2,082 MLB PLAYERS | 14,476 MLB DRAFT SELECTIONS
Create Account
Sign in Create Account
High School  | General  | 2/26/2018

Regional HS Preview: Northeast

David Rawnsley     
Photo: Perfect Game



For all of Perfect Game's regional previews as part of the 2018 high school baseball preview content, the Dream Team is available for free. The region top tools can be viewed with an Insider subscription. To learn more about Perfect Game's subscription packages and to sign up today please visit this link.

2018 Perfect Game High School Preview Index


Top 10 Northeast Region High Schools
Rk. Nat'l School '17 Rec. '17 Finish
1 41 William Penn Charter (Pa.) 24-2 PAISAA State Playoffs
2 46 Delbarton (N.J.) 21-7 NJSIAA Non-Public A State Champs
3 48 Central Catholic (Mass.) 24-6 MIAA Division 1A 2nd Round
4 NR Malvern Prep (Pa.) 25-6 PAISAA State Champions
5 NR St. Joseph's Regional (N.J.) 21-5 NJSIAA Non-Public A Section Semifinals
6 NR St. Augustine Prep (N.J.) 23-7 NJSIAA Non-Public A State Finals
7 NR Seton Hall Prep (N.J.) 28-3 NJSIAA Non-Public A Section Quarterfinals
8 NR Poly Prep Country Day (N.Y.) 23-4-1 NY Section 12 PSAL State Champs
9 NR Fairfield Prep (Conn.) 18-6 CIAC State Quarterfinals
10 NR St. John's (Mass.) 23-3 MIAA Division 1A State Champs

Nat’l denotes rank on the Preseason National High School Top 50

Northeast Region: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont

This is an outstanding year for top-level talent in the Northeast and the Northeast All-Region team was one of the hardest in the country to select, with many deserving players not included. This region could compete against any of the other nine regions over a series of games due to a very strong and deep pitching staff, plus big potential power from a lefthanded hitting dominant lineup.

Aside from the pitching staff, which features three Perfect Game All-Americans, one area that really stands out is the outfield talent. While the region is historically known for producing late developing strong-armed pitchers, it has also produced a number of elite level big league outfielders such as Mike Trout, Manny Ramirez and World Series MVP George Springer. The Northeast this year is not only home to potential 2018 first day drafts Nick Decker (New Jersey) and Mike Siani but also to the top two players in the PG 2020 national class rankings, Austin Hendrick (Pennsylvania) and Trejyn Fletcher (Maine).




Northeast Region High School Dream Team

C – Patrick Winkel, Sr., Amity Regional HS, Orange (Conn.)
The Northeast Region has an abundance of quality catchers, with Brandon Tinsman (Maine), Dominic Keegan (Massachusetts) and Henry Davis (New York) also very worthy of mention. Winkel has solid catch-and-throw tools behind the plate but stands out most for his lefthanded bat. He has present gap power and showed during the summer circuit that he could square up the best pitchers in the country with authority. Winkel is the 100th ranked player in the PG class rankings and is signed with home state Connecticut.

1B – Grant Lavigne, Sr., Bedford HS, Bedford (N.H.)
Lavigne is a big and extremely strong 6-foot-4, 230-pound lefthanded hitter and was one of the standout hitters on last year's summer circuit, especially for his power. He was named the New Hampshire player of the year as a sophomore and helped lead Bedford High School to a state championship as a junior. He is signed with Wake Forest and could be next in line after former Demon Deacons first baseman Will Craig and Gavin Sheets to be a top 50 pick in the draft after his college career.

MIF – Bryce Reagan, Sr., IMG Academy, Amherst (N.H.)
Reagan is a New Hampshire resident who attended Souhegan High School for three years before transferring to IMG Academy in Florida for his senior season but is being grandfathered into the Northeast All-Region team nonetheless. He's a switch-hitter with bat speed and power from both sides of the plate and has played all over the infield on defense. The 87th-ranked player in the PG national class rankings, Reagan is signed with Texas.

MIF – Anthony Volpe, Jr., Delbarton HS, Watchung (N.J.)
The only junior on the Northeast All-Region team, Volpe was named the New Jersey state player of the year as a sophomore after leading Delbarton High School to the state championship. Volpe is a quick and sure-handed middle infielder defensively and has played extensively at both shortstop and second base. On offense, the Vanderbilt commit is a top-of-the-order type with a high contact line drive swing and disruptive speed on the bases.

3B – Sean Guilbe, Sr., Muhlenberg HS, Reading (Pa.)
Guilbe is a big and strong 6-foot-2, 215-pound righthanded hitter who has some of the best raw bat speed in the 2018 class nationally. He's also one of the most aggressive hitters in the class, although he's consistently shown the ability to square up high level pitching, including hitting two home runs at the WWBA World Championship last October. Guilbe plays plenty of shortstop in high school and during the summer but he has also played all over the field, including catching, and projects as a third baseman at the next level. He is signed with Tennessee.

