The roster for Team Pennsylvania at the Under Armour Midwest Future Games was released last night. Over the next few days we will take a look at the roster by position, beginning with the pitchers.

Team Pennsylvania's pitching staff took a hit yesterday when the No.5 ranked player in the Class of 2014, Colton Hock, withdrew due to another commitment. With Hock the pitching staff appeared to be loaded, without him it still will have a great deal of talent.

At the head of the rotation should be 6-foot-1, 175-pound Brendan McKay, the No. 2 ranked player in the Class of 2014. Brendan is coming off another stellar high school season in which he was the ace of the Blackhawk HS staff going 9-1. McKay is now 16-1 in his high school career. He sits 85-86 with his fast ball and has a dominant curve ball to go with it. The left hander has outstanding control and loves to pitch in big games.

Brandon Birkhead, the No 8 ranked player in the Class of 2014, will likely get a start in Illinois as well. At 6-foot-4, and 215-pounds, the Pennsbury HS right hander has the physical size to be a power pitcher. Last summer Birkhead led the rotation for the Northeast team in the first annual Underclass All-American Games in Orlando, FL.

Other potential starters for Team Pennsylvania include Matt Gordon, a 6-foot-3, 215-pound right hander from Grove City HS; Eric Ligda, a 6-foot-5, 185-pound right hander from Avon Grove: Jamie Switalski, a 5-foot-11, 190-pound right hander from Pine Richland; and Dominic Cuoci, a 6-foot-3, 195-pound right hander from LaSalle College.

Additional prospects who may see time on the mound during the course of the event include Luca Farina, a 6-foot-1, 215-pound right hander from Central Catholic and Aaron Fritz, a 5-foot-10, 190-pound right hander from Minersville.

Tomorrow we will look at the three catchers on the Team Pennsylvania roster.