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Updated Pennsylvania Class of 2016 Rankings Released

November 26, 2015

By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting

A little over four months have passed since our last major update to the PA class of 2016 rankings, so we thought we'd provide you with an appetizer to chew on before your Thanksgiving feast, or, at least, something to read during those three-and-a-half-hour football games (but people say baseball is slow).  Safe travels to all who are doing so.  Gobble gobble!

Top Ten

Rank Name State School Class Pos Commitment
1 Nolan Jones PA Holy Ghost Prep 2016 SS/RHP Virginia
2 Alex Kirilloff PA Plum 2016 OF/LHP Liberty
3 Brandon McIlwain PA Council Rock North 2016 OF South Carolina (football)
4 Max Kranick PA Valley View 2016 RHP Virginia
5 Isaiah Kearns PA Mifflin County 2016 3B/RHP West Virginia
6 Jake Jessell PA Woodland Hills 2016 C/RHP Pittsburgh
7 Jon Dignazio PA North Allegheny 2016 LHP Maryland
8 Dante Biasi PA Hazleton Area 2016 LHP/OF Penn State
9 Kenny Bergmann PA William Penn Charter 2016 C/OF Connecticut
10 Carter Cross PA Cathedral Prep 2016 RHP/OF Nebraska

 

Limited movement inside the top ten, with Jones, Kirilloff, and McIlwain all sure to draw a bevy of scouts this spring after having standout performances at major summer and fall events. The lone new entrant is Biasi, who slides up a few spots after TrackMan recorded him touching 92-mph last month before settling in a 86-89.

Risers

Twin Valley right-handed pitcher A.J. Alexy (Radford), who worked in the mid-80s for most of the summer with a projectable delivery and 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame, slid up ten spots from the fringe of the top 25 after TrackMan recorded him touching 91-mph in a outing last month during which he held 87-88 in a complete game effort.

The two biggest jumps were taken by North Penn first baseman/outfielder Kadar Namey (St. Joseph's) and North Allegheny catcher Daniel McCauley (Ohio). Namey is a physical monster at 6-foot-4, 240-pounds with impressive right-handed raw power, while also being a surprisingly good athlete for someone his size. McCauley has staked his claim as one of the top defensive catchers in the state, as he shows plus receiving ability to go along with a quick release and accurate throwing arm.

Two left-handed pitchers -- Archbishop John Carroll's Chris Altopiedi (La Salle) and North Schuylkill's Bobby Grigas -- also climbed the list. Altopiedi has a solid build, feel for multiple pitches, and good mound presence. The biggest thing holding Grigas back is health, as the 6-foot-1, 185-pound starting quarterback is underexposed on the diamond having missed significant chunks of the last two spring baseball seasons due to injury.

One final riser of note is North Pocono outfielder J.P. Walsh (Monmouth), who checks into the top 100 for the first time. While undersized at 5-foot-9, 150-pounds, Walsh can go get it on defense and is a plus runner on the basepaths (22 stolen bases as a junior) whose offense could take off as he adds strength to his frame.

Notable Additions

Neumann-Goretti right-handed pitcher Jeff Ciocco (Western Kentucky), who transferred in from Paul VI HS in New Jersey, features a mid- to upper-80s fastball in his 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame.

Chartiers Valley catcher/third baseman Brady Gulakowski (Pittsburgh) was a relatively late addition to the Panthers' class, but he shows good plate discipline with some pop in a compact stroke along with solid defensive skills at both positions.

A trio of PSAC-bound pitchers -- North Allegheny RHP Jake Fischbaugh (Seton Hill), Central Bucks South RHP Daniel McCartin (West Chester), and Central Cambria LHP T.J. Adams (Indiana of PA) -- all have made their initial appearance in the middle section of the list. Fischbaugh is a strike-thrower with a mid-80s fastball and 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame. McCartin himself has a mid-80s fastball, command of a slider, and a solid 6-foot-1, 190-pound build. Adams has a live arm that has touched 87-mph with a solid 12/6 curveball, although he will need to iron out some command issues in order to reach his ceiling.

Finally, a couple of staff favorites -- Manheim Township RHP/IF Brett Alaimo (Bloomsburg) and Boyertown Area RHP Andrew Bauer -- landed just outside the top 150 because, despite smaller frames limiting physical projection, they simply project to get outs at the next level. 6-foot Alaimo has a long, loose arm action and saw his velocity jump from 80-82 to 83-85 over the course of the summer. 5-foot-8 Bauer has exhibited command of a four-pitch mix, ability to add and subtract off his fastball (that has touched 84-mph), and a feel for living on the edges of the zone.

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