Yesterday’s college showcase featured more than 60 players performing in front of 20 college coaches and two pro scouts at Max Effort Baseball. Despite the ominous weather forecast, we were able to forge on and get the event in.
Below are some of the standout performers from the day. They are listed in alphabetical order.
Aidan Bardi (Wantagh 2024)
Aidan Bardi (Wantagh 2024) put himself on the map with 18 home runs in a single week in Cooperstown. Last year he was the only freshman to be named All-County. Div-I prospect pic.twitter.com/tmPVk4YPyl
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) January 17, 2022
Bardi is an absolute stud. But don’t take my word for it. He proved it on the field by being the only freshman to be named All-County, as he hit .400 for Wantagh. He also did it while learning to be a catcher on the fly due to team-need. His natural position is shortstop. He originally put himself on the map by hitting a ridiculous 18 home runs in Cooperstown. He’s physically more mature since then and he has become a Division-I prospect. His swing is extremely advanced for his age and consistently barrels the ball up. His raw arm strength was 79 MPH across the infield. Can’t rave enough about the kid.
Grade: High-end Division-I
Sean Costello (Seaford 2023)
Costello had the best fastball of the day. It sat in the 83 MPH range and touched 85. The Seaford ace also spotted his curveball for strikes. Smallish frame but certainly knows how to pitch.
Grade: Division-II
Nicholas Delvecchio (Holy Trinity 2023)
Delvecchio is a pure line drive lefty hitter. Put him at the top of the order and he will get on base, steal and score runs. His strength has increased too and his max exit velo was 88.7. He’s a solid middle infielder with smooth actions, but more suited for second base.
Grade: Low-end Division-I/High-End Division-II
Danny Jasmin (East Meadow 2022) & Sean Mylan (Lynbrook 2022)
I listed these two together but they were both two-way players that somehow are uncommitted entering their senior seasons. Jasmin pitched in my tournament last July and fired a shutout. Mylan had a hand injury that he is now recovered from. Jasmin is a lefty/lefty and Mylan is a lefty hitter/righty pitcher. I think both can play at the Division-II level. Mylan also had an exit velo of 97.4 which was second. Jasmin is more in the low 90s but was consistent.
JJ Palumbo (St. John the Baptist 2023)
Uncommitted C/INF JJ Palumbo (SJB 2023) with an exit velo of 90.5 which is an increase of 8 mph from last year pic.twitter.com/GOfV8b3W55
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) January 18, 2022
Palumbo has transformed his body just over the past year to 18 months. Very impressive to see. Incredible work ethic and per Raposodo, he increased his exit velo from the low 80s to 90.5 as well. Defensively, he is a great receiver behind the dish and also shows quick footwork when playing the middle infield. Would like to see the arm strength increase and is probably needed before he gets to the next level but the bat certainly plays right away.
Grade: Division-II
Nicholas Pusinelli (St. Anthony’s 2023)
Nicholas had great command of his fastball and slider. He topped out at 80, but with that type of command he’s a top of the rotation starter at the varsity level. I think his upside is there, as we’ve seen in the big leagues pitchers that can spot that slider on the outer black are tremendously successful.
Grade: Division-II reliever/Division-III starter
Zach Rosenzweig (Plainedge 2024)
Uncommitted catcher Zach Rosenzweig (Plainedge 2024) up to 97.4 pic.twitter.com/EN5M6cziNs
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) January 17, 2022
On paper, Rosenzweig is a scout’s dream in that he is a catcher with the kind of power you drool over. In our showcase last September, he was up to 105 MPH. The only issue is that there was plenty of variance in the quality of contact. Would love to see more consistently square the ball up. Behind the dish, he has the strong arm but will need to continue to improve the blocking and framing. Will be a big year for him as he can really put himself on the map. We had Met scout Larry Izzo in attendance and he appeared to really be impressed.
Grade: Division-I
James Sill (Division 2023)
6’3 James Sill (Division 2023) with the highest exit velo of the day at 99.1 consistently in the 90s. Player to watch for this season pic.twitter.com/6NwjquiTyk
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) January 17, 2022
Sill had the highest exit velocity of the day at 99.1 – but more impressively he sits in that range. The ball just consistently is barreled up. And if you are not impressed by batting practice, I can attest that he’s performed well in games as well. He was a middle of the order bat for Division HS last season as a sophomore. If you need a power bat, he’s the guy for you. He ran a 5.1 40-yard dash so he can move very well for his frame.
Grade: Low-end Division-I
Nicholas Walker (Mepham 2023)
6’2 3B Nicholas Walker (Mepham 2023) showed his strength in BP – max exit velo of 93.8 pic.twitter.com/7p7C8lzKza
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) January 18, 2022
Pure strength is the words that come to mind when you watch him hit. The ball explodes off his bat and his summer coach stated that he hit one 428 feet last summer to right center. I’m not surprised. Max exit velocity of 93.8 and that will probably improve with a more efficient swing path. He moves well for his size and showed good hands in the field. Can play 3B at the varsity level, probably suited for first base in college.
Grade: Division-II
