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PA Top Prospect Games: RHP Analysis

July 2, 2014

By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

The summer rush of PBR events in Pennsylvania and West Virginia kicked into high gear over the past two weeks with the PA Top Prospect Games (June 17-18), Shenandoah Valley College Prospect Showcase (June 23) and the PA Underclass Games (June 24-25) offering college coaches a glimpse at some 175 prospects in a short period of time.

Over the course of the coming week we will analyze the prospects that performed by position. Today we take a look at the right-handed pitchers that participated in the PA Top Prospect Games.

 

PA Top Prospect Games: RHP


Top Prospect

Michael GroveRHP/SS Michael Grove (Wheeling Park, WV), 2015

Grove, a 6-foot-3, 190-pound RHP/SS, followed up a strong performance in the West Virginia Class AAA state semifinals with an impressive two days at the PA Top Prospect Games. In both cases, Grove showcased a heavy fastball that sits 87-89 with late life. He showed repeatable mechanics and the ability to make in game adjustments to allow himself to have success. Grove is a strike thrower that does not use his 71 mph curveball or his 77 mph changeup often, but his fastball is good enough currently that he doesn't need to.

Currently ranked No. 12 in the WV Class of 2015, Grove is likely to move up the rankings significantly when they are updated in July. Grove also flashed two-way abilities running a 6.92 60-yard dash and showcased an 86 mph arm across the diamond. With his size and room for added growth, Grove projects as a corner infielder or outfielder if he continues to play both ways at the next level. Grove displayed an 88 mph bat exit velocity and power potential to both gaps. He went 3-for-6 in game play including an inside the park home run to dead center field in his team's first game.

His size, fluid mechanics, and considerable room for more growth and velocity will undoubtedly have his phone ringing quite often over the next few months.


Best of the Rest (alphabetical)

RHP Colin Claus (West Allegheny), 2015

Claus sat 82-84 from a high 3/4 arm slot with late life to his fastball, especially up in the zone. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound righty displayed an improved 73 mph curveball with tight 11/5 rotation and a 74 mph changeup that he has begun to throw on a more regular basis. Claus worked three innings striking out two.

RHP Cameron Coco (Central Catholic), 2016

Coco is a 6-foot-2, 175-pound righty with long levers that projects for added size and velocity moving forward. The junior sat 77-80 with cut action to his fastball from a high 3/4 arm slot. Coco also commanded a 66 mph curveball with 11/5 break and a 70 mph changeup thrown at near fastball arm speed. The righty worked three effective innings showing command of all three pitches.

RHP/2B Ryan DeWalt (Germantown Academy), 2015

DeWalt sat 83-85 with his 4-seam fastball out of a high 3/4 arm slot. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound righty also flashed an 81-82 mph 2-seam fastball with cutting action. DeWalt displayed command of a 72 mph curveball with 11/5 rotation and a 73 mph changeup thrown at fastball arm speed. He was able to induce six ground ball outs while striking out two in three innings of work. The two-way prospect ran a 7.31 60-yard dash and showcased an 84 mph bat exit velocity while going 2-for-7 at the plate in game action.

RHP Nick Fuchs (Reynolds), 2015

Fuchs is a 6-foot, 150-pound strike thrower that sat 74-75 with a hip coil delivery during two stints on the mound. The righty also commanded a 66 mph curveball with 11/5 rotation and mixed the pitches effectively to keep hitters off balance. Fuchs works quickly and shows signs of increased velocity with further physical development.

RHP Alex Garban (State College), 2015

Garban sat 82-83 while touching 85 mph out of a high 3/4 arm slot with a hip coil delivery. Garban works quickly and from the stretch. The 6-foot-1, 170-pound righty also flashed command of a 72 mph slider, a 69 mph 11/5 breaking curveball and a 74 mph changeup during his three innings of work which included three strikeouts.

RHP/SS Dan Hammer (Father Judge), 2016

Hammer used an overhead rocker delivery and a long, loose arm action to sit 85-87 with late life to his fastball. The 6-foot-1, 160-pound righty commanded a 72 mph curveball with 11/5 break and a 76 mph changeup with excellent arm speed. Hammer ran a 7.01 60-yard dash and displayed athleticism with the ability to make plays at shortstop. Hammer's 86 mph across the diamond was one of the top infield arms at the event. The right-handed hitter went 2-for-6 in game action and registered a bat exit velocity of 84 mph.

