Future Games: NJ Standouts
August 10, 2019
The annual PBR Future Games has come and gone, and its time to review the great success this event has produced since its inception. Year after year, scores of college coaches flock to this event, a staple of their recruiting calendars, to see the top underclassmen in the country in one location. No hour-long drives, everything in one spot, what more could a recruiter ask for? This is the premier scouting event of the entire year. 320 college coaches between two adjacent fields.
Once again, New Jersey had some of the best all-around talent at the event. There were definitely some players that raised eyebrows among college coaches. Take a look below at some of the top players New Jersey had to offer from the week.
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Chase Petty RHP / Mainland, NJ / 2021In the first game of the entire event, New Jersey came out firing with RHP Chase Petty. From Petty’s first warm-up pitch (92 MPH) until his last out in the 2nd inning, college coaches were locked into Petty’s electric right arm. The lanky, athletic 6-foot-1 175-pounder was 92-94 from a true-¾ slot with heavy armside sink and run on his fastball. He broke off several hard, late sliders at 80-83 MPH and flashed feel for a changeup at 82-84 MPH with arm side sink as well. Petty set the tone for Team NJ and for the entire event of the talent that was expected. Impressive outing from the No. 1 2021 prospect in New Jersey.
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Christopher Maldonado SS / Seton Hall Prep, NJ / 2022From Maldonado’s first swing in the workout day until his last at bat in game 3, Maldonado found the barrel. His batting practice round really put him on the map - loud contact and a long, towering fly ball that bounced off the scoreboard in one of his last swings of the day on Wednesday. The Seton Hall Prep product did not miss a barrel in gameplay either - smoked a long fly ball out on the first pitch he saw in Game 1, and continued to be locked in in every at bat. Neutral start to his stance with easy, effortless load process and a comapct, explosive path.
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Chase Swain SS / Woodstown, NJ / 2021Swain seemingly came out of nowhere at this event - with an impressive batting practice round on at the workout day. Ran a 7.12-60 yard dash, and has been clocked at 6.88 earlier in June this year and is consistently at 92 MPH exit velo. Neutral start to his stance with bat above his back shoulder and uses a leg kick to start his swing. Similar to Maldonado, Swain’s load is smooth and fluid a produces impressive bat speed with an uptick on his finish. It was gap to gap for Swain in that workout day, and he carried it into his gameplay for Team Select. Swain is a high-riser in the 2021 rankings in New Jersey and won’t be uncommitted for much longer.
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Eric Schroeder RHP / Delbarton, NJ / 2021Schroeder had a tough following act after Petty’s outing in the first game - but certainly lived up to the hype. Schroeder’s two innings of work seemed like they went by in 2-minutes. He was efficient with his command of the strike zone and flashed two separate breaking balls for strikes and as out pitches. The broad-shouldered 6-foot 180-pounder was 85-86 touching 87 in two appearances at the Future Games - and flashed a bigger breaking curveball with 11/5 depth at 73-75 and a smaller, later-breaking slider at 77-78. In three innings at the Future Games, Schroeder fanned 6 and did not let up a hit.
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Justin Szestowicki SS / Kingsway, NJ / 2021Szestowicki came out firing in his first appearance of the Future Games to close out Game 1. He was consistently 91-92 with late life and a long, easy arm action. Curveball showed 10/4 slurvy bite at 74-77 and flashed a changeup with heavy armside sink at 79-81. The ball explodes out of Szestowicki’s hand and consistently pounded the lower half of the strike zone. One of the top two-way prospects from the event, Szestowicki ran a 6.9 60 yard dash and was consistently on the barrel from the right side at the plate. Physical 5-foot-9 165-pound frame.
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David Hagaman RHP / Cedar Creek, NJ / 2021Hagaman’s projectable frame at 6-foot-4 195-pounds with long, wiry limbs and fluid, long and easy arm action from a high-¾ slot stood out right away from the minute he toed the rubber. His fastball was 86-87 touching 88 with some arm side run on his fastball. Curveball had some late 11/5 action at 74-76, and his changeup showed some fade at 79-80.
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Trevor Cohen OF / Holy Spirit, NJ / 2022Cohen’s abilities really showed in gameplay at the event. A lean, athletic 6-foot 167-pounder with broad shoulders - ran a 7.00-60 yard dash, 87 MPH from the OF, and 90 MPH exit velocity, Cohen’s smooth left handed swing stood out to scouts from all over. Starts with weight on back side and bat rested on back shoulder, Cohen uses a leg lift to start his swing as hands load back. Short, explosive swing with present bat speed, Cohen’s consistent barrels in pre-game batting practice and several loud line drives in gameplay stood out.
