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PA Top Prospect Games: Middle Infielders

June 27, 2015

By Jacob Gill
Philadelphia Region Director of Scouting

The 2015 PBR Pennsylvania Top Prospect Games took place on June 16-17 at Hank DeVincent Field on the campus of La Salle University. 88 prospects from around the state showcased their abilities in front of nearly 40 college coaches in attendance. After a brief hiatus while holding the 2015 PBR Pennsylvania Underclass Games, today we roll out the fifth of six installments of player evaluations from the event, with middle infielders broken down by graduating class.

Class of 2016


Brett Alaimo, 2016, IF, Manheim Township
6-foot, 170-pound right-handed hitter. Hit from square stance utilizing a near-waist-high leg lift. High back elbow, takes direct path to baseball, repeats swing, used middle of field. Average in-game home-to-1B time of 4.65 (top of 4.47). Showcased 81-mph exit velocity and 75-mph arm during workout. Moved well defensively, fielded the ball deep, and showed an ability to make plays on the move, including a backhand gloveflip to start a 4-6-3 DP.

Werten Bellamy, 2016, IF, Roman Catholic
5-foot-7, 160-pound right-handed hitter. Started from wide open stance and strode to slightly open. Drops hands to launch, uphill path. Often late getting his foot down, causing him to muscle the bat through the zone with his shoulders. Flashes bat speed when on time. Posted a 4.36 in-game home-to-1B time. Showcased 76-mph exit velocity during workout. Did not participate in defensive workout, but previously showcased quick feet and hands with an arm that, at the time, profiled for second base.

Andrew Ciarlone, 2016, IF, La Salle
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitter. Hit from slightly open, balanced stance. Flashes some bat speed, although flat barrel at launch can create some length. When the barrel creeps up at launch, swing shortens and he takes a more direct path. Showcased 80-mph arm strength during workout. Solid defensive skills, including glovehand and footwork to ball; could have feet a little more active playing through the catch.

Noah Clement, 2016, IF, Roman Catholic
5-foot-9, 170-pound right-handed hitter. Started from an open stance and strode to slightly closed. Top-hand dominant stroke. Not much in the way of positive results this event, but has shown the ability to get the barrel to mid-80s velocity in the past. Showcased 79-mph arm strength during workout. Loose, clean arm action, more comfortable throwing from lower slot, ability to make plays on the move. Verbally committed to Millersville University shortly after event.

Andrew Collins, 2016, IF, Central Bucks East
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitter who is noticeably stronger since we last saw him. Hit from a slightly open stance with deep, high hands launch. Barreled the baseball in BP with a swing that has some length along with some bat speed. Showcased 81-mph exit velocity and 82-mph arm strength during workout. Fields the ball deep; footwork and arm strength continue to show improvement.

Jimmy Farrow, 2016, IF, Avon Grove
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter. Started from a slightly open stance and strode to square. Barreled the baseball in BP with simple, repeatable swing mechanics. Uphill, pull-oriented path. Posted in-game home-to-1B times of 4.60 and 4.63. Showcased 88-mph exit velocity and 81-mph arm strength during workout.  Fielded ball deep and off right hip. Continues to profile as second baseman at next level, as some effort and over-the-top slot from upright posture caused him to sail throws across the diamond, while he showed quickness from separation to release that should translate on DP turns around the keystone.

Tony Gallo, 2016, IF, Devon Prep
5-foot-11, 185-pound right-handed hitter with a knack for finding the barrel. Started from an open stance and strode to slightly open. Showed a feel for creating backspin along with gap power. Swing has some length along with bat speed. Posted a 4.66 in-game home-to-1B time and a 4.69 on a turn. Showcased 87-mph exit velocity and 78-mph arm strength during workout. Showed soft glovehand, while arm strength and tendency to sit back on ground balls have him currently best-suited for second base at the next level. Verbally committed to Lehigh University.

Greg Grandelli, 2016, IF, Roman Catholic
6-foot, 185-pound right-handed hitter. Hit from open stance with short stride/load and high back elbow. Kept head still and stayed on top of the ball. Showed a pull-oriented approach in BP, but used the whole field in game action. Showcased 83-mph exit velocity and 82-mph arm strength during workout (both of which are a couple ticks down from what he has shown in the past). Showed solid defensive skillset across the board, with neither a glaring deficiency nor a carrying tool.

Austin Kuntz, 2016, IF, Delone Catholic
5-foot-8, 155-pound right-handed hitter. Started from an open, wide stance and took a negative stride to slightly open. Swing path uphill with vertical barrel. Triggered swing with front side coming forward, hindering ability to incorporate lower half. Posted in-game home-to-1B times of 4.53 and 4.57. Showcased 78-mph exit velocity and 73-mph arm strength during workout. Solid footwork to ball, although fields from above it and could have feet a little more active playing through the catch. Arm strength currently limits him to second base at the next level.

