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Vinny Messana’s Big Board: Top High School Prospects on Long Island

With MLB Draft day just one day away it’s time to discuss which local high school players have a shot to play at the professional level. Many of these players I have watched for the past few seasons and have watched them evolve from talented players with lots of untapped potential to elite players. Additionally, each of these young men happen to possess rare leadership qualities that will help them excel at the next level. Several of these players will play high-end Division-I baseball and a few of them will play professionally after that.

Criteria: high school graduates of 2018-2020 and I needed to see them play at least once.

  1. Frankin Parra (Copiague 2018, San Jacinto CC-commit)

When you watch the video above, it’s easy to see why cross checkers were flying into Long Island to watch his bullpen sessions in January, February and March. You can’t teach that easy cheddar, nor the projectable frame. It doesn’t hurt that he has very little mileage on his arm. Take for example a pitcher like Brady Singer, who is potentially the No. 1 overall pick in the country from the Florida Gators but is closing in on a 100 inning season and that’s following a 126.0 inning season. Obviously he didn’t get to put on a clinic this season like Morrell last year because his team didn’t have the success, but in the games he did pitch he was must-see TV. I watched him strike out 8 over 3 innings against Centereach he also struck out 14 over 5 against Huntington. Once he gets into the minor leagues, he will get stronger and refine the command of his slider and change up and in three or four years, you might be looking at a big leaguer.

2. Jason Diaz (Kellenberg 2019, University of Miami-commit)

Diaz is good enough that in a May start against Chaminade, people in attendance were wondering what was wrong with him. I overheard several parents asking “why is he not throwing as hard as he usually does?” and “why is he getting hit around?” You’d think he had a bad outing that day. He actually went five innings, struck out 11 and gave up 1 run (unearned) and hit 91 MPH. Diaz set the standard for his dominance so high as a sophomore with his sub 1.00 ERA and a CG shutout in the CHSAA championship that people just expect a no-hitter carried into the seventh inning every outing. This will be a crucial summer for him as he enters the fishbowl of the MLB scouting circle. People will want to know what makes him tick, they will want to know what he does for fun and who he hangs out with. They don’t ask those questions to mediocre players. That is life when you are pitcher of his ilk. From an objective standpoint, I will be curious to see his performance this summer. Obviously, the velocity is there. He has the beautiful delivery, but I would like to see him trust his fastball more. He told me after the Chaminade start that he trusted his slider more than his fastball that day, but at the high school level he needs to establish that heater and use the slider as a putaway pitch now to get ahead. Major League starting pitchers might be throwing less fastballs than ever. but that’s not to be applied to 16-year-old phenoms that are till growing.

3. Logan O’Hoppe (St. John the Baptist 2018, East Carolina-commit)

The biggest question regarding O’Hoppe was whether he would hit enough at the next level. To say he’s answered that question would be selling him short. He led the CHSAA in hitting by .102 points. He finished the regular season batting .511 (next closest was his teammate Tom Force-.409) with a .662 OBP and 3 HR. With a wood bat. Defensively, he’s in the same breathe as Pat Cantwell coming out of West Islip in 2008. I played against Cantwell and I’ll tell you this. My high school coach told us before the game “don’t even think about stealing. Don’t even try to advance on a wild pitch–he will still throw you out.” O’Hoppe is a red-light behind the plate and don’t wander too far off first base either because he likes to back pick pretty frequently. He allowed only three stolen bases all season and they all came on situations where the runner wasn’t being held on. O’Hoppe has a bright baseball career in front of him that will likely result in a managerial job at the minor league level whenever his career is complete.

4. Tim McHugh (Commack 2019, Texas Christian-commit)

There are very few legitimate power-hitting prospects from the northeast and the main reason for that is the lack of reps. You can take batting practice until the machine stops working but you just can’t simulate a pitcher’s delivery until you are in the batter’s box and, unfortunately, that only happens between March and Halloween on Long Island. While that lack of overuse benefits pitchers in the northeast, it is counterproductive for position players when it comes to evaluating them against their counterparts from the southeast and west coast. In the case of McHugh, he possesses some of the best raw power on Long Island that I’ve seen since I played against Jonathon McGibbon in 2010. The difference is McHugh s 6’3 and plays center field whereas McGibbon was a 6’1 first baseman. I’ve seen it first hand, I was in Fort Myers last October where he showcased his strength and crushed one through a heavy wind that was blowing in. He is the exception to the northeast bias because he has the build of a middle linebacker and he has incredible athleticism for his size. There’s also the fact that his birthdate of October of 2001 works in his favor as well. In other parts of he country, he would be a 2020 grad. He is playing this entire baseball season at 16 years old. Teams want to get him in their organization at 17-years-old as opposed to 21 where he could’ve formed bad habits. That, combined with his off-the-charts makeup are intriguing bonuses to the on-field ability. He does have to fix some holes in his swing that was exposed at times in the postseason against the top-tier pitchers but against any middling fastball, he is absolutely devastating. He batted .490 with six HR this season so he is far from a project.

5. Joey Savino (Connetquot 2019, Uncommitted)

I was only vaguely aware of Savino entering this season and now I am all-in. I watched him twice and he was lights-out both times and they were both against playoff teams. There’s a lot to like about Savino. First and foremost, the build is a scout’s dream. He stands about 6’3 with a strong build. He certainly looks the part and he is an intimidating presence on the mound. He has a low 3/4 arm slot which makes for a very uncomfortable at bat for right-handed batters and with his command he’s not all that comfortable against lefties either. He also has impeccable command. In the postseason game I watched, he had 73 pitches in a complete game. Against Bay Shore in his next outing, he needed only 80 pitches for a complete game. He pitches with confidence and with his razor-sharp slider and 86-88 MPH fastball that touches 89, he is only a little bit off of Diaz in terms of velocity.

6. Johnny Castagnozzi (Massapequa 2020, UNC-commit)

Castagnozzi, in some ways, is the perfect example of this era of amateur baseball. He was a well-known name within the baseball community before he even stepped foot in high school. I remember someone telling me about him the summer he was entering high school right after Perfect Game ranked him as the No. 1 player in New York in the 2020 class. He has vindicated that with two successful seasons as a ninth and tenth grader. Most impressively, he has done it under the microscope. He committed to North Carolina in the beginning of his sophomore year, only adding to the buzz surrounding his name. In terms of actually playing the game, he has a very powerful swing that enabled him to hit 3 HR in one game this season. In yesterday’s Long Island Championship, he crushed a double deep into the left-center field gap. He also showcased his powerful arm on a groundball that he was forced to rush the throw. He’s a two-time Long Island Champion. Tough to beat that.

7. Anthony Fontana (Wantagh 2018, Furman-commit)

The interesting thing about Fontana is that he has been a highly-touted power-hitting first base prospect and yet his biggest impact this season was not at the plate but on the mound. He has a record of 23-1 at the varsity level and he is 10-1 this season after his dominant outing against Rocky Point in the Long Island Championship yesterday. He was also lights-out against Division in the Nassau finals. It’s pretty remarkable how he’s been able to quiet every offense that steps in the box, and yet he does it without an overpowering fastball. Nevertheless, he is going to college for his offensive prowess and that’s why he’s on this list. His strong frame and sweet swing generates prodigious power and he is the type of player that has been relishing in playing in big moments for the past three seasons. He didn’t put up the big-time power numbers to get drafted this season, but his work ethic and history proves that he will go to college and regain that powerful swing and getting drafted will be back on the table in three years.

8. Matt Hogan (Hills East 2018, Vanderbilt-commit)

Hogan answered the questions about his junior season with a monster bounce-back year in which he was named both Section XI and Axcess Baseball League 3 MVP. He threw a no-hitter with 11 strikeouts this season, touching 91 MPH on the gun and he also hit a soul-crushing HR late in the season to break a 5-5 tie against Bay Shore. From that point on, he started getting the 2004 Barry Bonds treatment. He was intentionally walked 18 times this season which limited his production but he was still able to put up some big numbers. His season came to a disappointing end against Commack in which he was roughed up for 7 runs in four innings and out dueled by Jake Krzemienski. Still, it was a decorated five-year varsity career for Hogan, who will be headed to Vanderbilt unless the draft has something to say about that. A great, humble kid that breathes baseball.

9. Mark Faello (Plainview-JFK 2018, Hofstra-commit)

If Faello was a couple inches taller, there’s no question he would be in the discussion to go in the middle rounds of the draft. He has performed so well during his varsity career that he still has garnered interest. I watched him no-hit Herricks early in the season and it was clear he was on a mission this season. He touched 90 MPH in that outing, but more impressively he bears down in critical situations. Very rarely does he give up a hit with RISP. He has great command of his fastball outside of the strike zone; especially up in the zone which is tough to lay off with his velocity. He shouldered much of the load for his team and was able to get them into the semifinals before they finally ran out of steam. According to his coach, he gave up 7 ER this season and they all came against Calhoun, back in late April. He is the reigning Diamond Award winner and has a chance to win it again. He will be headed to Hofstra in the fall, where he could have an immediate impact.

