PGCBL prospect reports

Official League Website: www.pgcbl.com
2015 Summer Collegiate Top Prospect Index
Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League Top Prospect List (25)


Although the Amsterdam Mohawks (40-10) and Elmira Pioneers (33-17) entered the playoffs with the two best records in the Perfect Game Collegiate Baseball League, neither team advanced to the finals. In fact, it was the first year since the league's inception in 2011 that the Mohawks didn't make it to the league championship, claiming the title the three previous seasons (2012-14).

The Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs, the eventual league champions, knocked out the Mohawks in a best-of-three series to advance and face the first-year Victor RailRiders. The DiamondDawgs swept the RailRiders in the finals to claim the 2015 championship, capping a very successful summer after also hosting the league's All-Star Game in Little Falls, N.Y.

While Amsterdam didn't advance the players they recruited to play for them this past summer still represented the bulk of the league's top talent. Of the league's top 25 prospects 13 played for the Mohawks this past summer, including seven of the top 10.


Year Established: 2011
States Represented: New York
No. of Teams: 10 (9 in 2014)
Regular Season Champion (best overall record): Amsterdam Mohawks, 40-10
Post Season Champion: Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs
No. 1 Prospect, 2014: Jon Escobar, rhp, Watertown (Holy Cross)
First 2014 Player Selected, 2015 Draft: Ryan Clark, rhp, Amsterdam (UNC Greensboro; Braves/5th round)

Player of the Year: Christian Santisteban, 1b, Elmira (Manhattan College)
Pitcher of the Year: Zach Logue, lhp, Amsterdam (Kentucky); Kyano Cummings, lhp, Elmira (Siena)

BATTING LEADERS

Batting Average: Ryan Cox, ss, Utica (Kutztown) (.383)
Slugging Percentage: Christian Santisteban, 1b, Elmira (Manhattan)(.591)
On-Base Average: Christian Santisteban, 1b, Elmira (Manhattan)(.532)
Home Runs: Handsome Monica, c, Amsterdam (Northwest Florida CC) (9)
RBI:Troy Scocca, of, Mohawk Valley (Fairfield) (40)
Stolen Bases: Will LaRue, of, Elmira (Xavier) (26)

PITCHING LEADERS

Wins:Zach Logue, lhp, Amsterdam (Kentucky) (7)
ERA: Justin Lewis, rhp, Elmira (Kentucky) (1.37)
Saves: Ryan Bellomo, rhp, Elmira (Siena); Chris Kemp, rhp, Victor (Indiana Southeast); Zachary Vennaro, rhp, Mohawk Valley (Monroe (N.Y.) CC) (7)
Strikeouts: Kyano Cummings, lhp, Elmira (Siena)(74)

BEST TOOLS

Best Athlete: Hunter Tackett, of, Amsterdam (Northwest Florida CC)
Best Hitter: Christian Santisteban, 1b, Elmira (Manhattan)
Best Power: Handsome Monica, c, Amsterdam (Northwest Florida CC)
Fastest Base Runner: Will LaRue, of, Elmira (Xavier)
Best Defensive Player: Sean Aspinall, of, Albany (Azusa Pacific)
Best Velocity: Kyle Smith, rhp, Amsterdam (NC State)
Best Breaking Ball: Kyano Cummings, lhp, Elmira (Siena)
Best Command: Mike Messier, lhp, Utica (Bellarmine)


TOP 10 PROSPECTS

1. Kyle Davis, rhp, Amsterdam (NC State/R-SR in 2016)
A near-unanimous choice as the league's top overall prospect despite the fact that he sat out during the 2015 season after transferring to NC State and converted to pitching full-time. He began his collegiate career at Lenoir (N.C.) Community College in 2012 as a live-armed shortstop and is expected to make significant contributions out of the Wolfpack's bullpen in 2016. Smith appeared in 23 games this summer serving as the Mohawks closer, posting a 2.95 ERA with five saves in 24 1/3 innings. Although he did give up 17 base hits and walked 12 batters, he also struck out 38 thanks to a lively 90-95 mph fastball that peaked at 96 with a big breaking slider. His fastball velocity could continue to rise as he gains experience thanks to his easy delivery, clean mechanics and strong 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame, and as a result, could be an early pick in the 2016 MLB Draft.