With the 2022 MLB Draft right around the corner, it’s time to take a sneak peak at which Long Island players have a shot to get drafted. It’s important to note that when the MLB announced that the draft would be cut in half from 40 to 20 rounds, it would have a massive impact on the northeast high school players. Typically that third day of the draft is the sweet spot when our best players hear their names called unless it’s an outlier like last year in which Jacob Steinmetz was selected in the third round. Steinmetz is a 6’5 RHP that not only threw 95 MPH, but had a Major League curveball and he also spent the spring at Elev8 Academy against top-tier competition. So while it’s an amazing story, it’s not likely to happen this year.
Along those lines, 2021 featured several high-profile, high-level pitchers on Long Island. Let’s not forget Tommy Ventimiglia was drafted by Cleveland out of Longwood HS, Rafe Schlesinger had the option to get drafted out of Sachem East, JT Raab was in that same stratosphere but suffered a torn UCL after his 19-K Opening Day performance, Dylan Johnson likely will get drafted out of St. John’s in 2 years, then there’s Tyler O’Neill at Bucknell and Tyler Cox at West Virginia.
Here’s a look at this year’s group.
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- Billy Steele (Shoreham-Wading River)
Billy Steele (SWR 2022) took a no-hit bid into the 6th inning over Bayport-Blue Point in SWR’s victory on Friday pic.twitter.com/dfclGy3YxL
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) May 16, 2021
2. Kyle Chase (St. John the Baptist)
St. John’s-commit Kyle Chase gets the start for SJB. He was named the Axcess Preseason Pitcher of the Year pic.twitter.com/RUyPedBy1E
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 16, 2022
3. John Downing (Chaminade)
Seton Hall-commit John Downing gets the start for Chaminade pic.twitter.com/ijbtpHs597
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) March 23, 2022
4. JJ Gatti (Chaminade)
Dayton-commit JJ Gatti (Chaminade 2022) up to 91.4 MPH pic.twitter.com/OzNWhCThLp
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 25, 2022
5. Jake Moss (Manhasset)
UPENN-commit Jake Moss sitting 90-91 MPH pic.twitter.com/CwctHVvWGa
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 1, 2022
6. Drew Munn (Cold Spring Harbor)
CCSU-commit Drew Munn (Cold Spring Harbor 2022) pic.twitter.com/9j2Q3CwBFF
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 27, 2022
7.Cody Miller (Rocky Point)
Rocky Point 7, Stony Brook Prep 4
Cody Miller: 3-4, single, Double, HR pic.twitter.com/6Mef9o1ZIX— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) April 4, 2022
8. Jack Vallario (St. Anthony’s)
Fordham-commit Jack Vallario (St. Anthony’s 2022) is the reigning CHSAA Player of the Year. Compiled OPS of 1.253. Pro potential pic.twitter.com/B8OnvFZl60
— Axcess Baseball LI (@axcessbaseball) February 1, 2022