After prospecting the Midwest during Week Eight of the D1 baseball season, the Scouting Trail again took me through the central states. Starting with a mid-week junior college game with No.1 ranked Wabash Valley (check-out our most recent JC Rankings), then onto Indianapolis for a top round arm and bat, and finishing with a Missouri Valley Conference double-header between the top two hitting prospects in the conference, there was an abundance of tools and talent. Here’s what I saw…

No. 86 Ryan Pepiot, RHP, Butler- Durable bodied at 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Pepiot has a mechanically sound delivery with good arm action. Lands 6” cross-body, creating some angle to the plate, but this does not inhibit the extension on an above average spin rate fastball (2200-2400 rpm). Worked at 90-93 mph with below average life on this look. Touched 94 one time, his 102nd pitch in the 7th inning. Best pitch was a plus to plus-plus, at times, circle change at 81-84 mph. Threw it in any count with fastball arm speed. He manipulated the movement and located the pitch very well to his gloveside, showing three-quarter slider-like action. When thrown to his arm side the pitch was straight and had the look of a back-up slider. His curveball is a major weapon as well, showing very high spin rates (2700-2900 rpm) with good depth and late action at 75-77 mph. Likely a future plus pitch at the pro level. Also mixed in an occasional slider at 80-81 mph, which could be mistaken for his armside CH at times. Overall, Pepiot showed high pitchability working in/out, up/down and back/forth with...