By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The PBR Kentucky Top Prospect Games took place June 16-17 at Western Kentucky University and afforded close to 120 players from around the state the opportunity to showcase their abilities to the PBR Kentucky staff and many college coaches in attendance. The following is a look at the pitchers who took the mound for Team White. This is pitcher analysis only. Those pitchers who also played a position at the event will have that evaluation featured in a subsequent article.

Brody Heil, LHP, Trinity HS, 2017
5-foot-11, 185-pounds, has established himself as one of the top lefties in Kentucky’s 2017 class, works through a high-3/4 slot, repeats delivery well with regular effort, attacks hitters on both sides of the plate, fastball sat 82-84 mph, four-seam fastball shows some cut action, two-seamer shows arm-side run, , 68-69 mph curveball shows 1/7 action, throws a sharp 73-75 mph slider with swing-and-miss potential, pounds the zone with all pitches, allowed two hits to begin his first inning of work and then struck out the side, finished with four strikeouts in two innings of work.

Josh Floyd, RHP, Warren Central HS, 2016
6-foot-4, 183-pounds, ideal pitcher’s frame that projects well, have seen better velocity from Floyd than he showed at this event, long/loose arm action, high-3/4 slot, minimal effort delivery, fastball sat 81-84 mph (have seen up to 88), good arm-side run on fastball, arm tended to drag on the curveball leaving at up at 71-73 mph, 74 mph changeup is a solid pitch with good sink and fade, struggled with command in his outing walking three and hitting two batters, allowed one infield hit and struck out one in his two innings of work, big upside for this 2016 right-hander who didn’t have his best stuff on this day.

Mark Leonard, RHP, West Jessamine HS, 2016
6-foot-2, 180-pounds, good pitcher’s frame with projection, works through a high-3/4 slot with regular effort, lands square to the plate with good rhythm in delivery, fastball sat 80-82 mph mostly straight, good feel for all secondary pitches, 65-68mph curveball with good depth and sharp 11/5 action, showed one changeup at 73 mph with slight arm-side run, 72 mph splitter is a very effective pitch with late tumbling action, pounds the strike zone, allowed no hits and struck out two (one swinging on a splitter) in his two innings of work.

Jaren Lovely, OF/LHP, Magoffin County HS, 2017
6-foot, 160-pounds, lefty uses long arm action, high-3/4 slot, regular effort delivery and lands square to the plate, fastball sat 78-79 mph touching 80, can spin the curveball with good feel at 65-68 mph and 1/7 action at the bottom of the zone, ability to throw 70-73 mph changeup for strikes with good arm action, continues to make strides on the mound, allowed one hit and walked one in his one inning of work in game play.

Luke Brown, SS/RHP, Bowling Green HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 160-pounds, long arm action, high-3/4 slot, minimal effort in delivery, arm shows some quickness, fastball sat 79-80 mph touching 81, occasional arm-side run and sink on fastball, 64-65 mph curveball shows good depth and 11/5 action when he gets out front, hit first batter of the inning and then retired the side in order with a strikeout swinging on the fastball.

Blake Harper, LHP, Trinity HS, 2016
6-foot-1, 178-pounds, uses long arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot, regular effort in delivery with good rhythm, throws strikes with two-pitch mix, fastball sat 76-78 mph with occasional arm-side run, 66-67 mph curveball varied between 1/7 action and occasional sweeping action, likes to backdoor right-handed hitters with the curveball, allowed two hits and struck out one (back door curveball) in his two innings of work.

Dominick Lawson, LHP/1B, Nelson County HS, 2017
6-foot, 182-pounds, works through a high-3/4 slot with regular effort, opens front side early on occasion and falls off third base side, fastball shows occasional cut action at 75-77 mph, has a tendency to get under 61-64 mph curveball leaving it up, shows gradual 12/6 action, allowed a bunt single and struck out one (looking on fastball) in his one inning of work, has potential and is a left-handed arm to keep an eye on.

Lukas Tackett, 3B/RHP, Spencer County HS, 2017
6-foot, 165-pounds, uses long arm action, high-3/4 slot, tends to fall off first base side, uses a fastball-changeup mix, fastball mostly straight and sat 73-74 mph, touched 76 on one occasion, showed ability to throw 65-66 mph changeup for strikes down in the zone, consistently throws strikes, allowed one hit with no walks in his inning of work.

Josh Wood, RHP, South Warren HS, 2017
6-foot-4, 235-pounds, uses long arm action, ¾ slot, fastball sat 67-68 mph with slight arm-side run, 59-60 mph curveball shows gradual 11/5 action, also throws a 64-65 mph changeup that could use more velocity difference off fastball, throws strikes, allowed two hits, hit a batter, and struck out one in two innings of work.