Class of 2018 Showcase: Pitcher Analysis

August 22, 2016

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The annual Class of 2018 Showcase took place on July 20^th at The Max in McCook, IL. About 60 uncommitted 2018 prospects from the state of Illinois convened and showcased their ability. Last week we began the analysis from the event with the roll-out of the catchers.

Today we look at the pitcher's from the event. LHP Kyle Salley (Homewood-Flossmoor) flashed a loose, quick arm and feel for three pitches to lead the way on the mound. RHP Christopher Miller, a physical right-hander, came in next, running his fastball up to 86 mph.

Today we look at the pitcher's from the event, starting with the top 5 prospects.

TOP pitchers

1. Kyle Salley, OF/LHP Homewood-Flossmoor, 2018
5-foot-9, 145-pound, athletic, two-way prospect. Looks to be high level defender in the outfield. Soft hands, fluid footwork, quick exchange and plays through the baseball. Athletic actions, precise routes and good direction. Accurate, loose, quick arm from a high ¾ slot; throws flashed carry and were clocked at 88 mph from the outfield. 6.99 runner in the laser timed 60. Offensively, left-handed hitter, fluid rhythm, long, uphill path, flashed bat speed; exit velocity clocked at 79 mph off a tee. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride, maintains balance through contact. On the mound, left-handed pitcher, with feel for secondary stuff. Tall and fall delivery, stays in line, lands square, finishes athletically. Loose, quick, athletic arm action from an over the top angle. Fastball, arm-side-run clocked at 83-85 mph. Curveball, feel, maintains arm speed, 12/6 shape, some depth and ranged between 64-68 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, fade action and sat 73-75 mph.

2. Christopher Miller, RHP/OF, Plainfield North, 2018
6-foot-3, 190 pound, strong, athletic, well-proportioned two-way prospect. On the mound, right-handed pitcher and flashed feel for three pitches. Tall and fall delivery, some rhythm, repeatable, strides open, square landing and athletic finish. Quick, loose arm from a high ¾ slot and regular effort throughout. Fastball, works mostly straight, sat 83-85 mph, touching 86. Curveball, 12/6 shape, maintains arm speed, some depth and clocked at 68-70 mph. Feel for his changeup, maintains arm speed, mostly straight action, slight fade at times, 72-75 mph. Offensively, right-handed hitter with bat speed and a gap-to-gap approach. Long, uphill bat path and some strength through contact; registered an 84 mph exit velocity. Defensively, live, loose arm from the outfield; throws had carry, accurate and clocked at 84 mph. Plays thru the baseball, clean exchange, fluid footwork and steady hands.

3. Jeremy Cox, RHP, St. Charles East, 2018
6-foot-2, 202-pound right-handed pitcher with a strong frame. Works from a high ¾ arm angle with a quick arm action. Tall and fall, online delivery with a square landing. Smooth rhythm with some effort. Fastball sat 79-80 topping out at 81 mph. Curveball thrown aggressively, good feel, 12/6 to 11/5 shape, sat 68-70 mph. Fastball arm speed on changeup, feel, thrown for strikes, 73-74 mph.

4. Stephen Sewruk, LHP, Yorkville, 2018
6-foot-1, 155-pound left-handed pitcher with a thin, lanky frame. Works from a high 3/4 arm angle with a loose, quick arm action. Tall and fall delivery with a closed landing and crossfire action. Hides the ball well. Fastball was straight working down glove-side at 76-79 mph. Curveball and slider have the same shape, curveball thrown slower at 65-66 mph and slider at 66-68 mph. Fastball arm speed on changeup at 72-75 mph with running action.

5. Brock Seymour, LHP, Southwestern, 2018
6-foot, 155-pound left-handed pitcher with a lanky, athletic frame. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long, loose arm action, and slight stab on the backside. Tall and fall online delivery with a slightly closed landing. Smooth rhythm, uses slide step from the stretch. Fastball has cutting action at 77-79 mph. Curveball has 1/7 shape at 60-61 mph. Slider has sweeping action with tight rotation at 65-67 mph for strikes. Maintains arm speed on changeup with sinking action at 66-68 mph. Projectable 2018 follow.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Steven Arrowsmith, RHP, Benet, 2017
6-foot-3, 225-pound right-handed pitcher. Works from an over the top arm angle with a short arm action. Drop and drive delivery with minimal lower half involvement. Works in line with home plate, square landing with some rhythm. Fastball mostly straight action sat 80-82 mph. Curveball works 12/6 at 66-68 mph. Changeup thrown with fastball arm speed at 73-74 mph.

