We can talk until we are blue in the face in the offseason about what to expect in the upcoming season based on the stats compiled from the previous year. At the end of the day, it comes down to performance on the field and
Rob Andreoli (LIU Post 2018)
To say he’s risen his performance wouldn’t be accurate, but following his Axcess Baseball MVP season, he’s certainly proven that it wasn’t a fluke of a season, which raises his draft stock. He’s leading the team in hitting once again at .352 and he has drawn more walks (11) than strikeouts (9) again. An OBP of .421 is typical for him, and he’s also added 10 stolen bases to go along with his usual solid defense in CF. Also, he’s proven that whatever injury hampered him at the end of last season is behind him as well.
Thomas Colombo (Adelphi 2019), Tyler Becker (Adelphi 2020)
Colombo had an outstanding career at St. John the Baptist but really struggled in his first two years at Adelphi. Becker was relatively unknown in high school due to playing in a small school like Eastport-South Manor. He didn’t receive much playing time as a freshman due to the presence of Zack Levinson, Steve Withers and Brett Malm at his infield positions. Now as a sophomore, he has been shifted to shortstop where he is best suited. Of the three games I’ve been to, he has stood out for his defensive prowess every time. I can see it for myself, but it’s pretty telling when everyone who is paying attention mentions how smooth he is, especially at charging the ball and how quick his transfer is. At the plate, he has really come into his own. He had a 4-for-4 game the other day, and the previous time I watched him, he had a huge go-ahead two-run single up the middle and he also had a go-ahead hit in the first week of the season when I watched him. He’s been very impressive and it’s always a plus to be an outstanding defender at a premium position like SS. As for Colombo, he doesn’t play a premium position in the field, but he is an outstanding defensive first baseman. He’s very similar to Molloy’s Angelo Navetta, in the sense that he is a slick fielding undersized first baseman that has a smooth stroke from the left-side. This season, however, he’s added power to his game. He has already hit 4 with a .657 SLG. In a wood bat conference, that is nothing to scoff at. He also had a walk-off hit a game earlier this season that I was at. That doesn’t mean much, except he certainly is not fazed by the big moments.. He may need to duplicate those power numbers this summer and again next season, but he’s at least giving himself a chance to play at the next level.
Nick Grande (Stony Brook 2020)
Grande has risen to the challenge this season in a big year. It’s not that he had a poor season as a freshman, but he’s now put himself in the conversation for Player of the Year in the America East. He is leading the conference in hitting (.400), he is also first in runs scored (28), hits (36), doubles (13) and he’s second in SLG (.644) and OBP (.462). He also had stolen 14 bases. Just outstanding numbers for anyone especially a sophomore SS with a .963 FLD. He has been on fire. By all accounts, he is also an outstanding young man with zero off-the-field issues.
Frankie Moscatiello (St. Thomas Aquinas 2018)
I’m a huge fan of his. It seems people are still not convinced because of his 5’8″ stature. I get that Marcus Stroman is a relative anomaly when it comes to MLB aces under 6’0″, but at the very least it should change the curmudgeon attitude when it comes to a one-size-fits-all approach. What made Stroman so great was his ability to outwork everyone and use the negativity for fuel. I played with and against him, I followed his career trajectory and I saw what made him tick. The sense I get from this Rocky Point grad is that he is the same. I’ve never seen him get hit hard. I watched his first start of the season down in Cary, NC last month against a very strong Franklin Pierce team that has averaged 6.26 runs/game and he took a no-hitter into the sixth inning. His velocity was 91-92 MPH at a time of the year most power pitchers are still working up to their velocity and are in the 88-89 MPH range. He also has an absolutely filthy 12-6 curve that induces plenty of swings-and-misses. He has won three consecutive ECC Pitcher of the Week Awards. Someone I respect told me they should just re-name the award after him at this point. In all seriousness, he is a phenomenal pitcher and he deserves to continue his playing career. He does need to lower his walk total, he has averaged about 4.5/9 IP, but he also strikes out 10.5/9 IP and he’s yielded a ridiculous 13 hits in 37 IP.
Joseph Pena (St. Thomas Aquinas 2018)
I’m not sure what else the Brooklyn native could’ve done last season. He outperformed just about every other SS in the northeast outside of Jesse Berardi and didn’t get drafted. He plays for a Division-II powerhouse and has great skills defensively. Granted, he’s 5’9″ and the errors are a bit high but you have to look at the skill set and project forward. His bat is dynamic and his plate discipline is extraordinary. Look at the numbers this year; /440 AVG (37-for-84) along with 16 extra-base hits (.702 SLG) and 22 walks against 7 strikeouts and 19 stolen bases. Next highest on his team is 8. They are a team that doesn’t run a lot because of their power but he’s a green light. The 22 walks and 7 strikeouts is very telling, because he’s getting pitched to like a power hitter. He’s just been head-and-shoulders better than the average player and I think he’s a professional player.
