South Arkansas Prospect ID: Pitcher Evaluation
July 19, 2015
By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director
The South Arkansas Prospect Identification Showcase was held, Tuesday July 14th at Ouachita Baptist University. Here is a breakdown of the pitchers performances. Tanner Vaught, 2016, RHP, Horatio HS Carter Wade, 2016, LHP, Little Rock Christian Academy Eric Groom, 2017, LHP Arkadelphia HS Noah Phillips, 2016, RHP Poyen HS Blake Herndon, 2017, RHP/INF, Greenbrier HS Kaden Tollet, 2017, RHP DeQueen HS Chase Kyzer, 2016, RHP, Cabot HS
Vaught is a 6-foot, 185-pound right-hander with a large-frame and a physical build. He pitches from an H ¾ arm slot with a short arm action that has some stiffness in it. He repeats his mechanics and rhythm allowing him to throw strikes on a consistent basis. He located his fastball at 83-86 mph with slight sink. His changeup is a quality secondary pitch thrown with near fastball arm speed 79 mph and arm side run. His curveball was located for strikes but lacked consistent shape and depth. Overall Vaught is a physical strike thrower with some arm strength, he would benefit from lengthening his arm circle. This would allow him to throw harder and give him time to execute a breaking ball.
Wade is a 5-foot-11 165-pound left-hander with a medium frame and an athletic build. He controlled his fastball in the bottom half of the strike zone at 78-81 mph. He threw a curveball with 2/8 shape and gradual break at 63-65 mph. He completed his display of advanced pitchabilty by locating his changeup at 71-72 mph. He is able to throw strikes by repeating his rhythm and mechanics. I believe he could throw harder if he would slow down his rhythm and find a distinct balance point. He works from an H ¾ arm slot with a clean arm action.
Groom is a 5-foot-9 150-left-hander with a medium frame and thin build. Groom works from an H ¾ arm slot with a loose clean arm. He does a good job repeating his mechanics and rhythm. His delivery does have some effort and a slight head jerk. His fastball was thrown for strikes at 74-76 mph with slight run. He threw a curveball with 2/8 gradual break at 65 mph. His changeup is an advanced pitch thrown with fastball arm speed at 68 mph with late sink. Overall Groom is a solid high school LHP that would benefit from adding strength.
Phillips is a 5-foot-10 185 right-hander with a medium frame and an average build. He works from a low ¾ with some stiffness in his arm action. He commanded the strike zone with his fastball of 73-76 mph. He threw a Frisbee breaking ball at 57-61 mph with gradual break. His changeup was thrown with near fastball arm speed with velocities of 62 mph.
Herndon is a 6-foot, 165 right-hander with a large frame and an athletic build. He pitches from an H ¾ arm slot with a short quick arm. Mechanically he does repeats his delivery, with the only critique being he has rotational action on the top half of his movement. His fastball was 77-80 mph, touching 81 mph. His breaking ball was thrown at 11/5 action with gradual movement for strikes. He threw his fastball 73-76 with near fastball arm-speed.
Tollett is a 6-foot-2 175-pound right-hander with a projectable frame and an athletic build. He pitched from an L ¾ arm slot at 74-78 mph with slight sink. He threw a breaking ball that had east/west gradual break at 63-65 mph. He also threw a change up 61-65 mph with arm side run. Mechanically he repeated his delivery and rhythm. He did mix in a low side arm slot that looked more natural, he located his fastball at 72-75 mph with late sink.
Kyzer is a 6-foot-1, 200-pound right-hander with a large frame and a physical build. He pitches from an H ¾ arm slot with a choppy delivery and repeatable mechanics. He pitched off his fastball at 84-86 mph with slight run. His located his slider 73-75 mph with sharp late 11/5 action. He threw his changeup with fastball arm speed with slight arm-side run at 76-77 mph. Overall Kyzer is a physical kid with a quick arm, an arm action that has deception and a swing and miss pitch with his slider. Related Content
