Illinois JUCO Scout Days: Uncommitted Pitchers

Jake Gothrup OF / RHP / William Henry Harrison , IN / 2022

From 9/7/23: “True sophomore. 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame, athletic with room for added strength. Smooth, controlled delivery, arm works out of a ¾ release. Gothrup worked his fastball up to 93 mph, sitting in the 91-92 mph range with over 12” of run at times. He went to a 10/4 slider with late bite at 81-83 mph, while also going to a fading changeup at 82-84 mph, killing spin and keeping it mostly down.”

Hayden Brazelton LHP / OF / St. Joseph-Ogden , IL / 2022

From 9/7/23: ‘True sophomore. 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame with room for added strength. Brazelton showed well as a two-way throughout the event, starting with his round of BP where he showcased a flat/simple swing that worked up to 91.2 mph for his max EV. Defensively, he moves well in the outfield with fluid footwork, playing through the ball with intent. His arm is plenty strong, reaching up to 89 mph from a crow hop and also transferring easily over to the mound, where he sat 83-85 mph with ride/run through the zone. He also went to a 2/8 slider at 70-73 mph and fading changeup at 74-78 mph.”

Dalton Boruff SS / RHP / Breese Central, IL / 2022

From 9/7/23: “True sophomore. 5-foot-10, 180-pound frame, some strength in the lower-half. Athletic mover on the mound, backed up by his 6.97 in the 60-yard dash. The right-hander worked his fastball in the 86-88 mph range (2200-2300 RPM) with carry and life through the zone. He creates well above-average spin on both his breaking balls, with his slider playing over 2500 RPM at 78-79 mph with 10/4 action and his curveball playing between 2400-2500 RPM at 72-75 mph. He also flashed a fading changeup averaging 13” of run, 77-78 mph.”

Clayton Taylor RHP / Columbus East, IN / 2021

From 9/7/23: “True sophomore. Lean and projectable 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame. Taylor returns just over 37 innings to the staff from last season and he will look to be an important piece for Kaskaskia this coming spring. The right-hander worked his fastball in the 88-89 mph range, topping out at 90 mph with some carry through the zone. His curveball shows out-pitch potential, playing between 76-78 mph with sharp 11/5 action (2500-2700 RPM). His slider shows similar traits except off more of a 10/4 plane, playing between 79-81 mph (2100-2500 RPM). His final offering was a heavy fading changeup at 80-82 mph, playing with over 13” of horizontal movement.” 

Derek Lebron RHP / 3B / Riverton Parke, IN / 2022

From 9/7/23: “True sophomore. 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame, strength in the lower-half. The right-hander worked his fastball in the 87-90 mph range, topping out at 91 mph and playing up in the zone. To pair off the fastball he went to a high-spinning duo of breaking balls, the first being a sharp downer curveball at 73-77 (2500-2600 RPM) and the second being a sharp 10/4 slider with shorter shape, 75-78 mph (2400-2600 RPM). To round out his arsenal he went to a splitter with downward action, killing spin at 76-78 mph.”/p> 

Holton Compton RHP / South Spencer, IN / 2022

From 9/7/23: : “True sophomore. Towering 6-foot-6, 230-pound frame, athletic with present strength. Compton is a former collegiate basketball player and his upside was some of the highest in the entire event. Athletic mover down the mound, especially through the release, the right-hander worked his fastball in the 90-91 mph range with 12.4” of run on average. His slider flashed sharp 10/4 action when kept to his glove-side, playing in the 77-79 mph range. His final offering was a splitter he started throwing roughly less than a week before the event, and it showed flashes of downward movement in the 78-79 mph range while killing spin.”

Matthew Ray RHP / OF / Calloway County , KY / 2022

From 9/7/23: “True sophomore. Projectable 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame with room for added strength. Working from a higher release, the right-hander sat right in the 87-89 mph range with his fastball, playing with some carry through the zone. His curveball played at 72-74 mph with gradual 11/5 shape, flashing sharp action with depth when kept lower in the zone. Lastly, he went to a fading changeup at 83-84 mph, playing with over 15” of run consistently and reaching over 18” at times.”

Kayden Althoff OF / RHP / Teutopolis , IL / 2022

From 9/8/23: “Athletic-framed right-hander with a live two-seam fastball at 87-88 mph. Good shape to 77 mph curve. Above average split is best pitch with late dive, swing/miss offering. Low-80s with spin in the 1200s. Struck out 51 in 43 innings pitched last spring.” 

Benjamin Benoit RHP / Hampshire, IL / 2021

From 9/8/23: “Funky delivery right-hander with 3/4 release point. Above average life on 87-88 mph fastball. Plus slider at 80-81 mph with tight spin (2600+ RPM) and very good lateral break (20” HB). Change of pace was a work-in-progress at 82 mph.”

