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Underclass Invitational: Pitching Analysis

February 6, 2015



By Jeff Markle
Assistant State Director

The Prep Baseball Report’s Underclass Invitational Showcase class took place on Sunday January 25th at the Slammers South Baseball Facility in Englewood, Colorado.  50 prospects showed up and strutted their stuff in a pro-style workout. Over the next several days the PBR Scouting staff will roll out position-by-position rankings of the event, culminating with the Top Ten Overall Prospects from the showcase.

Click Here to view the article on top statistical performers from the event.

We also broke down the Top Tools of the event. Click Here to view the Top Tools based on various commonly used scouting criteria for analyzing prospects.

Many players at the Underclass Invitational are multi-positional. Prep Baseball Report broke down these players using projectability for playing positions over the next 2+ years.  We have profiled the Catchers, Corners, Outfielders, and Middle Infielders. A lot of our two way players were also profiled as pitchers in those categories, and we have some pitchers in this group that are also profiled at other positions. Click on the links to see how we profiled two-way players as pitchers also in previous analysis'.

Overall, the pitching group of all players (pitcher only/two-way player) was led by No. 1 overall 2017 Caleb Sloan of Regis Jesuit. Sloan was consistently 88-89 with his fastball. With his strong physical and athletic presence on the mound you can expect him to be in the rotation this Spring for Regis.

James Notary of Broomfield also turned a few heads.  He added an 84 mph fastball as the event moved into pitching in the afternoon. Notary brings a 6-foot-2, 180 pound frame to the mound with a lot more room to grow and add velocity.

Let’s take a look at the Top Pitching Prospects from this January’s Underclass Invitational.

Top Pitching Prospects

1. Caleb Sloan, RHP/1B, Regis Jesuit, No. 1 Ranked 2017
Athletic frame, strong limbs, 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-handed pitcher, has a highly projectable frame. Square delivery, athletic rhythm and balance, easy effort, closed landing, repeats well. Arm action is clean, long arm action, high ¾ slot. Can get even more out of lower half which could add a few more mph. Fastball has slight run, controlled the zone well, 88-89 mph, Showed improved velocity from the winter camps we saw him at (86-87 mph). Curveball has 11/5 plane, slurve action, landed for strikes, good control, 73-74 mph. Changeup has sink, good control and feel for the pitch, 75-76 mph. Weiss showed excellent three pitch feel, high ceiling projects well at the next level, can pound the zone with multiple pitches and change speeds. As a hitter Sloan has legitmate raw gap to gap power backed up with an 88 mph exit velo off the tee. Sloan is a little tight in his load, but swing is level through the zone with good extension through ball. A little bit off balance at times in lower half, and like pitching has more untapped potential with legs. Projects as a solid clean-up or 3-hole hitter as he continues to polish himself up. Also was the fastest runner at the event with a 4.19 home to first time from the right side.

2. Ranked James Notary, RHP, Broomfield, No. 7 Ranked 2017
Very projectable right-handed pitcher, 6-foot-2, 180-pounds, but you see how much his upper body is still going to grow. Tall delivery and at times falls to first base. Has easy effort, good balance throughout, but sometimes lands slightly opened, keeps everything in line and closed, high front side, athletic finish, can get more extension. Arm action is long, clean, high ¾ slot. Controls fastball at 82-84 mph, good action. Breaking ball has gradual action on 11/5 plane, near fastball arm action, 72-73 mph. Changeup is sat at 73-74 mph. Showed feel of three pitches, Notary is a highly projectable, and as his frame continues to fill out he could see a high velocity jump in the future.

3. Jacob Hilton, RHP/SS, Arapahoe, No. 5 Ranked 2017
Thin bodied, 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-handed pitcher with a solid lower half and great extension to plate. Delivery is effortless and works online, excellent balance, keeps head up and eyes level throughout; slight coil at top of balance point with slight open toed landing and athletic finish. Arm action is quick and loose, works with a short stroke and high ¾ slot. Hides the ball well. Fastball has slight tail in the zone, found the zone regularly good control, occasionally misses up and arm side, ranged 78-80 mph, showed the ability to maintain velocity from the stretch. Curveball was a lot slower, and worked on 11/5 plane, showed gradual, mostly 62 mph, good control. Good feel for changeup, gradual sinking action sinking action, 65-66 mph, showed control of the pitch, deceptive arm action. Hilton showed a good three pitch mix with feel for all three and the ability to consistently pound the zone. Has mature build but fresh arm, like his projection to throw harder as he gets more innings under his belt and adds more weight to body. As a hitter Sloan has  gap to gap power backed up with an 83 mph exit velo off the tee. Hilton has smooth rhythm in his load an is level through the zone with good extension through ball, but at times looks to cut off his swing before full extension settling for contact. Good balance for his height with short stride and good lower half. Very rangy at SS showing good action for height. Threw 79 mph across the diamond with fluid motion and soft hands.  Ran a 4.81 home to first time. Very projectable at both positions.

4. Cody Kohl, RHP, ThunderRidge, 2017
5-foot-11, 165-pound athletic RHP.  On the mound, fastball sat 78-80 mph from long, loose, ¾ arm slot, level leg kick out of the windup and strech, lands square in line with home plate, athletic finish and great extension. Curveball sat 63-63mph from windup and stretch for strikes, late gradual breaking, 10/4 shape. 73-74 mph changeup flashed cutting action. Pounds the zone and uses lower half as well throwing off two feet. Pounded the strike zone with all three pitches. Had good make up on mound.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

 


5. Alex Clouthier, LHP, Mountain Vista, 2017
5-foot-11, 185-pound left-handed pitcher makes up for lack of high level velocity with ability to command three pitches. Thick build and will add more height. 68-69 mph fastball delivered from high ¾ arm slot, good rhythm to hand bump, lands in line with home plate. Can get more out of his lower half which will add more velocity.  Lands 51-52 mph breaking ball with 2/8 gradual shape for strikes. 63-64 mph changeup displayed fading action to arm side.

