Atlantic League prospect reports

Official league website: www.acbl-online.com
2014 Summer Collegiate top prospect index
Futures League top prospect list

The Atlantic Collegiate Baseball League is one of the oldest summer leagues in the country, playing its first season in 1967. As with many leagues, the ACBL had several prospects rise to the occasion throughout the past few months.

While Allentown compiled the most impressive regular season record, the Trenton Generals snagged the overall crown by winning the ACBL postseason. In terms of individual awards, Lehigh second baseman Mike Garzillo shined for the Lehigh Valley Catz, while on the mound, Cornell's Paul Balestrieri, who played for Trenton, tallied an outstanding 0.95 ERA in 37 2/3 innings of work.


Year established: 1967
States represented: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania
No. of teams: 8
Regular season champion (best overall record): Allentown Railers (28-12)
Postseason champion: Trenton Generals
No. 1 prospect, 2013: Matt Alvarez, rhp, Staten Island Tide (Boston College)

Player of the year: Mike Garzillo, 2b, Lehigh Valley Catz (Lehigh)
Pitcher of the year: Paul Balestrieri, rhp, Trenton Generals (Cornell)

BATTING LEADERS

Batting average: Mike Garzillo, 2b, Lehigh Valley Catz (.417)
Slugging percentage: Mike Garzillo, 2b, Lehigh Valley Catz (.617)
On-base percentage: Jacen Nalesnik, c, Allentown Railers (Lehigh) (.482)
Home Runs: Mike Garzillo, 2b, Lehigh Valley Catz; Kyle Cullen, of, Allentown Railers (University of New Haven) (5)
RBI: Anthony Renz, 1b, Allentown Railers (Mansfield University) (41)
Stolen bases: Nick Beinlich, of, Lehigh Valley Catz (Belmont Abbey College) (16)

PITCHING LEADERS

Wins: Matthew Swarmer, lhp, Allentown Railers (Kutztown Univ.) (6)
ERA: Paul Balestrieri, rhp, Trenton Generals (Cornell) (0.96)
Saves: Kevin Boswick, rhp, South Jersey Giants (Lehigh), Steven Bloodworth, rhp, New Jersey Eagles (Wagner) (8)
Strikeouts: Matthew Swarmer, lhp, Allentown Railers (Kutztown Univ.) (68)

BEST TOOLS

Best athlete: C.J. Moore, of, Staten Island Tide
Best hitter: Mike Garzillo, 2b, Lehigh Valley Catz
Best power: Mike Garzillo, 2b, Lehigh Valley Catz
Best speed: C.J. Moore, of, Staten Island Tide
Best defender: C.J. Moore, of, Staten Island Tide
Best velocity: Brandon Kulp, rhp, Quakertown Blazers
Best breaking stuff: Anthony Pacillo, lhp, North Jersey Eagles (Seton Hall)
Best command: Xavier Hammond, lhp, Allentown Railers (Bucknell)


TOP 10 PROSPECTS

1. C.J. Moore, of, Staten Island (Lamar/FR in 2015)
It's not everyday Jim Gilligan's Lamar program strikes gold, but indeed they did in the addition of Moore. Moore was ranked one of the top 500 prospects in the country out of high school by PG, and the Cardinals found a way to overcome the fact the athletic outfielder was drafted in the 13th-round by the Arizona Diamondbacks. Moore had a strong summer at the ACBL, hitting .321 in a limited number of at bats, including nine stolen bases. Moore is a specimen at 6-foot-2, 200 pounds. He's very toolsy and has terrific speed with a 6.40 60-yard-dash, while he has a strong arm and can cover a lot of ground in the outfield. Moore didn't display much power at the ACBL this summer, but that could very well come as he continues to mature from a physical standpoint.