San Diego Open Scouting Reports: Pitchers
March 23, 2021
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SAN DIEGO, CA. - The first annual San Diego Open showcased the type of energy, talent and positive vibes that make San Diego one of the best baseball cities in the world. With the state of California granting full return to youth sports you could see an extra burst of energy from the Open participants with the looming high school season just around the corner. Open showcases are unique in that there are always players that participate that have yet to be seen and make their mark. Everyone came out a winner at the Open with camaraderie, leadership, and satisfaction seen throughout the day.
Mizuno Baseball set up shop in the left-field batting cages showcasing their 2021 line of gloves and bats, with Fernando Tatis Jr, Andrelton Simmons and Mike Soroka model gloves receiving the most interest. Technology once again dominated the event with TrackMan, Blast Motion, Twitter, Instagram, video production, live stream and scout eyes working non-stop to showcase each player.
Scouting reports continue to be an integral part of PBR - CA events. Hit, Power, Arm, Defense, Speed being the focal points of the reports. Please note Blast Motion scores are graded on a 20-80 scale. Today we take a look at Pitchers.
CLICK HERE FOR SORTABLE PLAYER TRACKMAN AND BLAST MOTION DATA
Pitchers
Nathan Lee, Vista Murrieta (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-3, 205-pounds. Filled out large frame with present strength especially in the lower half.
Delivery: Easy consistent delivery. Uses a high knee lift and as it comes down he sinks his back leg into the rubber and rides his back hip towards home. Longer stride gives his FB some added life. Lands online with home. Finishes with a firm front leg and in a good fielding position.
Arm Action: LH. Compact arm action. Slight stab in the back but doesn’t get too unnecessarily long. Above average arm speed that accelerates late in the action. Lowers his slot slightly on his off speed.
FB: T84-86, 84-86 mph. Above average spin at around 2300+. Consistent location low in the zone.
CB: 73-75 mph. Flashes of really good bite (2400 rpm max spin). Slurvy break due to the present horizontal break.
CH: 78-80 mph. Consistent arm speed gives it deception but inconsistent with its movement. Developing secondary.
Owen Dueck, Aptos (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds. Proportional build, good arm length for a pitcher, plenty of room for strength gains.
Delivery: Consistent mechanically, repeatable and comfortable, reaching 90 degree balance point is key, let it fly.
Arm Action: LH. Arm works cleanly, room for more arm speed, same release point on off-speed, staying on top of pitches is key, follow through with conviction every pitch.
FB: T85, 83-85 mph. Quality fastball spin for velocity and class at 2288 average and 2487 max. Works best on the corners and seems to feel the most comfortable arm side. Switching to the first base side of the rubber could make it harder to pick up.
CB: 67-70 mph. Developing pitch, good speed differential, ability to locate back foot and for a strike key to swing and miss success.
CH: 74-76 mph. Best secondary option, swing and miss pitch, works off the same trajectory as fastball but with significant speed differential and decreased spin.
Jaden Wilcox, Grossmont (CA), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-3, 205-pounds. Large sturdy build with strong lower half.
Delivery: Repeatable and fluid delivery. Uses a medium high knee tuck and really drives down the mound. Gets good hip-shoulder separation. Steps slightly into RH batter’s box. Finishes in a good fielding position
Arm Action: RH. Full loose arm circle in the back that comes out of the H ¾ slot. Decent arm speed as it accelerates late in the delivery. Lowers slot on CB and CH but consistent arm speed.
FB: T81-84, 81-84 mph. Located it to all quadrants. Pretty good rise on it (21.4 inch average vertical break).
SL: 67-68 mph. Consistent location low and to the glove side. True slider because of the minimal break.
CH: 73-78 mph. Showed some nice armside fade. Consistent arm speed gives it added deception.
Gavin Browne, Riverside Poly (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-2, 180-pounds. Long, physically mature build with room to continue to fill out.
Delivery: Deliberate delivery where he stays tall on back leg before driving down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Short path in the back. Consistent high 3/4 slot. Repeats mechanics.
FB: T84, 82-84 mph. Works the pitch to all quadrants in the zone for strikes. Pitch shows some late life entering the zone.
CB: 64-65 mph. Pitch shows late downer action; maintains same arm speed as FB.
CH: 70-72 mph. Late diving action at times, can stay straight too. Seems to slow arm down on the pitch.
Jack Gallison, Dana Hills (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-3, 165-pounds. Long, lean, build with room for growth. Noticeable strength in lower half.
Delivery: Dip and drive down the mound. Gathers on back leg with a slight pause, consistent landing spot with toes towards target.
Arm Action: LH. Short arm path through to a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T81, 78-81 mph. Generates downward angle on the FB from his high 3/4 slot. Pitch shows late life as it enters the zone.
CB: 65-68 mph. Developing pitch that shows tumbling action at present time. Command was good working to both sides of the plate.
CH: 70-72 mph. Average pitch presently with late slight fade. Command must improve for pitch to be a weapon.
John Iacono, Palisades Charter (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-8, 140-pounds. Slim, proportional build with room for added strength.