Bradley Breunig, OF/RHP, Glebard West, 2018
5-foot-11, 205-pound, solid build, two-way prospect. Offensively, strong, right-handed hitter, uphill path; exit velocity clocked at 82 mph. Tall, open setup with a leg kick. Defensively, short, loose, arm from a high ¾ slot. 8.04 runner in the laser timed 60. On the mound, stays in line, short arm from an over the top slot. Fastball, mostly straight, 72-74 mph. curveball, 12/6 shape, gradual action, 59-62 mph. Changeup, 65-67 mph. Cutter, 67-71 mph.

Bryce Burton, OF/INF/RHP, Marmion, 2018
6-foot, 170-pound, athletic, two-way prospect. Offensively, switch-hitter, uphill path, stronger from the right side; exit velocity clocked at 78 mph from the left side and 86 mph from the right. Balanced setup, leg kick, maintains balance through contact. Defensively, reliable hands, long, loose arm from an over the top angle, throws flashed carry and clocked at 83 mph from the outfield. 7.19 runner in the laser timed 60. On the mound, drop and drive delivery, up-tempo, stays in line, lands closed. Short arm action from an over the top to high ¾ slot. Fastball, mostly straight, 76-78 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, thrown for strikes, 65-68 mph. Changeup, flashed sink, 69-71 mph.

Zach Carlsen, INF/RHP, Sycamore, 2018
6-foot-1, 155-pound left handed hitting two-way prospect. Offensively, narrow, open set up, even, long stride, long path. Recorded an exit velocity of 77 mph. Defensively, long action, ¾ slot, clocked at 71 mph across the infield. 7.58 runner in the 60. On the mound, threw from multiple arm angles. Short, loose action, smooth rhythm. Fastball, thrown submarine and over the top. Submarine, sat 70-72 mph. Over the top hit 76 mph. Curveball, high ¾ slot, 10/4 action, sat 67-69 mph, thrown for strikes. Changeup, high ¾ slot, sat 66-69 mph, thrown for strikes. Slider, submarine, sat 62-66 mph.

Francois Castillo, INF/OF/RHP, Roberto Clemente, 2018
6-foot, 210-pound multi-positional prospect, strong lower half, solid build. Turned heads with his arm strength from the outfield and infield; clocked at 93 mph from the outfield and 88 mph across the infield. Defensively, natural third baseman with athletic infield actions. Hands work soft and out in front of his body. Ranges well laterally, maintains body control. Arm plays from a an over-the-top slot with some effort. Offensively, right-handed hitter with fluid rhythm and gap-to-gap approach. Balanced, open setup, smooth load, short stride and good balance throughout. Long, uphill bat path and hard contact at times; 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Also, ran a 7.19 laser-timed 60. Also pitched on the day. Right-handed pitcher, long, quick arm out of a high ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery with effort, stays in-line and recoil finish. Fastball works straight and sat 83-85 mph. Curveball, 11/5 12/6 shape, gradual action and 70-71 mph. Slider backed up at times, 69-73 mph. Changeup flashed cut and sink at times, 69-72 mph.

Jacob Gray, RHP/OF, West Aurora, 2018
5-foot-11, 135 pound, two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, long bat path; exit velocity clocked at 71 mph. Balanced setup, heel lift, maintains balanced through contact. Defensively, crow hop stays on-line and works towards the plate. Arm works short, loose and from a high ¾ slot; throws clocked at 78 mph. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, works fast, tends to finish upright. Short arm from a high ¾ slot. Fastball, mostly straight, 73-76 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, 62-65 mph. Changeup, ability to maintain arm speed, 68-71 mph. 7.92 runner in the laser timed 60.

Zachary Hafner, INF/RHP, Plainfield Central, 2018
5-foot-11, 165-pound, left-handed hitting two-way prospect. Offensively, wide set up, leg kick stride. Long, uphill path. Recorded an exit velocity of 76 mph. Defensively, high ¾ slot, flashed carry across the diamond. Clocked at 71 mph. 7.59 runner in the 60. On the mound, right-handed pitcher with a tall and fall delivery, closed landing. Short arm action out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball thrown for strikes, sat 67-71 mph, touched 73. Curveball flashed 11/5 shape and ranged between 55-57 mph.

