Norcal Underclass ID: Pitcher Analysis

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LATHROP, CALIF. - The Northern California Underclass ID event took place at Islanders Field at River Islands on the morning of 10/10/20. There were 44 players in attendance, 13 of whom got on the mound.

TrackMan was used for pitchers during their live competitive at-bats vs hitters, tracking velocity, spin rate, as well as all the other more advanced data points.

We are rolling out position reports this week, starting with pitchers today. Be on the look out for future reports on catchers, infielders, and outfielders, as well as reports on the players took part in the Upperclass ID event later that afternoon.

Here are the reports for the upperclass pitchers, catchers, outfielders, 3rd basemen, and shortstops, as well as underclass pitchers.

(Click to individual player profiles for full stats and video)

Listed in order of peak fastball velocity:

Bryce Cruz, Jesuit (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP - One of top 2023 RHP in Northern CA.
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds. Athletically built with some muscular development in upper leg/hips, rangy upper body proportions.
Delivery: Compact delivery, simple hip turn over rubber, knee lift just above waist, keeps hands just off mid-section, long stride, powerful hip rotation, falls off to 1B at finish.
Arm Action: RH. Loose and fast arm, clean backside, maintains control of arm swing, high-3/4 slot.
FB: T86, 84-85 mph. Quick lively FB, rides through zone while keeping on plane, modest movement but it's late, release height will allow it to play up in zone and get swings/misses.
CB: 70-72 mph. Sharp biting CB with swing/miss action, two plane break, tight w/plus spin for HS level, projects as a plus breaking ball beyond HS.
CH: 73-75 mph. Late depth with considerable spin off the FB look, outstanding extension/finish, feel for zone, potentially a third plus pitch.

Ned Righellis, St. Francis (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/RHP - Potential to develop into college two-way talent.
Body: 6-3, 190-pounds. Long and strong with athletic proportions, muscular lower half, streamlined build.
Delivery: All from stretch, quiet high knee lift do mid-chest, gathers over rubber, in-line stride, opens strike foot upon landing, uses athleticism well, powerful delivery.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm stroke, above avg arm speed, high-3/4 slot, full extension on backside in circular arm swing.
FB: T84, 80-82 mph. Considerable arm side run, bores through zone, quick out of hand and maintains life, pounded arm side.
CB: 71-73 mph. 11/6 type shape, smaller downward action that happens late, flashed CB that can buckle RHH, spins well, potentially a power CB.
CH: 76-78 mph. Heavy big run, gets to far extension and finish, takes off a lot of spin to get dive into bottom of zone.

Evan Sandoval, Cardinal Newman (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP - Potential to be among top RHP in 2023 class in the region.
Body: 6-0, 150-pounds. Lean lithe body type, athletically built, still young, has wiry sinewy strength.
Delivery: All from stretch, lead foot just off rubber ahead of post foot, high knee lift, very agile, starts hands held off head, aggressive but controlled down slope, stable plant foot, creates energy and leverage.
Arm Action: RH. Whip quick arm, compact on backside, shallow circle with waist depth, has control of arm swing giving him ability to manipulte ball at release, 3/4 slot.
FB: T84, 81-83 mph. Big arm side movement, shows ability to create plus sink, high spin, aggressive with it.
CB: 68-70 mph. Occasionally snappy bite, tight high spin, hard late two plane break, occasional overthrow but it's a future swing and miss out-pitch.
CH: 75-76 mph. Darting/diving CHG w/high spin, big run can explode away from LHH or below bat of RHH.

Matthew Gobel, Tokay (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP - Potential to grow into one of top 2023 RHP in his region.
Body: 6-3, 195-pounds. Large sturdy frame, broad upper body, still retains ample room for size/strength.
Delivery: Strong power oriented delivery, sinks into backside over rubber, leaves rubber with force, creates front side leverage, centralizes energy well.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm swing, loose fast arm, 3/4 slot, powerful lively arm.
FB: T83, 80-82 mph. Looks to have life and depth through zone, hard sinker type movement, high avg spin and very high max spin given his age, uncomfortable looking FB for RHH, was in/around zone.
SL: 71-74 mph. Tight with quick change of direction, wide sweep at times, chance to use as swing miss as the velocity goes up.
CH: 70-74 mph. Big change of pace off FB, straighter than FB w/much less spin, creates late bottom of zone movement.

David (DJ) Andersen, Vanden (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-7, 230-pounds. Big frame, immediately noticeable, long and large with present strength and athletic proportionality.
Delivery: Simple mechanics, high controlled knee lift, maintains body control, works over rubber well, in-line stride, soft quiet firm plant foot, creates leverage.
Arm Action: RH. Overhand slot, loose quick arm projects to have above avg arm speed, depth on backside w/slight curl/cup of ball.
FB: T79, 75-78 mph. Inconsistent control, straight FB, some life up in zone, looks to be a FB that can get swings and misses and be uncomfortable for hitters.
CB: 68-69 mph. Loose spin with rolling action, smaller break w/minimal horizontal movement, showed feel for the zone.
CH: 71-72 mph. High spin CHG, finishes with long extension to sell it, very similar to FB look giving it a chance to start bats.

Justin Iglesias, Bishop O'Dowd (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-3, 170-pounds. Lanky body, still growing into a frame that projects very favorably for future size/strength, sturdy lower half.
Delivery: Repeatable mechanics, wide rocker step, pinch tuck knee lift to gather core energy, in-line stride, stable landing w/upper body finishing over stride leg.
Arm Action: RH. Compact arm stroke w/circular action getting to overhand slot, loose arm, velocity with this easy arm action is a strong positive.
FB: T79, 77-78 mph. Arm strength type FB, fair movement, showed some length through zone, some inconsistency with control.
CB: 57-62 mph. Showed feel, smooth 11/6 type break, some two plane break.
SL: 63-69 mph. Similar bite to CB w/more velocity and less depth, like the CB showed feel with SL.
CH: 61-64 mph. Quite similar look to FB, similar release points/heights, can start bats in FB counts.

