Rapid Reaction: Pitchers that stood out at the Underclass Invitational
February 17, 2015
By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting-Prep Baseball Report VA/DC
On Sunday, February 15, Prep Baseball Report Virginia/DC hosted its first event of 2015, the Underclass Invitational for members of the 2017 and 2018 classes. Over 75 players showcased their skills for PBR VA/DC Staff at Virginia Sports Complex in Ruther Glen, Virginia. All of these players will be eligible to receive invites to the 2017 Top Prospect Games at English Field on the campus of Virginia Tech and the 2018 Top Prospect Games this summer at Liberty University
In the coming days, we will break down the performances of the participants of the Underclass Invitational. Here are a few quick notes on some of the pitchers who stood out:
Pitchers to watch this spring:
+Derek Domecq (LHP, Western Albemarle, 2018) is an athletic lefty who worked in the upper-70's, touching 79 mph with hard running fastball. He also featured a sharp slider around 70 mph and a fading change-up that ran 72-74 mph. He showed good feel of all of his pitches.
+Gary Fuller (RHP, Stone Bridge, 2017) has an athletic frame and worked in the low-80s, touching 85 mph once with his fastball. His breaking ball could tighten up some, but his change-up was good at the bottom of the zone in the low-70's.
+Wes Glass (LHP, Tuscarora, 2018) has a great pitcher’s frame and throws from a low three-quarters slot. Glass threw a sinking fastball that sat in the mid-70's, touching 77 mph. He commanded his fastball well at the bottom of the zone. Glass also threw a slider that showed two different actions that he will need to improve as he matures. His change-up had fading action to it and ran in the low-70's.
+Jason Hartline (LHP, Greenbrier Christian Academy, 2017) has an athletic frame with a strong lower half. He threw in the upper 70's with his fastball, touching 80 mph once. Hartline threw a good curveball in the mid-60's and an outstanding sinking change-up in the low-70's. He had outstanding command of all three pitches.
+Will Liverpool (RHP, McLean, 2017) has an explosive arm, hitting 86 mph repeatedly throughout his bullpen. Still is a bit raw mechanically and his offspeed need a little refinement. His change-up has the potential to be a plus pitch when he throws it with full armspeed.
+Antonio Menendez (RHP, Herndon, 2017) is a tall, lanky sidewinder that worked in the low-80's with his fastball, touching 83 mph with good, late run. He threw a good, late breaking slider in the low-70's and a fading change-up. He had good command of all of his pitches and kept them down.
+Matt Sykes (LHP, The Covenant School, 2018) has the makings of a prototypical pitcher’s frame and throws from a high three-quarters slot. He sat in the low 70's, touching 74 mph with a fastball that had late run to it. He commanded a good slider very well in the mid-60's and flashed a fading change-up in the low-60's.
+Will Thomas (RHP, Gonzaga College, 2017) has a good pitcher’s frame and demonstrated feel and command for all of his pitches. He sat 77-81 mph, touching 84 mph once with his fastball. He threw a sharp curveball in the upper-60's and a good fading change-up in the low-70's.
+Kyle Whitten (RHP, Osbourn Park, 2017) again demonstrated the talent that has him currently ranked 5th overall in Virginia/DC in his class. He has a lanky frame with a loose, quick arm action. He sat at 84 mph with his four seam fastball and 82 mph with his two seamer. He threw an outstanding, sharp slider in the low 70's and a fading change-up in the mid-70's. Whitten threw all of his pitches with outstanding command.
2015 Team previews:
