By Dylan Heflinger and Dennis Healy

The North East Baseball Program is sending their 16U Jays team to the Under Armour Classic on June 17-19 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. The UA Classic features 12 of the top 16U programs from around the country, each with a number of high level 2018/2019 prospects.

Positionally, the Jays are led by the trio of Mike Yarin, Zach Stevens and Matt Killian.

On the bump, they feature several high-upside young arms, headlined by Nick Murray,Mike Doherty, Jake Sanderson, Leif Bigelow and Geoff Mosseau.

The Arms:

Nick Murray is a 2018 right-handed pitcher who stands 6-foot-6, 190-pounds out of St Mark’s in Massachusetts. Murray is long and athletic. Sits in the low-80s with a short slurve and a changeup that is a work in progress.

Mike Doherty is a 6-foot-3, 175-pound 2018 right-handed pitcher from Middlesex HS in Massachusetts. Long and clean ¾ arm action, fastball sat in the low-80s this past winter. The spin pitch is a short slider, while the changeup has fade and to it. The projection is very high on this young man. 

Jake Sanderson is a 2018 right-hander, out of St John’s Prep in Massachusetts. The arm works simple and quick out front. Fastball sat in the mid-80s last winter, with a slider at 74 mph.

Leif Bigelow is a 2018 6-foot-3, 160-pound right-hander from Brattleboro Union in Vermont. On the mound, throws from a slightly lower than ¾ slot with a fastball touching 82 mph last September. The spin pitch had the right shape and form to it, sitting at 69 mph while also showing an above average feel for the changeup.

Geoff Mosseau is a 2018 left-handed out of Bedford HS in New Hampshire. The frame projects, he’s currently  6-foot-4, 180-pounds. The arm works well out of a ¾ slot. The fastball sits in the low-80s, the breaking ball has excellent tilt and depth to it. Shows a good feel for the changeup. 

The Position Prospects:

The 16U Jays are led by highly recruited 3B Mike Yarin, a 6-foot, 175-pound left-handed hitter out of St Johns Prep in Massachusetts. The bat is advanced as he leans on the ball and spreads the field. The glove is solid at third, showing good range and the ability to throw.

Zach Stevens of Lexington HS in Massachusetts is a right-handed hitting first baseman, standing 6-foot-2, 220-pounds. The body and bat are physical, with the ball jumping off the barrel. The setup is spread out and he shows good pull side power. Handles the bag fine and shows arm strength in the infield.

Matt Killian is out of Lawrence Academy, and is coming off injury to his throwing elbow. He is fully recovered and ready to go. A plus runner who plays centerfield and pitches. The bat has life to it, as his exit velocity is in the mid-90s. The hands work at the plate and he show a short path to the ball and a repeatable swing. The arm has plus strength to it.

>> CLICK HERE to view complete IMG CLASSIC schedule and rosters

ABOUT THE IMG CLASSIC

The inaugural Under Armour Classic, powered by the Prep Baseball Report, is set forJune 17-19 at IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL. This premier 16U tournament will feature 12 high-end travel baseball organizations, with each team featuring loaded rosters of 2018 and 2019 prospects from across the country. 

The 12 teams involved in the Under Armour Classic are:

+ Elite Squad (Florida)
+ FTB (Florida)
+ Bubba Baseball (Pennsylvania/New Jersey/New York/Maryland)
+ Top Tier (Illinois)
+ Ohio Elite (Ohio)
+ Dulin Dodgers (Tennessee/Mississippi)
+ Toronto Mets (Canada)
+ GRB Rays (Wisconsin)
+ Louisiana Knights (Louisiana/Alabama/Mississippi)
+ Virginia Cardinals (Virginia)
+ North East Baseball (New England)
+ Georgia Titans (Georgia)

Unlike many tournaments that have you spending more time in the car driving field to field, all the high-level competition will be in one quad, with staggered starts, posted pitching rotations, complete roster packets, and all other amenities to make your recruiting that much easier. And, of course, it’s all free. If you have attended the Prep Baseball Report Future Games in the past, you can expect the same level competition and event execution. Pool-play games will begin on Friday, June 17, and the tournament will conclude around 2 pm Sunday.