Florida Top Prospect Games: Pitcher Analysis
June 29, 2016
By Mike Maerz
Director of Florida Operations/Area Scout
After highlighting some of the top overall prospects from the 2016 Top Prospect Games at Florida Atlantic University, let’s begin our position breakdown by taking a look at five pitchers who stood out during game play.
We’ll start first with 2017 RHP Joseph Quintal (IMG Academy, FL), who showed a loose and easy arm action from a 3/4 slot, which added some deception in his delivery. His fastball ranged from 85-87 mph along with a slider from 70-73 mph with tight spin and depth. He mixed in his slider well throughout his time on the mound causing numerous swings and misses. Quintal also showed poise and repeats his delivery well. The incoming senior is still uncommitted and should be an interesting follow the rest of the summer and into the fall.
2018 RHP/3B Brendan Bell (Park Vista Community HS, FL) not only impressed in the infield by topping out at 87 mph from across the diamond, but on the mound he showed a loose, quick arm with his fastball ranging from 83-86 mph. Bell worked down in the zone with his fastball while mixing in a 73-74 mph slider with some late action.
2018 RHP Brant Brown (Venice Senior HS, FL) has a lean, athletic, projectable build with a quick arm throwing from a 3/4 arm slot, which allows him to have some deception in his delivery. His fastball sits 83-85 mph with life and he mixed in a 68-71 mph slider with some depth along with a 76-77 mph changeup. He creates good movement on his pitches and mixes it up well. 2019 RHP Kyle Yeoward (Stoneman Douglas HS, FL) who is currently ranked No. 28 in the Florida 2019 class has become noticeably more physical since we had seen him last. He displayed clean easy arm action and showed a fastball that ranged from 83-86 mph, a sweeping slider at 70-71 mph and a curveball with depth at 66-68 mph. Yeoward seems very comfortable on the mound and is a strong follow in the 2019 class. Connor Brian, RHP, Stoneman Douglas HS, FL (2018) Bryce Einstein, RHP, Canterbury HS, FL (2019) Connor Goodman, RHP/3B, Miami Country Day HS, FL (2019) Kevin Heinrich, RHP, Stoneman Douglas HS, FL (2019) Tyler Judge, RHP/2B, The Benjamin School, FL (2019) Austin Koehler, RHP/C, South Plantation HS, FL (2018) Justin “JC” Lovelace, RHP/OF, Union County HS, FL (2017) Amante Mancini, LHP/OF, Cardinal Gibbons HS, FL (2019) Payton McIntosh, RHP/2B, Martin County HS, FL (2019) JT Turley, LHP, IMG Academy, FL (2017)
2018 RHP Matthew Tadlock (South Sumter HS, FL) sat at 80-82 mph with his fastball in his first inning and continued to get better each inning as he worked efficiently by getting into a groove and settling in at 81-84 in his third inning of work - at one point striking out three in a row in short-order. Tadlock also showed command of an impressive 73-74 mph slider with tight spin and late break.
Here are the rest of the scouting reports from the remaining players who pitched at the event in alphabetical order:
Currently ranked No. 90 in the Florida 2018 class. Stands at 6-feet, 180-pounds with an athletic, projectable build. Throws out of the high-3/4 arm slot with a simple and repeatable delivery. Could get more extension out in front and use his lower half more. Fastball sat 81-83 mph with some sink but was mostly straight along with a curveball at 65-67 mph. Throws a lot of strikes.
6-foot-4, 180-pounder is lanky and lean with a lot of room to grow into his body. On the mound, Einstein dropped down and threw from the side showing a fastball ranging from 66-69 mph with some sink as well as a slider at 59 mph.
The 5-foot-10, 155-pounder has some room to grow as he matures and gets stronger. On the mound he flashed a 72-75 mph fastball and mixed in a 67-68 mph slider.
Currently ranked No. 35 in the Florida 2019 class. The 6-foot-3, 175-pounder has the frame you want to build on for a pitcher. Heinrich showed a clean and easy arm with a short arm action and a fastball ranging from 78-80 mph of which he tended to not get extension, get on the side of the ball and cut it. As he learns to get extension and stay behind the ball more velocity should come. Has been up to 82 in the past. The slider ranged from 62-63 mph. The frame and arm action will make him an interesting follow to see how he continues to develop.
The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder has a lean, athletic build and on the mound was 75-78 mph with his fastball and 64-65 mph with the breaking ball which has some depth.
The 5-foot-11, 165-pounder was 73-75 mph touching 77 mph with his fastball and 70 mph with the breaking ball.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pounder has a tall, lean frame with plenty of room to fill out. Fastball sat 79-82 mph with a loose arm from a 3/4 slot on the mound. Also mixed in a 62-63 mph knuckleball.
The 6-foot, 170-pounder threw from a 3/4 arm slot with his fastball ranging from 74-75 mph. Mancini threw strikes and worked down in the zone. Mancini still has a weaker front side and as that and the lower half gets stronger the velocity should come.
The 5-foot-10, 155-pounder has a lean, athletic build. His fastball primarily sat 78-80 mph along with a 71-72 mph change up and 66-67 mph curveball. Mixed up his pitches well during his time on the mound.
The 6-foot-1, 160-pounder showed a clean easy arm action with his fastball ranging from 80-82 mph. The fastball had some late arm side run which he located down to both sides of the plate. The slider ranged from 70-71 mph and had tight spin with late breaking action when he was extended and on top of the baseball. Turley is still somewhat weak with his front side and as he continues to become stronger more velocity should come with that.
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