Top New York 2019 MLB Draft Prospects

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State List Talent Ranking: ????
(Stars are listed on a 1 to 5 scale, with 1 being the weakest)

1. Michael Limoncelli, RHP, Horseheads (N.Y.) High (BA RANK: 184)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 180 • B-T: B-R • Commitment/Drafted: Coastal Carolina

A 6-foot-2, 180-pound righthander out of New York, Limoncelli is one of the most interesting prep prospects from the state thanks to a fast arm and his feel to spin a breaking ball. Last summer at the East Coast Pro showcase, Limoncelli used that breaker—a mid- to upper-70s curveball—as a real swing-and-miss offering and threw his fastball in the 89-93 mph range in front of scouting directors and high-level crosscheckers. There are some starter/reliever questions with Limoncelli because of his smaller size and the fact that he throws with a decent amount of effort, and his stuff in the spring hasn’t been quite as electric as it was over the summer. Previously a Pittsburgh commit, Limoncelli is now committed to Coastal Carolina.

2. Matthew Brash, RHP, Niagara (BA RANK: 288)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 170 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

Brash is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound starter who has dominated the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference this season. After an injury limited him to just 28 innings in 2018 as a sophomore, Brash fell off the prospect radar a bit, but has bounced back in a big way by posting a 2.43 ERA in 85 innings and 14 starts this spring. He’s struck out 121 batters (12.7 per nine) and walked 29 (3.06), while pitching three complete games and being named the MAAC Pitcher of the Year. Stuff-wise, Brash has thrown a fastball in the 90-95 mph range and touched 96 while flashing a plus slider, though the pitch needs to become more consistent to fully earn that grade.

3. Gavin Hollowell, RHP, St. John’s (BA RANK: 296)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-7 • Wt: 215 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

A tall, 6-foot-7, 215-pound righthander who’s excelled in the bullpen for St. John’s since his freshman season, Hollowell posted a 1.65 ERA in the Big East in 2017 and followed that up with a 2.16 ERA the next year. This spring, through 33 innings and 18 games as the team’s closer, Hollowell’s ERA has risen to 4.36, but he’s striking out batters at a career-best rate, with 42 strikeouts in 33 innings (11.45 per nine) and 14 walks (3.82). He was better toward the end of the season, and has been showing a fastball in the 93-96 mph range, and shows some feel to spin a breaking ball. Hallowell starts with a slight squat on the mound in his stretch and throws from a high, three-quarter slot with some hooking action in the back. A reliever-only profile limits Hollowell’s ceiling in the draft, but his size and arm strength could make him an interesting Day 2 pick.

4. Jeff Belge, LHP, St. John’s (BA RANK: 325)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-5 • Wt: 225 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Red Sox ’16 (32)

Belge is a 6-foot-5, 225-pound lefthander who has worked both as a starter and reliever for St. John’s. He has maintained an impressive a strikeout per nine rate of over 10 since his sophomore season, but this spring his walk rate jumped to more than seven batters per nine. At his best this spring Belge has thrown a fastball in the 91-93 mph range, but he’s drastically inconsistent from start to start and was down in the mid to upper-80s towards the end of the season. Belge has used multiple breaking balls in the past, one that’s closer to a slider with sharp, downward tilt and another with bigger shape that’s loopier. Belge also has feel for a changeup.

5. Sean Mooney, RHP, St. John’s (BA RANK: 388)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-1 • Wt: 200 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

A tremendous strike thrower over his first two seasons with St. John’s, Mooney was named the Big East Freshman of the Year and the Big East Pitcher of the Year after a 2017 season in which he threw 100 innings and posted a 1.71 ERA with 88 strikeouts and just 16 walks. He was just the second player to earn both honors in the same year. Mooney followed that up with a similarly strong sophomore campaign, but his junior season was ended after nine starts and 49.2 innings with Tommy John surgery. The injury likely explains an uncharacteristic 5.1 walks per nine—his previous high over a full season was 2.7—but also clouds his draft status. Mooney doesn’t have overwhelming stuff, with a fastball that sits in the 87-90 mph range, but it is a high spin rate pitch that generates more whiffs than would be expected.

6. Jason Diaz, RHP, Kellenberg Memorial HS, Uniondale, N.Y. (BA RANK: 399)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-2 • Wt: 210 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Miami

Diaz is a prep righthander with a strong 6-foot-2 frame and thick lower half. His arm action gets a bit long in the back, but has good strength and a quick delivery from a slot that allows him to manipulate the ball for more sink and run. Diaz’s fastball has topped out at 94 mph at his best and throws a slider as well. Diaz has struggled at times this spring and will need to improve his control at the next level. His arm flies out at times and he has a noticeable wrist wrap in the back of his arm stroke and a head whack through his finish. He’ll need to better incorporate his lower half and smooth out some of the kinks in his delivery to take advantage of a fast, but erratic arm. Diaz is committed to Miami.

7. Joe LaSorsa, LHP, St. John’s (BA RANK: 428)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-5 • Wt: 215 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

A 6-foot-5, 215-pound lefthander, LaSorsa was a reliable reliever for St. John’s for two years before making a successful transition to the starting rotation this spring. Over 86.2 innings and 14 starts this spring, LaSorsa has led the team with a 1.66 ERA while striking out 67 batters and walking 33. LaSorsa has a fringe-average fastball, but gets good angle on the pitch and has a feel for locating his secondaries. He could be used in a variety of roles at the next level, but might get a chance to start after his successful 2019 season.

8. Ben Anderson, RHP, Binghamton (BA RANK: 499)
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 175 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Blue Jays ’16 (26)

Anderson, the twin brother of Braves righthander Ian Anderson, moved to the starting rotation after two years in Binghamton’s bullpen. He handled the increased responsibilities wonderfully, as he was named the America East Conference pitcher of the year. He went 9-4, 2.76 with 108 strikeouts in 88 innings to lead the conference in wins and strikeouts. The 6-foot-4, 175-pound righthander was drafted in 2016 by the Jays in the 26th round. Ben doesn’t throw nearly as hard as his brother Ian, with a fastball that sits 88-91 mph, but he generates good downhill plane from an over-the-top delivery and he pairs his fastball with a 12-to-6 curveball.

9. Joe Biancone, RHP/SS, Jay HS, Cross River, N.Y. (BA RANK: 600)
Source: HS • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 180 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: George Washington

Biancone is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound two-way shortstop/righthander that is committed to George Washington. He receives praise for excellent makeup and athleticism. Biancone has touched 92-93 mph off the mound, and he has a promising body with a quick arm. He’s athletic, athough going back and forth between shortstop and pitching means his arm hasn’t always been at its best this spring.

10. Nick Mondak, LHP, St. John’s
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 180 • B-T: L-L • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

 

11. Noah Thompson, RHP, Seton Hall
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 190 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

 

12. Daniel Burggraaf, RHP, Army
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 185 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Never Drafted

 

13. Michael Wilson, OF, Stony Brook
Source: 4YR • Ht: 6-0 • Wt: 200 • B-T: L-R • Commitment/Drafted: Red Sox ’16 (15)

 

14. Tim McHugh, OF, Commack (N.Y.) HS
Source: HS • Ht: 6-3 • Wt: 210 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Texas Christian

 

15. Dave Falco, RHP, Center Moriches (N.Y.) HS
Source: HS • Ht: 6-4 • Wt: 215 • B-T: R-R • Commitment/Drafted: Maryland