Delivery: Simple, quick delivery; drop/drive tendencies as he gathers on back leg before driving down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Low effort with quickness in arm, can get a tick long in back, repeats mechanics and arm slot on all pitches.
FB: T85, 83-85 mph. Fastball command was very good working to both sides of the plate with some late life.
CB: 67-72 mph. Pitch flashes late break with slightly below average spin; can tumble on him at times.
CH: 71-74 mph. Best offspeed offering; pitch flashes late movement down in the zone into RHH; a backdoor changeup if you will.
Ryan Skjonsby, Long Beach Poly (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-3, 200-pounds. Tall and lanky, high waisted, room for strength.
Delivery: Simple drop-and-drive delivery; Fairly deliberate in his actions allowing him to gather and go down the mound.
Arm Action: LH. Slow arm; Low effort; Full arm swing in the back.
FB: T80, 79-80 mph. Side-to-side command of the pitch; Works down in the zone with late life.
CB: 65-66 mph. Tumbling CB now; Effective at this level; Plays well off FB.
CH: 72-73 mph. Spotty command in the developing pitch; Shows feel for it; Pitch flashed late diving action.
Tristen Valenzuela, Oceanside (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-8, 165-pounds.
Delivery: Simple delivery, speeding up delivery and lifting leg to 90 degrees will help immediately. Displayed some feel on the mound for a young pitcher.
Arm Action: RH. Slow arm, low effort, same arm angle and actions on all four pitches helps projectability.
FB: T70, 68-70 mph. Side-to-side command, velocity increase needed, good starting point.
CB: 56-57 mph. Quality high school curve, commanded the pitch, 12/6 break.
SL: 57-60 mph. Complimentary pitch, works off curveball at times, potential for some swing and miss.
CH: 64-66 mph. Same arm angle and speed as fastball, sink and run, good velocity differential from fastball.
Braden Wilson, West Hills (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 5-9, 170-pounds. Average build with more to come, arms and legs work together, showed pliability.
Delivery: Good overall effort, fantastic extension, significant projectability on the mound.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm swing, 3:30 tilt, staying on top of pitches is key, whippy follow through.
FB: T82, 79-82 mph. Fastball shows life; can work up in zone thanks to above-average vertical attack angle data .
CB: 65-68 mph. Quality high school curveball, arm speed not the same as fastball at times, finishing the pitch with conviction will enhance 1842 spin average.
CH: 74-76 mph. Speed a bit too fast, run works well off fastball, potential for swing and miss.
Joey Wittig, Maranatha Christian (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-9, 160-pounds. Medium athletic build. Projectable size and strength
Delivery: Overall balanced delivery. Gets to a good balance point which allows him to get good drive with his backleg. Decent stride and extension. Consistent direction towards home.
Arm Action: RH. Full compact arm circle out of the H ¾ slot. Good arm speed that is consistent amongst pitch types but inconsistent with his slots.
FB: T80-84, 80-84 mph. Had trouble locating. Usually missed up. Flashed above average spin at times (2358 max) (21 IVB)
CB: 60-64 mph. Showed ability to throw it for strikes. Close to true 12/6 as there is minimal horizontal break. The making of a + strikeout pitch.
AJ Prag, Canyon Crest (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 5-9, 170-pounds. Medium build that is starting to fill out.
Delivery: Simple and repeatable delivery. Side steps into a medium knee tuck. Shoulders are angled down for a more downhill delivery. Average stride and extension. Online with home throughout. Firm at landing.
Arm Action: LH. Compact arm action in the back that comes out of the H ¾ slot. Average arm speed. Consistent slots and arm speed on all pitch types.
FB: T78-80, 78-80 mph. Consistently located low in the zone. Flashed some good ride at times.
CB: 60-63 mph. Slurvy break because of the present horizontal break. Another pitch located at the knees or below. Consistent 2000+ spin.
CH: 74-75 mph. Found the zone with it consistently. Flashed some nice fade at times.
Harish Balachandran, West Ranch (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-10, 152-pounds. Medium average build. Room to add mass/strength.
Delivery: Quick max effort delivery. Exclusive from the stretch. Medium knee lift that is quick up and down with not much waisted movement. Online with home and in a good fielding position at finish.
Arm Action: RH. Fluid arm circle in the back that comes out of the H ¾ slot. Not much inversion at the arm stays behind his body. Present arm speed. Drops his slot slightly on his CB and CH but consistent arm speeds.
FB: T77-79, 77-79 mph. Had some trouble locating it as it leaked glove side a bit. Flashed some run with some present horizontal break.
SL: 68-70 mph. Minimal vertical break. Runs it off the outside. Potential for a nice strikeout pitch
CH: 71-73 mph. Really nice armside fade. Lower spin CH. Consistent arm speed helps give it good deception.
Zachary Small, Oceanside (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Athletic build with long limbs. Starting to grow into his frame.
Delivery: Repeatable delivery. Uses a higher knee lift as he dips slightly into his backleg and pushed off. Keeps his hips and lower half working towards home. Stays closed longer than last time I saw him which helps give him some hip-shoulder separation. Firmer front leg at finish.
