(Pictured: Troy Butler, Mohawk Valley DiamondDawgs. Photo credit: MyLittleFalls.com)
Story by Blake Dowson (Perfect Game USA)
No. 1 prospect, 2022: Troy Butler, RHP, Mohawk Valley (Herkimer College)
Top 2022 MLB Draft Selection: Luke Gold, 3B, Albany Dutchmen (Boston College/Round 5, Detroit)
Player of the Year: Gage Miller, INF, Amsterdam (Bishop State CC)
Pitcher of the Year: Nolan Sparks, RHP, Batavia (University of Rochester)
Amsterdam was the pride of the PGCBL again in 2022, winning its sixth league title since 2012. Their journey to title No. 6, while accruing a 39-6 regular season record, earned the Mohawks Perfect Game’s Summer Team of the Year. Amsterdam’s Gage Miller was named MVP of the league after slashing .400/.517/.667 and homering seven times, while Batavia’s Nolan Sparks was named Pitcher of the Year after surrendering one earned run over 41 2/3 innings.
| RK | Name | Pos. | H/T | Ht | Wt | Hometown | State | School | Class |
| 1 | Troy Butler | RHP | R-R | 6-2 | 190 | Fort Plain | NY | Herkimer College | 2024 |
| 2 | Cade Citelli | RHP | R-R | 6-3 | 195 | Prosper | TX | Houston | 2023 |
| 3 | Collin Brougham | RHP | R-R | 6-3 | 205 | Kansas City | MO | South Alabama | 2023 |
| 4 | Nolan Sparks | RHP | R-R | 5-10 | 195 | Aurora | CO | Rochester | 2023 |
| 5 | Juan Carlos De La Cruz | MIF | R-R | 5-10 | 180 | Jersey City | NJ | Virginia | 2025 |
| 6 | Mario Pesca | RHP | R-R | 6-7 | 235 | Bronx | NY | St. John’s | 2025 |
| 7 | Aaron Whitley | OF | R-R | 5-11 | 170 | Niskayuna | NY | Rochester | 2023 |
| 8 | Santosh Gottam | RHP | R-R | 6-1 | 200 | Dallas | TX | Brown | 2024 |
| 9 | Max Cotier | INF | L-R | 6-0 | 170 | New Milford | CT | West Virginia | 2023 |
| 10 | Tyler Sausville | LHP | L-L | 5-7 | 150 | Schenectady | NY | New Haven | 2025 |
1. Troy Butler, RHP, Mohawk Valley (Herkimer College, 2024 Eligible)
Butler, who transferred to Herkimer College from Binghamton this year, was up to 96 mph this summer while sitting more in the 91-93 mph range. Butler threw 42 innings for Mohawk Valley this summer, striking out 57 and throwing to the tune of a 3.21 ERA. The 57 punchouts paced the league. He paired the fastball with a plus slider with late bite that garners its fair share of swing-and-miss. Butler earned a call up to the Cape Cod League in August and spent the remainder of the summer throwing for Brewster.
2. Cade Citelli, RHP, Amsterdam (Houston, 2023 Eligible)
Citelli, a transfer from UT Arlington to Houston this year, sat 91-94 mph with the fastball this summer that led the charge for his three-pitch mix. Citelli threw 29 2/3 innings in the PGCBL regular season with 42 strikeouts, and a 0.91 ERA. He threw another seven innings in the playoffs, striking out 10 and allowing just one run on two hits. Citelli throws all three of his pitches for strikes and competes like a professional on the bump.
3. Collin Brougham, RHP, Amsterdam (South Alabama, 2023 Eligible)
Brougham only got 14 innings at South Alabama this spring, but really took advantage of extended time on the bump this summer with Amsterdam. In 27 1/3 innings, he struck out 30 and walked just four, earning himself a sub-1.00 ERA in the process. It’s a 92-94 mph fastball for Brougham with a plus-plus slider and developing feel for a changeup. There’s upside left with Brougham, and a bump into the mid-90s is in there.
4. Nolan Sparks, RHP, Batavia (Rochester, 2023 Eligible)
The results were ridiculous for Sparks this summer in Batavia, and he earned Pitcher of the Year honors for them. Over 41 2/3 innings, Sparks gave up just one earned run while striking out 45 and allowing just nine walks and 19 hits. Like Butler, he earned himself a call to the Cape, where he got a cup of coffee with the Boerne Braves.
5. Juan Carlos De La Cruz, INF, Auburn (Virginia, 2025 Eligible)
De La Cruz got 30 at-bats this summer with Auburn after graduating from Bergen Catholic High School in New Jersey and hit .300 for the DoubleDays. The No. 306 overall prospect in the 2022 class, De La Cruz will head to Virginia as a top-75 shortstop in the class, as well. He displayed a plethora of tools this summer in limited action, finding his way on base in different ways and proving he was a threat on the basepaths. A strong arm and bat-to-ball skills help to round out the profile for De La Cruz.
6. Mario Pesca, RHP, Albany (St. John’s, 2025 Eligible)
Pesca pitched in Albany this summer as a high school senior, and fit right in. At 6-foot-7 and 235 pounds, the frame oozes potential that the Bronx native is already starting to tap into. Pesca sat low-90s this summer with the fastball and showed good shape to the breaking ball that’s thrown in the low-80s. The arm action is loose, and there’s plenty more in the tank for the St. John’s freshman.