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Preseason All State: 2015 Pitching Analysis

March 4, 2013

By Blake Hibler
Director of Scouting, PBR Indiana 

The pitchers in Indiana’s 2015 class have shown a heavy dose of top end talent.  At this year’s Preseason All State Showcase Nolan Watson and Evan Giles confirmed their place among the elite arms in the 2015 class. Below are the top 2015 arms from the February 23 Preseason All State Showcase.

Top 6 2015 Pitchers

1. Nolan Watson, RHP, Lawrence North HS, 2015:              

6-foot-2, 185 pound sophomore is a special talent. The arm is long, loose, and quick. His fastball was up to 90 at the event and sat 86-88. Shows inconsistencies going from the windup to the stretch with velocity. He showed plus feel for his sharp breaking ball at 72-73, His change-up showed sink at 76-78. Watson cemented himself as one of the top right handed arms in the Midwest for the 2015 class and was overall the best pitcher at the event. 

2. Evan Giles, RHP, Franklin HS, 2015:

Giles is 6-foot, 173 pounds with an upper level arm in the 2015 class. Works from a ¾ arm action with an easy, clean arm action. His repeatable fastball sits 85-86 with run. Giles threw two different breaking balls. The first was more of a 11/5 shape and the other a harder slider type pitch. The harder breaking ball was his better pitch. He threw both for strikes consistently. Change-up is still in the developmental stages and lacks arm speed. Overall, Giles should expect a velocity jump this spring and will be a great addition to Franklin’s rotation. He is a top 10 right handed pitcher in the state.

3. Justin Martin, RHP, Plainfield HS, 2015:

While Martin might project more as a hitter, he is more than capable of being a very good pitcher. He is athletic throughout, and despite being 5-foot-10 still created angle with his fastball at 81-83. Works from a high ¾ with a repeatable delivery. His breaking ball is 11/5 with late life down at 66-67, while his change-up has arm side run. All three pitches were around the plate. Martin is a follow at both positions.

4. Ernie Harshman, LHP, Lawrence Central HS, 2015:

Good rhythmic delivery with a slight back bend and does not maintain posture throughout delivery. Arm works quick in a high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 79-81. Shows the ability to spin the breaking ball, but the arm speed slows down and drags causing it to be inconsistent. Change up has decent arm speed with some run. Harshmann has a lot of upside and is a follow for the 2015 class.

5. Anthony Travelsted, RHP, Brownsburg HS, 2015:

Travelsted works downhill throughout his delivery creating arm side run on most everything he throws. Average arm speed, good deception. Change-up was his best pitch with good arm side run; inconsistent at times however. Breaking ball lacks identity, but has good rotation at 64-67. Fastball topped out at 82. Travelsted projects more as an outfielder at this time.

6. Nick Maier, RHP, Carmel HS, 2015:

Strong bodied, 6-foot,185 pound sophomore shows good arm strength at 81-83. Currently his lower body lacks involvement making 83 more impressive. The breaking ball is still a work in progress; inconsistent arm angles on CB. Slows arm on change-up. While Maier is raw, the arm works and is a follow in the 2015 class. 

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