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Tournaments  | Story  | 5/27/2018

East Memorial Scout Notes

David Rawnsley     
Photo: Timothy Manning (Perfect Game)

There is no question that Raymond Torres (2019, Charlotte, N.C.) has established himself as one of the top defensive catchers in his class and the North Carolina native, who attends IMG Academy in Florida, is currently ranked 58th in the country in the PG 2019 class rankings. He has loads of quick twitch athleticism behind the plate and an outstanding throwing arm. Where Torres impressed on Saturday playing for Elite Squad National was with his righthanded bat speed. He showed that rare ability to patiently watch pitches, even with two strikes, that were outside the zone but still explode aggressively when he swung and create peak bat speed. Torres has some late barrel wrap just before he starts his swing that creates some length to the ball but it also makes for some serious barrel whip through the zone as well. He rocketed a double into the left field corner in his first at-bat and later just missed driving another ball deep to the same spot when he just got under the ball.

Elite Squad lefthander Timothy Manning (2020, Pompano Beach, Fla.) is the 69th ranked player in the 2020 class and was sharp in his outing Saturday. The 6-foot-2 southpaw worked in the 86-88 mph range early and established right away that he could hit the corners on both sides of the plate with regularity and intent. He pitched primarily off his fastball but showed a tight, big-breaking 1-to-7 curveball at 74 mph that will buckle hitters knees, especially lefthanders. Manning looks like he's poised for a big summer and we will see him next at the PG Junior National Showcase in Georgia in mid-June.

Nicholas Hardy (2019, Pembroke Pines, Fla.) is a primary catcher who the Elite Squad coaches say has pitched only 20-25 times in his life but he looks like he has a future on the mound. Hardy has a very good delivery with nice lower half use and very good sync between his lower body and arm and throws easily. He sat 87-89 on his fastball and there is plenty more there in his 6-foot-2, 170-pound body. Hardy also threw a slider between 77 and 80 mph that wasn't consistent either in release slot or in spin but which flashed good spin when his hand was over the ball. He is committed to Florida International.

Ryan Vanderhei (2019, Goodyear, Ariz.) is an outstanding projection on the mound. He's still 16-years old and is already 6-foot-6, 175-pounds with size 15 feet and very loose, athletic actions. Working on a 45-pitch limit for North East Baseball National, Vanderhei pitched in the 85-88 mph range from a mid three-quarters arm slot that worked very well for his arm action. His 77 mph slider was his best pitch and garnered him plenty of swing and misses with late two-plane biting action. Vanderhei commanded both pitches well, especially the slider, and cruised through three and a third innings before hitting his pitch limit. It will be very interesting to watch him develop over the next few years.

Vanderhei was relieved by outfielder/righthanded pitcher Max Rippl (2018, Fort Myers, Fla.), who showed nice arm strength from a medium effort delivery that profiles him as a future reliever. Rippl commanded the zone well with a fastball in the 88-91 mph range. He is a Kent State signee.

Catcher Connor Pavolony (2018, Woodstock, Ga.) didn't do much at the plate for North East Baseball this game but he is one of the most enjoyable players in the country to watch throw a baseball. The 91st-ranked player in the class and a Tennessee signee, Pavolony has thrown up to 85 mph in drills at PG events and consistently brings that arm strength and outstanding accuracy to games. He fittingly ended North East's win on Saturday by back picking a runner off third base with a laser throw.

Orioles Scout Team righthander Rudy Gomez (2018, Miami, Fla.) looks like an outstanding signee for St. Leo's University. He is listed at 6-foot-2, 185-pounds but looks a bit bigger than that with a mature build that has good present strength. Gomez has a very smooth and low effort delivery that enables him to pound the strike zone consistently and has the body control to throw well-used hesitations into his delivery as well. His fastball worked in the 87-90 mph range and he maintained his velocity very well throughout the outing. Gomez also had a upper-70s slider that showed good spin and occasional sharp downer biting action that he probably could have used more often, as his fastball tended to be pretty straight and hitters learned to sit on that pitch.
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