Emporia Prospect ID: Pitching Analysis

September 21, 2014

By Sean McCann
Prep Baseball Report Kansas

The Prep Baseball Report Emporia Prospect Identification Showcase took place on Sunday, August 17th at Sodens Grove Park in Emporia, Kansas.

There were several two-way players (pitcher + position player) at this event, but keep in mind that the evaluations below are based on the pitching side only. We posted the reports on position players earlier in the week, a group that also included the two-way players.

The event included a number of talented uncommitted class of 2015, 2016 and 2017 prospects. Below are the scouting reports on the 23 pitchers that participated, listed in alphabetical order:

Tanner Allen, RHP, Mission Valley HS, 2015
Allen is a sturdy-framed 5-foot-11, 190-pound right-handed pitcher. Starts deliberate and under control. Turns back at balance point, hides ball, strides slightly across body, three-quarters slot, some effort, slight arm recoil. Fastball velocity in the 82-85 mph range, arm side run. Slurve type breaking ball stood out, late action, shape, high percentage of strikes. Change-up 68-69. Somewhat raw but works up to 85 mph with his fastball already and has a breaking ball that is a potential plus pitch going forward.

Braden Anderson, RHP, Labette County HS, 2015
Anderson is a 6-foot, 189-pound right-handed pitcher. Works under control early, tall balance point, long three-quarters arm action, strides across body, falls off first base side, repeats delivery. Fastball has early arm side running action to it, high percentage of called strikes, 77-79 mph. Sweeping breaking ball, 70-71 mph. Sells change-up well, fastball arm speed, downer sinking action, 73-74 mph.

Jacob Anderson, RHP, Topeka HS, 2016
Anderson is a strong 5-foot-11, 185-pound right-handed pitcher. Deliberate early, simple knee lift, under control at balance, strides slightly across body, high three-quarters arm action, walks out of finish. Fastball has arm side run, most in the strike zone, 77-79 mph. 12/6 breaking ball, tight spin at times, 60-62 mph. Sells change-up with fastball arm speed, has bottoming out sink, 68-70 mph.

Brian Aranda, LHP, Emporia HS, 2016
Aranda is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound left-handed pitcher. Simple rocker step. Turns and tucks at balance, strides inline, high three-quarters arm slot, long arm action, athletic finish. Fastball cuts and sinks, all fastballs moved away from center of the strike zone as they approached the plate, 75-77 mph. Sweeping breaking ball, 64-67 mph. Tall, projectable left-hander to follow.

Mitchell Bloss, RHP, Blue Valley Northwest HS, 2017
Bloss is an athletic 6-foot, 160-pound right-handed pitcher. Under control early and at balance. Strides slightly across body, easy arm, high three-quarters arm slot. Fastball sinks and cuts at bottom of the zone, 77-80 mph. Slows arm on breaking ball, 12/6 action, 55-56 mph. Right-hander to follow in the 2017 class, athletic frame with plenty of room to fill out.

Avery Boehm, RHP, Paola HS, 2015
Boehm is a physical 6-foo-2, 194-pound right-handed pitcher. From the wind-up starts with wide feet, big rocker step, crouch with knee lift, rolls through balance, strides across body, low three-quarters arm slot, arm works, some effort, falls off first base side. Fastball had cutting action at beginning of bullpen, and then showed low sinking fastball late, 82-84 mph. Slurve type breaking ball matches arm slot, some had late action, pitch has potential, 68-69 mph. Most change-ups had cut spin to them, 68-71. Interesting follow in the 2015 class - has size, near mid-80’s fastball and breaking ball that graded out well.

Conner Bond, RHP, Shawnee Heights HS, 2016
Bond is a 5-foot-11, 180-pound right-handed pitcher. Short rocker step, tucks knee at balance, strides inline, three-quarters slow, athletic finish. Easy, clean arm action. Repeats. Fastball has arm side run, can also firm it up on glove side black, 82-85 mph. Short 11/5 breaking ball, late action, 75-76 mph. Change-up with near fastball arm speed, 77-78 mph. Strong follow in 2015 class - showed a simple, rhythmic delivery and pounds the bottom of the zone with all pitches. Potential for high-level command.

