PBR Illinois Pitcher of the Week: RHP Jacob McPherson
April 5, 2023
Reed-Custer is off to a strong 5-0 start on the year, and much of their production has come from senior Wisconsin-Whitewater commit Jacob McPherson. The two-way standout has been a driving force on both sides of the ball for the Comets, and he was just about as dominant as one could be this past week when he toed the rubber - firing the third perfect game in Reed-Custer history. For his efforts, McPherson has been named the PBR Illinois Pitcher of the Week for the third week of the season.
In a 10-0 victory over Herscher, it was McPherson that stole the show; firing a perfect game over five innings of work while striking out an astounding 14 of the 15 batters he faced. While this is incredibly impressive on its own, he also chipped in at the plate with a double, RBI and run scored to help his own cause - finishing the week at a 5-for-11 clip with two RBIs and four runs scored.
The Wisconsin-Whitewater commit is off to quite the start for the Comets, as he boasts a 0.00 ERA through 11 innings with two hits allowed, 28 strikeouts and only one walk surrendered. He is also now batting .500 on the year with a .579 OBP, two RBIs, seven runs scored and three stolen bases.
Currently the No. 182 ranked player in the 2023 class, McPherson boasts an athletic 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame and has some upside to dream on. We saw him reach up to 85 mph over a year ago with high spin on the fastball (T2415 RPM) and he likely has more in the tank. To fill out his arsenal, he also goes to a curveball (2,200-2,400 RPM) and fading changeup.
We're thankful for the POTW submissions we received from the coaches across the state. The players who garnered POTW consideration will earn a place within Friday's Diamond Notes story, so be on the lookout for that by the end of this week.
Scouting Report
RHP Jacob McPherson (Reed-Custer) is in the middle of football season as his high school’s QB1, and yet he was still able to put together a polished ‘pen at this event. The broad-shouldered 6-foot-2, 205-pound athlete is a multi-sport prospect who ran a 6.99 in the 60-yard dash prior to taking the mound. There, McPherson delivered from a long draw out of the glove, working out of a high ¾ slot, and he ran his fastball up to 82.2 mph. McPherson paired it with a sharp 12/6 curveball with tight spin and depth at 68-70 mph, at a 2,280 rpm average spin rate. He also showed a third pitch, a changeup, at 70-74 mph.