By Nathan Rode
National Supervisor

GARNET VALLEY, PA—Martin Luther King Day in Philadelphia started with wind chill temperatures in the single digits, but things heated up at the MapleZone Sports Institute with dozens of scouts—including a few directors—coming in to see top prospects from the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast regions. The MLK Pro Day was headlined by LHP Jason Groome (Barnegat HS, NJ) and OF/1B Alex Kirilloff (Plum HS, PA), though several other players made strong impressions.

Bullpen sessions consisted of 25 pitches and Groome was the first to take the hill. He breezed through, looking like he was playing a game of catch, while sitting 89-90 mph with some arm-side movement. He mixed in a two-seamer at 87 with arm-side sink and flashed feel for a changeup at 75-76. He didn’t throw any breaking balls, which was a common theme for the day. That’s not unexpected, as it is just January.