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Caden Dana 3B / Don Bosco Prep, NJ / 2022Dana’s raw ability on the field certainly had his name circled throughout the event. His loose, whippy arm action on the mound bodes well for more velocity in the future, and lanky, athletic 6-foot-3 185-pound frame made him a name to watch at the plate and in the field, too. The bloodlines are there, oldest brother Cullen had a strong career at Seton Hall University as a left handed pitcher, and was drafted by the Padres in the 30th Round in 2018 - and his other older brother, Casey, is currently a power-hitting infielder for Seton Hall as well. Dana, a left handed swinger, is more quiet and controlled at the plate. A small foot stride and hand load, with effortless extension through the zone. Stood out in defensive workout during the skills portion with his arm strength and arm action, which was present when he took the mound as well. 84-86 from a high-¾ slot with a tight-spinning 11/5 breaking ball at 72-75. High-ceiling prospect to watch develop further.
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Tom Finnegan RHP / Ocean City, NJ / 2022Finnegan’s imposing 6-foot-7 190-pound frame with wiry limbs made him hard to miss in his innings of work on the mound. Fastball was consistently 84-86 touching 87 and flashed an 11/5 curveball at 75-76 as well. Smooth, easy arm action from a high-¾ slot - Finnegan has a high-ceiling with more to come. Was one of South Jersey’s top pitchers during the spring of 2019 as just a freshman, and showed his tools well enough to make a big name for himself at the event.
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Tyler LeRoy C / Delran, NJ / 2021LeRoy stood out a top performer from the workout day out of all the catchers of the event. LeRoy blistered a couple throws down to 2B at 81 MPH and maintained a pop time between 1.87-1.95 during the skills portion. Simple, quiet approach at the plate with bat wrapped around head and a leg left, LeRoy creates extension in arms and hands through the zone and finishes uphill to create some lift on the ball. 94 MPH exit velo, the broad shouldered 6-foot-1 200-pounder possesses strength and soft hands behind the plate.
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Other Notables
+ Justin Kilyk, C, Raritan HS, NJ 2021
Kilyk was the first commit to come out of the Future Games for Team NJ - to Wagner. The athletic catcher was consistently on the barrel in gameplay and catches plus-velocity with ease.
+ Matt Miceli, SS, Somerville HS, NJ 2021
Miceli, a Stony Brook commit a few days after the event, was energetic in the field and a catalyst for the NJ squad at the plate as well. Plays fast, Miceli made several acrobatic plays in the infield at SS.
+ Maximus Martin, SS, Moorestown HS, NJ 2022
Similar to the aforementioned Dana, Martin possesses the athleticism and raw ability to play at a high level. A 6.99 runner - Martin was just coming off a basketball injury that had sidelined him for several weeks prior to the event. “Rust” aside, Martin’s smoothness in the infield and line drive stroke stood out among the toolsy infielders from the event.
+ Daniel Roman, OF, Cliffside Park HS, NJ 2021
Scouts were impressed with Roman’s overall strength and athleticism in the outfield. A 6.9 runner, Roman set the tone in the first game with a loud line drive 2-RBI single up the middle. Strong, 5-foot-10 195-pound frame.
+ Ben Romano, OF, The Hun School, 2022
Romano’s imposing strength at 6-foot-1 185-pounds made him a name to follow as he continues to grow into his frame. A multi-sport athlete, Romano can play all three outfield spots with ease. Lined a hard triple to RCF in Game 3 with a quiet, but explosive bat bath.
+ Ryan Rumsey, RHP, Paul VI HS, NJ 2021
Rumsey was outstanding in his two outings on the bump. Lanky, 6-foot 190-pounds with long limbs - was consistently 86-88 touching 89 a few times on the mound from a more over-the-top slot. Flashed a gradual breaker with 10/4 bite at 72-73 and a swing-and-miss changeup at 71-73 with splitter-like dive.
+ Connor Dreyer, INF, Delbarton HS, NJ 2022
One thing that stands out with Dreyer - he really hits. The athletic 5-foot-6 155-pounder is versatile, can play every infield position and can play the outfield as well. Took some impressive batting practice rounds throughout the event, and lined a hard single through the right side in Game 3 as well.
+ David Zamora, C/RHP, Hamilton West HS, NJ 2021
Zamora is another Team NJ player who was just coming off a nagging injury prior to the event - but showcased his impressive right handed power in game 1 with a long, 2-RBI double that one-hopped the wall in LCF. Also threw one clean inning on the mound - fastball at 82-84 with a short, quick arm action and flashed a slider at 69-72 MPH.
+ Andrew Schmid, SS, Rumson-Fair Haven HS, NJ 2021
Schmid’s lanky-athletic frame at 6-foot 170-pounds and high-energy play stood out for Team Select at the event. 7.01 runner, Schmid has room to fill out.
+ Jay Bant, 3B/1B, Wall HS, NJ 2021
Bant’s power hitting left handed bat was a highlight of the skills workout for the corner infielders for Team Select. A broad shouldered 5-foot-11 205-pound frame, Bant’s compact, explosive swing sent several over the right field wall during workout.