Adrian Figueroa, Willows (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 5-8, 125-pounds. Athletic build, lean wiry strength, well-proportioned.
Delivery: Quiet hands, easy lift, leaves rubber by gliding down the slope, smooth rhythm, lands in-line w/slight drift through plant leg.
Arm Action: LH. Quick easy arm, classic overhand LHP arm action, two part backside, arm stroke keeps up with lower half.
FB: T78, 73-76 mph. Plays quicker than velo due to extension, considerable arm side movement, holds plane, spin projects sizeable velo gains as he physically matures.
CB: 63-67 mph. Feel of this pitch, flashed late backfoot (RHH) type break, presents more like a SL, spins well, makings of abv avg breaking ball.
CH: 69-71 mph. Outstanding feel in this look, run away from RHH, depth through zone, enough spin off the FB look to draw soft contact.

Nathan Schikore, Rodriguez (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-1, 155-pounds. Long lanky, lean young body, ample room to put on size and strength as he physically matures.
Delivery: Rhythmic, fluid, high knee lift, tucks over rubber, maintains body control, uses hips well, firm plant foot w/in-line long stride.
Arm Action: RH. Compact, clean quick arm, controls arm swing well, repeats consistently, overhand slot w/lively whip toward release.
FB: T78, 76-78 mph. Flashes steep angle, acv avg movement, power sinker potential, maintains life through the zone, feel of the zone.
CB: 66-68 mph. Flashed as future above average pitch, smaller CB shape with fairly abrupt change of direction, presents as swing and miss pitch.
CH: 70-72 mph. Outstanding finish, big fade w/armside movement, late dip can get below bats for GBs and swing-overs.

Jaden Clifford, Rocklin (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds. Rangy upper body, strong though hips and thighs, sturdy frame to hold plenty more strength.
Delivery: Simple start w/small rocker step, medium knee lift to waist height, controlled down the slope, maintains body control, lands with stability allowing for quality finish/extension.
Arm Action: RH. Loose arm, compact, two part backside arm action with depth, gets to high-3/4 slot, projectable for future velocity, easy arm.
FB: T77, 72-74 mph. Arm strength fastball, average (HS) movement, sinker type FB, effective looking pitch in bottom of zone.
CB: 63-64 mph. Showed feel, wide sweeping CB, smooth continuous break.
SL: 66-67 mph. Similar look to CB though w/flatter and slightly wider break, sweeping action that can be effective if started in the zone.
CH: 64-69 mph. Average (HS) movement, gets action in bottom of zone, ground ball getting type CHG, finishes well.

Eddy Stone, Saint Vincent's (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-2, 190-pounds. Big frame, sturdy upper body dimensions, shows some present musculature, could grow to be a powerful body.
Delivery: All from stretch, hip high knee lift with tuck over the rubber, shorter in-line stride, works well over the rubber, upright finish.
Arm Action: RH. Quick stab out of glove down to back knee depth, loose arm, stops arm swing a bit on backside, gets to high-3/4 slot.
FB: T75, 74-75 mph. Shows considerable run, creates angle, has some heaviness, spins well off his release.
CB: 66-68 mph. Tight spin, 11/5 shape, downer action, flashes as late power CB potential.
CH: 68-69 mph. Slightly less movement off FB look, keeps down, finishes well, showed feel, potential abv avg offering.

Arch Ljepava, Los Gatos (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 5-8, 140-pounds. Lean sinewy body type on athletically proportioned frame.
Delivery: Rhythmic fluid delivery, hands work in sync with feet, high knee lift, continuous movement throughout delivery, in-line stride, balanced in fielding position after release.
Arm Action: LH. Clean quick arm getting to high-3/4 slot, compact and circular on backside, throws ball easily.
FB: T74, 70-73 mph. Big arm side movement, starts in zone and can get chases out of zone, comes out hand easily w/projectable spin.
SL: 63-65 mph. Smaller break, traditional slider shape, showed feel around the zone, with strength he will be able to rip it more.
CH: 63-64 mph. Similar look to FB until bottom drops out with late armside fade/run, well-above avg feel for his age.

Ian Holt, Sequoia (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 5-10, 130-pounds. Lean rangy body type on frame with dimensions that will hold future size/strength.
Delivery: Small actions over the rubber, medium knee lift, in-line stride, lands in balanced position w/lower body stability.
Arm Action: LH. Mid-thigh depth on backside, slight calm stab, uncoils on time, smooth easy arm, overhand slot.
FB: T71, 69-70 mph. Flashed considerable movement on arm side, displayed feel, comes out hand easily. Present spin given his age projects quite well.
CB: 54-56 mph. Big rolling action deep into the zone, has feel for the bottom of the zone, effective look to get swing-overs or takes when hitters give up on it.
CH: 60-61 mph. Big spin reduction off the FB, straight change w/look that will draw swings as hitters read FB.

Matthew Wolf, Menlo-Atherton (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-4, 110-pounds. Young body w/smaller frame and athletic proportions.
Delivery: Composed simple delivery, in-line stride, high knee lift, syncs hands/feet well.
Arm Action: RH. Clean circular arm action on backside, controls arm swing, arm works easy from overhand slot.
FB: T63, 62-63 mph. Plays fairly straight, pounded the zone, spin rate relative to raw velocity is a positive.
CB: 51-52 mph. Displayed feel, spins is well, flashed depth.
CH: 60-61 mph. Arm side movement plays well off FB, kept down, fades off the FB look.

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