Players aren’t listed in any particularly order — other than grouping them as hitters vs pitchers — so don’t read anything into placement, though I tried to highlight the best and the brightest in the comments. If I missed anybody that so obviously should have been there, please yell at me in the comments or via email.

Albany

rSR C/OF Josh Nethaway
SR C/OF DJ Hoagboon
rSR 2B Brian Bullard
JR SS Jeff VonMoser
JR 3B Joey Tracy
JR OF Cory Kingston
rJR RHP Stephen Carey
JR RHP Cameron Sorgie
SR LHP Kevin Archbold

There’s not much to write home about the 2014 group of Albany prospects (sorry, guys), but I have heard some interesting things about underclassmen RHPs Ryan Stinar (2015) and Stephen Woods (2016). Woods has the chance to wind up as the best Albany prospect since…well, ever. Quick research shows he will eventually have to crack the top 200 picks or so to wind up as the highest drafted alum in school history. With a legit fastball and the chance for three average or better pitches, Woods certainly has the chance.

Binghamton

JR RHP Mike Urbanski
rJR RHP Jack Rogalla
SR OF Billy Beresznewicz
SR SS John Howell
SR 2B Daniel Nevares
rJR 1B/3B Brian Ruby
JR OF/C Jake Thomas
JR OF Zach Blanden
SR OF Shaun McGraw

There is a lot to like about the Binghamton lineup. SR OF Billy Beresznewicz does a lot right: speed, arm, range in center. Unfortunately the total lack of power (.382, .253, and .286 = last three years’ worth of SLG) and difficult to spell name (I can see area guys getting frustrated and giving up midway through a report…) limit his pro prospects significantly. Despite my love of speed/defense/plate discipline prospects like Beresznewicz, I think it’s time for me to admit that these guys simply don’t fare well in pro ball. That’s more of an anecdotal observation, obviously, though I think sitting down and doing some research on amateur power numbers and pro success could be quite telling. Like most large-scale projects, maybe I’ll get to that next offseason…

Beresznewicz is joined by rJR 1B/3B Brian Ruby and JR OF/C Jake Thomas as potential 2014 draft picks. Ruby’s up and down college career thus far – up in 2012, down in 2013 – will be a distant memory if he comes through with a big 2014. Thomas has received very little scouting buzz from what I’ve seen, but his sophomore numbers (.365/.508/.517 in 178 AB) are good looking swing make him a worthwhile sleeper to store away.

SO RHPs Mike Bunal and Jake Cryts are intriguing 2015 follows. It’ll be particularly interesting to see if Bunal, an outfielder when not on the mound, sees more time as a pitcher as a sophomore than he did as a freshman.

Hartford

JR LHP Sean Newcomb
JR LHP Austin Barnes
SR RHP Alex Gouin
SR RHP/1B Brian Hunter
SR C James Alfonso

JR LHP Sean Newcomb does enough right that an eventual first round home seems well within reach. There’s little to quibble with his size (6-5, 240), fastball (88-94, 95-97 peak), and promising breaking ball (70-76, flashes above-average). As somebody more in the “like, yet not quite love” camp with Newcomb, I feel as though it’s my duty to mention his current shortcomings. Like any college arm (non-Rodon/Hoffman division), he has plenty to work on, beginning with tightening up his control and locking down a consistent effective third pitch (either the circle change or cutter, most likely). Kiley McDaniel’s comparison of Newcomb to Jon Lester is such a good one (especially physically) that, after fifteen minutes of trying to think of a better one, I’ll just go ahead and pass it along without much comment. Hey, sometimes these experts are really quite good at their jobs, you know?

If SR RHP Brian Hunter can get his control under control (sorry), then he could find himself as a mid-round senior sign candidate come June.

Newcomb obviously gets most (let’s be real: all) of the press, but there’s a chance he’s just the first in the line of early round pitching prospects. FR RHP David Drouin can’t match Newcomb in size, handedness, or depth of repertoire (in the amateur ranks these days few can), but he’s still one to watch. SO 2B/SS Aaron Wilson and SO OF Chris DelDebbio both got on the field as freshmen, an encouraging sign for their development.

Maine

SR 1B/3B Alex Calbick
SR 2B/SS Troy Black
SR OF Colin Gay
JR OF Brian Doran
rJR RHP Tommy Lawrence
SR RHP Shaun Coughlin
JR LHP/INF/OF Scott Heath

I’ve always had an odd soft spot for SR 2B/SS Troy Black, a player who deservedly gets consistent praise for area guys for his effort and overall style of play. He does just enough of everything well that I think he should get a shot to fill out a low-level roster with another solid year of college play. SR 1B Alex Calbick would be in the same boat if he can convince teams he can make it at third base (where he has been tried before) or at catcher (where many scouts speculate he could hang). SR RHP Shaun Coughlin (decent production, decent 88-90 FB) shows some upside as a senior sign. Staff workhorse rJR RHP Tommy Lawrence profiles a bit better than that.

Stony Brook

JR SS Cole Peragine
JR C/OF Kevin Krause
SR RHP/OF Josh Mason
SR LHP/1B Kevin Courtney
SR RHP Brandon McNitt
SR RHP Frankie Vanderka
SO LHP Daniel Zamora
rSO RHP Nick Brass

JR SS Cole Peragine is another player I like more than I probably should. He has a steady glove, great instincts on the bases, and a mature approach to hitting. Unfortunately, his pop, identified as both “sneaky” and “surprising” in my notes, hasn’t revealed itself just yet (.379 and .323 SLG) as a collegiate hitter. There’s also the question of whether or not said steady glove fits best at SS or 2B, though I think the answer to that will ultimately come down more to his arm (stretched on the left side, but passable in my view) than anything else.

JR C/OF Kevin Krause still has a rough edge surrounding his game, but there’s top ten round upside if he puts it all together this year. Like any guy who gets that C/OF positional designation, his defensive progress will tell us just as much as any offensive step forward will about his long-term outlook.

SR RHP Josh Mason is a good athlete with a live (and relatively fresh) arm. SR RHP Brandon McNitt has the stuff to get consistent groundballs. SR RHP Frankie Vanderka isn’t entirely dissimilar. All three could be late picks or potential undrafted free agents worth a tryout. All three have been eclipsed as prospects by a pair of draft-eligible sophomores, LHP Daniel Zamora and RHP Nick Brass. Brass gives you a little more “now” stuff (including a 94 MPH heater), but Zamora’s upside (could have three average or better pitches in time) is tantalizing.

Rough freshman year aside, I like SO 3B Johnny Caputo’s upside with the bat a lot. He’s just one of many intriguing underclassmen that litter the Stony Brook roster: SO RHP Tim Knesnik, SO LHP Tyler Honahan, FR RHP Ryley MacEachern, FR OF Josh Palacios, and FR OF Toby Handley stand out as particularly fun follows.

UMass Lowell

UMBC

SR OF/C Rob McCabe
JR OF/RHP Anthony Gatto
rSO 3B Mark Esposito

The three names I had on my personal follow list for 2014’s all struggled mightily in 2013. Huge turnarounds would be needed just to get SR OF Rob McCabe, JR OF Anthony Gatto, and/or rSO 3B Mark Esposito back on the prospect map.

SO RHP Mike Gomez is the best of what looks like an uninspiring group of younger talent.