10. Roman Dorosh (Sachem East 2019, uncommitted)

He firmly established himself as one of the best players on Long Island this year. He was voted Axcess League I MVP by our audience. He was in consideration for the Paul Gibson Award for much of the year. He wasted no time dominating on Opening Day against Pat-Med, in which he hit 90 MPH in the bitter cold, allowed 0 runs and also had a double. The most appealing attributes about him aside from the velocity is the bulldog mentality on the mound. I’ve seen enough of him now where you know what he’s made of. The story of him pitching through a sprained wrist in Georgia is commonly brought up. He pitched eight innings in the playoff game against West Islip. He also hit a 3-R shot off Max Nielsen in another postseason game. He is a big-time player that thrives in big moments. He is the type of player that would thrive playing in a power 5 conference.

11. Jake Lazzaro (Oceanside 2019, St. John’s-commit)

Lazzaro is a premier athlete that is also an outstanding wide receiver on their county championship winning team. The baseball team had their season ended by Massapequa but it was to not fault of Lazzaro, who hit a single, double and triple in his first three at bats of Game 1 and came up in the 7th inning with the Sailors trailing 6-3 and runners on 1st & 2nd. We joked that it would be very appropriate for him to complete the cycle with a game-tying home run. He gave it a ride to right-center but it was caught at the warning track. He also stole a couple bases, to the surprise of nobody who has spent any time watching him. He is a complete player and a very gifted SS with elite lateral quickness.

12. Anthony D’Onofrio (Wantagh 2018, Hofstra-commit)

Yes his height is a deterrent to some, but his statistics and intensity will tell you otherwise. I will admit that it takes much more for a 5’6″ middle infielder to impress a scout than it does for a player that stands a few inches taller. Still, D’Onofrio has done nothing but win and hit since he got to varsity. He is a .450 hitter, and he is a slick fielder that plays his best when the chips are on the table. I think he turned a lot of heads when he turned around Morrell’s first pitch of the game last year in the LIC. He’s also a two-sport star and a dominant running back in football. I think the success of Jose Altuve paves the way for a player like D’Onofrio who clearly possesses all the prerequisite skills, outstanding hand-eye coordination and he’s a fierce competitor. He will need to put up big numbers in college but he’s that type of player. A three-time Long Island Champion that is the consummate “gamer”. He was so excited for the game to start he was walking around with his bat in his hand and helmet on more than 20 minutes before the first pitch with the National Anthem still yet to be played. This is the kind of kid you bet on. Coach Sachs absolutely adored him, and he will be tough to replace for that Warriors team, not just in terms of success but also his leadership abilities.

13. Brock Murtha (Sayville 2020, Notre Dame-commit)

A fierce competitor that is also a star on the gridiron, Murtha put himself in the spotlight with 10 HR, six wins and one save as a freshman. He is smooth defensively at shortstop and packs a ton of punch into his frame. He gets it up in the upper 80s on the mound and has improved his command. I watched him in the first week of the season while the weather was poor and he still found a way to pitch six innings and allow one run. He has a prototypical delivery for a power pitcher. This will be a crucial summer for him as he looks to build his stock for the draft in two years.

14. Bobby Vath (Newfield 2018, Rhode Island-commit)

It was finally the season for Newfield that they had been waiting for. They broke a long postseason drought and a huge reason for that was Bobby Vath. The big RHP dominated and added plenty of muscle to his frame in the offseason to increase his velocity from the low 80s to upper 80s. He was ultimately out dueled in the postseason by Joey Savino but his impact was felt this season. There was some interest in him from a draft perspective, but I think In three years he has a chance to solidify himself as a starting pitching prospect once his velocity is sitting in the low 90s.

15. Jake Guercio (West Islip 2018, Fordham-commit)

It’s a shame he had to miss his junior year because he is as dynamic of a player as there is on Long Island. He won two Suffolk County Championships and won Section XI League 4 MVP. He batted close to .500 this season and was a virtual lock for a stolen base and run scored every time he was up. He made the Lions lineup click this season. Had he not been injured last season, there is a real chance they would’ve defeated Commack in the county finals. I think he has a chance to start right away at Fordham and be a catalyst atop their lineup.

