Prep Baseball Report

Eastern PA Fall Review Analysis: Middle Infielders



By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting

Widener University was the host for the Eastern PA Fall Review on an erratic weather day that brought sun, clouds, wind, and the occasional shower to the proceedings. Nonetheless, thirty-five participants made the trek to showcase their abilities.  In the third of a series of profiles, today we look at six middle infielders who were in attendance.

Note: long grass and overnight rain led to a slow track for the 60-yard dash, in which many participants were two- to three-tenths slower than previously recorded. Check profile for top recorded time.

Gianni Arici, 2018, St. Joseph's Prep
5-foot-10, 175-pound right-handed hitter. Hit from an open stance with a fairly quiet head and body. Flashed some batspeed, which he will better be able to take advantage of if he can iron out an armbar that creates some length in his swing. Posted solid offensive measurables (7.09 60-yard dash, 83-mph exit velocity). Defensively, he exhibited good actions, fielded the ball out front, and moved well to his gloveside, while his 72-mph arm strength and low arm slot currently project best at second base.

Ricky Collings, 2016, Marple Newtown
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter. Starts from an open stance and strides to slightly closed. Aggressive approach in the strike zone and is an above average runner (4.29 home-to-1B). Defensively, he exhibited a quality skill set and made a nice play at second base on a slow roller toward the 4-hole. Also showed well on the mound with a fastball topping at 86-mph (full report coming later this week).

Ryan McSorley, 2017, Lansdale Catholic
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitter. Starts from a slightly open, upright stance and strides to square. Flashes bat speed and his hands work through contact despite his weight getting into his front side early. Would benefit from letting the ball travel more, so as to enhance his ability to use a greater portion of the field and drive it with more authority (which his 86-mph exit velocity indicates he has the potential to do). Exhibited a solid defensive skill set across the board with a clean exchange from glove to hand and 77-mph arm strength across the diamond.

Nick Parker, 2018, Dallastown Area
5-foot-11, 160-pound switch-hitter who only hit from the right side on this day. Starts from a a slightly open stance and strides to square. Body comes forward with his stride, but he has an easy swing with a gap-to-gap approach in which he keeps his eyes level and his hands work. With added strength, he will improve on his 82-mph exit velocity. Defensively, he showcased good footwork and actions, his glovehand worked, and his throws had carry. Also showed well on the mound with a fastball topping at 85-mph (full report coming later this week).

Kyle Rhoads, 2019, Cocalico
5-foot-9, 140-pound right handed hitter who was the youngest prospect in attendance. Hit from a slightly open stance with a short, punchy stroke during which he kept his head still and minimized excess body movement. Defensively, he showed a solid glove and used his feet well to enhance his 77-mph arm strength across the diamond.

Lee Smith, 2016, Caravel Academy (DE)
5-foot-9, 160-pound switch-hitter. Smith was the hitting star of the event, going 5-6 with a double and routinely barreling the baseball. He's not a burner on the basepaths, but showed good instincts stealing third base off a pitcher's sequence. He exhibited solid actions with good feet defensively, where he profiles best at second base. Smith verbally committed to the new program at Cabrini College shortly after the event.