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2023 Northeast JUCO Jam: Recap

October 2, 2023
Ted Williams
Vice President of Scouting & Content

On Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 24 and 25, our extensive staff hosted the inaugural Northeast JUCO Jam at Gutchess Lumber Sports Complex in Cortland, NY. This event, the first of its kind in the area, featured 11 teams with players spanning 15 states and 11 countries around the world. Besides the top-of-the-line competition on display, a total of 23 four-year schools checked in (25 coaches in total), even through some questionable weather.

Not to be forgotten, the Cortland 3-Umpire Clinic ran simultaneously with former MLB Umpire Bill Welke in attendance (24 seasons). Umpires had earpieces attached during JUCO games and were coached on their techniques over the weekend.

Below we break down each of the standout players, sorted by team, along with an updated heat sheet.

Cayuga

+ SO RHP Austin Doyle-Miller pitched exclusively downhill with a wiry quick arm at 6-foot-3, 180-pounds. The FB showed run in the 84-86MPH range, mixing a hard lateral slider and disappearing 72-76MPH CH that flashed above-average. We've also seen velo a couple ticks higher last spring.

+ SO C Perry Chetney looks to be a future middle-of-the-order threat at 6-foot-1, 215-pounds with a short path that gets on-plane with authority. There's some quality bat-speed through the zone, which was a catalyst behind multiple pull-side rocket singles.

 

erie

+ SO RHP Ryan Lynch struck out 23 batters over 21 innings in 2023 and held a regular effort mid-80's FB at the Northeast JUCO Jam. There's a longer arm-action with mound presence, tacking on a 67-68MPH CB that popped up out of the hand. Still 6-foot-1, 175-pounds, he should find another jump soon.

+ Returning SO CIF Colby Wilson batted .364 AVG with 34 RBI (2nd on team) during 52 total GP as a Freshman, proving to be a trusted bat in the lineup at 6-foot-1, 230-pounds. The left-handed hitter generates a mature, well-connected swing that refuses to give up the top hand. Put together a few quality cuts.

GENESEE COUNTY

+ SO 1B Cooper Hassall took the loudest swing of the entire weekend, leaving the yard through the wind and into the parking lot for a game-breaking grand-slam. The barrel works steep at times and angles violently uphill with leverage at 6-foot-3, 200-pounds. Hit .393 and added 3 HR as a freshman.

+ SO INF/RHP Dwayne Dabian, an Aruba native, collected a series of line-drives offensively, then stepped on the mound with an 86-87MPH FB out of a directional release. The ultra-athletic 6-foot-3, 160-pounder mixed in an advanced CH at 72-74MPH for strikes. Swatted .347 last year for the Cougars.

 

hudson valley

+ SO OF Ethan Pues, one of the event's biggest winners, is physically imposing at 6-foot-3, 210-pounds. The right-handed hitter displayed easy acceleration vs. some good arms and jumped on the FB with natural twitch. It's not hard to see what makes the operation work at the plate.

+ SO RHP Dominick Persichilli found success with life above the hands, gaining whiffs on an 83-85MPH FB and a 73-74MPH CB with depth. A shorter, deceptive arm-action tallied multiple Ks to LH/RH batters over a couple innings in the cold. Velo has been into the upper-80's previously from a starter's frame.

+ FR 1B Jayden Kennedy, a durable 5-foot-10, 210-pounder, was able to unload the core with strong wrists at impact. In one instance, he hung back on a CB for an extra-base hit into the pull-side gap, showing simple connection with a still head. Plenty of ground-power attached to the swing.

 

lackawanna

+ SO RHP Nicholas Finnarelli emerged as a standout, pitching with little-to-no-effort at 6-foot-4, 225-pound build from an OTT slot. A mid-80's FB ran hard to the arm-side with a tunneled 78-79MPH SL as the putaway. The Virginia Tech transfer should be a major piece to the Falcons rotation this spring.

+ FR OF Nick Matson was a doubles machine all weekend at the Lumber Yard, hammering both the FB and CB for XBH's to pull. The 6.7 runner enters the middle of the order after some time spent at West Virginia with a notable power/athleticism combo.

+ SO C Mike Miller, a major offensive contributor, dominated the zone with a heavy barrel. A slightly open stance cleared the hips with some scissor action, allowing for a gap-to-gap approach. Tacked on two singles Saturday at 6-foot, 240-pounds. Led the 2023 team in hitting at an even .400 AVG with 9 HR.

+ SO SS Brayden D'Amico is a leader in the middle infield with rangy footwork and an instant release from different angles. There's a chance to stick at SS long term, utilizing baseball instincts with some it factor at 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Offensively, he was robbed of extra-bases on a diving catch in the first game. Batted .333 with 13 SB last year.

