High School Scout Blog - Week 1

The New Jersey Scout Blog provides insider information and scouting notes from the PBR Scouting Staff during the season. This running blog will feature information on underclass prospects, unsigned seniors, draft prospects, and anything else that is notable. We will provide a wide range of information, including player evaluations, velocities, pop times, home to first times, and more. Simply put, the New Jersey Scout Blog is loaded with information …

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Christian Brothers Academy vs. Middletown South - 4.10.19

Chris Lotito, RHP, Middletown South HS, NJ 2020
Lotito has a lean, athletic build. Played CF for most of the game, singling home a run in the 3rd inning. Was most impressive on the mound when he came in for starter Michael Keenan to close out the ballgame. He was 85-87 touching 88 (once). High-¾ slot. Showed only fastballs, but the ball jumped out of hand. Worked a 1-2-3 7th inning with two punchouts.

Jason Arnott, 2B, Christian Brothers Academy HS, NJ 2020
Uncommitted. A player that seemingly gets better and better every time I see him. LHH with strong, athletic build at 6-feet 180-pounds. Starts slightly opened with hands below his back shoulder. Hands move straight back in load process. Small leg lift. Barrel awareness. Singled through right side of INF in 6th inning.

Michael Keenan, RHP, Middletown South HS, NJ 2021
Uncommitted. Tall, Long, wiry build with room to fill out. Kept CBA off balance through 6 strong innings of work. 76-78 touching 79 MPH with FB. Flashed a 11/5 breaking ball at 66-67 for strikes. Closes self off in balance point. High-¾ slot. 6 IP, 5 H, 3 K, 2 R.

Christopher O’Connor, 3B, Middletown South HS, NJ 2020
Uncommitted. O’Connor has broad shoulders at 6-feet 180-pounds. Mashed a double in the first inning to deep CF that one hopped the wall. Opened stance with a small leg lift and stride. Barrel lags to stay in zone. Barreled in two other at-bats, both hard hit ground outs to SS.

Braedin Hunt, RHP, Christian Brothers Academy HS, NJ 2020
Rutgers recruit. Broad-shouldered athletic build at 6-foot-1 195-pounds. Fastball sat 86-87 touching 88 MPH (twice) in 2.2 innings of work. 74-77 sharp 11/5 slider with swing-and-miss capabilities; a pitch that plays up for his age and has potential to be a true out pitch at the next level. Also flashed a 79-80 MPH straight changeup with 2-seam FB spin. Worked primarily out of the stretch, Hunt shows a long, loose arm action and a high-¾ slot. Lands square and in line with an easy balanced finish. 2.2 IP, 5 K, 6 H, 2 BB, 7 R. Middletown South chased Hunt with two outs in the third inning.

Point Pleasant Boro vs. Central Regional - 4.8.19

Mike Masino, SS, Point Pleasant Boro HS, NJ 2020
Uncommitted. Rangey, athletic infielder. Played SS for Point Boro. Made two exceptional plays, ranging to the hole at SS and getting around the ball to field it in front of body and throw on the run - and another ranging up the middle and throw a runner out from a lower slot.

Nick Guzzi, RHP, Point Pleasant Boro HS, NJ 2020
St. John’s recruit. Guzzi stands a lean, athletic 6-foot-4 200-pounds with long, wiry limbs. Fastball was routinely 87-90 on a warm afternoon in early April. Flashed a changeup with 2-seam fastball spin and armside fade, and a smaller, gradual breaker at 70-72 with 10/4 tilt. Works quickly on the mound with drop and drive in balance point. High-¾ slot, Loose arm action. Fanned 10, used fastball primarily on this day.

GUZZI VIDEO

St. John Vianney vs. Rumson-Fair Haven - 4.6.19

Rocko Brzezniak, 3B, St. John Vianney HS, NJ 2022
Louisville recruit. Brzezniak stands at a muscular 6-foot-1 210-pounds with big power and one of the top talents in the current freshman class in New Jersey. 7.18 runner from the winter and 95 exit velocity. Stands at a tall, opened stance with hands above back shoulder. Lined out in his first at bat - a ball that sounded different off the bat. 1-3 on the day, reached on an infield single later on in the game. Short, compact and explosive swing - small foot lift and stride to start swing.

