1.20.14 St. Louis Metro Underclass: Pitcher Analysis
February 12, 2014
Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director
At River's Edge Sports Complex on January 20, 2014 a very talented bunch of pitchers displayed their talents. Man of the 22 pitchers had velos of 80-plus and good command of pitcher. This group of 2016 and 2017 pitchers will contribute at the high school right away and have the ability to pitch at some level of college. The pitchers portion of the event was the highlight of the event with the depth of arms that showed their ability. Here's a look at the pitchers from the Jan. 20 event.
Erik Miller (De Smet, 2016)
1/20/14 – Miller is a 6-foot-4 190-pound lefty. He has a very projectable frame and has shown a good increase in velocity since his last event. Miller has a loose, easy arm action that produced and event-best 84 MPH fastball. He has a repeatable delivery with a ¾ arm slot. Miller showed the ability to throw three pitches in the zone for strikes. His fastball was consistently down in the zone at 80-84 MPH and his curveball had a sharp 1/7 break at 71-72 MPH. Miller’s change-up was thrown at near fastball arm speed at 74-75. Miller will be player to watch in the 2016 class as he continues to develop.
Braydon Cook (Francis Howell, 2016)
1/20/14 – Cook is a projectable 6-foot-1 190-pound right handed pitcher. He had one of the top fastball velos of the event at 82 MPH. He has a fast, loose arm action and throws from a ¾ arm slot. Cook is a strike thower with command of three pitches in the zone. His fastball had hard run at 81-81 MPH. Cook’s curveball has a 12/6 shape with a shape, late break and was consistently down in the zone. His curveball was 67-69 MPH. He a nasty change-up with some cut and sink at 72-73 MPH that produce hitters to swing and miss. Overall, he showed he will be a top arm in the 2016 class as he keeps developing.
Michael Hojnakci (Marquette, 2017)
1/20/14 – Hojnacki is a lanky 5-foot-11 140-pound right handed pitcher. The projectable Hojnakci showed he is a top arms for the 2017 class with a fastball from 78-82 MPH. He has a long, loose arm and command of three pitches in the zone. His curveball was 70-72 MPH with a near fastball 12/6 sharp break. Hojnacki showed a change with late cut at 73-74 MPH. As he continues to develop, Hojnacki will be a guy to watch in the 2017 class.
Jacob Gonzales (Timberland, 2016)
1/20/14 – The 5-foot-10 165-pound Gonzales showed just as well on the mound as he did in the field at the event. Gonzalez has the ability to throw three pitches in the zone for strikes, with a fastball that hits 77 MPH. His mechanics are very repeatable with a simple leg lift and quick arm. His fastball was consistently down in the strike zone with some run. He has a 1/7 curveball with late break that is thrown with fastball arm speed. Gonzales was clocked at 69-70 with his curveball and 68-89 with his change. His change had late sink and was thrown with near fastball arm speed. Gonzalez is a player to keep an eye on in the 2016 class as a pitcher and position player.
Kaleb Schmidt (Kickapoo, 2016)
1/20/14 – Schmidt showed continued progress on the mound as much as he did in the field at the event. The 5-foot-10 150-pound right hander showed command of three pitches in the zone for a strike, including a fastball at 83 MPH. He has a quick arm and throws from a ¾ arm slot. His fastball registered 81-83 on the gun late cut. His curveball has an 11/5 shape with a late break at 67-69 MPH. He throws with change-up with near fastball arm speed at 73-75 MPH. Schmidt showed why he could climb in the rankings in the 2016 class.
Craig Thiess (De Soto, 2017)
1/20/14 – At 6-foot-6 205-pounds Theiss is highly projectable and definitely a player to follow in the 2017 class. As he continues to develop he should have a good increase in velo with the ability to be a two-way player. On the mound, Theiss showed good command of three pitches in the zone. His fastball topped out at 81 MPH late run. He showed good command of his curveball, which had a 12/6 sharp, late break at 67-70 MPH. He throws his change-up with sink near fastball arm speed at 70-72 MPH. He has a balanced leg lift and good rhythm getting down the mound. He throws from a ¾ arm slot with easy effort.
Dane Galloway (Francis Howell, 2016)
1/20/14 – Galloway is a 6-foot-3 190-pound right handed pitcher that has shown velocity increase since his last event. He has balanced leg lift with good rhythm down the mound. He creates good arm speed with a fastball between 80-82 MPH and is consistently down in the zone. He throws a 12/6 curveball with near fastball arm speed at 64-66 MPH. Galloway’s change-up was 72-71 MPH. As he continues to grow, his velo and command of secondary pitches will increase.
THE BEST OF THE REST (Listed Alphbetically)
Samuel Alender (Staunton (IL), 2016)
1/20/14 – Alender, a lanky 6-foot-4 182-pounder showed his ability as a two-way player with good skill in the field and on the mound. He has a loose, easy arm action with a ¾ delivery. He had good balance and rhythm getting down the mound. His fastball had good run at 77-79 MPH and was consistently down in the strike zone. He shows an 11/5 breaking ball with late break at 69-71 MPH. He throws his change-up with near fastball arm speed at 71-75 with good sink. The movement that Alender gets on is change-up and fastball will produce batters to swing and miss. As he continues to develop, he has the ability to increase velocity.
Weston Baker (SLUH, 2017)
1/20/14 – Baker is a 6-foot-3 190-pound right handed pitcher. Weston has good balance and rhythm getting down the mound. He throws with an over-the-top arm action that is consistently down in the zone. His fastball has slight run at 75-80 MPH. He has a 12/6 curveball with late break at 60-62 MPH. His change-up is thrown with near fastball arm speed at 62-64 MPH with late run. He will continue to add velocity and could be a power arm in the 2017 class as he develops.
