Future Games Preview: Indiana's Pitchers

6/13/17:  6-foot-3, 195 pound right-hander sat 87-90, touching 91 and 92 in his 5 batters of work.  Electric arm speed from a smooth, easy effort down the mound.  Long legs, thin frame that should fill in as he matures.  Creates down angle on the fastball.  Delivery has slightly uphill shoulders with a glove tap in his load.  Lands squared, gets firm on front side.  Breaking ball will need continued development as he matures.  Currently sits 64-67 with 11/5 shape.  Mechanically sound, will need to gain confidence and experience to develop off-speed to pair with his dominant fastball. Ranked as the No. 1 prospect in Indiana's 2020 class. 

4/14/17 Game Notes: The freshman pitched the last two innings of Kokomo’s 14-0 victory over Frankfort. The right-hander faced eight hitters allowing no hits on 3Ks, 1BB and 1HBP.  He boasts a lean, athletic build at 6-foot-3, 195 pounds with long limbs.  After beaning the first hitter he faced pitching from the windup, hit pitched the rest of the game out of the stretch.  He shows very little effort in the delivery with a clean, loose, arm action throwing from a ¾ slot.  His lower half works well and stays in line.  The fastball possesses late life with occasional arm side run.  He sat 89-91 in his first inning, registering a 92 and a 93.  In his second inning he sat 88-90, again touching a 91 and a 92.  Butcher mixed in an 84-87 mph 2-seamer with occasional movement for a strike.  In the bullpen prior to coming in the game he threw a few breaking balls with gradual action, 11/5 shape; still a pitch he is developing.  Very high follow 2020 arm. 

2017 SCOUT BLOG:  6-foot 185 top-5 player in the Indiana 2020 class. High-motor athlete on the mound with two-way ability. Throws from a high 3/4 slot with a quick arm and a lot of effort. Fastball showed both run and cut action and was 84-87 T88 in the second through sixth innings. Deep action breaking ball at 11/5 with an increase in velocity since the winter sitting 69-74. Thrown with near FB arm speed. Was a swing and miss pitch for RHH throughout the game. Fields the position well and plays with an advanced baseball IQ for his age.

2/19/17: 6-foot, 185 pounds. Two-way prospect and No. 2 ranked player in the 2020 class.  Pitches from a long, high-3/4 slot with a quick arm. He shows deception in his delivery with high effort, choppy rhythm, uphill shoulders and good direction. Fastball has cut and in the zone at 84-85, touching 86. He touched 88 last summer. His breaking ball shows depth with 12/6 shape at 63-66. His changeup is 72-74 with occasional sink.Offensively, the RHH hits from a balanced setup with a smooth load back, short stride, partial rotation with the lower half.  Showcased above average bat speed from a short/quick path.  Aggressive swings during his BP round.  Gap-to-Gap type power with fluid rhythm in the swing.  Registered a high exit velocity of 84 mph.  Defensively, long high ¾ arm action, throws topped out at 86 with life.  Plays through the baseball, fluid footwork, at times packs during the exchange.  Ran a 7.49 in the laser-timed 60 yard dash. 

6/13/17:  Ranked No. 10 in 2019 class, the 6-foot-2, 165 pound wiry right-hander showcased a very quick arm while sitting 85-87, touching 89mph.  Throws from a ¾ slot with a slightly long arm swing.  Stiff in his wrist.  Front leg lands squared, gets firm quickly.  Breaking ball is a plus out pitch with 11/5 shape and late depth.  Sat 73-77 with the curveball.  Has confidence to throw it any count.  High follow in 2019 class.

October 2016: The 6-foot-1, 160 pound righty has a short, quick arm action that produces a fastball currently up to 87 with more in the tank.  He shows a tight curveball with hard, tight break from an 11/5 shape. His delivery is simple with some deception as he brings his hands high near his face before separation, tilting his shoulder up as he goes down the mound  which keeps the ball hidden until it is already out of his hand. As Harris continues to mature, expect his good curveball to turn into an even better power pitch.

7/7/16: Appears to be in the 6-foot-1, 6-foot-2 range. Long, lanky frame with long levers. Fastball was 80-83 throughout the game.  71-73 CB, up to 75 with sharp break and in the zone.  Inward turn in the delivery, shoulders work up hill.  3/4 arm action. Good direction, lands square.  Above average arm speed.

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6/13/17:  6-foot-9, 220 pound right-hander sat 81-84, topping 85 with the fastball in his inning of work.  Huge frame, clean arm swing.  Creates big down angle on his fastball, coming from a high ¾ slot.  Aggressive in the strike zone.  Breaking ball sat 71-74, showing improved shape/depth, but still lacks consistency.    Raw actions but plenty of room to develop into his frame.

4/12/17: 6'9", 220 pound sophomore RHP sat 83-84, touching an 85 in his first two innings of work. The big bodied, right hander threw with downhill tilt on the baseball and the fastball showed late life with arm side sink, resulting in 14 groundball outs. CB was 65-67, average shape to it and pitch got better as the night went on but at times backed off of it. Uncommitted arm has big upside. Still very raw, but arm is clean and has a chance to continue adding strength and velocity. Threw second complete game of the season, giving up 2 ER on 5 hits, striking out 3 and walking 2. 

