Western PA Summer Review: Class of 2018 Analysis
June 26, 2017
By Dan Williams
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting
The summer rush of PBR events in Pennsylvania continued this week with the 2017 Western PA Summer Review on June 20. 32 prospects from Pennsylvania gathered for a showcase and a 9-inning game at Kelly Automotive Park home of the Butler Blue Sox. Today we concude 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 Prospect
Brandon Fleeger, 2018, Butler Area, RHP/1B/3B
6-foot, 215-pound right-handed hitter and pitcher. While Fleeger did flash solid bat speed and athleticism, defensively, his present bigger upside projects on the mound. Fleeger's size and athletic frame contribute to his confident mound presence. He pitches out of a high 3/4 arm slot with a smooth, balanced and repeatable delivery. He demonstrates a loose arm action with easy velocity sitting 84-85 and touching 86. CB is 73-74 with 11-5 shape, bite and depth. Slider sat 75 with 10-4 shape and tight spin. Fleeger was able to command both his FB and secondary offerings.
Initiates swing with toe tap and short stride from square set up. Good balance, solid separation and an aggressive hip turn achieve a bat exit velocity of 85 mph. The back elbow does get substantially in front of hands when connecting resulting in bat drag and decreased ability to control barrel.
Ricky Mineo, 2018, Slippery Rock Area, RHP/1B
6-foot-5, 200-pound right-handed pitcher and hitter. Mineo demonstrates considerable arm quickness with long levers resulting in downhill plane to his pitches out of a high 3/4 arm slot.. FB sits 82-85 and touches 87. CB sat 67-72 with 12-6 shape and sharp break with considerable depth. Slider is thrown at 74 mph and has late sharp break with tight spin and 10-4 shape. While there is difficulty in repeating delivery at times Mineo has shown marked improvement in this area over recent months. Secondary offerings have the makings of next level out pitches and strength gains project to future velocity jump.
Remainder of roster (in alphabetical order)
Sterling Conner, 2018, Clarion Area, C/OF
5-foot-11, 155-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing with short stride. Athleticism and feel for barrel allow for Conner to make consistent contact. He recorded an 81 mph bat exit velocity. Bat is held deep in hands and swing is somewhat unconnected at times with associated length. Conner would also benefit from a more aggressive lower half turn.
Defensively, there is athleticism with good hands,lateral movement and blocking skills. A quicker transfer would benefit in improving recorded 2.15 pop time.
Bryan Layton Jr., 2018, Redbank Valley, RHP/SS
6-foot-1, 160-pound right-handed pitcher and hitter initiates swing from square set up with short stride. Demonstrates good balance, short swing with direct hand path. There is some head movement with intermittent dropping of hands. Adequate separation is present. A bat exit velocity of 81 was recorded.
Defensively, an accurate 76 mpn arm was present. Layton Jr would benefit from playing through the ball more aggressively and working from bottom up.
On the mound Layton Jr. pitching out of a high 3/4 arm slot sitting 79-80 with FB touching 81. CB was thrown at 69 mph with rolling 11-5 break and shape. Layton Jr. was able to command FB and CB on this day. Mechnically he steps closed with associated first base fall. He would benefit from stepping in line and driving over front side.
Isaiah Lucas, 2018, Butler Area, OF
6-foot-1, 190-pound right- handed hitter initiates swing from square set up utilizing a knee to knee leg kick. There is excellent rhythm, balance, weight shift and separation to swing. Hands are quick and explosive lower half is present in recording a bat exit velocity of 94 mph. Length is added by some bat wrap.
Defensively, reads are somewhat tentative and Lucas would benefit from aggressively getting behind and playing through the baseball.
Spencer Miller, 2018, Clarion Area, SS/2B
6-foot, 165-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing with knee to knee leg kick from square set up. Athleticism and feel for barrel allow Miller to make consistent contact. Strength and hand speed allowed Miller to record a bat exit velocity of 88 mph. There is some backside collapse with uphill plane to swing. Miller benefit would benefit from working hands and elbow up and back in load and maintaining posture through contact.
Defensively foot speed of 6.83 sixty plays with above average range. Footwork is solid while 75 mph arm strength across diamond may precipitate a move to the right side. There is tendency to play somewhat upright and intermittently field ball deep.
Zack Mosbacher, 2018, Harborcreek, 1B/RHP
6-foot, 205-pound right-handed hitter and pitcher has a solid athletic frame. Swing is initiated from open set up with knee to knee leg kick and stride to slightly open. There is good balance, rhythm. weight shift and separation to swing. A short direct path to the baseball is present. There was occasional difficulty being on time. A bat exit velocity of 82 was recorded.
Defensively, Mosbacher moves athletically around the bag with good footwork. There is tendency to field ball top down.
On the mound, Mosbacher showed good balance and rhythm o a clean repeatable delivery. FB sat 77-79 with subtle arm side run. CB was velocity 59-61 with rolling break and 11-5 shape. FB was commanded to both sides of plate.
Tyler Oedekoven, 2018, Cathedral Prep, OF
6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed hitter and thrower. Oedekoven initiates swing from square set up utilizing reverse toe tap and short stride. Quick loose hands are present. There is very good feel for barrel as Oedekoven was able to square multiple balls in round of BP. There is swaying of hips with non aggressive hip turn. Mechanics lead to uphill swing path. Hand speed, strength and overall athleticism resulted in 86 mph bat exit velocity.
Defensively, reads and jumps are excellent with direct appropriate angles taken. Oedekoven gets behind ball and catches it at it's height. Weight transfer and throwing technique are solid on throws of 82 mph from OF. Sixty speed of 6.78 plays up as a result of reads and angles taken.
Jacob Slomers, 2018, Butler Area, OF
5-foot-10, 150-pound right handed hitter, swing is initiated from square set up with short stride. Good balance and rhythm are present. Swing is connected with direct path to baseball. Slomers hits off firm front side with good separation achieved by an ability to leave hands back during an aggressive weight shift. Recorded bat exit velocity of 80 which based on mechanics should improve with strength gains.
Defensively, routinely gets behind baseball and plays through. Demonstrates confident glove hand in working through ball on ground. Solid weight shift and throwing mechanics with throws of 80 mph from OF are present.
Jacob Weinberg, 2018, Pinerichland, OF
5-foot-9, 165-pound right handed hitter, Weinberg posted the best overall measurable set of any prospect in attendance. Athleticism was evident with sixty time of 6.87, bat exit velocity of 90 mph and OF positional velocity of 85 mph. Swing is initiated with knee to knee leg kick and short stride. There is some hip sway with non aggressive turn creating an uphill swing path. Weinberg was able to make swing play in BP barreling multiple balls and showing gap to gap power.
Defensively, Solid footwork and weight shift are noted on throws. Weinberg would benefit from being more decisive on reads.
Zack Urey, 2018, Lakeview, 1B/OF
6-foot, 170-pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with lift and replace stride. There is a good fell for barrel with multiple balls being squared in BP. Urey would benefit from connecting with back elbow and turning with lower half more aggressively. A bat exit velocity of 78 mph was recorded.
Defensively, Urey showed athletic movements and solid footwork. There was tendency to field ball top down. Athleticism would likely allow versatility as corner outfielder at next level