By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

Predicting the success of a prospect who has yet to play a single high school baseball game can be vey tricky. How much the prospect will grow physically, which will play a large role in his development of velocity and power, is guesswork at best. There are however a small percentage of players this age that stand out and make it a bit easier to make a predicition with some degree of confidence. 

The Class of 2016 in Pennsylvania clearly has two players who fit the mold of future prospects. Today we look at these two promising lefties.

J.J. Bleday, LHP/OF, Class of 2016, Titusville HS
Bleday is a 6-foot-2, 165-pound prospect with a lot of potential. One of only three freshmen at the PA Underclass Games in September, his 85 mph throws from the outfield were an event best. The left-handed hitter's 89 mph bat exit velocity was also among the best of the weekend. Bleday showed great promise on the mound. His fastball topped at 82 mph out of a fluid delivery with much more in the tank. His 71 mph changeup is thrown at near fastball arm speed and his 71 mph curveball has the makings of a plus pitch. Bleday's brother Adam, ranked No. 5 in the PA Class of 2013 and a University of Virginia recruit, sits 85-87 on the mound. J.J., a full three years younger, is already three inches taller and likely to see 90 mph in his future.

Alex Kirilloff, LHP/1B, Class of 2016, Cheswick Academy
Kirilloff is a 6-foot, 170-pound LHP/1B with a great deal of potential. He shows an advanced approach to hitting for a player his age with good gap power and the ability to consistently square the baseball. The left-handed hitting freshman showcased well at the PA Underclass Games in September with an 83 mph bat exit velocity and 7.31 60-yard dash time. During game play he demonstrated signs that he has the makings of a special hitter, going 3-for-7 on the weekend.

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