16. Max Nielsen (Ward Melville 2019, UCONN-commit)

Nielsen’s season ended on a sour note with a postseason loss to Sachem East, but that shouldn’t diminish what he’s done since coming up to varsity as an eighth grader. He has turned into one of the premier pitchers on Long Island and certainly in the class of 2019. When he committed to UCONN during his sophomore year, I thought they were taking a risk due to the fact that his velocity was still in 82-83 MPH range. Granted, he had the pitchability, work ethic and youth to suggest a spike in velocity was coming. That did occur and he’s now in that 87-88 MPH range, with great arm action and a nasty change up and slider. He had a terrific junior season and his mission will be to find those extra few ticks to get in the low 90s by the time next season comes around.

17. Don Wille (Sachem East 2020, Fordham-commit)

Wille played most of the season at first base due to the team’s needs but his ability behind the plate is what is truly his calling card. In fact, as a ninth grader he had the rare 100% caught stealing rate behind the dish. Despite standing roughly 6’3″, the Fordham-commit can move quickly behind the plate and has a 1.9 pop time. He has true power at the plate and you can see his swing on display in the above picture. He batted third on a playoff team all season as a 10th grader, and there’s something to be said about that. He has the potential to get drafted out of high school. I watched him twice this year, his performance on Opening Day against Pat-Med was very impressive as the ball really jumps off his bat.

18. Gabe Romano (Shoreham-Wading River ’18, Quinnipiac-commit)

To highlight how dominant SWR was in 2017, they were able to have Gabe Romano waiting in the wings for the next season. He made one appearance, and then committed to Div-I Quinnipiac during the off-season due to his hulking frame (6’6″195 lbs) and high-octane fastball that touched 90 MPH. He has a wicked 12-6 curve that tied hitters up all season as he led the Wildcats to the Suffolk Class A Finals before they had their season ended by Rocky Point. Romano was late to the party but he showcased himself this season and put together a one-hit shutout with 14 strikeouts in a postseason outing. He just needs to refine the command of his secondary pitches but he is an intriguing prospect.

19. Kyle Johnson (Newfield 2018, Stony Brook-commit)

It was an outstanding season for Johnson, who teamed up with Vath to combine for one of the best 1-2 punches on Long Island. He had an impact not just on the mound, but also at the plate where he batted over .400 with an OBP over .500. He has very clean mechanics on the mound and makes everything look easy. The outing that I watched, he barely broke a sweat in a complete game victory over Centereach. His velocity sat in the 85 MPH range but he can touch the upper 80s. I’m not sure if he will be a pitcher or infielder at Stony Brook, he is athletic enough to play SS but the presence of Nick Grande obviously prevents that.

20. Carlos Hidalgo (St. Dominic 2020, St. John’s-commit)

Hidalgo had a breakout season for the Bayhawks, compiling a record of 6-0 with a sub 1.00 ERA and earning Pitcher of the Year honors for the CHSAA. His biggest impact, however, might be at the plate. The St. John’s-commit has tremendous bat speed that will produce big power numbers as he continues to mature. He has showcased his ability and I’ve been impressed with his rapid ascension.

21. Jason Coules (Bellmore JFK 2018, Fordham-commit)

Coules put himself on the map during his sophomore season when he went toe-to-toe against Jimmy Joyce in the Nassau County finals at Farmingdale State College. He has since transitioned more into a position player. He has major power and impressed scouts during Sal Agostinelli’s trip to the Dominican Republic back in February. He has major power and was invited to a few preseason workouts with big league teams. Played second base when I watched him against Hewlett, but has the ability to play multiple infield positions.

22. Joe Wozny (Stony Brook 2020, UCONN-commit)

Wozny has the high-powered fastball that will garner attention. I watched him in April and he struck out 15 over 6.2 before hitting the pitch limit. He’s very composed on the mound, the issue is the level of competition. He will have to turn heads during the travel circuit because it’s hard to evaluate his performance in League 9, many of the hitters are simply overmatched. He has a chance to be special though, I like the make up and the arm angle is very tough to pick up.

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Vinny is the President of Axcess Baseball. He is a 2013 graduate of Adelphi University and he is currently the Long Island area scout for the San Diego Padres

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