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College  | Recruiting  | 11/29/2022

Uncommitted Gems: Northeast/Mid-Atlantic

John McAdams      AJ Denny     
Photo: Perfect Game

Drew Brady, RHP, New Castle, Del.
Class of 2023 | PG Rank: 500

Brady burst onto the scene in July at one of Northeast regional events, where he showed the makings of three quality pitches and even more untapped velocity than he showed in this appearance. He steadily worked in the mid- to upper-80s, grabbing a few 90s and even a 91 but it was the immense upside that both his frame and repertoire possess that was so intriguing. It’s a multi-layered delivery with some moving parts and length to his arm stroke, so there is some command issues that creep up at times. He paired his fastball with a slurve shaped breaker that flashed both horizontal and vertical break to it. He completed his three-pitch mix with a changeup that he was able to replicate and it has some depth to it. Brady is the type of arm that can really take off with minor refinements mechanically and should be a good late pickup for someone looking to bolster their pitching corps.



Amari Allen, 1B/LHP, Washington, D.C.
Class of 2023 | PG Rank: 500

Allen is a physical specimen with skills on both sides of the ball that could help fill a role within the pitching staff and at the plate. He has been up to 91 mph from the left-side at various times and typically throws enough quality strikes to limit traffic on the basepaths. He pairs it with a varying shaped breaking ball that shows best when thrown with conviction and at higher speeds. He finishes off his three-pitch mix with a faded changeup that can miss bats and is a serviceable third offering. At the plate, it is an intent-based swing with tons of strength in his hands and legitimate in-game power when he is on-time. He has the ability to leave the yard at any moment and would be a welcomed power threat to anyone’s lineup.




Kai Hutchins, OF, Browns Mills, N.J.
Class of 2023 | PG Rank: 500

Hutchins is a capable left-handed hitting outfielder that has performed well throughout his PG career. At the plate, he exhibits a table-setter mentality with good bat-to-ball skills, enough speed to affect the game on the basepaths and sneaky power that can get things rolling for any lineup. He has a good pitch recognition and can allow for the rest of the lineup to see the pitchers repertoire with quality at-bats to start the game. In the grass, he has good instincts and covers tons of ground from gap-to-gap with good routes. He has enough arm strength to thwart extra bases and can man each of the three outfield positions relatively well. Look for Hutchins to make an immediate impact at the plate for whoever picks him up.
 

Johan Franco, RHP/3B, Saint Albans, N.Y.
Class of 2023 | PG Rank: 500

Franco is a durable-framed right-hander that possesses a legitimate three-pitch mix that can get outs in a variety of roles. The fastball has been into the low-90s in previous looks with good ride and carry through the zone. He pairs it well with a depthy curveball that can miss bats and he has shown the ability to tunnel his changeup effectively off the other two offerings. It’s an athletic operation that he is able to repeat well, while showing the ability to miss bats with all three of his pitches. Franco can provide a high upside arm that can easily be optimized into a high leverage role for a school seeking an arm. Look for him to continue getting better, as he fully takes to the mound and should be a welcomed addition late in the cycle.
 

Stephen Katch, 3B/C, Lancaster, Pa.
Class of 2023 | PG Rank: 500

Katch is an athletic primary third baseman with some positional versatility and physical upside. He has been a steady performer at the plate across his PG career and offers a solid overall hit tool with some power potential as he continues to make the proper swing adjustments. In the dirt, he covers plenty of ground to either side and possesses enough arm strength to stick on the left side moving forward. The intrigue lies behind the plate, where he is hyper-mobile, receives well and can thwart the running game pretty well. Katch’s ability to man multiple spots defensively will certainly help during the recruiting process and his combination of skills at the plate will certainly help any recruiting class.
 
Eddie Kaufman, OF/RHP, Throop, Pa.
Class of 2023 | PG Rank: 500

Kaufman caught our eye in August at the Northeast Prospect Showcase, as the 6-foot-2, 182-pound outfielder recorded a 6.64 60-yard dash time. He continued to show off the intriguing athleticism by producing arm strength up to 89 mph during the outfield portion of the defensive workout and he put an exclamation point on his first PG appearance by collecting two hits in game action. It is an uber-athletic frame with tons of room to add strength for the relatively unknown Pennsylvania native. He offers an enticing set of skills on both sides of the ball that will only continue to get better with more at-bats and games played. He could certainly bolster any recruiting class with his mix of speed, power and upside.


