When it comes to baseball in the northeast, one of the benefits you come across is the amount of quality baseball you can find across levels. In some areas of the country, talent starts to dry up outside of the college and high school ranks. Up here, you can find high quality baseball at several junior colleges and also at the DII/DIII levels. This fall, I was lucky to catch multiple scrimmages featuring talented squads at various competition levels. While many of the names included aren’t necessarily “draft guys” for one reason or another, I was captivated by several players, many of whom I’ll be circling back to during the spring. In this article, I’ve included some standout performers from Rowan-Gloucester, Seton Hall, St Joseph’s, and East Stroudsburg University, all of whom were teams I saw during the fall.
Rowan - Gloucester (Juco)
Rowan College of South Jersey (aka RCSJ or Rowan-Gloucester) is an elite junior college in New Jersey and is a yearly DIII juco world series competitor. The team went 44-9 last year, winning the North Atlantic region. They were eliminated after two games in the junior college world series and will have to reload quickly after losing some essential contributors during the offseason. From what I saw, the Roadrunner offense has a chance to be explosive. The physicality at Gloucester rivals that of the top DI programs in the region, with several bats providing not only strength but also speed and athleticism. Here are some hitters that stood out during a doubleheader against Seton Hall:
Rocko Brzezniak, 3B
Class: Freshman / 2023
B/T: R/R
Brzezniak was a decorated New Jersey prep from South Jersey, known for his power bat. Originally a Louisville commit, Brzezniak ended up at Rowan-Gloucester, a fantastic landing spot for a young player looking to grow. Brzezniak, who is still only 19 years old, might be the most physical teenager I've seen on a baseball field. Listed at 6'2-210, it's a well-defined, maxed-out frame with elite upper body strength. As one would expect, there is both plus bat speed and strength in the swing. There is rotational violence from a deeper load with a vertical bat path. It's a swing built for maximum power, which may need to be toned down as he matures. He can drive the ball without getting off his best swing, which he did on a single to the opposite field. The swing has stiffness and effort, and the hands were a bit slow to adjust when he couldn't extend the arms. Still, there are positive elements to build around, and the power potential is significant.
Brzezniak started at third base for Rowan during the scrimmage. He showed off above-average raw arm strength, enough for third base, but the ability to make throws on the move and from different angles will need some improvement. He showed good actions and instincts charging the ball, but the lateral range and first-step quickness were less refined. Based solely on this look, I'd project Brzezniak at a corner outfield spot or first base long-term. However, Brzezniak is only a freshman, giving him a healthy amount of development time and regular reps at the hot corner could lead to further gains. He's unlikely to be a legitimate draft prospect for 2023, but he's worth tracking this spring and beyond.
Aaron Graeber, OF
Class: Sophomore / 2023
While my primary reason for checking out this scrimmage was to catch a glimpse of Brzezniak, I was pleasantly surprised by the talent on the Rowan roster. Aaron Graeber might have been the best player I saw that day as he flashed his tools and produced in game. Graeber has a unique background as an athlete who only recently made baseball his primary sport. Graeber focused on football which makes sense considering his 6 '3-210 linebacker build. The power and speed combo are enticing; both raw tools grade out above average, with the run closer to a plus. He ran a 4.21 home-to-first and showed an impressive burst in the outfield. Graeber collected multiple barrels on the day with hard hits to all fields. He got caught off balance a few times on off-speed, leading to a couple of whiffs and a weak grounder. That will need to be monitored, as his game has some swing-and-miss. Graeber is slated to attend the University of Delaware following this year and will likely reach campus, given that he’s a juco bat from the northeast. While juco pitching is a hot commodity these days, it’s growing increasingly rare for hitters to hear their names called during the draft. But like some of the other names in this article, Graeber is worth keeping an eye on, as there are legitimate pro tools to work with.
