Crusaders Scout Day Spotlight: 2022 C/OF Anthony Manzi (NFA)

Top exit velos from tonight’s Crusaders Scout Day in Florida, NY - 3/3 #BeSeen pic.twitter.com/eY1cRn7yz5

— PBR New York (@PBRNewYork) March 4, 2021

Physical: Compact, durable 5-foot-9, 180-pound frame with advanced strength throughout the lower half. 7.94 runner in the 60-yard dash. Offensively: RHH. Upright stance with a slight bend into a torqued up backside knee as the hands started idle at the shoulder. Utilized a controlled leg hang stride to initiate the hands through a quick and efficient, flat barrel path and into the hitting zone. Demonstrated fluidity throughout the swing with sink into the lower half, was able to match the plane of the pitch early and often turning the bat head around early and riding the momentum through impact, recorded a 21.80 mph max hand speed per Blast Motion. Peppered the LCF wall with hard contact during batting practice and lived gap to gap with the approach in game action. Notched a top bat-exit velocity of 93 mph per Trackman Baseball / peak batted ball distance of 324 feet. Defensively: The primary backstop featured a soft glove hand while receiving out of a low crouch, pop times ranged from 2.14-2.31 using short and directional footwork towards the target with smooth transfers, albeit could be a little quicker from transfer to throw. The arm worked through a moderate arm circle and out of a high ¾ slot. Moved well laterally creating soft walls on either side of the plate while blocking. C - 70 mph … The outfielder displayed adequate footwork from his position while approaching the ball off of the left side of his body with a soft glove hand, moderate amount of momentum towards the target with an accurate, high ¾ slot on the release. Projects best as a LF at the moment with average feel in his routes. OF - 74 mph

Physical: 5-foot-9, 180 pounds; full framed, strong lower half. 8.03 runner in the 60.
Offensively: RHH. Narrow footed, open stance with a flat bat resting on his shoulder; tips the bat head up into a "ready position" and strides back to even. Active lower half, clears hips effectively and creates quality hip-shoulder separation with bars his front arm creating a long path, but displayed the ability to move quickly and pull the ball with some pop.  Laced some hard line drives back up the middle and some deep fly balls pull side; peak Trackman exit velocity of 94 MPH.
Defensively: Stayed low to the ground, fairly compact set up; moved feet well while gaining ground to target. Worked through the ball, some delay in transfer at times but made up for it on the throw; showed some arm speed from a typical catcher's type slot from the ear. 2.21-2.28  C - 69 MPH. 

5-foot-9, 170-pound right-handed hitter starts from an open stance and utilizes a lift-and-replace stride to initiate his swing. Showcased a flat barrel path with a line drive, middle of the field approach. Registered a bat exit velocity of 83 mph and ran a 7.94 60-yard dash. Displayed pop times of 2.25-2.33 on throws of 68 mph out of the crouch defensively. Work to stay directional in transition would improve arm strength and lower current pop times.