Jeffrey Bonitatibus, RHP, Emporia HS, 2015
Bonitatibus is a 5-foot-7, 155-pound right-handed pitcher. Simple and under control early in delivery. Strides slightly across body, long side arm throwing motion, falls off to first base side, upright finish. Funky delivery with deception. Fastball runs arm side, 75-77 mph. Breaking ball sweeps, gradual action, 65-67 mph. Change with similar running movement as fastball, 70-71 mph. Threw a high percentage of called strikes. Deceptive delivery with feel for sweeping breaking ball, likely to give right-handed hitters trouble.

Tanner Cairns, RHP, Wichita-Independent HS, 2015
Cairns is a strong 5-foot-11, 185-pound right-handed pitcher. Starts with short rocker step, tall balance point, strides inline to slightly open, three-quarters arm slot, quick arm, athletic finish. Plus body control throughout delivery. Fastball had late arm side run, glove side fastballs cut, 82-85 mph. Feel for a short, late breaking slider, 74-75 mph. Near fastball arm speed on change-up, arm side fading movement, 73-74 mph. Showed command of three pitches, all with proper shape and late movement.

Hunter Combes, RHP, Abilene HS, 2015
Combes is an athletic 5-foot-8, 135-pound right-handed pitcher. Deliberate pace early, picks up-tempo throughout delivery. Slight turn at balance, hides ball, strides slightly across body, falls off first base side. Fastball 76-78 mph. Breaking ball with 11/5 shape, gradual action, 63-65 mph. Change-up has sinking movement at bottom of the zone, 67-68 mph.

Eli Deleon, RHP, Blue Valley HS, 2016
Deleon is a 6-foot-4, 180-pound right-handed pitcher. Under control early, tall balance point. Loose, whippy three-quarters arm action. Strides across body hiding the ball well, deception. Out in front release point. Most fastballs had glove side cutting action, some with sinking movement low, high percentage of strikes, 80-82 mph. Breaking ball with slurve spin, some sharp, 63-67 mph. Near fastball arm speed on change-up, 72-73 mph. Ideal pitcher's frame, projectable, strong follow in 2016 class.

Dillon Engelland, RHP, Buhler HS, 2016
Engelland is a strong, athletic 5-foot-11, 170-pound right-handed pitcher. Deliberate pace early in delivery from wind-up, simple knee lift, tall balance point, high three-quarters arm slot, inline stride, finishes under control. Showed both cutting and sinking action with fastball, 78-80 mph. Gradual break to 12/6 curve ball, 65-69 mph. Change-up 67-68 mph.

Dylan Hamilton, RHP, Berean Academy, 2016
Hamilton is a thin, athletic-framed 5-foot-10, 175-pound right-handed pitcher. Methodical, under control delivery. Tall balance point, strides inline, inline stride, three-quarters slot, finishes square. Fastball with arm side sinking action, 77-80 mph. Breaking ball with 12/6 spin, 63-64 mph. Change-up 71-72 mph.

Nick Henning, RHP, Goddard Eisenhower HS, 2016
Henning is a 6-foot-2, 160-pound right-handed pitcher. Short rocker step, tucks knee at balance, strides across body, three-quarters slot, quick arm, arm works, athletic finish. Fastball cuts glove side, runs arm side, 82-85 mph. Breaking ball with 11/5 shape, some tight and late breaking, has potential, 72-76 mph. Maintains fastball arm speed on sinking change-up, 74-76 mph. Projectable class of 2016 righty that is trending up.

Carter Hohn, RHP, Gardner Edgerton HS, 2015
Hohn is a 5-foot-9, 150-pound right-handed pitcher. Under control early, tall balance point, high three-quarters arm slot, strides slightly across body, picks up-tempo during delivery, athletic finish. Most fastballs had cutting action, 78-80 mph. 12/6 curve ball, gradual, 60-63 mph. Change-up with arm side fade, 67-68 mph. High percentage of strikes with all pitches.

