Three former Valley Leaguers have received some good attention on baseball websites over the past few weeks. Let’s take a look:

  1. Perkins
    Perkins

    Baseball America’s Hudson Belinsky got a chance to watch Jake Perkins (New Market 2013-14) pitch for Ferrum early in the season, and came away impressed. Hudson had this to say about Jake: “Perkins pitched at 88-90 mph, and had 92 when he needed it. He threw two breaking balls, a short, late-breaking slider at 80-82 mph, and an 11-to-5 curveball that worked in the upper 70s. At times, Perkins showed the ability to place each of his pitches anywhere in or around the strike zone, showing the signals of plus command. Perkins has a particular knack for throwing his fastball just above hitters’ hands, but not too high for hitters to take the pitch. The junior does not fit the mold of a typical starter, but his delivery and body offer significant projection, and could allow him to succeed as a reliever.”   Now almost a month later, Jake is 3-1, 3.65, with 27 strikeouts in 37 innings.

  2. Ricky Santiago (Staunton 2012) has been mentioned in Baseball America because of his great start for Florida Atlantic in his senior year. His coach, John McCormack, said about Ricky, “Last year, he put pressure on himself, especially when we were depleted. He was the lone older guy in the lineup and he thought he had to do everything. Now, he’s taking his time to get good pitches and has worked extremely hard to hit the ball the other way a little bit, not swinging early in the count as much.” Ricky’s hitting 341/423/529 in 85 at-bats so far this year.
  3. Lastly, Aaron Fitt covered Winthrop junior lefty Sam Kmiec (Harrisonburg 2013) on the website
    Sam Kmiec (Taken by Aaron Fitt)
    Sam Kmiec (Taken by Aaron Fitt)

    d1baseball.com. Aaron wrote, “One of Winthrop’s key veterans is Kmiec, a fourth-year junior lefthander who went 6-4, 2.95 as the staff ace in 2014. Kmiec sets the tone for his team on weekends, and simply smothered the Owls with strikes in the first game Saturday, getting ahead in counts all game and attacking at a breakneck pace. Don’t get up for a hot dog with Kmiec on the mound, or you’re liable to miss an inning before you even place your order.” Sam is 3-1, 1.75, with 43 strikeouts in only 36 innings pitched this season!