+ FR LHP Nicholas Biasi lived under the fists of righties with a commanded FB at 85-87, T88MPH that flashed occasional cut. The 5-foot-8, 185-pound southpaw, a Florida State kickback, is a smooth operator with an above-average, sweeping 75-77MPH breaking ball. Easy repeatability with balance down the mound.

+ SO RHP Devin Fletcher stole the spotlight with an impact, projectable frame at 6-foot-8, 235-pounds. The tall righty created extended sink in on RH batters and utilized a short cutting 78-7MPH SL to the dead zone for Ks. An 85-87MPH FB played up a couple ticks with glove-side command when needed. K'd 14 in 12.1 innings as a freshman.

 

MONROE COLLEGE

+ SO OF Jeremy Delamota, a hulking 6-foot-1, 220-pound RH bat, delivered a no-doubt bomb vs. Niagara County CC, and promptly knew it when he hit it. The blast traveled an estimated 375+ FT over the LCF wall and almost hit the bus; equally high and far. Notched a .919 OPS and 3 HR in 40 GP in 2023.

+ FR C Jose Fernandez keeps things simple with a quiet timing mechanism and direct hand-path to the ball. The Venezuela native featured tangible pound-for-pound strength at 6-foot-2, 200-pounds and was among the bigger RH threats in a loaded Monroe lineup.

+ SO RHP Samuel Herrera (Scotland Campus; PA) demonstrated an intriguing arsenal with higher spin rates, up to T87MPH from a powerful H 3/4 slot. An upper-70's SL profiles as the "go-to," spotted off the corner with land/expand. One to keep tabs on in the Northeast at 6-foot, 203-pounds.

+ SO OF Pedro Vasquez owns a professional wide receiver frame in the 6-foot-6, 215-pound range with longer strides on the bases. We saw him make multiple mid at-bat timing adjustments that yielded hard contact. Had a .306 AVG and 6 HR this past spring; a sleeper name-to-know moving forward.

 

cc of morris

+ The ball came out of SO LHP Jonathan Rosario's sleeve at 85-87MPH and showed effective life to either side. A longer/loose 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame maintained balance in the stack and landed a swing/miss 72-73MPH SL to the back knee of RH hitters. More to come with a 75-78MPH CH, too.

+ SO RHP Myles Nova controlled a durable 6-foot-2, 215-pound build that generated tons of weak swings against. There wasn't much success vs. a sinking 85-87MPH FB, ahead from pitch one, mixing an 11/5 CB in the mid-70's and late 77-78MPH SL. Efficiency throughout the delivery.

+ SO OF Thomas Jova led the charge as a table-setter with high contact ability from the left side, all over the sweet spot for 3 hits. The eye works to his benefit, making earlier swing decisions with useful plate coverage. Natural short-to-long approach that stays inside the ball at will; chance to hit for average.

 

niagara county

+ SO RHP Andrew Johnson, a recent Georgia-Gwinnett commit, was a Day 1 winner at 6-foot, 160-pounds with an elastic arm. An 85-88MPH FB held the knees with three pitches out of the same window, including a 73-74MPH CB and deceptive 79MPH CH. Projects as a conference starter.

+ FR OF Gavyn Boyle did it all at the Northeast JUCO Jam, getting on the board with a hard single to open the event, then robbing extra-bases on a leaping grab in right field. The #PBRFG alumni runs a 6.9 60-yard dash with exit velos creeping into the 110MPH range. Was a big performer in the Appalachian League this summer.

+ FR RHP Aidan Paul wasted no time during his outing, on the bump for less than 5 minutes over two innings of work. The 6-foot-3, 195-pounder has an obvious starter's frame with garden hose arm-action and a lively 87-89MPH FB. Both a 73-75MPH CB and 76-77MPH SL created distinct shape.

+ SO OF Riley Loomis put some of the sneaker juice on display (101MPH EV) with stretch into the backside and an instantaneous trigger through a flat path. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound corner OFer tripled to LCF while racing around the bases and showing off his 6.94 footspeed.

+ SO INF Nick Schulz tallied not one, not two, not three, but (4) total hits in his game vs. Sussex County CC with an impressive spray chart that split the alleyways. The Hamburg native really fills up the RH box at 6-foot-3, 200-pounds and gets to top speed at launch.

+ SO RHP Joshua Milleville might have taken home the title of "most dominant," into the zone often with aggressive drop-drive and an attacking mind-set. It was loud stuff at 87-89, T90MPH, carrying to the letters from a 5-foot-10, 190-pound build. Utilized a 76-77MPH SL with bite and downer 76-77MPH CH for strikeouts.

 

northampton

+ SO SS Alex Ruiz, a slick defender at 5-foot-10, 180-pounds, hit in the 3 hole for both games in Cortland, getting all of an opposite field double to start a rally over the middle innings. We've seen the body transform from lanky and athletic to strong and durable with newfound offensive contributions. Made a multitude of plays seamlessly using quick hands.