Bryce Butler (Wentzville Holt, 2016)
1/20/14 – Butler is a 5-foot-9 135-pound left handed pitcher. He throws from a ¾ slot with good arm speed. Butler is a strike-thrower with is fastball that show late run at 64-70 MPH. He has a 1/7 curveball with late break. He throws his curveball with near fastball arm speed at 54-56 MPH. His change-up is a 56-59 MPH. As Butler continues to grow his velo will increase to go along with the command with his fastball and curveball.
Alex Hackworth (Parkway South, 2016)
1/20/14 – Hackworth is a 5-foot-9 140-pound right handed pitcher with an easy, quick delivery. He was a strike thrower with command of all three pitches in the zone. His fastball was clocked at 79-80 MPH and showed a curveball with a 12/6 shape and late break at 65-66 MPH. Hackworth showed a plus change with near fastball arm speed and late fade. He throws his change-up at 68-69 MPH. Hackworth throws from an over-top-arm slot which will produce more velo as he develops.
Parker Heath (St. John Vianney, 2016)
1/20/14 – Heath is a strong 6-foot-5 230-pound right handed pitcher that show good arm action on the mound. He has good balance and rhythm with an over-the-top arm slot. His fastball has a slight run at 75-77 MPH. Heath’s curveball can produce hitters to swing and miss with a 12/6 shape that is consistently down. He throws his change-up at 71-73 MPH with sink. Heath’s size and arm action will produce more velo as the season goes along and will be a player two-way ability.
Billy Heil (Clayton, 2016)
1/20/14 – Heil is a 5-foot-9 210-pound left handed pitcher with good balance and rhythm in his delivery. He comes from a ¾ arm slot and produces a fastball in the 64-66 MPH range. He throws his curveball with near fastball arm speed at 61-63 MPH. Heil’s change-up was between 62-63 MPH with late fade.
Jack Kane (Timberland, 2016)
1/20/14 – the 5-foot-11 185-pound Kane showed two-way ability with a 76-80 MPH fastball. He throws with an over-the-top arm slot and has slight run with his fastball. He has a 12/6 curveball at 62-63 MPH and a change-up from 66-67 MPH. Overall, Kane has a simple delivery with good body control.
Ryan Knernschield (Vianney, 2016)
1/20/14 – Knernschield is a 5-foot-11 180-pound right handed pitcher. He throws his fastball at 79-80 MPH with late run. His curveball is 12/6 with early break and is 66-65 MPH. He showed a chang-up at near fastball arm speed at 73-74 MPH. He has an over-the-top delivery with good balance and a quick arm speed.
Stephen Krebs (St. Louis Priory, 2016)
1/20/14 – Krebs stands 6-foot-1 and 209-pounds. He has a controlled fluid rhythm to his delivery. He has an over-the-top arm slot and stays in line as he finishes. He fastball has a little late run at 75-78 MPH. Krebs throws a 12/6 curveball at 66-69 MPH at near fastball arm speed. His change-up was clocked at 69-70 MPH.
Trey McDaniel (Greenville, 2017)
1/20/14 – McDaniel is a 5-foot-10 168-pound right handed pitcher. He throws from a ¾ arm and showed the ability to throw four pitches. His fastball has late run and is 78-80 MPH. McDaniels curveball has a late, 12/6 break and was clocked at 59-64 MPH. He showed a good slider late cut at 72-76 MPH and a change at 72-72 MPH. As he continues to develop his secondary pitches he is a pitcher to follow in the 2017 class.
Tyler Pauley (Marquette, 2017)
1/20/14 – Pauley is 6-foot 170-pound right hand pitcher with a fastball ranging from 72-75 MPH. His curveball has a 12/6 shape at 57-61 MPH. And, Pauley’s change-up is 57-58 MPH. He throws with a ¾ arm action and can add velo and command with development.
Douglas Payne (Eureka, 2017)
1/20/14 – at 5-foot-6 125-pounds, Payne is showing good progress. His velocity is increasing, throwing his fastball at 74-76 MPH. He has a loose, easy effort arm action, with a ¾ arm slot. Payne showed feel and command for three pitches in the zone. His fastball showed life a late run. Payne threw his curveball in the strike zone at 65-66 MPH. It has a 12/6 shape with a late, sharp break. He throws his change at near fastball arm speed at 69-71 MPH. As Payne continues to develop he will add more velocity to already excellent command.
Austin Sims (Rockwood Summit, 2016)
1/20/14 – Sims is a 5-foot-9 169-pound right handed pitcher. He has a loose, quick ¾ arm action that will add velo as he develops. His fastball was clocked at 73-76 MPH and his curveball has a 11/5 sharp break. He throws his change-up at 70-71 MPH at near fastball arm speed. As he continues to develop he will have better command.
Trynton Tompkins (Greenville, 2016)
1/20/14 – Tompkins is a 5-foot-10 195-pound right handed pitcher with a quick arm and an over-the-top arm action. He throws his fastball at 75-78 MPH with late run. He throws his curveball for strikes at 64-66 MPH with a 12/6 shape and near fastball arm speed. Tompkins throws his change at 69-70 MPH. He has good command of his fastball and curveball and has the ability to develop velo over time.
Bailey Vuylsteke (Oakville, 2016)
1/20/14 – Vuylsteke is an athletic 6-foot 170-pound lefty that showed good skill sets on the mound and in the field. On the mound, he has a fastball between 78-79 MPH that comes from an over-the-top arm slot. His curveball has a 1/7 shape with a sharp, late break consistently down in the zone. He throws a 73-74 MPH change-up. He has a loose, fast arm action with good balance and rhythm throughout his delivery. He has the potential to add more velo as he develops and will be a good two-way player in the 2016 class.
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