Inside The Rankings: Top 10 Class of 2021 RHP

Michael Morales RHP / East Pennsboro, PA / 2021

Quick Hit: Athletic, durable 6-foot-2, 206-pound frame with polish in the delivery. Fastball has been up to 92 mph and flashes a quality two-plane breaking ball in the low to mid-70’s that has the true makings of a strikeout pitch.

First Glimpse: 8/13/18 at East Pennsboro HS.

Breakout Performance: 8/6/18 Area Code Games: Underclass

The Future: The Vanderbilt commit has a body and repertoire that is ready for the next level right now and the easiness in the arm stroke should signal room for more velocity in the near future. 

Caleb Gampe RHP / SS / Hollidaysburg, PA / 2021

Quick Hit: A long and sturdy 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame with plenty of athleticism, Gampe can get his fastball into the low 90’s with advanced whip in the arm stroke. Also mixes in solid feel for a 79-80 mph slider and a 77-79 mph changeup to keep hitters off balance.

First Glimpse: 4/22/19 Hollidaysburg at Altoona Curve - The RHP touched 88 mph with command in the zone.

Breakout Performance: 6/12/19 The primary pitcher showcased his two-way skills flashing athleticism at shortstop and advanced barrel awareness at the plate in a PBR Ohio Limited Series event.

The Future: The South Carolina commit has the mold of being a power pitcher and challenges hitters early on in counts. Couple that with a fastball that rides up in the zone with high spin, and the righty will compete for innings for the Gamecocks as soon he steps on campus. 

Luke Holman RHP / SS / Wilson West Lawn, PA / 2021

Quick Hit: Holman features a long and lean 6-foot-4, 185-pound frame with plenty of projectability. Knows how to pitch - four pitches in the zone with a high spin, two-plane 72-75 mph curveball. Should see his 89 mph fastball increase in velocity as he gets stronger.

First Glimpse: 12/30/17 PBR Evaluation & Measurables Showcase - The RHP was up to 84 mph as a freshman.

Breakout Performance: 6/18/19 PBR Future Games (Team PA) where he recorded two K’s in two innings of work. 

The Future: The Alabama commit has one of the most ‘next level ready’ repertoires in the class and will only get better as he continues filling out. His curveball is already a plus pitch, and the ability he’s shown to command the zone in any count is icing on the cake.

Jonathan Bautista RHP / SS / Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, PA / 2021

Quick Hit: The only uncommitted player left inside our top 20 overall 2021 rankings, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound RHP offers a unique combination of natural athleticism and strength in a starter’s build. The righty has been up to 92 mph with extremely heavy action in the zone. With more refinement on the secondary offerings, could be an early round draft pick.

First Glimpse: 12/28/19 Holiday Showcase - Up to 91 mph with an easy, whippy arm action.

Breakout Performance: 2/26/20 PA/NY/NJ ProCase - The RHP topped at 92 mph with smooth arm action on an 82-83 mph changeup displaying noticeable arm-side fade.

The Future: Bautista has all the makings of being the steal of his class after exploding onto the scene for us in early 2019. At this point, the only knock on him is the inconsistency of the curveball, where some modifications will thrust himself high into next year’s draft discussion.

Trey Yesavage RHP / Boyertown, PA / 2021

Quick Hit: The 6-foot-4, 240-pound RHP utilizes his advanced frame to get steep, downhill tilt on an 89-92 mph fastball, creating bowling ball like explosiveness into the zone. With ability to hold velocity into later innings and three pitches commanded in the zone for strikes, Yesavage should be an innings eater at the next level.

First Glimpse: 12/28/19 Holiday Showcase - Up to 91 mph with an easy, whippy arm action.

Breakout Performance: 8/01/19 PBR Future Games - Yesavage worked two innings striking out three batters while touching 92 mph, mixing in a two-plane 76-77 mph curveball and a sharp 79-81 mph slider with late bite.

The Future: The University of Pittsburgh commit should be able to compete for rotational innings immediately upon stepping on campus and will see draft interest next July. With two different breaking balls (a curveball at 76-77 and a slider at 79-81) hitters rarely found the barrel facing Yesavage in games we’ve scouted. The RHP features movement on all pitches and heavy downer action on the fastball which should point to him eventually molding into a top of the rotation guy for the Panthers. 

