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On the Recruiting Trail: Class of 2016 Arms

November 11, 2014

By Greg Williams
PA/WV Director of Scouting

A busy summer and fall has led to a flurry of college commitments among high end talent in the Class of 2016. With the early signing period scheduled for November 12-19 its time to focus on this year's junior class. In the coming days we will take a look at some of the top prospects in the 2016 class that remain uncommitted in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Today we focus on pitchers.

Dignazio commits

Jon DignazioEven before we had an opportunity to publish today's article, things changed. One of the top arms in the PA Class of 2016 went from being a center piece of this story to off the board. LHP Jon Dignazio (North Allegheny, PA) announced his commitment to Maryland last night shortening the list of uncommitted pitchers in Pennsylvania's top 20 ranked prospects to two.

Dignazio was originally scheduled to throw in the PA Top Prospect Games and then later in the Elite Prospect Showcase, but was forced to pull out of both events. The 6-foot-3, 185-pound lefty has shown a steady climb through the rankings. Dignazio sits 84-86 while running it up to the plate in the upper 80s at times with a fluid, athletic delivery. He also possesses a sharp slider at 78 mph and a solid changeup. Dignazio is ranked No. 15 in the PA Class of 2016.

Top Uncommitted Arms

West Virginia


+ RHP Druw Bowen (George Washington, WV) was a member of the Team Pennsylvania roster at the 2014 2014 PBR Future Games in August. The 6-foot-4, 195-pound righty sat 87-88 while striking out three in two innings of work against Team Kansas. The junior, who played at Valley-Fayette during his first two years of high school, also showcased a 71 mph curveball and a 75 mph changeup. Bowen is ranked No. 2 in the WV Class of 2016.

Pennsylvania


+ RHP/OF Carter Cross (Cathedral Prep, PA) is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound two-way prospect that has sits in the mid-80s with a loose, athletic delivery. Cross sat 84-85 with some arm side run to his fastball during a playoff game we scouted in May. He showed solid two-plane action on his 71 mph 11/5 breaking curveball. Cross is ranked No. 11 in the PA Class of 2016.

+ RHP Casey Vincent (Eisenhower, PA) showed well as a member of Team Pennsylvania at the 2014 PBR Future Games as well. Vincent was originally scheduled to work three innings over two appearances, but ended up working two additional innings during his second appearance. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound righty got stronger with each inning he worked. Vincent topped at 87 mph during his second appearance while also commanding a 73 mph curveball with tight 11/5 rotation. The junior has a long arm action and some hip coil to his delivery that provides added deception. Vincent also displayed supreme confidence in his stuff and attacked hitters early in the count. He is ranked No. 12 in the PA Class of 2016.

Additional WV news: