Petridis Hoping For Good Showing At Procase

Mason Petridis RHP / 3B / Austintown Fitch, OH / 2025

YOUNGSTOWN - “A D-I arm with starter profile.”

That is how Jordan Chiero, Prep Baseball Ohio Director of Scouting, describes Austintown Fitch junior right-hander Mason Petridis.

“I’m a big fan of Mason,” Chiero said. “He would have been a Future Games arm if it weren’t for a forearm strain. The two outings we saw in 2023 were very similar, showing mid-to-upper-80s juice with potential to be a four-pitch guy, landing his array of secondary in the zone regularly. Aside from it being 88 miles an hour, it's so easy out of the hand.”

The 6-2 190-pounder, who was out from June until mid-August with tendinitis, points to Prep Baseball events as beneficial in getting his name back out there.

“It was relatively quiet when I couldn’t throw but I went to the State Games and that helped a lot,” Petridis related. “That got me some looks. Wright State reached out, that was my first main interest. I went on a visit two weeks after the State Games.

“It’s a great baseball program with great coaches. I like what they’re about. They kind of grind, but aren’t a big name.”

The 11th-rated 2025 right-handed pitcher in Ohio is an attractive find for colleges, with Akron also showing interest.

“The velo is not crazy on me but I think they like the spotting up of my fastball,” Petridis explained. “I’ve been able to throw it mostly for strikes and it has a good amount of armside run. The slider is my best offspeed, that’s my selling point. My changeup if it’s on is really on, if it's off it’s off.”

Petridis, who pointed to the Top Prospect Games as “the first thing that started all of this” recruiting process, is working hard to improve his game.

“The main focus now is getting my velocity numbers up,” the 30th-ranked junior in the state noted. “I’m not the strongest person so I’m working on that this offseason. I’m also working on a curveball. It’s a work in progress.”

The idea of playing at the next level developed just a few years back.

“College baseball really came into the picture my eighth-grade year,” Petridis said. “I saw my name on twitter with a prospect pop up and then freshman year I started throwing harder.”

Admittedly, the process of recruitment has been “a little different than I thought” according to Petridis.

“Most people I’ve talked to my age are not as deep into it,” explained Petridis, who turned 17 on Jan. 18. “One thing I’ve realized is you personally interact with people and get to experience a college. I like that.”

Academics are key in the eyes of the Austintown Fitch junior.

“I take pride in myself being book smart,” noted the 4.0 student, who is still weighing options on a college major. “Program-wise, I don’t care about big names. I want a program that cares about players, doesn’t recruit a million players and then cuts half of them. I want a college sort of close to home. I wouldn’t want to be more than five or six hours from home. As for the coach, it’s about the personality. As long as I have a connection with them.”

The ability to be a reliable pitcher who throws strikes is a selling point according to Petridis.

“I can work my way through an inning,” Petridis said. “I’m always attacking hitters, not walking guys. You’re going to get someone throwing consistent innings and not throwing a million pitches.”

As for making a commitment, the sixth-rated uncommitted 2025 in Ohio is “thinking this summer at the latest” as for a timeframe.

“The next month I’m preparing for the Procase,” Petridis concluded. “I want to ramp up my arm. After that it’s practice for high school. The main focus now is getting fully healthy and getting my body ready for a full season.

“I’m hoping my fastball is up,” Petridis added about what he hopes to show at the Procase on Feb. 10. “Fastball velo is the main thing I’m trying to push and I hope to work in that curveball. It has good movement, location is the question.”