By Shooter Hunt
National Crosschecker
@ShooterHunt

The summer has ended, and after a busy season, the cream of the 2020 crop has risen to the top. With the release of the updated PBR 2020 rankings, On the Hunt, dives into nine of the top uncommitted players on it including possibly four two-way players,,three pitchers, and two shortstops. All of the players have continued to see advancements in their game’s, and have ceilings that are set high. They each demonstrate the skills needed to compete at a high level in college and beyond. States represented are Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, New Jersey, and Wisconsin.

 

 

CJ Pittaro SS / 2B / Steinert, NJ / 2020 Rankings  Overall Rank:40 POS:9 Pittaro had recruiters from coast to coast talking while performing at the Underclass Area Code Games in California. Getting my first glimpse of the young infielder, I was thoroughly impressed by his makeup and overall feel for the game. He fielded ground balls and took batting practice like a seasoned veteran, and it transferred over to the game. Pittaro sets up balanced and slightly open before shifting his weight back while squaring off with a short stride. His hands move slightly back before ripping through the zone on a level path with a higher finish. His feel for the barrel is advanced for his age and he sprays the ball to all fields while working primarily middle to opposite field during games. His 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame is athletically strong, and has a chance to get even more so in the future. For this reason, he may end up shifting to third base at some point where he will likely be a plus-defender, but he currently shows the hands and footwork necessary to stick at shortstop. Along with his demeanor and confidence, what impressed me most about Pittaro was his ability to pick up pitches early. He was never fooled, and seemed to always have a plan at the plate. Also a good basketball player, Pitarro should continue elevate his game given his athleticism, and will be heavily recruited in the future.

 

 

Edward Howard IV SS / 2B / Mount Carmel, IL / 2020 Rankings  State Rank:3 POS:1 Overall Rank:61 POS:14 Playing on a strong Mount Carmel varsity team as a freshman is impressive, but being the starting shortstop says even more. Howard did just that, and it is easy to see why. With a twitchy first step, and impressive hands, Howard looks to be one of the top middle infield prospects in the 2020 class. He gracefully moves side to side while scooping up anything in his way before showing off a quick release and accurate throws. At the plate, the right-handed hitter sets up square, and uses a short stride and load to generate force forward through the zone. Balanced at all times, Howard’s hands work quickly through the zone where his barrel appears to remain for a long time on a level path. He features aggressive hips, and as he continues maturing, there should be even more power found in his 5-foot-11, 156-pound frame. Because of his ability to handle the bat, and strong skills at shortstop, Howard should be one of the more heavily recruited infielders in the 2020 class.

 

PLUS 7 OTHER PLAYERS: