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Class of 2017 Rankings: Preseason Update

February 28, 2016

By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting

and Greg Williams
Pennsylvania Director of Scouting 

With the conclusion of the Preseason All-State Showcase and high school baseball practices ready to kick into high gear we begin the process of updating the current player rankings in each of three classes. Today we continue by taking a look at the Pennsylvania Class of 2017. The rankings for this year's junior class will be updated next following the completion of the state playoffs in June.

Top Ten

Rank Name State School Class Pos Commitment
1 Shane Muntz PA Malvern Prep 2017 C Virginia Tech
2 Trent Vietmeier PA Montour 2017 RHP Louisiana State
3 Joe Lancellotti PA Archbishop Wood 2017 OF North Carolina
4 Zach McCambley PA Pocono Mountain East 2017 RHP Coastal Carolina
5 Cole Stetzar PA West Scranton 2017 RHP Central Florida
6 Riley Christner PA Meyersdale Area 2017 RHP
7 Kyle Virbitsky PA Episcopal Academy 2017 RHP Penn State
8 Zach Kokoska PA Greater Latrobe 2017 LHP Virginia Tech
9 Brendan Cellucci PA William Penn Charter 2017 LHP Miami
10 Brandon Knarr PA Eastern York 2017 LHP Notre Dame

+ CLICK HERE to view the complete list. 

Of Note

Hollidaysburg Area C/RHP Tyler Peterson made the biggest jump in the rankings, shooting halfway up the list after his performance at the Preseason All-State Showcase. The physical 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-handed hitter has big power potential (96-mph exit velocity), with good arm strength (76-mph from the crouch), and pop times in the 2.09-2.13 range. On the mound, he featured a mid-80s fastball with the makings of two solid secondary pitches.

The Preseason All-State Showcase was also our first in-person look at Lakeview catcher Steven Kokoski (he previously attended two Ohio events), who also made a sizeable leap from the fringe of the top 75 to inside the top 40. Right-handed hitter with mature 6-foot-1, 205-pound frame who flashed good bat speed and generated 95-mph exit velocity. Quick release with accurate, strong arm (78-mph from crouch) generated pop times in the 1.93-2.00 range.

A number of other prospects entered the rankings following their performances at the Preseason All-State Showcase, headlined by North Penn RHP Matt Stevenson, Council Rock South shortstop Josh Kim, and Central Cambria RHP Jacob Rupp.

Stevenson is an imposing presence on the mound at 6-foot-6, 215-pounds. His fastball sat 82-85, he showed a quality change-up, and is a very good athlete for his size (7.11 60-yard dash).

Kim, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound right-handed hitter, showcased very good defensive actions, 86-mph arm strength, solid bat speed (90-mph exit velocity), and average wheels (7.00 60-yard dash).

The 6-foot, 185-pound Rupp has the makings of three quality offerings. Fastball sat 83-84 with a bit of life, while he featured an above average change-up and flashed a solid curveball. Fastball command wasn't terribly sharp at the event, but he walked only two in 23 innings of work as a sophomore last spring.

Finally, E.L. Meyers shortstop Brainy Rojas is a bit of a wild card at the moment, as we have only seen him on video to this point. What the video showed, however, was a balanced, repeatable swing with good bat speed and loose hands, along with advanced defensive actions and enough arm strength to stay on the left side of the diamond. Oh, he also reportedly turned down a contract offer to sign out of the Dominican Republic last summer before his family moved to Northeast PA.

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