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The summer 2018 Western Pennsylvania Showcase event schedule got underway on June 20th with the Western Pennsylvania College Prospect Showcase in Erie, PA. 35 prospects gathered on the campus of Penn State Behrend College to put themselves on the recruiting radar.  Today we continue our analysis of the prospects in attendance by taking a look at those who participated from the Class of 2020.

+ For complete results from all prospects in attendance - CLICK HERE.

Top Prospects

Mitch Grosch, 2020, Warren, 3B/RHP

Grosch showed substantial progress in all measurables since last being seen approximately nine months ago. 

Defensively, flashes quick, active feet in getting around the ball and creating optimal hops and angles. Grosch funnels bottom up and outfront with soft, confident hands. Demonstrated solid arm strength in registering 84 MPH on throws across the diamond.

5-foot-8, 170-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with lift-and-replace stride. Separation is reduced by minimal weight shift away from hands. Hands are loose, quick and direct to baseball with associated short swing path. Hips are quick and turn is aggressive. Swing path is slightly uphill. Leverage is achieved through staying behind baseball and working into a firm front side. Grosch would benefit from implementing a more aggressive weight shift away from hands lending to greater separation. He presents as developing middle of the order power bat with above average foot speed. A 92 MPH bat exit speed was registered.

On the mound, works out of high 3/4 arm slot with high effort delivery. There is some difficulty in repeating delivery. Grosch leans back excessively following stride foot contact leading to early front side opening and arm drag. FB at 78-79 MPH demonstrated substantial arm side run. CB sat 64-66 flashing moderate depth with 12/6 shape. CH at 71-72 MPH was thrown with good sell and sinking action. Overall command was inconsistent..

Camden Graves, 2020, Oswayo Valley, C

Defensively, glove hand is soft in receiving and framing. Graves presents a soft wall and maintains an appropriate trunk angle in blocking. Hands are quick and feet work well in achieving pop time of 2.19 on throws of 79 MPH from the crouch.

5-foot-8, 170-pound right-handed initiates swing from neutral set up with short stride to slightly open. Early hand leak reduces separation. Weight shift is aggressive. There is substantial hand and hip quickness. Intermittent, compromised backside release leads to occasional difficulty turning through the baseball. Strength and mechanics played to advanced, for age, bat exit velocity of 91 MPH.

Matt Shepard, 2020, McDowell, OF/LHP

Defensively, shows athletic actions in the outfield. Shepard is decisive in reads and takes direct routes. He gets behind and works through ball in the air. Throws are made with solid weight shift, consistent follow and good straight line carry. Glove hand is confident in attacking ball on the ground. Arm strength of 83 MPH was registered by young outfielder.

5-foot-10, 165-pound left-handed hitter initiates swing from open, wide set up with short stride to neutral utilizing a barrel tip. There is balance and rhythm to swing with excellent separation. Hand are quick and loose. Weight shift and hip turn are aggressive. Bat is on plane early and maintained late in hitting zone. There is substantial length. Swing presentation and above average speed from left side make Shepard a versatile, projectable offensive threat. A bat exit velocity of 87 MPH and a 60-yard dash time of 6.84 were registered.

On the mound, worked out of a mid to high 3/4 arm slot with low effort, repeatable delivery. Arm action is long and loose. There is excellent scapular load and arm/hip separation. Efficient use of lower half is demonstrated. FB sat 82-84 with arm side run and sink. CB at 65-68 MPH showed 1/7 shape while flashing late, sharp break and good depth. CH at 68-72 was thrown with good sell and consistent arm side fade. Slider remains a work in progress being commanded inconsistently and showing tendency to back up. Shepard did nothing to change previous assessment as being an arm to follow in Class of 2020.

Ryan Rafalski, 2020, Warren, SS/RHP

Defensively, shows soft, confident hands and ability to use feet to create appropriate angles and hops. Transfer is clean and throwing motion is long on accurate throws of 82 MPH across the diamond. 

5-foot-8, 160-pound right-hand hitter varies between initiating swing from neutral set up with aggressive knee-to-knee leg kick and stride, to  heel lift, hip turn no stride approach. Separation is solid and hands work well to the baseball. No stride approach, at times, reduces weight shift making swing excessively rotational with an uphill path. Barrel feel was solid in squaring of multiple balls during round of BP. A bat exit velocity of 84 MPH was registered.

On the mound, works out of mid-3/4 arm slot with balance, rhythm and efficient use of lower half. Arm action is loose. Delivery is repeatable with moderate effort. FB sat 81-82 MPH with arm side run. Arm angle was noticeably lowered with throwing of secondary pitches from wind up. CB Showed 11/5 shape and rolling action. CH at 68 MPH was thrown with good sell flashing intermittent arm side fade/sink. Arm angle was more consistent from stretch with secondary offerings having better bite and depth. 

