2026 NY State Games: Buzz
July 9, 2026
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The past 2 weeks provided players with multiple opportunities to showcase their abilities in a variety of settings. From workout evaluations to simulated gameplay at the NY State Games, these events brought together some of the Northeast's top talent and gave prospects the chance to display their tools in front of college coaches from across the region.
Inside this notebook, we're highlighting the top performers from both events by taking a deeper look at the data and identifying the players who separated themselves. Whether it was loud offensive production, standout athletic testing, or dominant performances on the mound, these athletes capitalized on their opportunities and strengthened their stock heading into the remainder of the summer.
Session 1 Standouts (Alphabetical Last Name Order)
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Brayden Dewey RHP / OF / McQuaid Jesuit, NY / 2027The 6’0” - 170 lb athlete had an impressive 2-way showing metrically at the NY State Games. On the mound, Brayden is deliberate with his mechanics with a long arm in the backswing that slingshots into a ¾ release. His delivery creates the foundation for a pitch mix that features high spin and late movement. The FB which sat 83-85 topping 86, spun at over 2360 RPM on average getting hitters quick. Pairing that with a hammer CB which sat 70-74, spun at over 2440 on average with up to -23” of horizontal movement creates an effective put away pitch. As a position player during morning workouts, Brayden ran a 6.86 60-yard dash, threw 88 MPH from the outfield, and had a 97 MPH Max EV, illustrating the athletic traits and overall tool set that point to continued development on both sides of the ball.
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Wilson Genareo RHP / OF / Southwestern Senior High School, NY / 2028The 6'0" - 180 lb athlete stood out across multiple workouts, producing strong metrics on both sides of the ball at the NY State Games. As a position player, Wilson ran a 7.04-second 60-yard dash and threw 84 MPH from the outfield, though his offensive tools were what stood out most. At the plate, Genareo sets up with a wide lower half, quiet hands resting the bat on his shoulder, and double taps his front foot during his load. From there, he drops the hands to stay short and aggressive to the ball staying on plane through the zone to create a 99 MPH Max EV and a 379’ max distance. On the mound, Wilson stayed exclusively from the stretch with a compact arm in the backswing into a 3/4 release. His stuff jumps out of the hand with the FB sitting 84-87 and topping 88. He pairs the main offering with a SL sitting 68-71 MPH that spins up to 2000 RPM and averages -13.6” of horizontal movement.
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Matthew McCarthy RHP / OF / Albany, NY / 2027The 5’10” - 160 lb wiry athlete filled up the leaderboard on both sides of the ball at the NY State Games. At the plate, Matthew produced a 96 MPH Max EV, with firm hands and a level swing path that stays on plane through the zone, though his defensive tools were what stood out most. The 6.84 60-yard dash runner displayed advanced defensive tools in the outfield, reaching 93 MPH with the arm. He moves effortlessly to the baseball, and pairs his athletic actions with advanced arm strength. That arm strength translated just as well on the mound, where Matthew continued to showcase his upside. Mechanically, he operates with a deliberate tempo, getting long and extended in the backswing before accelerating into a quick ¾ release that produces advanced spin on all of his offerings. The FB sat 84-86 topping 87 numerous times with up to 21” of induced vertical break and 18” of horizontal movement making it a firm armside runner at its peak. His best offspeed offering is the CB sitting 67-71 generates sharp 11/5 movement with up to 2700 RPMs. He rounds out his arsenal with a SL that sits 74-77 touching 79 with up to 2680 RPMs and a CH 78-80 with up to 14” of horizontal movement.
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Branden Rosario OF / High School for Media & Communications, NY / 2028The NY State Games marked my third look at Branden over the past month, following a 5 Tool Prospect Development Scout Day and the Northeast Summer Championship, where he once again reinforced why he's one of the more intriguing prospects in the 2028 NY class, pairing a power arm with an impact bat. The 6'2" - 195 lb athlete's best tool is his arm, which plays at a high level, producing throws up to 91 MPH from the outfield. He projects well for a corner outfield role, running a 7.19 60-yd-dash earlier in the month, giving him the tools to develop into an above-average defender. At the plate, Branden has a quiet and balanced setup and double taps his front foot during his load. From there, he creates a whippy effect on the barrel, rotating well through impact and getting his hand speed up to 23 MPH to create a 98 MPH Max EV and driving the ball up to 363’.
