick in velocity from a year ago and his easy, repeatable delivery will earn himself a lot of attention as the year goes on. The ‘25 eligible sophomore is looking to build on his strong start to 2024 and solidify himself in the draft conversation next year.
Derek Berg - C/1B, Army
2-12, 2 R, 1 RBI, 2 2B
Berg, like Perich, had a pretty quiet weekend. While he only had 2 hits, one of them came at a very opportune time. In the seventh inning of game three, the game tied up at 2, Berg drove a double that scored one and broke the tie. Army would go on to win game three by the score of 6-4. While the offense wasn’t quite there for him this weekend, he stood out more to me at catcher. He allowed zero past balls in the two games he was behind the plate and showed off his good framing skills as well. He is a good athlete and he has the arm to match (2.00-2.05 pop).
On the season, Berg has been playing both catcher and first base. He is hitting for a .275 average, .510 slugging, and a .378 on-base percentage with 5 home runs and a team-leading 9 stolen bases. The senior has proven his leadership on the field and has been a mainstay in this Army lineup since he arrived at West Point as a freshman in 2020. He was on the first team all-Patriot League team a year ago and was a preseason all-conference player this season as well as preseason defensive player of the year.
Mike Ruggieri - RHP, Army
5 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 5 K, 2 BB
Ruggieri started game 3 for the Black Knights and was effective from the moment he stepped on the mound, allowing zero runs through the first 3.2 innings of work. His fastball ranged between 90 and 92 mph topping out at 94. He also featured an 84-86 mph sweeping slider and a disappearing 83-84 mph splitter. He was able to command all three pitches Sunday, getting nearly all weak contact through his 5 innings pitched.
Ruggieri is a senior who stands at a towering 6’6”, 267 lbs. He has so far struck out 37 batters on the year allowing 17 walks in his 35.1 innings of work. He was on the first-team all-Patriot League team last season and was a preseason all-Patriot League pitcher entering this season. He has been a key component of this experienced Army team this season and will look to build on this strong performance as the season goes on.
Other player notes
Lehigh Fr. RHP Julio Ermigiotti
Ermigiotti has appeared for the Mountain Hawks as both a starter and reliever. The young arm has a fastball that can get into the low-90s with a mid-70s slider and changeup. So far on the year, he has struck out 14 and walked only 4 through 20 innings of work. There is a good case to be made for Ermigiotti to find himself firmly in the weekend rotation as early as this season.
Lehigh Fr. 2B Raffaele Rogers
Rogers is an outstanding defensive second baseman. He also has the potential to be a high on-base percentage player with his patient approach at the plate and solid speed. I would like to see him make more solid contact than he has so far, but he is young and has lots of room for growth.
Army So. OF William Parker
Parker is putting together a very nice sophomore season, hitting .327 (6th in the Patriot League) with a .942 OPS and 36 RBIs, which ranks 2nd in the Patriot League. Parker covers a lot of ground in left field for the Black Knights and is a key hitter in the middle of their order.
Army Sr. 3B Sam Ruta
Ruta has a lot of experience at the hot corner. He has been a starter all four years he’s been at West Point. He is having his best year yet, batting .319 with a .713 slugging and a .472 on base. He also has 9 homers and 27 RBIs. He has a good arm, but the glove has been shaky at times during his career. I see him becoming a corner outfielder at the next level. He has cut down on his swing and misses this year and become a more patient hitter and the result has been, as you’d expect, more power and fewer strikeouts.
X: @JakeBarg
High school baseball is upon us, with Kentucky baseball starting last week and Michigan's baseball season already underway as this article is being posted. Early looks of the Kentucky season have shown positive signs for the few arms mentioned prior, as they are already flying with a great start to the season. This upcoming Saturday (March 25th), Ohio baseball season begins with many touted matchups that will be must-sees for the avid baseball lover in the Ohio area. If the weather cooperates, I will be in the fields watching the OHSAA (Ohio High School Athletic Association) Division-I reigning champions Archbishop Moeller start their season against Strongsville and will provide a live look later next week on the matchup.
Part three of our series continues here, analyzing the region's infield prospects. The Ohio Valley continues the trend from the last few years of us being spoiled with a few top-tier and toolsy prospects following the footsteps of Ohio Valley infielders Colt Emerson, Colston Montgomery, Henry Kaczmar, and Alex Mooney, who displayed their advanced baseball skills at the variety level to either hear their name called in July out of high school or became a high-level dude walking onto campus in the fall and fought for a spot in the lineup out of the gate. Further, we have one SS who could hear his name called early on day one this year.
The 2024 class for this prep baseball season is stacked with dudes who possess future major-league tools and who will have huge impacts on their respective college programs or clubs next season. All of these guys with future breakdowns are dudes I can see getting their names called in July or dudes to keep noted as potential future high-round selections in 2027. The honorable mention group of dudes is in the next tier of guys who I can see get their names called sometime in the 2027 or 2028 draft after some seasoning versus better competition or added time with maturity to grow their pro tools.
| 3B/SS Caleb Bonemer, Okemos HS (MI) |
| 6-foot-1 | 195 - pounds | Commit: Virginia | B/T: R/R | Draft Day Age: 18 yr 9 mo |
SS Caleb Bonemer (MI) is a ⭐️ in the 2024 class.
— Ian Smith (@IanSmittyGA) August 17, 2023
Slo-mo look into his load and swing.
Front foot down. Strong lower half. Back hip to the baseball. Barrels.
Minimal wasted effort with massive bat speed. @UVABaseball commit. @ShooterHunt // @PBRMIScout // @PBR_DraftHQ pic.twitter.com/FWEFbiXELQ
Bonemer enters the 2024 draft cycle as the top high school infield prospect in the class due to his impressive combo of physicality, explosive tools, and massive stock bump from the 2023 prep showcase and summer circuit. Bonemer is the most prolific infielder we have seen in a hot minute to come out of the prep ranks in Michigan. Further, Bonemer has the chance of joining highly touted infielders like Colston Mongomery and Colton Emerson of being Ohio Valley infielders drafted in the first round in recent years - in short, save your seats now for Okemos high school baseball games this spring as there will not an open seat if you wait till Michigan's season to start with scouts soaring to Michigan with anticipation to watch him play.
Caleb Bonemer (24 MI) 103 EXIT VELO for the exclamation point! Another no-doubt homer! Enjoy the crack of the bat. #PGNational https://t.co/eWyAo5ZyDx pic.twitter.com/PGxWKXkuer
— PG Showcases (@PGShowcases) July 13, 2023
Bonemer is a physical athletic specimen on the diamond with a muscular build that oozes projectable strength with strong hands, wrists, and quads/lower half. In the box, everything works in sync with a quiet load, a small front-foot-striking stride, and a shorter compact swing displaying minimal wasted effort attacking the baseball with eye-popping explosive bat speeds, triple-digit exit velocities, and barreling nearly everything he attacks. When he punishes baseball, he is typically pull-side happy with the power but has shown the ability to exhibit XBHs up the middle on occasion. Contact-wise, he can hit all over the zone and spray hits anywhere throughout the field. Due to previous looks, scouts this spring would like to see him lower the whiffs in the game from inferior competition (a similar issue we saw in the 2021 varsity season from a similar comp SS in Brady House).
‘24 SS Caleb Bonemer (MI) gets things going for the West with a 2B down the line off 96. Huge offensive riser this year, so explosive & strong. #UVA commit. #PGAAC @PG_OhioValley pic.twitter.com/yfw89bcfqD
— Dick’s Sporting Goods All-American Classic (@PGAllAmerican) August 21, 2023
In the field, Bonemer is a very athletic and projectable infielder with a high likely chance to stay on the left side of the dirt with his soft hands, smooth fluid feet/motions towards the baseball, plus range, plus field awareness/baseball IQ, strong arm, good reactions, impressive composure/body control, and quick reactions to the baseball. Further, Bonemer allows his athleticism to play throughout his game without any hiccups (even during the challenging plays). Similar to Brady House, he is massive for his size. So, scouts will need to determine if the size will make him shift out of the middle and slide over to 3B or corner OF in the future when he hits physical maturity.
