By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The Class of 2017/2018 Fall Prospect Games took place at the University of Louisville on October 4 and included close to 60 players looking to establish themselves as some of the top young players in the state.  Five of the nine pitchers for Team White topped at 81 mph or better, led by West carter 2017 RHP Ben Jordan at 89 mph.  The 6-foot-8 Jordan is one of the top pitching prospects in the country in the 2017 class.

The following is a look at all Team White pitchers from the event.  This is pitcher analysis only.  Those players who also played a position at the event had their position player analysis featured in a previous article.

Ben Jordan, RHP, West Carter HS, 2017
The 6-foot-8, 205-pounder’s combination of size, projectability, and high-80’s fastball makes him one of the premier right-handed pitchers in the country in the 2017 class.  Arm works easily with long arm action through a high-3/4 slot, works fastball on a downhill plane at 86-89 mph, curveball shows sharp 11/5 action at 73-75 mph, shows advanced feel for 74 mph changeup with some sink to the arm-side, allowed no hits and struck out three in two innings of work, has a huge ceiling and is already a highly coveted national prospect.

Ethan Doty, RHP/C, Highlands HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 170-pound prospect uses long arm action through a high-3/4 arm slot, arm is loose and works cleanly, has a deliberate delivery and stays online, fastball showed occasional cut action and sat 82-83 mph touching 84 on one occasion, showed some of the best secondary stuff of the day with a sharp 71-73 mph curveball with tight spin and 11/5 action when he stayed on top and advanced feel for his 75-76 mph changeup with good sink and fade, after walking two in his first inning he settled in and struck out the side in his second inning of work, finished his outing allowing no hits with four strikeouts, potential high-level 2017 prospect.

Dalton Shoemake, LHP, Glasgow HS, 2017
5-foot-11, 175-pound prospect uses long arm action and works through a high-3/4 arm slot, pounds the strike zone with fastball/curveball mix, delivery stays online with minimal effort, fastball worked in the 79-83 mph range topping at 84, two-seam fastball shows some arm-side life, shows good feel for 67-70 mph curveball with 1/7 action, commands both sides of the plate, did not see a changeup in his outing but the development of one would only make him even more effective, allowed an infield hit, walked one, and struck out five in his two innings of work, high-level 2017 prospect with good upside.

Trip Lockhart, SS/RHP, Lexington Catholic HS, 2017
6-foot, 145-pound prospect, lanky frame with projection, uses shorter arm action through a ¾ to high-3/4 slot, arm shows quickness, works quickly and pounds the strike zone, lands slightly open occasionally, fastball sat 79-84 mph, two-seam fastball showed good arm-side run, good command of 71-72 mph curveball with 11/5 action, shows confidence in 74-75 mph changeup thrown with good arm speed, allowed one hit and struck out two in two innings of work, established himself as a pitcher to keep a close eye on in 2017 class.

Brenden Bube, 2B/RHP, Lanesville HS (IN), 2017
5-foot-8, 150-pound prospect uses longer arm action through a high-3/4 arm slot, consistently throws strikes, good lower half direction, fastball showed occasional sinking action at 77-81 mph, 65 mph breaking ball shows short 11/5 action, comes right at hitters, allowed two singles and struck out two in his two innings of work in game play, has shown a recent gain in velocity.

Jacob Mulcahy, 3B/RHP, Owensboro Catholic HS, 2017
6-foot-1, 183-pound prospect uses longer arm action through a high-3/4 slot, arm shows some quickness, occasionally lands open, consistently throws strikes with a three-pitch mix, fastball sat 74-76 mph touching 77, some slight arm-side run on the fastball, 65 mph curveball flashed some depth with 11/5 action, changeup showed some sinking action at 65 mph, struck out one and allowed no hits in his one inning of work, clean arm action and athletic frame with projection should lead to additional velocity gains.

Aaron Blake, RHP/1B, St. Xavier HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 160-pound prospect uses long arm action and works through a high-3/4 arm slot, arm is loose and works cleanly, good rhythm in delivery with regular effort, drop and drive type delivery, stays online, fastball sat 74-77 mph and shows occasional arm-side run, establishes the inner part of the plate with the fastball, 65-67 mph curveball showed sharp 11/5 action, allowed two hits (including a bunt single), hit a batter, and struck out two in his one inning of work, good upside, expect to see velocity gains moving forward.

Jaren Lovely, OF/LHP, Magoffin County HS, 2017
5-foot-11, 155-pound prospect, uses long arm action through a high-3/4 arm slot, good rhythm and tempo in delivery, filled up the strike zone in his outing, fastball sat 74-76 mph touching 78 on one occasion, fastball shows occasional arm-side run, 67 mph curveball shows 1/7 action, retired the side in order in his inning of work recording a ground ball out and two fly ball outs.

Josh Wood, RHP, South Warren HS, 2017
6-foot-2, 225-pound prospect, physical frame with strong lower half, uses longer arm action through a high-3/4 slot, good tempo in delivery and stays online, fastball worked in the 73-75 mph range topping at 76, fastball shows some arm-side life with occasional sink, works lower part of the zone well generating ground ball outs, curveball shows gradual 11/5 shape at 63-65 mph, showed a 67 mph changeup that was straight, consistently throws strikes, allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out one in his two innings of work.