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Andrew Valente RHP / OF / Chittenango High School, NY / 2027The 5’11” - 180 lb athlete filled up the leaderboard on both sides of the ball, cementing himself as a legit 2-way prospect at the NY State Games. As a position player, he checks every box, combining power, speed, arm strength, and athleticism into a complete five-tool profile. In the outfield, the 6.74 60-yard dash runner displayed advanced defensive tools in the outfield, reaching 89 MPH with the arm, though his offensive tools were what stood out most. In the box, he has a wide rhythmic setup with deliberate actions. During load he double taps his front foot and generates bat speed up to 75 MPH, producing a 102.3 MPH Max EV and driving the ball up to 386’. These metrics translated in game, going 4-4 with 3 XBHs including a triple to CF and 3 SBs. The offensive tools were on full display, but his biggest statement came on the mound, where he earned Session 1 MVP Pitcher honors. Mechanically, he operates with a clean, compact arm action and a 5.5 ft release height that helps him hide the baseball well. The arsenal features 3 pitches, the FB which sat 85-87 and spun just over 2200 RPMs, the CB which sat 72-75 which spun up to 2300 RPMs with true 11/5 movement, and a SL which sat 78-80 that generated late sweep up to just under 2200 RPMs. Valente went 2 scoreless innings with 4 Ks, including an immaculate inning!
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Session 2 Standouts (Alphabetical Last Name Order)
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Griffin Durant C / 1B / Shaker, NY / 2028The 5'10" - 245 lb physically built athlete had an impressive day during workouts and gameplay. During workouts, Griffin showed off his strength on offense and defense. Defensively, he recorded throws up to 78 MPH from the crouch, pairing his arm strength with a 1.94–2.00-second pop time range. As solid as he is behind the plate, it's the bat that truly separates him. At the plate, Griffin has a wide setup with his weight loaded on his backside. During the load, Griffin creates an efficient weight transfer with a controlled front-leg lift before rotating explosively through impact, generating loud contact with a 102 MPH Max EV and 76.5 MPH Max Bat Speed. During gameplay, he showed off his gap to gap power driving a HR out over the RF fence.
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Luca Ferlenda SS / RHP / Jamesville-Dewitt, NY / 2028The NY State Games marked my second showcase look at Luca over the past month, where he reconfirmed why he's one of the quickest risers over the past year in the 2028 NY class. The 2-way 6’2” - 190 lb strong athletic prospect showcased his versatility throughout workouts and gameplay. During defensive workouts, Luca showed off his above average strength throwing 85 MPH across the infield. As solid as he is at shortstop, it's the switch hitting bat that truly separates himself. From the right side, Luca has a quiet and upright stance. During the load, he utilizes a short stride and quick hands, creating a whippy barrel through the zone that produces loud contact, highlighted by a 99 MPH Max EV from the right side. From the left side, Luca almost mirrors his right handed stance but is a little more rhythmic within an upright stance generating a 96 MPH Max EV and In game he kept his weight back and drove a backside double to the warning track over the LF head. On the mound, Luca operates with a deliberate, repeatable delivery that allows him to consistently fill the zone. In the backswing his arm has a compact stabber motion working into a 3/4 release. Luca has 2 quality FB shapes including a 4-seam and a cutter. The 4-seam FB sat 82-84 topping 85 with above average ride generating up to 22” of induced vertical and quality arm-side run, creating late movement through the zone. The CT sat 77-78, generating late glove-side movement with up to -4.7” of horizontal movement. His offspeed is exclusively the curveball which consistently plays with depth, sitting 70-71 and spinning up to 2235 RPMs.
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Ronan Johnson RHP / 1B / Maple Hill Junior/Senior High School, NY / 2028The 6'1" - 217 lb strong athletic prospect produced strong measurable results as both a pitcher and position player at the NY State Games. On the mound he features a compact arm action in the backswing that works into a ¾ release. The FB was 81–84, touching 85, with multiple movement profiles that produced up to 16” of horizontal movement. He complemented it with a 73–75 MPH curveball that consistently showed early shape out of the hand generating depth, giving him a strong two-pitch mix. In the field, during defensive workouts, Ronan showed off his above average strength throwing 85 MPH across the infield from first base. The strength is evident throughout his game, particularly at the plate, where he consistently produces loud contact. In the box, Ronan has a balanced setup with his feet just wider than shoulder width. He utilizes a short stride inward and forward during the load, transferring his weight efficiently and creating 79.6 MPH Max Bat Speed to produce an 100.5 MPH Max EV.