Overall, Bonemer has shown everything that scouts typically look for from prep position players during the draft process and is a very polished high school prospect. So far, he has made a solid case to be considered a top 15 or even top 10 selection in the draft with his very high ceiling. Due to the strong college class this season, he could fall down the boards with teams looking for more maturity and quicker to show talent. If Bonemer has an eye-popping spring as he did over the summer, he may force the hand of an organization to take him higher than most rankings and mock drafts have him before the Michigan prep season.
Preseason Draft Grade: Top 5 HS player & Top 25 overall draft talent; First-round grade w/ top 10 upside
| 1B/RHP Jake Hanley, William Mason HS |
| 6-foot-6 | 230 - pounds | Commit: Indiana | B/T: L/R | Draft Day Age: 18 yrs 11 mo |
1B/RHP Jake Hanley (OH)@IndianaBase recruit
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 4, 2024
6-foot-6, 225 pounds#Super60 || #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/w9OknXNYnM
Presumably, the most prominent and premier prep baseball athlete out of the Ohio Valley, Hanley early this year, attended the Prep Baseball's Super 60 event and impressed scouts in a showcase setting by blasting baseballs nearly 400 feet and recording triple-digit exit velocities (103.5 mph). Hanley physically stands out from the typical high school hitter with a 6-foot-5, 235-pound XL frame with loud upside tools and an even higher ceiling. Hanley has been a consistent workhorse out of a prolific baseball program at William Mason High School, which in recent years, has produced professional players in Nicholas Northcut and former first-round selection T.J Zeuch.
A few weeks back, we mentioned the pitching upside Hanley has made over the last calendar season, making him a difficult profile to project between being an offensive middle-of-the-order bat, a future high-velocity arm, or the unicorn of both. This week, we will dive into what we have seen since his early prep years as an uber-physical middle-of-the-order first baseman.
If you want to go back and see his pitching profile going into the Ohio prep season, you can see it Here
After a great piece of hitting going oppo in his first AB, 2024 1B/RHP Jacob Hanley (OH) hits an absolute missile 2B here into RCF.
— Ian Smith (@IanSmittyGA) August 9, 2023
101 off the bat. Substantial juice in the 6-foot-6, 225lb. frame. @IndianaBase commit. #PBRinSD // @ShooterHunt // @PBROhioScout pic.twitter.com/sU7bPa6rNs
As mentioned above, Hanley is a large physical frame athlete who shows premium projectable upside as a professional ball player with muscular proportions and strength throughout his body. Hanley displays very simple and smooth operations at the dish, exhibiting an athletic balanced stance with a smooth load, quiet leg kick, soft stride, whippy hands, and a controlled barrel. When he attacks baseballs, his natural strength is loud, exhibiting a mixed lofty/upward violent swing that produces thunderous hard contact every time he puts the ball in play (92.9% hard-hit rate and an average of roughly 97 mph or more EVs). Further, he possesses violent bat speed (76 mph bat speed average), allowing his tall lefty frame to get into triple-digit exit velocities. The projection for him to stay as a middle-of-the-order bat is sustainable. However, Hanley will need to exhibit his lofty/upward violent swing more often and produce more XBHs in-game as too frequently, his hitting ability against tougher pitching competition leans more into straight line drives and hard ground balls due to his occasional neutral attack angle (or insufficiency of displaying on-plane efficiency) and his bat path becoming flat in his swing versus better competition from his need in making up for timing issues in his load and his lengthy bat path (all fixable attributes in his game). On the bases, Hanley is an average runner at best overall.
‘24 1B Jake Hanley (OH)
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) August 8, 2023
6’6” 225#MLBDraft24 || @PrepBaseballOH @PBR_DraftHQ || #PBRinSD pic.twitter.com/YCfUPTzPTn
Depending on the scout(s) you speak with, there are some who believe that the two-way potential is real within Hanley, and when he breaks through the next ceiling within his development, it will be more apparent. There is no question that the hit tool and the metrics that come with it are impressive, with above-average potential projections attached throughout. However, suppose Hanley would get drafted in July. In that case, it is more likely that he will be drafted because of the toolsy upside in his hitting abilities that he displayed over the winter showcase setting, a positive offensive spring performance, and an imaginable combine invite (with the off-the-field element of the money being right). Suppose Hanley gets the chance to go to Bloomington in the fall. In that case, the coaching staff will definitely tinker with his pitching potential and get him out on the mound next spring (I'm highly assuming Risedorph, Sinnard, and Foley are drafted this year and not coming back) while giving him at-bats in fall ball and early in the spring.
In conclusion, I love to see players get their ability to achieve their dreams and get their money from the hard work they have put into baseball. Nevertheless, my selfish side would love to see him go to college and try the two-way ability out, as I can see him evolving into a Big Ten/Midwest version of Jac Caglianone or Brendon McKay because of the upside he has in his tools, both ways. Additionally, he wouldn't be the first Cincinnati native to pass on big money, double down, and prove themselves in college for a bigger payday if he did (Andrew Benintendi was drafted in the 31st round by the Cincinnati Reds in 2013 and then was a top 10 overall selection in 2015 by the Boston Red Sox. Further, Zeuch went down a similar route before being drafted 21st overall by the Toronto Blue Jays). Thus, seeing the hoops and challenging tasks for scouts to determine the future for the most polarizing, intriguing, and tooled-up athlete in the Midwest of this class in Hanley.
Preseason Draft Grade: Top 100 HS player; Day 2 grade but probably going to school.
| C Hogan Denny, Mooresville HS (IN) |
| 6-foot-0 | 190 - pounds | Commit: Indiana | B/T: R/R | Draft Day Age: 18 yr 8 mo |
C Hogan Denny (IN)@IndianaBase recruit
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 4, 2024
6-foot, 190 pounds#Super60 || #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/tqKYEYNUhY
A decorated multi-sport athlete from the Hoosier State, Denny is a two-time All-State backstop who has shown his physical athleticism from the diamond to the gridiron as his school's star quarterback (as an underclassman showed some advanced athleticism as a wide receiver for the football team). Denny is by far the best prep catcher in the region who has a strong accurate arm behind the dish and has displayed desirable power traits in the box. Like many others on these lists, Denny was a Prep Baseball Super 60 invitee and, during the event, displayed some of the most power in the country by blasting baseballs over 106 mph and demonstrating some of the most explosive bat speeds you will see slightly over 86 mph. Further, outside of being a star catcher for Mooresville HS and being arguably the most productive offensive juggernaut in Indiana prep baseball, Denny has displayed stuff on the mound by recording over 100 strikeouts as a lights-out reliever guiding his varsity squad as a year-in and year-out state championship contender. His current projection for his future is staying behind the dish, so below, we will stick with his offensive and defensive upside as a catcher.
In the box, Denny displays a sturdy physical build that shows strength throughout his frame. His advanced athleticism could be considered sneaky due to his build, but he is a tremendous athlete overall (he has swiped 67 stolen bases in varsity baseball and has made some appearances at SS). Operating in the box, Hogan now works with an athletic balanced stance where, in the past, he had a wide stance, but he has tinkered with his approach at the plate to harness more into his power profile. Further, he is a simple mover from the right side, displaying quick hands, a quiet controlled load, and a leg lift stride that blasts the barrel into the zone with oozing power from his lower half from a shorter swing. A very confident and good poised hitter. His swing/hands occasionally can get a little too early, but overall, it is on time with the barrel being in the zone for a long time at a linear level with intent. When watching him, many scouts have used the scouting vocabulary of Hogan having an “advanced approach and very disciplined.” If you are a nit-picky individual, you can say that he needs to be more rotational to generate more power. However, with this offensive profile, he already has enough natural strength to generate the long ball when needed (explains the change in stance). Overall, the power he has is ridiculous, with still more in the tank. In addition, his offensive profile is more of a gap-to-gap approach with XBH upside and the ability to spray it all over the field. Additionally, the bat works well in-game and outside of a contained environment (at the varsity level, he has produced over 35 XBHs and 19 long balls entering his senior year). His projection shows that he can stay in that middle-of-the-order stop in the lineup with a floor of a six-hole hitter.
