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Winter Storm Iola No Match for Future Prospects

January 25, 2015

By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

Winter Storm Iola dropped her fair share of snowfall on eastern Pennsylvania on Friday evening forcing a large share of the participants in the Future Prospects Instructional Showcase to stay at home. Today we take a look at a couple of promising underclassmen that were able to brave the conditions and make it to Keystone State Academy.

Nicholas BreznakNicholas Breznak, LHP/1B, Warwick HS, Class of 2019 

Breznak flashed projectable size at 5-foot-11, 160-pounds and an advanced skill set. The lefty impressed on the mound sitting 74-76 from a 3/4 arm slot with good tempo and arm side run to his fastball. Breznak also flashed two high school ready pitches in a 65 mph changeup thrown at fastball arm speed and a 67 mph curveball with tight 1/7 rotation. The 8th grader throws entirely from the stretch and uses a high knee delivery to hide the ball well.

Breznak showed athletic actions around the first base bag with an accurate 79 mph arm across the diamond. He also showed well defensively in the outfield.

The switch-hitter flashed a 75 mph bat exit velocity from the right-side of the plate with good rhythm to his swing. Breznak barreled the baseball routinely with no stride from a square stance. His left-handed swing is a bit longer with similar swing mechanics. Although he has a tendency to drag the barrel from his non-dominant side he does show greater lift and some power potential.

Mark BlackMark Black, C/OF, East Catholic School, Class of 2020

Black showed athletic actions and projectability as a catcher and as a hitter. The 5-foot-3, 125-pound 7th grader ran an 8.00 60-yard dash and showed solid 73 mph arm strength from the outfield. Behind the plate, Black has an athletic set up and quick transition with pop times of 2.42-2.50. Black is a right-handed hitter that starts from a square stance. He utilizes a heel raise stride and a short swing path to generate a 70 mph bat exit velocity. Black barreled the baseball routinely in batting practice with a direct swing path and showed the ability to use all fields. The talented future prospect is young by middle school standards and will play this summer at the 12U age level.

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