By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The 2016 Top Prospect Games took place on June 14-15 and afforded more than 150 players from around the state the opportunity to showcase their abilities to the PBR Kentucky staff and numerous college coaches in a combination showcase/game play event.

CLICK HERE to view the top statistical performers and statistics for all players in attendance.

The following is an in-depth look at the pitchers from Team 2 (Black). Please note that this is pitcher analysis only. Those pitchers who also participated as a position player at the event had that performance featured in a previous article.

Christian(Shane) Burns, LHP, Caldwell County, 2018
Max FB: 85, FB: 82-84, CB: 72-75, CH: 70-72,
5-foot-11, 190-pound LHP established himself as a top lefty in the 2018 class. Burns works quickly with long and loose arm action through a ¾ to high-3/4 slot with regular effort, repeats delivery well and attacks hitters aggressively, works the outer half of the plate well with his fastball that shows some arm-side run, throws a harder curveball with 2/8 action, has big confidence in his changeup with late fade that was one of the best of the event. After hitting and walking a batter to start his outing, Burns settled in to retire the next six hitters in order with two swinging strikeouts (CH and FB).

Logan Bowen, OF/RHP, Bowling Green, 2017
Max FB: 86, FB: 83-86, CB: 68-73, CH: 75-77,
6-foot-4, 180-pound RHP offers good upside and projectability with an ideal pitcher’s frame, works through a ¾ arm slot with long arm action, fastball showed effective arm-side run with occasional sink, was able to throw his curveball for strikes with shorter and late 11/5 action, shows confidence in changeup with similar action as the fastball, pitched two hitless innings while issuing one walk, recorded three swinging strikeouts in his outing (one each with fastball, curveball, and changeup). Bowen’s frame coupled with his current velocity and pitchability make him a very intriguing prospect.

Luke Wilson, OF/RHP, Henry Clay, 2017
Max FB: 79, FB: 77-79, CB: 69-73, CH: 73, SPLT: 73
6-foot, 180-pound RHP works through a high-3/4 arm slot with shorter arm action, arm action appeared looser than previous event but velocity was similar, fastball showed good arm-side run and sinking action that is effective when fastball is located at the bottom of the zone, showed a short breaking 11/5 curveball thrown consistently for strikes, threw one changeup an d also flashed a splitter with late tumbling action that was effective, walked one and allowed two hits in his one inning of work.

Hogan Brownley, LHP/1B, Louisville Male, 2017
Max FB: 78, FB: 75-77, CB: 62-65,
6-foot-5, 200-pound LHP has a large frame with good projectability, uses shorter arm action on the back side and works through a high-3/4 to over the top arm slot with minimal effort in delivery, would benefit from staying taller on the mound and using his leverage to create more of a downhill plane on fastball, curveball showed gradual action that varied between 12/6 and 1/7, has good feel for the curveball and throws it for strikes, did a good job pitching to contact, allowing one hit and one walk in his two innings of work.

Nate Cunningham, LHP, Greenwood, 2018
Max FB: 73, FB: 70-73, CB: 63-67,
6-foot, 207-pound LHP works through a low-3/4 arm slot with regular effort in delivery, arm slot produces good arm-side run on his fastball that he likes to run away from right-handed hitters, showed good feel for his sweeping curveball from the low-3/4 slot, will need to locate more pitches at the bottom of the strike zone to be most effective, walked two and allowed four hits while recording several fly ball outs in his two innings of work.