Defensively, behind the dish, Hogan's clear best attribute is his strong and accurate arm, recording arm speeds in the low 80s. Overall, he is an advanced catcher with pop times in the upper 1.80s and low 1.90s while displaying quick reactions, soft hands, strong lower half/knees, a quick release out of a short compact ¾ arm slot, exemplary athletic footwork, fast transfer abilities, and a high baseball IQ. The quarterback background comes into play with his ability to read the field/basepaths and make decisions on the fly very well in a quick process. He shows good field general qualities to stay behind the dish at the next level or even transition to the corner infield if needed.
Hogan may get some scouts' looks this spring due to his decorated athleticism, track record of offensive production at the varsity level, and participation in previous high-level baseball events (Prep Baseball Super 60 and PG Nationals). I can easily see him being in the running for Gatorade Player of the Year for the state of Indiana and be a strong candidate for the Johnny Bench Award (an award given to the top catcher at the high school level from the Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia region). Overall, I envision Hogan as a high-follow prospect from the Hoosier State with more 2027 MLB Draft upside than this summer. Henceforth, I see Hogan going to college this fall to better himself versus good Big Ten competition and making an impact behind the dish as a backup catcher his true freshman year before breaking out as the main dude behind the plate for the Hoosiers moving forward. Suppose the power potential makes a further jump in the near future, and his offensive profile translates at the college level. In that case, the Hoosiers may have another high-level athletic power profile backstop as they did nearly a decade ago with Kyle Schwarber.
Preseason Draft Grade: N/A - Future college backstop
| Honorable Mentions |
| SS/OF Alex Koelling, William Mason HS (OH) |
| 6-foot-1 | 170 - pounds | Commit: Ohio State | B/T: L/R | Draft Age: 18 yr 1 mo |
| SS/3B Alex Martin, Boyd County (KY) |
| 6-foot-3 | 195 - pounds | Commit: Xavier | B/T: R/R | Draft Age: approximately 18 yr 0 mo |
| SS/3B Issac VanderWoude, Illiana Christian HS (IN) |
| 5-foot-11 | 188 - pounds | Commit: Virginia | B/T: L/R | Draft Age: approximately 19 yr 0 mo |
| 3B/RHP Jackson Frasure, Chaminade-Julienne (OH) |
| 6-foot-2 | 225 - pounds | Commit: Akron | B/T: R/R | Draft Age: approximately 19 yr 0 mo |
| SS Parker Brzustewicz, St. Mary’s HS (MI) |
| 6-foot-3 | 185 - pounds | Commit: Notre Dame | B/T: R/R | Draft Age: 19 yr 6 mo |
| SS/C/2B Parker Corbin, Cincinnati Country Day (OH) |
| 5-foot-9 | 180 - pounds | Commit: Maryland | B/T: L/R | Draft Age: 18 yr 11 mo |
| SS Ryder Kirtley, Troy HS (OH) |
| 6-foot-0 | 185 - pounds | Commit: Virginia Tech | B/T: R/R | Draft Age: 18 yr 10 mo |
| 1B/RHP Sawyer Solitaria, Saint Ignatius (OH) |
| 6-foot-3 | 230 - pounds | Commit: Kent State | B/T: R/R | Draft Age: 18 yr 2 mo |
Earlier this month, I was invited to a private workout featuring a handful of talented prep players from across the northeast region. This was a first for me. It was a moment in my career that felt important, a milestone of sorts. It was also a phenomenal opportunity to check out a large group of players at once, many of whom I intended on seeing at some point this spring.
An event such as this is helpful when putting the finishing touches on your priority list. You can only be in one place at a time, which means you are constantly being forced to choose between seeing one player (or group of players) over another player each day leading up to the draft. Strengthening that priority list ahead of the season helps an area scout maximize their limited amount of time. It’s not a perfect setting for a thorough evaluation, but you can gather a surprising amount of valuable information in a short window of time. This was a nice preview for the weeks, months, and years ahead. Below, you can find three players who made a strong impression and piqued my curiosity, followed by a handful of players who I’ll be tracking closely as prep baseball kicks into gear in my neck of the woods.
alex ramos | ‘24
RHP | GOSHEN CENTRAL, NY
FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL COMMIT
One of the stronger locales for the northeast 2024 prep class will be the Hudson Valley area of New York. Alex Ramos, a Hudson Valley righty at Goshen Central, is an arm that area scouts will be eager to check out this spring. He was someone who stood out to me after seeing some short clips of him on social media with the look of someone who was just starting to blossom as a pitcher. That feeling was confirmed after seeing Ramos fire off consistent 93-95 MPH heat during his pen. Ramos is a quality athlete with a projectable, long-levered frame (6’3-190) suited for the mound. It’s a bit of a longer arm action, but Ramos was able to sync the operation effectively thanks to his above-average arm speed. Ramos releases from a high, almost over-the-top arm slot and extends well during his delivery. This gives the fastball good hop, and at this velocity, it’s a power pitch that projects well at the next level. There’s some head movement on release that could use some cleaning up to improve command, but the overall development to date is highly impressive. Ramos also featured a 74-76 MPH overhand curveball that had good shape at times and a changeup in the mid-80s. Between the two, I preferred the curve. It’s probably fringy presently, but I see the makings of a legitimate weapon as he develops and starts using it more.
Overall, Ramos profiles as a projection righty, but one who has more present velocity than similar arms in the prep and college classes. He has made significant gains over the past several months and is on an upward trajectory. If the stuff he showed in this pen translates to game action this spring, Ramos could leapfrog a good chunk of the prep pitching class in the region.
connor lane
CATCHER/RHP | OLD SAYBROOK SENIOR, CT
UCONN COMMIT
Connor Lane challenged Alex Ramos for the biggest surprise of the day. After showing off some good pop during BP, Lane jumped on the bump and caught the attention of every scout in attendance. Lane’s cannon arm is well-known to evaluators in the area, but now Lane has begun converting that arm talent behind the dish to the pitcher’s mound. He made a promising short appearance out of the bullpen in October during the WWBA tournament in Jupiter and has since taken things to another level. Lane has a physical 6’2-205 build, with immense arm strength. There was some variation to the arm action and delivery during this pen, but considering his experience level as a pitcher, it exceeded my expectations. The arm action is very short, at times resembling Texas Tech freshman Mac Heuer, though Lane releases from a higher slot. Lane sat in the 91-92 MPH range with his heater, with a few fastballs registering at 93-94 MPH (at least one scout in attendance had a 95 reading). The fastball had arm-side movement, with a few flashing good, late action. He complimented the fastball with a slider that had surprising polish. An upper 70s pitch, Lane showed feel for locating the breaker to his glove side. A couple had some “hump” coming out of the hand which made them easier to pick up, but the foundation for a solid secondary is present.
Because Lane is both an integral piece behind the plate for his high school squad and a legitimate catching prospect, it remains to be seen how many opportunities he’ll receive on the mound in the months ahead. He showed enough in this look to suggest he has a real shot at “coming out” as an arm this spring, especially as he focuses more on pitching and accrues experience on the mound.
JC Pacheco | ‘26
SHORTSTOP | DEPAUL CATHOLIC, NJ
UNCOMMITTED
The 2026 high school class in New Jersey has a chance to be special. Based on this brief look, JC Pacheco is a name that belongs in the upper echelon of prep talents for 2026. Playing for Jersey powerhouse DePaul Catholic, Pacheco made a great first impression with the potential for a plus arm on the dirt and both contact and power in the box. Pacheco has good physicality for his age at 5’10-170 and is likely to grow in the years ahead. He showed a quiet swing with good barrel whip during his rounds of BP with the potential for both above average (or better) hand/bat speed as he matures. Pacheco was able to produce quality contact in all directions, and his knack for making hard, elevated contact up the middle and to the opposite field was noticeable.
