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Preseason All-State Showcase Analysis: Middle Infielders (Class of 2016)

February 19, 2015

By Jacob Gill
Philadelphia Region Director of Scouting

Prior to embarking on their junior season, 22 middle infielders descended on Keystone State Baseball Academy in Manheim to showcase their skills at the Preseason All-State Showcase. They are listed below in reverse alphabetical order. Why? I always felt bad for the guy in my elementary school with the last name Zyvert.

Jawan WestJawan West, 5-8 190, R/R, Cheltenham
7.18 60-yard dash, 69-mph arm, 75-mph exit velo
West starts from a open stance and strides to slightly open with his hands in a good launch position. He exhibits relaxed pre-swing rhythm, but tends to pull off the ball, so he's unable to consistently tap into the strength he has in his lower half and forearms. West worked out at shortstop, although is better suited for his listed secondary position of third base, as he lacks the quickness to stay in the middle at the next level, but showed some ability to handle the slow roller play on the move.

Matt Tarabek, 6-1 180, R/R, Hempfield Area
See notes from Wednesday's top prospects article.

Matthew SilayMatthew Silay, 5-10 155, R/R, McDowell
6.81 60-yard dash, 80-mph arm, 88-mph exit velo
Silay has a lean frame with room to add strength. He starts from an open stance with good pre-swing rhythm and strides to square. He spins a bit, but has good bat speed and some gap power to the pullside. Defensively, he exhibited athletic actions and feet, good hands, and an accurate arm that plays up because he gets his feet and shoulders square and follows his throw well.

Josh RyanJosh Ryan, 5-8 150, R/R, Cheltenham
7.41 60-yard dash, 80-mph arm, 81-mph exit velo
When he got his foot down on time, Ryan flashed some bat speed with a pull-oriented approach during his BP session. And despite some spin on the backside, he did a solid job getting the barrel to the baseball. Defensively, Ryan exhibited very good feet and an arm that is currently best-suited for second base at the next level.

Nico Popa, 5-10 170, R/R, Seton-La Salle Catholic
See notes from Wednesday's top prospects article.

Jason NarkoffJason Narkoff, 6-0 165, R/R, Central Bucks East
7.52 60-yard dash, 69-mph arm, 76-mph exit velo
Narkoff hits from a slightly open stance and takes a short, controlled stride with his hands in a good launch position and his eyes staying relatively level. He wore out right-center using an uphill swing path with some length in it. Defensively, Narkoff showed good feet and would benefit from fielding the ball further out in front of his body.

Jesse James MurphyJesse James Murphy, 5-8 155, S/R, Roman Catholic
8.17 60-yard dash, 72-mph arm, 71-mph exit velo
Murphy exhibits similar swing qualities from both sides of the plate. He starts from a slightly open stance with good pre-swing rhythm and strides slightly closed. His approach is contact-oriented with a long path and he keeps his head still throughout the swing. Defensively, Murphy showcased solid feet and hands with an arm best-suited for second base.

Jake MullanJake Mullan, 5-11 175, R/R, Malvern Prep
7.25 60-yard dash, 77-mph arm, 84-mph exit velo
Mullan slows the game down on defense, with good feet, a soft glove, and smooth transfer from glove to throwing hand, allowing his arm strength to play up. At the plate, he starts slightly open and takes a quick knee-to-knee stride to square, getting his hands to a good launch point. He would benefit from additional strength gains, as he has a tendency to swing the bat with his body, causing him to hook the ball, but he showed an ability to get the barrel to the baseball on virtually every swing in BP.

Jerry ManganJerry Mangan, 5-11 170, R/R, La Salle
7.24 60-yard dash, 77-mph arm, 82-mph exit velo
Mangan starts from a slightly open stance and strides to square. He holds his hands above his head, pushing them up and then drawing them back down in his load. He has some potential gap power from a slightly uphill path. Defensively, Mangan doesn't have the smoothest actions or the strongest arm, but he showed an ability to make plays in all directions (including sliding on one knee in the 6-hole and popping up to make the throw).

A.J. LotsisA.J. Lotsis, 5-10 170, L/R, Episcopal Academy
6.75 60-yard dash, 78-mph arm, 91-mph exit velo
Lotsis employs a simple, compact approach with a short stride and minimal head and body movement. He can get a little stiff in his load due to a slight armbar, but still flashes plenty of bat speed from his launch point around armpit height. Defensively, he showed solid feet and hands accompanied by an arm best-suited for second base. His foot speed would play well in left- or center-field as well.

