Prep Baseball Report

NJ: Top Uncommitted 2018s


TJ Hunt
Director, PBR New Jersey

The Early Signing Period has come and gone, but there are still a plethora of 2018s still out there. The 2018 class is stacked with talent still looking for a spot to play. Below are some names from the spring, summer, and fall seasons that are still uncommitted:

 




Scouting Report

2017 New Jersey State Games (July 26-27, 2017)
Klimek has a strong, athletic build at 5-foot-10 160-pounds. Ran the 60 yard dash in 7.09-seconds, recorded an exit velocity that topped at 87 MPH. Klimek was one of the top performers of the whole event both on the mound and at the plate. Offensively – smoked 5 extra base hits in gameplay, three triples and two doubles, splitting both gaps. Sets up in a wide, balanced stance with hands above back shoulder and a slight knee bend. As pitch comes in, uses a small foot stride to start swing as hands load up and back fluidly. Explosive hips and short, compact swing help him develop line drive pop into the gaps. Finishes balanced with lift to swing. Defensively – took reps from the outfield. Throws topped at 85 MPH with backspin and carry. Quick first step on fly balls, instinctual athlete. High-3/4 slot. PitchingFastball topped at 82 and sat mostly 80-82 throughout his outing. Flashed a 66-68 MPH curveball with 1/7 tilt and a changeup with armside fade at 73-74. Three pitch mix for strikes, Klimek dominated the bottom half of the strike zone. Primarily out of the stretch to start, rises to an athletic balance point. Downhill shoulders going down the mound. Lands with firm, strong front leg and opened foot, causing him to drift toward third base side of rubber. Long, loose and clean arm action from a high-3/4 slot. 







Scouting Report

2017 New Jersey State Games (July 26-27, 2017)
Jachera has a lean, wiry, athletic build at 6-foot-3 170-pounds. Ran the 60 yard dash in 6.70-seconds and recorded an exit velocity of 82 MPH. One of the best overall athletes from the event. Offensively – starts in a wide, neutral stance with hands above back shoulder. Uses a foot stride to start swing, hands load down and back with some fluidity. Quick hands and hips through the zone with some lift to swing and finish. Finishes balanced with a firm, stiff front leg. Defensively – took reps from the outfield. Throws topped at 85 MPH with backspin and carry. Short, quick arm action, ball jumps out of hand with firmness.







Scouting Report

2017 New Jersey State Games (July 26-27, 2017)
Spina has a broad shouldered, athletic build at 6-foot-3 205-pounds. Fastball topped at 85 MPH and sat mostly 83-85 throughout his outing. Flashed a curveball at 73-75 with tight spin and fastball arm speed for strikes. Tall, athletic balance point, drop and drive type as he descends down the mound. Uphill shoulders help him get some leverage down in the zone. Long, loose and easy arm action from a high-3/4 slot. Strong, firm landing leg, foot lands square to homeplate. Creates some extension over lead leg on release. Falls off to the first base side. 






Scouting Report

2017 New Jersey State Games (July 26-27, 2017)
Kowalski has a lean, projectable build at 6-foot 170-pounds. Ran the 60 yard dash in 7.26-seconds and recorded an exit velocity that topped at 84 MPH. Offensively – switch hitter. From the right side, starts in a neutral stance with hands just above back shoulder and front foot slightly opened. Uses a foot stride to start swing, hands load back fluidly. Uses extension in arms and hands to get the barrel to the ball. Elastic torso helps create some pop off the bat. From the left side – starts in a tall, opened stance with hands in line with back shoulder. Uses a toe tap and stride to start swing, hands load straight back. Creates some lift to finish. Effortless stroke from both sides. Defensively – one of the top catchers at the event, both receiving and throwing. Throws topped at 71 MPH down to 2B. Pop times recorded between 1.98-2.15 both during the workout and in gameplay. Soft hands, able to handle velocity with ease. Quick, explosive out of the crouch. Glove exchange is quick, short quick arm action. Ball is on the bag routinely.







Scouting Report

Garden State Games (June 2018)
Bowman-Clark has a lean, slender, and athletic build with wiry limbs. Fastball topped at 89 MPH and sat mostly 87-89 in his inning of work. Flashed a slurvy breaking ball at 73-74 MPH. Slow start to delivery to a tall, athletic balance point. Long, loose arm action from a high-3/4 slot. Creates extension over lead leg on release. Firm landing leg, foot lands opened. Elastic torso and limbs help cause fastball to jump on hitters.







Scouting Report

2017 New Jersey State Games (July 26-27, 2017)
Kelly has a broad shouldered, physical frame at 6-foot-2 200-pounds. Ran the 60 yard dash in 7.67-seconds, and recorded an exit velocity of 87 MPH. Offensively – starts in a tall, athletic stance with hands above back shoulder and front foot slightly opened. Uses a leg kick and stride to start swing, hands load down and back fluidly. Strong lower half helps produce some line drive pop. Finishes with some lift to swing and follow through. Defensively – took reps from the outfield. Throws topped at 78 MPH from right field with a short quick arm action. Plays through throws with momentum on the follow through. Throws were on target. 