Luis Pezzotti RHP / International Berckley, IL / 2023

LAKE LAND JC

From 9/8/23: “True sophomore. Struck out 21 in 17.1 innings last spring. Fastball worked in the 85-88 mph range with cut, pairing effectively off a high-spinning slider at 77-83 mph (2600+ RPM). Also went to a straight change in the low/mid-80s. Side-saddle delivery with some rhythm and a high ¾ release.” 

Bret Baldus RHP / Avon, OH / 2021

LAKE LAND JC

From 9/8/23: “Towering 6-foot-6, 195-pound frame, high waist with evenly proportioned weight. Controlled leg-lift into a slightly coiled balance point, over the top release. Fastball worked in the 85-87 mph range with over 2500 RPM at times with slight run and carry. Changeup worked in the 77-80 mph range with over 15” of run at times.”

Jackson Parrill RHP / Collinsville, IL / 2022

From 9/27/23: “…is a top returning arm for the Blazers, punching out 51 over 31 innings on the bump last spring while pitching to a 3.48 ERA. The 6-foot-1, 210-pound sophomore pumped the hardest bullet of this event, touching 91.4 mph with his fastball, while pitching at 89-91 mph throughout his ‘pen. He spun two different breaking balls, landing them each for strikes; a gradual, more high-arching 75-76 mph curveball and a tightly spun slider with two-plane break at 77-78 mph. Parrill also showed some feel for a low-80s changeup, throwing it at arm speed with natural arm-side run, particularly out of the stretch.”

Calan Kujawa RHP / Mt. Vernon Township , IL / 2022

From 9/27/23: “…offers an intriguing look on the mound to pair with a physical 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame. Kujawa throws a firm upper-80s sinker, touching 88 mph in this ‘pen, with natural arm-side run that comes out of a ¾ window (4.7 ft.) on average. His primary secondary in this look appeared to be a 74-76 mph slider that tunnels well off the aforementioned sinker, showing late lateral break at times. He also showed capable of landing a more gradual 73-76 mph curveball for strikes and he rounded out his arsenal with a low spin (T1507 RPM) changeup in the low-80s. Kujawa returns a bulk of innings to this Lewis & Clark pitching staff (42 ⅓ IP) and should be an arm to know for the Blazers this spring.”

Zach Mevert OF / LHP / Steeleville, IL / 2022

From 9/27/23: “…Mevert, who’s an athletic 6-foot, 182-pound athlete with lean strength throughout his frame, owns intriguing underlying pitch metrics within his arsenal. His fastball played in the mid-80s, touching 86 mph, from a high arm window on average (5.9 ft.), averaging 19+ inches of vertical break, while peaking at 23.4”. The eye test matches the data, as Mevert’s fastball played with natural carry, especially at the top of the zone. Mevert’s go-to secondary pitch was a true swing-and-miss splitter that dropped off the table, showing little-to-no spin (T796 RPM) and horizontal movement. It’s a pitch that’ll play even more effectively when he spots his fastball up in the zone. Mevert showed some aptitude to spin, throwing a 73-77 mph slider that flashed hard downer spin.”

Chase Newby LHP / LHP / Steeleville , IL / 2022

From 9/27/23: “…put together the day’s most polished ‘pen, consistently throwing all three of his pitches for strikes. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound sophomore worked with pace and tempo throughout, spotting his fastball in all quadrants of the zone at 84-86 mph. He showed a slider with depth at 74-76 mph (T2492 RPM), all of which were thrown for strikes, and he killed spin on a 77-78 mph changeup (T1582 RPM) that he threw with fastball intent from a similar arm window.” 

Drew Piaskowy RHP / OF / South Elgin , IL / 2022

ELGIN CC

From 9/27/23: “...performed well yet again on Thursday. During his ‘pen, Piaskowy sat in the 84-86 mph range with his fastball, and reared back for 87 mph on his hardest bullet to the plate. Off of that, Piaskowy spun in a sharp curveball with tight 11/5 action and averaged over 2,500 RPM, too. Piaskowy’s changeup was also a noteworthy offering as it played with over 14” of fade on average and also flashed some depth, too.”

Sebastian Gutierrez RHP / 3B / Nazareth, IL / 2022

MORTON JC

From 10/2/23: “...stood out once again for the Panthers. Standing in at an athletic 6-foot-1, 180-pounds, Gutierrez is a quick mover down the mound. Gutierrez worked a three-pitch mix throughout his 'pen with each offering playing with above-average metrics. His fastball was lively, working 88-90 mph, touching 90.9 mph at its peak with an average IVB of 19”, an average spin rate of 2,370 rpm, and an average of 15.3” HM. Gutierrez complemented his fastball with a changeup that sat 78-80 mph with an average of 17.3” HM, and rounded out his arsenal with a high-spin curveball (avg. 2,763 rpm).”