Bryen KimbroughBryen Kimbrough, 6-0 170, R/R, Pennsbury
6.94 60-yard dash, 76-mph arm, 76-mph exit velo
Kimbrough starts from a square stance and employs a short stride and load. He gets his hands to a good launch position, but his front side leaks, creating an armbar and some length in his swing. He flashed some bat speed and will be better be able to tap into it when he learns to incorporate his lower half in his swing. Defensively, he exhibits solid feet with a whippy arm from a low slot.

Dylan FontenotDylan Fontenot, 5-8 150, R/R, Montoursville
7.16 60-yard dash, 73-mph arm, 78-mph exit velo
Fontenot starts from a slightly open stance and strides to square. He has a slight barrel wrap and loads his hands behind his head, which can add some length to his swing, but he did show an ability to stay inside the baseball. Defensively, he exhibited solid feet and an arm best-suited for second base at the next level.

Nate Fassnacht, 5-11 170, S/R, Ephrata Area
See notes from Wednesday's top prospects article.

Jimmy FarrowJimmy Farrow, 5-10 170, R/R, Avon Grove
7.07 60-yard dash, 81-mph arm, 91-mph exit velo
Farrow starts from a slightly open stance and strides to square, keeping his head still throughout his swing. His hands work, he stays inside the ball, and he gets through contact well. Defensively, he exhibited good feet and hands, while his current arm strength and some effort in his throw will likely see him end up at second base in college.

Zach EvansZach Evans, 6-0 160, R/R, Seneca (NJ)
7.13 60-yard dash, 70-mph arm, 78-mph exit velo
Evans starts from a slightly open stance and takes a variable stride (sometimes employing a toe-tap, other times a lift-and-replace). He drops his hands from shoulder to armpit height before launch, working under the ball with an uphill path. He is fairly short to the ball and flashes some bat speed. Defensively, he fielded the ball in toward his body, but showed good feet, a short arm action, and a quick release.

Ricky CollingsRicky Collings, 5-10 170, R/R, Marple Newtown
6.81 60-yard dash, 82-mph arm, 85-mph exit velo
Collings hits from a square stance with a medium-length stride and minimal load. If he can get his barrel in position to travel a shorter distance (he currently holds the bat horizontal to the ground over his shoulder, creating a long path for him to get into the zone), he will better be able to tap into his very good bat speed. Defensively, Collings moves well, exhibiting good feet and hands accompanied by an accurate arm.

Noah ClementNoah Clement, 5-9 170, R/R, Roman Catholic
6.93 60-yard dash, 85-mph arm, 82-mph exit velo
Clement starts from a slightly open stance, strides to square, and loads his hands to a good launch position. At times, he will sit on his backside, lose posture and add length to his swing, but when he gets his weight transferred, he flashes bat speed and allows his hands to work. Defensively, Clement exhibits good feet, a clean exchange, and a quick arm.

Andrew CiarloneAndrew Ciarlone, 5-11 175, R/R, La Salle
6.84 60-yard dash, 81-mph arm, 90-mph exit velo
Defense is the strength of Ciarlone's game, as he exhibits good feet, very good hands, and plays low to the ground. At the plate, he starts slightly open and strides to square, loading his hands to a good launch position. He has some power potential and showed the ability to barrel the ball in BP, and could become a highly intriguing hitter if he can shorten his swing path a bit.

Paul CiampoliPaul Ciampoli, 5-8 160, R/R, Upper Moreland
7.17 60-yard dash, 77-mph arm, 82-mph exit velo
Ciampoli starts from a slightly open stance with a slight squat and takes a short stride to square. He spins a bit, inhibiting his extension, but demonstrates good balance and bat speed with an ability to barrel the ball the BP. Defensively, he tended to field the ball deep, but showed good feet with an accurate arm that is best-suited for second base.

Matt Brooks, 6-1 160, R/R, Spring Grove Area
See notes from Wednesday's top prospects article.

Werten BellamyWerten Bellamy, 5-7 160, R/R, Roman Catholic
7.08 60-yard dash, 73-mph arm, 77-mph exit velo
Bellamy starts from a slightly open stance, strides to square, and lowers his hands before launch. He was inconsistent getting his foot down on time, but, when he did, he flashed bat speed with an uphill swing path. Defensively, Bellamy showcased quick feet and solid hands with an arm best-suited for second base.

Dustin BabaieDustin Babaie, 5-6 170, R/R, Susquehannock
7.55 60-yard dash, 65-mph arm, 80-mph exit velo
Built like a wrestler, with strength throughout his undersized frame, Babaie lifts and retreats his heel to stride. He has a simple, contact-oriented approach and stays inside the ball well. Defensively, he showcased solid hands and feet, plus an accurate, second baseman's arm from a low slot.

Additional Preseason all-state NEWS: