Eastern PA Top Prospect Games Analysis: Royal Team
June 23, 2017
By Dan Williams
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting
The summer rush of PBR events in Pennsylvania began this week with the 2017 Eastern PA Top Prospect Games on June 13-14. Eighty prospects from Pennsylvania, West Virginia and New Jersey gathered for two days of nine-inning games and showcase activities at Cooper Park on the campus of Millersville University. Today we conclude our analysis of the prospects in attendance by taking a look at those who participated as a member of the Royal Team.
ROYAL TEAM
TOP PROSPECT
Quinn Buffington, 2018, OF, Camp Hill 
Long-strider with above average wheels (6.65 60-yard dash) who runs the bases aggressively and has juice in his bat (95 mph exit velocity). 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed hitter starts from an open stance and strides to square. Shows pullside power and consistently barreled the baseball during the event. Athletic actions on defense, glides to the baseball, and makes accurate throws of 86 mph that travel true out of his hand. Similar profile and physical build to current Duke outfielder (and former La Salle HS star) Jimmy Herron: bat right, throw left multi-sport (football) athlete whose speed plays on the basepaths and can really go get it on defense.
Remainder of roster (in alphabetical order)
Jarod Bingaman, 2018, IF, Upper Dauphin Area
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitter with solid across-the-board tool set. Simple approach at the plate with quiet lower half and hits through contact, barreling the baseball numerous times to the opposite field during game action. Flashes solid bat speed that produced an 89 mph exit velocity, while he ran a 6.85 60-yard dash. Defensively, he showed a solid glove hand, used his feet well when throwing, and showed an ability to throw from multiple arm slots while registering improving 85 mph arm strength across the diamond.
Nolan Bolton, 2019, 3B, Christopher Dock Mennonite
Right-handed hitter with strength in his 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame (89 mph exit velocity). Starts from a slightly open stance and strides slightly closed. Pre-swing hand rhythm helps maintain some looseness, while he showed good balance during game action and consistently put solid swings on the baseball. Was not in attendance at day two of the event to run the 60 or get an arm strength reading, but he displayed good feet and arm strength during game play on day one. Will compete for Team PA at the 2017 PBR Future Games later this summer.
Connor Buggy, 2018, C, Lower Dauphin
Physical 6-foot-1, 190-pounder with solid catch-and-throw skills, including quick feet and a quick ball-to-ear transfer. Arm is accurate and has carry, as he posted workout pop times of 2.00-2.08 with 75 mph arm strength from the crouch. Right-handed hitter starts from an open, somewhat narrow, stance and strides to square. Body and head come forward with stride, although eyes stay on the same plane throughout swing. Chance to develop into some power with an 85 mph exit velocity. A good athlete, his 7.02 60-yard dash could allow him to play a corner outfield position down the road as well.
Luke Cantwell, 2018, OF, Marple Newtown
Muscular, well-proportioned 6-foot-2, 205-pound right-handed hitter. Solid set of tools includes a 6.88 60-yard dash and 95 mph exit velocity. Starts from an open stance and strides to square. Simple swing without a lot of moving parts and head stays fairly still throughout. Front shoulder gets turned in, leading him to uncoil and be geared toward the pullside of the field. Moves well defensively and posted 80 mph arm strength with accurate throws to the plate during the workout.
Blake Doherty, 2019, RHP, New Hope-Solebury
6-foot-3, 190-pounder pitches out of a three-quarter slot with a bit of push to his arm action. Compact delivery that he repeats is initiated with a sideways rocker step and he stays on-line to the plate. Three-pitch mix included a fastball at 76-79, a curveball at 67-68 and a change-up at 70-71. Would benefit from working to create more angle to his fastball, as it was fairly flat during this outing, while he had a tendency to get underneath his breaking ball.
Donnie Faux, 2018, LHP, Tunkhannock Area
Ultra-lean 6-foot-1, 135-pounder who pitches out of a three-quarter slot with an inverted hook to his arm action. Solid, slightly closed front foot landing, but tends to stay upright, working around his front leg and falling toward the third base side. Fastball sat 67-68, while he also flipped in a slow 1/7 curveball at 56-58.
