PA Rankings Update: Class of 2023
September 7, 2022
Completing the transition from a thorough summer of scouting into the much anticipated fall season, the PBR Pennsylvania 2023 Class Rankings have officially been updated. Just looking at the Top 10, high velocity arms lead the way, accumulating seven of the spots with Gavin Chillott (#13) and Charlie Oschell (#15) on the cusp.
There are plenty of talented left-handed bats littered among the first 30, accompanying #1 overall Kevin McGonigle who commands Day 1 attention in the draft. Chase Krewson (#4) and Pete Craska (#7) maintained their usual places with power potential, as Koy Swanson (#20), Bryce Rudisill (#27), and Spencer Barnett (#30) continue inching upwards.
Don’t sleep on Keystone infielders either. 6-foot-3, 205-pounder Trey Tiffan (#17) packs a punch with rotational strength and plus hit, while Pittsburgh’s Anthony Malagise (#43) enters his senior year as the best uncommitted position player available.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE TOP 350 / CLICK HERE FOR THE PLAYERS TO WATCH LIST
THE TOP 10
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Kevin McGonigle SS / 2B / Bonner-Prendergast, PA / 2023One of the best pure hit tools in the country (L/R) from a physical 5-foot-11, 185-pound stature, McGonigle has shown time and time again the ability to produce versus top arms. The bat-speed continued flashing this spring with 11 home runs, as did a professional skill set in the dirt, covering the entire left side of the field at times.
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Luke Guth RHP / SS / Franklin Area, PA / 2023The state strikeout leader with 129 punchouts over 59 innings, Guth was nearly unhittable, able to effectively run and cut a low-90’s FB to either side of the plate. Still 6-foot-2, 170lbs with an ultra-quick arm and ability to spin a second plus pitch (CB), the righty blanked WPIAL 3A champ South Park with 16K late in the season, leaving many wanting more.
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Jake Griffin RHP / OF / Holy Redeemer, PA / 2023A two-sport athlete with the size to play tight end in football, Griffin re-appeared in June at the Northeast Pride Scout Day and held every bit of 87-88 mph with hard-run to the arm-side (16 inches). An aggressive lower half generated some life at times, projecting as a future sinker/slider guy with the ability to locate a CH as well, hiding in the shoulders.
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Chase Krewson OF / LHP / South Fayette, PA / 2023Though the bat-strength plays first and foremost at 6-foot-2, 200lbs, Krewson reached back for 89 mph off the bump at #17UNat, giving a look at possible two-way appeal moving forward. The L/L enjoyed plenty of offensive success too, including a no-doubter to pull that left the barrel at 97 mph (343 feet) via Trackman.
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Tyler Pitzer RHP / OF / South Fayette, PA / 2023Simply efficient with a loose, full arm-action that challenges up in the zone, Pitzer went 96 mph positionally at the NE Procase for an event record. Since then, all he’s done is dominate the WPIAL from a low-release height and push further into the low-90’s with useful tunnel on a hard-sweeping breaker (2350 rpms).
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Blake Morningstar RHP / Wyalusing Valley, PA / 2023Flashback to early spring when there were rumblings that Morningstar, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound specimen, had made another jump. We made the trip for his start against Wellsboro, where he rattled off eight straight 94’s to open the game before settling 90-93 mostly. Added frisbee SL into the upper-70’s and finished with 16K.
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Pete Craska 1B / 3B / Mars Area, PA / 2023Not many 6-foot-1, 235-pounders control the body like Craska (L/R), holding onto a strong base during a sizable leg-lift in the forward move. Closes the gap with premium bat-speed and wins from a slightly uphill path towards a lifted finish; middle of the order approach, doesn’t miss the FB.
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Tyler Smith LHP / OF / Mt. Lebanon, PA / 2023An intentful thrower who made waves in the class just a year ago, the southpaw flows down the slope and times up hand-break from an up-tempo delivery. There’s more to be had at 6-foot-1, 195lbs, falling off the mound to glove-side while running the FB under the hands of LHH for strikes (87-89 mph). Commands both offspeed pitches with swing/miss potential.
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Brett Antolick RHP / SS / Hazleton Area, PA / 2023The Texas A&M commit twirled 7K over 3IP at #NYSummerChampionships earlier this summer, dodging barrels with a carrying 91-93, T94 mph FB. Was able to leverage on the CB, which held plane nicely, getting a couple half-hearted swings in the box from 76-78 mph. Balanced stack, twitchy actions.
