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High School  | Rankings  | 3/2/2015

Regional HS Preview: Northeast

Jheremy Brown     
Photo: Perfect Game

2015 Perfect Game High School Baseball Preview Index

For all of Perfect Game's regional previews as part of the 2015 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.


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

The 2015 spring season is going to be a strong one in the Northeast all around, but particularly strong in the state of Pennsylvania. With premium talent all over, scouts will be sure to check in on the Quaker State early and often throughout the spring.

Perfect Game All-American righthander Mike Nikorak isn’t just the top pitcher from Pennsylvania, but he ranks among the best in the entire country and is armed with a mid-90s fastball that has peaked at 97 mph. Though he transferred to IMG Acadmey for the spring, fellow All-American Willie Burger has ties to the state and has really taken steps forward in his overall game.

The third 2014 PG All-American is middle infielder John Aiello from Germantown Academy. After starring throughout the summer with the bat from both sides, showing both advanced barrel skills and strength at contact, Aiello suffered an arm injury during the fall but that hasn’t slowed him down. A tireless worker both on the field and off, Aiello is well ahead of schedule, so much so that he will be able to swing the bat and take the field at first base this spring. His tools are undeniable as he showed fluid defensive actions and plus arm strength across the diamond throughout the summer.

Both Brendon Little and Dylan Cyphert are senior lefthanders who can get into the low-90s with their fastballs, as can juniors Max Kranick and Connor Yoder. Junior two-way talent J.J. Bleday shows interesting talent on both sides of the ball.

Catchers Domenic DeRenzo and Ryan Sloniger both had big summers as DeRenzo shows big arm strength and advanced tools behind the plate while Sloniger swung a loud lefthanded bat with strength throughout the season. Like Little above, two-way athlete Kyle Datres is committed to the University of North Carolina and shows loud tools on both sides of the ball with big arm strength. 


Northeast Region High School Dream Team


C - Domenic DeRenzo, Sr. Central Catholic (Pa.)
DeRenzo is a highly athletic backstop from Pittsburgh and showed off loud tools throughout the summer and fall seasons. Listed at 6-foot-1, 185-pounds, DeRenzo shows off above average arm strength behind the plate and it plays in game action with accurate strikes down to second base. His quick-twitch muscle plays well behind the plate too, bouncing lightly on his feet, and he posted a 6.75 60-yard dash time last summer. He shows strength with the bat and the ability to make an adjustment in the middle of an at-bat while doing a nice job of covering the plate. DeRenzo shows projectable strength, which when coupled with his speed makes for a solid combination.

Recently reclassified senior Ryan January of Swampscott, Mass., also received consideration for the spot as the Louisiana State commit shows outstanding strength in his lefthanded swing along with high-level tools behind the plate.

1B - Alex Kirilloff, Jr., Plum (Pa.)
Though only a junior, Kirilloff has shown as consistent of a bat as any other player in the region as he seemingly gets the barrel to the ball regardless of where the pitch crosses the plate. A well built 6-foot-2, 190-pound lefthanded hitter, Kirilloff understands how to hit and doesn’t try to do to much as he just shows a natural ability to hit to all fields. One of two Liberty University commits on the Dream Team, Kirilloff is an exceptional athlete with gap-to-gap power and projects for more as he shows natural leverage and strength off the barrel. Kirilloff shows balance on his feet and moves well running the bases, speaking to his overall athleticism. Defensively, the Plum High School junior shines with smooth and polished actions both on and off the bag with advanced footwork. His hands are soft receiving and he picks balls well in the dirt while showing above average arm strength in the field, a tool evidenced by his upper-80s fastball last summer.

MIF - Jimmy Titus, Jr., East Catholic (Conn.)
Another junior to make the list, Titus is a highly athletic middle infielder who could be a strong factor on either side of the ball at the next level. A Bryant University commit, Titus shows a fastball that gets up to 89 mph on the mound with a loose and easy arm action with late life while mixing in a late breaking 10-to-4 slider. That arm strength more than plays in the infield too, throwing 90 mph across the diamond with plenty of carry and accuracy. He is an above average runner with a 6.71 60-yard time and shows light actions on his feet with soft hands fielding the ball. A righthanded hitter, Titus shows a simple and repeatable swing with quick hands and a fast bat coming through the zone. Named to the All-Tournament team for his performance with the bat at the WWBA World Championship last October, Titus shows no problem facing high-level pitching and shows strength off the barrel, especially to his pull side.

