Prep Baseball Report

Elite Prospect Showcase Flashback: Top Performances From 2015


Greg Williams
Pennsylvania Director of Scouting

Keystone State Baseball Academy


The Elite Prospect Showcase annually brings together top prospects from across the state as well as from neighboring states. With just over a week until the 2017 edition of this event, October 28th at Keystone State Baseball Academy, we look back on highlights from previous years.

The 2015 version of this event brought together 70 prospects from four states. The day included players participating in three waves with a number of impressive performances. Following is a look back at the top performers in each of the measurable categories evaluated. CLICK HERE for complete results for all prospects in attendance.

A finalized roster for the 2017 Elite Prospect showcase will be released tomorrow.

Top Bat Exit Velocity

96 mph - Jacob Jones, C, Neshaminy HS (PA), 2017

11/7/15 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-handed hitter. Hits from a slightly open stance and body really drifts forward with toe-tap stride. Hands start low and he raises them in his load. Brute strength in frame generated a 96-mph exit velocity. Despite his big build, he showed an ability to set low, while posting 69-mph arm strength from the crouch and pop times of 2.22-2.35, with room to shorten his footwork and arm action. Jones is now a freshman at Eastern University.


Top Fastball Velocity

88 mph - Jimmy Kingsbury, RHP, Malvern Prep (PA), 2017

11/7/15 6-foot, 170-pound righty touched 88 mph and sat 86-87 with his four-seam fastball out of a 3/4 arm slot. Also displayed a two-seam fastball with some arm side run at 83-84. Curveball sat 71-72 with 11/5 shape and changeup showed heavy run and sink at 79-80. Junior announced his verbal commitment to Villanova shortly after the completion of the event. Kingsbury is now a freshman at Villanova University.

 

TOP 60-YARD DASH TIMES

6.64 - Kyle Hess, OF, Donegal HS (PA), 2018

11/7/15 Hess stood out, or, more accurately, ran to the head of the class, with a blazing 6.64 60-yard dash. The 6-foot, 170-pound left-handed hitter starts from an open stance and strides to slightly closed. His hands work and he keeps his head still throughout his swing. Has some strength in his wrists and forearms that helped generate an 86-mph exit velocity. Defensively, he exhibited a nice, short arm action and his throws of 83-mph traveled true with carry. As a freshman, Hess was one of only two underclass starters on the Indians' PIAA Class AAA state semifinal squad. Hess is a University of Pittsburgh commit and is drawing significant interest as a potential 2018 MLB Draft pick.

 

TOP IF/OF ARM VELOCITY 
 
92 mph - Dominic Peroni, 3B, Laurel Highlands HS (PA), 2016

11/7/15 The standout among the group was easily 3B Dominic Peroni (Laurel Highlands). The 6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed hitter put on a clinic in batting practice smashing line drives to all fields from a slightly open stance. Peronni displayed excellent balance and present power with a bat exit velocity of 91 mph. A 6.95 runner, Peroni showed above average range and light feet with a soft glove hand defensively. He showed his readiness as a defender at the next level with well above average 92 mph arm strength and the ability to make all plays on the move. Peroni hit .307 with seven home runs and 33 RBI as a freshman in 2017 at Potomac State College.

 

TOP CATCHER POP TIMES & ARM VELOCITY

2.00/ 72 mph - Luke Trainer, Conestoga Valley HS (PA), 2017

11/7/15 Trainer posted the top defensive performance among this cohort at the event. In addition to solid receiving and blocking skills (good lateral agility; soft wall), his 72-mph arm strength from the crouch played up (2.00-2.09 pop times) due to quick feet, fundamental ball-to-ear transfer, and short, quick arm action. The 6-foot, 180-pound left-handed hitter demonstrates current gap power (87-mph exit velocity) and reasonable wheels for the position (7.41 60-yard dash). High back elbow and deep launch point create some length in his swing, although he does flash bat speed. Trainer is currently a freshman at Millersville University.


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