NJ State Games: Quick Hits

July 30, 2019
TJ Hunt
Director, PBR New Jersey

The New Jersey State Games is year in and year out one of the top showcase events of the summer. Each of the last four years, nearly 100 players come out to showcase their skills in front of over 30 college coaches from all levels of college baseball, and this year was no different.

Click here to see a list of the full stats from the event

Here is a look at the “quick hits” from the event -

Left Handed Bats

2023 C/INF Aidan Teel (Mahwah HS, NJ) was, right off the bat, one of the most impressive talents coming out of the event. Brother of NJ’s No. 1 ranked 2020, Kyle, Aidan possesses some of the same utilitarian attributes. Performed the defensive workout at SS, Teel can also catch, similar to his brother. A smooth, quiet, but explosive left handed swing. Uses a small leg lift and stride with compact barrel path through the zone. Loud line drives as one of the youngest participants of the event during BP - and several loud line drive outs during game play too.
- ‘22 SS Johnny Pilla (Don Bosco Prep HS, NJ) showed some barrel quickness at the plate. Starts in a wide stance with hands just above back shoulder. Uses a small foot stride to start swing as hands load up and back. Explosive hips and hands through the zone generate line drive pop. Consistent barrle contact throughout BP round and in game. Athletic 5-foot-10 160-pound frame. 88 exit velocity and 7.01 runner.
‘21 C Zachary Rogacki (Jackson Memorial HS, NJ) has a lean, athletic build at 5-10, 160-pounds. I loved his athleticism from behind the plate and hit elasticity in the box. The frame works - and bat plays up. More power to come out of Rogacki, but an easy, fluid and balanced swing with barrels will certainly turn heads. His catch and throw skills from behind the plate were among the best out of the event as well. 7.38 runner.
‘21 INF Jake Vitale (Sterling HS, NJ) has an athletic frame at 5-foot-10 150-pounds. 6.96 runner, starts in an opened stance and uses a leg lift and stride to recenter body. Small hand load and uptick on finish. Line drive pop out of Vitale on this day. Also impressed on the mound.
‘21 C Christian Hay (River Dell HS, NJ) has a lanky, athletic frame at 6-foot-2 175-pounds. Peppered line drives into the gaps during his BP session and was with his wiry strength from behind the plate as well. Sightly opened stance with small foot lift and stride. Some rhythm in hands prepitch and creates extension through the barrel. Slight uptick on finish.
‘21 3B Joe Skapinetz’s (Gil St. Bernards HS, NJ) has an imposing, physical 6-foot-3 185-pound frame with broad shoulders and strength to lower half. One of the top overall prospects coming out of the event. Tall and opened to start with bat parallel to the ground. Uses a big stride and hands load straight back. Extension in barrel to create gap to gap pop. High follow prospect.
Penn State recruit ‘20 1B Luke Chenault (Pope John XXIII HS, NJ), a Future Games participant i 2018 - put on a show during his batting practice round. A physical, 6-foot-1 100-pound frame with broad shoulders and strong lower half - Chenault consistently barreled up deep into the gaps, and sent a few over the deep RF fence at Don Bosco Prep. Quiet, neutral stance. Small leg lift and fluid hand load. Barrel extension and lift in finish.
‘22 INF Caden Dana (Don Bosco Prep HS, NJ) - a 2019 Future Games participant, showed some projection at the plate with his wiry-athletic 6-foot-3 185-pound frame. Quiet and controlled to start, a small foot stride and stagnant hand load. There’s some polishing left for Dana, but the tools stood out - more strength to add to frame bodes well.

Middle Infielders

Teel stood out with 89 MPH across the diamond - but his rangey athleticism bodes well for him in the future
‘21 INF Jason Arrigo (Ridge HS, NJ) projects as more of a 3B type with a solid 5-foot-9 165-pound frame - but his actions play up. Quick, easy exchange into a high-¾ slot with carry on throws. At the plate, easy, compact swing from the right side. Line drive pop with smooth hand load.
‘21 INF Aidan Hofmann (Cape May Tech HS, NJ) has some strength to his frame at 6-feet 190-pounds. Another corner-infielder projection, Hofmann stood out with his strength at the plate and his line drive pop. Small toe-tap and explosive hips and hands through the zone.
‘22 INF Michael Whooley (Ramapo HS, NJ) has some talent in the middle infield with his quick, easy hands and strong arm across the diamond. Fields ball in front of body and plays through the ball, Whooley stood out with his double play hand work and abillity to throw from different slots.
‘21 INF Marco Mannino (Northern Burlington HS, NJ) has a lanky-wiry frame at 6-feet 150-pounds. I loved his actions both in the workout and in gameplay. Throws from multiple angles on the run and glove work has smooth, fluid exchange.