More Notes: Two more bats that made an impression were shortstop Jimmy Bruno and center fielder Scotty Young. Bruno is undersized but quick and twitchy, with good hands for the infield. He ran a 4.20 home to first and was a heads-up base runner during the scrimmage. Bruno shows a firm, level swing geared for line drive contact. Young was another physical threat for Rowan, standing in at 6'5-215, with wiry strength and looseness to the frame. Originally from Southern California, Young has plus speed that plays on both sides of the ball. There's less raw pop in the bat than one would expect, given his size, but Young can drive the ball to the gaps and use his speed to do the rest. As with Brzezniak, neither Bruno nor Young will likely garner draft interest this year, but both players will be positive additions to D1 schools.
Seton Hall University
The Pirates took on one of the most aggressive out-of-conference schedules I can remember for a New Jersey school last year. They got swept in weekend series against Florida, Oklahoma State, North Carolina, Mercer, Florida Gulf Coast, and Florida International. The team went 18-35 with a 7-13 conference record, a disappointing campaign after hovering around .500 the last several years. The team looked better during conference play but lost several one-run games, many of which were due to errors and mental lapses. Adding insult to injury, the Pirates then watched their two best pitchers, righties Drew Conover (Tigers, 20th round) and Zane Probst, transfer to Rutgers and Alabama, respectively. But Seton Hall will return a strong core of hitters and experienced arms while also bringing in an impressive recruiting class. Seton Hall is unlikely to challenge for the Big East crown in 2023, but I predict we’ll see this squad get back on track while simultaneously building for the future. Let’s dive in.
Class: Sophomore / 2024
B/T: R/R
Jedier Hernandez received a healthy amount of playing time behind the plate as a freshman in 2022, which is a testament to his steadiness as a defender. Hernandez has a sturdy catcher's build at 6'0-220, good mobility, and at least above-average arm strength. Hernandez, a Puerto Rican native, goes by "Yadi" and has the defensive chops to stick at catcher.
Hernandez had an encouraging performance (.280/.357/.390) in the Appy League, where he was named an all-star. Batting in the middle of the Pirates order, he had a quiet day with the stick in my viewing, but his simple, strength-based swing makes me optimistic that he'll improve upon his freshman batting line (.262/.296/.318). Hernandez is still blooming as a draft prospect, but the defensive foundation is a vital building block, and there’s untapped potential at the plate. If the bat continues to grow, Hernandez will be on the draft radar for 2024.
Max Viera, 2B
Class: Junior / 2023
B/T: R/R
Viera was one of the nation's top freshmen in 2021, recording a .348/394/.589 line and earning first-team All-CAA honors with Northeastern. He experienced a sophomore slump last spring and struggled in the New England Collegiate League over the summer. Unsurprisingly, Viera was passed over in the 2022 draft and has moved on to Seton Hall via the transfer portal.
Viera is an undersized athlete at 5 '10-180 with the defensive tools to be a steady defender at the keystone. He has experience at shortstop and third base but played second base exclusively during the scrimmage. He recorded some infield hits and battled during multiple at-bats, driving up pitch counts and fouling off tough pitches. Viera struggled with spin in this look, which has been the book on him the past year. He'll need to improve this spring to get back to his freshman-year production. Given his size, there's more pop in his bat than you'd think, but he's more of a gap-to-gap hitter than an over-the-fence power threat. His home-to-first times ranged from 4.25 to 4.44 during the scrimmage, indicating a primarily average run grade. If Viera can return to form, there are enough average-ish tools for a day-three selection.
Staus Pokrovsky, UTL
Class: 4th Year Junior / 2023
B/T: R/R
If his scrimmage performance is any indication, Staus Pokrovsky could be on the shortlist for breakout performer in the Big East. The supremely physical Pokrovsky launched missiles all afternoon and finished the day with a double and two home runs to the pull side, one of which (clip below) may have been the farthest homer I've seen at Mike Sheppard Stadium. Pokrovsky looks the part of a middle-of-the-lineup thumper with a tight, physical build at 6 '2-220.
Pokrovsky has received minimal game action over the past three years as a Pirate, with just over 120 plate appearances during his college career. Pokrovsky is listed as a catcher, but is likely to be blocked by Hernandez. Pokrovsky DH'd during the scrimmage, and I imagine he'll spend a good chunk of his playing time there and possibly first base. That's a challenging profile to make work from a draft perspective (older, right/right, 1B/DH), but the upside and game impact could be similar to what we saw from Nick Cimillo (Pirates, 16th round), who experienced a breakout 2022 season with Rutgers. Pokrovsky is someone I look forward to circling back on to see if what I saw in the scrimmage was the real deal.