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Session 3 Standouts (Alphabetical Last Name Order)
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Sam Dicker RHP / 1B / The Stony Brook School, NY / 2028The 6’4” - 230 lb strong physical 2-way athlete showcased his well-rounded two-way skill set, posting impressive metrics both on the mound and as a position player at the NY State Games. On the mound, Sam operates with deliberate mechanics and a long, clean arm action through the backswing. He attacks hitters with a power two-pitch mix, headlined by a FB 86–89 MPH that topped out at 91 MPH and generated up to 17” IVB, allowing it to play well at the top of the zone. He complements it with a sharp late break SL 73-76 MPH and generates up to -12.8” of HM. The power doesn't stop on the mound, as his offensive profile is every bit as intriguing, featuring the strength to produce legitimate power at the plate. The strength he displays on the mound carries over into the batter's box. At the plate, Sam has an upright rhythmic setup. During the load, he creates rhythm with a double-tap of the front foot before coiling into the back hip and rotating explosively through impact. His powerful lower-half helps generate hand speeds up to 24.3 MPH and bat speeds up to 74 MPH, producing a whippy barrel that consistently drives the baseball to all fields, highlighted by a 107.8 MPH Max EV.
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Sebastian Espinal C / 1B / Citius Prep, NY / 2027The 6’3” - 215 lb strong athletic backstop had an impressive showing, boosting his stock as one of the top rising seniors in the state. Defensively, he recorded throws up to 79 MPH from the crouch, pairing his arm strength with a 1.92–1.96-second pop time range. As solid as he is behind the plate, it's the bat that truly separates him. At the plate, Sebastian has a narrow upright setup. During the load, he utilizes a controlled front-foot hover before striding forward and rotating explosively through impact. The efficient lower-half operation along with quick hand speed up to 24.7 MPH helps produce 79.6 MPH bat speed. These aggressive uphill swings resulted in a 96 MPH Average EV and 106 MPH Max EV, further highlighting his power potential at the next level.
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Cole Harris OF / Canandaigua Academy, NY / 2027The 5'11" - 193 lb outfielder has firmly placed himself as a must watch for the rest of the summer with an impressive state games performance with the bat going 4-5 with 4 XBHs including a HR earning MVP honors in the process. At the plate, Cole has a squatted and slightly closed off setup with low quiet hands. During load, he takes a short stride before firing the back hip exploding through impact with an aggressive level swing getting his bat speed up to 75 MPH, creating backspin upon impact, and generating a 99 MPH Max EV.
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Jed Lloyd RHP / Manlius Pebble Hill, NY / 2027The 6'2" - 205 athletic RHP showed some of the biggest improvements since the 2025 New York State Games, building off last year's performance to establish himself as one of the state's top rising senior pitching prospects. Mechanically, Jed is maximizing his athletic frame, working with a longer arm action through the backswing while consistently creating an average of 7 feet of extension down the mound. His entire three-pitch mix ticked up in velocity, resulting in sharper, more dynamic offerings across the board. Those mechanical improvements have translated directly into increased stuff across the board. Compared to last year, his fastball has jumped four MPH, climbing from 81–84 MPH to 87–90 MPH while averaging more than 100 additional RPM and still generating up to 16” IVB. The SL is more sharp, sitting 78-81 with up to 2370 RPMs. To round off the arsenal, his SPLT/CH sits 82-84 and generates late armside movement with up to 11.3” HM.
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Julian Martinez C / 3B / The Stony Brook School, NY / 2028The 5’10” - 180 lb athletic backstop showed off his ability to impact the game in multiple ways at the NY State Games. Behind the plate, the 6.86 60-yard dash runner displayed advanced defensive tools with an impressive 1.91-1.96 second pop time, reaching 77 MPH with the arm. He is a twitchy mover behind the plate who gets out of the crouch and stays compact during the transfer from glove to hand. At the plate, Julian has an upright setup with high rhythmic hands. He creates an efficient lower-half move through the load with a short stride, allowing him to create loud contact from gap to gap during batting practice getting up to 99.6 Max EV and a 387' Max Distance.