Obviously, we are a long way from the 2026 draft cycle, and a lot can change over that time. We’ll need to see if the offensive tools he showed in this look will translate to live pitching. That said, Pacheco is someone I’m eager to track over the next few years as he shares the field with a slew of fellow draft talents at DePaul Catholic. Pacheco remains uncommitted, but he is sure to be a high priority for recruiters moving forward.
I was glad to get another opportunity to see shortstop Julius Rosado before the high school season started. Once again, Rosado was cool, calm, and collected on both sides of the ball. He has well-defined strength while remaining smooth and nimble. We’ll see if he can stick at short long-term, but he checks a lot of the necessary boxes to play on the left side of the infield at the next level. He’s a confident hitter in the box with a swing that’s geared for explosive power to his pull side. It’s a swing that will be put to the test as he faces better, more consistent stuff, but he’s a kid that I expect will put in the work to make adjustments as he moves up the ladder. He would be a huge recruiting win for head coach Steve Owens and recruiting coordinator Brendan Monaghan should he reach campus.
I’ve now seen a good amount of Hofstra recruits up close and personal this winter and I’ve come away impressed. There’s been a clear, positive shift for Hofstra’s baseball program with skipper Frank Catalanatto at the helm. Like Rosado, this was my second look at Tyler Castrataro who serves as a good example of Hofstra’s enhanced recruiting thrust. A wiry, quick-twitch athlete Castrataro plays bigger than his listed 5’10-160 size. He’s an above-average runner and athlete who takes some ferocious cuts in the box. Castrataro’s ability to hammer the baseball is rare for someone his size. The violence in his swing is a big factor in that ability which, in theory, could impact his ability to make contact during live ABs. Regardless, Castrataro has plenty of raw tools to develop further and is the type of athlete that schools like Hofstra should be looking to work with.
Out of the two Pennsylvania arms, Hansen showed the “louder” stuff but he also had more violence to the delivery. Hansen has good length and remaining projection at 6’3-205 with a strong, quick arm. The strikes were a bit scattered on this day, but Hansen displayed three quality offerings with a 91-93 MPH fastball, a slider between 78-80 MPH, and some decent. nascent feel for a changeup. Hansen is committed to Coastal Carolina, a school that has done a fantastic job developing players from the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions in recent years.
As with Dylan Hansen, Kross Howarth has the same kind of long, projectable build (6’4-205) that will fill up a jersey while providing teams with something to dream on. The Tulane commit has legitimate two-way ability with an ideal power bat/power arm skillset for the hot corner. There’s plenty to like as an offensive prospect, but I paid extra attention to him on the mound. I really liked how effortlessly he filled the zone with his deceptive delivery. He stays closed for an extended period of time with a crossfire delivery and a low ¾ arm slot. I think this opens up a lot of developmental and pitch-shaping opportunities with his fastball moving forward. His fastball had good sinking action at the bottom of the zone, but I could see the pitch acting as a “hybrid” fastball that induces grounders at a high rate but can also miss a healthy amount of bats. Logan Webb and Marcus Stroman are good examples of this. He sat in the 90-91 MPH range but has lived in the 90-93 MPH (t94) range multiple times, dating back to the summer. Howarth also flashed some really good sliders (79-82 MPH). There weren’t any batters, obviously, but I imagine that his best sliders would release from behind a right-handed hitter before sweeping across the zone to the outer edge of the plate. He also threw a curve (74-76), which traded some sweep for additional vertical action as well as a changeup at 84 MPH.
It can be a challenge for a pitcher to maintain a consistent release point with a delivery such as Howarth’s, but it clearly wasn’t an issue on this day. Howarth is going to get dinged in draft models because he’s already 19 and will be closer to 20 years old than 19 years old on draft day. But this is the type of arm I love to watch and track because there are outlier characteristics that could really “pop” if everything comes together. I hope to get a second look at Howarth this spring to see if he can do what he did in this pen over a full outing. If I don’t get the opportunity to see him myself, I know Pennsylvania-based evaluator Jake Bargery (who lives near Perkiomen) is ready to see him live during the high school season. Unfortunately, I didn’t get any video of Howarth on the mound, but you can check out some swings below.
Cespedes popped up this past summer/fall and is a big body (6’4-220) righty who sat in the 91-92 (t93) MPH range with a low 80s curveball and a mid-80s changeup. The mechanics need to be ironed out, but it’s a nice, short arm action from a high ¾ release with some deception. He’s raw as a pitcher, but I could see him taking off at Maryland. The size and ability to touch 94 mph with the fastball will draw scouts this spring.
Lollin was the most “complete” pitcher of the four mentioned in this section. He has a strong, filled-out frame at 6’1-210 that looks ready for the next level of competition. His stuff was noticeably firmer with a four-pitch mix highlighted by a fastball in the 91-94 MPH range. He also threw a sinking fastball with running action that he threw down and to his arm side in the 88-90 MPH range. The slider featured two-plane action at 79-82 MPH, which was tight at times, and he completed his repertoire with a promising changeup in the low-80s with fade. This was my first time seeing Lollin and he looked much better than I expected. He moved up my priority list for the spring following this brief outing. Stock up.
It’s been a hectic start to the season and while I racked up the flyer miles in February, March marked the start of conference play in North Carolina. Having some prior obligations taking center stage in life, this means that this Live Looks edition will be longer than most. I made stops at East Carolina, NC State, and Wake Forest/Duke to start off the month and there will be more ACC content as the month progresses.
As a disclaimer, I will see Duke two weeks in a row, so the players I selected for this piece will likely not be written up on the next piece. Players like Jonathan Santucci, who had a rough outing against Wake Forest, will be written up after the series against Clemson, but that will include notes from the Wake Forest series as a comparison to what I saw between the two outings.
This past Sunday, I was able to travel to Merion Station, PA to watch Saint Joseph’s University take on Bucknell University in a doubleheader. I was able to get good looks at both Sean Keys from Bucknell and Matt McShane from Saint Joseph’s, both likely to be selected during the 2024 MLB Draft.
3-4, 2 2B, BB, 2 IBB, HBP
Keys is number 86 on our 2024 Preseason Top 100 College Draft Prospects list. He had a nice showing against St. Joseph’s last weekend only recording one out in 8 plate appearances. He faced two talented St. Joseph’s starting pitchers Ryan Desanto and Domenic Picone. In the first inning of game one, he turned on a Desanto fastball and drove it off the right-center field wall for a double. He drew a walk in his second AB and an intentional walk in his third. In game 2, he showed off his pull-side power once again, driving a ground-rule double to right-center. He also recorded another intentional walk as well as a HBP.
Keys has proven during his time at Bucknell that he is a very patient hitter and knows the strike zone well. Not only that, but he is also aggressive when he gets the pitch he wants. He has quick hands, good bat speed, and is violent at the point of attack with a swing path capable of covering much of the strike zone.
Keys, 6’2” 220 lbs, has a strong, powerful build that not only boosts his power at the plate but conversely causes limitations to his mobility at third base. He isn’t a smooth mover on the basepaths or in the field. While I do believe he has the arm to play third base and potentially the glove as well, I don’t feel that he has the lateral quickness to play the position at the next level. Unless he vastly improves his athleticism come draft time, I feel that a move to first base would be what best suits both him as well as the team that picks him.
If all goes perfectly for Keys this spring, he could potentially hear his name called in the 3rd round, but I would currently project him being drafted in the 4-6 round range.
