Maryland Top Prospect Games: Early Thoughts

Tuesday’s Maryland Top Prospect Games at the University of Maryland was loaded with talented players across the state. In all, 62 players showcased their skills in front of the PBR Maryland scouting staff and college coaches from around the region.

Below are some initial thoughts and highlights of players from the event.

2020 Jake Gelof of Cape Henlopen High School (DE) was impressive and statistically stole the show. He topped out at 88 mph on the bump in the one inning he threw and also recorded event bests in OF Velo (94 mph), INF Velo (92 mph), and Exit Velo (95 mph). On the mound Gelof sat 86-87 and mixed in a 73-74 mph curveball and 81 mph change-up. In the infield, where he played primarily on the day; Gelof moved well, showed good actions and soft hand to go along with his strong arm. At the plate, he showed a quick compact swing and ability to go with the ball where it was pitched. Gelof battled and finished 2-for-3 in the game with two line drive singles. He also showed some pop pull-side during his BP rounds.

Top outfield performer was unsigned 2019 Justin Carboni of Walt Whitman High School. One of Carboni’s best tools is his speed and it was on full display as he made two spectacular catches in the outfield (a full out diving catch in the gap and running down a ball on the right field line). He also swiped a couple bags while on the bases. During the workout Carboni showed a strong arm with an OF Velo of 86 and showed good potential at the plate hitting the ball hard in two game AB’s as well as throughout BP. Carboni has the ability to be a game-changer and is certainly one of the top unsigned 2019 outfielders remaining in the state.

Two 2020’s and one 2021 catcher really made a name for themselves at this year’s event. At 6’3 180 lb., left handed hitting catcher Christian Ficca (2020) from Gonzaga College has a very projectable frame. He had a nice rhythm at the plate and remained quiet and balanced throughout his swing. Behind the dish he receives the ball well and threw a top event pop at 1.91. Another projectable body catcher was 6’0’’ 175 lb. Zachary Geesaman from Atholton High School in Howard County. Geesaman threw an average pop time of 2.05 in his five throws and hit the ball hard all three times up to the plate during the game. He displayed some power during BP and will be an interesting player to watch as he continues to grow into his body and get stronger. 2021 catcher Brandon M. Bradshaw arguably had all-around the best day at the plate going 3-3 with three smoked line drives. Bradshaw is short and quick to the ball and really whips the bat through the zone. He demonstrated the ability to hit the ball to all fields and turned nicely on a few pitches. Bradshaw has some work to do receiving behind the plate but showed a good exchange throwing and average pop of 2.15. Bradshaw also pitches and will be an interesting prospect to keep an eye on as he continues to grow and develop.

A few other infielders with really nice days were uncommitted 2019’s Dylan Young of Chesapeake (AA) High School, Seif Ingram of Avalon, Derek Ohringer of Eleanor Roosevelt, and 2019 University of Towson commit Ryan Terrents. Young has an aggressive line drive swing and really attacks the baseball ripping three singles; two the opposite way. He showed good actions up the middle during the workout with a quick exchange and was 82 mph across the diamond on the gun. Ingram added two line drive hits, a single and a double showing quick hands at the plate and the ability to take the ball to the opposite field. Defensively, Ingram moves extremely well in the infield at both positions up the middle. He is athletic, very smooth, and has a quick exchange to go along with a strong arm (86 mph INF Velo). Ingram made several nice plays and makes difficult plays look routine with his fluidity fielding. Ohringer showed his ability to keep his hands back and adjust going 3-for-4 with two doubles down the right field line in the game. At shortstop, Ohringer works well through the ball and demonstrated the ability to make throws from several different arm angles. Terrents really uses his lower half to drive the ball and showed off his power in BP. He recorded two hits during the game and was smooth for his size of 6’3’’ 190 lbs at shortstop during the workout showcasing a 88 mph INF Velo (2nd best on the day). Terrents also pitched two innings topping out at 85 mph with a sharp - late breaking 72-73 mph breaking ball and a 74-75 mph change-up.

Derrick Booker and Charles Hafer are two other outfielders who really swung it well at the plate Tuesday. Booker ripped a triple to the pull side gap and went oppo for an RBI double later in the game. Hafer has quick hands and a compact swing in which the ball just flies off his bat. The same can be said for first basemen Noah Iseman who added two hits (one double) and a couple loud outs during the game.

On the mound, fifteen guys were 80+ mph (Adam Watkins, Pete Marchineck, Mason Levin, Aaron Winsker, Terrents, Evan Selmer, Noah Ager, Evan Lewis, Bobby Duffy, Cameron Snyder, Dylan Young, Gabe Delgado, Robert Jurney, Zach Powers, and Jake Gelof). Nine of which were also 83+ mph (Watkins, Marchineck, Levin, Terrents, Selmer, Ager, Lewis, Powers, and Gelof). Lewis and Gelof both topped out at 88 mph (best on the day). Lewis’ fastball sat 85-86 with some run and his slider was 73-76. Unsigned 2019 LHP Pete Marchineck of Calvert Hall impressed running his fastball up to 85 mph sitting 82-84 in the two innings of work. Marchineck has short arm actions and hides the ball well. His offspeed included a sweeping breaking ball at 66-68 mph and a change-up at 68-69 mph. 2020 Mason Levin of Walt Whitman High School sat 82-84 topping out at 85 mph and featured a sharp 12/6 breaking ball at 69-71 mph and a 76-78 mph change-up. Unsigned 2019 Zach Powers of Archbishop Spalding was also impressive touching 84 mph on his fastball that moved every time. To go along with the fastball, Powers threw an 11/5 68-71 mph breaking ball.

Stayed tuned throughout next week as we continue to analyze the event and take a look at more players from this past week’s Maryland Top Prospect Games.