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Uncommitted Spotlight: '24 LHP/1B Lucas Hermes

January 16, 2024
Steven Hardesty
Central Coast/North LA Area Scout

  

New Episode LIVE now! - At The Yard Podcast

The Uncommitted Spotlight Series continues as the calendar has turned over and the start of the '24 CIF High School baseball season is quickly approaching we are highlighting some of the top uncommitted class of '24 athletes. The players featured are pulled directly from our '24 Class Rankings and remain as the top players left on the board going into the start of their senior season.

We invite you to get to know them through the eyes of our PBR California staff of scouts and the data-backed numbers collected at our events with our partnered companies. TrackMan, Blast Motion, Swift Performance, and Visual Edge provide comparable data to project and evaluate players. All of these systems come together to give a clear picture at what colleges will get when a players steps onto their campus.

Today, we put the spotlight on a NorCal '24 LHP/1B Lucas Hermes from Rancho Coate HS. With an intriguing 6'5 175 lbs. frame with lean, long levers and room to add strength. There is a lot to like about the projection for Hermes' frame and future at the next level while showing solid present abilities. The lean left-hander flashes a 3-pitch mix with feel for each. His FB works in the 80-83 MPH range up to 84 MPH with more to come as he adds strength. The offspeed mix is a CB in the 72-74 MPH range with some depth and a firm CHG at 78-79 which he throws with good arm speed. There is body control with a quick arm and relatively low effort delivery which helps to project additional life to each of his pitches giving him interesting potential as a LH arm at the next level. As good as the potential is on the mound Hermes flashes true 2-way potential as a LH hitter with athleticisim and a loose easy LH swing with quick hands (25.1 MPH hand speed) with impact at contact (95 MPH max exit velocity with an average 84 MPH exit velocity). He currently plays 1B, but there is enough athletic ability to play an OF corner. Long term the future may be brighter for Hermes on the mound, but don't discount the potential for his LH bat to impact a college program. Four-year coaches and JUCO coaches should be paying close attention to his performance this spring.

College coaches and fans be sure to click on Hermes' profile to see full video and statistics. 

Scouting Report

8/13/23

California State Games - One of the better two-way players at the event and frankly, one of the better two-way players in Northern CA. Smooth and exceptional as a defensive first baseman. Handles bat well too, flat swing, all fields, smooth (there is that word again) stroke, tall and rangy but has outstanding body control. The name Shawn Green has popped into my head when watching him as a position player. On the mound he's got three quality pitches that play off each other, with the CHG being his best offering. Can land the big CB, is gaining steam on the heater (T84 mph) and the CHG fades off the FB look. Oh, he's also got one of the best pick-off moves in the state and controls the running game very well.

8/11/23

Lucas Hermes, Rancho Cotate (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: LHP/1B Hermes could project in the field or on the mound. A tall frame with pretty much no limits with a low 7s 60 makes him somewhat like a unicorn.
Body: 6-5, 171-pounds. Tall lanky build, tons of room to add weight.
Delivery: Gets downhill fast. Hands go up as leg comes up and break as he goes to plant.
Arm Action: LH. Shorter arm action, looks to use the tall frame to fulcrum weight forward. 3/4 slot.
FB: T84, 80-83 mph. Fastball tails arm side. Works well outside half to RHH followed by a tunneled CH. T2248, 2155 average rpm.
CB: 72-74 mph. Not too much vertical drop but keeps hitters on their toes by backdooring it for a strike. T1964, 1820 average rpm.
CH: 79-79 mph. Really good dive and depth. Shows like a FB out of the hand and instead of tailing it dives. T1839, 1839 average rpm.
ATH: 7.17 runner in the 60. 1.69 and 3.93 in the 10 and 30 yard splits.

1/22/23

Event: Peninsula Preseason ID
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Physical: 6-4, 170-pounds; 7.40 60-yard, 25.1” max jump height; Long and lanky, angular build, maintains body control and has athleticism while still having strength gains ahead.
Delivery: Hands low at waist, medium size rocker into quick sharp knee lift over rubber, works from middle of rubber, stride goes down and out smoothly with control, lead arm creates opportunity for leverage, plant foot lands flat then tends to spin off as the backside comes through, maintains center of body control.
Arm Action: Clean smooth circle on backside with no restrictions, loose arm, works easy, gets to 3/4 release, full deceleration finish sets up the FB/CHG combo well.
FB: T81.1 mph, 78-80 mph range, 2238 max spin; Smooth sliding action to arm side, plane is a bit flat coming from the 3/4 release, able to get the FB to glove side location with consistency, hints of spin suggest that the flatter plane can be effective up in zone as he gains velocity.
CB: 69-71, 1731 max spin; Smooth sweeping break, continuous tumble through zone, can throw to both sides, third of his three pitches but enough feel to use effectively as a show and strike stealing offering.
CHG: 72-75 mph, 1559 avg spin; Big mover on arm side, comes from same release as FB and CB, finishes well, big deceleration off the FB and the two pitches play well off each other, change comes out with confidence.

Offensively: LH. EV max – 86.5 mph, hand speed max – 24.5 mph, bat speed max – 66.4 mph; Even stance with wide feet, quiet actions in box, small stride, loads straight back into deep position, slashing stroke, stays above ball, line drive swing plane, keeps head on ball with barrel control in multiple locations, swing/approach suggest high average and a tough out.
Defensively: 1B – 77 mph; Smooth feet, soft hands with high level confidence in the hands, gets ball out quickly and accurately, moves around back with feel and nuance for the position, well-above average and potentially plus defender in future, sound defensive mechanics both at the bag with footwork and on balls in play.


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