Logan Harelson, LHP, Mountville, Pa.
Class of 2024 | PG Rank: 500

Harelson is the type of arm that should leave recruiting coordinators salivating, as the long and lean left-hander oozes physical projection and velocity upside. At present, it is a three-pitch mix with promise across the board and tons more velocity in tank. He has been into the upper-80s on occasion with some angle and deception. He pairs it well with a big breaking curveball that he is able to land for strikes and a faded changeup that can miss bats. The frame itself will assuredly add more strength as he continues to mature and there is another velocity jump coming. The floor is a pitchability lefty with feel for the three pitches and the potential to take the ball every weekend for someone looking to bolster their pitching corps within the 2024 class.
 

Gavin Wray, RHP, Media, Pa.
Class of 2024 | PG Rank: 500

Wray possesses the type of physical projection that will allow for a pitching coach to mold the 6-foot-5, 185-pound right-hander into a potential front-line arm. He has been into the upper-80s already and will certainly see continued velocity gains in the near future as he adds strength. He creates some deception by hiding the baseball effectively with a shorter arm stroke. The changeup is the go-to secondary offering at present with his ability to kill spin and disrupt the timing of hitters. A developing breaking ball completes his three-pitch mix, as it varies in shape but will continue to improve with mechanical adjustments and additional optimization. The Media, Pa. native has immense upside remaining and will add to any recruiting class, as the potential is vast should he put everything together.
 

Austin Kreyenhagen, RHP, Souderton, Pa.
Class of 2024 | PG Rank: 500

Kreyenhagen is about as steady as they come in terms of consistent performance on the bump throughout the 2022 circuit. He has amassed a 1.70 ERA in just over 53 innings this year with 85 strikeouts. He is an athletic mover with some present arm speed and feel for three pitches. He has worked into the upper-80s at times, steadily working in the mid-80s into the later innings and avoids big innings with his ability to miss bats. He tunnels both of his secondary offerings well off the fastball, as the curveball has big depth to its more traditional 12-6 shape and his changeup is replicated well with some subtle fade to it. He repeats well and stands to add another tick velocity wise, which will only expand his already enticing repertoire. The consistency and bulldog mentality will be a welcomed addition to any recruiting class, as he will always compete and keep his team in the game.
 



Eric Cha, 3B/RHP, Harrington Park, N.J.
Class of 2024 | PG Rank: 500

Cha is an imposing presence on both sides of the ball, as the right-handed hitting primary third baseman impacts the baseball with authority while staying direct with his movements to limit wasted movement. In the dirt, he exhibits good reactions at the hot corner and has good arm strength across the diamond. On the mound is where the most intrigue may be present, as the 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-hander pounds the zone effortlessly and has been into the upper-80s with his fastball. He showed feel for spin with the ability to land his slider for strikes, while manipulating the shape to garner plenty of swings and misses. The enticing two-way prospect will be a welcomed addition to any recruiting class and has legitimate tools on both sides of the baseball.
 
Lou D'Alessio, OF, Red Bank, N.J.
Class of 2024 | PG Rank: 500

D’Allessio brings an intriguing overall hit tool with legitimate juice and a proven track record. He runs well enough to man a corner outfield spot and has a high baseball IQ. The feel for the barrel and the ability to consistently produce on the biggest stages is what stands out for the uncommitted 2024 grad most. Couple that with a frame that will assuredly add more strength down the road and you have a potential impact bat with sound defensive skills to add to a recruiting class.


Roger Dreher, RHP, Manahawkin, N.J.
Class of 2024 | PG Rank: 500

Dreher is a consistent performer that has been up to 90 mph in previous looks. He has shown good command of the strike zone, feel for three pitches and has some physical upside remaining. He repeats well from a simple operation and exhibits plenty of present arm speed. He pairs his fastball well with a two-plane breaking ball that has flashed some bite to it and a firmer changeup with good horizontal action to it. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-hander stands to add another tick velocity wise and should be a welcomed addition to a recruiting class seeking arms.
  
-John McAdams

Jake Cullen, RHP, Westford, Mass.
Class of 2024 | PG Rank: 500

If you’re looking for an arm to dream on, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound Cullen may be your guy. With velocity currently up to 89 mph, the NEB righty has made significant jumps over the recent years and the frame suggests those jumps may not be over yet. The operation for Cullen is simple and controlled with a clean over-the-top slot that stays on top of pitches and works downhill. As command continues to become more and more of a factor, you can’t deny the swing-and-miss potential on a day-in, day-out basis. Certainly worth a look here as Cullen’s true potential may not have been scratched yet.

Aj Preisano, RHP, Wilton, Conn.
Class of 2023 | PG Rank: 500

With AJ’s brother Ryan heading to Wake Forest, it’s only a matter of time before the 6-foot-2, 190-pound RHP finds a home of his own. Though we didn’t see much of Preisano in 2022, it’s clear that the potential here is high, topping out at 90 mph in previous PG events with tons of natural cut on the heat. Though command comes and goes for the righty, the pure athletic ability for Preisano is unmatched. In the right situation, Preisano can provide plenty of early value in the bullpen with starter potential as tools continue to refine in the future.

