Prep Baseball Report

Northeast Procase: Terrific 12


Ted Williams & Bill Bliss
PBR Staff

Our 4th Annual Northeast Procase was held on Super Bowl Sunday, February 12th at The Liberty Arena in Williamsport, PA with 75+ of the top MLB Draft prospects in the region. Three states in total were represented, including Pennsylvania, New York, and New Jersey.

EVENT STATS

The position players stole the show with a loud BP session, as '24 3B Chase Harlan (Central Bucks East; Cincinnati) broke a Procase record at 106.3 mph off the bat. Ultimately (8) other hitters would eclipse the 100 mph exit velocity mark and (12) went 370FT+ via Trackman Baseball. 

Defensively, (9) catchers threw 80MPH+ from the crouch while (11) dipped below sub 2.00 on their best pop time. Additionally, (5) outfielders grabbed 90MPH+ and (10) infielders bumped 88MPH+ across the dirt.

There were a total of (18) sub-7.00 runners, laser-timed, and (13) under 6.90 in an athletic group overall.

Not to be outdone, (10) pitchers were 90MPH+ or better, as uncommitted '24 RHP Marcel Kulik (Iona Prep, NY) held the highest velocity range and max of the day at 90.8-91.8 mph.

TERRIFIC 12

Chase Harlan 3B / OF / Central Bucks East , PA / 2024


Fills out a uniform with a muscular build and had the highest AVG bat-speed of the event.  Power bat that can stay on the infield with the ability to throw from different slots. Sub-7.00 runner went 93 mph across the dirt and broke a Procase record with 106.3 mph EV.

Chase Krewson OF / LHP / South Fayette, PA / 2023


Strong overall game with some big tools in the arsenal.  Runs well for size and projects for additional athleticism.  Hits from the left side and BP round looked easy. Will be a close follow throughout the spring with future corner OF attributes.

Michael DiMartini SS / 2B / South Fayette , PA / 2023


Very quick and aggressive on both sides of the ball. Didn't need much behind a T101 mph exit velocity during BP. Had fastest 10-yard split out of the field (1.59) and played with increased pace defensively. Tools allow for good versatility here.

Luke Costello 3B / RHP / Cathedral Prep, PA / 2024


Created huge rotational juice in the middle of the field, hitting behind a stiff front side. Plus bat speed and drives the ball with leverage; good feel for the barrel. Live arm translates to the mound for 88-89 mph FB to arm-side.

Kross Howarth 3B / RHP / Methacton , PA / 2024


Long, taller, projectable frame. Slightly lower release with arm speed and ability to repeat. Going to be a high leverage sinker/slider combo guy in future. Was just playing catch at 88-90 during 'pens. Also was T100 mph EV from right side with clean extension.

Mason Horwat RHP / 3B / Avonworth, PA / 2023


Late life to the FB with a proven in-game track record of success vs. the WPIAL. Ability to manipulate spin and command east/west in the zone. Efficient arm-action projects for additional velocity on 88-91 mph FB. Curveball showed as putaway at times.

Anderson French C / OF / Red Land, PA / 2024


Advanced, long-framed athlete with much more to come physically.  Swing has tempo and barrel stays through the zone. Able to adjust from lower pitch to up at the letters with bat control.  May grow out of the catching position to corner OF; athletic enough to be solid in OF.

Gavin Kelly C / SS / Pittsburgh Central Catholic, PA / 2024


Very versatile athlete, can play all positions equally.  High value to stay up the middle defensively, whether it's at C or SS.  Swings the bat well with consistent line-drive actions. Can run and has those instincts you look for. Has been a big-time gamer in the past.

TYLER ACEVEDO

SS / 2B / Minisink Valley, NY / 2024

Premium athlete with light feet and quick actions in space.  The arm works and speed plays better than his 60 time.  Bat is coming on strong recently with some loft in the swing and an XBH approach. Each time we see him, the body gets more physical.

MARCEL KULIK

RHP / SS / Iona PREP, NY / 2024

Solid, proportionate frame with an easy arm stroke and smooth simple, repeated delivery; ball jumps out of hand. Good extension through release with flashes of plus command in the future.  Starting pitcher at the next level.

