Prep Baseball Report

Top Prospect Games West: Rapid Reaction


Kyle Campbell
Maryland Scouting Director

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Over 30 uncommitted players from the 2020 - 2023 graduating classes came to Mount St. Mary’s University last week for this year’s PBR Maryland Top Prospect Games West. Tons of talent was on display as each player participated in a pro-style workout and game in front of college coaches from around the region and our PBR scouting staff. Below are some early thoughts and notes on several top performers at the event. Be sure to continue following us right here as we bring you full analysis of all the players from the TPG West in the weeks to come.

 

Speedsters

Ten players ran a 7.00 or below in the laser timed 60-yard dash. 

6.60: Zach Senders 2020 (Bullis School)
6.71: Shane Kelleher 2020 (Avon Grove PA)
6.77: Chase Miller 2021 (River Hill)
6.87: Blake Pesante 2022 (St. Mary’s Ryken)
6.91: Ben Litkowski 2020 (Severna Park)
6.95: Brady Bakner 2020 (Grace Academy)
6.96: Matt Ryan 2021 (Walt Whitman)
6.97: Jason Rivera 2021 (St. Maria Goretti)
7.00: Joe Lokos 2020 (Avalon)
7.00: Graham Albers 2020 (Oakdale)

 

Top Two-Way Players

+ Shane Bowie 2020 (Thomas Johnson): Continues to show great poise on the mound and a bulldog mentality. Sat 79-81 mph and touched 82 mph on the fastball. Breaking ball was 64-66 mph and changeup was 73-76 mph. Strike thrower and located the fastball well. Hits from a balanced, square stance at the plate. Small leg kick load and short, direct swing. Stays behind the ball well and uses some lower half in the swing. Gap-to-gap line drive type hitter. 

 + Blake Peasnte 2022 (St. Mary’s Ryken): Gap-to-gap type hitter with some pop. Hits from a balanced, slightly open stance and uses a toe tap to load. Stays behind the ball well and uses the whole field. Recorded an 89 mph exit velocity and was also 84 mph from across the diamond. Plays with active feet and showed a strong, solid base in set-up to the ball. Smooth actions and ability to throw from a variety of arm slots. Was up to 84 mph on the bump and kept the ball down. Spotted the fastball well and mixed in a good 12/6 breaking ball at 78-79 mph and a slider at 70-72 mph.

+ Jason Rivera 2021 (St. Maria Goretti): Beautiful swing from the left side. Hits from a balanced, square stance and uses a small leg kick load. Excellent balance and stays behind the ball with an uphill swing path and good extension through contact. Gap-to-gap type hitter with pop. In addition to his 6.97 60-yard time, Rivera posted the top outfield velocity on the day at 84 mph and also recorded an 89 mph exit velocity. On the bump, Rivera sat 78-80 and touched 81 from the left side. Breaking ball was 66-69 mph and changeup ranged 67-69 mph.

+ Brett Seils 2021 (Sherwood): Athletic 5’10’’, 150 pound two-way player. Hits from a balanced, slightly open stance at the plate and used a small leg kick load. Short, compact swing with easy effort. Gap-to-gap line drive type hitter with occasional pop. Pounded the zone and attacked hitters on the bump. Fastball touched 82 mph and sat 77-80 mph. Hard breaking ball at 68-71 mph and a 70-73 mph changeup.

+ Brendan Yagesh 2022 (Urbana): Long, lanky, athletic body type and projectable 6’2’’, 165 pound frame. Hits from the left side from a balanced, slightly open stance. Stays behind the ball very well with really good extension. Uses his lower half well and showed a short, slightly uphill swing path. Attacks the ball with intent and showed gap-to-gap pop. Was also up to 81 mph on the bump with a 65-67 mph breaking ball and 73-74 mph changeup.

 

Outfielders 

+ Brady Bakner 2020 (Grace Academy): Really liked Bakner’s approach in the box. Stays middle and used the entire field. Doubled to left during the game and squared several balls up during BP. Gap-to-gap line drive type hitter with occasional pop. Stays behind the ball well and showed quick bat speed from the left side. In addition to the 6.95 60-time, Bakner also posted an 80 mph outfield velocity and 91 mph exit velocity. 