0.2 IP, 0 H, 1 BB, 1 SO
McShane has shown an uptick in his velocity from a year ago. His fastball so far this year has been 93-95 mph, topping out at 96. The only thing that worries me is that he put out a lot of effort to get it to the mid-90s. His slider has been very effective coming in at 82-83 mph with a tight, gyro movement. It stays in the zone for a long time and is extremely deceptive to hitters. He also has an 86-87 mph changeup that he has struggled to control at times but is effective when he hits his location.
He entered the game Sunday with one out in the ninth inning, two runners on, and a five-run cushion. He walked the first batter he faced, then came back with a strikeout on a 95 mph fastball. He then hit the next batter, allowing a run to score. Finally, he induced a flyout to right field to end the game.
I would like to see if he can clean up some of his control issues as the year goes on before placing a proper grade on him, but when he’s at his best, he has the stuff to be a potential day two pick.
X: @JakeBarg
Continuing on our series of analyzing pre-season 2024 prep prospects throughout the Ohio Valley to keep an eye on this spring. We now jump into the left-handed pitchers (LHP) in the region this week. As outlined in the first article last week, the State of Indiana has some of the most stout arms in the country, and it resumes with the southpaws. The State of Michigan may have the most polarizing lefty in the draft class in Joey Broughton and also features some solid future college arms to keep an eye on garnering Power 5 attention. Lastly, the Buckeye State, after producing three intriguing left-handed pitchers last season out of the 2023 class (Colton Hartman - Louisville, Titus Lotz - Bowling Green, and Blaine Albright - Indiana), is shutout in this week's article as their 2024 class currently lacks the projectable velocity for the MLB Draft and many of their arms are more college projects than day one contributors at the Power 5 level.
Next week, we will dive into the infield dudes making noise heading into the spring. With that said, what LHP prospects should we pay attention to this spring that can create momentum heading into July? Let's dive into the lefties making noise leading into the varsity baseball season.
| Brayton Thomas, Bishop Dwenger HS (IN) |
| 6-foot-4 | 236 - pounds | Commit: Indiana | Draft Day Age: 19 yr. |
‘24 LHP Brayton Thomas (@Brayton12614219)
— Prep Baseball Indiana Scouting Coverage (@PrepBaseINScout) February 25, 2024
• 6’4” 235 lbs, big league frame
• @IndianaBase recruit
Heavy fastball gets on hitters w/ 7’ extension, sweeping SL tunnels.
Uncapped ceiling
FB 90-92, T 93 (2500+)
SL 79-83 (17”+ HZB)
CB 73-76
CH 84-85#SNLiveABs || @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/JumbDjYJJV
One of the most polished arms out of the Ohio Valley and arguably one of the top southpaws you will see from the nation's 2024 class. Thomas is an uber-physical southpaw who displays projectable front-of-the-rotation stuff on the mound and has punched out over 150 batters in less than 86 innings at Bishop Dewinger HS.
On the mound, Thomas has a tall, durable XL frame with a barrel chest and mature features for his age. When operating on the bump, Thomas works with a prototypical drop-and-drive delivery that is repeatable from a low ¾ arm slot, quick arm action, natural deception, and a high leg kick. There is some effort in the arm, but nothing too alarming. Overall, he has clean mechanics. At Prep Baseball's All-American Games, Thomas recorded up to 7 feet of extension working downhill towards the plate (for perspective, Spencer Strider and Shane McClanahan both create 7 feet of extension working towards the plate. Across the board, it's excellent that makes their stuff play up and gives hitters less time to react). Thomas displays good calm composure, presence, and tempo on the mound and has looked unfazed against all high school hitters who have stepped into the box against him so far.
Diving into the arsenal, Thomas brings a 4-pitch mix of a fastball (FB), a slider (SL), a curveball (CB), and a changeup (CH). The fastball is a true rising four-seamer with backspin, which operates in the low 90s, topping out at 93, exhibiting life through the zone, and is frequently thrown for strikes. The fastball shows solid rise and run action with some natural cut and above-average spin rates (over 2400). Also, the FB tunnels well with the off-speed (SL) that he usually locates well in the lower half or inside on both LHHs & RHHs. Next, the SL will be Thomas's bread and butter pitch that will make him some money. The SL works in the upper 70s with good tilt and adequate spin (around 2300 – 2400) that displays tight and downward action into the zone towards batters with advanced feel; It's a real-deal weapon that Thomas often uses as a put-away pitch. Scouts continue to see consistent S/M out of the SL, leading to plus pitch potential going into the draft. Thomas also works with a CH that operates in the low 80s with good fade and some feel. Lastly, Thomas has been operating with a CB as a fourth option to build more into his starter profile. CB works in the low 70s with good movement and sufficient spin (around 2200 - 2350).
Overall, there is lots to like about Thomas moving forward, with room still in the tank for further advancements on the mound. Between his advanced feel on the bump, pro ball size/athleticism, and good pitchability; there is a chance for his name to get called this summer. The real question lies in his commitment to the in-state school of Indiana and whether going to school will benefit him more in the long run. Presently, I see day two upside in Thomas, but if he goes to school, there is easy Friday night starting stuff here (sooner rather than later) with the upside of his name getting called in the first or second round in the 2027 draft. My gut is leaning toward that if we see a velocity jump this spring with him sitting in his mid-90s and topping out around 95-96, he will not be heading to Bloomington in the fall. Just like Kosterman last week, the stuff is the real deal, and only time will tell, but, at the moment, he is an entertaining arm to watch at the prep level out of the Hoosier State.
Preseason Draft Grade: Top 100 HS player; Day 2 grade with intriguing chance of going to school.
| Joey Broughton, Northville HS (MI) |
| 6-foot-2 | 200 - pounds | Commit: Pittsburgh | Draft Day Age: 18 yr 7 mo |
LHP Joey Broughton (MI)@Pitt_BASE recruit
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 4, 2024
6-foot-2, 200 pounds
FB: 92-94 mph
CB: 78-79 mph 2722 RPM
CH: 85-86 mph #Super60 || #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/DCqw7pZsVO
Probably the most compelling LHP coming out of the Ohio Valley and an arm with the most helium metrics going into the prep baseball season in the nation. Lately, he came off of Prep Baseball's Super 60 event in February and impressed scouts at the event by heating up the fastball to nearly 95 mph and setting a new bar for the rest of the class by capturing the highest average fastball spin rate ever produced in the history of the Super 60 event (2646 avg and 2746 max spin) and further positioning his name on MLB draft boards as a must-watch prep arm this spring.
On the bump, he works with a repeatable athletic delivery, a high leg kick, and a closed finish. The arm works out of a high ¾ arm slot with a quick arm action and solid tempo. Mechanically, some fine-tuning needs to be done, but everything moves clean and effortlessly on the mound. Physically, Broughton displays a great projectable frame with a durable lower half. He oozes subtle confidence on the mound with good pose and has a competitive mentality to dominate the zone and throw strikes.
Now, diving into the fun stuff of Broughton, he operates with a 3-pitch mix of a fastball (FB), a curveball (CB), and a changeup (CH) that all have outstanding metrics. The FB has seen a jump over the last calendar year as it now sits in the low 90s and tops at 95 with ludicrous spin sitting around 2550 - 2650 with it topping out north of 2700. Further, the FB shows outstanding movement, and he can develop extraordinary spin on the ball, getting 24 + inches of Horizontal Movement (HB), 6 + inches of Induced Vertical Break (IVB), 18 + inches of separation, and a spin efficiency of 89% (IVB and avg. HB were number 1 at the Super 60 event). The FB displays rising and jumping traits into the zone with arm-side running action. Broughton has an outstanding feel for the heater as it is a strike-throwing pitch in his arsenal, landing in the zone roughly ¾s of the time. The fastball alone will make player development departments around MLB salivate and pound the table for their team to draft Broughton this July, as it's a plus pitch. During their evaluation process, scouts will need to see if the bullpen session control and command from the winter translates to in-game well and grades out as the plus pitch we believe it can be.
Diving into the offspeed pitches, Broughton also brings a hammer curveball into the mix as it operates in the upper 70s with high spins touching nearly 3000 RPMs (averages around 2800). The CB displays excellent depth and bite, working with an average of 16 inches of HM that can top out over 20 inches. In addition, the CB works with a 2/7 shape out of the hand. Also, he has shown the ability to land the breaker into the zone consistently for strikes as well. Overall, the CB is a good pitch that supplements the FB, keeping hitters off-balance. Lastly, Broughton brings in a CH that works in the mid-upper 80s and works well within the other pitches of his arsenal. It shows firmness and fading downward movement, with arm-side run. Further, he has shown confidence and feel in the CH and has demonstrated the ability to add/subtract spin, which causes bedlam for hitters in the box.
𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝟔𝟎 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐞: @broughton_joey 📊
— Prep Baseball Michigan (@PrepBaseballMI) February 22, 2024
One of the more impressive north/south profiles in the class 👀👍#BeSeen // #Super60 // @prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/Dk12rW7LKs
All-around, Broughton will be one of the most seen arms in the Ohio Valley this spring as the plus metrics show the workhorse ability he projects to become with a chance of breaking out with a "Jackson Jobe" like senior year due to the plus data metric arsenals. He has a good feel and confidence to use any of the three pitches in his arsenal. His arm has some real front-of-the-rotation starting profile and projection with elite spin rates, superior movement, an advanced three-pitch package, and projectable size that could make Broughton into a big helium riser going into the summer. I do not see any limitations in his game where he couldn't add another pitch in the arsenal during his development time in the minors, further pushing his projection as a top-of-the-rotation arm (I would love to see him develop a cutter or splitter in the arsenal; Game Over!). His draft status highly depends on his control, command, and ability to work in longer outings this spring. If everything looks good this spring without any hiccups for him, I see it as unlikely that he will end up in college baseball next season. The upside is too enticing for a club to pass up on, and I believe the metrics will lure a team into paying the man.
Draft Grade: Top 200 selection (current ceiling of a late second-round draft pick while sitting as a third - eighth round grade).
| Caden McCoy, Bloomington North HS (IN) |
| 6-foot-2 | 226 - pounds | Commit: Texas A&M | Draft Day Age: 18 yr 5 mo |
LHP Caden McCoy (IN)@AggieBaseball recruit
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 4, 2024
6-foot-3, 220 pounds
FB: 87-90 (2600)
CH: 76-77 (1900)
SL: 80-81 (2500)#Super60 || #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/DLiGZlWbOR
A helium prep arm out of the Hoosier 2024 class, McCoy has become one of the top arms in the region after displaying his stuff when he hopped onto the mound at the National Program Invitational (NPI) and PBR Future Games in the summer of 2022 that led to a near-instantaneous offer from the Aggies. Since then, he has been on everyone's radar out of the Hoosier State and is another arm out of Indiana that has the chance to hear their name get called during All-Star Week.
On the mound, McCoy is a physical pitcher who displays a thicker, stronger frame with durability. When working on the bump, he displays smooth clean operations from an athletic delivery that is repeatable from a high ¾ arm slot, a high leg kick, and a closed finish. His arm is quick with minimal effort; when watching him pitch, the ball darts out of his hand quickly and into the zone. Scouts are bullish on his competitiveness and high-energy demeanor on the bump.
McCoy works with an advanced four-pitch mix of a fastball (FB), a slider (SL), a curveball (CB), and a changeup (CH). The FB is firm that works in the upper 80s and low 90s, topping out at 92, with good arm-side run and plus control. So far, the FB has been the primary pitch in his arsenal that works away on RHHs, inside on LHHs, and, on occasion, living up in the zone. Further, the FB is a data-darling pitch in his arsenal that has produced over 19 inches of IVB, and 12 inches of HB and produces ridiculous spin rates (sits north of 2500 and touches over 2620) that creates frequent S/M against the opposition. The FB on the mound hasn't shown any traits of tapping out, and scouts/coaches genuinely believe there will be another velocity bump in the tank shortly. Overall, the FB is an enticing pitch for any pitching coach to work with that displays promising metrics; however, McCoy this spring would be better off in front of MLB scouts displaying better command with the heater as he periodically will miss his spots driving up his pitch count and show that he can pitch in long outings (holding velo) as a rotation guy so he doesn't get clumped into a reliever category on draft boards due to his burly size.
Next, McCoy works with a pair of breaking balls of a CB and a SL. The CB is a sharp 1/7 - action breaking ball in the upper 70s with average spin rates (2400). The CB displays big breaking motion downward into RHHs that freezes hitters in their shoes and cause them to get rung up on occasion. Next, the SL is the pitch he often uses as the knock-out blow on batters, bringing out the ugly stick as batters record hideous swings and misses. His SL, is a tight slurvy two-plane breaking ball that works in the low 80s with spin that sits between 2200 - 2400 and has touched over 2500 in previous bullpen sessions. He has a great feel for his SL, and it works with the FB as a typical duo that tunnels well together, a legitimate one-two combo. Lastly, he operates with an upper-70s changeup that has flashed quality stuff that, with future development, can become a plus pitch. The CH exhibits fading downward movement with arm-side action and a good feel, creating over 12 inches of HM and 14 inches of IVB that flashes upside. Like the SL, the CH tunnels well with the FB, causing issues for hitters in the box.
Caden McCoy SL work 🤝@CadenMcCoy21 #PRPRemote pic.twitter.com/fgll5FLtHl
— PRP Baseball (@PRPBaseball101) February 24, 2024
Overall, McCoy has the strength, durability, and size to be a starter at the next level, but due to his burly size, he could be pushed into a bullpen role. I envision pro scouts seeing McCoy in a similar light to Sal Romano coming out of HS, who also had a similar size and arsenal (when coming out of HS, Romano's FB sat at the same velo as McCoy and darted up to 93-98 mph T100 in the Reds farm system). Depending on the organization, McCoy may be stretched out to be the starting arm or may look to build him to be a prospective lock-down closer. Ultimately, it goes down to if scouts want to take the chance early on McCoy and they feel they can develop him into something they can imagine. If not drafted this summer, then he will become an enticing project in College Station and a potential electric arm for the Aggies to play with.
Preseason Draft Grade: Dart-throw day three grade with outstanding upside for the college level.
| Honorable Mentions |
| Ethan Lund, Hamilton Southeastern HS (IN) |
| 6-foot-5 | 212 - pounds | Commit: Oklahoma State | Draft Age: 18 yr 10 mo |
| Leighton Harris, Frederick Douglass HS (KY) |
| 6-foot-3 | 210 - pounds | Commit: Kentucky | Draft Age: 18 yr 11 mo |
| Brendon Bennett, Novi HS (MI) |
| 6-foot-2 | 210 - pounds | Commit: Clemson | Draft Age: 18 yr 4 mo |
| Kael Gahan, Lake Orion HS (MI) |
| 6-foot-2 | 180 - pounds | Commit: Duke | Draft Age: 17 yr 9 mo |
Editor’s Note: This is a collaborative effort from Tyler Jennings and Patrick Bauer, both of whom attended the event in person.
As of writing this piece, tryouts for the 2024 high school baseball season have begun, and players are starting to get ramped up for the upcoming Prep Baseball Season in the Ohio Valley. For our readers in the Ohio Valley and Midwest who are battling through the up-and-down weather and weekly snow squalls, I have decided each week until the varsity season begins to provide a pre-season deep dive of some 2024 prep prospects throughout the Ohio Valley to keep an eye on that are either guys I can envision getting their name called this July or potential impact college players in the near future. At the end of the prep season, I will re-evaluate and include dudes who have jumped this spring.
For the avid readers of my upcoming content, nearly all of my content will be focused on either the prep or collegiate baseball within the Ohio Valley (the Ohio Valley in my content will pertain to the states of OH, MI, IN, KY, and sometimes WV) with some content focused on the higher level dudes outside of this region projected to go really high. Additionally, when we get into the summer months, I'll transition into breaking down some outstanding impact guys within the MLB Draft League, Prospects League, and Great Lakes League.
