PA Top Prospect Games Spotlight
September 28, 2012
The PA Top Prospect Games will take place October 6 and 7 at Metro Bank Park in Harrisburg, PA. There are a number of ranked Class of 2014 prospects who will be participating. Today we take a look at those who are ranked and have registered to date.
Shane Connahan, OF/MIF, Midd-West HS
Connahan, ranked No. 34 in the Class of 2014, was a member of Team Pennsylvania at the Under Armour Midwest Future Games in August. The 6-foot, 165-pound left hander has shown the ability to hit consistently for average and occasional gap power. He runs a solid 7.00 60-yard dash and throws well from the outfield. He has showcased throws of 80mph from his outfield position with good carrry.
Ted Williams, 2B/SS, Meadville HS
Williams, ranked No. 37 in the Class of 2014, was a member of Team Pennsylvania at the Under Armour Midwest Future Games in August. The 5-foot-7, 135-pound MIF has excellent defensive fundamentals and good range. He has a strong arm for a prospect his size, 80mph, and should add to that with continued physical growth. Williams is a solid top of the order, left handed hitter, who runs a 7.16 60-yard dash.
Michael Adams, RHP/1B, Cumberland Valley HS
Adams, ranked No. 43 in the Class of 2014, showed a great deal of promise at the Eastern PA Top Prospect Showcase in August. He projects as a potential power pitcher at the next level. The 6-foot-4, 215-pound RHP/1B topped out at 84mph with a heavy fastball. Adams has excellent mechanics that are repeatable. He also showcased control of a 66mph curveball, a 72mph changeup with arm side run and a 72mph slider. His curveball has good 11/5 rotation and could become an out pitch with additional work. Offensively Adams showcased one of the best bat exit speed velos of the day at 85mph. He displayed a short swing path resulting in line drives to all fields with some gap power. He also demonstrated the ability to make all plays at first base. Adams could be a two-way player to watch in the Class of 2014.
Matt Rafferty, RHP/OF, Seneca Valley HS
Rafferty, ranked No. 45 in the Class of 2014, is a solid athlete who runs a 7.00 60-yard dash and has a strong arm from the outfield (80mph). Rafferty was one of the most impressive pitchers at the PA Underclass Top Prospect Games. He worked the first four innings of Game #2 for the Red Team. The 5-11, 175-pound right hander showcased an 82mph fastball, 67mph curveball, 70mph changeup and a 75mph slider. The slider is a plus pitch that he used repeatedly to chalk up eight strikeouts in his four innings of work.
Garett Blank, C/3B, St. James School (MD)
Blank, ranked No. 46 in the Class of 2014, has been one of the top catchers at both Eastern PA Top Prospect Showcases this summer. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound catcher lives in Carlisle, PA, but attends the St. James School in Maryland. Blank's bat exit speed velocity of 88mph allows him to drive baseballs to gaps with consistency. Blank is a polished defensive catcher with a solid set up and receiving skills. He has showcased 2.15-2.20 pop times and throws of 75mph out of the crouch.
Zach Craven, 1B/3B, McKeesport HS
Craven, ranked No. 48 in the Class of 2014, was named the MVP of the Red Team at the PA Underclass Games on September 22 and 23. Craven is a sound defender at both corner infield positions and knows how to hit. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound right handed hitter consistently squares the baseball and has surprising pop in his bat. The long limbed junior does a good job of staying inside the baseball and allows his barrel to stay on plane with the baseball threw the hitting zone.
Trent Sipes, 2B/SS, Hollidaysburg HS
Sipes, ranked No. 51 in the Class of 2014, was impressive at the Western PA Top Prospect Showcase where he showcased his glovework, flashing soft hands, good range and the ability to make all the plays. The 5-foot-7, 135-pound prospect ran a 7.50 60-yard dash and threw 72mph across the infield. He demonstrated a solid approach at the plate with a bat exit speed of 71mph.
Evan Myers, RHP/1B, Pope John Paul II HS
Myers, ranked No. 54 in the Class of 2014, is a strike throwing machine with solid mechanics. He uses a high 3/4 arm slot to top out at 74mph with his fastball, 67mph on his 10/4 breaking curveball and 66mph on his changeup with late arm side run. Offensively the 6-foot-1, 175-pound prospect uses a short, balanced swing path to consistently square the baseball.
Wes Lang, 2B/C, Oil City HS
Lang, ranked No. 59 in the Class of 2014, is a solid left handed hitter who regularly squares the baseball. He had a solid weekend at the PA Underclass games going 4-for-7 in game play. Lang has above average pop for a 5-foot-9, 155-pound prospect and runs a 7.44 60-yard dash.
David Clay, C/1B, Owen J. Roberts HS
Clay, ranked No. 60 in the Class of 2014, attended the Eastern PA Top Prospect Showcase in August and showcased well in all facets of the game. The 5-foot-9, 185-pound C/1B ran a 7.68 60-yard dash and had a bat exit speed of 79mph. Offensively he squared the baseball consistently and showed some power potential hitting out of an open stance. Clay threw 76mph out of the crouch with pop times ranging from 2.08-2.13.