2026 Northeast Buzz 5/4-5/09
May 11, 2026
Welcome back to The 2026 Northeast Buzz, your weekly pulse on the rising stars, breakout performances, and can't-miss moments from the diamond across The Northeast Whether it's a flamethrower lighting up the radar gun in Philly, a smooth-swinging shortstop making noise in North Jersey, or a sleeper prospect turning heads in upstate New York, we’re here to highlight the talent that’s shaping the future of baseball in the Northeast.
Each week, we’ll deliver scouting insights and player write-ups to get a better understanding of the great talent that surrounds us. In this region, the grind is real, the ceilings are high, and the buzz is just getting started.
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Week of 5/4
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David Hinojosa RHP / 2B / Poly Prep, NY / 2026Physical 6-0, 192 lb RHP with a power arsenal. FB 95–97 (T97.6, ~2300 RPM) shows explosive life with ride/run combination. CB 79–81 (2500+) is a true swing-and-miss weapon with depth and sweep. Sinker 90–91 shows heavy bore; CH 81–83 features late arm-side fade. Advanced velocity and movement profile point toward a dominant next-level arm.
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Kai Graybeal 3B / 1B / Ballston Spa, NY / 2027Rankings StateRank: 39 / POS: 2
6-1, 200 lb corner infielder with a physical frame and advanced power traits. Generates consistent loud contact (102 EV, 93.9 avg EV) with elite hard-hit rates and present bat speed. Defensively, shows arm strength (84 MPH) capable of handling the corner. Strength, contact quality, and offensive metrics point to a middle-of-the-order run producer with continued upside.
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Dylan Davis C / RHP / Fairfield Ludlowe High School, CT / 2027Rankings StateRank: 177 / POS: 23
Athletic 5-10, 190 lb LHH C. Offensive profile built on barrel accuracy—95.2 EV / 86.1 avg, 67% SS, 53% LD with advanced on-plane efficiency (91% OPE). Defensively, features 74 arm with 2.06–2.19 pops and solid mobility (7.08 runner). Hit-first catcher with developing impact and reliable defensive tools.
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Jackson Salmieri RHP / Fairfield College Preparatory, CT / 2028Rankings StateRank: 12 / POS: 3
High-ceiling 6-6, 210 lb right-hander with a prototypical starter frame and advanced extension that allows the FB to play well above its velocity band. The FB reaches 91.5 MPH with quality movement traits, complemented by a high-spin SL with swing-and-miss shape and a fading CH. Combination of size, extension, movement profile, and projection points to a power arm with substantial upside as strength and velocity continue to trend upward.
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Michael Tarpinian LHP / OF / Bergen Catholic High School, NJ / 2027
The big LHP made his second appearance of the season on 4/30 and went 3.2 innings pitched racking up 5 strike outs and allowed 1 hit and zero runs. Tarpinian sat 87-89 mph on the fastball and 71-73 on the 12/6 curveball. The fastball has ride into the zone and plays at the top of the zone. Intriguing LHP to follow.
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Jamari Whitley RHP / 3B / Schalick, NJ / 2027Rankings StateRank: 22 / POS: 8
The Prep Baseball Future Game alum is an athletic, twitchy mover on the mound that sits in the upper 80s consistently. The FB has an occasional cut that generates weak ground balls. He flashed his ability to manipulate the shape and speed on the slider to land it for strikes and OZ whiffs. South Jersey prospect to follow and he continues to trend upwards.
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Trent Lutz RHP / 3B / Souderton Area, PA / 2027Rankings StateRank: 14 / POS: 5
Lutz is one of the country’s highest rising junior right-handed prospects due to his dominant spring season where he is posting a ridiculous stat line of 38.2 innings pitched, 1.27 ERA, 17 hits, 13 walks, 72 strikeouts. On 5/5, Lutz put together a 13 strike out no hitter where his fastball was 91-94 mph, his slider was 78-80 mph, and landed his curveball at 74-76 mph. The RHP is a hyper-mobile mover down the mound with elite hand speed and efficient movement patterns. Must see prospect to follow this spring and summer season.
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Stephen Verdolini III RHP / SS / Central Bucks-West, PA / 2028Rankings StateRank: 39 / POS: 17
Verdolini is a very interesting sophomore prospect that is quickly trending upwards. The 6-foot, 175-pound two-way prospect recently threw 87-90 mph, 79-82 mph on his short slider, and 78-79 mph on his changeup. He is up 4 mph on the fastball since this preseason where he sat 83-85 mph. Flashed feel for the strike zone and command of all three pitches. Sophomore two-way prospect to follow.
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Tyler Baxter 3B / 1B / Hurricane High School, WV / 2027
Baxter was a standout player at the WV Preseason All-State showcase in Morgantown, WV. The corner infielder has a physical 5-foot-10, 230-pound frame that produces 103.5 mph exit velocity and reaches a max distance of 325 feet. He swings with a direct path to the baseball that creates natural backspin on the baseball.
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Mason Markonich 2B / 3B / John Marshall, WV / 2026
The senior infielder was a standout at the WV Preseason All-State. This event was one of Markonich’s first events after his ACL surgery and rehab. The 5-foot-9, 200-pound infielder had a loud offensive showing where he produced a 98.8 mph exit velocity, 89.9 mph average exit velocity, and 359 foot max distance. The senior came ready and showed off the natural power at the plate.
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