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Colin Raymond OF / The Stony Brook School, NY / 2028The 6'3", 207-lb athletic outfielder showed off his ability to impact the game in multiple ways at the NY State Games. In the field, the 6.54 60-yard dash runner displayed advanced defensive tools in the outfield, reaching 82 MPH with the arm. He moves effortlessly to the baseball, and pairs his athletic actions with above average arm strength projecting to be a quality defender in CF. At the plate, Colin utilizes a wide setup with low, rhythmic hands. He creates an efficient lower-half move through the load with a controlled front-leg lift, allowing him to rotate through impact and produce an average bat speed of 74.1 MPH, a 93.1 MPH average EV, and a 102.5 MPH Max EV. His power carried over into game play, where he smacked a double into the left-center field gap, reinforcing his gap-to-gap power potential.
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Jackson Stilson OF / 1B / Columbia High School, NY / 2027The 6’4” - 217 lb strong athletic outfielder demonstrated his well-rounded skill set throughout the NY State Games. Defensively, the 6.84-second runner showcased quality athleticism and arm strength in the outfield, reaching 79 MPH on throws. The combination of range and arm talent projects well in a corner outfield role, where he has the tools to develop into an above-average defender. That same athleticism and strength carry over offensively, allowing him to consistently drive the baseball with authority. At the plate, Jackson begins with an upright quiet setup, featuring hands at ear height and his weight loaded into the back hip. During load, he double taps his front foot and uses his strong lower half to explode through impact. The explosive lower half and quick hands work in sync to create a whippy barrel through the zone, resulting in hand speeds up to 25.6 MPH and bat speeds up to 77.9 MPH. His operation creates a loud impact off the bat with a 104.4 MPH Max EV and a 363’ Max Distance.
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Bryce Valls OF / 1B / Chaminade, NY / 2027The 6’4” - 186 lb wiry athletic outfielder proved to be one of the more complete players in attendance at the NY State Games. In the outfield, the 6.50-second 60-yard dash runner flashed quality defensive instincts and arm strength, producing throws up to 84 MPH. His athleticism and defensive actions project well in CF, giving him the potential to become an advanced defender. His value extends well beyond the defensive side, as he also possesses an offensive profile capable of making an impact. At the plate, Bryce begins with a squatted quiet setup, featuring hands at ear height and his weight loaded into the back hip. During load, he lifts his foot and fires his back hip to rotate well through impact. Bryce demonstrates a mature offensive approach, staying short to the baseball with firm hands that generated exit velocities up to 99.9 MPH during batting practice. As he continues to add strength to his frame going into his senior year uncommitted, there is plenty of reason to believe even more power is on the horizon.
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Session 4 Standouts (Alphabetical Last Name Order)
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Riley Brooks RHP / Colonie, NY / 2027The 5’11” - 170 lb Quinnipiac RHP commit put together one of the more dominant pitching performances at the NY State Games, overpowering hitters across two innings of work. Mechanically, Riley has a quick sidesaddle windup with a long, loose, and whippy arm in the backswing that generates high spin and velocity across his 2-pitch mix. The FB sat 90-92 topping 93 MPH with life spinning up to 2530 RPMs and having over 15” of both HM and IVB. The SL/SW worked 76–79 MPH with sharp, late action, consistently spinning between 2,500–2,700 RPM while peaking at 2,870 RPM. It generated up to 19” HM, making it a true swing-and-miss offering.
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Angelo Ciminiello C / 1B / The Stony Brook School, NY / 2028The 6’1” - 210 lb strong wiry catcher put his power on display throughout NY State Games. Defensively, he displayed above average catch-and-throw skills, producing 1.98–2.00-second pop times while reaching 83 MPH from the crouch, giving him the tools to neutralize the running game. While his arm stood out behind the plate, his biggest impact may ultimately come in the batter's box, where he flashes middle-of-the-order power potential. At the plate, Angelo put together one of the louder batting practice rounds of the event, producing a 102.1 MPH Max EV and a 377’ Max Distance. He works from a quiet, balanced setup before allowing his long levers to work efficiently through the zone. The swing produces a whippy barrel with extension through impact, enabling him to consistently drive the baseball with authority. The power translated seamlessly into game action, as he capped off his day by driving a ball over the RF wall, reinforcing his ability to impact the baseball to all fields.