More Notes: Grad student Brennan O’Neill showed off a solid three-pitch mix during his two innings. The fastball ranged from 89 to 92, topping out at 93 MPH with arm side run up in the zone and sinking action when located down. O’Neill flashed good fade on his changeup to lefties and a usable slider at 82-84 MPH. He was roughed up last spring but showed better command during the scrimmage than in the past. I imagine he’ll be a weekend starter for the Pirates. Freshman Nick Ferri played briefly at first base, and I’ve long liked his lean, projectable frame at 6’3-185. He could develop into a power threat as he grows into his body. Unfortunately, I didn’t see freshman righties Colin Dowlen, Jesse Specter, or Michael Gillen on the bump, all of whom were strong performers during high school. Seton Hall did a good job securing some talented arms with this class, and all three of those pitchers have the potential to secure essential roles in the coming years.
Saint Joseph's University
This was my first time at Saint Joseph’s since the pandemic hit, so I enjoyed getting reacquainted with their field and program. Joe’s had a solid 2022 season, finishing above the .500 mark for the second consecutive year. The Hawks lineup looks dynamic once again, even after seeing two of their best hitters, Andrew Cossetti (Twins, 11th round) and Brendan Hueth (Indy Ball), move on from the program. How the team’s pitching develops will determine how far they go in the Atlantic 10 conference this year, a conference that seems to get better year after year. The team lacks experienced options among the starting pitching and reliever groups, but there’s no lack of arm talent available. The Hawks took on East Stroudsburg University in an extended scrimmage (I believe it was a 16 or 18 inning game) this fall. Here’s some of what I saw:
Peter Gallo, RHP
Class: 4th Year Junior / 2023
Gallo is a big, burly righty with a power reliever look to him. He filled the zone effectively in this look, but the command will likely need to improve moving forward, even in a relief role. The arm strength is significant, with good speed as well. Gallo’s delivery is uptempo with some violence and is complimented by a short arm action. Gallo was into the upper 90s with his fastball during the summer in the Appy League but sat 93-94 MPH during his one-inning appearance. The fastball was lively and looked like a bat misser at the next level with late arm-side movement. Gallo threw mostly fastballs but flashed what looked like a slider or cutter at 90-91 MPH with short, horizontal movement. Gallo has yet to achieve much success as a Hawk, but he does have the raw stuff necessary to be a legitimate weapon late in games. This past summer, he struck out over 13 batters per 9 innings with a 2.27 ERA in the Appy League. If Gallo can carry that performance over to the 2023 spring, he’ll likely be drafted late on day 2 (rounds 8-10) or at some point on day 3.
Alec Rodriguez, RHP
Class: 4th Year Junior / 2023
Rodriguez took the mound in relief and displayed an appealing two-pitch combo with his fastball and slider. The New Jersey native was originally a shortstop but made a full-time transition to the mound a couple of years ago. Rodriguez has a lean, athletic build and is a good mover on the bump. It’s a short, whippy arm action from a low ¾ release. There’s effort on release with a lot of head movement, and I noticed Rodriguez had some inconsistencies with getting the arm on time. But when Rodriguez synced everything up, he flashed some pro potential. The fastball sat in the 90-93 MPH range (he touched the mid-90s during the summer) with some late arm side run at times. The fastball paired well with the slider, a big sweeper that can be a difference-maker for Rodriguez when he can get ahead in counts. He showed some nascent feel for utilizing the slider effectively to righties and lefties during an inning of work. Success as a Hawk has eluded Rodriguez to date, but things are starting to click. Given the fresh arm, Rodriguez may continue to show rapid gains as we lead up to draft day.