Jeremy Fox RHP / OF / Riverside Brookfield, IL / 2021

From 10/2/23: “...was an intriguing bullpen to watch on the day. Fox works with an uptempo delivery and throws from a low slot consistently with his four pitches. Fox’s fastball played in the mid-80’s, topping out at 86.7 mph with an average HM of 17.3”. Fox’s best off-speed pitch in this look was his changeup that had similar horizontal movement (17.2” average HM) to his fastball. Fox also flashed feel for a curveball and a slider to round out his mix. Fox posted a 3.04 ERA and a 10.32 K/9 during the 2023 season.”

Kahler Key RHP / La Crosse Aquinas, WI / 2022

From 10/3/23: “...will look to be another key arm for the Golden Eagles this coming spring, returning 21.2 innings from last season. Towering 6-foot-7, 240-pound frame. Key has an up-tempo delivery that works in-line, front hip tends to open and swing into footplant. Medium arm circle out of the glove that works into an over-the-top slot. His fastball played with noticeable carry and life, averaging 24.1 for his IVB while sitting 86-88 mph, T89. He went to a downer curveball at 71-76 mph (+2600 RPM), backing up on him at times but playing with sharp action when kept down. His final offering was a changeup at 78-81 mph, averaging around 16” of run.” 

Eric Williamson RHP / 3B / Union Grove, WI / 2022

From 10/3/23: “...is a name to know for the Golden Eagles moving forward. 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame with some strength in his lower-half. Clean delivery, drives with his lower-half well and creates noticeable separation in his hips and shoulders at footstrike. His fastball played at 86-88 mph, topping out at 89.6 (+2300 RPM) with some carry and run through the zone. He went to a short, lateral cutter at 80-82 mph to pair off the fastball, thrown for some strikes and spinning over 2300 RPM. Slider plays with 10/4 action and depth, kept mostly to his glove side at 75-77 mph (+2500 RPM). His final offering was a fading changeup at 81-82 mph, playing with around 16” of run.”

Austin Loberger RHP / Bradford, WI / 2024

From 10/3/23: “...is another sophomore to know for this upcoming spring. Listed at 6-foot-2, 200-pounds with evenly proportioned weight, still has room for added strength. Loberger impressed with feel for his three-pitch mix, starting with a running fastball at 85-87 mph, playing with around 16” of run on average. He then went to a big-breaking slider with 10/4 action, playing at 73-74 mph (+2300 RPM) and kept mostly to his glove side. His final offering was a heavy fading changeup at 77-79 mph, averaging just over 20” of run while also controlling it around the zone.” 

Sam Pritchard RHP / Grayslake North, IL / 2022

From 10/3/23: “...returns to the Golden Eagles with 24 innings under his belt from last season, striking out 39 along the way. 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame with strength in the lower-half and round shoulders. The big right-hander has a clean operation with a fluid tempo, working with a controlled leg lift into a high balance point, transitioning into a drop/drive lower-half while working in-line. Long arm out of the glove that moves into a ¾ release. His fastball cruised at 87-89 mph (+2600 RPM) with some carry and run to his arm-side. To pair off the fastball he went to a downer curveball at 72-75 mph (+2600 RPM), tunneling well off fastballs in the upper-half of the zone. He also spun a 10/4 slider over 2400 RPM, 74-76 mph and kept mostly down in the zone. His final offering was a changeup at 80-82 mph, playing with just under 16” of run on average, kept primarily down.” 

Owen Payne RHP / RHP / Daviess County , KY / 2022

From 9/28/23: “...is an athletic moving right-handed pitcher with a quick arm that reached 93.6 mph on his fastball while 90-93 throughout his ‘pen. He went to a firm changeup that he threw at arm speed and could locate in the zone often, and his final offering was a tight breaking curveball with downer action that sat in the upper-70s.” 

Eric Rawlings RHP / RHP / Badin, OH / 2024

From 9/28/23: “...stands in a 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame with strength throughout. A stretch-only delivery, Rawlings keeps it simple with high-intent as he moves down the mound. He has a full arm circle with clear acceleration out front that produced a fastball up to 90.4 mph. Sitting in the upper-80s, his fastball has mostly straight actions with life through the zone. Rawlings’ showed feel to spin his slider (T2366 RPM), which sat 76-77 mph with a short, horizontal wrinkle. Rounding out his arsenal, he threw a change-up with fading action (11.2” HM), which he threw with the same armspeed as his fastball. Rawlings was one of the Statesmen top arms last spring and figures to be another key figure within this Lincoln Trail rotation.”