Aaron Pinto (Stony Brook 2018)
What a relief it is for a team to be able to call upon a reliever in a tight spot and not have to worry about him imploding or even that your lead is in jeopardy. He has been nails this season. Through 19.2 innings, he’s allowed only 1 run, walked only 4 batters, struck out 23 and recorded 7 saves. He has an ERA of 0.46 and there’s no telling where they would be without him. He’s only a 6’0″ RHP, which means he has to really perform outstanding or throw exceptionally hard to stand out. But I think he’s done that and if he continues to do it in big spots, he can prove that he will play professional baseball. He has zero fear on the mound and–unlike most big-time pitchers–his bread-and-butter out pitch is his change up and not a breaking ball.
John Rooney/Vito Friscia (Hofstra 2019)
I’m going to post them together since they are not only teammates but sometimes battery mates. Rooney is the protoypical professional looking pitcher. He’s 6’5″ 220 lbs, he has an unassuming, humble mentality. Often shows no emotion on the mound. He went the first 22 IP of the season before allowing an ER. He is the main reason the pitching staff was ranked as high as No. 2 in the country in early March and was No. 10 recently. He has been everything that an ace is asked to do. He takes the ball on a Friday night, goes deep into games and keeps any offense at bay. I first saw him in his first college outing and I immediately said this kid is more pro ready than just about any college pitcher on Long Island. I think that statement was justified this season as he has fired 40.0 IP, allowed just 20 hits, compiled an ERA of 1.58 and struck out 52. He is undefeated at 4-0 and will take the ball tonight against Delaware. Additionally, he has improved his pickoff to the point where it’s a weapon. He has a chance to get selected higher than No. 86 overall, which is where Bryan Verbitsky was drafted in 2013. Coach Russo has seen both up close and he said he’s well ahead of where Verbitsky was at that point.
Friscia is another player that looked like a pro prospect as soon as he came on campus. He has become one of the most feared hitters in the CAA. For a while, he was hitting well over .400 but currently sits at .354 with 4 HR and 17 RBI with a .524 SLG. He has drawn 12 walks and struck out 16 times. He has recently gone back to catcher, he is sometimes the DH but has logged time at first base also. As a catcher, he is even more appealing as a rare dual threat catcher, but freshman Matt Siedem has gotten time back there. A .524 SLG sounds a lot better as a catcher.
High School
Roman Dorosh (Sachem East 2019)
Six up, six down for Roman Dorosh. Sachem East leads 5-0 pic.twitter.com/Fr0VTrBSzu
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 26, 2018
He had already put himself on the map after a dominant sophomore season in League I, but I think after a strong showing in tournaments people started realizing he was for real. After starting the season with two lights-out performances in freezing weather to begin his junior season, he’s another realm. He touched 90 MPH in his opening day start which is impressive in its own right, but he also brings much more to the table. He employs a delivery that’s far from cookie cutter. He uses a low 3/4 arm action that has plenty of heavy armside tail and his slider is close to untouchable when he locates it just off the outside corner. He is very athletic as well, which is a plus. When I watched him, he showed a great pickoff move and he fielded his position well when he was tested. If he makes the jump from 86-88 to 88-90 this summer he becomes a draft prospect one year from now.
E.J. Exposito (St. John the Baptist 2019)
He’s improved tremendously over the past year according to his Head Coach. He has moved over from second base to SS to fill in the void of Matt Archer. He has really impressed with his agility, his quick transfer and his strong arm. He has also really become a talented hitter. He’s put himself firmly on the radar of Division-I teams and could become a prospect if he continues his success into the travel circuit this summer. I was impressed when I went to their scrimmage last month and it was about 25 degrees and he stepped in against a Division-I pitcher like Bobby Vath and he went opposite field for a triple with a wood bat. That’s the kind of stuff that gets the attention of coaches.
Mark Faello (Plainview-JFK 2018)
Reigning Diamond Award winner Mark Faello gets the start for Plainview-JFK pic.twitter.com/kVZlE11bad
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 28, 2018
Far from your typical pitching prospect, as he stands shy of 6’0″ and has a baby face, but when he steps on the mound, there is nothing immature about him. He was our runner-up for Axcess Man of the Year in 2017. I watched him last July and again last week. He touched 90 early on and his velocity settled in the 86-88 MPH range. I think as it warms up, those 6’s will turn upside down to 9’s and he puts himself on the radar. He has a true 12-6 curveball that ties hitters in knots. He’s also a talented hitter that smacked a HR when I saw him but he’s certainly a pitcher at the next level. His demeanor is a plus.
