Underclass Games: Left-Handed Pitcher Analysis

On Tuesday, June 2nd, PBR Georgia hosted the second annual Underclass Games for the top 2022-204 prospects. Approximately 110 uncommitted prospects from around the state descended upon LakePoint Sports in Emerson, GA for a pro-style workout and simulated game.

WE near the end of our event analysis of the Underclass Games as we take a look at a very good group of left-handed pitchers. Leading the way is arguably the biggest winner of the event Tennessee commit LHP Dawson Coe (Loganville, 2022). Coe ran a high spin rate (2500+) fastball up to 90 mph and showed some of the best pure “stuff” out of any pitcher. The southpaw has always had a big breaking swing and miss 1/7 curveball, but he has now added a slider that plays in the low 80s to his repertoire.

The future at Loganville looks bright on the mound as Coe’s teammate LHP Riley Cruce (Loganville, 2022) comes in as the No. 2 southpaw at the event. Cruce has an intriguing frame, lean but with broad shoulders, indicating he has a lot of room available to fill out. He features a quick arm with the ability to run his fastball up to 85 and throw a solid curveball for strikes.

Rounding out the top-3 is Georgia State commit LHP Tristan Nguyen (Johnson, 2022). Nguyen has a physical 5-foot-11, 210-pound frame and he uses his strong, sturdy build to pitch in the mid-to-upper 80s. He compliments his fastball with a big breaking 1/7 curveball that has swing and miss potential.

Keep reading to view reports on all the southpaws in attendance.

Top Left-Handed Pitcher Prospects

Dawson Coe, LHP, Loganville, 2022
Tennessee commit. 6-foot-2, 195-pound left-handed pitcher, proportional frame, broad upper half, strong lower half with more strength developing throughout. On the mound, arm works long on the back-side with some wrist curl, accelerates quickly out front to a ¾ slot, advanced arm speed, whippy hand speed. Drop and drive delivery, rides his explosive lower half down the mound, long stride, works across the mound some, finishes crossing over. Fastball sat 87-89, touched 90, mostly straight, high spin rate (2500+ rpm). Curveball, 73-75, 12/6 shape, depth, bite, swing and miss pitch. Slider, tight spin, lateral movement, plays more like a cut-fastball, 83-84. Changeup, fade action. Legit four pitch mix, some of the best “stuff” at the Underclass Games.

Riley Cruce, LHP, Loganville, 2022
6-foot, 185-pound left-handed pitcher, broad shoulders, lean, athletic build, plenty of room for future physical development. Arm works with some length on the back, a slight stab, keeps arm movement continuous, quick arm and hand speed, plays out of a ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery, works across the mound creating a tricky angle coupled with his lower arm slot, lands square, finishes square to home. Fastball sat 82-84, touched 85, armside run, consistently in the zone with. Curveball, 70-72, 1/7 shape, depth. Changeup, fade action. Curveball is go-to offspeed pitch.

Tristan Nguyen, LHP, Johnson, 2022
Georgia State commit. 5-foot-11, 210-pound left-handed pitcher, physical build, broad frame, strength throughout. Arm plays long on the back-side with a full arm swing, some pie action, ¾ slot, above average arm speed. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands toe-closed, finishes upright and crossing over. Fastball sat 85-86, touched 87, sinking action, locates fastball to all areas of the zone, gets more sink when low in the zone, can also bring it up in the zone for swing and misses. Curveball, 1/7 shape, big breaker, depth, potential swing and miss pitch.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Dakota Corntassel, LHP, Pepperell, 2022
5-foot-9, 180-pound left-handed pitcher, strong build, room for more physicality. On the mound, full arm swing on the back-side, some pie action, high ¾ slot, repeats slot, above average arm speed. Drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands open, finishes walking down the mound. Fastball sat 81-83, feel for, in the the zone with, sinking action. Curveball, 12/6 shape, depth. Changeup, 74-75, heavy sink as he takes significant spin off the pitch. More in the tank as he adds strength to his frame and more intent to his delivery.     

Justin Jenkins, LHP, Parkview, 2022
5-foot-11, 135-pound left-handed pitcher, lean, athletic frame. On the mound, arm works short with a controlled tempo to a high ¾ slot. Drop and drive delivery, keeps his momentum on-line towards home, lands square, finishes square to home. Fastball sat 58-60, touched 63. Will benefit from added strength and intent behind his pitches.

Cooper Johnson, LHP/OF, Mountain View, 2024
6-foot-1, 160-pound left-handed hitting two-way prospect, long, lanky frame. On the mound, arm works long, slot varied between low ¾ and ¾. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands toe closed, finishes upright. Fatball sat 70-71, sink. Curveball, 59-60, 11/5 shape, gradual break. Changeup, 66-67, sinking action. Offensively, wide, balanced setup, high hands load back as the barrel wraps, short stride, good balance. Pull-side hitter, barrel works uphill through the zone, looks to elevate the ball, 76 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, long arm action to high ¾ slot, 71 from the outfield. Fundamental sound, plays through the ball, keeps his feet underneath him while catching fly balls, clean footwork and clean on transfers. Ran an 8.57 laser-timed 60.