Danny Long, 2016, IF, Pennridge
5-foot-11, 180-pound right-handed hitter. While it can be dangerous to evaluate results, especially from a small sample-size, it’s hard to find much fault with two-game totals of five hits (all of them scorched) in five at-bats with a triple and two monster home runs. Ball screams off his bat to the pullside and has good carry, despite often being hit with topspin. Runs hard out of the box and takes aggressive turns. Showcased 95-mph exit velocity and 86-mph arm strength during workout. Defensively he showed good feet and hands, while coming and getting ground balls well and incorporating his feet into his throw. Capability of handling shortstop will be determined by his range and ability to get rid of the ball without multiple shuffles.

Tim Miller, 2016, IF, Conestoga
6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed hitter who is a high-level prospect as a primary pitcher. Started from an open stance and took a big knee-to-knee stride to slightly closed. Slow draw of hands down in load, then quick raise up to launch. Backside spin inhibits post-contact extension and creates some hook to swing. Ample power potential. Showcased 92-mph exit velocity and 83-mph arm strength during workout. Fields ball deep with occasional dead feet, but has loose, easy arm across diamond and good rhythm to release.

Nico Popa, 2016, IF, Seton-La Salle Catholic
5-foot-10, 175-pound right-handed hitter. Displayed terrific athleticism throughout the event. Started from an open stance and strode to slightly open. Has above average bat speed and loose, athletic swing. Displayed good balance and kept head still. Above average runner; posted in-game 4.12 home-to-1B time and 4.22 & 4.25 on turns. Showcased 89-mph exit velocity and 89-mph arm strength during workout. Showed good hands and played low to the ground defensively.

Bryan Reagle, 2016, IF, Easton Area
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitter. Started from a wide, slightly open stance with pre-swing bat waggle for rhythm and took a negative stride to slightly closed. Some backside spin created some length, but his hands worked and he used the middle of the field. Posted multiple in-game 4.31 home-to-1B times. Showcased 88-mph exit velocity and 78-mph arm strength during workout. Fields ball deep with funnel to belly button. Showed some range and body control on solid play to his right at shortstop, although arm strength remains fringy for the left side at the next level.

Cole Shaffer, 2016, IF, Indiana Area
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter. Started from a square, wide, balanced stance with high back elbow. Rocked weight to backside in load, incorporated a short, heel-raise stride, and got good backside drive. Posted an in-game best home-to-1B time of 4.60. Showcased 80-mph exit velocity and 78-mph arm strength during workout. Showed solid hands, although arm strength and throwing accuracy from the left side have him profile as a second baseman at the next level.

Nick Wojtelwicz, 2016, IF, Shipley School
5-foot-10, 185-pound right-handed hitter. Hit from a slightly closed stance with weight on back leg and incorporated a short stride. Initiated swing with back shoulder dip that led to uphill path and bat coming out of zone early. Posted multiple in-game 4.56 home-to-1B times. Showcased 80-mph exit velocity and 76-mph arm strength during workout. Played through ball well with feet. Long arm action with some effort to throw, along with present arm strength, have him profile better as a second baseman at the next level.

Class of 2017


Mark Engel, 2017, IF, Blackhawk
6-foot, 185-pound left-handed hitter. Started from a slightly open stance and took a negative stride to slightly closed. Smooth stroke with some bat speed that generated some loft in BP. Bottom hand dominated the swing in game action, causing him to not quite get the barrel to contact on time or on angle, but there’s plenty to work with offensively. Posted an in-game 4.34 home-to-1B time. Showcased 85-mph exit velocity and 82-mph arm strength during workout. Good feet, soft hands, incorporates lower half into throw well, showed range to his left during game play.

Kris Kremer, 2017, IF, Hershey
5-foot-9, 140-pound right-handed hitter. Started from slightly open stance and took a knee-to-knee stride to square. Attacked ball, kept head still, hands worked, flashed some bat speed. Posted in-game 4.25 and 4.30 home-to-1B times. Is wiry strong already and offensive game could take off with additional strength. Showcased 88-mph exit velocity and 86-mph arm strength during workout. Best defensive skillset among the cohort at this event. Athletic actions with loose, whippy, quick arm and trusts his glovehand.

Scott Leitholf, 2017, IF, Northern York
6-foot-4, 165-pound right-handed hitter who is a solid prospect as a primary pitcher. Started from a slightly open stance and took a near-knee-height stride to open. Flashed some bat speed in BP, although barrel wrap created length in swing and eyes bounced during stride. Showcased 77-mph exit velocity and 79-mph arm strength during workout. While he certainly benefits from his height on the mound, it is not as much of a positive for him defensively, as he played upright, working above the baseball and fielding it deep.

Class of 2018


Justin Meyer, 2018, IF, The Haverford School
5-foot-9, 170-pound right-handed hitter. Started from an open stance, employed controlled, near-waist-high leg kick to slightly open. Body came forward with stride. Fairly easy stroke with some gap pop. Posted an in-game best home-to-1B time of 4.66. Showcased 87-mph exit velocity during workout. Did not participate in defensive workout, but showed good hands and actions, along with solid arm strength during game play.

Previous PA Top Prospect Games News