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Scouting Report

2017 New Jersey State Games (July 26-27, 2017)
Carmolingo has a broad shouldered, athletic frame at 6-foot-3 225-pounds. Ran the 60 yard dash in 7.42-seconds and recorded an exit velocity of 93 MPH. Offensively – sets up in a wide stance with hands in line with back shoulder and the bat raise just above shoulder. Uses a leg kick and stride to start swing. Creates some extension in hands and arms to the baseball to create some pop. Stiff front landing leg on contact and rises up in finish with lift and balance in follow through. Defensively – took reps at third base with throws that topped at 82 MPH across the diamond. Short, quick arm from true-3/4 slot. Throws were on line with some armside run. Fields ball out in front of body and works through throws to first base with momentum. Heavy feet on lateral movements, average hands and exchange. Pitching – fastball topped at 82 and sat mostly 80-82 in his outing of work. Flashed a curveball with 11/5 spin at 66-67 MPH. Long arm action, uphill shoulders as he descends down the mound creating some leverage down in the zone. High-3/4 slot. Stiff landing leg. Landing foot is square and finishes balanced to homeplate.







Scouting Report

Unsigned Downstate Preview (October 2017):

Cabrera stands in at 6-foot-4, 190-pounds with a tall, athletic frame. Ran a 7.17 – 60. Offensively- Lefty sets up square to the pitcher with his feet wide outside shoulder width. Shows a slight knee bend in the back leg while his front leg is straight keeping his weight back. Has an upright torso holding the bat above the back shoulder using little pre-pitch bat movement. On pitch, his trigger is a quick knee raise in to stride forward while his hands move back into the hitting position. Utilizes good lower body rotation clearing his hips and getting his whole-body frame involved in the process of the swing. Shows quick hands into the hitting zone with a level barrel path throughout into a high one-handed finish. Demonstrated line drive ability up the middle and to the pull side during batting practice round. Shows a fluid swing with potential. Recorded an exit velocity of 87 MPH. Defensively- Good approach and footwork getting to and underneath the baseball. Catches the ball clean with a good transfer into the throwing mechanics with a strong follow though gaining ground throughout the whole process. Moves well left/right and was accurate on throws. Recorded a positional arm velocity of 88 MPH. Pitching- Sets up in the middle of the rubber with a simple side step and a high leg raise above the hip crease. Breaks down well with good separation into a high ¾ release point. Reliable with his mechanics and gets whole body involved in the pitching delivery. Consistent throwing strikes in the zone and able to spot all pitches down. Fastball range was 82-84 MPH and peaked at 85 MPH with good arm side run. Curveball was 66-67 MPH with tight 12/6 spin that can make hitters swing and miss. Change up was 73-74 with good arm side sink. Overall a talented 2018 grad that is still available.








Scouting Report

Futures Preview North ( June 3, 2017)
Vandine has an athletic build at 5-foot-9, 165-pounds. Ran a 7.22 60-yard dash. Recorded an exit velocity of 85 MPH. Offensively – starts in a slightly opened stance with hands above back shoulder. Uses a small leg lift and stride to start swing. Hands stay stagnant throughout load sequence. Short, compact swing through the zone with balance throughout. Line drive pop. Defensively – throws topped at 74 MPH across the infield. Smooth glovework into a high glove exchange. Arm action is quick and ball gets out of glove with accuracy and carry.







Scouting Report

2017 New Jersey State Games (Jule 26-27, 2017)
Bush has a lean, athletic build at 6-foot-2 165-pounds with some projectability and room to fill out. Fastball topped at 84 MPH and sat mostly 80-82 throughout his two innings of work. Long, loose and clean arm action from a high-3/4 slot. Long, elastic and wiry limbs. Curveball showed 11/5 depth at 67-69 with tight spin for strikes. Effortless, easy delivery. Balanced throughout. Square landing foot and strong, sturdy landing leg. Creates some extension on release over lead leg.


 




Scouting Report

2017 New Jersey State Games (July 26-27, 2017)
Colbert has a lean, athletic build at 5-foot-11 180-pounds. Ran the 60 yard dash in 7.84-seconds and recorded an exit velocity that topped at 88 MPH. One of the top catchers from the event. Offensively – LHH with feel for the barrel. Starts in a narrow, opened stance with hands below back shoulder. Uses a small leg kick to start swing and square body to homeplate. Explosive hips and hands through the zone with lift and balance to swing. Line drive hitter with gap to gap potential. Defensively – one of the top receiving catchers from the event. Soft hands and presents a big target behind the plate. Pop times ranged between 2.07-2.14 in game. Throws to 2B topped at 74 MPH and were on the bag. Short arm action with slight pause as he rises out of the crouch. Sound, athletic blocking technique, keeps ball out in front. Able to handle velocity with ease.







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