Arms

‘20 RHP Alex Hunt (St. Augustine Prep HS, NJ) and ‘20 LHP Jake McKenna (Ocean City HS, NJ) were both equally electric on the mound in their innings. Hunt was every bit of 86-88 touching 89 from a true-¾ sling-shot type slot. Showed improved command of all pitches and a breaking ball with late 11/5 bite. McKenna was more over-the-top from the left side - flashed an impressive straight changeup at 77-78 with fastball hand speed.
‘20 RHP Jarod Abram (Governor Livingston HS, NJ) has a durable frame at 6-foot-4 225-pounds - more over-the-top than high-¾ for Abram, fastball had some armside run at 84-86 MPH. Showed some feel for a breaker at 73-75.
‘22 RHP Caden Dana (Don Bosco Prep HS, NJ) - a 2019 Future Games participant, was outstanding in his inning of work. The stuff is there (and so are the bloodlines) consistently 84-86 and spun a tight, late breaking CB at 71-72.
2020 RHP Jordan Gray (GCTI HS, NJ) has a lean, lanky frame at 6-foot-3 175-pounds with long, wiry, and loose limbs. Fastball had late armside run at 84-85 from a true ¾ slot and spun a sharp 11/5 CB at 72-75. Very impressive outing out of Gray and won’t be on the board for much longer.
2020 RHP Vincent Vartolone (Lodi HS, NJ) is an interesting arm. Up to 89 MPH last week at the Wladyka event, sat mostly 83-85 touching 86 MPH in his outing. Possesses two different breaking balls, one that has bigger 11/5 shape and a slider that has tighter, later shape. High-¾ slot with a come-at-you type delivery.
Lehigh recruit 2020 LHP Nick Beetel (Jackson Memorial HS, NJ) was up to 87 and sat mostly 84-86. Spun an improved breaking ball with late 1/7 break at 66-68.
2021 RHP Brandon Feigin (Toms River North HS, NJ) was impressive in his outing as well - sitting 83-84 touching 85 and spun a sharp 11/5 breaking ball for strikes at 66-70. Used the CB as a strikeout pitch. Also flashed a changeup at 74-75.
2020 RHP Michael Ippolito (Randolph HS, NJ) sat 82-84 touching 85 and flashed a breaking ball depth 11/5 at 70-73. Works quickly and dictates the flow of the game/inning.
2021 RHP Kristopher Giangreco (Delran HS, NJ) has a durable frame at 6-foot-1 180-pounds. Fastball sat 82-83 touching 84 MPH and flashed a curveball at 70-72 for strikes from a high-¾ slot.
2021 RHP Joe Skapinetz (Gill St. Bernards HS, NJ) was mentioned above in the left handed hitters to watch for - but was equally impressive on the mound. Big frame at 6-foot-3, clean and easy arm action at 81-83 touching 85 and a breaker for strikes. More velocity in the tank with his lean, projectable frame.
2023 RHP Aidan Teel (Mahwah HS, NJ) was arguably the most impressive arm to toe the rubber. 82-84 with armside sink and run. Breaking ball has some shape at 11/5 and can locate for strikes
2021 LHP Brian Young (Neptune HS, NJ) was a name to circle. The frame is long and lanky, but was consistently 81-82 in the lower half of the strike zone with a sharp breaking ball at 68-69 - arguably the best offspeed pitch of the entire event.

Outfielders

2020 OF Kenny Lombardo (Hunterdon Central HS, NJ) and 2022 OF Kyle Neri (St. Augustine Prep HS, NJ) were on the barrel the entire event. Lombardo ran a 6.87 60 yard dash - one of the best of the event. Both are broad shouldered and athletic that project well at the next level.
2020s Patrick Cerami (Bergen Catholic HS, NJ) and Kevin Foreman (St. Augustine Prep HS, NJ) have similar games as well. Both are utility-type players and have strong, durable frames. Foreman ran a 6.73 60 yard dash - one of the top times of the event.
2021 Richie Sica (Ramapo HS, NJ) is one of the top all around athletes from the event. Strong, 6-foot 180-pound build and multi-sport player. Power potential is there - gap to gap right now as just a 2021.
2021 Kyle Adorno (Johnson HS, NJ) ran an event-best 6.62 60 yard dash and is a playmaker on the basepaths and a line drive hitter. Adorno has raised eyebrows all summer long with his performances at various event with the Diamond Jacks 16U team.

Catchers

2020 C Nathan Goranson (Millville HS, NJ) and 2021 Logan Kobis (High Point HS, NJ) are from extreme opposite ends of the state - but both possess the same amount of power potential at the plate. Goranson turned in a loud batting practice round and several loud barrel contacts in gameplay. Both have strong arms from behind the plate with 83 and 79 MPH down to 2B, respectively.
2020 Drew Stasuk (St. Augustine Prep HS, NJ) handles velocity with ease and has done so for several years now with the arms that come out of St. Augs. Arm strength present at 76 MPH from behind the plate - short, compact swing with line drive pop.
2021 Jimmy Brennan (Chatham HS, NJ) and 2021 Logan Ronney are both similar frames and bats at the plate. Rooney has strength and barrel awareness right now.

More Bats

Louisville recruit 2022 INF Rocko Brzezniak (St. John Vianney HS, NJ) is well known in NJ with his power prowess. Turned in one of the best impressive rounds of BP that I have seen thus far in the summer as just a rising sophomore, blasting several into the deep CF bleachers at Don Bosco. He’s quiet in his setup, but is lightning quick and explosive with his torso to create elite-type power.
2020 INF Louis Fabbo (Waldwick HS, NJ) is another bat with a utility-type game in the field. Can play all three infield positions with ease and has a simple, athletic approach at the plate.
2021 1B Connor Grotyohann (Wallkill Valley HS, NJ) has a broad shouldered frame at 6-foot-3 195-pounds. Big power from the right side and creates extension in hands/arms to the barrel and lift in finish.