By Mike Penn
Michigan Director of Scouting

The Southeast Michigan Showcase at Siena Heights produced quite a bit of talent, especially for smaller schools.  Here is a look at 10 players who showed well, raised their stock and were named top prospects from the event.

Top Prospects

1. Jamie Castiglione, RHP, Fenton HS, 2014
Wiry built athletic pitcher with upside. Stands at  only 6-foot, 150-pounds.  Easy loose arm.  On the mound showed good feel.  83-85mph with his fastball.  Breaking ball spun extremely well. Best breaking ball at the showcase.  True 12-6 biter.  Going to be a late steal. 

2. Davis Feldman, MIF/RHP, Brother Rice HS, 2015
Feldman had a great day.  Plays from high powered Brother Rice program.  5-foot-11, 170-pound middle infielder.  Arm plays well across the diamond.  79mph on this day.  Have seen him 84mph across the diamond.  God actions with natural instincts.  Definite follow.  At the plate has good balance with pop.  Short bat path.  On the mound was very good.  Touched 83mph and primarily sat between 79-82mph.  Sharp breaking ball with good spin.  Loose arm with easy effort.  Jury is out as to weather he will be more of a pitcher or an infielder.

3. Matt Wheatley, LHP, Northville HS, 2015
6-foot-5, 170-pound lefty.  Long levers with good arm action. Loose arm Sat primarily between 78-79mph.  Velocity is going to come.  Smooth delivery.  Secondary stuff was solid. Change was better than the breaking ball on this day.  Kept arm speed up.  Slider was a bit flat but easily correctable.  Definite follow.

4. PJ Zoharski, C/3B, Cousino HS, 2014
Had one of the best performances of the day.  Threw the ball extremely well from the crouch.  Good runner for a catcher (7.17).  Pop times were above average 1.93-2.04 consistently ranging below 2.0.  Short arm stroke with consistent throws on the bag.  At the plate starts from an open stance in good athletic position.  Used the whole field well with gap-to-gap pop.  Definitely one to see especially as a catch and throw guy.

5. Brad Boss, MIF/3B, Bedford HS, 2014
Athletic shortstop with good actions. Very offensive player.  Found the barrel consistently during BP.  87mph exit velo is evidence of the pop in his bat.  6.94 runner.  Defensively can improve by playing through the ball more.  Does have soft hands.  One of the best remaining shortstops in Michigan.

6. Mitchell Ashcraft, RHP, Forest Hills Central HS 2014
Aschcraft gets the most out of his body.  Smaller compact righty but arm works well.  Fastball has climbed significantly over the past year.  Pumped strikes between 81-83mph. Mainly 82-83mph.  Breaking ball was tighter at 70mph.  Late bloomer with more in the tank.  Should attract a ton of attention from smaller schools.

7. Blake Rehahn, OF/MIF, Clarkston HS, 2014
Small compact yet athletic 5-foot-8, 190-pound SS/OF from Clarkston HS.  Explosive bat speed from leftside.  Showed whip in the barrel.  Ball jumped off the bat well.  Seems to be very offensively minded.  Good runner at 6.79. Short arm action from both OF and INF.  Quick exchanges.  Throws like an infielder.  May project best as a offensive 2B or 3B.  80mph across the diamond. 

8. Brandon Defore, RHP/3B, Catholic Central HS, 2014
Definite follow to see what he does in the game.  Like him the most on the mound. 81-85mph righty.  Relatively unknown player.  Still raw doesn’t use his lower half well yet. Arm works well.  Solid runner at 7.26.  Long loose arm across diamond.  79mph.  Gap to gap on at the plate.

9. Andrew Bauer,  OF/RHP, Rochester HS, 2014
Above average runner at 6.86 in the 60.  Wide shoulders with potential to gain both strength and weight.  Arm was 79mph from the OF with good accuracy.  Kept the ball low and online.  Balanced at the plate with little to no stride.  Toe turn hitter.  Some good extension.  Need to see him in a game.  On the mound he was intriguing.  77-79mph with fastball.  Arm action was shorter but quick.  Lots of strikes with occasional cut.  12/6 sharper breaking ball.  Some effort in delivery but there is something there.

10. Nick Bell, C/3B, Farmington Hills Harrison HS, 2015
Bell worked out primarily as a catcher.  Showed well above average arm strength from behind the plate. 82mph from the crouch was a showcase best and one of the better ones in the class.  Pop time suffered a bit due to footwork but throws were accurate.  Lanky build at 6-foot-1, 170-pounds.  Open stance at the plate.  Toe tapper to get rhythm.  Potential pop in the stick.  Level bat path with good extension.  Strength overtime should help bat speed.