Jesse Kutzke, RHP, Shawnee Heights HS, 2015
Kutzke is a 6-foot-5, 180-pound right-handed pitcher. Up-tempo and under control early. Turns and tucks knee at balance, tall balance point, strides inline, high three-quarters arm slot. Fastball with sink, 81-83 mph. Big 12/6 breaking ball, 63-66 mph. Change-up with fastball arm speed, runs arm side, 72-73 mph. Tall, projectable righty that is trending up, topped out at 75 mph last October now bumping 83.

Jack Leyden, LHP, Bishop Carroll HS, 2016
Leyden is a wiry, athletic 5-foot-9, 140-pound left-handed pitcher. Simple and under control early. Quick knee tuck at balance, strides inline, three-quarters arm action, loose arm, falls off some to third base side. Fastball with early arm side run, occasional cut, 75-76 mph. Slurve type breaking ball, 62-63 mph. Fastball arm speed on change-up, arm side fade, 69-70 mph.

Caleb Rogge, RHP, Rock Creek HS, 2015
Rogge is a projectable 6-foot-2, 165-pound right-handed pitcher. Works from a tall balance point, vertical knee lift, three-quarters arm slot, long arm stroke, some effort, strides slightly across body, body control throughout delivery, athletic finish. Fastball with late arm side run, at times late, 80-84 mph. Breaking ball with 11/5 shape, some with late break, 67-69 mph. Change-up with fastball arm speed, sinking, dies as it approaches plate, potential plus pitch, 73-75 mph. Showing improvement and trending up.

Lane Sadler, RHP, Derby HS, 2017
Sadler is a 5-foot-9, 170-pound right-handed pitcher. Methodical and under control early. Tall balance point, short near over-the-top arm slot, effort, strides open, upright finish. Fastball 74-76 mph. 12/6 breaking ball, near fastball arm speed, at times short break, 69-71 mph. Change-up 69-71 mph.

Brock Schaffer, LHP, Andover Central HS, 2015
Schaffer is a 6-foot-4, 175-pound left-handed pitcher. Deliberate early, tall balance, drops shoulders during stride, strides inline, three-quarters arm slot, easy arm, hides ball, athletic finish. Balanced, efficient delivery. Fastball had sink and occasional cutting action, high percentage of strikes, 78-81 mph. Short slurve type breaking ball, 70-71 mph. Change-up 73-75. Tall, projectable class of 2015 lefty.

Nick Sloan, RHP, Paola HS, 2015
Sloan is a long-legged, athletic-framed 5-foot-11, 160-pound right-hand pitcher. Simple and under control early, tall balance point, strides slightly across body, three-quarters slot, short arm action, strides inline, athletic finish. Easy delivery, balance throughout. Works down with fastball - sinking and cutting action. Breaking ball has 11/5 shape, tight spin at times, 61-63 mph. Change-up 68-69. Athletic righty with easy arm, both predictors of future velocity jump.

Justin Watkins, RHP, Topeka Hayden HS, 2015
Watkins is a 6-foot, 175-pound right-handed pitcher. Simple early, vertical knee lift, strides slightly across body, three-quarters arm slot, athletic finish, body control throughout. Works down in the zone with fastball, 79-80 mph. 11/5 shape to breaking ball, 67-69 mph. Also showed mid-70’s slider. Command of change-up at 69-70 mph.

Paul Wolff, RHP, Blue Valley West HS 2016.
Wolff is a physical 6-foot-2, 195-pound right-handed pitcher. Body control early, picks up-tempo during delivery, tall balance point, strides inline, three-quarters arm slot. Long, loose arm action. Fastball with arm side running action that follows natural three-quarters slot, 80-83 mph. Command of a short breaking ball, potential plus pitch, 68-70 mph. Fastball arm speed on change-up, similar arm side run as fastball, 74-75 mph. Strong follow in 2016 class.

Emporia Prospect ID: Pitching Analysis

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