6. Evan Conklin, RHP, Littleton, 2017
6-foot-3, 180-pound right-handed pitcher with a solid lower half and goodextension to plate. Delivery is effortless and works online, good balance, square, in-line to the plate.  Arm action is loose, works with a at a high ¾ slot. Hides the ball well. Fastball has slight tail in the zone, found the zone regularly good control, occasionally misses up and arm side, ranged 71-72 mph, showed the ability to maintain velocity from the stretch. Curveball was a lot slower, and worked on 11/5 plane, showed gradual, mostly 62 mph, good control. Could gain a better feel for change up which also sat at 62 mph.

7.  Duke Frommer, RHP/OF, Regis Jesuit, 2017
5-foot-11, 160-pound athletic built, hits from a balanced 50/50 setup, short stride, above average bat speed for his age, flat path, 81 mph exit velocity, that generates line drive power with a tendency to want to pull the ball.  Ran a 4.72 home to first time. Defensively, thew 71 mph from the outfield from a long high 3/4 arm slot. On the mound, fastball ranged from 70-71 mph from same long, high ¾ arm slot. Square to the plate with good extension to the mound. Also threw a 10/4 breaking ball with gradual break and a 64 mph change up. 

8. Jason Mair, RHP, Discovery Canyon, 2018
5-foot-7, 130-pound stocky and athletic RHP impressed with solid three pitch mix and arm speed. Works from a long, high ¾ arm slot, drop-and-drive type delivery, loads over the rubber with lower half, some effort to delivery, stride direction is in line with home plate, lands slightly closed spinning off at times towards first base side. Fastball ranged from 71-73 mph, mostly at 71 for strikes with sink and late finish through the zone. 52-52 mph slurve, lateral break, 10/4 plane. Also showed feel for a 59-61 mph changeup with fading action. Anderson could be a late inning weapon against right handed hitters. As a hitter Mair has some pre-load movement with backwards stride then leg kick. Most of weight is back, minimal load. Ran a 4.91 home to first.

9. Liam Mann, RHP/OF, Chatfield, 2018
5-11, 160-pound right-handed hitting RHP/OF On the mound, fastball sat 69-71 mph from the windup from long, loose, high ¾ arm slot, high leg kick out of the windup, lands square in line with home plate, athletic finish. Stops arm a little out front, could add velocity if arm whip came all the way through.  Curve ball sat 52-53 mph for strikes, late breaking, 10/4 shape. 64-66 mph changeup flashed gradual sink.  Hits from a tall balanced setup, hands load smoothly, somewhat high back elbow setup, slight leg kick, quiet simple approach, level swing through zone with good extension. If he stays taller through swing could generate more leverage. 75 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively one of the more fundamental outfielders at event, especially for a 2018 player, threw 71 mph across the diamond from loose, high ¾ slot with accuracy, above average hands, and gains ground on solid throws from outfield.

10. Asthton Mansur, RHP, 3B, Columbine, 2017
Barrel chested, strong build, thick lower half, wide shouldered, 6-foot, 220-pound RHP/3B. Drop and drive style delivery, slight pause on way down from balance point, can get more load out of lower half, works online with regular effort. Arm action is short and quick, high ¾ to over the top slot. Fastball is mostly straight, four seam action, occasional heavy feel, 69-71 mph. Curveball has 10-4 shape, downward action,  showed feel for the pitch. Straight changeup, showed control, 64-65 mph, firm pitch. As a hitter shows simple approach with minimal load, quick hands to the ball with good extension through ball. Lower half works well with upper body. Let's the ball get deep with gap to gap power with 78 mph exit velocity off tee. Shows a lot of power potential. Ran a 5.10 home to first time.

11. Payton McFadden, RHP, Highlands Ranch, No. 32 Ranked 2017
6-foot-2, 170 pounds, RHP/OF. Only pitched at event. Mcfadden was the most intriguing player at the event. Shows an effortless delivery to a point where you know there is so much more. Fastball was 76-78 mph with hitting 81. Curve ball sat at 63 mph with 10-4 tilt. Needs to gain some more feel for change-up. Throws from a 3/4 arm slot with square in-line delivery. If he uses athletic ability can generate a lot more velocity by using lower half. In prior events he has run a 7.01 60 time. Tall athletic looking 2017 player. When he commands the strike zone he will be very good. Projects to throw in upper 80's.

12.  Mason Speirs, RHP, Broomfield, 2017
5-foot-11, 165-pound athletic RHP.  On the mound, fastball sat 78-80 mph from long, loose, high ¾ arm slot, hand pumping balance point with level leg kick out of the windup and strech, lands square in line with home plate, but at times falls off to first base side. Effortless fluid motion. Curveball sat 63-64 mph from windup and stretch for strikes, late gradual breaking, 10/4 shape. 68-69 mph changeup flashed cutting action. Pounds the zone and uses lower half as well throwing off two feet. Pounded the strike zone with all three pitches. Had good make up on mound. Shows an attitude of composure on the mound.

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