Underclass Prospect Games: Class of 2015 Pitcher Analysis
October 26, 2013
By Sean McCann
Prep Baseball Report Kansas
On Saturday, October 19th Prep Baseball Report Kansas hosted the Kansas Underclass Prospect Games, our first-ever event at Tointon Family Stadium in Manahttan, Kansas. The invite-only event was limited to 35 players split into two teams. In the game, 19 pitchers threw 1 to 2 innings each. Below are the scouting reports on the Class of 2015 pitchers in the event. All of the pitchers have video clips from this past Saturday posted, to see the video of a pitcher click on their headline to be directed to their PBR profile.
EVENT RANKINGS - CLASS OF 2015 PITCHERS
1. Brendan Stanek, RHP, Blue Valley Southwest HS: We’ve seen the athletic 6-foot-1, 150-pound Stanek several times this fall. He features a simple, rhythmic delivery with a quick arm and high ¾ arm slot. On Saturday he looked a little tired in his two innings as he worked 81-83 mph with his fastball - below the mid-80’s we saw earlier in the fall. He throws a hard breaking ball at 74-75 and sells his 70-74 change-up well with good arm-speed. When we saw him pitch earlier in the Fall for the Royals Elite Scout team he stood out, making quick work of his 1 to 2 inning stints against the junior college line-ups he was facing. Regardless of what stage of the fall we saw the right-hander he has always brought the same simple delivery, quick-arm and great confidence to the mound. He’s one of the top 2015 prospects in Kansas.
2. Jesse Steinbring, RHP, Manhattan KS: Steinbring has been totally committed to his football season this fall and, therefore, had not pitched in months prior to this camp. The 6-foot, 180-pound right-hander did just fine despite lacking the work this fall. He has a simple, balanced delivery with short, quick arm action that makes throwing strikes down in the zone look easy. His 83-87 mph fastball had late sink at times. He slowed his arm a bit on his low 70’s breaking ball but showed plus feel for a 74 change-up. Steinbring is real close to being an elite 2015 pitching prospect.
3. Brock Mason, RHP/IF, Blue Valley HS: Mason impressed all in attendance in his one inning of work. He challenged hitters with a firm low-to-mid-80’s fastball and, at times, power slurve. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound right-hander pitches from a high ¾ slot, tall delivery and has a quick arm. His simple delivery with limited moving parts is built to deliver strike after strike. Mason’s breaking ball was clocked at 72 mph and change 78. His “right-now” pitch-ability grades out as high as anyone in the camp.
4. Brandon Gomer, RHP, Shawnee Mission Northwest HS: The 6-foot-4, 175-pound Gomer was nursing a leg injury but still went out and threw a quick zero on the scoreboard using only 12 pitches, striking out a batter in the process. Whether the right-hander is working in the mid 80’s like we saw him earlier this fall when he was a 100% or low 80’s like Saturday his low ¾ arm slot produces a sinking fastball that bottoms out as it reaches the plate. The class of 2015 product also, once again, showed command of a 67-69 slurve and 72-74 change-up. The wide-shouldered, athletic Gomer, who plays centerfield when not pitching, has lots of room to fill out and develop more body control. With his loose arm and feel for 3 pitches, it’s going to be interesting to see what a more physical Gomer is going to look like a year or two down the road. Gomer is also a remarkable student with a 4.30 GPA and 27 ACT.
5. Casey Kelley, RHP/OF, Shawnee Mission Northwest HS: Kelley was likely the best overall athlete in the camp - 6-foot-1, 165-pounds of fast-twitch muscle fiber packed into a baseball uniform. On the mound, the right-hander pitches from a near over-the-top slot with some effort. He struggled in his one inning of work, but at times made pitches that caused some “wow’s” from behind home plate. His fastball clocked in at the low-to-mid 80’s – at times flat, at times with late life. His breaking ball was 67-69 mph with a couple of them buckling the knees of right-handed hitters. He also showed feel for a 69-71 change-up. The pure stuff is good now and will get better, however it’s a matter of his command improving for him to advance into the elite category. Being such a tremendous athlete, I wouldn’t bet against this happening.
6. Michael Sinks, RHP/3B, Lawrence HS: The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Sinks is a good baseball player, period. On the mound he brings the position player approach: working fast, pumping strikes with a simple delivery and very little analysis – attack the zone, see what happens. He has a quick arm and his pitches have some down angle to them. His fastball was 79-81 mph and featured a 69-71 breaking ball with some depth. Since strike-throwers who compete tend to win a lot of games, expect Sinks to do just that this spring.
Best of the Rest (alphabetical order by last name)
Keller Agre, RHP, Blue Valley North HS: The 6-foot-1, 183-pound Agre employs a drop/drive delivery and high ¾ arm slot. The right-handed pitcher throws across his body but his arm works well enough that it doesn’t affect his ability to get out front and pump strikes - in fact, it appears to aid in his deception. His fastball ranged from 77-80 mph. Most impressive was his feel for a 64-67 slurve type breaking ball.
Jace Burdette, LHP/1B, Maranatha Christian Academy: We had a chance to see the 6-foot-1, 190-pound Burdette pitch earlier this fall in Council Bluffs, Iowa, as he carved up the Bases Loaded Academy Spiders from Iowa. This past Saturday, the left-handed pitcher wasn’t as sharp in his two innings of work. He features an over the top delivery, short arm action and good balance. He worked 77-79 mph with his fastball with occasional arm-side run. His breaking ball ranged from 63-69 mph.
Thomas Elms, RHP/OF, Blue Valley Northwest HS: Elms has a thin, athletic 6-foot, 145-pound frame with room to fill out and is primarily an outfielder. On the mound, Elms has a high ¾ delivery with short arm action and an average amount of effort. His fastball was 68-70 mph.
Jesse Kutzke, RHP, Shawnee Heights HS: The projectable 6-foot-4, 170-pound right-hander Kutzke worked from a high ¾ arm slot. His fastball was clocked at 72-75 mph. He had a tendency to fall off to the 1B side which seemed to affect his command.
Garrett Steins, LHP/1B, Lafayette HS (MO): Steins is an imposing 6-foot-5, 220-pound, left-handed pitcher/first-baseman from the St. Louis, MO, area. On the mound he throws with a drop/drive delivery and over-the-top throwing motion. He fights a stiff lead leg making it difficult for him to get extension out in front making it difficult for him to maximize velocity and command. His fastball was clocked at 70-72 mph.
ADDITIONAL EVENT COVERAGE
- KS Underclass Prospect Games Results10.23.13
