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High School  | General  | 4/29/2021

High School Notebook: April 29

Perfect Game Staff      Jheremy Brown      Brian Sakowski      Drew Wesolowski      Tyler Russo      Colton Olinger      John McAdams      Alexis Gonzalez     
Photo: Cooper Kinney (Perfect Game)
The arms race in New Jersey is shaping up to be monumental in terms of the amount of attention each of their starts will get this season.


Chase Petty, RHP, Mainland Regional (N.J.)
Perfect Game All-American Classic participant Chase Petty (2021, Somers Point, NJ) continues to up the ante whenever he takes the mound and his first start of the season was no different. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-hander opened up the first inning against Holy Spirit sitting 96-98 mph, while touching 99 several times and eclipsing triple digits a handful of times with a high of 101 mph. Yes, a 101 mile per hour fastball from a high school pitcher that just turned 18 years old and has continually raised the stakes every time we have laid eyes on him.



There has been concerns revolving around Petty’s delivery and effort level for some time now, but if this performance is any indication of what is to come; those concerns should at least start to dissipate mildly. The University of Florida commit clearly showed ability to check off the necessary boxes when it comes to being considered a starter long term. The extremely athletic Petty held 95-97 exclusively from innings two through seven, even touching 99 mph with a pitch in the sixth inning. The marked improvements both physically and mechanically have only added to an already electric three-pitch repertoire.

Petty’s slider can now be rated as a double-plus offering with true two-plane shape and significant improvement in its vertical tilt. He does show the ability to manipulate both its speed and shape dependent on the count, while landing it both for strikes and swings-and-misses. As the game wore on, Petty continued to pound the strike zone efficiently as he finished the day in just 85 pitches. He did flash the occasional changeup late in the game, despite not needing it as he punched out 13 in his complete one-hitter to open the season.

The command rarely wavered after the first inning, as the Somers Point, New Jersey native filled up the zone and showed his ability to command his arsenal effectively for seven innings. The 2021 season for Petty will watched with a fine-tooth comb by scouts, scouting directors and GMs. If this first impression is any indicator of what is to come, boy are they in for a show.

*(Quick Note: Petty’s 2nd start of the year finished as this was being written and it was unquestionably and as equally as impressive as his first. The right-hander struck out 18 in a complete game no-hitter, in which he only walked 1 batter. The young man from New Jersey is out to prove his critics wrong and man is he off to a loud start)


Shane Panzini, RHP,  Red Bank Catholic (N.J.)
Another highly touted right-hander in the Garden State made his second start of the young season and impressed this scout with his poise, command and simplicity to his delivery. Fellow PGAAC alum Shane Panzini (2021, Spring Lake, NJ) continued to show the advanced pitchability and true three-pitch mix that we have been accustomed to seeing for some time now.                 The University of Virginia commit sat 92-95 mph in the first inning of his start versus a talented Delbraton, while showcasing the simple, repeatable delivery and pinpoint command of a seasoned veteran. The strong, durable right-hander held the low-90s for the entirety of his complete game one-hitter, even touching a 92 and 93 in the late innings. The frame, demeanor and simplicity to his delivery remind of Matt Cain in his prime. The young right-hander has the ability to land all three of his pitches for strikes in any count, while flashing the potential for at least two plus offerings in his fastball and slider. Throw in a firmer changeup that has both depth and fade to it and you get a legitimate starter profile with no durability concerns or red flags for injuries. Panzini is one of the more low risk, high ceiling guys for this year’s MLB Draft and just how high he goes will be determined by his ability to hold the mid-90s each time out.
 


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