By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

Today we take an in depth look at the pitchers from the Western KY Prospect ID Showcase in Owensboro.  A total of 14 pitchers threw bullpen sessions, and a few young, high-level pitching prospects emerged.

Easton McGee established himself as one of the top few arms in the 2016 class.  The 6-foot-5, 170-pound right-hander showed a fastball up to 85 mph with very good secondary stuff.  The ceiling is unlimited for the projectable McGee.

Jack Schneider is the top arm we have seen to date from the 2017 class.  The 6-foot-2, 163-pound right-hander showed a fastball up to 83 mph with big projectability.  Schneider's brother Kyle will be playing at John A Logan next season with a fastball that touches 91-92 mph.

There were other impressive performances as well.  The following is a look at all of the pitchers that were in attendance.

Easton McGee, RHP/1B, Hopkinsville HS, 2016
6-foot-5, 170-pound prospect with big time projectability, had an impressive bullpen session throwing all of his pitches for strikes consistently, uses medium to long arm action through a high ¾ arm slot, repeatable mechanics, good rhythm in delivery, ball comes out of hand easy, fastball sat 81-83 mph and touched 85, showed good command of curveball with tight rotation and sharp 11/5 action at 66-69 mph, shows an advanced slider for age at 72-74 mph, 75-77 mph changeup shows good run and sink, top-level 2016 pitching prospect with very high ceiling.

Jack Schneider, RHP/3B/Daviess County HS, 2017
6-foot-2, 163-pound, young prospect with big projectability, shows good rhythm in delivery, arm works, long arm action through high ¾ arm slot, has some work to do on repeating mechanics, tends to throw across body on curveball with side to side movement leading to inconsistent release point, fastball sat 82-83 mph with good arm side run on 2-seamer, lacked command of curveball at 64-67 mph with sharp 11/5 action when thrown for strikes, also throws slider at 68-70 mph, changeup is straight at 76-77 mph thrown with good arm action.  Big time potential for Schneider as he is certainly one of the top arms at this point in the 2017 class and will add more velocity in the future.

Alex Basil, RHP, Edmonson County HS, 2014
6-foot-4, 210-pound prospect with good frame, shows on-line mechanics, good balance, drop and drive type delivery, uses long arm action through a high ¾ arm slot, shows the ability to consistently throw strikes, fastball sat 81-83 mph with good arm side run on 2-seamer, good command of curveball that sat 62-65 mph with 12/6 action, changeup showed some cutting action at 71-73 mph.

Zach Burton, RHP, Daviess County, 2015
6-foot-4, 175-pound prospect with very projectable frame, uses long arm action through a high ¾ arm slot, shows some rhythm in delivery, flies open at times and falls off first base side, fastball sat 81-82 mph, 2-seamer showed good arm side run, lacked command of 66-69 mph curveball, curveball was good when he stayed closed with sharp 11/5 action, changeup showed good run and sink at 70-73 mph thrown with good arm action, has some minor mechanical issues to work out but definite pitcher to follow in the 2015 class.

Ryan Tressler, RHP, Switzerland County HS (IN) 2014
6-foot-5, 190-pound prospect with lanky build and good projectability, shows online mechanics, good tempo in delivery, uses long arm action through a ¾ arm slot, tends to wrap on backside arm action, fastball sat 81-83 mph with some arm side run, gets on the side of his curveball at times leaving it flat, when he stays on top the curveball shows 11/5 action and he has better command of it 69-71 mph, slows arm on changeup at 69 mph with a tendency to leave it up in the zone, needs to work on developing more consistent secondary pitches, has some potential to pitch at the next level.

Kyle Moore, SS/RHP, Muhlenberg County, 2014
5-foot-11, 155-pound prospect, uses short arm action through a high ¾ arm slot, quick arm, fastball sat 79-81 mph and touched 83, curveball showed sharp 11/5 action at 70-73 mph, showed good command of curveball, changeup is straight and sat 73-76 mph.

JJ Poole, RHP/1B, Daviess County HS, 2014
6-foot-5, 221-pound prospect with strong frame, shows good rhythm in delivery, on-line mechanics, uses long arm action through a high ¾ to over-the-top arm slot, fastball sat 77-80 mph touching 81, struggled to command 68-73 mph curveball with 12/6 action which he tended to bury, changeup showed some run and sink at 74-76 mph thrown with near fastball arm speed, also throws knuckleball at 65-66 mph.

Neal Kirkpatrick, RHP/OF, Muhlenberg County HS, 2014
5-foot-11, 160-pound prospect, uses long arm action through over-the-top arm slot, some stiffness, fastball sat 75-77 mph and touched 79, showed good command of 66-69 mph curveball with 12/6 action, changeup is straight at 71-72 mph.

Nolan Johnson, LHP/1B, Daviess County HS, 2017
5-foot-8, 105-pound, young prospect, uses long arm action through a high ¾ arm slot, loose arm, on-line repeatable mechanics, good rhythm and tempo in delivery, fastball sat 67-70 mph, 2-seamer showed some arm side run, showed good command of 56-57 mph curveball with gradual 1-7 action, throws 61-62 mph changeup with good arm action that has good run and sink, has a good idea on the mound, will continue to add velocity and develop secondary pitches as he physically matures.

Nelson Dant, LHP/OF, Daviess County HS, 2014
5-foot-11, 140-pound prospect, shows on-line mechanics, good rhythm in delivery, uses long arm action through a high ¾ arm slot, fastball sat 75-77 mph with some cutting action, curveball 62-64 mph with gradual 2/8 action, showed good command of changeup at 68-69 mph with some slight arm side run.

Clay Montgomery, RHP, Daviess County HS, 2017
5-foot-11, 130-pound prospect with lanky build, uses short arm action through a high ¾ to over-the-top arm slot, fastball is straight at 67-70 mph touching 71, needs to continue to develop curveball which showed slight 12/6 action at 61-64 mph, changeup was up in the zone at 60-63 mph.

Andrew Decker, RHP/3B, Edmonson County HS, 2015
5-foot-9, 170-pound prospect with stocky build, tends to fly open and land to the first base side causing arm to drag at times, uses medium arm action through a high ¾ to over-the-top arm slot, fastball is straight at 76-79 mph touching 80, curveball shows gradual 11/5 action at 58-61 mph, struggled to command changeup at 64-66 mph but showed good command of 60-61 mph knuckle ball, potential for more velocity with adjustment to mechanics in keeping front side closed longer.

Drew Clark, LHP, Warren Central HS, 2016
6-foot-1, 185-pound prospect, solid frame, delivery shows some stiffness, occasionally flies open causing arm to drag, fastball shows good arm side run and sink at 73-74 mph, throws a cutter which slowed some slight action at 68-70 mph, showed good command of 60-62 mph curveball with 2/8 action, changeup shows good run at 63-66 mph, young prospect has time to refine mechanics and add velocity.

Hunter Houchins, RHP, Edmonson County HS, 2015
5-foot-11, 195-pound prospect shows on-line mechanics, repeatable delivery, uses long arm action, tends to wrap on backside arm action but consistently gets arm through the throwing slot, high ¾ arm slot, fastball shows good arm side run at 75-76 mph touching 77, shows good command of curveball with sharp 11/5 action at 65-67 mph, changeup is straight at 72-73 mph and needs more velocity difference off fastball, shows the ability to consistently throw strikes.