From the Dugout

2008 Northeast All Star Games - Report 1

By Mike Levandowski

It has only been a week since the 2008 Northeast All Star Games (Formerly Top Prospect Games) and there is already been a great deal of excitement coming from players in the 2008 class as well as scouts and college coaches. The Northeast All Star Games will be a collection of the top players from Pennsylvania to Maine and everywhere in between, where players will be in a competitive atmosphere with major league scouts coaching the teams.

This event is by no means a replacement to the Northeast Top Prospect Showcase that will be held in Wareham, Massachusetts the weekend prior. The Northeast Top Prospect Showcase is one of the most highly attended events by scouts and college coaches and sees the top players in the Northeast in the showcase environment, where players run 60's, throw from the outfield and infield, catchers' pop times, batting practice, and live games for pitchers. A few big names from recent Northeast Top Prospect Showcases include Chris Lubanski, Jeff Allison, Mark Rogers, Jay Rainville, Andy Gale, Mark Rosen, Matt Harvey, Derek Dietrich and many others that are starring in college and pro baseball. The Northeast Top Prospect Showcase also attracts nearly ever Major League Club as well as the top college baseball programs in the country, including schools from the SEC, ACC, Big Ten, Big East, and Ivy League, among many, many others.

[Full Story on College and Scouts Attendance - Perfect Game Northeast Top Prospect Showcase]

With that in mind, the Northeast All Star Games, which will be held at Alumni Diamond on the campus of Fairfield University, are yet another venue for the top players in the Northeast to be seen. Several invitations have already gone out in what is going to be an ongoing invite process from Perfect Game Northeast. We have already received commitments from a couple of players, including the following:

Christopher Jenkins - RHP - Mid-Atlantic

Chris is currently the #5 Nationally Ranked player by PGCrossChecker in the entire Class of 2009. At 6'6"/225 pound, Jenkins is already an intimidating presence on the mound even before unleashing his fastball. Chris has attended several PG Events, including the 2007 PG Aflac as an underclassman, and has been clocked as high as 93 mph by the PG Staff. He also has a mid 80's slider to go with that fastball. He is one of the best high school pitching prospects in the country. Jenkins plays his High School ball at Westfield HS in New Jersey under coach Bob Brewster.

Kyle McKenzie - RHP - New England

Kyle is currently the #203 Nationally Ranked player by PGCrossChecker in the entire Class of 2009. McKenzie has been named to the Top Prospect Team at numerous PG Events, including the 2006 National Underclass, 2007 Northeast Underclass, and 2007 National Underclass. He has a solid delivery on the mound with a fastball that has reached 88 mph. He has solid off-speed stuff as well, with a hard curveball and a changeup with sink and run. McKenzie has the potential to be a two-way player at the next level, with a solid swing from the left side and a 91 mph arm from shortstop. Kyle plays his High School ball at Thayer Academy in Massachusetts under coach Matt McGuirk.

More reports on the 2008 Northeast All Star Games to follow as players commit to play and other news is announced.

This column represents the thoughts and opinions of the author and are not necessarily those of Perfect Game.