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By Dan Williams
West Virginia / Western Pennsylvania Director of Scouting

The summer rush of PBR events continued last week with the Southwestern Pennsylvania College Prospect Showcase. 24 prospects from three states gathered to display their talents at Ross Memorial park home of the Washington & Jefferson College Presidents.  Today we conclude our analysis of the prospects in attendance by taking a look at those who participated from the Class of 2018.

+ For complete results from all prospects in attendance - CLICK HERE.

Top Prospects

Logan Vietmeier, 2018, Montour, C/3B
6-foot 200-pound right-handed hitter sets up neutral and initiates swing with substantial knee-to-knee leg kick. An aggressive lower half weight shift and hip turn results in good separation.  Hands are loose and direct to baseball. There is balance and rhythm to swing and load. Leg kick resulted in some difficulty consistently being on time on this day. Mechanics and strength play to bat exit velocity of 90 mph.

Defensively, glove hand is adequate with solid approach to framing. There is clean, quick transfer with short throwing motion and 76 mph arm strength resulting in pop times of 2.03-2.06.  Vietmeier would benefit from consistently staying square in blocking.  

Tanner Froehlich, 2018, Plum, C/1B
6-foot-1, 175-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with short knee-to-knee controlled stride.  Load and swing are balanced with good rhythm. An aggressive weight shift and somewhat passive hip turn result in slightly uphill bat path.  Aggressive weight shift away from hands leads to good separation and corresponding 88 mph bat exit velocity. Swing played to gap power on multiple batting pracitce line drives.

Defensively, good framing and blocking skills were noted. Excellent agility was present in moving laterally. Quick feet, clean transfer and solid arm strength of 80 mph resulted in 1.94-2.06 pop times.

Chris Furka, 2018, Wheeling Central Catholic (WV), 3B
6-foot-1, 175-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with lift-and-replace stride. There is solid weight shift and lower half turn leading to adequate separation.  Hands are quick and loose. Head is still and there is solid balance and rhythm to swing. Bat is on plane early and throughout hitting zone. Furka recorded an 81 mph bat exit velocity.

Defensively, plays ball bottom up and out front.  Demonstrates soft hands and adequate foot work. Throwing motion is somewhat long with 74 mph arm strength across the diamond. Furka is a 7.04 runner. Arm strength may necessitate move to right side of infield. However, overall skill set may make transition somewhat seamless.

Nick Leonard, 2018, Brooke (WV), SS/RHP
5-foot-10, 175-pound right-handed hitter had committed to Alderson Broaddus University in days leading up to showcase. He flashed a two way skill set that projects to considerable success at that level.  Initiates swing from neutral set up with short controlled stride.  Aggressive weight shift and hip turn away from hands leads to good separation.  There is excellent balance and rhythm to load and swing while consistently staying behind baseball. Bat is on plane early and late.  There is tendency to bury bat deep in hands and late head movement created some inconsistency in squaring baseball.  A bat exit velocity of 89 mph was recorded.

Defensively, fields ball bottom up and out front demonstrating confident, soft hands. There is excellent footwork creating appropriate angle and hops.  A clean quick transfer is present with Leonard consistently following throw.  Leonard threw 84 mph across the diamond.  Further evidence of Leonard's considerable athleticism was 7.07 sixty time.

On the mound, sat 86-87 touching 88 mph. Fastball showed subtle arm-side run.  Secondary offerings were inconsistent on this day. Although at it's best 71-73 mph CB had 12-6 shape with moderate depth. Slider thrown at 66-69 mph had short slow 11-7 break. Delivery was repeated well. There was tendency to spin with front side resulting in subtle arm drag. Leonard would benefit from staying closed longer and driving over front side more aggressively.

Josh Kieffer, 2017, SS/2B/OF, Fox Chapel
6-foot, 180-pound right-handed hitter and thrower. Kieffer is a recent high school graduate who plans to take a developmental year and commit to college as a 2018.  He did receive multiple offers as a 2017 graduate but was unable to find the right next level fit. Swing is initiated from neutral set up with short knee-to-knee leg kick and stride. An aggressive weight shift and lower half turn are present. Hands are quick and loose in achieving bat exit velocity of 87 mph. When connecting with back elbow bat remains on top of shoulder creating length and difficulty getting on plane early. Back elbow connecting with bat tight to side of shoulder should result in better early bat plane and shorter path to baseball.

Defensively, fields ball bottom up and out front. There is good lateral quickness and range. Kieffer uses feet to get appropriate hops and angles. Throwing motion is a bit long.