OF – Nick Decker, Sr., Seneca HS, Southampton (N.J.)
Decker hit .381 with 24 RBI and 29 runs scored for Seneca High School as a junior but did his real damage during the summer circuit against high-level pitching. He rarely has a bad at-bat and showed a very consistent ability to square the ball up with power, especially to the middle of the field and the left-center field gap. Decker was a Perfect Game All-American and is the 11th ranked player in the 2018 class. He is signed with Maryland.

OF – Austin Hendrick, So., West Allegheny HS, Oakdale (Pa.)
Hendrick is the No. 1-ranked player nationally in the 2020 class based on his exceptional lefthanded hitting ability and his strong and athletic 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame. He hit .595 (25-for-42) in 13 games at the two major WWBA 15u national tournaments last summer with 11 extra-base hits and 15 RBI after hitting .371-3-20 as a freshman at West Allegheny High School. There he also went 5-0 on the mound with a mid- to upper-80s fastball and has already verbally committed to Mississippi State.

OF – Mike Siani, Sr., William Penn Charter School, Glenside (Pa.)
Siani is a two-time member of gold medal winning USA National 18u teams, including hitting .333 with four extra-base hits and six RBI last October. He also hit .370 with 30 RBI and 17 stolen bases for William Penn High School last year. A high-level all-around athlete, Siani is one of the best defensive outfielders in the 2018 class nationally and has also been up to 92 mph on the mound.

UT – Jack Herman, Sr., Eastern HS, Berlin (N.J.)
Professional scouts generally shy away from 6-foot right handed hitting outfielders with big league average running speed but he has a chance to become one of dominant players in college baseball over the next four years if his high level performance continues. Herman has excellent right handed bat speed and makes consistent hard gap to gap contact at the plate, while on the mound he's up to 90 mph with a solid breaking ball and command. He should be an immediate impact player at Maryland if he does make it to campus.

SP – Ryan Cusick, Sr., Avon Old Farms HS, Sudbury (Mass.)
Cusick is an extra large, 6-foot-6, 220-pound righthander with one of the better fastballs in the 2018 class. He regularly topped out in the 92-94 mph range last summer and reportedly touched 95-96 mph this winter. Cusick does a good job controlling his delivery and throwing strikes with his fastball, although he is still developing his secondary pitches. He's the 117th-ranked player in the PG 2018 national class rankings and is signed with Wake Forest.

SP – Brandon Neeck, Sr., Horace Greeley HS, Chappaqua (N.Y.)
Neeck is a long-armed 6-foot lefthander with a particularly advanced idea how to pitch for a pitcher from the Northeast. He works in the 89-91 mph range with his fastball and has touched 93 mph, with his best pitch being a hard upper-70s curveball that he has outstanding feel for. Neeck went 4-2, 1.40 with 50 strikeouts in 30 innings as a junior, a virtual duplicate performance to his sophomore season, and a very strong performance at the 2017 National Showcase earned him a spot at the PG All-American Classic. He's an outstanding student off the field and is signed with Virginia.

SP – Tyler Ras, Sr., Middletown North HS, Middletown (N.J.)
Ras is a very athletic 6-foot-4, 195-pound two-way player who stands out on the mound for his raw stuff and projectability. He worked in the 92-94 mph range for much of last summer from an over-the-top arm slot that creates big downhill angle to the plate. He is the 66th-ranked player in the PG 2018 national class rankings and is signed with Alabama.

SP – Lenny Torres, Sr., Beacon HS, Beacon (N.Y.)
Torres was an unknown quantity before last summer outside of the Northeast but quickly established himself as having one of the liveliest arms in the 2018 class. He has an extremely fast arm that produces a low- to mid-90s fastball that topped out at 96 mph at the 2017 PG All-American Classic. Torres also throws a low-80s slider. He went 5-2, 1.22 with 70 strikeouts with Beacon High School last spring. It's worth noting that Torres is one of the youngest top prospects in the 2018 class and won't turn 18 years old until October. He is signed with St. John’s.

SP – Mike Vasil, Sr., Boston College HS, Wellesley (Mass.)
Vasil is a big-bodied 6-foot-4, 215-pound righthander and the 21st-ranked player in the PG 2018 national class rankings. He has a deceptive delivery that hides the ball extremely well and has a fastball that works consistently in the 92-94 mph range and will touch higher. While Vasil is a primary fastball pitcher, he shows flashes with his curveball and changeup as well. He's gone 18-3 over his last two high school seasons, including 9-0, 0.50 as a junior. The Perfect Game All-American is signed with Virginia.


Northeast Region Top Tools 


This is PG 'DiamondKast' Level content.
You must be either an DiamondKast, Crosschecker Rankings & Scouting Reports, or Scout subscriber to read the rest.
Sign in
DiamondKast
PG Special Events
Travel, Lodging, Entertainment
PG Partners
Recommended
About Perfect Game :: Contact us :: Terms of Use :: Privacy Policy :: Testimonials :: Job Opportunities
Copyright 1994-2024 by Perfect Game. All rights reserved. No portion of this information may be reprinted or reproduced without the written consent of Perfect Game.