Arm Action: RH. Compact arm action but it’s out of a higher ¾ slot. Turns over his upper half at rotation. Present arm speed that accelerates late in the action. CB and CH are thrown out of a lower slot but with consistent arm speeds.
FB: T81-83, 81-83 mph. Located around the zone with nothing down the middle. Has some nice ride up in the zone (22.4 average VB).
CB: 67-70 mph. Has some slurvy break to it because of the present horizontal break. Good feel for it in the zone.
CH: 74-76 mph. Located it down the zone. Has some nice armside fade to it.
Ezra Farmer, Tahquitz (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds. Athletic proportional frame. Projectable
Delivery: Athletic repeatable delivery. Exclusive from the stretch. Higher knee lift that is quick up and down. Drifts towards home with a slight push off the rubber. Good fielding position and firm front leg at landing.
Arm Action: LH. Compact arm circle in the back that comes out of an over the top slot. Angles his shoulders upward and turns over. Present arm speed in the action.
FB: T77-79, 77-79 mph. Above average spin for its velo (2200 rpm) gives it a decent vertical break of 21.2 inches with minimal horizontal break.
CB: 67-70 mph. Located it well in the zone or down.
Nick Medrano, Valhalla (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-0, 200-pounds. Large athletic build that is filling out. Present strength throughout especially in the lower half.
Delivery: Tall and fall type delivery. Uses a rather high knee lift and just drifts towards home with not much push off or lower half usage. Finishes in a good fielding position,
Arm Action: RH. Loose arm action. Full arm circle in the back that comes out of a over the top slot. Average arm speed. Consistent arm slot but slows down his arm on his CB.
FB: T76-81, 76-81 mph. Minimal horizontal break due to the over the top slot. Natural slot usually leaves it armside.
CB: 65-68 mph. Slurvy break due to present horizontal movement. Good feel for it in the zone. Out of the same slot of his FB.
Marcus Metz, Rancho Buena Vista (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-1, 140-pounds. Lean build. High waisted with long limbs.
Delivery: Easy effort delivery. Side steps into lower knee raise. Falls down the mound towards the target towards the end of the delivery pushes off the rubber. Longer stride and finished falling towards the 3B side of the rubber.
Arm Action: LH. Compact arm action that gets slightly inverted. Angles his shoulders up which makes him have to really turn over his upperhalf. Average arm speed that is consistent on all pitch types but lowers slot on all his secondary pitches.
FB: T75-76, 75-76 mph. Decent spin for velo at around 2100 rpm. Had some trouble locating it. Leaked it glove side throughout his pen.
CB: 65-67 mph. Spun it at around 2300 rpm. Located consistently low in the zone.
SL: 68-69 mph. Spun it up to 2400 rpm. Minimal vertical break allows it to move like a true slider. Best feel for the zone with this pitch.
Anthony Murdica, Palm Desert (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-1, 185-pounds. Larger build with present strength throughout.
Delivery: Easy low effort delivery. Side steps into a rather high knee lift. Not much lower body drive as it’s pretty straight up and down. Finishes facing and walking towards home. Lower body never really stops which doesn’t allow for proper transfer up the chain.
Arm Action: RH. Similar arm action from SS where it’s short and wristy. Slight stab in the back tha doesn’t get any lower than his waist which adds some deception. Comes out of a higher ¾ slot. Decent arm speed.
FB: T80-82, 80-82 mph. Threw it consistently for strikes. Pretty good ride up in the zone (22 inch VB average).
CB: 65-71 mph. Good amount of horizontal break with minimal VB. Mostly located to the glove side.
CH: 70-72 mph. Straight change. Slows down arm a bit to get the lower velo. Good feel for it around the zone with nothing left to middle.
Michael Solari, Rancho Buena Vista (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-3, 180-pounds. Lean high waisted build. Projectable pitcher’s frame with room to add gains.
Delivery: Tall and fall type delivery. Uses a rather high knee lift that is straight up and straight down the mound after. Not much bend in the rear leg. Front leg lands straight on with home but he falls towards the 1B side of the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Compact arm action with a small stab in the back and comes out of a H ¾ slot. Above average arm speed that accelerates on the way up. Consistent arm speeds on all pitch types but lower slots on secondaries.
FB: T81-83, 81-83 mph. Located it consistently low in the zone. At times flashed good rise with max 24 inch of VB.
CB: 67-69 mph. Slurvy break due to present horizontal movement. Good feel for it in the zone. Glove side command.
CH: 71-74 mph. Developing secondary. Straight change. Same spin axis as FB.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| Rising Stars Showcase - NorCal | CA | 06/08 | Islanders Field |
| State Games ID - NorCal | CA | 06/15 | Islanders Field |
| Rising Stars Showcase | CA | 06/22 | Hart Park |
| Northern California ProCase | CA | 07/06 | McBean Stadium - Lincoln, CA |
| SoCal ProCase | CA | 07/07 | Hart Park |
| SoCal Academic Games | CA | 07/13 | Hart Park |
| California State Games | CA | 07/16-07/18 | Islanders Field |