Brett Callahan, OF
Class: Junior / 2023
I wanted to get a good, long look at Callahan during this scrimmage. Given his stat line and some of his batted-ball data, his game has statistical sleeper elements. Callahan has a robust, thick build at 6’0-190 with length to the frame. During the scrimmage, he posted home-to-first times of 4.28 and 4.21 and is quicker than he looks. He has experience at all three outfield spots but played the corners during the scrimmage, showing off a solid arm and good instincts.
Callahan stands tall at the plate and likes to load up on his backside into contact. Some balance issues caused him to be late on fringe velocity, but it also allowed Callahan to get his lower half behind him and catch the ball out front, which he did on a triple that bounced off the top of the fence in right-center. Callahan didn’t always square the ball, but he didn’t whiff as he found a way to foul off a ton of pitches. The bat-to-ball ability is a strength, especially given some swing components, but I’d like to see how things hold up against better fastballs. Callahan kept his K rate below 15% during the spring and summer with a solid BB/K ratio (44/54). He slugged eight homers last spring, and I wouldn’t be surprised if that number reached double digits in 2023. He also stole 23 bases giving him some dual-threat ability. Callahan profiles as a mid-to-late day 3 pick if there’s an uptick in his power production this spring.
Ryan DeSanto, LHP
Class: Freshman / 2025
Most of the scouts in attendance made their way for the exits after the halfway point of the scrimmage. I decided to stick around, and boy, am I glad I did. I was treated to a couple of innings from freshman lefty Ryan DeSanto and came away highly fascinated. DeSanto and his twin brother Drew (a right-handed pitcher) are two big, strong kids from Maryland. DeSanto is physical and athletic at 6’4-200, with some projection remaining in the frame. I really liked the quickness of the arm and how loose and whippy it looked. He pitched exclusively out of the stretch with an extraordinarily deceptive delivery and arm action. There’s major crossfire to the delivery, with the front foot pointing towards the lefty batter’s box and the upper half remaining closed for a lengthy period of time. DeSanto gets good extension and releases from an over-the-top slot. At his best, the ball exploded out of DeSanto’s hand, and it was on top of hitters swiftly. Take a look at DeSanto’s release below:
As you can see, DeSanto is a funky look. His size and arm angle make it an extremely uncomfortable at bat for both righties and lefties. It’s a high-spin fastball with excellent riding action through the zone. I don’t have any trackman data at my disposal, but I’d bet DeSanto’s fastball is regularly getting over 20+ inches of induced vertical break. DeSanto’s fastball sat between 87-90 MPH for two innings, with a couple of 91’s in the first inning. That’s below-average velocity on the major league scale, but it’s plenty for a college lefty. The fastball plays above the raw velo, and there should be velocity gains as DeSanto matures. DeSanto pitched primarily off his fastball but did use a changeup and curveball. He didn’t have much feel for his 78-81 MPH changeup, a few of which were uncompetitive pitches, though his best cambio was solid-average and was used effectively to induce a swinging strikeout. The curveball will probably be his best secondary with above-average potential or better. There isn’t a ton of velocity on the pitch (low 70s) currently, but the pitch has excellent depth with near 12-6 shape. DeSanto will be able to do a lot of damage by working his fastball up and the curve at the bottom or below the strike zone.
The question with DeSanto moving forward will revolve around his command and future role. An unorthodox lefty that only throws from the stretch screams reliever. There were a decent amount of uncompetitive pitches during the outing, though he only walked one batter. It will be tough to maintain consistency with the delivery and arm because of the number of moving parts. But DeSanto does have the size and the potential for a three-pitch mix working in his favor. He has a lot of outlier elements to his profile which should make him an attractive draft target in a couple of years, especially if the velocity takes a step forward. DeSanto looks ready to contribute immediately at the college level and may be one of the top freshman arms in the conference when all is said and done.
More Notes: I missed a good chunk of Matt McShane's outing, which gives me a solid reason to check out Joe's squad again this spring. McShane sat in the low 90s with a good breaking ball. He could be one of the top draft prospects in the A10 for 2024. Catcher Carter Jagiela impressed from a physical standpoint. There's considerable power potential with a fluid swing from a 6 '4-210 frame, making him an exciting prospect to follow as a potential backstop. Grad student Nate Thomas hit 18 homers last spring and made an excellent charging play at third base for a 5-3 groundout. It’s a strength-based swing from a huge 6’5-225 body. Ryan Cesarini is a 2024 outfielder to remember. He features a strong, compact build at 5’10-200, with plus run times during the scrimmage. Cesarini is in line for more playing time in 2023 after accumulating 75 plate appearances as a freshman.
