New York Games: Eastern Position Player Analysis

July 24, 2015

Dan Cevette
Director, New York

The New York Games took place July 7-9, hosted in Rochester NY - allowing over 180 high-level NYS baseball players the chance to be seen on a larger platform. Over 70 colleges and a handful of MLB scouts made their way to Rochester in hopes of uncovering a hidden Gem. Three players have already committed to D1 programs due to their high-end performance at our event and many more are taking visits and weighing college offers.

Here's a look at the Eastern position player reports from our New York Games:

Eastern Team

Frankie Pizzo, IF, Shenendehowa HS, NY (2016) Stands at 5-foot-9, 175-pounds with a strong, thick body type, athletic and versatile arm slot, average range but good at keeping the ball in front when fielding, clean transfer from glove to release. Above average arm. At the plate has a slightly opened stance, takes a short stride and uses a smooth back load to the pitch, has some uphill tilt in his bat path, strong and compact swing and hand movement through the zone. Solid hitter with projection.

Nik Malachowski, IF, Shenendehowa HS, NY (2016) Strong, thick, athletic body frame of 6-foot-1, 185-pounds. Stays deep but has good range from side to side, very strong arm with good accuracy to target, uses a high-3/4 arm slot, glove and hands work well together. At the plate begins with an opened setup, short stride to the ball with a smooth load, keeps the bat on a level plane with very strong hands and compact swing through the zone, finishes high but very balanced.

Danny Coleman, IF, Saratoga HS, NY (2016) Big, athletic body type at 6-foot-2, 173-pounds. Clean, smooth steps in the field, has good footwork and shows quality range and instincts, stays slightly deep on balls but has a relatively strong arm, quick release to the target, arm slot is versatile and has good follow through towards target. At the plate begins with a relaxed and balanced setup, takes short stride to the ball, smooth load, long hands through the zone with some uphill tilt in his bat path. Very solid hitter with potential power.

Brendan Haverty, 1B, LaSalle Institute, NY (2016) Strong, thick body who stands at 6-foot-1, 235-pounds. Good hand and glove action, quick from receive into transfer, has decent range and good approach towards this position, arm slot is high-3/4 and has an accurate and quick release to target. At the plate begins with a slightly closed stance, hands are long and strong through the zone, has a slight uphill tilt to bat plane. Makes solid contact and has power potential.

Dominick Herald, C, CBA Albany, NY (2016) Has a strong, thick body frame of 6-foot-0, 200-pounds. Average footwork behind the plate but a solid target with a wide base, has good transfer ability and throws at a high-3/4 arm slot with accurate release. Has a relaxed and balanced setup at the plate, great projection as a hitter with a smooth load and short stride to the pitch, has compact and strong hands that stay level with some uphill tilt through the hitting zone, ends with an athletic high finish.

Ben Ellsworth, 1B, Ballston Spa HS, NY (2016) Stands at 5-foot-11, 185-pounds with a strong, thick type of body. Has decent footwork and range at position, hands and glove work well together, has a quick transfer upon receiving the ball, has a clean-loose arm with great carry and strength to target. Begins with a relaxed and balanced setup, has a simple load and short stride to the pitch, keeps bat on a level plane and hands are long in the hitting zone for consistent contact.

William Van Beusekom, OF, CBA Albany, NY (2016) Athletic, projectable body. Stays deep on ball but has good footwork and range along with quick hands, arm action is clean and loose, has great accuracy towards target - lot of carry. At the plate stance is relaxed and balanced, has a nice short stride to the pitch, hands are short and quick to the plate with a level bat plane and some extension at contact, stays balanced and athletic after making contact.

Zach Durfee, OF, Ballston Spa HS, NY (2016) Slender, athletic stature at 5-foot-11, 170-pounds. Shows good range in the field, has smooth and soft feel with hands, good clean transfer after receiving, throws through target with great follow through and has a clean high-3/4 arm slot. At the plate has a slightly opened stance, with a smooth load and short stride to the pitch, hands are compact and strong to the ball with a slightly uphill tilt in his bat path. Shows potential as a hitter with consistent contact. Player to follow.

Dylan Klock, IF, St. Johnsville HS, NY (2016) Athletic body type at 6-foot-0, 162-pounds. Has average footwork and range, good hand and glove work, stays deep but has a clean transfer and quick release, arm slot is high-mid -3/4. At the plate has a relaxed setup with good balance, simple load and short stride to the pitch, hands are long through the zone with some uphill tilt in bat path. Potential power type hitter with good contact ability.

Derek Becker, IF, Cohoes HS, NY (2017) Stands at 5-foot-9, 140-pounds with athleticism. Has average footwork and range, good hand and glove work, stays deep but has a clean transfer and quick release, arm slot is high-3/4 with a very accurate arm. At the plate has an athletic approach and is relaxed at setup, has a smooth load and short stride to the pitch, hands take a short, quick path to the ball, has some uphill tilt in his bat path with an athletic, high finish.

Davis Payne, 1B, CBA Albany, NY (2017) Strong, thick, athletic body standing at 6-foot-4, 205-pounds. Good instincts and hands in the field, has decent range at this position, releases at a high-3/4 arm slot and has loose arm action. At the plate starts with an opened, relaxed stance, takes a balanced and short stride to the pitch with a fluid load, hands stay long through the zone and the bat plane maintains level with some uphill tilt, has projection as a hitter and stays balanced after contact, above average bat-speed.

Matt Ferriero, IF, Revena HS, NY (2017) Has a solid body, athletic at 6-foot-0, 183-pounds. Average fielding instincts for high school, good range, hands and glove work well, has a clean transfer to throwing motion, plus arm strength with good carry to target, release point is at a high-3/4 arm slot. At the plate setup is open, smooth load and a balanced short stride to pitch, makes solid contact with a quick bat through the zone, keeps the bat level during swing path and ends with an athletic mid-section finish.

Mitchell Henshaw, C/IF, Brockport HS, NY (2016) Athletic body type at 5-foot-11, 160-pounds. Soft receiving skills behind the plate, good wide base with a large target, decent footwork and has clean transfers to throwing motion, has average arm strength and throws at a high-3/4 arm slot. At the plate hitter begins very relaxed and balanced, takes a short stride to the pitch with a fluid load, hands are long over the plate and makes consistent, solid contact, has some uphill tilt in his bat path but stays athletic at finish.

Andrew Wollner, C, Bethlehem HS, NY (2016) Athletic body, stands at 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. Behind the plate shows clean receiving skills, has average footwork, quick transfer and release to the target, throws ball with good carry at a high-mid-3/4 arm slot. At the plate starts with a relaxed and balanced stance, has a nice short stride to the pitch, hands make a short, quick path to the ball, keeps bat on a consistently level path through the zone, makes solid contact and stays athletic with a high finish.

James Rubino, 1B, LaSalle Institute, NY (2017) Stands at 6-foot-0, 160-pounds with a very athletic body, Clean and smooth instincts in the field, has very soft hands and good glove work, has a quick transfer with average arm strength, releases at a high -3/4 arm slot. Begins with a slightly opened stance, has a fluid load and short, balanced stride to the pitch, bat path stays in the zone and has good hand action to the point of contact, makes consistent contact and is athletic at his finish.