RHP/2B Michael Kuypers (Central Bucks South), 2015

Kuypers sat 82-84 with some arm side run to his fastball while commanding a 71 mph curveball with tight 11/5 rotation and a 75 mph changeup with late fade. The 5-foot-11, 190-pound two-way prospect ran a 7.31 60-yard dash and 3-for-6 in game action while registering an 86 mph bat exit velocity. Kuypers displayed capable action defensively at 2B and an 81 mph arm across the diamond.

RHP/SS Collin Liberatore (Greensburg-Central Catholic), 2015

Liberatore sat 83-85 out of a high 3/4 arm slot with some arm side run to his fastball. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound righty continues to flash one of the top changeups in his class at 75 mph. He throws the pitch with regularity at any count and with sinking action. Liberatore's 70 mph 11/5 breaking curveball continues to improve and provides a solid third option in his arsenal. The two-way prospect ran a 7.08 60-yard dash and showcased an 84 mph arm across the diamond. Liberatore went 2-for-6 in game play over two days.

RHP Trentin Martin (Altoona), 2015

Martin sat 82-84 with considerable arm side run to his fastball. Martin displayed a 71 mph curveball, 78 mph slider and 75 mph changeup out of a loose 3/4 arm slot. The 6-foot-2, 180-pound righty gets out over his front leg well and his pitches show good late life. His frame suggests added velocity is likely in the near future.

RHP/3B Mike Mock (Central), 2015

Mock sat 84-86 while touching 87 mph early in three innings of work. The 6-foot, 170-pound two-way prospect also commanded a 68 mph curveball with 11/5 rotation and a 65 mph knuckle ball with sharp down break. Mock struck out seven while working around some command issues. Mock went on to run a 7.08 and flashed a 90 mph bat exit velocity while going 2-for-6 at the plate in game action.

RHP Kyle Peterson (State College), 2015

Peterson sat 80-82 out of a high 3/4 arm slot with some arm side run to his fastball. The 6-foot-6, 225-pound righty was working on short rest after reportedly working in the mid-80s while touching 87 mph a few days prior. Peterson showed command of his developing 72 mph splitter and used his 70 mph curveball with 11/5 shape effectively during his three innings of work. The physical righty retired five hitters on groundouts with one strikeout during his stint on the hill.

RHP Zachary Salmon (West Mifflin), 2015

Salmon showed repeatable mechanics and the ability to pound the strike zone in three innings of work. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound righty sat 81-83 from a high 3/4 arm slot with some cut to his fastball. Salmon also showcase a slider (75 mph) and curveball (71 mph) mix that he used to set up his fastball. Salmon displayed some athleticism running a 7.38 60-yard dash and registered an 81 mph bat exit velocity during the evaluation period.

RHP Scott Schultz (Mt. Lebanon), 2015

Schultz is a 5-foot-9, 170-pound righty with a long, loose delivery. He sat 79-81 out of a high 3/4 arm slot with high knee action. His fastball shows some cut and his 69 mph changeup was delivered at near fastball arm speed. Schultz slows his arm speed some on his 61 mph curveball with 11/5 shape but was able to command the pitch for strikes. He registered three strikeouts in three innings of work.

RHP/OF Will Seymour (Central Cambria), 2015

Seymour is a physical 6-foot, 225-pound righty that sat 83-84 from a high 3/4 arm slot. He also showed command of a 66 mph curveball with 11/5 shape. Seymour worked three innings striking out two and flashed an 85 mph arm from the outfield as well. The right-handed hitter showcased an 89 mph bat exit velocity with some power potential during his round of batting practice. Seymour hits from a square stance with a lift and replace stride foot with good barrel whip.

RHP Jesse Slinger (Upper St. Clair), 2015

Slinger registered four strikeouts in three innings of work sitting 81-82 from an over the top arm slot. The right has a hip coil in his delivery and showed a tight breaking curveball at 73 mph. Although command issues hampered his performance, Slinger showed late life to his fastball and athleticism that projects for added velocity and command moving forward.

RHP Trevor Smith (North Allegheny), 2016

Smith sat 77-79 out of a high 3/4 arm slot and showed command of a 69 mph slider during three innings of work. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound righty showed repeatable mechanics and projects to add significant velocity with an athletic, long frame. Smith also flashed a 60 mph curveball with 11/5 rotation, but will need to work on improving his arm speed to make the pitch more effective.

RHP Andrew Toplak (North Hills), 2016

Toplak is a 6-foot, 170-pound righty has sound, repeatable mechanics from a high 3/4 arm slot. The righty sat 75-77 while showcasing a 67 mph curveball with 11/5 shape, a 71 mph slider with later action and an occasional 70 mph changeup.


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