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Evan Fallon OF / 3B / P27 Baseball Academy, NY / 2028The 6'0" - 168 lb outfielder, now calling New York home after relocating from South Carolina, quickly made his presence felt with one of the standout performances at the NY State Games. The athletic outfielder combines a 6.74-second 60-yard dash with a 94 MPH arm, giving him the tools to impact the game defensively. While the glove provides a high floor, it's the offensive profile that raises the ceiling, showcasing legitimate middle-of-the-order power potential. At the plate, Evan starts from a rhythmic, slightly open stance with a narrow base and high hands. He creates leverage with a long stride before rotating aggressively through the lower half, allowing the back hip to drive an uphill swing path that produces a 105.2 MPH Max EV and 378’ Max Distance.
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Lucas Genareo RHP / Southwestern Central, NY / 2028The 6’0” - 177 lb athletic RHP continued to elevate his stock with a dominant performance built around a power fastball and a polished three-pitch arsenal. On the mound, Lucas is exclusively from the stretch with a whippy arm action and long extension in the backswing that allows the baseball to get on hitters quickly. The FB sat 85-88, topping 90 MPH with life generating up to 17” of IVB. He complemented it with a CB 72–74 MPH that featured late sweep and sharp break, with up to -11.4” of HM consistently changing hitters' eye levels. He rounds out the arsenal with a CH 76–78 MPH that showed quality fading action with late depth, diving beneath the barrels of RHH. The combination of athleticism, arm speed, and a developing three-pitch mix gives Lucas the ceiling to emerge as one of the premier right-handed arms in the state's 2028 class.
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Kevin Hickey 2B / 3B / Immaculate High School, CT / 2028The 5’9” - 195 lb infielder had an impressive in game showing with the bat with 2 XBHs including a HR off the scoreboard in RF. At the plate, Kevin works from a slightly wide, rhythmic setup with his hands held at shoulder height. During the load, he gathers into his back side with a controlled leg lift. He coils into his back hip before staying compact throughout the swing. His hand path works underneath the baseball, creating natural backspin and allowing him to drive the ball with authority to the pull side. The approach produced a 97 MPH Max EV, highlighting his present strength and emerging power potential.
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Maykel Jimenez SS / 2B / The Stony Brook School, NY / 2030The 5’9” - 184 lb middle infielder is a rising freshman who continues to separate himself with present-day tools on both sides of the ball, highlighted by his ability to impact the game as a switch-hitting shortstop. During defensive workouts, Maykel flashed an athletic middle-infield profile, producing throws up to 85 MPH across the diamond while running a 7.11-second 60-yard dash. As impressive as the defensive tools are, the switch-hitting bat is what truly sets him apart. From the right side (his natural side), Maykel works from a quiet, upright setup. During the load, he utilizes a controlled front-leg lift before firing the back hip through the baseball, creating a whippy barrel that accelerates through the zone. The efficient lower-half sequence produces loud contact, highlighted by a 101 MPH Max EV from the right side. From the left side, Maykel features a more rhythmic setup, incorporating a subtle bat waggle to help his timing before the swing. Compared to the right side, he works with a slightly more outward stride during the load and a firmer back side before firing the back hip through impact generating a 92 MPH Max EV. The combination of present offensive tools, switch-hitting ability, and defensive upside at shortstop gives him the profile of one of the premier prospects in New York's 2030 class.
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Nicholas Santobello RHP / The Stony Brook School, NY / 2027The 5’9” - 165 lb RHP continued to establish himself as one of the more intriguing arms in New York's 2027 class, showcasing a power two-pitch mix and attacking hitters with confidence throughout his outing. Mechanically, he operates with a deliberate, repeatable delivery, pairing a compact and quick arm action through the backswing with an aggressive, high-effort finish. The FB sat 89–91 MPH, topping out at 91 MPH, showing firm life through the zone with quality ride that allowed it to play effectively at the top of the strike zone with up to 16.7” of IVB and 2370 RPMs. He complemented it with a CB 71–73 MPH that featured true 11/5 shape and sharp downward depth with up to 2500 RPMs and -14” of HM. The combination of present velocity, repeatable mechanics, and a quality two-pitch mix gives Santobello a high floor and positions him to continue developing into one of the more dependable arms in New York's 2027 class.
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