Chase Renner RHP / 3B / Brandywine Heights, PA / 2021

Quick Hit: Renner features a projectable 6-foot-4, 190-pound frame with natural athleticism in his movements and a very quick arm. The RHP has been up to 92 mph with feel for a 74-75 mph changeup at near fastball arm-speed. Struggles at times to command the 70-75 mph curveball, but it has shown advanced shape and a high spin rate.

First Glimpse: 12/30/17 PBR Evaluation & Measurables Showcase - Worked a three pitch mix and topped at 75 mph.

Breakout Performance: 2/26/20 PA/NY/NJ Procase - Ran it up to 92 mph with life up in the zone mixing in a tight 70-75 mph curveball with two-plane action.

The Future: The Penn State commit has an extremely high ceiling and will only continue to get better. With increased feel on throwing the curveball for strikes, the righty will see strikeout numbers skyrocket and should compete for quality innings in the Nittany Lions rotation.

Tommy Beam RHP / 1B / Pine-Richland, PA / 2021

Quick Hit: The 6-foot-5, 170-pound RHP is incredibly projectable with a fastball that currently sits in the upper 80’s (has been up to 89 mph) and feel for a sharp 74-76 mph curveball. Can throw either pitch in any count for strikes and routinely attacks hitters early.

First Glimpse: 5/30/19 Pine Richland vs. Penn Trafford (WPIAL Championship Game) - Logged a quality start working four innings allowing two runs with five strikeouts.

Breakout Performance: 7/19/19 Northern Ohio Limited Series - The RHP touched 88 mph with life up in the zone. 

The Future: The West Virginia commit will most likely need to add a quality third pitch when he gets to the next level, but the feel is there in the fastball/curveball combo. With the ability to realistically add 20-30 pounds onto the frame, it wouldn’t be a stretch for him to be sitting in the low 90’s in the not too distant future.

Rocco Bernadina RHP / New Castle, PA / 2021

Quick Hit: The 6-foot-4, 225-pound righty blends unique athleticism and pitchability into a frame ready to compete at the next level. Mixes an 88-90 mph fastball and sharp 76-78 mph curveball out of a fluid, high 3/4 arm-slot.

First Glimpse: 7/22/18 Baird Brothers Youngstown (OH) Class B League

Breakout Performance: 6/04/19 PIAA Class AAAA Playoffs New Castle vs. Warren - Put forth a miraculous effort going the distance, striking out twelve and allowing four hits to advance to the state quarterfinals.

The Future: With experience pitching in big games and a sparkling track record succeeding in pressure filled situations, the Kent State commit should be ready to compete for innings the moment he steps on campus. Might have to develop a third pitch, ideally a changeup to give hitters something that looks like the fastball.

Michael Kilker RHP / 3B / Hazleton Area , PA / 2021

Quick Hit: An athletic 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame allows for a very live arm and ability to tunnel multiple pitches out of a fluid, high ¾ arm-slot. Gets ahead with an 87-90 mph fastball and puts hitters away with the curveball, while showing advanced feel for a changeup thrown with similar arm-speed.

First Glimpse: 8/18/17 Fall Kickoff Showcase

Breakout Performance: 7/30/19 PBR Future Games - Worked two innings allowing one hit with two strikeouts, touching 87 mph. 

The Future: The West Virginia commit has plenty of polish and commands the zone with confidence every time he toes the rubber. A high floor, high ceiling candidate with seemingly more in the tank, Kilker could find himself atop the Mountaineers rotation in the coming years. 

Fran Oschell RHP / 1B / Malvern Prep, PA / 2021

Quick Hit: The physically imposing 6-foot-6, 210-pound RHP attacks hitters early and often, getting downhill with an upper 80’s fastball, mixing in a tight 73-75 mph curveball with quality shape. Velocity plays with high spin rate on the fastball and good extension out in front. Still projects to add weight which points to a very high ceiling.

First Glimpse: 4/9/2019 Malvern Prep vs. Haverford School

Breakout Performance: 5/22/19 Malvern Prep vs. Germantown Academy - States Round 2 - Led the Friars to a 1-0 victory behind a dazzling performance shutting out Germantown Academy. 

The Future: With one of the highest ceilings in the class, Oschell will only get better as he continues refining his arsenal and adding weight onto a long frame. The Duke commit has a chance to develop for Chris Pollard’s Blue Devils who have a great track record of turning out pitching success.