Daniel Ciprian

Daniel Ciprian

SS / RHP / Linden, NJ / 2023

Hulking switch-hitter who landed on the sweet spot often through the middle of the field. Big barrel whip from the left side, up to T100 EV; 99 from the right. Hits from the backside towards a high two-handed finish, was also low-90's across infield. Sleeper draft guy out of NJ.

Aidan Paradine

Aidan PARADINE

C / OF / Bayonne, NJ / 2024

Strong upper-half with ability to turn the barrel.  Creates noticeable ground-force in the swing and worked up to T101 mph EV.  Simple, compact approach, accelerates early; muscles ball into gaps with ease. Flirted under 2.00 pops with blocking skillset.

QUICK HITS

'23 OF/RHP Alex Barger (Central York; St. Bonaventure) featured upside arm-talent and was 95 mph from the OF. There's easy twitch in a two-way skillset that added 30lbs of muscle in the offseason. Pitched confidently during his 'pen at 86-88 mph, high spin, and ability to land the breaking ball.

'24 SS Jeff Lougee (Mechanicsburg; Duke) continues to show off the premium LHH hit tool with effortless snap through a fluid, repeatable path. Also a QB1 in football, the body is trending upwards at 6-foot, 185-pounds. Still dynamic in space with 6.87 run and T101 mph exit velocity. Going to be a name to know for 2024 #MLBDraft.

'25 C/OF Ben Peterson (Canon-McMillan; North Carolina) was among the top defenders in attendance, even if he was one of the youngest. The primary catcher showed quick hands on the exchange and an 82 mph arm from the crouch. For the encore, Peterson bumped up to 93 mph from the OF. Long, lean at 6-foot, 160lbs, tools are there.

Though command varied throughout, ultra-elastic '24 RHP Tyler Renz (Fox Lane; St. John's) featured an electric arm that imparted natural sink on the ball. Held 90-91 mph to arm-side and mixed a sharp 82-84 mph CUT that has a chance.

If you want to buy stock in arm-action and size, '24 RHP Alex Ramos (Goshen; Florida International) is a solid option. 6-foot-3, 185-pounds and attacks with life downhill to the bottom. High leg-lift allows for momentum in the delivery, relatively easy 89-91 mph for strikes and short, 11/5 curveball.

Future Games alumni and '24 RHP/3B Kyle DeGroat saw his velocity spike into the T91 mph range with command on the FB. Plenty of balance in the delivery and also profiles as an intriguing left-handed hitting bat.

One of the cleaner swings offensively belonged to '25 1B Colin Lynch (Central Bucks East; Pittsburgh), who landed 2nd overall on the top exit velocity leaderboards (T101.1) at 397 feet. It's big time acceleration and some of the sneakier pound-for-pound juice in the state. Was consistent too with a 78% hard-hit rate.

There were multiple Garden State standouts, but nobody showed more poise than '25 RHP Dylan Henshaw (Don Bosco Prep; Iowa). 100% zone rate on the FB at 89-90 mph. Big sweeping SL for the putaway and ability to kill spin on splitter. Much more to come in an upside 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame.

A couple West Virginia recruits stood out defensively with high compete level. '23 C Sammy Laux (Dock Mennonite) was our top catch-and-throw guy at 1.88-1.95 (82 mph) and turned in a professional offensive round. '25 SS Matthew Robaugh (Trinity) made plays on the run look effortless and notched a personal best of 89 mph from the IF.


UPCOMING EVENTS

SHOWCASE STATE DATE LOCATION
2023 Preseason ID: Southwest - Session 1 PA 02/18 All American Fieldhouse / Monroeville, PA
2023 Preseason ID: Southwest - Session 2 PA 02/18 All American Fieldhouse / Monroeville, PA
2023 Rising Stars: West PA 02/19 All American Fieldhouse / Monroeville, PA
2023 Preseason ID: East (SOLD OUT) PA 02/26 In the Net / Palmyra, PA
Preseason ID: Northeast (40% Full) PA 03/03 The Sports Factory of NEPA / White Mills, PA
2023 Preseason ID: PA Last Chance (SOLD OUT) PA 03/04 The Liberty Arena / Williamsport, PA
2023 Rising Stars: East (70% Full) PA 03/11 Keystone State Sports / Manheim, PA