Prep Baseball Report

Eastern PA Fall Review Analysis: Pitchers



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 final of a series of profiles, today we look at the young men who toed the rubber.

Class of 2016

Mitch Amenta, OF/RHP, Souderton Area
The lanky, 5-foot-11, 170-pounder was a last-minute fill-in due to an injury suffered by another participant. Pitched out of a high three-quarter slot with clean arm action and low elbow. Slight hip coil over rubber and separated hands behind body near right hip. Fastball sat 77-78, accompanied by a slurvy breaking ball at 65-66 as well as a shorter-breaking cutter.

Ricky Collings, IF/RHP, Marple Newtown
5-foot-10, 170-pounder who attacks hitters out of a high three-quarter slot with a short, quick arm action. Pounded zone with a solid two-pitch combo. Fastball sat 81-83 and had some life up to 86, while slider was 74-75 with late darting action. Profiles as bullpen arm right now until he develops a third pitch, but slider has a chance to induce weak contact in that role.

Dillon Good, 1B/RHP, Ephrata Area
After an event in late July during which he appeared physically worn down, the 6-foot, 200-pounder returned to form in this outing. Out of a high three-quarter slot with clean arm action, his fastball sat 82-84, while he mixed in a split at 75-76 and a slider at 74-75 that is relatively new to his arsenal.

Ed Herbener, RHP, MMI Prep
Don't be deceived by his slight frame, as the 5-foot-10, 150-pounder features a solid repertoire out of an over-the-top arm slot with arm speed out front. Delivery incorporating a chest-high leg lift and back shoulder dip generated a fastball that sat 81-84. Curveball with 11/5 action at 71-73 had tight spin and was effective when he got himself in plus counts, while he also mixed in a rare change-up at 76-77 that had some dive and was thrown with good armspeed.

Larry Kirk, RHP, Archbishop John Carroll
6-foot, 180-pounder threw strikes out of an over-the-top slot. Slight hip turn over rubber, kicks front leg at hitter, and lands slightly closed. Fastball sat 78-80, accompanied by a change-up at 72-74 with some fade and an 11/5 curveball at 67-68 that had consistent break and for which he exhibited a solid feel.

Austin Kunkel, RHP, Brandywine Heights
6-foot-2, 170-pounder who pitches out of a three-quarter slot from a compact delivery. Fastball at 79-81 had occasional armside sink, while he showed a decent feel for his change-up at 72-73. Primary out-pitch on this day was a slider with short, late break at 69-70 for which he displayed a good feel.

Ricky Massott, 1B/RHP, Bensalem
6-foot-2, 215-pound primary position player who pitched one inning out of a high three-quarter slot. Simple delivery and maintained direction to home plate well. Fastball sat 73-74 and was accompanied by a curveball with 11/5 action at 63-64.

Cameron Michaud, RHP, Spring-Ford
Undersized at 5-foot-10, 140-pounds, Michaud nonetheless brings a solid arsenal to the mound with him. Pitched out of a high three-quarter slot with a dart thrower arm action and good arm speed out front. Fastball sat 77-80 and was accompanied by a curveball at 69-70 with solid 11/5 action, and a firm change-up at 74-76 with late armside fade.

Teagan Staver, RHP, Shippensburg Area
Prototype 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame. Pitched out of a high three-quarter slot with dart thrower arm action. Maintained direction to home plate and filled up the zone with a fastball at 81-82. Shows ball behind head in arm swing, but still appeared to have deception due to short-in-back-long-in-front arm action. Also mixed in a curveball at 69-70 and a change-up at 71-72.

Class of 2017

Matt Lanzone, LHP, Emmaus
6-foot-2, 195-pounder with a repeatable, under control delivery. Pitched out of a three-quarter slot with a wrist wrap at the bottom of his arm swing. Fastball sat 69-71 and had a little natural cut to it, while he also utilized a big curveball at 60-63 with 1/7 action. Showed a very solid pickoff move as well.

Matt Marino, C/RHP, North Penn
6-foot, 155-pound primary catcher who pitched one inning. Worked out of a high three-quarter slot with up-tempo delivery, chest-high leg lift, and good mound presence. Arsenal included a fastball at 73-74 and a curveball at 62-64 with 11/5 action.

Ryan McSorley, IF/RHP, Lansdale Catholic
5-foot-10, 165-pound primary infielder who pitched out of a three-quarter slot and stayed on-line to the plate well. Fastball sat 74-75 with occasional armside action. Flashed a solid curveball at 70-71 with 11/5 action when he maintained armspeed and elbow slot.

Nick Picariello, RHP/OF, Germantown Academy
Solidly built 5-foot-9, 185-pound frame. Bounced hands from waist to overhead to chest for separation and into an over-the-top slot with some armspeed. Fastball at 82-83 was typically straight with occasional armside run. Curveball with 11/5 action at 73-75 has a chance to get swings-and-misses at the next level, while he also mixed in a firm change-up at 75-76.

Class of 2018

Ryan Besachio, LHP/1B, Upper Dublin
Lanky 6-foot, 155-pound frame. Pitched out of a high three-quarter slot with abbreviated arm action on the backside and compact delivery. Fastball sat 70-73 and was accompanied by a slurvy breaking ball at 63-64 with three-quarter action.

Nick Parker, RHP/IF, Dallastown Area
Lean 5-foot-11, 160-pound frame. Pitched out of a high three-quarter slot from a simple delivery. Fastball sat 81-83 and touched 85. Threw a big curveball at 70-72 with 11/5 action that has a chance to develop into a quality pitch for him, while also incorporating a baby cutter at 77-78 and a change-up at 74-75 with some fade.

Headlines