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Sneak Peek: Team Pennsylvania 2014

September 6, 2013

By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

The 2014 Under Armour Midwest Future Games will not take place for another 11 months, but today we take a look at prospects in the Class of 2016 that could potentially fill the roster. The 2014 version of Team Pennsylvania will be looking to build on the accomplishments of the first two PA representatives at the event.

The inaugural team went 0-1-2 in 2012, losing to Illinois and tying Missouri and Michigan. Members of the 2012 roster are now seniors and eight of the 15 prospects on that roster have made their college commitments. Among that list is LHP Brendan McKay, a Louisville commit, who was named the Gatorade Player of the Year in Pennsylvania in 2013.

In August Team PA returned from Indiana University with a record of 1-1-1, losing to Ohio, tying Missouri again and getting its first win over Illinois. This team was filled with a number of highly ranked prospects that performed well. LHP Connor Higgins (Parkland HS) and C/3B Zach Minnick (Logan HS, WV) stood out and have both been receiving considerable Division I interest.

The Class of 2016 will fill the roster for the 2014 event and will attempt to lead Team PA to its first winning record. The class has begun to take shape with 45 players currently in the rankings. Prospects in this class will have an initial opportunity to compete for an invitation to participate at the Elite Prospect Showcase on November 2.

LHP/1B Alex Kirilloff, ranked No. 1 in the PA Class of 2016 has committed to Liberty University and C/RHP Jake Jessell, ranked No. 3 in the class has committed to Pitt. Jessell participated for Team PA this past summer, the only member of the Class of 2016 on the roster.

LHP/OF J.J. Bleday and RHP Max Kranick fill the No. 2 and No. 4 spots in the rankings currently and are top candidates to head the Team PA pitching staff. 

While it is very early to predict how the roster will shape up, it appears that pitching could be a strong suit with pitchers filling 15 of the current 45 spots in the rankings.

Top prospects by position

+ Following is a small sampling of some of the top prospects in PA and WV by position. Many of these prospects will be in consideration for potential roster spots as the 2014 version of Team Pennsylvania begins to take shape in the coming months.

Pitchers:

- RHP Casey Vincent impressed at the PA Underclass games in July and is ranked No. 8 in the class.

- RHP Frankie Fraschetti was a varsity starter at Neshannock HS in 2013 as a freshman and is ranked No. 9 in the class

- RHP Emmett Harkins is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound prospect that sits in the mid-80's. He is ranked No. 14 in the class.

Catchers:

- Ryan Hogan saw varsity playing time as a freshman at Wyoming Valley West.

- Matt Jewell became the varsity starter behind the plate at Nitro HS (WV) in 2013 as a freshman replacing 2012 WV Player of the Year Korey Dunbar.

position players:

- OF Mason Nadeau, ranked No. 5 in the class, was a starter as a freshman for North Penn and played in the Class AAA state finals.

- OF Braxton Giavedoni, ranked No. 6 in the class, is a 6.85 runner with potential to be a lead-off hitter at the next level.

- 2B Brandon McIlwain, ranked No. 7 in the class, is a two-sport star that is one of the top  quarterback recruits in this class nationally.

- SS/RHP John Matthews, ranked No. 10 in the class, shows two-way potential with a low-80's fastball and athletic actions in the infield.

- 3B/RHP Nicky D'Amore showed well recently in the Fall College Prospect Program and is ranked No. 11 in the class.

- SS Matt Tarabek, ranked No. 12 in the class, impressed with an 82 mph arm across the diamond and above average range at the Western PA Open ID showcase in June.

- OF/RHP Ian Riggleman hit .337 and logged innings on the mound as a freshman at South Harrison HS (WV) in 2013.

- 1B/LHP Josh Baker was a middle of the order hitter for Notre Dame (WV) in 2013, leading the Irish to the state semifinals.

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