THE FIVE: Central Valley Preseason ID - Pitchers
January 22, 2019
FRESNO, CA - As we provide analysis from the Central Valley Preseason ID, we will take a look at some standouts from each position in our series THE FIVE. Today we will take a look at standout pitchers. We previously posted a Quick Hits story with multiple standouts and have also released our stats leaders, catchers analysis, outfielders analysis, infielders analysis, and pitchers analysis.
Today we look to dig a little deeper into the five pitchers who have look to have the ability to make an impact at the four-year level.
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QUICK TAKE
One of the top two-way players we saw at the showcase, Bernal is a 2022 to keep close tabs on. He could develop as either a pitcher or hitter... or truthfully, both. On the mound he showed savvy and confidence well-beyond his freshman year status. He's got three pitches, hints of velocity that is coming in the future and the type of strong athleticism that plays at the college level.
SCOUTING REPORTS
1/13/19 - Central Valley Preseason I.D. - Squared, wide shoulders with medium frame showing strength in the tight chest area and long legs. Fluid hips with quick first step (7.56 60-yd dash). Open, balanced stance with high hands and high back elbow and flat bat on the shoulder; controlled foot lift as he coils around back hip showing strong posture with hands working back and slightly down. Stays behind the baseball very well with a quick and compact swing that gets on plane early hitting line drives back through the middle looking to stay oppo in approach; projectable bat shows flashes of more bat speed hitting over solid front side (85 exit velo). Wide, balanced hips show looseness and agility with control of his glove hand at first base; helped out infielders on throws across picking balls out of the dirt. Quick to ear with arm and extension upon finish (77 mph).
Young strong 6-foot-0 180-pound body, good present size now but chance to grow into a man-type physical body, 2-way performer at showcase and impressive all around, on mound overhand slot, easy arm action and composed repeatable delivery, good mechanics have been developed by him, clean arm and clean delivery, good tempo and direction down the slope, uses lower body quite well and allows arm to get to extension and feel of the ball, good fastball angle (81 mph), big 1/7 shaped curveball (64-65 mph) with late tumble into the zone, occasional cut on change-up (73-75 mph). All pitches and stuff will trend up as he continues to gain strength.