Evan Kehren, LHP, Buford, 2022
6-foot-3, 185-pound left-handed pitcher, long, strong frame, sturdy build, projectable, lots of room to fill out with strength. On the mound, arm works clean on the back-side to an over-the-top slot, does a good job of keeping arm path relatively short given how long his frame is. Drop and drive delivery, sits on back leg before pushing off rubber, works on-line, high front-side, lead shoulder works uphill, lands leg open, finishes square to home. Fastball sat 80-81, touched 82, sinking action. Changeup, sinking action, 75. Curveball, 12/6 shape, depth, 70-72.

Andrew Nixon, LHP/1B, Buford, 2022
5-foot-11, 185-pound left-handed two-way prospect, strong build, ran a 7.58 laser-timed 60. Offensively, tall, open setup, short hand load back, long stride to a wide, balanced position, finishes on back-side. Pull-side swing, short to the zone, level through, quick hands, 85 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short, pie arm action to a ¾ slot, 83 across the infield. Attacks the ball, fields deep at times, soft glove-hand, feel for back-hand, clean footwork and transfers. On the mound, arm works long to a ¾ slot. Drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes mostly square, occasionally falls off towards third base. Fastball sat 80-81, touched 92. Curveball, 62-63, 11/5 shape. Changeup, 69-71, sinking action.

Sydyk Ross, OF/LHP, Mays, 2022
5-foot-10, 150-pound left-handed two-way prospect, athletic build with lean muscle throughout, ran a 7.33 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced setup, hands load back into an arm bar, short leg lift stride, finishes on front side. Line drive type hitter, gets to the ball out front, uses the middle of the field, 75 exit velocity off a tee, 86.65 peak exit velocity during BP via TrackMan. Defensively, long arm action, low ¾ slot, 71 from the outfield. Breaks down in front of the ball while fielding, clean on transfers. On the mound, arm works short to a ¾ slot. Drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes square and upright to home. Fastball sat 65-67, touched 68.

Cortland Sirmons, LHP, Ware County, 2022
6-foot-1, 165-pound left-handed pitcher, lean build, plenty of room to add to. On the mound, short, clean arm action to a ¾ slot, average arm speed, at-times muscles up on the arm swing and over grips the ball. Drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands with his lower half open, finishes upright and crossing. Fastball sat 77-78, touched 79, run and sink actions. Curveball, 11/5 shape, slurve-like, 70-71.

Ford Thompson, LHP/OF, Parkview, 2024
5-foot-11, 145-pound left-handed two-way prospect, athletically built, lean muscle, plenty of room and time for further physical development, ran a 7.39 laser-timed 60. On the mound, arm plays with some length on the back-side, continuous movement, accelerates quickly to a ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery, works across the mound, lands square, finishes square to home. Fastball sat 75-76, touched 77, feel for. Offensively, open setup, high hands drop and lad back, toe-tap stride, balanced finish. Aggressive pull-side swing, really lets the hands go, quick actions, barrel works uphill through the zone, looks to elevate and drive, with added strength to his frame will have power to the pull-side and ability to drive the ball back up the middle, 77 exit velocity off a tee, 84.67 peak exit velocity during BP via TrackMan. Defensively, long, loose arm action to a ¾ slot, above average arm strength for his age, 81 mph. At-times plays through the ball, fields out front, approaches with short, quick steps, clean on transfers, moves well tracking the ball.

Jordan Walden, LHP/OF, Vidalia, 2022
6-foot, 150-pound left-handed pitcher and right-handed hitting outfielder, lean strength, athletic frame, ran a 7.18 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced setup, hands start low and loaded back, toe-tap stride, good balance. Elevates the ball middle/pull, flashed the ability to drive pitches pull-side, quick hands, short barrel path to the zone, uphill through, 85 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, long, quick arm action, to an over-the-top slot, throws are true, 84 from the outfield. Plays through the ball with short, quick steps, clean on transfers, gets rid of the ball quickly. On the mound, short arm action to an over-the-top slot, quick arm. Drop and drive delivery, rides lower half down the mound, works on-line, lands square, finishes square to home. Fastball sat 80-82. Curveball, 70-73, 1/7 shape.

Stan Zagrodnik, OF/LHP, Buford, 2022
6-foot-1, 180-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder and left-handed pitcher, athletically built with lean strength, muscular build, ran a 6.75 laser-timed 60. Offensively, tall and open setup, hand load back smoothly, short stride, good balance through finish. Gap-to-gap type hitter, generates hard contact, barrel path works mostly level through the zone, some uphill tendencies, 89 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, arm plays long and loose with quick arm speed to an over-the-top slot, throws showed carry and accuracy, 85 from the outfield. Plays through the ball athletically, quick, fluid footwork, can track balls down quickly, clean on transfers. On the mound, short, quick arm to a high ¾ slot. Drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes crossing over towards third. Fastball sat 74-78, touched 79. Curveball, 65-67, 12/6 shape. Slider, slurve-like, 63-65. Changeup, sinking action.

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