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Metro Scout Day: Recap

November 8, 2024
Dan Valerio
Assistant Scouting Director

Now that the fall has winded down it is time to do a quick look back at the Jr. Subway Series. This event took place at St. Johns University in Queens, New York. Consisted of players from NJ,NY,PA,CT,VT,NC,SC. It gave scouts a really good final look headed into the winter. Two names from last year who competed in this event were Luke Dickerson (2nd round) and Chase Harlan (4th round). These guys showed well but the winter was huge for them. They both got more physical and developed their approaches to earn selections in the 2024 draft. With that being said who will it be this year? 


Draft Follows: 

2025 RHP Jackson Smallets (NJ, Coastal Carolina recruit)

High School: Gloucester Catholic 

H/W: 6'4" 175

Biggest sleeper of the event. When you think of the word long levered, Jackson Smallets should come to mind. His FB has serious sink to it. Creating whiffs in the zone and chases out. Throws a sweeper to compliment this FB. Should Smallets fill out this offseason. You could see a heater creep into the mid to high 90s. Currently it is 88-93. Battled through some arm fatique last spring but you should see a tick up in how much he is used for the rams. The biggest question will be is Jackson Smallets a starter?

2025 OF Mason Ligenza (PA, Pitt recruit)

High School: Tamaqua Area 

H/W: 6'5" 195

Athlete: 60

Ligenza is a physical specimen who really surprised me with his speed tool at this event. His swing gets rigid at times but there is serious power projection in this bat. He has tools that will only get better with the more he plays and the stronger he gets. 

2025 SS Matthew Ferrara (NJ, Pitt recruit)

High School: Toms River East 

H/W: 6'0" 190

Character: Hard working and has shown the ability to get better over time. More on the quiet side but seems to be very respected by his teammates and coaches. 

Athlete: 50

Ferrara has been a late bloomer in terms of draft buzz. He is a name to know. The Toms River native is as calm-cool-collected as you could want out of a prospect. You never know if he struck out 3 times or hit a double. Level headed player with instincts/IQ to stick in the middle of the field. He has a hit tool that has adjustability with future power. At the moment his best tool is: Hit. Ferrara will be attending the Super 60. 

2025 LHP Cole Hubert (PA, Texas A&M recruit) 

High School: Saucon Valley 

H/W: 5'10" 165 

Athlete: 45

A recent decommit from Columbia. The athletic left hander chose to commit to Texas A&M in the SEC. His arsenal is very intriguing. It's a low effort throw with a low slot. FB is in the 88-91 range with room to add. Sweeping breaking ball that gave hitters fits. (Spin: 2474 / Spin SL: 2367). 

 

2025 RHP Marcelo Harsch (NJ, Wake Forest recruit)

High School: Seton Hall Prep

H/W: 6'4" 175 

Athlete: 55

 A lean athlete. Has room to fill out. 4 pitch offering that has starter potential. Harsch has been a staple in new jerseys rankings. Has always performed and thrown strikes. The low 90 offering does need to make a jump for things to really heat up for Harsch. There is aptitude here and feel to pitch. 

Names to Know:  

2025 OF Jordan Serrano (NY, Wake Forest recruit) 

2025 2way Justice De Jong (NY, Duke recruit) 

2025 C Josh Toole (PA, Coastal Carolina recruit)

2025 C Jase Mitchell (DE, Kentucky recruit)


2025 RHP Ryan Prior (NJ, UVA recruit) 

2025 3B Jason Fultz (SC, Clemson recruit) 


2025 C Thomas O’Connell (CT, UVA recruit) 

2025 OF Jayden Stronman (NY, Duke Recruit)

2025 RHP Anakin Underhill (NH, Sacred Heart recruit) 

2025 CF Chase Kroberger (NJ, Alabama recruit) 

2025 RHP Ethan Grim (PA, VTech recruit)

2025 3B Logan Dawson (NJ, Boston College recruit)

Underclass Phenoms:

2026 RHP Keller Bradley (PA, Vanderbilt recruit)

My favorite arm of the event. Bradley is a recent Vandy recruit. His levers are loose and whippy. It’s a low effort throw. Control is present and spin is there in the zone. Come this time next year we could hear Bradley in top round consideration.

 FB: 87-90 SL: 76-80 CH 84-86


2027 RHP Kaiden McCarthy (VT, Uncommitted)

Electricity is what comes out of the uncommitted ‘27s arm. 2nd look of McCarthy in the last two months. He has room to fill out and has an idea of what he’s doing. His offering includes a FB that is already in the low 90’s inching towards Mid 90s. He throws a power CH that has  fading action. Lands this in the zone. One plane breaking ball. Starter profile with separation as top arm in ‘27 class for the northeast. 


2026 SS Aiden Ruiz (NY, Vanderbilt recruit)

Recent Vandy recruit. Switch hitting athlete with high level barrel skills. The future is bright for Ruiz. Has tools to like and high character to go along with it. He’s a plus defender at SS. Range and arm strength. I personally like the LHH stroke more. Picked up two hits in game play. Will be old for ‘26 draft but the skills and aptitude are off the charts so could make things really difficult for organizations. 

2026 RHP Byrce Hill (CT, Stanford recruit)

Big frame. Physical kid. The arm works fast and comes out of the hand easily. Has ext. and carry on his ball. His fastball is up to 94. Which is impressive; curious if next spring it climbs in the high 90’s. Something to monitor. 


2026 RHP David Hinojosa (NY, Vanderbilt recruit)

One of my favorite arms in the northeast. Pitches with confidence and I am a big fan of his athleticism. Lands a breaking ball 11/5 shape consistently for a strike. His fastball has more incoming. 


2026 RHP Ty Van Valkenburg (NY, Miami recruit)

Big frame. He just transitioned to a new pitching coach. Who is working on mobility and strikes. This looked to already pay off in his inning of work at Metro. It’s a low 90s offering that has the chance to get up to the mid and upper 90's come his draft year. It’s a two pitch secondary offering with a power SL.