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By Dennis Healy and Trevor Brown
Co-Directors of Scouting

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Top Stories of 2016 Rundown:
+ Big Time Commits in 2016

PBR New England's Top Stories for the Year 2016: Big Time Commits

 

Class of 2017

Benjamin Casparius, RHP/INF, Staples HS, 2017
Breakdown: Off the mound this right-handed pitcher committed to UNC, the fastball is 88-90 mph with a tick higher at times. The delivery is sound and simple, repeats it with ease, shows the ability to locate it to both sides, could create more movement to the armside. The breaking ball is a legit out pitch, more of a curveball, clocked in the mid 70’s. The changeup has the makings of being his best pitch, needs to throw it more, solid depth and action to armside. At the plate, shows to have above average power to pull side. Projects out more as a first baseman or left fielder at college level. Gaining some interest from the pro level.

Jack Hodgson, RHP, Choate Rosemary Hall, 2017
Breakdown: Headed to Boston College,  a right-handed pitcher, fastball is at 88-91 mph with a ton more in there. The arm works out of a high ¾ slot, pounds low in zone. Looks to attack and is very aggressive, the breaking ball is hard in the upper-70s. Look for him to pitcher right away.

Jared Shuster, LHP, Tabor Academy 2017
Breakdown: A projectable left-handed pitcher made his commitment to Wake Forest this past year. The fastball has leverage 87-90 mph The breaking ball needs some more fastball hand speed to it, sits at 67-70 mph. The changeup is a work in progress.  The frame is big, the slot is above ¾ and the stride is short. Look for the young arm to get innings early in his career, as he will play positionally in the outfield as well.

Robert Cerulle, RHP, Phillips Andover, 2017
Breakdown: More than likely could have pitched anywhere in the country but choose the Ivy League and The University of Pennsylvania. Durable right-hander, who has made a significant jump in stuff in the last year. Fastball touched 91, with life and arm side run. Showed an above average slider at 76, it comes out of his hand like a fastball. The changeup has leverage and fade to it, sitting at 76. The delivery is simple and on time. The arms are long and his extension to the plate is excellent. Tracks the shoulders very well and the ball jumps to the plate. Big time arm.

Joseph Simeone, RHP, Groton-Dunstable, 2017
Breakdown: Power arm, with a good amount of effort in the delivery. The frame is durable and the bottom half has power potential. The fastball has plus life, sitting around 90 mph. Throws a breaking ball and a slider, both with good shape and the makings of out pitches. The changeup is a tick too hard but the potential is there. Made his commitment to UConn and will at some point be a draft.

Owen Batchelder, LHP, Souhegan, 2017
Breakdown: Good looking left-handed arm who has made good strides in the last year. Made his commitment to Northeastern and looks to pitch there early in his career. Solid ¾ arm slot with good ride to a mid 80’s fastball. The breaking pitch as improved as it now sits 71-73 with depth. The changeup is a good one, and could be used right away in college.

Luke Broadhurst, INF, Connecticut, 2017
Breakdown: A big time athlete, who can really run and throws above average, look for him to potentially make a move to centerfield. At the plate, has an opposite to middle of the field approach, the hands are loose and shows to have whip out front with the barrel. Currently has gap power, with added strength his game should go to another level.

Class of 2018

Grant Lavigne, 1B, Bedford (NH), 2018
Breakdown: Big left-handed hitting first baseman who will make his home at Wake Forest University. The field at WF lends itself big time to left-handed bats. Grant should be able to put up serious power numbers early in his career. The glove and footwork around first base are solid. Look for him to be a draft, as big and left-handed is a high priority for most guys.

Patrick Winkel, C, Amity Regional, 2018
Breakdown: A left-handed hitting catcher, committed to UConn, has a chance to be a big time draft next year. The swing is smooth and easy, has above average bat speed, with strength to it. Shows to have power to all fields. Defensively, the feet and hands work very well together. Throws are on the bag and are downhill, in game pop times of 1.95-2.00. Shows to have no wasted movement to any parts of his game, get out and see him, will appreciate how he plays the game.

Ryan Cusick, RHP, Lincoln Sudbury (MA), 2018
Breakdown: Power arm out of Lincoln Sudbury, who is taking his arm to Wake Forest University. The frame is outstanding and the ball jumps out of his hand. The feet have crossfire to them, making it very difficult for right-handed hitters to handle the bat off this guy. The spin pitch is small and he shows the makings of a quality changeup. Should be a high pick in the 2018 draft.

Dillon Lifrieri, OF, Wilton, 2018
Breakdown: A right-handed hitting outfielder, who was the MVP of the PBR 2016 Future Games, has committed to South Carolina. Possesses three above average tools, has power bat, with plus power to the pull side. Runs the sixty yard dash in 6.7-6.8 consistently, and arm has be clocked as high as 91 mph from the outfield. Gaining interest from the pro level already, has all the tools, if he continues to show the ability to make solid contact in games, shows to have knowledge of the strike zone and ability to see the spin, the draft looks promising.

Shane Smith, RHP, Gov’s Academy (MA), 2018
Breakdown: Another Wake Forest University commit, 6-foot-4, 220 pounds of muscle. Developing nicely as he is consistently 87-89, touching 90 mph. The breaking ball has power to it, and should be formidable at the next level. Shows the ability to handle the minus pitch. Command of all three pitches has to improve but he is a guy to keep an eye on for the MLB draft in 2018

Bryce Reagan, INF, Souhegan (NH), 2018
Breakdown: Committed to the University of Texas. The switch-hitting corner infielder does many things very well on the field. The bat is stable and works from both sides of the plate. The foot speed is good enough to stay at the corner. The glove and arm are plenty good enough to play third base in pro ball. Time will tell as this guys has tools to be exceptional, the atmosphere at UT will certainly test his game.

Michael Burrows, RHP/SS, Waterford, 2018
Breakdown: Currently a two-way guy, committed to UConn, projects for me as more of a pitcher at the next level. The fastball is in the upper-80s, has touched 90 mph this past fall. The fastball is heavy and locates it well to both sides, shows the ability to pitch to the arm side and isn't afraid to attack in. The breaking ball has depth and tilt, clocked in the mid-70s, is extremely aggressive, attacks and comes after the hitters. At the plate, has lift and leverage to the swing, power to the pull side. Defensively, plays up the middle, will have to move to a corner position. Look for him to make an immediate impact off the mound.

Sean Burke, RHP, St. John's Prep, 2018
Breakdown: A right-handed pitcher heading to Maryland. The delivery is simple and repeats with ease. The arm action is clean, slightly longer on the backside,  ball comes out of a high-¾ slot. The fastball is in the mid-80s has reached 88 mph at times. Shows to have sold feel form his changeup and breaking ball is thrown for strikes at 68-72 mph. Swings the bat as well, has a tee exit velocity of 93 mph, has some lift in his swing, projects for me off the mound more, has a chance to be frontline guy with his pitchability and projectable frame at 6-foot-4.

Jimmy Sullivan, OF, Wethersfield, 2018
Breakdown: At 6-foot-5 is  long, lengthy, raw athlete, committed to Virginia just after the 2016 Future Games. At the plate this left-handed hitter, has a spread out approach with the hands being slightly lower in the starting position. Drives the baseball to all fields, is a doubles and triples machine in the future. The top tool is his legs, runs the 60-yard dash at 6.7, is long strider. Played extremely well at the future's, most impressive thing he accomplished was beating out to routine plays in the infield. Defensively, can play both corner positions in the outfield, the arm is average to a tick above. Interesting pro follow, with coaching and proper work ethic, his game has a chance to take off.