 + Shane Kelleher 2020 (Avon Grove PA): Strong, athletic body type and 5’11’’, 175 pound frame. Hits from a balanced stance at the plate and uses a small leg kick load with good hand separation. Really uses his lower half well and showed excellent balance throughout the swing. Quick hands and fast bat speed. Stays behind the ball with good extension through contact. Slight uphill swing path, gap-to-gap type hitter with pop. In addition, to the 6.71 60-yard time, Kelleher also posted the top exit velocity at the event at 92 mph and was 81 mph from the outfield. 

 

Infielders

+ Owen Liberto 2021 (Calvert Hall): Athletic body type and projectable 6’0’’, 165 pound frame with room to grow. Hits from a balanced, slightly crouched stance at the plate. Small leg kick load and nice hand separation. Stays behind the ball with excellent balance throughout the swing. Slightly uphill swing path and strong lower half involvement. Gap-to-gap line drive type hitter with some pop. Really like his approach at the plate and also showed the ability to really pick it at shortstop. 

 + Matt Ryan 2021 (Walt Whitman): Very athletic shortstop with a strong enough arm to stick. Posted an event best 86 mph infield velocity to go along with his 6.96 60-yard time and 84 mph exit velocity. Fluid footwork and clean actions. Smooth and showed range and a quick release. Hits from a balanced, open stance at the plate with strong lower half involvement and fast bat speed. Compact swing and stays behind the ball well using the entire field.

+ Zach Senders 2020 (Bullis): In addition to running the quickest 60-yard time of the event, Senders showed extreme athleticism in the middle infield. Plays with active feet and presents the glove well. Recorded an 81 mph velocity from shortstop during the workout and also posted an 88 mph exit velocity. Hits from a balanced stance at the plate and showed a short, quick swing. Strong 5’10’’, 170 pound frame gap-to-gap line drive type hitter with some pop and more to come.

+ Mike Wineke 2021 (Calvert Hall): Wineke put on a show during BP showing plus pull side power. He peppering the fence in right and took a few over. Big, strong 6’0’’, 220 pound frame with a short, direct path to the ball and easy swing from the left side. Stays behind the ball well and posted an 83 mph exit velocity.

 

Catchers

+ Joe Lokos 2020 (Avalon): Strong, physical body type and 5’11’’, 180 pound frame. Lokos worked gap-to-gap during BP showing lots of pop. Nice rhythm in the box and uses a small leg kick to load. Easy uphill swing path and gets good extension through contact. Lokos posted a 90 mph exit velocity during the workout and ranged 2.01 - 2.03 on five good throws to second base with a 74 mph positional velocity. 

 + Kyle Brown 2021 (Frederick): Strong 6’0’’, 175 pound frame. Showed pop to the gaps during BP and also posted an 83 mph exit velocity. Hits from a slightly crouched, open stance at the plate and attacks the ball with intent. Showed quick bat speed and good extension. Pop times ranged 2.01 - 2.03 with a 72 mph positional velocity behind the dish.

 

Other Arms to Note

+ Austin Luther V 2020 (St. Mary’s Ryken): Athletic body type and 6’1’’, 160 pound frame. Controlled wind-up and delivery. Throws from a tough sidearm slot with long, loose arm action. Fastball touched 77 mph and sat 74-76 mph with some arm side run. Also featured a tight slurve with 10/4 action at 63-65 mph and a 69 mph changeup. 

 + E.J. Lowry 2023 (St. John’s Catholic Prep): Young, athletic, two-way player that really caught our eye on the mound. Compact side-step wind-up and delivery to the plate. Throws from a low-mid three-quarters arm slot. Works quick and kept the ball down. Fastball sat 75-79 mph and touched 80 mph. Mixed in a knuckle-curve at 65-67 mph with some 12/6 action and a changeup that ranged 67-69 mph.

 

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