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Coach's Cheat Sheet

September 5, 2022
Ted Williams
Director of Scouting, PA

Now that we’ve had some time to sit back and process a busy summer with thousands of players seen during our events, we’ve compiled a list of uncommitted staff favorites who emerged as “arrow-up” names into the fall.

Some used the PA State Games as a stage to showcase improvements, while others came to Summer Open ID events in Philly and Pittsburgh. Included below is a cheat sheet of standouts classified as arms, athletes, and power bats to know, each bringing their own intriguing tool(s) to the table.


ARMS

  • ‘23 SS/RHP Ryan Brader (Manheim Township) #83

    • A frontline build with longer arms and leverage at 6-foot-2, 180lbs, Brader extends well down the slope and blows the FB by from a full H ¾ arm-circle. The righty has power potential at 88-89, T90 mph, flirting with 2500rpms throughout the Northeast Senior Games. Comes out of the hand relatively easy, as does a shorter upper-70’s breaker for strikes.

  • ‘23 RHP Carson Renner (Brandywine Heights) #138

    • More physical since our last look with the usual athleticism, Renner (6-foot-2, 205lbs) worked a clean two innings at the PA State Games. There’s plenty of early pace from a drop-and-drive delivery into a firm lead-leg block on the front side. Moved an 85-88 mph FB around and manipulated a sharp 76-78 mph slurve for swing/miss to the glove-side.

  • ‘23 RHP Andrew Brown (Council Rock North) #145

    • We saw Brown for the first time this spring in high school action for Council Rock North, 82-84 mph with some heaviness, as he was getting back to full strength. The imposing, physical 6-foot-3, 215-pounder saw a bump in velo (85-87 mph) at the Northeast Senior Games and fits a future starter’s mold moving forward with the ability to spin the ball into the low-70’s. 

  • ‘23 RHP Gabriel Johnson (Central Mountain) #274

    • Highly projectable with an elastic move that gets on top of the hitter at 6-foot-5, 200lbs, Johnson creates weak contact attacking with an 83-85 mph FB. A low release height (5.3 feet) paired with 6+ feet of AVG extension at 2536rpms bodes well for effectiveness, pitching off of a sweeping mid-60’s CB up to 22 inches of HM. Obvious winner from this past June. 

  • ‘24 LHP/1B Nick Diehl (Unionville) #27

    • A winter breakout with more than enough size to draw attention at 6-foot-7, 230lbs, Diehl re-emerged with an 84-87 mph FB a week ago, flashing a feel for three pitches out of the same ¾ window. The southpaw commands it east-to-west across the zone with hard fade on the FB/CH and a CB into the low-70’s. Don’t sleep on the offensive production either with a heavy barrel at T98 mph exit; plus bat-speed.

  • ‘24 LHP Matthew Van Ostenbridge (Wilson West Lawn) #62

    • The compact 5-foot-9, 160-pounder went 89 mph positionally in June, then stepped on the mound for 83-85, T86 mph out of an efficient, quick-armed H ¾ slot. Really drives the offspeed to the bottom of the zone on an upper-60’s CB landing around 2500+ rpms and has shown recent improvements to a 71-73 mph CH with consistent arm-side movement; lots of intent. 

  • ‘24 LHP/OF Antonio Astolfi (LaSalle College) #88

    • Though Astolfi lived more 78-80 mph at the PA State Games, down from his 81-82 mph range this winter, the southpaw maintained effectiveness with an advanced three-pitch arsenal. High spin rates on the FB and a swing/miss curveball (70-72 mph), but could kill it on a mid-to-upper 70’s CH that repeated at 1700. Both the arm-action and athleticism should give clues for future success.

  • ‘24 LHP Logan Potter (LaSalle College) #154

    • Mechanically sound with some downhill into footstrike, Potter drew rave reviews from his summer coaches (Bucks County Generals) for his pure ability to throw strikes. Just a few months ago, the lefty spotted up 79-81 mph with arm-side life and changed speeds using a gradual 62-64 mph SL from the same release height. Mixed the CH confidently, sometimes leading with at 1489 average rpms. 


ATHLETES

  • ‘23 OF Ikon Jones (Sun Valley) #230

    • Another “high ceiling” name in the state with 6.54 footspeed, Jones is a fast-twitch left-handed hitter who can fill a leadoff type role down the road. The offense has been on a consistent upward trajectory, grabbing a 91 mph exit velo and 85 mph AVG at the PA State Games. Even more impressive are the advanced metrics: 70% sweet spot rate, 26.9 mph hand speed, and 38.7 G’s rotational acceleration within a mostly balanced skill set.

