Player Name: Tommy Zeigen
School: Old Westbury
Position: SS
Tommy is a 2013 graduate of Glen Cove HS. Last year he batted .218 for the Panthers in 41 games. He drove in 19 runs and compiled five XBH.
Offensively: He bats with an upright stance, with his feet basically shoulder width apart. His hands are held high, with his back elbow up and he employs a bat wag. His leg kick is very short and abrupt. When his foot lands, he does not cock his arms back–which could sacrifice some power. He keep his head down on the ball, has good extension with his hands and he finishes with both hands on the bat.
In the March 17 double header, he went 4-for-6. In his first at bat, he had a long at bat, in which he fouled off several pitches, before hitting a sky-high pop to left center field in which the CF dropped the ball. In his second at bat, he hit a long fly ball to straight-away left field that the LF leaped for, couldn’t make the play, and it hit off the top of the fence for a triple.
The opposing starter was not throwing hard, but he was on all the fastballs. It is possible that he struggles off harder throwers.
Defensively: He had a reputation out of high school as the best defensive shortstop on Long Island. He has not nothing to dispel that notion. He has fluid movements and he will make all of the routine plays, and he has a knack for making some exceptional plays as well. His arm is strong and his defense will be a big reason for the Panthers success this season.
Base Running: He has great speed. His strides are long and easy. He takes large leads off the bases and is very instinctive as well/
