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Prospect Spotlight: Big 6-foot-8 RHP, Matt Ianni, 2015

October 3, 2014

teps



By Alexis Brudnicki
PBR Ontario Lead Writer

It’s been an up-and-down year for Matt Ianni.

The 16-year-old right-hander has experienced plenty of highs, playing with the Canadian Junior National Team on a number of exciting trips, making headway as he continues his transition into being a full-time pitcher, playing at Tournament 12 for the second time, and even getting his velocity up into the low 90s this spring.

But he’s also gotten through some of the lows, including being taken off the season’s final Team Canada roster that headed to Mexico for the Pan American Championships, experiencing some arm fatigue as the summer continued, and dipping down to sitting in the mid-80s with his fastball by the time he made it to the Blue Jays-hosted showcase in September.

“It makes me want to work hard,” Ianni said. “Even harder than before. I want to throw more and get my technique down so I can be sure that I make it next year to the [world championships in] Japan…[Baseball Canada’s director of national teams] Greg Hamilton said to just keep working at it and hopefully I’ll be on the national team for the whole next year.”

The native of Ottawa knew there was a chance he might not be a part of the final squad on the road to an eventual bronze finish in La Paz, but he still hoped he would be there.

“It was a small roster but I did think I was going to go,” Ianni said. “They took the veterans…I was upset about it obviously but I understood. [Catcher] Andrew Yerzy and I were the two youngest on the team so it made sense that we were going to be sent home to give the older guys the experience and play in their last year.”

Matt IanniThe 6-foot-8, 225-pound hurler, pictured on the right, was fortunate enough to travel with Team Canada on several other occasions this year, playing in Houston, Texas at the final training camp before the Mexico trip after heading to Cuba, to the Dominican Republic, and to Florida twice before the squad’s current trip to Orlando to face fall instructional league competition.

Throughout his time with the national team this season, Ianni has seen big improvements and learned a lot along the way.

“I completely changed my mechanics throughout the year so that’s definitely a big step,” Ianni said. “[Pitching coaches Chris] Reitsma and Mike Johnson were a huge help. It was great working with them because I don’t usually get all of the [individual attention] back home, other than working with Tanner [Watson, Canadians coach].”

So, what has he changed and how has it helped?

“I took out that big, long arm [movement] and I don’t drop my arm anymore so I’m shorter on the ball,” Ianni said. “I live more down in the zone now and my control has gotten a lot better.”

His control has gotten better, but there has been some concern about the drop in velocity Ianni has experienced throughout the year and landing him significantly lower by the time Tournament 12 rolled around in September from the time he started out in spring.

The young right-hander believes the decrease is just from working through the longest season he has ever experienced, after becoming a full-time pitcher in recent years and getting the opportunity to throw on Team Canada trips along with his Ottawa-Nepeans Canadians team at home. He continues to make adjustments to his routine so that he can battle the fatigue in the future.

“I’m training with my dad inside in Ottawa,” Ianni said. “We go out probably four or five times a week and throw and just work on everything that Reitsma has told us to do, so I can perform on the next trip.”

The next trip is now, Ianni and his teammates all landing in Orlando on Thursday with their first practice Friday and games beginning Saturday. The righty will get his first start on Sunday against Lake Sumter Junior College and go two to three innings in his first outing.

After Tournament 12, PBR Ontario scouting director Chris Kemlo said of Ianni: “He is an intimidating presence on the mound. Able to work downhill, Ianni can run his fastball up to 91 mph and he shows the ability to spin a breaking ball. He struggles at times to find consistency with the pitch but has thrown some hammers during stretches. He used his changeup at times, a show pitch that will only improve…with reps and innings, he will only get better.”

Looking to continue his progress beyond his high-school career, Ianni is hoping to make some decisions for his future very soon. After an early commitment to Canisius College in Buffalo, the young pitcher is now exploring his post-secondary options and continuing to see what’s out there for him.

“I told [Canisius head coach Mike McRae] that I was still looking at schools,” Ianni said. “I’m still going through the process of looking at different schools. There are a few different ones I’m interested in and I planned [to do] my visits in late September…I want a school where I can grow as a player, get my mechanics down and keep my arm healthy.”

Beyond school, Ianni is excited to start another season with Team Canada and see what might happen next June.

“Next year I’m going to be working toward Japan so I’m looking forward to that more than anything,” Ianni said. “And then hopefully the draft and college, those are two big things I am looking forward to too.”

Having watched several of his friends go through the draft process, Ianni knows that nothing is for certain and there are absolutely no guarantees. He feels adequately prepared for what lay ahead and is excited about what his future may hold.

“You have to take it slow and go through the process,” Ianni said of what he’s learned. “It’s not like you have to choose everything and do everything right away. I saw a few guys [drop] in the draft, but that’s expected and you can’t really get upset about it. Just getting drafted is an honour. I’m hoping to go as high as I possibly can.”

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