MIF – Andrew Noviello, Sr., Bridgewater-Raynham (Ma.)
Though he may have been known for his arm strength on the mound (up to 91 mph), the Raynham native showed an advanced feel for the barrel throughout the summer, especially at the major showcase events. Committed to the University of Maine, Noviello shows two-way potential if he gets to campus and was also considered for the utility position. Listed as a primary second baseman, Noviello shows above average arm strength for the position with solid carry on his throws across. It’s with the bat though that Noviello opened eyes during the circuit, consistently squaring the ball up resulting in hard contact. A lefthanded hitter, Noviello generates solid bat speed in his smooth swing due to his quick hands and is able to get good extension out front, driving the ball deep to his pull side with plenty of carry off the bat.

MIF/1B – John Aiello, Sr., Germantown Academy (Pa.)
Aiello has a unique situation heading in to the spring as he will be limited defensively after recovering from an injury but will still play first base and serve as a designated hitter this spring. As mentioned above, the Wake Forest commit is a switch-hitter who shows very good feel for the barrel from both sides, showing both strength and the ability to hit for average from either the right or the left side. He performed well throughout the summer circuit season, both with the bat and up the middle, showing smooth defensive actions with plenty of arm strength and carry on his throws across. He possesses high-level tools across the board, topping out at 90 mph with his throws across the infield at the Perfect Game National Showcase and also showed solid speed, running a 6.75 60-yard dash. One of two Perfect Game All-Americans on the Dream Team, Aiello has a strong and physical 6-foot-2 build but is able to remain light on his feet due to his athleticism, allowing him to have a strong shot at staying up the middle at the next level.

3B - Travis Blankenhorn, Sr. Pottsville Area (Pa.)
The lefthanded hitting Blankenhorn was one of the most consistent bats throughout last season’s travel circuit, showing a superb feel for the barrel even against the highest level of pitching prospects. Playing third base throughout the summer, Blankenhorn shows the athleticism and foot speed (6.69 60-yard runner) to stay at shortstop at the next level. The University of Kentucky commit shows fluid defensive actions with solid footwork and fluidity with the glove while showing more than enough arm strength on his throws (as detailed below). With the bat Blankenhorn shows loose and fast hands that generate excellent bat speed with extension out front and plenty of jump and carry off the barrel. Blankenhorn is full of tools that not only shine in a showcase settings, but also excel in games when it counts.

OF - Ryan McKenna, Sr., St. Thomas Aquinas (N.H.)
It’s not often that a top prospect comes out of the state of Maine, where McKenna is from, although he attends school in New Hampshire. Standing 5-foot-11, 185-pounds, McKenna is full of quick-twitch muscle and shows plenty of tools to match. A 6.55 60-yard runner, McKenna excelled with the bat throughout the circuit against some of the top pitching in the country. With a smooth, fluid stroke, the Liberty University commit shows simple and repeatable swing mechanics while consistently finding the barrel of the bat. His hands are extremely fast which help him generate solid bat speed coming through the zone while showing plenty of strength at contact to all fields. He shows fluidity in the outfield, moving well on his feet and works through the ball before delivering a strike with above average arm strength.

OF - Garrett Whitley, Sr., Niskayuna (N.Y.)
Like McKenna, Garrett Whitley wasn’t known much outside of New York, although he was committed to Wake Forest University prior to his loud summer on the travel circuit. A strongly built 6-foot-1, 195-pound athlete, Whitley oozes athleticism and is an above average runner with a recorded 6.65 60-yard dash at the East Coast Professional Showcase. The power that he generates in his righthanded swing is equally as impressive as he shows the ability to backspin balls with natural lift to all parts of the field with solid bat speed coming through the zone. Even though he wasn’t well known at the beginning of the summer, he became a household name after his high-end performances at both the East Coast Pro and Area Code Games. Whitley shows off his athleticism in the outfield too with quick footwork and a loose arm action, both tools that play well in center field.

OF - Ryan Shinn, Sr., Northern Burlington (N.J.)
Shinn rounds out the outfield portion of the Dream Team by displaying solid tools across the board, all of which play well in game action. A Florida Gulf Coast University commit, Shinn shows solid defensive fundamentals with long, gliding steps to the ball, a good first step on the ball off the bat and a nice overall smoothness to his actions. Like his footwork, Shinn’s arm action is long and smooth with a quick and easy release, projecting for more velocity on his throws as he continues to fill out his athletic 6-foot frame. He shows sound hitting mechanics too, using his hands well to generate solid bat speed with strength and lift at contact. He knows how to hit and can do so to all fields, recognizing off-speed pitches out of the pitcher’s hand while showing the ability to adjust and go with the pitch.

UT - Wesley Rodriguez, Sr., George Washington (N.Y.)
Rodriguez has as much two-way talent as any player in the region and his play on both sides of the ball can be summarized with one word; power. Perhaps the second biggest power arm behind Mike Nikorak, the strongly built, broad-shouldered Rodriguez is able to catch your attention with his stuff on the mound. Working comfortably in the 90-92 mph with his fastball, Rodriguez made some slight adjustments to his mechanics and came out firing in Jupiter last October, working 92-94 mph early on and touching 95 with heavy life and the ability to command the pitch. His breaking ball shows hard, late-biting life when on top of the pitch and complements it with a mid-80s changeup that shows nice fading life. Listed as a primary third baseman, Rodriguez understandably has a plus arm across the infield too. With the bat he is able to create very good bat speed in his swing, showing the extension and strength to drive the ball deep to his pull side.

