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major league teams know that New Jersey
is a great source of talent which is why
it’s a common scene for Scouts to huddle
behind the fence to see the top players
from the Garden State High School ranks
in recent years New Jersey pitching has
been front and center in the talent
evaluation World Kaden Dana Chase peny
Anthony solomo and Steven anaria all
went from high school right to Major
League
organizations this spring three Premier
arms have Scouts on high alert what’s up
brother at CBA Chris Leonas had to
endure a week’s worth of weather
postponements before making his 2024
debut against Middletown South it was
worth the wait for the scouts and the
Colts Leonas threw five shutout Innings
allowing just one hit and striking out
eight showing no nerves at all you know
it’s a uh it’s a really severe surreal
feeling almost when you see all the
scouts back there but you know
eventually you just got to get past
yourself and be like okay I’m here to do
my job and you know got to get I got to
take care of business yeah it was
absolutely electric it was it was
awesome you know finally getting out
onto the field is the greatest feeling
of all time and I feel like I just just
carried that throwing in the mid90s is
just one part of why leonus will have to
choose between Wake Forest and the pros
the righty spin rate and movement on all
of his pitches are
Elite CBA catcher Dan cinos has the best
seat in the house everything’s just like
filthy like I don’t even know how to
describe it but it’s like a video game
almost he’s just like everything is like
nasty it’s so good everything looks like
a fast ball and then it just breaks off
and goes either way it’s like and then
the fastball rides too it moves it’s not
straight it’s ridiculous the University
of Virginia has two recruits who could
be part of the Cavaliers weekend
rotation or they could never set foot on
campus thanks to Big signing bonuses
from the big leagues Ramsay’s will Kirk
has dazzled at his first two starts with
nine shutout Innings and 16
strikeouts every major league team
covets left-handed pitching Kirk fits
the bill uh I mean I I thought it was a
good start to my season obviously I
don’t feel in mid-season form yet I feel
like I I still have a lot to lot to
improve on but it was a good way to to
start out my season and I’m really
excited for the rest of the season in
the prep ranks Pennington’s Bryce
message is also a UVA commit and like
Kirk and leonus was outstanding in his
first start of the spring in front of
MLB Scouts it’s it’s crazy it’s like a
it’s like reliving my childhood dreams I
mean being able to see these teams
behind the plate uh having the
opportunity to be able to show my stuff
in front of them and perform for my team
in front of them it’s it’s super special
it’s super cool will leonus Kirk or
message rake in the big bucks this July
time will tell for now all three will
continue to Showcase their skills and
putting their attention on high school
Success first before dreaming of the big
leagues eventually there was a point in
my life when I was just just like okay
there’s always going to be guys watching
me this that and the other thing so you
know I just got to get past that put my
kind of like head to the side and just
bear down and get strikes and gets out
get outs for my team
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