After straying from the subject matter, we are starting this week with the RHP prep baseball players to watch for this spring. When diving into the pitching prospects of the Ohio Valley, the state of Indiana is loaded (no, seriously, Indiana may lead the scorecard in July for most high schoolers getting their name called in the Ohio Valley region). High school pitching in this region has seen a meteoric rise this winter and will start to get more attention when the playing season begins. Let's get down to business!
| Brayden Krenzel, Dublin Jerome HS (OH) |
#54 - Prospect Live 2024 MLB DRAFT: TOP 100 PREP PROSPECTS 01/11/24
| 6-foot-3 | 195 - pounds | Commit: Tennessee | Draft Day Age: 18 yr. 6 mo. |
𝗢𝗻 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝘂𝗻𝘁: 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟰 𝗠𝗟𝗕 𝗗𝗿𝗮𝗳𝘁
— Prep Baseball (@prepbaseball) February 1, 2024
presented by: @S2Cognition
RHP @BraydenKrenzel (OH): At the #PBRAAG23, Krenzel showed command and feel for a strong 3-pitch mix with a FB reaching 94 mph. 📈 @PrepbaseballOH
🔗 https://t.co/zdYC8Yk2nH | @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/qusAiKd6CC
Probably the most well-known and premier arm out of the Ohio Valley. A coined term that has been used a lot around Krenzel in the previous calendar year has been the word “intriguing” by many scouts. On the mound presents a smooth operation, a super clean arm, and displays natural deception within his delivery. A low-three-quarter arm slot that shows a lower release and exhibits a more extended whippy arm action. Further, he pitches with a “Hunter Greene-like” calming composure and confidence when on the mound.
On the bump, he brings a 3-pitch mix of a fastball (FB), a slider (SL), and a changeup (CH). The FB usually sits low-90s, touching 94 MPH, showing arm-side run and occasional heavy sink. Regarding future projections, he still has enough in the tank to fill out and add to the FB velo with the expectation that it can sit in the mid-90s due to his projectable and physical frame/size. Subsequently, his slider is arguably one of the best in this prep class overall and is a typical go-to pitch that wipes out hitters in the box and locates very well down in the zone (a regular nightmare for RHHs). SL usually operates in the low-80s and has a sweeping shape that tunnels out of the hand very well with his CH. Works well on either side of the dish, and in recent outings and showcase appearances, the SL has made a recent jump in metrics. Lastly, the CH sits in the low-80s and is a little more fringy than you look for with higher projected pitching prospects and probably will be average at best moving forward, but with how it tunnels with the SL and how Krenzel mixes his arsenal, it will play.
Overall, Krenzel has a good feel for all of his pitches, isn’t afraid to pitch any of them, and frequently throws strikes. In previous live looks, he has been a usual tough at-bat that creates S/M for even the best hitters in Ohio and within the summer circuit to face. If the velo takes a jump this spring and holds well, we can see an arm in the Buckeye State that could get his name called early during All-Star Week.
Preseason Draft Grade: Top 100 selection (third - sixth round)
| Cameron Sullivan, Mount Vernon HS (IN) |
| 6-foot-2 | 200 - pounds | Commit: Notre Dame | Draft Day Age: 18 yr. 3 mo. |
RHP Cameron Sullivan (IN)@NDBaseball recruit
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 4, 2024
6-foot-2, 200 pounds
FB: 95-97 (2600)
CH: 90-92 (2200)
SL: 89-90 (2800)#Super60 || #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/tAlcApaHfa
Probably the most electrifying arm in the Ohio Valley and an arm with the most helium going into the prep baseball season in the region. Recently, came off of Prep Baseball’s Super 60 event and impressed scouts in a showcase setting by dialing up the FB nearly to 97 mph and over 2600 RPMs of spin. Putting his name on draft boards and making it tough to find a seat at Mount Vernon games this spring.
Sullivan, on the mound, operates with a 3-pitch mix of a fastball (FB), a slider (SL), and a changeup (CH). The FB is a plus pitch that sits mid-90s that carries with life through the zone, and is frequently thrown for strikes. The off-speed/breaking-ball pitches are what I feel are going to separate him from the rest of this prep baseball class in the nation. The SL is an upper-80s breaking ball that touches 90 MPH that has sharp tilt and looks firm with high spin rates (upper 2800). Further, in the box, the slider displays a late lateral break that is disgusting to even go against, creating S/M. From a metrics standpoint, the pitch is enticing, but if he can show better command and hit his spots this spring against live ABs with the SL, he could jump further in the draft. Lastly, he delivers a low-90s CH that is firm and has shown occasional sink, which from a metric standpoint is a really good pitch (over 15 inches of separate and HM hitting over 20 inches) but does seem fringy at times in-game.
Overall, Cameron has a good feel for his pitches and pitches with a mission on the mound. Operates with a good tempo and a repeatable delivery. Further, he performs with a high leg kick, a high three-quarters arm slot, a short, quick arm action, and pitches with deception. The ball jumps out of his hand well. An obvious athlete on the mound and is a superb pitching talent. I easily envision him being a top 100 draft prospect and top 30 prep arm for this draft class in our next rankings update, and it is not an unrealistic projection that he jumps Krenzel by the end of the spring as the best RHP in the Ohio Valley. His draft status highly depends on his control and command this spring.
Preseason Draft Grade: Top 100 selection (current ceiling of Compensation A round draft pick while sitting as a second - fifth round grade).
| Jack Brown, Fishers HS (IN) |
| 6-foot-1 | 205 - pounds | Commit: Louisville | Draft Day Age: 18 yr. 9 mo. |
Great stuff from ‘24 RHP Jack Brown (@jackbrown_24) in his start for @TigerBaseball17
— Prep Baseball Indiana (@PBRIndiana) April 7, 2023
Superb athlete at 6’1/200lbs - @LouisvilleBSB recruit
Tons of ASR on the FB. CH w/ fade pairs well w/ the FB, confident in CH R/R. Tight, slurvey breaking ball
FB 88-91 T 94
SL 77-79
CH 81-83 pic.twitter.com/mkcCOdjlhq
A dude who has been a prominent arm out of Indiana for a little while. Brown is a productive and efficient arm out of Noblesville, IN, who has accumulated over 190 Ks to 57 BB and under a 2.00 ERA during his Fishers HS career so far. An arm that reminds me of a current Louisville Cardinal, Colton Hartman, who is a premier talent on the bump and accumulates many praises for being a workhorse, but their athleticism isn’t limited to just the mound as there is two-way potential in them, as both in their HS career have displayed the ability to do damage in the box (for the sake of this article we are going to focus on the arm).
When on the bump, Brown operates with a smooth delivery with some up-tempo, a high leg kick, and when pitching does show some effort at release. Additionally, relies heavily on creating energy from the lower half that works until heel strike. The arm works out of a three-quarters slot that has quick action. Uber-athlete on the mound with physical and projectable traits. Overall, I would like to see the mechanics cleaned up to become more efficient and repeatable.
Brown, on the mound, operates with a 4-pitch mix of a fastball (4-SM and a 2-SM Sinker), a slider (SL), and a changeup (CH). Both FBs work in the low-90s, topping out around 95 MPH with arm-side run. Both FBs have been the primary pitches in his arsenal early on in counts he relies on the most, pitching low in the zone and inducing a high rate of groundballs. Next, he has a tight slider that displays some late slurvy action. The SL has become a solid and reliable put-away pitch for Brown, generating whiffs on both righties and lefties that step into the box. His SL is interesting as it bounces from different actions (sometimes 11/5 and other times 10/4) with improving metrics (roughly up to 2500 spin). In recent winter bullpen sessions, he has bumped the velocity up into the mid-80s T87. It's an offering within his arsenal that scouts will want to see this spring, as he's added roughly 6-8 MPH over the offseason. Lastly, Brown has a contentious CH from outing to outing, creating S/M. The CH operates in the mid-80s and works well with the FB. It shows some fade and downward movement, with an arm-side run. Brown has shown confidence in the CH and has demonstrated the ability to add/subtract velo with it, which can create issues for hitters. Across the board, Brown has a good feel for his arsenal, throws strikes, and has shown solid pitch ability against RHHs and LHHs. Additionally, he has the stuff and dedication to be developed into a high-level starting pitcher. Like Hartman last year, we can envision him being drafted, but he is probably a hard sign to get him out of his Cards commitment.