Remainder of roster (in random order)

Nicholas Leone, 2020, Cathedral Prep, OF/RHP

Defensively, gets behind baseball, catches at it's height and plays through ball in the air. Shows confidence in glove hand while playing ball on the ground. Arm strength of 74 MPH was registered on throws from the outfield.

5-foot-11, 150-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from open set up with reverse toe tap and stride to neutral. Separation is adequate. Swing has good balance and rhythm. Weight shift is adequate followed by a passive hip turn. The back elbow leaks in front of hands when connecting lending to bat drag. Swing path is short with hand speed present. Solid barrel feel with ability to use whole field was demonstrated during round of BP. A bat exit velocity of 74 MPH was registered.

On the mound, works out of a mid-3/4 arm slot with balance, rhythm and ability to repeat. Arm action is loose and delivery involves moderate effort.  FB at 73-74 MPH flashed significant, consistent arm side run. CB thrown at 56-59 showed 11/5 shape and rolling action. CH lacked separation at 72 MPH.

Hunter Loomis, 2020, Warren, C/RHP

Defensively, glove hand is adequate in receiving and framing. There is a soft wall and good trunk angle when blocking. Loomis would benefit from consistently staying square when moving laterally. Feet and hands flash quickness in recording pop time of 2.22 on throw of 79 MPH from the crouch.

5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with short stride staying neutral. Separation is substantial and weight shift is aggressive. Intermittently there is compromised backside release with associated difficulty turning through the baseball. In general swing mechanics are solid. However, there was difficulty being on time on this day. Loomis registered a bat exit velocity of 80 MPH.

On the mound, works out of mid-3/4 arm slot showing the ability to repeat his moderate effort delivery. Balance and rhythm are demonstrated. The right-hander consistently stays in line, gets good extension and finishes square. FB sat 77-78 MPH and was commanded while lacking movement. CB at 63-65 had 11/5 shape and moderate depth. Knuckle ball at 64 MPH was consistently thrown for strikes having good dance.

Kolby VanWhy, 2020, Coudersport, SS/3B

Defensively, feet work well to and through the baseball. Hands are soft and confident working out front and bottom up. Shows understanding of using feet in achieving optimal hops and angles. Overall, demonstrated makings of solid middle infield defender with improved arm strength. VanWhy would benefit from emphasizing quickening his hands in transfer and shortening throwing motion in allowing arm to play up. 

6-foot, 170-pound left-handed hitter initiates swing from open set up striding to neutral without gaining ground. Separation is reduced by passive back elbow in load and low launch position of hands. Overall, lower half mechanics are excellent with aggressive weight shift and hip turn followed by backside release into firm front side. There is substantial athleticism, balance and rhythm. Mechanical changes in load have potential to allow VanWhy to develop into a formidable offensive player. He registered an 81 MPH bat exit velocity.

Matt Mosbacher, 2020, Harborcreek, RHP

5-foot-10, 140-pound right-hander works out of a mid-3/4 arm slot with repeatable, moderate effort delivery. Delivery shows balance and rhythm. Mosbacher stays in line and finishes square. FB sat 69-71 and was cut to both sides of the plate. CB at 62-64 MPH was commanded well with 11/5 shape and moderate depth. SL remains a work in progress having inconsistent movement. CH was thrown with reasonable sell and consistent sink at 65-66. Defensively, tends to catch ball flat-footed. Mosbacher would benefit from being more consistent in getting behind and working through the ball in the air. He attacks and plays through the ball on the ground with proper technique. Arm strength of 72 MPH was registered on throws from the outfield.

Andrew Harris, 2020, Oil City, OF/RHP

Defensively, showed commitment to getting behind ball and playing through ball in air. Harris would benefit from being more decisive in reads and catching ball at it's height. Registered arm strength of 76 MPH on throws from the outfield. 

5-foot-11, 130-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral with controlled stride staying neutral. Separation and weight shift are adequate. Hip turn is passive. There is slightly uphill swing path with length. Harris would benefit from working hands more directly to the baseball from inside. A bat exit velocity of 72 MPH was registered.

On the mound, works out of mid-to-high 3/4 arm slot with FB sitting 73-74 and showing little movement on this day. Demonstrated better ability to repeat delivery with associated improved command out of stretch. CB at 62-63 had 11/5 shape with rolling action and minimal depth. SL at 62-65 was best pitch having 11/4 short break while being consistently commanded away. Harris would benefit from staying back longer and being more aggressive with lower half in achieving greater separation.

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