The 2018 PBR Future Games is less than a month away, and PBR New Jersey scouts have been constantly evaluating players for the roster. Team New Jersey will be stacked again with premium talent up and down the roster – coming off an exciting undefeated run in 2017. From 16 members of the 2017 roster, 10 players are already committed to Division I schools, less than a year removed from the event, with the remaining 6 players contributing massively to their respective high school team's successes in 2018.

We will be announcing the complete roster by position in the next few days. Here are some of the pitchers that will be trekking their ways out to the Midwest representing New Jersey this summer:

NAME	STATE	SCHOOL	CLASS	POS
Nick Hammer	NJ	Washington Township	2020	RHP
Braedin Hunt	NJ	Christian Brothers Academy	2020	RHP
Shane Panzini	NJ	Red Bank Catholic	2021	RHP
Robert Ready	NJ	St. Augustine Prep	2020	RHP
Devin Rivera	NJ	Don Bosco Prep	2020	RHP
Benjamin Simon	NJ	Hightstown	2020	RHP
Gavin Stellpflug	NJ	Somerville	2020	RHP
Luke Vaks	NJ	Cedar Creek	2020	RHP

 

The Pitchers
The pitching staff for this year's future games comes in loaded again, coming off a successful 2017 campaign. The new looks of N.J.'s staff will be sure to please – led by 6-foot-6 2020 RHP Gavin Stellpflug (Somerville HS, NJ) and 2020 RHP Braedin Hunt (Christian Brothers Academy HS, NJ). Stellpflug has been the talk of the town recently, as his velocity continues to climb as the summer wears on. He's at a comfortable 85-87 with heavy armside run and a sharp, late-breaking slider to boot. Hunt's prowess in New Jersey is well documented as well. After a successful sophomore campaign for CBA, Hunt's explosive fastball (touching 90 routinely) and hard, sharp slider project to play at a high Division I level.

Returner from last year, 2020 RHP Devin Rivera (Don Bosco Prep HS, NJ) shows some promise on the mound with a heavy sinking fastball to his arm side and a complimentary curveball that he commands for strikes. Rivera sits in the mid 80's and is still growing into his frame.

2020 RHP Luke Vaks (Cedar Creek HS, NJ) and 2020 Benjamin Simon (Hightstown HS, NJ) have seen their stocks rise this summer as well. Vaks is a true-3/4 slot guy and another sinker/slider type with long, wiry limbs. He's 84-87 with command of a changeup to go with his top two pitches. Simon burst on to the scene at the Garden State Underclass Games at Diamond Nation earlier in June. Broad shouldered and athletic at 5-foot-11 175-pounds, Simon throws from a high-3/4 slot with a long, loose arm action. His fastball shows late life out of his hand and shows command for a curveball as well.

Rounding out the pitching rotation is 2020 RHP Nick Hammer (Washington Township HS, NJ). Hammer is another Future Games returner – having pitched on Team Select at last year's event. Hammer's fastball sits in the mid 80's and will rev it up to 88 every so often. Breaking ball has 11/5 shape at 65 MPH and a changeup with fade at 76-77 MPH. 

Team Select: NJ Pitchers

Team Select had several New Jersey players on it last year. The team is headed by National Crosschecker Shooter Hunt and PBR Texas Director Toby Bicknell. The team is made up of a combination of players from all over the country, from Louisiana to Texas, Oklahoma, Florida, New York, New Jersey, and more.

Participating on Team Select from New Jersey this year will be 2020 RHP Robert Ready (St. Augustine Prep HS, NJ). What has been interesting to me so far this spring and summer is Ready's ceiling. He was behind 11+ Division I arms in the junior and senior class in the spring, so his innings were limited for the Non-Public A State Champion Hermits. However, Ready will be coming to Indianapolis with a fastball that has touched 90 and sits in the mid to upper 80s with late life. 

Stay tuned for more updates on the different positional categories at the Future Games.

 

UPCOMING NJ EVENTS
New Jersey State Games – Request your invite HERE