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 6 (Navy). Please note that this is pitcher analysis only. Those pitchers who also participated as a position player will have that performance featured in a subsequent article.

Tyler McCullough, SS/RHP, Middlesboro, 2018
Max FB: 85, FB: 82-84, CB: 66-67, CH: 69
6-foot-3, 165-pound RHP with highly projectable frame, works through a high-3/4 slot with some quickness in arm, fastball shows late arm-side run that can get in on the hands of right handed hitters, curveball has short break and was erratic at times although he did record two strikeouts with it, slows arm slightly on the changeup but it has the makings of a solid pitch, allowed two hits and struck out three in his inning of work (2 looking on CB, 1 swinging on CH). McCullough’s length and projectability coupled with his current velocity make him an intriguing prospect on the mound with more velocity likely to come.

Ethan Smock, LHP, Logan County, 2018
Max FB: 83, FB: 78-82, CB: 64-70,
6-foot-1, 155-pound LHP, slender frame with room to fill out, uses long arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot with minimal effort, showed an increase in velocity from previous event, fastball has occasional good arm-side run, throws his curveball with confidence and locates it down in the zone well with 2/8 sweeping break, had an impressive outing throwing two hitless innings while walking a batter and striking out four (all looking, 3 FB, 1 CB) Smock has the potential to develop into one of the top left-handers in the 2018 class.

Benton McGill, RHP, Nelson County, 2018
Max FB: 80, FB: 77-80, CB: 61-66, CH: 71-74,
6-foot-3, 190-pound RHP is starting to show the expected velocity gains, arm action is long and loose and works through a high-3/4 slot with minimal effort, fastball was mostly straight, does a good job of locating the fastball on both sides of the plate, curveball showed much sharper 11/5 action than in the past, has confidence in a solid changeup, walked a few batters early then settled into his outing to pound the strike zone, allowed no hits and struck out one (looking on CB) while producing four ground ball outs. McGill has yet to reach his ceiling, and there is likely more velocity to come for the projectable right-hander.

Maclaine Morris, 3B/RHP, Henderson County, 2018
Max FB: 82, FB: 79-81, CB: 67-69
6-foot-1, 145-pound projectable RHP continues to show similar velocity, uses long arm action with some wrap on the backside, works through a ¾ slot with regular effort, arm slot produces some arm-side run and sink on the fastball, curveball showed short 11/5 action, missed up early with the curveball but settled in to throw some quality ones, had some command issues at times walking three batters early, allowed one infield hit and produced three consecutive ground ball outs to get out of the inning.

Ethan Neal, 3B/RHP, George Rogers Clark, 2019
Max FB: 71, FB: 67-70, CH: 53-56
6-foot, 193-pound RHP uses long arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot, fastball shows occasional arm-side run, used a changeup with some tumbling action to keep hitters off-balance, showed the ability to throw consistent strikes with both pitches, allowed two hits, no walks, and struck out two (both looking on CH) in his two innings of work.