Andrew Schmid, SS, Rumson-Fair Haven HS, NJ 2021
Uncommitted. 6-foot-2 lanky, athletic INF with twitchy actions. Lined an RBI single and lined out hard to left side of INF later on in the game. Quiet, simple approach -Wide stance with weight on back side and hands/arms cocked back into locked position. Uses a small foot lift and toe-tap combination to start swing. Hands stay stagnant throughout load process. Easy, quick barrel through the zone. Athletic and quick for age and length - certainly a prospect to follow.

SCHMID VIDEO

Kings Christian vs. Bishop Eustace - 4.6.19

Jake Andrey, RHP, Kings Christian HS, NJ 2019
Rider recruit. Strong, broad-shouldered 6-foot 215-pound frame. Fastball ranged between 86-89 throughout the game. 75-79 smaller 11/5 CB with slider-like movement when it’s thrown well. high -¾ slot, short/quick arm action. Drop and drive type pitcher, closed front foot on landing. Maintains balance throughout finish. 6 IP, 4 H, 7 K, 4 BB, 2 ER.

Cael MaGill, SS, Kings Christian HS, NJ 2021
Uncommitted. Magill was 3-3 off of Maryland recruit Matt Orlando, including a double that he was cut down at 3B trying to extend to a triple. Opened stance with hands in line with back shoulder and bat parallel to the ground. Small, quiet stance with a small foot stride to start swing. Hands load up and back. Short, compact swing. Definite follow for the spring season.

Matt Orlando, RHP/INF, Bishop Eustace Prep HS, NJ 2019
Maryland recruit. Lean, athletic frame. More of a position player at next level, but competes on the mound at a high level as well. 85-87 touching 88. Long, loose arm action with some arm side run on FB. Changes speeds, eye level showing pitchability with CB and CH. Went a CG, 7 IP, 5 H, 4 K, 1 ER.

Chase Conklin, 2B, Bishop Eustace Prep HS, NJ 2020
Richmond recruit. Lanky, athletic frame at 5-foot-10 155-pounds with room to fill out. Smooth, easy LHH swing. Smoked an RBI single off Andrey in the first inning to LCF. Starts in a neutral stance and in a crouch, with bat above shoulder and parallel to the ground. Uses a small leg lift and stride to start swing - short, quick stroke through the zone with feel for the barrel. 1-4 with an RBI and stolen base.

End Top 1 | @BEPCRUSADERS 1, @tkcsbaseball 0

Orlando singles, steals 2nd, driven in by @SpiderBaseball recruit ‘20 Chase Conklin. pic.twitter.com/RvEhGrAPJW

— PBR New Jersey (@PBRNewJersey) April 6, 2019

West Essex vs. Millburn - 4.4.19

Vincent Pazarino, 3B, West Essex HS, NJ 2021
Uncommitted. Panzarino’s hype into the season is real. The broad-shouldered right hander possess big gap to gap power with an explosive swing. Looks to be a corner guy at the next level, Panzarino’s bat will be a middle of the order type for West Essex. On this day, did not record a hit, but his tools were certainly present.

Oren Abbott, OF, Millburn HS, NJ 2021
Duke recruit. Abbott has a broad, shouldered, athletic frame at 6-foot-1 200-pounds. The LHH smoked a 2-RBI triple to RCF that burst the game open for Millburn on a cold, blustery afternoon. Starts in a wide stance with weight on back side and hands just above back shoulder. Uses a leg kick to start swing as hands load up and back with rhythm. Short, quick and explosive swing.

ABBOTT VIDEO

Peter Landreman, RHP, Millburn HS, NJ 2020
Uncommitted. Landreman stands a lanky 6-foot-3 with plenty of room to fill out. Maintained velocity at 77-79 touching 80 MPH and wrinkled in a 70-72 MPH CB for strikes with smaller 10/4 shape. Landreman is definitely a follow, however. As the season moves on and the weather starts to warm, don’t be surprised if his velocity turns up a few ticks.

PCTI vs. Dwight Morrow - 3.27.19

Nazier Mule, RHP, PCTI HS, NJ 2022
Mule stands at a wiry-athletic 6-foot-2. Sidewinder, slingshot type arm action from a true-3/4 slot. was 86-87 touching 88 today with a CB at 73-75 MPH. Impressive swing and miss stuff from just a freshman. Long, loose arm action, lands slightly opened and will spin toward first base minimally. 

MULE VIDEO