6/22/15: 6-foot-7, 185 pounds, pitches from a high ¾ slot with average arm speed.  Has some stiffness in the arm action.  Show some effort with some rhythm in the tall to fall delivery.  Level shoulders and stays in line.  Lands square. Finishes upright.  Fastball was straight at 72-74.  Breaking ball sat 62-65 with a 2/8 shape, gradual sweeping action.  Changeup sat 63-67 with occasional sink.  

2/25/19: 6-foot-1, 190 pounds. Offensively, athletic setup, smooth load, small leg kick timing trigger, over rotation with the lower half.  Fast bat speed for his age, gets to extension, pull-side hitter with power potential.  Overall good approach at the plate.  Registered a high exit velocity of 90 mph. Defensively, showcased above average glove work with fluid feet, clean exchange.  Plays through the baseball.  Loose, short high ¾ arm action across the diamond, throws topped at 84 mph with carry.  Ran a 7.84 in the laser-timed 60 yard dash.  

2017 Spring Scout Blog:  The 6-foot-1, 180 pound sophomore right-handed pitcher sat 82-84, touching 85 with the fastball.  Fastball has some late, downhill run.  Commands the 2-seam to his arm side.  Has feel for a late breaking curveball that has 10/4 shape at 70-72.  Showed flashes potential plus out pitch.  Change-up has some late fade at 72-75.  Arm action is short, quick at a 3/4 slot.  Delivery has a hitch in rhythm, but is consistent.  Possesses bat speed in the batters box as well.  Very athletic kid, multi-sport athlete.

2/25/17: 6-foot-1, 180 pounds.  Offensively, hits from a balanced setup, loads back, leg kick timing trigger.  Average use of the lower half with some over rotation.  Possesses average bat speed, long/uphill swing path.  Showed hard contact to his pull-side.  Rhythm is fluid.  Defensively, long/loose high ¾ arm action with some carry.  Throws topped out at 87 mph from the OF.  Actions in the field are fluid with average hands and a clean exchange.  Plays through the baseball.  Ran a 7.38 in the laser-timed 60 yard dash.  

9/18/16: Athletic frame at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds. Possesses twitchy actions at the plate.  He starts in a tall, open setup and loads back. Uses a leg kick.  Possesses some bat speed with a short path to the baseball.  Regularly got to extension, making hard contact during BP.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 81. In the OF possesses sure hands with a loose, 3/4 arm action.  Shows carry on his throws, topping out at 85 mph. Packs during his exchange, plays through the baseball with fluid feet.  On the mound has an awkward delivery, but shows some arm strength. Fastball was erratic in the zone at 81-83 with slight run.  Breaking ball sat 69-71 with 10/4 shape, also erratic in the strike zone.  Changeup was thrown with near fastball arm speed at 74-75 with occasional arm side run.    

2/21/16: 6-foot, 150 pounder ran a 7.61-60 and was 79 from the OF.  Showed average hands in the field with flat feet.  Clean exchange and plays through the ball.  Stiff, 3/4 arm action.  At the plate hits from a crouch type setup.  Short stride, average lower half.  Pull side hitter with choppy rhythm.  High exit velo of 78. 

9/27/15:  Cooper sat 75-77 in game with slight run on the fastball.  Breaking ball is gradual with 10/4 shape.  Tendency to fall off 1B side.  

7.3.17 - 5-foot-10, 150-pound, lanky, athletic left-handed pitcher. Smooth delivery, works form a high ¾ arm slot, keeps body on-line, finishes falling towards third base. Fastball, run action, 81-83 mph. Changeup, fade, had feel for, 74-75 mph. Curveball, 2/8 shape, slows arm, 67 mph. Sparingly used curveball, relied more on changeup.

6/13/17:  5-foot-10, 220 pound right-hander sat 85-88 with the fastball.  Quick arm speed from a loose, clean arm swing.  Throws from a ¾ slot, creating slight run on the fastball.  Breaking ball lacks consistency but shows some 11/5 shape at 72-75.  Some refinement could make it a plus outpitch.  Shoulders are level.  Stride leg lands squared, gets through it athletically.  Big, stocky frame, should see continued velocity gains as he matures.

3/27/17 Game Notes: Athletic, lanky left-hander sat 79-82 with late run on his fastball versus an experienced Athenian lineup.  Cox struck out the first 4 hitters with mainly fastballs.  His fastball has late life and command to both sides at the knees.  Breaking ball has 1/7 shape with early, gradual break.  Very good usage of his lower half.  Has the potential to add velocity soon.  

2017 Spring Scout Blog:  Uncommitted 2019, currently ranked #3 player in class flashed his athleticism and his quick hands at the plate going 3-3 with 3 singles and a RBI sac fly. Hands drop early in his load but recovers to get on an even plane with the ball. Average balance in the box. Flashed a 4.2 H-1st with a turn on one of his singles and was very aggressive on the base paths. Also, Simpson had a 2-run homer on Friday night in the Sectional semi-final game against Evansville Harrison. Played centerfield in all three sectional games and showcased his range numerous times throughout the weekend. 

Summer 2016: An ultra-athletic 6-foot-1, 156 pound RHP/OF that possesses athletic twitch, arm strength and raw power at the plate.  Simpson has a fastball in the low-to-mid 80s topping out at 88.  He ran a 6.83-60 at the USA Regional tournament this summer.  Offensively, he has a gap-to-gap approach with raw pull-side power.