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The La Salle Explorers and head coach David Miller have announced the signing of six players to National Letters of Intent during the early signing period. In his first year at the helm of the Explorers, Miller landed recruits from New Jersey, Maryland and Florida. La Salle went 10-41 in 2017 including a 4-20 Atlantic-10 Conference mark.

 

2018 EARLY COMMITS

Hunter Bogumil, RHP, Out-of-Door Academy (FL)
PBR Rank: NA 
PBR Notes: The 6-foot-4, 170-pound right-handed pitcher worked out as a member of the Florida Burn in front of PBR Florida staff in January of 2017. He has a slender pitcher frame with room to grow. He tends to have a short stride and land a bit closed, but the arm works clean from a high ¾ slot. He showed a fastball that ranged from 76-80 mph and a curveball from 68-70 and a changeup from 70-72 mph. The arm action works and the frame really projects. Will have a chance to make a jump in velocity with better stride and use of the lower half. Bogumil has since made significant velocity jumps, sitting in the low-to-mid 80s this summer with indications that there is still more to come.

Nick DiVietro, OF, Cherry Hill West HS (NJ)
PBR Rank: NA
PBR Notes: 6-foot, 180-pound left-handed hitter hit over .400 as a sophomore at Cherry Hill West while swiping 26 bases. His junior season was hampered by a shoulder injury, but DiVietro returned to put together a solid summer season as a member of the South Jersey Elite. DiVietro was named to the WWBA 17U National Championship all-tournament team in June after hitting .333 with a pair of RBI and stolen bases. Projects as a center fielder with above average foot speed, but has enough arm strength to play both corner outfield positions as well.

Nick Hohenstein, RHP, Christian Brothers Academy (NJ)
PBR Rank: #53 in NJ Class of 2018 rankings
PBR Notes: 2017 New Jersey State Games (July 26-27, 2017) - Hohenstein has a broad shouldered build at 6-foot-1, 215-pounds. Hohenstein can get his fastball up into the low 90s. His outing at the NJ State Games was dominant – spotting his fastball and mixing in his offspeed for strikes. Fastball was up to 88 MPH, sitting mostly 86-88. His curveball has more of a slider break with 11/5 tilt at 72-73, also spotted a changeup with armside run and sink at 74-77. Short quick arm action from a high-3/4 slot helps create some run on fastball. Up tempo delivery, into an athletic balance point. Explosive down the mound, shorter stride with stiff front side. Able to extend over lead side.

Nick Hopkins, SS, St. Mary's HS (MD)
PBR Rank: #34 in MD Class of 2018 rankings
PBR Notes: (9.11.16) Hopkins is 5-11 and has an athletic frame and good speed with a 60 time of 6.75 and a home to first of 4.10. From the right side, athletic stance, short leg kick stride and smooth load back. Fast bat, quick to the ball with good extension through it, exit velocity of 88. Explosive hips and bat speed. From the left side, same set-up, good balance, slightly uphill path. Exit velocity of 89. In the infield, good footwork and soft, fast hands. Three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action that is quick and loose and an above average arm that was 84 across the diamond.

Tatem Levins, C/1B, Notre Dame HS (NJ)
PBR Rank: NA
PBR Notes: Physical 6-foot-3, 205-pound left-handed hitter with a potential to provide some power at the next level. Flashed some of that power as a member of the Philly Bandits at the WWBA national championships last summer. Earned all-tournament nod after hitting .300 with a double, a home run and three RBI. Flat barrel path through the hitting zone allows for ability to drive the baseball to all fields. Has shown capable defensive actions behind the plate and at first base giving him multiple opportunities to break into the lineup for the Explorers.

Matt Rivera, C/1B, Notre Dame HS (NJ)
PBR Rank: #10 in NJ Class of 2018 rankings 
PBR Notes: 2017 Preseason All-State Showcase (2.11.17) Rivera has a physical build at 6-foot-3 200-pounds. Ranked No. 7 in the NJ 2018 class, 231 Overall. One of the top performers of the event. Ran a 7.00 60 yard dash. Offensively- starts in a tall, narrow stance with hands loaded back prepitch and the bat wrapped around his head. Uses a big leg kick and stride to start swing. Shows some explosiveness in swing and finish - gets good extension with arms on contact. Partial hip clear on finish. Recorded an Exit Velocity of 100 mph. Defensively- pop times between 1.78-1.81, recorded throws that topped at 80 mph, which was the top catcher velocity of the event. Exchange is clean, gains ground toward 2B on finish. Explosive arm from a high-3/4 slot. Throws had some arm side run.