Deron Koppel, RHP, Norwalk, Conn.
Class of 2023 | PG Rank: Top 1000

Koppel is an interesting New England arm to keep an eye on if you’re looking for a late add in the ‘23 class, as the primary 6-foot, 175-pound RHP has some room left in the tank for more velocity. Currently in the mid-80s, the operation for Koppel is controlled and calculated with solid drive downhill from the lower half. He effectively mixes a full off-speed arsenal which includes a slider, curveball, and changeup to complement the fastball. Though he might not overpower you with heat, Koppel has pitchability and IQ to sequence efficiently with multiple swing-and-miss offerings, as well as the ability to change eye levels of hitters, making for an uncomfortable at-bat.


Erick Diaz, OF, Middletown, N.Y.
Class of 2024 | PG Rank: 391

One of the premier names left on the market, the combination of speed and athleticism put on display by Diaz is eye-opening to say the least. As a 6.65 runner, it doesn’t matter what Diaz is doing, but he’s going to do it fast. The 5-foot-10, 185-pound switch-hitter flashes plenty of compact hand speed through the zone from both sides and can generate backspin and carry gap to gap. He provides value in the outfield as a mid-80s arm and works through the ball aggressively, releasing quickly with a clean arm stroke.
 

Edwin Diaz, RHP, Queens, N.Y.
Class of 2024 | PG Rank: 500

Another arm to keep an eye on in the ‘24 class is Diaz, who ran his fastball up to 88 mph this summer with plenty of evident arm speed on display. From a simple operation, Diaz effectively incorporates the lower half, generating velocity from the backside to extend downhill solidly. From a clean three-quarter slot, the arm action has some whip to it with a developing arsenal that could see a tight slider offering breakout this spring as his primary wipeout pitch. Standing at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, Diaz could see the ceiling continue to rise in what’s going to be a big junior campaign for the righty.
 
Tyler Cook, C/3B, Glenwood Landing, N.Y.
Class of 2024 | PG Rank: 500

Talk about a hitting machine, Cook simply shows up and rakes. A PG career .449 hitter with a .549 OBP, the 5-foot-11, 160-pound prospect has put up video game numbers time and time again, which just shouldn’t surprise anyone at this point. Some coaches make the mistake of overlooking Cook because of his size, but the natural ability put on display can arguably go up against some of the best in the ‘24 class. The still-physically-developing primary catcher has posted a 1.93 pop time at PG events and can be utilized at multiple spots on the diamond, including the infield. He showcases a simple, yet repeatable line drive stroke at the dish and can hang with velocity no problem. Cook has an overall confidence about him and someone is going to get a hidden gem at the next level.

Jackson Cook, OF, Horseheads, N.Y.
Class of 2023 | PG Rank: 500

Cook is back on the market and it’s safe to say that he won’t be there for long. The ultra-athletic 6-foot-1, 165-pound righty is a well-rounded prospect that excels in multiple aspects of the game with plus tools on both the offensive and defensive ends. As a top-of-the-order guy, Cook consistently finds his way on base with a PG career .435 OBP. The power numbers have risen in recent years, as the lefty swinger flashes the ability to drive the baseball pull side with strength in the hands. Perhaps the biggest part of Cook’s game is the raw speed threat, swiping 46 career bases with ease and constantly creating chaos on the basepaths. He provides a reliable glove in the outfield and covers ground effortlessly, truly making him a balanced asset to have on your roster.

Leo Doyle, OF/RHP, Staten Island, N.Y.
Class of 2023 | PG Rank: Top 1000

Doyle is an intriguing name in terms of what could develop here, as there’s no denying the athleticism and tools present. The 5-foot-11, 175-pound primary outfielder can be described as fundamentally sound on both sides of the ball, showcasing clean consistent mechanics from the outfield with arm strength topping out at 87 mph. He carries momentum well through release and displays pretty effortless and repeatable transfers that get the ball out efficiently and on target. Offensively, Doyle puts a line drive approach to work with feel for the barrel and the ability to utilize all parts of the field.

Justin Lopez, MIF, Brooklyn, N.Y.
Class of 2023 | PG Rank: 500

If you’re looking for a smooth, reliable infield addition, Lopez could very well be your guy. Starting on the defensive end, the still-projectable 6-foot, 165-pound prospect has plenty of quickness to the footwork and flashes range to both sides with soft hands to pair. He brings a contact-oriented approach to the plate, but that doesn’t mean Lopez can’t burn you in one of the gaps for extra bases. He displays the ability to work line-to-line and poses a speed threat once on base. Overall, Lopez provides consistent production and is definitely worth a look heading into his senior year.

-AJ Denny
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