Prep Baseball Report

Western PA College Prospect Showcase: Underclass Analysis


Greg Williams
Pennsylvania Director of Scouting

The Western PA College Prospect Showcase took place on July 23rd at historic Pullman Park in Butler. Today we conclude a series of articles analyzing the prospects in attendance with a look at those players that participated from the Class of 2022 and 2023.

+ For complete results for all prospects in attendance CLICK HERE.

Top Prospects

Steven Budash, Indiana Area HS, Class of 2023, C
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and initiates his swing with a lift-and-replace stride. Showcased quick hands with a direct swing path and a tendency to cut off his lower half. Potential for consistent power in his swing with work to clean up the lower half. Registered a bat exit velocity of 86 mph and ran a 7.59 60-yard dash. Displayed sound receiving skills with quick feet and a clean transition on pop times of 2.21-2.32 with 70 mph arm strength out of the crouch. Definite early follow in this class.

Ty Ryen, Marion Catholic, Class of 2022, RHP
5-foot-10, 160-pound primary pitcher sat 79-81 while topping at 83 mph out of a high 3/4 arm slot. Begins delivery with a side rocker step into a high, straight leg stack that adds significant deception to his delivery. Showcased a quick arm and some cut to his fastball. Also commanded a curveball with solid 11/5 rotation at 65-68. Should see incremental velocity gains over the coming years and with the potential to add a third pitch to his mix will be a righy to follow in this class.

David Kessler, Bethel Park HS, Class of 2022, SS
5-foot-11, 185-pound right-handed hitter starts from an open stance and utilizes a short leg-hang stride to begin. Displayed balance throughout with a feel for the barrel during one of the better rounds of batting practice on the day. Registered a bat exit velocity of 90 mph and ran a 7.53 60-yard dash. Showcased active feet and the ability to play through the ball defensively with developing 75 mph arm strength across the diamond. Athletic frame has plenty of room to add strength in the coming years. A move to a corner infield or outfield spot is not out of the question due to current foot speed and arm strength.

Additional Underclassmen (in alphabetical order)

Aiden Bewick, Peters Township HS, Class of 2022, RHP
6-foot-2, 175-pound primary pitcher sat 74-75 from a high 3/4 arm slot with a head wack in his delivery. Delivery is balanced and directional with additional velocity likely from the long limbed underclassman. He showed above average feel for his curveball with 11/5 rotation that was commanded with short, late break at 70-71. Also displayed a changeup at near fastball arm speed that sat 72-74.

Jeremiah Hasley, Pine-Richland HS, Class of 2022, OF
Physically mature 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed hitter turned in the top bat exit velocity of the event at 91 mph. He starts from a slightly open stance and initiates his swing with a leg-lift stride. Displayed some present gap power and the potential for more as his athletic frame continues to mature. Ran a 7.22 60-yard dash and showcased 77 mph arm strength from the outfield with capable defensive actions.

Ethan Hewitt, Highlands HS, Class of 2022, 2B/RHP
5-foot-7, 135-pound right-handed hitter starts from a square stance and utilizes a short, leg-hang stride to begin. Displayed a line drive approach with a feel for the barrel. Registered a bat exit velocity of 73 mph and ran a 7.56 60-yard dash. Showcased an ability to play through the ball defensively with accurate 70 mph arm strength across the diamond. The two-way prospect sat 67-71 from a 3/4 arm slot on the mound with a long takeaway to his delivery. Also displayed a curveball with 11/5 rotation at 55-57 and a changeup at 59-61.

Jack Kail, Peters Township HS, Class of 2022, SS
5-foot-7, 140-pounder showcased a well-rounded skill set that will only continue to develop as he adds strength to his frame. The left-handed hitter starts from a square stance and initiates his swing with a simple heel-raise stride. Showcased balance throughout with a feel for the barrel while staying behind the baseball routinely. Registered a 78 mph bat exit velocity and ran a 7.16 60-yard dash. Flashed active feet defensively with a soft glove hand and was comfortable making plays on the move. Showed the ability to remain on the left side of the infield long term with accurate 77 mph arm strength across the diamond.

Robert Kocis, Quaker Valley HS, Class of 2022, LHP/OF
6-foot-1, 160-pound primary pitcher sat 71-73 from a high 3/4 arm slot on the mound with short arm-side run to his fastball. Also showed a curveball with limited depth and 1/7 rotation at 65-67 as well as a changeup with good sell at 67-70. The left-handed hitter starts from a square stance and initiates his swing with a quick leg-lift stride. Showed a line drive approach with a flat barrel path. Registered a bat exit velocity of 78 mph and ran a 7.27 60-yard dash. Played through the baseball routinely defensively with accurate 72 mph arm strength from the outfield.

Robert Phelps, Doulos Discover School (DR), Class of 2022, SS
5-foot-9, 146-pound right-handed hitter starts from a square stance and initiates his swing with a simple heel-raise stride. Showed rhythm to direct swing with a line drive approach and a feel for the barrel. Registered a 77 mph bat exit velocity and ran an event best 7.07 60-yard dash. Showcased active feet defensively with a soft glove hand while playing through the baseball routinely. Current 73 mph arm strength should continue to develop through strength gains and physical maturity.

Tanner Nulph, Highlands HS, Class of 2022, SS/RHP
6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed hitter starts from a narrow, square stance and utilizes a leg-lift stride to begin. Showcased rhythm to his swing and a feel for the barrel with a chance to develop some gap power moving forward. Registered a 75 mph bat exit velocity and ran a 7.72 60-yard dash. Defensive actions are best suited for a move to 3B in the future and current 76 mph arm strength across the diamond will play at that position. The righty showed promise on the mound sitting 77-80 from a high 3/4 arm slot with a repeatable, balanced delivery. Curveball shows 11/5 rotation with above average depth at 63-64. A slider at 62-64 has the same shape as the curveball and should be converted into a cutter with additional velocity to give separation between the fastball and curveball.

Justin Weaver, Norwin HS, Class of 2023, OF
Physically advanced 6-foot-1, 175-pound right-handed hitter starts from a square stance and utilizes a short leg-hang stride to begin. Displayed an aggressive lower half with some glide that leads to occasional timing issues. Registered a bat exit velocity of 87 mph and ran a 7.11 60-yard dash. Showcased athletic defensive actions with straight line carry on throws of 79 mph from the outfield. Definite player to follow in this class with a chance to develop into a middle of the order hitter with power.

UPCOMING ANALYSIS SCHEDULE 

UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
Junior Future Games NATIONAL 07/30 LakePoint
2019 PBR Future Games (Pennsylvania Invite Only) PA 07/31 LakePoint
2019 Fall Kickoff Showcase PA 08/15 Millersville University
Play for Team PBR 17U (Fall Kickoff Showcase Tournament) PA 08/17 Millersville University
2019 Fall Scout Day (Various Travel Organizations) PA 09/07 Keystone State Baseball Academy
2019 Future Prospects Showcase PA 10/19 Keystone State Baseball Academy
2019 Elite Prospect Showcase PA 10/26 Keystone State Baseball Academy
2019 Fall Measurables & Evaluation Showcase PA 11/02 Keystone State Baseball Academy
2019 Holiday Showcase PA 12/28 Keystone State Baseball Academy