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Recapping Wednesday’s Underclassmen Showcase

It’s not often you get some of the top uncommitted players on Long Island all in one location. Additionally, it’s not often high school players get the opportunity to play in front of 19 Division-I & II coaches.

That’s what occurred on Wednesday at Long Island Indoor Sports in Ronkonkoma for the Underclassmen Showcase. Below are just some of the schools that were in attendance:

St. John’s

Hofstra

Stony Brook

LIU

Princeton

Seton Hall

Manhattan

Albany

Iona

Farleigh Dickinson

Molloy

AIC

Felician

50 players were in attendance which made for an outstanding ratio of coaches: players. Below are some players that really caught my attention and stood out.

AJ Aschettino (Rocky Point 2024)

One of the more well-rounded players in attendance. Aschettino was named All-League as a sophomore on the most talented team in Suffolk County. He batted .328 with 16 RBIs and 5 SBS. He can handle middle infield, he ran a 4.78 40-yard dash and can obviously handle the bat from the left side. Very intelligent ballplayer as well. Division-I prospect.

Joe Richetti (Sachem East 2023)

Richetti played a major role in Sachem East’s League I title this season. He batted .367 with 19 stolen bases and was named All-League. He ran a 4.82 40-yard dash and showed a strong arm in the outfield with an 80 MPH velocity. He handles the bat well and is also a high academic student – with a 1410 on his SATs which opens up many avenues for him. With his grades and talent level, I would think the Ivy League is in play.

Calvin Adam (West Islip 2024) 

Adam finished towards the top of the performers in every category. He was No. 1 in bat speed at 77 MPH (Blast Motion), he was second in speed at 4.75 40-yard dash. His OF velocity was towards the top at 75 MPH and he also topped at 79 MPH on the mound with a nice compact delivery. He just finished his sophomore season, so there’s plenty of room for growth. With his fundamentals and current strength, I could see a Division-I outfielder in another year.

Tyler Jean-Noel (Ward Melville 2024)

He was tops in the class in speed at 4.65 40-yard dash. With his speed, he can leg out almost any tough groundball in the infield. He also showed a 79 MPH arm from the outfield on his throws. As a Ward Melville player, you know his fundamentals are sound. He started on varsity this year, and I expect him to be a big piece for them the next two years. Not a Div-I prospect but could be a good fit for a local D-II.

Matt Nowlan (Comsewogue 2024)

Nowlan performed well in all facets of the event. He was very smooth defensively, showcasing a strong arm and efficient movement. At the plate, he displayed his power and on the mound he had very clean mechanics and topped at 79 MPH. He was one of the most physically fit players as well which shows his commitment to getting the most of himself.

Riley Weatherwax (Ketcham 2024)

Weatherwax had the strongest outfield velocity at 81 MPH and showed that on the mound as well. I was impressed with the breaking ball as well, that will generate plenty of swings and misses. With his arm speed, I think he’ll add several more ticks of velocity as he fills out.

EJ Ettinger (Kings Park 2023)

Ettinger doesn’t put up the eye-popping metrics but he does everything well and you need that to field a winning team. I think college coaches recognize that and he will have a successful baseball career. His arm strength was 76 MPH across the diamond but I was most impressed with his balance at the plate. While most players get anxious and jumpy in front of college coaches, he was patient and composed. I look for him to have a big year next year.

Dylan Rosenberg (Wheatley 2023)

Rosenberg is a winning player and that’s one of the best compliments you can give a player. He helped lead Wheatley to the County Championship this season and they won the Long Island Championship last season. He plays a great shortstop and handles the bat well. His 40-yard dash was 4.82. The arm strength was towards the top at 75 MPH but more importantly he was accurate with his throws.

Franklin Noel Rivera (Suffield Academy 2024)

He turned heads with that 85 MPH throw across the diamond. He definitely has the ‘wow’ factor and he can handle the bat as well. With two more high school seasons, the sky is the limit for the West Hempstead native. The arm strength is already D-I, he ran a 4.98 40-yard dash as well.

Drew McGowan (Eastport-South Manor 2024)

With a 2.09 pop time and an All-County bat, there’s plenty of reason to be excited about McGowan’s potential. Had the season not been cancelled in 2020, he would’ve been the rare 8th grade catcher starting on varsity. Division-I player.

John Margolies (Hauppauge 2024)

Margolies is an exciting player and one that will be the lynchpin for the Hauppauge program over the next two seasons. He already has been on varsity for two seasons, led the team in hitting as a freshman, and followed that up by hitting .391 with 16 RBIs this season and went All-League. He was also their closer. He’s super athletic and he can beat you in a variety of ways. He was sitting 80-81 MPH on the mound but with his clean mechanics and as he gets stronger, that will certainly make a jump to the upper 80s. I’m not sure if he projects as an infielder or pitcher at the next level but there’s no reason to pigeon-hole him yet. I have a Division-I grade on him. If there’s any nitpicking, would like to see him improve his 40-yard dash although he does move well laterally.

Luke Coats (St. Anthony’s 2026)

He was described to me as Kyle Chase 2.0. Not even in high school yet and already sitting 79-80 and flashing 81. And the two-seamer has some impressive arm side tail. He’s already over 6’0, so I expect him to get the call up to varsity next year and will be a key cog on the Friars’ rotation shortly after that. No need to rush it, or the recruiting process but eventually he will find his home and it will be a high-end Division-I program.

Nick Frusco (Miller Place 2025)

I was unfamiliar with him before today, but it’s very simple. If you’re a lefty with that type of arm you are a Division-I pitcher. The ball exploded out of his hand and he could command it. The sky is the limit.

Victor Frederick (St. Dominic 2024)

He’s already done it on varsity so it’s not tough to imagine him being a lights-out pitcher over the next two seasons. The 6’3 RHP reminds me a bit of Brian Morrisey when he was at Commack. The velocity is already there as he flashed some 84s but what’s impressive is the arm side run on the two-seamer. That will break a lot of wood bats in the Catholic League. With his size he’s able to throw downhill which makes for some uncomfortable at bats. Assuming he adds 3-5 MPH over the next calendar year he will be a Division-I pitcher.

Logan Prisco (Newfield 2023)

Prisco is an imposing figure on the mound, standing 6’4 and sitting in the mid 80s. He was mainly in the low 80s today but was 88 at the Area Code event last week. He was named All-County in 2022 and beat Connetquot – which is no small task. His brother plays at Albany, so they are a great baseball family. I expect him to be a high priority for dozens of Division-I programs.

 

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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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