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Eddie Copper RHP / 1B / Germantown Academy, PA / 2023Full of mound presence in a workhorse build, Copper gets the ball and goes, living on the ground with natural sink action at 88-90 mph. The Gamecocks recruit showed off a much improved four-pitch arsenal this spring, killing spin on a diving 79-81 mph CH out of the same lower ¾ slot. Confident, refined, will have a chance early.
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RECENT COMMITMENTS
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Madden Clement LHP / 1B / Butler Area, PA / 2023Rankings StateRank: 40 / POS: 3
Skyrocketing up the board with advanced pitchability and now the size to match, Clement recently announced his verbal to Virginia Tech. The southpaw features a real feel for three pitches at 6-foot-2, 165lbs and the CH profiles as a weapon with hard fade; bloodlines.
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Jatnk Diaz 1B / RHP / Hazleton Area, PA / 2023Rankings StateRank: 36 / POS: 4
Another steal for the PSAC at a hulking 6-foot-3, 230lbs, Diaz found a home in perennial contender East Stroudsburg and fits their mold of toughness on both sides of the ball. Though the swing projects into the 106 mph exit velocity range (86 mph bat-speed), his future could be on the mound with an easy upper-80’s FB from a H ¾ power slot.
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Jimmy Kunst RHP / SS / Highlands, PA / 2023Rankings StateRank: 47 / POS: 17
It was a successful summer for 2021 Future Gamers, as Kunst committed to Eastern Michigan after a productive spring on the mound (.202 OBA, 31IP/53K). The 6-foot-2, 190lb two-sport athlete is an efficient mover equipped with an 87-89 mph FB, spinning a tall breaking-ball from top-to-bottom.
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Darius Adkins OF / 1B / Friends Central School, PA / 2023Rankings StateRank: 53 / POS: 6
That makes three recruits in the top 80 of the class with Adkins choice to Saint Joseph’s, also landing Tim Dickinson (#77) and Luke Parise (#78). The 6-foot-4, 195-pounder gathered meaningful at-bats as a leadoff hitter for Friends Central and looks to be a fast riser who can impact at the next level with burst in the hands.
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Evan Alwine RHP / Altoona Area, PA / 2023Rankings StateRank: 59 / POS: 24
There’s projection left in an elastic 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame, giving the Florida International verbal a chance to blossom into a starting pitcher down south. The FB has bumped upper-80’s, settling more 85-88 mph with an intriguing tilt on a wipeout 75-77 mph CB.
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BIG MOVERS
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Mitch Lang RHP / OF / Beaver Area, PA / 2023Rankings StateRank: 58 / POS: 23
When comparing breakout performances of the year, Lang might pace the leaderboards, bringing a loud 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame to the table at the Top Prospect Games: West back in June. After a 6.92 60-yard dash, all he did was hold 87-89, T91 mph with bowling ball heaviness and 21 inches of HM.
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Tyler Minick SS / RHP / Governor Mifflin, PA / 2023Rankings StateRank: 31 / POS: 7
Coming off of a big BP round at the NE Procase in February and a spring season where he hit 6 HR and slashed .500/.616/1.017, Minick has risen 15 spots in the rankings, up to 31 today. The frame isn’t imposing yet by any means, but top of the class barrel awareness and sneaky pop could get him into the lineup at UCONN sooner rather than later.
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Jeff Hoenstine SS / 2B / Central (Martinsburg), PA / 2023Rankings StateRank: 85 / POS: 14
Not only a hot commodity on the baseball diamond, Hoenstine also set the state record for touchdown passes in a season in 2021 (57), translating an overall athletic skill set to everything he does. The primary shortstop was among the best in PA with 39 stolen bases and finished the season with five less hits than now LSU freshman Paxton Kling.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| 2022 PA Interstate Games | PA | 10/01 | Iron Horse Complex |
| 2022 Last Chance Open: West | PA | 10/09 | Historic Pullman Park |
| 2022 Last Chance Open: East (25% Full) | PA | 10/15 | Millersville University |
| 2022 Last Chance Open: Central | PA | 10/29 | Liberty Arena |
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