Bryce Hellgeth, C/RHP/3B, St. Viator, 2018
6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed hitting C/RHP/3B with a strong, athletic frame. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a leg kick stride. Long, uphill swing path with a fast bat. Showed strength thru contact with 94 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.15. Behind the plate has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Long takeaway out of the glove with quick footwork. Popped 2.16-2.26 and threw 78 mph from the crouch. Took drills in the infield and threw 82 mph across the diamond. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long, quick arm action. Tall and fall, online delivery with a square, athletic finish. Fastball sat 80-83 topping out at 84 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape with late action, can throw it for strikes at 4-69 mph. Changeup has downer action at 66-69 mph.

Mason Hutson, SS/OF/RHP, Huntley, 2018
6-foot, 165-pound, two-way prospect. Offensively, left-handed hitter, flashed bat speed, loose hands, quick twitch; exit velocity clocked at 80 mph. Balanced setup, short stride, maintains balanced through contact. Defensively, flashed a short, loose, accurate arm from a high ¾ slot; throws clocked at 79 mph from the outfield. 7.57 runner in the laser timed 60. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, tall and fall delivery, stays in line, lands square. Short arm from an over the top to high ¾ slot. Fastball, 70-72 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, showed some depth, 60-63 mph. Changeup, sink action, 64-67 mph.

Jonathan Keller, INF/RHP, Hoffman Estates, 2018
6-foot-1, 180-pound, right-handed hitting two-way prospect with a projectable frame. Offensively, open, balanced set up, leg lift stride, balance on follow through. Fluid rhythm, bat speed, long, uphill path. Recorded an exit velocity of 84 mph. Defensively, soft hands, fluid footwork, athleticism at position. Clocked at 76 mph across the infield. 7.40 runner in the 60. On the mound, high ¾ slot, quick arm speed, loose action, regular effort. Smooth rhythm, in line direction, square landing, athletic finish. Fastball, run, slight action, sat 79-82 mph. Curveball, 11/5 action, depth, 62-65 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, fade, 74-77 mph.

Tyler Labedz, RHP, T.F. South, 2018
6-foot-3, 170-pound right-handed pitcher with a lanky frame. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long, loose arm action. Tall and fall, online delivery with a square landing and smooth rhythm. Fastball has running action at 79-81 mph. Curveball shows inconsistent shape, mostly 11/5 at 64-70 mph. Changeup has running action at 72-74 mph.

Dalton Lambert, RHP, Harrisburg, 2018
6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed pitcher. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short arm action. Tall and fall delivery with a square landing, will occasionally land closed off. Fastball has running action at 75-77 mph. Curveball has 12-6 shape with depth at 60-64 mph for strikes. Changeup has sinking action at 63-66 mph.

Ty Liaromatis, INF/RHP, Yorkville, 2018
5-foot-11, 180-pound, right-handed hitting two-way prospect with a strong frame. Offensively, balanced set up, leg lift stride, long, uphill path, gap to gap type approach. Recorded an exit velocity of 81 mph. Defensively, quick, clean exchange. Clocked at 79 mph across the infield. 7.44 runner in the 60. On the mound, high ¾ slot, quick arm speed, short action, closed landing, athletic finish. Feel for three pitches; tendency to slow his arm speed on off-speed pitches. Fastball, thrown for strikes, sat 78-82 mph. Curveball, 11/5 action, thrown for strikes, sat 62-64. Changeup, sinking action, sat 67-69 mph.

Nate Marshall, SS/RHP, Grayslake North, 2018
5-foot-10, 150 pound, two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, tall setup, leg kick, short path; exit velocity clocked at 76 mph. Defensively, reliable hands, clean exchange. Short, loose, accurate arm from a high ¾ slot. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, tall and fall delivery, lands slightly closed. Short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball, mostly straight, 77-79 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, flashed depth, 60-63 mph. Changeup, tendency to slow down arm, 68-71 mph. 7.32 runner in the laser timed 60.

Jared Martin, INF/RHP, Batavia, 2018
5-foot-10, 155-pound, right-handed hitting two-way prospect. Offensively, open, balanced set up, toe tap stride, balance on follow through. Long uphill path, flashed bat speed. Recorded an exit velocity of 77 mph. Defensively, quick exchange, short arm action, high ¾ slot, flashed accuracy. Clocked at 80 mph across the infield. 7.27 runner in the 60. On the mound, high ¾ slot, quick arm speed, short action, rhythm, in line direction. Fastball, 79-80 mph, topped 81. Curveball sat 69-71 mph, with fastball arm speed. Featured a cutter, thrown for strikes, 71-75 mph.

