Berczi, Rijo, Newton, Skirrow, Pieterski impress at PG NE Showcase

By Bob Elliott
Canadian Baseball Network

Lefty Jack Berczi and first baseman Ryan Rijo were two of the top three prospects at the Perfect Game Northeast Showcase held at the New England Baseball Complex in Northborough, Mass.

Berczi (Oakville, Ont.) was rated the second best on the Rawlings top prospect list and Rijo (Barrie, Ont.) was No. 3 at the 15th annual event. Both are member of the Ontario Blue Jays. Rijo was also one of the few players to go deep at the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau invitation-only camp of roughly 70 players last week held by Walt Burrows and Jason Chee-Aloy at Connorvale Park in Etobicoke.   

Ontario Blue Jays teammates INF Jakob Newton (Oakville, Ont.) was ranked 18th and RHP Noah Skirrow (Stoney Creek, Ont.) was 21st. 

Meanwhile, at the NE Underclass showcase C Aiden Pleterski (Whitby, Ont.) of the Ontario Athletics impressed.

Batting practice
Ryan Rijo (2016 1B, Barrie, ON) had a good display in BP hitting 5 Home Runs. Rijo has a strong build with good bat speed and lift in his swing. 

INF Velocities
4. Jakob Newton    84    2016    Oakville Trafalgar    Oakville    ON

Top 1B Velocities
1. Ryan Rijo    83    2016    St. Joseph    Barrie    ON

Top 60 yard times
12. Jakob Newton    6.86    2016    Oakville Trafalgar    Oakville    ON

Game reports, scout blogs
1- Black Vs. 2- Cardinal
Jack Berczi (2016 LHP, Oakville, ON) sat 82-86mph on his fastball with his curveball at 69mph. Berczi pitches from a low 3/4 with good sink down in the zone and a deceptive delivery. Berczi has a good feel for his curveball throwing it for strikes and mixing it in well.

4- Dark Green Vs. 6- Vegas Gold
Ryan Rijo (2016 1B, Barrie, ON) reached base twice in the game for the Dark Green team today including a double. Rijo showed the ability to square the ball up with bat speed.

3- Columbia Vs. 4- Dark Green
Noah Skirrow (2016 RHP, Stoney Creek, ON) topped out at 86mph on his fastball today with his curveball at 69mph and his slider at 76mph and his changeup at 79mph. Skirrow pitches from a high 3/4 arm slot with good extension out front. Skirrow showed good command of his pitches with good depth and late break to his curveball.

Rawlings 2016 Top Prospects
2. Jack Berczi - LHP - 2016 - Oakville, ON
Working from a quick and low three-quarter arm slot, the uncommitted Berczi ran his fastball up to 86 mph frequently and made for an uncomfortable at-bat with the sink and run he was able to generate. His 6-foot-3 frame projects well with room to fill out and was already able to stay off barrels and miss bats with the amount of life on his heater. 

3. Ryan Rijo - 1B - 2016 - Barrie, ON
Rijo opened eyes during the Friday night workout with his strong left-handed bat as he launched several home runs that cleared the fence with ease, showing big power and bat speed. Throughout the weekend Rijo also showed his hit tool with hard contact to all fields and impressive arm strength across the diamond with a top throw of 83 mph. 

18. Jakob Newton - SS - 2016 - Oakville, ON
Newton came down from Ontario for the weekend showcase and put all of his tools on display. A projectable 6-foot-2, 165-pound frame, Newton showed off sound, athletic actions with quick footwork and strength on his throws across. Digging in from the right side Newton has fluidity in his swing with extension out front. He also ran a 6.86 60-yard dash. 

21. Noah Skirrow - RHP - 2016 - Stoney Creek, ON
With a strong 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame the right-handed Skirrow worked comfortably in the low to mid-80s with his fastball and peaked at 86 mph. He works from a higher release point and does a nice job of creating extension out front while commanding two different breaking balls throughout the zone.

And at the Underclass Showcase ...
Top 60 yard times

9. Aiden Pleterski    6.91    2017    Henry Street    Whitby

Batting practice
Aiden Pleterski (2017 C, Whitby, ON): Showed clean, quick hands with a whole-field, line drive approach. Solid bat speed, sprayed line drives to all fields. 

Game reports, scout blogs
17 Vegas vs 10-Orange

Aiden Pleterski (2017 Whitby, ON) led the orange team offense in the home half of the first with a leadoff double.  Pleterski is short and quick to the ball and showed good speed on the base paths.