Matt Headley, 2019, OF, Bonner-Prendergast
6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed hitter. Starts from a slightly open stance and strides to square. Short load of hands with short, flat path into zone. Ran a 7.19 60-yard dash and posted 86 mph exit velocity. Defensively, he worked through his throws well with his feet, posting 82 mph arm strength with some carry.
Andrew Kleppinger, 2019, RHP, Neshaminy
6-foot, 165-pounder pitched entirely from the strength out of a three-quarter arm slot with low elbow and pie-thrower arm action. Turns back to hitter with hip coil over rubber. Lands slightly crossfire and works around front side. Fastball sat 74-77, while he flashed a solid 11/5 curveball at 68-70. Also showed a slider and a split during warm-ups, although did not appear to feature during game action.
Dawson Magar, 2018, RHP/1B, Donegal
6-foot, 180-pounder who pitches out of a high three-quarter slot from a compact delivery. Slightly kicks front foot at catcher and lands a tad crossfire on the outside of his foot, causing him to work around his front side and not get over his lead leg on this day. Fastball continues to make incremental velocity gains, this outing sitting 82-85, touching 86 mph. Also featured a big-breaking curveball with 11/5 shape at 69-71. Right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open, upright stance and strides to square. Ran a 7.26 60-yard dash and posted 86 mph exit velocity, which could be enhanced if he would more fully incorporate his back side into his swing.
Zack Murray, 2018, RHP, Hughesville
6-foot-2, 195-pounder pitched out of a high three-quarter slot and was around the zone with his arsenal. Fastball had some action when down in the zone, although the velocity of 73-75 was significantly off from the 78-81 that he showed in February at the Preseason All-State Showcase. Likewise, his previously low-70s curveball was loopier at 64-65 on this day.
Hunter Murry, 2019, C, Elizabethtown Area
6-foot, 185-pound right-handed hitter. Hits from a slightly open stance and incorporates a toe-tap stride. Flat barrel path that comes out of zone early with bottom hand pulling toward front hip. Would benefit from increased use of lower half in swing, as backside is currently a partial turn with limited drive. Posted 80 mph exit velocity and an 8.10 60-yard dash. Posted workout pop times of 2.32-2.40, which will improve when he learns to get his feet moving earlier to sync up with when he receives the pitch.
Alex Mykut, 2018, RHP, Huntingdon Area
Physical 6-foot-4, 200-pounder with good projection due to frame and clean arm action. Pitches with good tempo from an arm slot between high three-quarter and three-quarter. Chest-high leg lift, while arms and legs work in concert. Generated a lot of ground balls, including three comebackers he fielded without incident. Fastball sat 82-85 and has a chance to be a heavy pitch in the future. Sweeping breaking ball at 71-74 has some shape to it, although not a lot of depth at this point. Change-up at 74-75 was a rarely used third pitch.
Jake Packer, 2018, C, Wyoming Valley West
6-foot-2, 180-pound right-handed hitter. Starts from a slightly open stance and double-taps stride to a slightly closed, wide base. Flashed some bat speed and strength (93 mph exit velocity) while routinely barreling the baseball during his BP round and driving a triple to the oppo gap during game play. Ran a 7.16 60-yard dash. Did a nice job getting his thumb underneath the baseball when receiving. Recorded workout pop times of 2.14-2.28 with 73 mph arm strength that has some carry. Ball stays in his hand awhile and can shave time by getting feet started sooner in order to sync with receipt of the pitch.
Sam Wheeler, 2018, IF, Sayre Area
5-foot-6, 145-pound right-handed hitter who ran a 6.82 60-yard dash. Starts from an open stance and strides slightly closed. Swing can be shouldery, but he attacks the baseball and has the potential to drive a gap (84 mph exit velocity) despite his lack of size. Also showed an ability to make mid-at-bat adjustments during game play. Defensively, he sets up behind the baseball well and posted 72 mph arm strength across the diamond.