  • ‘23 C/MIF Carter Reid (Greencastle-Antrim) #231

    • A consummate gamer with some positional flexibility around the field at 5-foot-9, 160lbs, Reid will hit from day one (RHH). Plenty of confidence in the box with a barrel that matches pitch plane, staying inside the offspeed for a gap-to-gap, extra-base hit approach back in June. The primary backstop also popped an accurate 2.12 at 76 mph while collecting four hits across the week. 

  • ‘24 SS Nick Flores (Spring-Ford) #95

    • Very sure of himself in a 5-foot-9, 170-pound muscular frame, Flores dropped his 60-yard dash time from 7.14 in the winter to 6.79 this June, which will continue opening doors. The right-handed hitter is a standout offensively, commanding sneaky pop to the pull-side and a short, direct bat-path that handles velocity; quiet early with plenty of acceleration at impact. Then went 83 mph positionally, utilizing active footwork in space.

  • ‘24 SS Jake Robinson (Montour) #96

    • One of Deputy Director Max Schrantz’s favorite uncommitted athletes available, Robinson led Montour to a 4A state title this past spring, pacing the Spartans in average (.390), OBP (.515), and stolen bases (14). The natural switch-hitter favors his left side with a professional approach, notching a T92 mph exit velocity at our PA Invitational; level plane, high finish, and fluid barrel-whip.

  • ‘24 OF/LHP Caden Wolfley (Mid-Valley) #130

    • It’s been a strong summer for the budding two-way prospect, running a personal best 6.90 60-yard dash a few months ago before collecting a couple backside hits at the recently scouted Northeast Pride World Series in Scranton, PA. Plays the game with a chip on his shoulder and gets fast hands through the ball for an 88 mph exit velocity; also was 89 mph from the OF, 84.7 off the mound. 

  • ‘24 SS Peyton Ford (Pine Richland) #151

    • There’s no questioning the defensive prowess and limitless range that Ford possesses in the dirt, able to translate directly to a middle of the field defender. Both short-window quickness (6.96 60-yard, 1.66 10-yard) and offensive production (87 mph exit, 309 foot distance) have seen positive adjustments, giving the Southwest PA native a solid floor to build from.

  • ‘25 OF Jake Hower (McDowell) #37

    • After a loud Freshman season from the Northwestern quadrant of the state (.429 AVG, team-leading 27 H), Hower produced against some talented arms at the PA State Games, going 7.05 in the 60-yard dash and 90 mph exit velocity during the showcase portion. Still green at 6-foot-1, 180lbs with the ability to do effortless damage at the plate, this is a name to know well over the coming year or two. 


POWER BATS

  • ‘23 1B/RHP Andrew Armstrong (Harry S. Truman) #155

    • Few have matched the recent success of Armstrong, carrying physicality on both sides of the ball at 6-foot-2, 192lbs. The right-handed hitter was a mid-summer breakout, all over the leaderboards in Dubois for bat-speed (79 mph), hand-speed (24.8 mph), and exit velocity (97.4). Utilized early separation and an efficient turn on the front side to create booming power potential. Was up to 88 mph positionally, 85 off the bump, and posted a 7.11 60-yard dash.

  • ‘23 3B Brian Korchok (Spring-Ford) #193

    • Broad-shouldered and direct to the ball with an aggressive lower-half, Korchok recently burst onto the scene, flashing raw strength to the pull side of the field. There’s more in the tank at 6-foot-3, 230lbs, though a disciplined short-to-long attack produced an 85% sweet spot at T101 mph exit velocity. Even pushed down to a 7.13 60-YD at a PBR Maryland event with the defensive capabilities to hold down a corner infield spot.

  • ‘25 C Mason Metz (Avonworth) #21

    • A PA State Games winner (6-foot-1, 210lbs), the projectable left-handed hitter displayed one of the more rhythmic swings in attendance, timing up a hand-pump before unleashing through a slightly uphill path. Was a favorite from showcase day into the 93.8 mph bat-exit velocity range and continued with two hits at Stern Field during his final game of the week. Just looks the part; loose hands, sequenced, leveraged.

  • ‘25 3B Tommy Kratz (Methacton) #28

    • The lengthy, athletic 6-foot-1, 180-pound two-way prospect has a frame to dream on and flashed at the #15UNat in July with offensive production from the middle of the order. Kratz features quick-to-contact actions and levels out through impact, spraying a balanced approach on a line from gap to gap; settled into a T90 mph exit velocity at the PA State Games, much more to come.