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Get To Know No. 1 In New York's Class Of 2016 Rankings

December 17, 2014



Dan Cevette
Director, New York

Name: Jeff Belge
High School:  Henninger
Position: LHP
2016 State Rank: No. 1
2016 Overall Rank: No. 2
Best Tool: 94 mph FB from left-side

PBR sat down with Jeff Belge, the upstate New York skilled southpaw, for a deeper look at his high-level game.

PBR: You are currently ranked No. 1 in our 2016 New York Rankings. Considering the size and talent in the state how does that make you feel?

Belge: It's an extreme honor to be ranked No. 1 in the 2016 class by such a highly-credible scouting company. (PBR) The state is massive and the talent is deep, so I'm just really honored.

PBR: What are your winter-workouts currently looking like? With who?

Belge: I've visited Eric Cressey of Performance and Health this fall and got an amazing program from him. I am currently training six days-a-week, and start my high-end throwing program this January.

PBR: You are committed to St. John's University, one of the elite northeast collegiate baseball programs. Tell us how that process is going?

Belge: My process with St. John's could not be better. I stay in close contact with their coaching staff, specifically coach Muscara who gives me an enormous amount of baseball, and life-shaping advice. He has helped me a great deal as a player by keeping me on the right track through this entire process. He's a very good coach, and an even better person.

PBR: You had a strong summer campaign with your travel team. Tell us who you play for, and why you have stayed so loyal?

Belge: I play with BaseballU in the summer out of Syracuse NY. I am extremely loyal to them because they were my first travel organization, and the opportunities they have presented me with have been greatly appreciated. My pitching coach is Bryan Gaal and the travel coach is John Wells. They work hard to develop their players both on the field competitively, but also as a person off the field.

PBR: We (PBR) have covered you now for almost eight months. How do you feel about our coverage of amateur baseball across the state?

Belge: Prep Baseball Report (PBR) is really great at what they do. They are doing a phenomenal job covering the state of New York, but also their National coverage is second to nobody.

PBR: What goals do you have in place for this spring season?

Belge: My goals are to cut down on my walks by tightening up my mechanics. Working on location for all of my pitches and also leading my HS team to a successful spring season.

PBR: What team will be your biggest challenge this spring? Who will be one of your tougher outs?

Belge: The biggest challenge for our HS team will be ourselves. We lost many talented seniors to graduation last year, so this is really a rebuilding year. If we work hard together it will be a successful year. Toughest out will be Josh Loeffler, a 2016 graduate from Fayetteville-Manlius HS, who is committed to Connecticut.

PBR: What advice would you give your fellow 2016 graduates across New York regarding the recruiting process?

Belge: I would tell them to honestly take their time and be sure the school's looking at them are a proper fit, athletically and socially. The official signing period is in November of your senior year, so don't rush your decision because it looks cool to friends or on social media. Make the best possible choice for you and your family.

Scouting Report On Belge
+ No. 1 player in the 2016 class is Jeff Belge (Henninger HS, 2016) who exploded on the National scene this past high school season when the 6-foot-5, 220-pound southpaw squared off with Scott Blewett (2nd Rd Pick by the Royals) in front of 20 plus MLB scouts. Belge left most scouts, including myself, incredibly impressed and blown away with his size, arm strength (91mph that day) and action on all his pitches. He has a towering physical frame on the mound, built like a linebacker. His fastball has been up to  90-94 this summer with natural arm side run. His curveball and changeup are both plus pitches with late action. Everything this kid throws wiggles and moves making him one of the top prospects in not only the Northeast, but Nationally.

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