P - Mike Nikorak, Sr., Stroudsburg (Pa.)
It’s safe to say the Nikorak made the loudest and quickest impression last June at the National Showcase and did so with his first warm up, a mid-90s heater. From that pitch Nikorak continued to solidify his status amongst the top arms in the country, peaking at 97 mph from a very athletic and projectable 6-foot-5 frame. The University of Alabama signee’s arm action is loose and tension free, working from a full delivery and proved just how good of an athlete he is by running a 6.83 60-yard dash. Look through his profile and he consistently worked in the low-90s while climbing up into the mid-90s, but it is his curveball that separates him from the other power arms in the class. With tight 11-to-5 shape, the pitch shows power and depth up to 80 mph, giving him the potential for a second plus pitch.

P - Brendon Little, Sr., Conestoga (Pa.)
A University of North Carolina commit, Little stands with a strongly built 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame and made his Perfect Game debut last summer at the 17u WWBA National Championship. There he topped out at 93 mph with his fastball before working in the 88-92 mph rangee with downhill life at the East Coast Professional Showcase. With a fast arm action coming through and a high three-quarters slot, Little will continue to project given the ease of his release and just how fast his arm is, making it easy to envision him being able to live in the low-90s with his fastball in the future. His fastball shows some life to it and he rounds out his arsenal with both a changeup and a curveball. Little’s changeup is a live pitch in the mid-70s and shows sinking action to his arm side. The Malvern native completes his repertoire with a sharp 1-to-7 curveball that shows late biting action in the upper-70s.

P - Jeff Belge, Jr., Hanniger (N.Y.)
It’s safe to say the 6-foot-4 Belge took a big step forward last winter heading into his sophomore year and he hasn’t looked back. A St. John’s University commit, Belge took the jump from the mid-80s to the low-90s and quickly caught scouts' attention when he matched up with 2014 draft pick Scott Blewett. Belge showed that velocity throughout the summer, peaking at 94 mph from an extended three-quarters arm slot and projects for more in the future. When he stays online with his lower half he does a nice job of commanding the lower half of the strike zone with a low effort delivery with ability to locate to his arm side. His slider works in the low-80s and shows late life with depth. The big lefthander rounds out his repertoire with a low- to mid-80s changeup, featuring late fading life from the same arm slot of his fastball, spotting the pitch well down in the zone.

P - Ian Anderson, Jr., Shenendehowa (N.Y.)
Anderson continued to make strides from the spring season into the summer and fall and quickly caught the attention of everybody that was watching. At 6-foot-3, 170-pounds, the future Vanderbilt Commodore has a highly projectable frame with long and loose limbs, which he uses to his advantage on the mound. With an easy and tension free arm, Anderson lived in the 90-91 mph range at the WWBA World Championship, rarely dipping below that, while maintaining both the life and downhill plane on the pitch. Though he projects for more velocity with his fastball, Anderson shows a strong feel for three distinctly different off-speed pitches, all of which he shows feel and command for. He throws his slider at 78-81 mph showing tilt on the pitch as compared to his 11-to-5 curveball that shows nice depth. Anderson’s changeup has a chance to keep developing into an above average pitch, showing late tumbling action down in the zone while maintaining his arm speed and release.

P – Andrew Miller, Sr., Sterling (N.J.)
Standing 6-foot-3 with a lean and projectable build, Miller continues to make strides on the mound each time he takes the mound at a Perfect Game event. Working from a balanced delivery, Miller shows a quick arm coming through the back with an extended release allowing him to create nice angle on the ball. Working comfortably in the 88-90 mph range, Miller projects to add more velocity in the future but already does a nice job of living down in the zone with late life to his arm side. His slider took a nice step forward at the WWBA World Championship as he threw the pitch at 81-84 mph, adding both life and velocity (mid-70s throughout the summer) to it. The pitch shows late tilting life and did a nice job commanding the zone with it, just as he had done with his fastball. To round out the rotation Miller also throws a changeup with late fading action down in the zone, giving him a quality three-pitch mix.

Another Maryland commit from New Jersey, righthander John Murphy, was considered for this spot as he throws a heavy fastball up to 92 mph while showing a nice feel for both his slider and curveball. A Boston College commit, Jacob Stevens caught scouts' attention last fall after showing a velocity bump in Jupiter, frequently hitting 93 mph with his fastball and will be followed closely this spring.


Northeast Region Top Tools


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