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Weekend Round-Up: Baseball U Kickoff Classic

June 21, 2016

By TJ Hunt
Scouting Director, New Jersey

This weekend was Baseball U's intrasquad Kickoff Classic at Monmouth University. Baseball U coordinator John Wells routinely has some of the best travel teams in the northeast, and brought some of those teams together to scrimmage against each other in front of college coaches. Along with Baseball U NJ teams, there were Baseball U teams from Pennsylvania and Connecticut. Here are some of the top NJ prospects from this weekend:

+ Nick DeGennaro, RHP, Toms River East HS, 2018 (Stony Brook commit)
DeGennaro is 5-foot-10 155-pounds with a lean, athletic looking body. The Stony Brook commit was 84-85 touching 86-87 occasionally with a 70-73 MPH breaking ball with 11-5 shape, and a 77 MPH straight changeup. Throws from a high-3/4 slot with a quick, loose arm. Sinks his back leg when he descends down the mound, but gets good shoulder tilt at first foot landing. Finishes tall and fall towards first base.

+ Brad Brush, RHP, Toms River East HS, 2018 (uncommitted)
Brush 6-foot-1 175-pounds with a long, lanky frame. One of the top uncommitted performers from the weekend. Sat 86-87 mostly in his outing with heavy sinking action on his fastball. Showcased a 72 MPH downer breaking ball and a 75 MPH changeup. Brush utilized his sink on his fastball extremely well - breaking a couple bats in his outing. Very projectable pitcher and certainly a high follow player.

 + Nick Stephan, RHP, Brick Memorial, 2018 (uncommitted)
 Stephan has an athletic 6-foot 150-pound frame. Sat 82-83 with some arm side run on his fastball and flashed a sharp 11-5 breaking ball at 69-71 with tight spin and quick hand speed.

+ Sal Monticciolo, OF/1B/LHP, Holmdel, 2018 (uncommitted)
Monticciolo is 6-foot-2 215-pounds, already big bodied and strong for his age. Has a strong left handed swing, showcased it with a double to the wall in right field over the weekend. On the mound, Monticciolo was 77-78 from an over-the-top arm angle with a 69-71 MPH curveball that he was able to throw for strikes.

+ T.J. Scuderi, OF/RHP, Toms River South, 2018 (uncommitted) 
Scuderi has a lean athletic looking body at 5-foot-11 158-pounds. Was one of the most projectable hitters and athletes on any of the teams at the event. Has an opened stance with hands relaxed near the back shoulder. Lowers hands to a smooth load and short stride. Very smooth looking swing with a level bat path. Also pitched a couple innings. Was 79-80 with his fastball and showcased a 69 MPH slurvy breaking ball that sweeps across the strikezone from 3/4 arm slot. Repeats mechanics well, gets into a good tempo on the mound.

+ Luke Jacobi, C, J.P. Stevens, 2017 (uncommitted)
Jacobi is 6-feet tall 175-pounds with a lean, athletic build. At the plate, Jacobi starts with his stance slightly opened with his hands high above his ear. Hands lower for a load as the pitch comes in. Very quiet behind the plate with advanced ability to receive the baseball. Framed pitches that were low and to the gloveside extremely well.

OTHERS TO WATCH

+ Jared Bellissimo, LHP, Toms River North, 2018 (uncommitted) 
Bellissimo is 6-foot 200-pounds - sat 82-83 on the mound with  69 MPH curveball and 74 MPH changeup that showed some armside fade.  At the plate, Bellissimo looks confident in his approach. Slightly opened with hands shoulder-high. Uses a short stride to start his swing, hands drop for a load and drift back.

+ Craig Larsen SS/RHP, Toms River North, 2018 (uncommitted) 
Started for the Ocean County Champion Toms River North team this spring as a sophomore. Starts stance with feet neutral and quiet hands that are just below his shoulder. Everything about Larsen's stance and swing is quiet and controlled. Smooth hand load to an aggressive hip torque to initiate his swing. 
 



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