+ SO C Gabriel Caso is back for more after a .350/.429/.517 campaign as a Freshman. The efficient 5-foot-10, 190-pound catcher out of New Jersey has an advanced defensive skillset and clears 2.00 pop times with an accurate arm. A direct swing showed flashes of XBH upside from the RH box.

+ SO OF Luis Beato, a Muhlenberg, PA graduate, jumped out immediately with a 6-foot-3, 200-pound professional build that doesn't get cheated at the plate. Batting leadoff, he swung through some pitches early in counts while maintaining bad intentions vs. the FB. A sleeper pick-to-click from the event.

+ SO RHP Austin Beard tossed three perfect innings with command of the glove-side corner. Pitched downhill mostly at 6-foot-3, 180-pounds and buried swing/miss offspeed. An 85-87MPH FB dodged bats with a replicated 81-82MPH CH and two-plane upper-70's breaker. There's some deception off of a slightly open landing.

 

SUNY sullivan

+ SO RHP Jack Clifford was a bulldog for SUNY Sullivan's playoff run last spring (7-1 record), listed at 6-foot-2, 180-pounds with athletic movements. An 85-87, T89MPH FB got better as he went, tallying multiple Ks using a combo of different breaking balls. Drove an 80MPH CH to arm-side on the same plane, as well.

+ RS FR RHP Mathew Murtagh worked up to 92MPH during Sully Scout Day on 9/20, and showed more in the 89-90, T91MPH range last weekend. The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder gains a pronounced hip-hinge and explodes down the slope with length. Though command varied, there's lots to like over the long term with a 79-81MPH SL in his back pocket.

+ It was an impressive effort from FR RHP Leam Powell with 3 strikeouts over 2 innings pitched. Weak contact altogether at 6-foot-3, 165-pounds out of a turbo H 3/4 slot. The FB checked in with sizzle between 86-88MPH, unleashing a plus 76-77MPH SL and diving 77MPH CH. Real, leveraged intent out front!

+ SO OF Austin Payano has been a fall surprise thus far, really starting to come into his own at 6-foot, 183-pounds while carving out a utility role. Stacks the hands at the plate with rhythm and turns the knob quickly for a line-drive approach around the field. The 6.98 runner's best baseball is yet to be played.

+ FR C Anthony DiMarco was tested early and nabbed a caught-stealing with an above-average arm from the crouch (80MPH). Throws occasionally pulled to his glove side of the bag, but when staying on line, it was some pretty special carry at head height. No slouch offensively, either, listed at 5-foot-11, 190-pounds.

 

sussex

+ FR 1B/RHP Mathew Williams stands an imposing 6-foot-6, 240-pounds, equipped with a clean left-handed swing that throws the head at the ball. We saw multiple squared pull-side bullets off the center of the barrel, allowing for some of the more raw power in attendance. A nightmare in FB counts.

+ SO RHP Jimmy Perez De Prado entered the K zone often at 83-85, T86MPH with a sharp 75-77MPH CB that featured equal arm-speed. The durable right-hander faced a tough lineup and held them at bay with ability to mix pitches 50/50 and accelerate through a H 3/4 release. 

+ SO OF Evan Amato was essentially a video game character during his stay in NY. It's a leadoff skillset with tons of bat-speed and twitch at 6-foot, 185-pounds. The primary OF turned around the LF on a bullet double earlier in the day, then crushed a pull-side barrel for a 380FT bomb. For an encore, he went backside laser vs. a Joshua Milleville 88MPH FB.

HEAT SHEET

RANK   NAME STATE SCHOOL CLASS POS MAX FB
1 Mathew Murtagh NY SUNY Sullivan FR RHP 91 mph
2 Joshua Milleville NY Niagara SO RHP 90 mph
3 Aidan Paul NY Niagara FR RHP 89 mph
^ Jack Clifford NY SUNY Sullivan SO RHP 89 mph
^ Nick Biasi PA Lackawanna FR LHP 89 mph
4 Andrew Johnson NY Niagara SO RHP 88 mph
^ Leam Powell NY SUNY Sullivan FR RHP 88 mph
5 Dwayne Dabian NY Genese SO RHP 87 mph
^ Devin Fletcher PA Lackawanna SO RHP 87 mph
^ Reymer Rodriguez NY
Lackawanna
SO RHP 87 mph
^ Samuel Herrera NY Monroe FR RHP

87 MPH
^ Jonathan Rosario NY Morris CC SO RHP 87 mph
^ Myles Nova NY Morris CC SO RHP 87 mph
^ Eric Woodley NY Niagara FR RHP 87 mph
^ Austin Beard NY Northampton FR RHP 87 mph

Northeast JUCO Soph Showcase


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