Top Prospect Games II: Early Thoughts

Last week over 40 of the top players from Maryland and surrounding states came to Towson University for the Top Prospect Games II at John B. Schuerholz Park. The day consisted of an early morning workout followed by an extended game. Players from the 2020, 2021, and 2022 graduating classes showed out in front of some college coaches from around the Mid-Atlantic region as well as the PBR Maryland scouting staff.

Below are some early thoughts on top performer’s from the Top Prospect Games II.

Ethan McCormick SS/RHP Archbishop Spalding 2020: Coming off a trip to Indiana for the Future Games with Team Mid-Atlantic, the 6-foot-1, 160 pound shortstop and right handed pitcher showed why he is one of the top players in the 2020 class. McCormick’s actions at shortstop are very smooth and fundamentally sound. He showed a quick first step and range to go along with his strong arm (84 mph INF velo). At the plate, McCormick recorded one of the events top exit velo’s at 86 mph and showed the ability to hit line drives gap-to-gap. Hitting from a taller, balanced, slightly open stance at the plate, McCormick has fluid rhythm and stays balanced throughout his swing. He showed a shorter, slightly uphill swing path with quick hands and fast bat speed. There is also some power in his swing to the pull side. On the mound, McCormick works fast and repeats his delivery well. His fastball showed arm side run and sat 83-84 mph. Breaking ball had tight 11/5 shape at 73-74 mph and change-up showed some dive at 74-77 mph.

Noah Mrotek RHP/OF Archbishop Spalding 2021: Class of 2021 prospect Noah Mrotek turned heads on the mound as he touched an event best 87 mph and sat 85-86 mph during his inning of work. At 6-foot-1, 180 pounds Mrotek showed sound mechanics and the ability to command three pitches well. Breaking ball showed tight spin and late sharp 11/5 shape at 75-77 mph and change-up sat 75 mph. Mrotek also recorded a co-event best 85 mph velo from the outfield and showed some strength at the plate. Hitting from a slightly open wider base, he attacks the baseball with a short, quick, swing and showed present gap-to-gap power.

Tommy Lewis SS/RHP Chesapeake-AA 2020: Lewis is a big, physical player with a 6-foot-3, 175 pound frame. Along with McCormick, Lewis recorded an event co-best 84 mph INF velo and a TPG II best 90 mph exit velo. In the field, Lewis plays with active feet and soft hands showing the ability to make a wide range of plays and throw from multiple arm angles. At the plate, Lewis is balanced and uses a big leg kick for rhythm and timing. His lower half movements are explosive and he gets good extension through contact. Strength is present at the plate from Lewis as he shot gaps in both rounds of BP.

Dylan Pasta OF/LHP Delmar (DE) 2021: Another top class of 2021 prospect, Dylan Pasta had a solid day. From the outfield, Pasta threw 84 mph and he also recorded and 84 mph exit velo at the plate. Pasta showed a quick, compact swing with nice lower half involvement and extension through contact. He took two solid rounds of BP driving balls in the gaps with ease.

AJ Vigliotti C/1B St. Joseph by the Sea (NY) 2021: The New York class of 2021 catching prospect went 3-for-3 in the game hitting all three balls on the screws; two of which to the opposite field. Vigliotti is quiet at the plate with a smooth back load and toe-tap. In BP, Vigliotti hit several line drives as well and showed some occasional pop with an exit velo of 79 mph. Behind the dish, Vigliotti’s pop times ranged 2.06 - 2.19 with a velo of 72 mph.

Dwayne Graham 1B/3B Caesar Rodney (DE) 2020: The class of 2020 first base prospect from Delaware also had a great game at the plate going 3-for-3 in his three plate appearances. The 5-foot-11, 190 pound Graham ripped a double pull side and added two singles, one to each side of the field. Graham was impressive in BP as he showed pop to both fields, quick hands and really fast bat speed.

Graham Albers 2B/SS Oakdale 2020: Albers showed smooth actions in the infield and played with fluid footwork. More of a second basemen, Albers threw 78 mph across the diamond and recorded an 81 mph exit velo. He went 2-for-3 at the plate during the game with two hard hit singles back up the middle. Line drive type hitter with a short, level swing path and quick hands.

Sam Merchant C/2B Arundel 2020: Merchant showed well behind the dish grabbing the title for top pop times (1.96 - 2.09) and catcher velo (74 mph) on the day. At the plate, Merchant showed fluid rhythm and a 80 mph exit velo. He took two nice rounds of BP and worked gap-to-gap with quick bat speed and nice lower half involvement.

Roman March OF Franklin 2020: March had the top home-to-first time (4.13) at the TPG II and showed that speed in the outfield. The solid 5-foot-10, 175 pound class of 2020 prospect was also impressive at the plate. Hitting from a taller, slightly open stance March uses a small leg kick load and has quick hands and fast bat speed. Gap-to-gap type hitter with some power present.

Andrew Kell OF Oakland Mills 2021: Kell had a nice day statistically and in the game. He showed a quick, compact swing and good lower half movements at the plate. Line drive type hitter who squared several up in BP and went 1-for-2 in the game with a sharp line drive pull-side. Exit velo was up to 80 mph and he also threw an event co-best 85 mph from the outfield.

Thomas Joseph OF/1B Archbishop Spalding 2021: At 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, Joseph is a physical presence at the plate. He hits from an open stance and creates very nice separation with a longer stride. Strong upper body, quick hands and fast bat speed. Shorter, level swing path with an exit velo of 87 mph. Gap-to-gap type hitter with some power evident.

Pitching Notes:

11 of the 15 pitchers that threw at this year’s TPG II were 78 mph or above and seven of them touched 80+ mph. The seven touching 80+ mph included:

Noah Mrotek RHP/OF Archbishop Spalding 2021: (87 mph)
Ethan McCormick SS/RHP Archbishop Spalding 2020: (84 mph)
Champ Wert RHP Arundel 2020: (83 mph)
Liam McFadden RHP Oakdale 2020: (81 mph)
Aidan Ruiz 1B/LHP John Carroll 2020: (81 mph)
Stephen Schenning RHP/3B Loyola Blakefield 2021: (81 mph)
Grant Labelle RHP Saint Michael's 2020: (80 mph)

Hitting Notes:

Ten other players gathered at least one hit during the Top Prospect Games II. That list includes:

Colin Parry 1B/OF Towson 2021: (2-for-3)
Aidan Brown OF/RHP Bohemia Manor 2020: (1-for-3)
Alexander Hess SS/2B South Carroll 2020: (1-for-3) with a triple.
Miles Peterson C/OF Bishop McNamara 2021: (1-for-3) with a triple.
Dylan Holzman 3B/C Mt. Hebron 2020: (1-for-3) with a double.
Aidan Ruiz 1B/LHP John Carroll 2020: (1-for-3)
Luke Waters SS/2B Delmar (DE) 2021: (1-for-2)
Gabriel Rincon 1B Delmar (DE) 2020: (1-for-2)
Nick Trey OF/RHP South Carroll 2020: (1-for-2)
Jouseph Rodriguez SS/2B Edgewood 2020: (1-for-2)

For more content from the event, be sure to follow us August 27th - August 31st as we release our TPG II notebooks. In those notebooks, we break down the event by position and take a more in depth look at players from the event.