Preseason Draft Grade: Day 2 grade but probably going to school.
| Jake Hanley, William Mason HS (OH) |
| 6-foot-6 | 230 - pounds | Commit: Indiana | Draft Day Age: 18 yr. 11 mo. |
RHP Jake Hanley (OH)@IndianaBase recruit
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 4, 2024
6-foot-6, 225 pounds
FB: 92-95
SL: 78-81
CH: 81-85#Super60 || #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/NY8S3ffR7D
The most polarizing, intriguing, and tooled-up athlete in the Midwest of this class goes to the Cincinnati native. Once seen as only a projectable 1B prospect who has been more physical and stronger than most in his class for some time, is now unknown whether he will be a hitter, a pitcher, or both in the future. Being known for blasting baseballs into orbit and grabbing eye-popping metrics in showcase settings in the box, Hanley has made some serious strides as an RHP since the beginning of his junior year. Earlier this winter, just like Sullivan, Hanley came off of Prep Baseball's Super 60 event and impressed scouts in a showcase setting by dialing up the FB to nearly 95 MPH, appearing effortless and having room to further develop into an RHP. I will talk about his offensive abilities another day, but his pitching potential has skyrocketed within the last 16-18 months and lands him as one of the arms to see for the spring.
On the bump, Hanley operates with a three-pitch mix of a fastball (FB), a slider (SL), and a changeup (CH). The FB works with life in the low to mid-90s and carries into the zone. Hanely has displayed the ability to work inside on hitters and through any quadrant he pleases for strikes. The FB has shown plus signs of high spin but needs to be more consistent. Overall, scouts would like to see more movement, rise, or hop with his FB as, at times, it gets a little flat or dead zone, a troubling issue for pitching at the next level. Next, he works with an upper-70s and low-80s SL with average spin and some late 11/5 tilt towards the plate, creating S/M. Lastly, he has an average CH, which works in the low to mid-80s.
Hanley operates with a smooth, effortless delivery and excellent athleticism. Exhibits a short loose arm action out of a three-quarter slot with some deception. Hanley towards the plate doesn't get much extension and works heavily on the upper body with "Brody Brecht-like mechanics." All the pieces are there for a program or team to work with him as a premium pitching project. As an underclassman, he has been given opportunities to pitch. Yet, many were short outings, leaving a potential stigma of him being an RP at the next level (total of 44 innings pitched in HS varsity). Cincinnati's Alpha Baseball has done another great job developing a premium athlete and a potential star pitcher for the next level. Ultimately, it goes down to Hanley being able to impress scouts this spring with his advances on the bump against quality ABs and for longer outings. If his name isn't called in July, the Hoosiers may get another steal from Cincinnati as they did with Devin Taylor.
Preseason Draft Grade: Top 100 HS player; Day 2 grade but probably going to school.
| Kellan Klosterman, Archbishop Moeller HS (OH) |
| 6-foot-1 | 175 - pounds | Commit: Notre Dame | Draft Day Age: 18 yr. 10 mo. |
RHP Kellan Klosterman (OH)@NDBaseball recruit
— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) February 4, 2024
6-foot-2, 175 pounds
FB: 89-91 mph
SL: 76-78 mph
CB: 77-79 mph
CH: 85 mph #Super60 || #MLBDraft pic.twitter.com/wK4Ld8H3Wr
A helium prep arm from the summer of 2022 for the Ohio 2024 class, Klosterman has become one of the top arms in the region after displaying his stuff at Prep Baseball’s Top Prospect Games in Ohio, dominating in PG's WWBA and, being a member of the highly touted Moeller Crusaders rotation that won a state title in 2023, who's looking to repeat. Kellan is an arm that may not get the serious MLB looks like the other four above will, but is an arm that, if he ends up in ND, will be a workhorse for their pitching staff with possible weekend upside and could further develop into being a dude getting their name called in 2027. If I'm an ND baseball fan, I'm ecstatic over this signing.
Klosterman works with an advanced four-pitch mix of a fastball (FB), a slider (SL), a curveball (CB), and a changeup (CH). The FB works in the upper-80s and low-90s, displaying heavy sink and lower spin (1800). FB comes out of the hand with ease, and velocity is very effortless with more in the tank for future higher velocity. Kellan works the FB as a typical duo with his SL that tunnels well together. The SL is an upper-70s breaking ball (11/5 shape) with wipe-out abilities that have shown traits of being heavy with tight spin and tilt (roughly 2400 - 2500 spin), a true put-away pitch against hitters; with further development, this pitch can become a plus offering. Next, he brings an upper-70s CB, a pitch he doesn't display much, but it creates over 11 inches of HB and spins it very well (roughly 2300 - 2400 spin). Lastly, he delivers a CH that sits in the mid-80s with intriguing traits. CH has fading/depth action, creating over 17 inches of HM and bringing powerful features to the plate. Overall, he is consistent when on the mound. He has a good feel for most of his pitches, lands strikes, and has solid control.
On the mound, he works with an easy repeatable operation of a smooth & controlled delivery at a good tempo, with no effort in a calm/cool presence. Operates with a high leg kick, a snapping explosive quick arm, and a large extension towards the plate—pitches out of a ¾ arm slot that is loose with longer action. Everything mechanically on Klosterman is polished, fluid, and efficient and is probably one of the best in this category behind Krenzel. Physically, I like what ND is working with here, as there's room for him to grow out and add muscle with further stuff in the arsenal. Overall, the stuff is the real deal for Kellan to be an impactful starter at the college level that potentially will garner him looks for the professional level; only time will tell for Klosterman, but, at the moment, he is a fun arm to watch at the prep level.
Preseason Draft Grade: N/A - future college arm
| Honorable Mentions |
| Brendin Oliver, Mooresville HS (IN) |
| 6-foot-4 | 195 - pounds | Commit: Cincinnati | Draft Age: 18 yr. 10 mo. |
| Bryce Brannon, William Mason HS (OH) |
| 6-foot-3 | 205 - pounds | Commit: Duke | Draft Age: 18 yr. 8 mo. |
| Carson Rhodes, Salem HS (OH) |
| 6-foot-2 | 190 - pounds | Commit: Virginia Tech | Draft Age: 18 yr. 2 mo. |
| Carson Van Haaren, Tates Creek HS (KY) |
| 6-foot-1 | 200 - pounds | Commit: Eastern Kentucky | Draft Age: 18 yr. 10 mo. |
| Griffin Tobias, Lake Central HS (IN) |
| 5-foot-11 | 190 - pounds | Commit: Indiana | Draft Age: approximately 19 yr. 0 mo. |
| Maximus McCellan , St. Edwards HS (OH) |
| 6-foot-7 | 215 - pounds | Commit: South Carolina | Draft Age: 18 yr. 3 mo. |
| Nash Wagner, Zionsville HS (IN) |
| 6-foot-5 | 215 - pounds | Commit: Alabama | Draft Age: 18 yr. 9 mo. |
| Nick Heitman, Mount Vernon (IN) |
| 6-foot-3 | 190 - pounds | Commit: Iowa | Draft Age: 18 yr. 10 mo. |
| Noah LaFine, Archbishop Hoban HS (OH) |
| 5-foot-11 | 175 - pounds | Commit: Vanderbilt | Draft Age: 18 yr. 11 mo. |
| Zakery Spurrier, Central Hardin (KY) |
| 6-foot-2 | 230 - pounds | Commit: Kentucky | Draft Age: 18 yr. 4 mo. |