Remainder of roster (in random order)

Caden Highfield, 2018, Oil City, 3B/1B
6-foot, 185-pound right-handed hitter initiated swing from slightly open set up with short stride staying open. Head is still, hands are quick and there is good balance and rhythm to swing. Considerable bat wrap creates substantial length. There is some hip sway with a passive hip turn. Highfield would benefit from more aggressive back side drive and hip turn. Good separation and quick hands led to 90 mph recorded bat exit velocity. 

Defensively, hands are adequate and 70 mph arm strength was recorded. Highfield plays ball bottom up. Throwing motion is somewhat long and across the diamond arm strength of 70 mph may precipitate move to right side of infield.

Isaak James,2018,Westmont Hilltop, OF/RHP
5-foot-10, 145-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with stride to slightly open. Head is still and hands are quick. Weight shift is aggressive, however, lower half turn is limited. James was able to make swing play in batting practice barreling multiple balls. A 75 mph bat exit velocity was recorded.

Defensively, demonstrated comfort running and tracking in drop step. James caught ball at it's height. He would benefit from being more aggressive getting behind and playing through the ball in the air. James is a 7.25 runner.

Ben Kosbie, 2018, Shady Side Academy, 2B/OF
5-foot-10 180-pound left-handed hitter initiates swing from slightly open setup utilizing a short controlled stride while staying open.  Loads with hands and upper body creating substantial arm bar. There is length to swing. Kosbie has excellent feel for barrel and considerable looseness in his hands. Hands and hips are quick. He would benefit from driving elbow up and back in load with subsequent direct back elbow connection to trunk and bat to outside of shoulder.

Defensively, hands and feet are adequate. Throwing motion is long for middle infielder.  Would benefit from being more aggressive in attacking and playing through the baseball. Recorded 79 mph arm strength across the diamond and ran 7.21 60-yard dash.

Jake Rathaway, 2018, 2B/OF/RHP
5-foot-9, 155-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with short knee-to-knee leg kick and stride. There is good balance and head is still.  An aggressive weight shift and hip turn is present. There is some bat tilt in frontal plane as well as passiveness in connecting back elbow directly to trunk. Increased length and intermittent difficulty being on time result. A bat exit velocity of 66 mph was recorded.

Defensively, middle infielder attacks ball and plays through. Plays ball from bottom up and out front with confident hands. Recorded 77 mph across the diamond arm strength.

Showed willingness to catch ball at it's height during his outfield workout. Played through ball well both in air and on ground with 81 mph positional velocity.

Jonathon Taylor, 2019, West Mifflin, SS/2B
5-foot-11, 160-pound right-handed hitter's swing is initiated from neutral set up with short knee-to-knee leg kick and controlled stride. Head is still with good balance demonstrated. Hands work directly to baseball with bat being on plane early and late in hitting zone. Separation is reduced by lack of aggressiveness in connecting with back elbow. Bat is held somewhat deep in hands. Better separation and looser hands could improve already substantial bat exit velocity of 86 mph.

Defensively, Taylor worked as middle infielder from bottom up and out front. His athleticism was evident in his recorded 7.16 sixty time as well as his range and lateral quickness. Taylor demonstrates a smooth, quick transfer and good feet in consistently playing through the ball.

Chris Gillette, 2018, Weir (WV), 3B
6-foot-1 195-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from slightly open set up striding to closed. There is adequate separation, good connection and direct path with hands.  Hands are quick and loose. Striding closed results in some blocking of lower half turn and difficulty staying on plane. Gillette recorded a bat exit velocity of 82 mph.

Defensively, demonstrated soft, confident hands in fielding ball out front and bottom up. Transfers were clean and footwork was solid on throws pf 78 mph across the diamond. Considerable athleticism was reflected in range as well as 7.19 60-yard dash time.

Cole Barker, 2018, Lewis County (WV), RHP/1B
6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from markedly open set up with stride to neutral. Head is still and there is good balance and rhythm to swing. Hands are direct and quick to the baseball. Hips are quick with an aggressive lower half turn. There is very subtle back elbow leak lending to minor bat drag. Subtle bat drag and length of stride from open to neutral result in some inconsistency being on time. Mechanics from heel plant forward are solid.  A bat exit velocity of 83 mph was recorded.

On the mound, there is good balance and Barker is able to repeat his delivery. There is wrist hook and Barker lands excessively open with stride foot. There is some corresponding early opening and arm drag. Fastball sat 78-79 with substantial arm-side run. Curveball thrown at 68-70 mph lacked bite and depth with 11-5 shape. Changeup had significant arm-side run, but little separation at 73-76 mph.

Defensively, shows good footwork around bag and adequate hands. Athleticism is above average for position. Positional velocity of 78 mph was recorded.

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