East Stroudsburg University (DII)
It’s been over a decade since the last time East Stroudsburg finished below .500 during a season. This is one of the powerhouse DII programs in the region and is coming off a dominant 41-20 season (15-9 conference). The Warriors were recently ranked 19th in the nation by College Baseball News and expect to compete for a DII college world series title. Taking on an up-and-coming Saint Joseph’s team was an arduous task, but several Warriors distinguished themselves during the scrimmage. East Stroudsburg might not see as many of their players drafted (Matt Festa is a notable alumnus) as some of the other DII schools in the nation, but you can bet on them competing as a unit each game. Here are some notes on a handful of arms that ESU will depend on this spring. . .
Brent Francisco, RHP
Class: 4th Year Junior / 2023
Francisco was a statistical standout that I wanted to ensure I saw at some point this fall. After a solid spring (3.63 ERA, 89.1 IP, 116 K, 13 BB), Francisco took things up a notch this summer. Pitching for the Wilson Tobs in the Coastal Plain League, Francisco didn’t allow an earned run in 13.1 innings, recording 28 K, 3 BB, and only three hits allowed in the process. Francisco is a mountain on the mound standing in at 6’7-250. It’s a large, mature build suited for long outings and plenty of innings throughout a season. He’s not the most agile mover on the mound, but Francisco repeated his simple delivery and worked downhill from a high ¾ arm slot. Francisco threw with some effort, and I heard quite a few grunts as he released. I’m not sure if that’s typical for him or if he was a bit out of gas after throwing over 100 innings this spring/summer. His fastball has some hop, riding up in the zone, and then occasional cutting action when located down. Francisco sat around 90 MPH early before dipping into the 88-89 MPH range. He’s shown more consistent low 90s velocity in the past, and I’d expect him to get back to that range by the time spring rolls around. The fastball plays above its velocity, and he does a superb job tunneling the fastball and slider. On its own, the slider was an average pitch, with his best ones looking like above-average offerings. Because of his ability to tunnel, Francisco can get his slider to play roughly a half-grade above what it appears on its own. Francisco’s slider command is below his fastball command, which projects to be at least average, but he flashed the ability to locate the pitch to both sides of the plate. Francisco also spun a few fringy curveballs in the 72-75, a pitch that presently profiles as a change of pace or strike-stealing type offering. I didn’t see a changeup, but he has thrown one in the past.
While this wasn’t the best look for Francisco, he’s a potential draft name for July. There aren’t too many arms with this kind of size, feel for spin and strike-throwing ability. If the velocity creeps up and a steadier third pitch develops, I expect Francisco to be one of the most desirable arms from the DII ranks. I’ll get a chance to see him again this spring.
More Notes: There were a few other arms that East Stroudsburg trotted out that caught my attention. Grad student Chase Nowak won’t light up radar guns but can miss bats with his three-pitch mix. He sat in the upper 80s from a high slot with a solid-average curveball that he commanded and a well-above-average changeup. Tom Reisinger worked a couple of innings with a fastball in the 90-92 MPH range in the first inning and 88-91 MPH in the second. He’s been into the mid-90s as recently as the summer, and the fastball had nice sink and run. He has a pitcher’s build with good size at 6’4-220. Reisinger also featured a slider in the low-to-mid 80s that was consistently above average and a useful changeup with similar velocity. Walks have hurt him in the past, but he’s capable of missing bats with his arsenal. Expect Francisco, Nowak, and Reisinger to start a large chunk of East Stroudsburg’s games this spring. Nick McAuliffe has bounced around during his college career and transferred from New Orleans. McAuliffe is thickly built and releases from a high arm slot. His fastball sat 90-92 and grabbed a 95 MPH reading in a short stint while flashing a downer-breaking ball with some potential.