Donovan Nanfeldt, 1B/LHP, Andrew, 2018
6-foot-1, 210-pound, right-handed hitting two-way prospect. Offensively, balanced set up, short stride, bat speed, uphill path, gap to gap approach. Recorded one of the top exit velocities of 92 mph. Defensively, clean exchange, athleticism at position. Clocked at 67 mph across the diamond. On the mound, LHP, high ¾ slot, long action, regular effort. Rhythm, in line direction, square landing. Fastball, sat 71-73 mph, topping at 75. Curveball, 61-63 mph, 1/7 action. Changeup, fastball arm speed, sat 68-72 mph.

Eric Nelson, INF/RHP, DeKalb, 2018
6-foot, 165-pound, right-handed hitting two-way prospect. Offensively, open, balanced set up, back load, short stride. Long, uphill path, opposite field type approach. Recorded an exit velocity of 83 mph. Defensively, loose action, low ¾ slot. Clocked at 73 mph across the infield. 7.68 runner in the 60. On the mound, high ¾ slot, quick arm speed, short action, regular effort. Rhythm, square landing. Fastball sat 75-77 mph, topped at 78. Curveball, 11/5 action, 67-69 mph, thrown for strikes. Changeup sat 72-73 mph.

Nathaniel Quinn, INF/RHP, Morton West, 2018
5-foot-9, 155-pound, right-handed hitting two-way prospect. Offensively, balanced set up, smooth, toe tap load, balance on follow through, long path. Recorded an exit velocity of 71 mph. Defensively, fluid footwork, short arm action, high ¾ slot, flashed carry and accuracy. Clocked at 82 mph across the infield. 7.75 runner in the 60. On the mound, high ¾ arm slot, long action, closed landing. Fastball sat 76-80 mph. Curveball sat 61-65 mph. Changeup sat 68-71.

Justin Rios, OF/LHP, St. Laurence, 2018
5-foot-6, 150 pound two-way prospect. Offensively, left-handed hitter, balanced setup, short stride, smooth load, maintains balance through contact. Line drive, gap to gap approach, flashed bat speed; exit velocity clocked at 78 mph off a tee. Defensively, reliable hands, fluid footwork, quick exchange and attacks the baseball. Flashed a short, accurate arm from a high ¾ slot; 80 mph from the outfield. On the mound, left-handed pitcher, tall and fall delivery, stays in line. Short, quick arm action from a ¾ slot. Fastball, flashed arm side run, 76-79 mph. Curveball, 64-66 mph. Changeup, maintains arm speed, 70-73 mph. 7.78 runner in the laser timed 60.

Vince Ruchala, INF/RHP, Willowbrook, 2018
5-foot-10, 135-pound, right-handed hitting two-way prospect. Offensively, open, balanced set up, back load, short stride, balance on follow through, uphill path. Recorded an exit velocity of 69 mph. Defensively, ¾ arm slot, clocked at 70 mph across the infield. 7.53 runner in the 60. On the mound, high ¾ slot, short action, rhythm, square landing, athletic finish. Fastball sat 70-72 mph. Curveball sat 66 mph, fastball arm speed. Changeup sat 65-67.

Dan Sajewski, LHP, Lincoln-Way East, 2018
6-foot, 150-pound left-handed pitcher. Works from a ¾ arm angle with a short, stiff arm action. Full overhead tall and fall delivery. Closed landing withy choppy rhythm and a hop after release. Fastball flashed sinking action at 68-71 mph. Curveball has sweeping action for strikes at 57-61 mph. Changeup sat 60-62 mph.

Hunter Sakiewicz, LHP, Lincoln-Way East, 2018
6-foot, 150-pound left-handed pitcher. Works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall delivery with a closed landing and crossfire action. Fastball sat 71-73 topping out at 74 mph. Curveball has loose rotation at 58-60 mph. Changeup flashed fading action at 66-67 mph.

Kyle Wemstrom, INF/RHP, Saint Viator, 2018
6-foot-2, 165-pound, right-handed hitting two-way prospect. Offensively, wide, balanced set up, long path. Recorded an exit velocity of 75 mph. Defensively, ¾ slot, short action. Clocked at 70 mph across the diamond. 7.83 runner in the 60. On the mound, high ¾ slot, long action, regular effort, in line direction. Fastball, sat 71-73 mph. Curveball, 11/5 action, sat 54-61 mph. Changeup sat 68 mph.

Tyler Webb, LHP, Peoria Heights, 2018
5-foot-10, 145-pound left-handed pitcher. Works from an over the top arm angle with a short arm action. Tall and fall delivery with some effort and a closed landing. Fastball is mostly straight with occasional tilt when he gets on top of it. Fastball sat 74-75 mph. Curveball has 1-7 shape at 59-63 mph. Changeup is firm with occasional cutting action at 68-72 mph.