Joey
Spano Jr.

Physical: Athletic and lean 5-foot-11, 170lb frame. 6.76 runner in the 60YD.

Offensively: RHH. Feet just outside shoulders with hands out front at ear level. Loose in the hands with a downward hitch back at load during slight leg lift stride. Compact, direct path into the hitting zone.

Defensively: The primary MIF showed hyper-athleticism and quick, active footwork. High intent defender with feel for internal clock and ability to throw on the run. Topped at 85MPH across.

Physical: Athletic 5-foot-11. 170lb frame with burst available. 6.81 runner in the 60-yard dash.

Offensively: RHH. Balanced, even stance that hinges out over the plate, as the hands start flat over the shoulder. Utilized a toe-tap stride with a barrel-tip to initiate the swing through a whippy, slightly uphill path into the hitting zone. Plenty of torque created from an extra-base hit approach, spraying hard contact from gap-to-gap. Recorded a T87 mph exit velocity via Trackman and added a comfortable 75% barrel rate.

Defensively: The primary shortstop maintained fluid, attacking pace on the left side with advanced posture and a soft glove-hand leading the way. Rangy actions made tough plays look routine, reaching back for an accurate 87 mph arm across the dirt (H ¾). Smooth handle on the run.

Physical: Highly athletic, strong 5-foot-11, 170lb frame. 6.74 runner in the 60.

Offensively: RHH. Shoulder-width, even stance, as the hands start tipped from a higher position to begin. Utilized a toe-tap stride to unleash a whippy, flat path into the hitting zone, creating hard contact to the middle-pull side of the field. Stayed in the legs while working from the ground-up, producing a T88 mph exit velocity. Maintained a short-to-long approach with an 80% sweet spot rate and 70% line-drive rate.

Defensively: The middle infielder featured advanced actions on the move and a quick exchange from H ¾ slot. Showed shifty movements off the bat and gained angles over the front side at the touch. Fielded cleanly and reached back for 86 mph arm-strength positionally.

Physical: The highly regarded 5-foot-11, 170-pounder adds athleticism at each look. 6.97 runner in the 60-yard dash. 

Offensively: RHH - Started from a balanced, even stance with the hands operating deep at the shoulder. Utilized a stretched leg-hang stride with good body control as the hands unleashed through a flat, high-intent path into the zone. Accurate round of line-drives and wicked contact all over the field, recording a 93 mph bat-exit velocity and 89 AVG. Worked up into the 327 foot distance range on his furthest result, cashing in with a 67% sweet spot rate. Will be a mandatory follow during the high school season. 

Defensively: The primary shortstop featured a plethora of routes on the approach, always on the move and gaining ground through the fielding window. Kept momentum to the target at release, generating carrying 87 mph arm-strength that flashes in-game as well. Rangy defender that can make all the plays, even across the body on the run. 

Pitching: RHP - Fun to watch with lots of pace and quality movements down the slope, Spano Jr. found a clean stack position and let the arm work on-time to a power position. The ball comes out with some life, up to 83 mph on the FB and mixes a sharp 68-70 mph breaker that has the makings of an out pitch (2418rpms).

Physical: Athletic, projectable 5-foot-11, 160lb frame that has grown vertical in recent years adding projection. 7.03 runner in the 60-yard dash. 

Offensively: RHH - Upright, slightly open stance with the hands operating loosely at the shoulder. Utilized a leg lift stride with pace into footstrike, driving the lower half with authority as the hands followed through a high-intent, slightly uphill path into the hitting zone. Lots of bat-speed present allowing for loud contact to the pull-side when impacting at the front of the plate. Able to stay relatively balanced in the legs while hitting behind the baseball, producing an impressive 63% line drive rate during his batting practice round with much improved bat to ball skills. Notched a T85 mph bat-exit velocity via Trackman with more coming as he continues holding strength, a two-sport athlete to watch as he continues growing into the body. 

Defensively: The primary shortstop moved around gracefully with range in either direction. Kept low posture and momentum down to the target as a soft glove hand fielded confidently off the middle of his body. Able to field in/outside the left foot with good actions on the move, releasing quickly from a fluid, high ¾ slot across the diamond (T79 mph arm). An above-average defender that keeps getting better at each look with the pace to match.

Physical: 5-foot-11, 160LBS. Lean, athletic frame. Quick twitch and projectable.

Offensively: RHH. Begins with feet shoulder width apart and slightly open. Upright stance that gathers plenty of leverage as he attacks the baseball. Utilizes a leg kick as weight is transferred to the rear leg. Begins to drift towards the pitcher as the leg lifts. Simultaneously the hands load straight back and create torque between the lower and upper body. Barrel is flat through the hitting zone with a high, dramatic finish. High intent mover that gets the most out of the frame.

Defensively: Primary SS. Active feet and quick first step. Uses a prep step as pitch is being delivered. Moves on the balls of feet and can change direction quickly. Reads hops of ground ball off to the side and fields ball using "right, left" footwork. Fields ball out in front with a strong base and funnels to belt line. Strong drive towards 1B that begins in the lower half and ends with a live arm swing releasing from a high 3/4 arm slot. 

Physical: 5-foot-8, 135 pounds; slender, athletic build. 7.27 runner in the 60. Offensively: RHH. Open narrow stance; short high elbow aggressive load of hands with knee to knee stride. Aggressive lower half, stays behind the ball with slight lift. Hard hit flyballs to pull side; peak Trackman exit velocity of 80 MPH. Defensively: Upright, walks into ready position; laid back, works body around the ball. soft hands with seamless transfer; standard 3/4 arm slot. INF - 74 MPH.

Defensively, young, developing player works bottom up and out front with soft, confident hands. Spano shows early understanding of utilizing feet to create appropriate hops and angles.

Offensively, initiates swing from neutral set up with knee to knee keg kick and stride to neutral. Good separation is achieved in working away from hands. Subtle front knee stiffness and early locking creates an uphill swing path. There is barrel feel and athleticism to swing.

+ 2018 PBR Junior Future Games Selection (12U Team Pennsylvania)
+ 2019 PBR Junior Future Games Selection (13U Team Pennsylvania)