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Updated 2017 Rankings Released

February 26, 2015

By Greg Williams, PA Director of Scouting
and Jacob Gill, Philadelphia Region Director of Scouting

As we come down the home stretch of the off-season, we have entered the season preview stage of our coverage. Yesterday, we revealed our updated Class of 2016 rankings, and today we move on to the Class of 2017. Tomorrow begins two and a half weeks of district previews. From there, we will roll into our preseason Super 16 rankings (that is, the teams we feel have the best chance to reach the state tournament out of their respective districts).

This most recent revision of our class of 2017 rankings will be the final major update until the summer. Below is a sneak preview of the top ten:

Rank Name State School Class Pos Commitment
1 Joe Lancellotti PA Archbishop Wood 2017 OF North Carolina
2 Shane Muntz PA Malvern Prep 2017 C Virginia Tech
3 Trent Vietmeier PA Montour 2017 RHP
4 Cole Stetzar PA West Scranton 2017 RHP
5 Nick Stoner PA Elizabethtown Area 2017 SS
6 Jordan Fiedor PA Hempfield Area 2017 OF
7 Matt Gorman PA William Penn Charter 2017 SS
8 Adam Holland PA William Penn Charter 2017 OF
9 Curtis Robison PA Northern York 2017 LHP
10 Brandon Knarr PA Eastern York 2017 LHP


While there weren't any huge risers up the list, a number of players entered the rankings following impressive performances during off-season events:

  • Following a freshman season in which he went 22.2 IP with 15 H, 3 BB and 12 K, Hatboro-Horsham RHP Colin Kennedy impressed in a bullpen session at a Philly Bandits practice earlier this month with an athletic delivery and solid breaking ball. He joins the rankings at #20.

  • Cedar Cliff third baseman Grant Breneman slid in at #26 following his performance at the Preseason All-State Showcase. A quality athlete (6.92 60-yard dash) who is also the starting QB for the Colts (nearly 2,400 passing yards as a freshman), the right-handed hitter has significant upside in his 6-foot, 185-pound frame.

  • A trio of right-handed pitchers move into the rankings at #39, #42 and #44 following impressive showings at winter events. 6-foot-2, 200-pound righty Jonathan Pence sat 82-84 with a very quick arm at the Preseason College Prospect Showcase, Freinds' Central righty Alec Andrews sat 82-84 at the Preseason All-State Showcase with very solid command of a 4-pitch mix, and Pennridge RHP Andrew Mayhew's electric arm (especially given his 5-foot-9, 130-pound frame) generated a fastball at 82-84 at the Preseason College Prospect Showcase to earn him a spot in the rankings.

  • St. Mary's Area catcher Michael Beimel sits right behind Mayhew at #45, as his physical maturation is beginning to manifest itself on the field. At the Preseason All-State Showcase, Beimel took solid BP rounds from both sides while showing improved arm strength and quicker pop times.

  • Baird Brothers, a summer program that competes in the Youngstown Class B League, drove two-thirds of the way across the state for a team evaluation in early February. Two of their 16U players, Knoch OF/RHP Dominick Bucko and Butler Area SS/RHP Dallas Hays, jumped in at #46 and #57, respectively.

  • From the Mahoning Valley Open ID, our colleagues in Ohio recognized three PA residents as having among the top tools at the event, including Blackhawk shortstop Mark Engel (Best Hands in the Field & Most Tools), Pittsburgh Central Catholic first baseman Jake Trautman (Most Raw Power), and Lakeview catcher Steven Kokoski (Best Behind the Plate), who slot in at #52, #55, and #56, respectively.

  • Joining Trautman as one of only two first basemen on the list, Northwestern Lehigh left-handed hitter Tyler Schriener finds himself at #68 following a Preseason All-State Showcase during which he ran a 7.06 60-yard dash and recorded an 84-mph exit velo, with plenty of room to add strength to his frame.

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