NEW YORK COLLEGIATE LEAGUE
TOP 25 PROSPECTS, 2010
COMPILED BY ALLAN SIMPSON
In
Association with League Managers and Scouts
Official League Website: www.nycbl.com
FAST
FACTS
Year
League Established:
1978.
States Represented in League:
New
York.
Level of Competition (1-to-4 Scale, 1 being highest):
3.
No.
of Teams in League:
14 (14 in 2009).
Regular-Season Champion / best overall record (tie):
Amsterdam Mohawks, Elmira Pioneers.
Post-Season Champion:
Amsterdam Mohawks.
Teams, PG CrossChecker Summer 30/Final Ranking:
No. 13 Amsterdam Mohawks.
No.
1 Prospect, 2009 (per PG CrossChecker):
Braden Kapteyn, rhp/1b, Amsterdam Mohawks (Kentucky, played in Cape Cod League
in 2010).
First 2009 Player Selected, 2010 Draft:
Mel Rojas Jr., of, Amsterdam Mohawks (Wabash Valley, Ill., JC/Pirates, 3rd
round).
Player of the Year:
Tyler Fisher, of, Allegany County Nitros.
Pitcher of the Year:
Kyle Hunter, lhp, Amsterdam Mohawks.
Top
Prospect (as selected by league):
Mel Rojas Jr., of, Amsterdam Mohawks.
BATTING LEADERS (League games only)
Batting Average:
Jason Simone, of, Mohawk Valley Diamonddawgs (.372).
Slugging Percentage:
Tyler Fisher, of, Allegany County Nitros (.577).
On-Base Average:
Vincent Mejia, ss, Glens Falls Golden Eagles (.460).
Home
Runs:
Cody Kulp, of, Amsterdam Mohawks; Jordan Stouffer, 1b/3b, Albany Dutchmen (8).
RBIs:
Jon Schwind, ss/3b, Amsterdam Mohawks (39).
Stolen Bases:
Justin Fahy, of, Alfred Thunder (20).
PITCHING LEADERS (League games only)
Wins:
Several tied at 5.
ERA:
Kyle Hunter, lhp, Amsterdam Mohawks (0.68).
Saves:
John Colella, rhp, Elmira Pioneers (13).
Strikeouts:
Clay Murphy, rhp, Glens Falls Golden Eagles (58).
BEST
TOOLS
Best
Athlete:
Mel
Rojas Jr., of, Amsterdam Mohawks.
Best
Hitter:
Vincent Mejia, 3b/2b, Glens Falls Golden Eagles.
Best
Power:
Matt Conway, 1b, Amsterdam Mohawks.
Fastest Base Runner:
Brady Wilson, 2b, Watertown Wizards.
Best
Defensive Player:
Alex Todd, ss, Cooperstown Hawkeyes.
Best
Velocity:
Shae Summers, rhp, Watertown Wizards.
Best
Breaking Ball:
Dan
Zlotnick, lhp, Amsterdam Mohawks.
Best
Command:
Kyle
Hunter, lhp, Amsterdam Mohawks.
TOP 25 PROSPECTS
1.
MEL ROJAS JR., of, Amsterdam Mohawks (SIGNED/Pirates)
Top
’09 prospect made 24-game cameo before signing with Pirates; same
tools/athleticism evident, but didn’t perform as well
2.
CODY KULP, of, Amsterdam Mohawks (Shippensburg, Pa./JR in 2011)
Still needs to prove he can play at high level, but has impressive frame/tools;
led league in HR, runs well, solid defender/arm in RF
3.
JON SCHWIND, 3b/ss, Amsterdam Mohawks (Marist/JR)
Best
player on league title team; hit in 3-hole (.292-4-39), 6.6 speed, steady
defender on left side; + versatile, may end up at 2B/CF
4.
DAN ZLOTNICK, lhp/of, Amsterdam Mohawks (Marist/SO)
Went
4-0, 1.47 record (46 IP/43 SO), utilizing 3 pitches, all for strikes: 89-91 FB,
++ CU, CH; herky-jerky delivery adds to deception
5.
KYLE HUNTER, lhp, Amsterdam Mohawks (Dartmouth/SO)
5-0,
0.68 record only added to unbeaten streak, hasn’t lost since a HS freshman; FB
at 86-90, but excels with ++ CH, ++ command
6.
SHAE SIMMONS, rhp, Watertown Wizards (Southeast Missouri State/SO)
Limited upside in small frame, but lively arm in closer role; dominant vs. wood
with 88-92 FB, + SL; went 2-0, 0.61, 5 SV, .106 OBA
7.
VINCENT MEJIA, 3b/2b, Glens Falls Golden Eagles (Texas-Pan American/JR)
Solid season at plate (.329-4-34, 36 BB), squared up balls consistently; lacks
speed, out of position in MIF, but found home at 3B
8.
TAYLOR LEWIS, of, Amsterdam Mohawks (Maine/JR)
Top
hitter (.319-1-14) on league’s top team; has big-league frame (6-1, 215), solid
LH power, 6.6 speed but needs work on defense
9.
JOHN COLELLA, rhp, Elmira Pioneers (Holy Cross/SO)
Made
huge headway on summer as closer; FB at 91-92, focused on CU as second pitch;
produced 0.00 ERA, 13 SV, 23 IP/37 SO
10.
RYAN FERGUSON, c, Elmira Pioneers (Temple/SR)
Most
pro ready player in Elmira lineup; solid LH bat (.333-1-29), good power to oppo
field; + arm, actions a little stiff, + leader skills
11.
ALEX TODD, ss, Cooperstown Hawkeyes (Sonoma State, Calif./SR)
Best
defensive SS in league; lean, rangy, smooth, ++ hands, but arm may push him to
2B; hit .295-3-27, drove balls hard to gaps
12.
KYLE SHAW, lhp, Geneva Red Wings (Toledo/JR)
One
of few LHP in league with + velo; FB reached 91-92 with tailing action, SL/CH
showed flashes; needs more confidence in stuff
13.
TOM MURPHY, c, Oneonta Outlaws (Buffalo/SO)
Caught eye of scouts with 3-run HR over scoreboard in league ASG; strong frame,
+ arm strength, needs to polish catching skills
14.
MATT CONWAY, 1b/lhp, Amsterdam Mohawks (Wake Forest/SO)
Should have ++ power once he fills out 6-7 frame, shortens long swing; solid
around bag; hit .275-3-24, broken wrist ended season
15.
ANDREW FOUSHEE, rhp, Elmira Pioneers (Presbyterian/JR)
One
of few arms who could command 3 pitches, but lacks power FB; went 3-0, 1.31 (7
BB/39 SO), left early with shoulder tendinitis
16.
LUKE MAILE, c, Amsterdam Mohawks (Kentucky/SO)
Lot
of upside, but used as No. 2 C by Mohawks; solid defender, + arm strength, power
potential, but needs to refine hitting approach
17.
BRADY WILSON, 2b, Watertown Wizards (West Virginia/SO)
Makes things happen with 6.4 speed; electric out of box, but needs to become
better base runner; improving skills at plate, in field
18.
MATT BOULTER, ss, Webster Yankees (Southern New Hampshire/SO)
Ex-MLB SS Greg Gagne was his HS coach, so has + instincts/actions in field; LH
bat, hit .331, gap power, + hands to add power
19.
JUSTIN VAN GROUW, rhp, Amsterdam Mohawks (Wake Forest/SO)
Still growing into 6-7 frame, and summer impacted by tender elbow,
inconsistency; has lots of refinement, but flashed 92 FB, + SL
20.
SEAN BOUTHILETTE, rhp, Amsterdam Mohawks (Campbellsville, Ky./JR)
Ex-Kentucky arm transferring to NAIA school; went 5-1, 2.62, highly competitive
with 88-92 FB, power breaking ball, workable CH
21.
DEREK ZIELINSKI, rhp, Amsterdam Mohawks (LeMoyne/SO)
Just
14 months off TJ surgery, brought back slowly in relief (0.68 ERA in 13 IP);
flashed low-90s FB, + CH, needs time to refine stuff
22.
MIKE MERCURIO, ss, Glens Falls Golden Eagles (High Point/SO)
Everyday SS as High Point FR; struggled adapting to wood, but bat came on; solid
defender, ++ arm, lack of speed hinders range
23.
RYAN KEMP, rhp/of, Mohawk Valley Diamonddawgs (St. Joseph’s/JR)
Two-way player, wants to be OF but needs to focus on pitching to realize
potential; FB at 89-91, shows signs of + SL in closer role
24.
KYLE RICHARDSON, of, Mohawk Valley Diamonddawgs (St. John’s/JR)
Need
to overlook 5-7 frame and focus on ++ speed, defensive skills; threw 11
scoreless IP, so arm plays; surprising juice at plate
25.
MATT COLANTONIO, c, Amsterdam Mohawks (Brown/SR)
Made
favorable impression in all areas, especially baseball IQ; bat (.311-0-7), quick
arm are pro tools; + eye at plate (34 BB/90 AB)