By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The early signing period is a little more than a month away for this year’s senior class, and while the recruiting process in baseball has sped up significantly over the past few years, there are always quality players left on the board this time of year. This year is no different.

We recently updated our Class of 2016 rankings, and over the next week or so will take a look at some of the top uncommitted seniors by position group. The series of articles kicks off today with a look at some of the top uncommitted right-handed pitchers in the Bluegrass State.

Name: Hunter Sullivan
Height: 6-0
Weight : 175
High School: Elizabethtown
State Ranking: 10
Scouting Report: Sullivan lit up the radar gun with a fastball that topped at 91 mph as a member of Team Kentucky at the 2014 PBR Future Games. He also flashed a sharp 75-77 mph slider at the event and quickly drew the attention of many Division I schools. He possesses a quick arm and attacks hitters aggressively in the strike zone. Unfortunately, Sullivan has been on the shelf since April after being diagnosed with a torn UCL that required Tommy John surgery. When healthy, he is one of the top arms in the state, and the hope is that he is back on the mound for the Panthers this coming spring.

Name: Blake Frost
Height: 6-3
Weight : 200
High School: Ballard
State Ranking: 28
Scouting Report: (June 17, 2014) Frost uses long arm action through a high ¾ arm slot, good rhythm in delivery with easy effort, mechanics stay online, fastball sat 82-85 with some arm-side run and late sink, showed good confidence in 69-71mph changeup with some arm-side run and sink, allowed one hit and struck out one in the five batters he faced, definite 2016 prospect to watch for velocity gains.
Furthermore: There have been reports of Frost showing recent velocity gains with a fastball reaching the high-80’s, and he has transferred back to Ballard after spending a year at North Oldham. At 6-foot-3, 200-pounds, he possesses a good pitcher’s frame and will join a pitching staff that includes Louisville commit Jordon Adell, and Murray State commit and Tyler Horsley.

Name: Josh Floyd
Height: 6-4
Weight : 187
High School: Warren Central
State Ranking: 31
Scouting Report: (August 8,2015) 6-foot-4, 187-pound RHP has not shown the velocity this summer that he showed in February, works through a high-3/4 slot with long arm action, good tempo in delivery, fastball sat 82-84 mph with some arm-side run, showed limited feel for 70-73 mph curveball, allowed one hit and struck out the side in his first inning of work (all on FB’s), struck out two more on fastballs while allowing two hits and walking one in the second inning. Floyd has as much upside as any uncommitted 2016 arm in KY but has shown inconsistent velocity and feel for secondary stuff at times.
Furthermore: Floyd was recently diagnosed with a torn UCL and had Tommy John surgery in September. The injury may explain his inconsistent outings and velocity this summer. In February, Floyd showed a fastball up to 88 mph. His 6-foot-4 frame projects well at the next level, and if he can regain the velocity he showed last winter, Floyd instantly becomes one of the top arms available in the 2016 class.

Name: Parker Redmon
Height: 6-5
Weight : 180
High School: Scott County
State Ranking: 35
Scouting Report: (February 14, 2015) 6-foot-5, 180-pound, highly projectable RHP with ideal frame, works through a 3/4 arm slot, arm shows some quickness, good rhythm and tempo in delivery with minimal effort, repeats delivery well, shows ability to throw all three pitches for strikes, fastball sat 82-84 mph touching 86 on one occasion with some late arm-side run, shows good feel for 68-72 mph curveball with 11/5 action, locates curveball well at the bottom of the zone, changeup is thrown with good arm action at 71-73 mph and shows feel for the pitch, more velocity likely to come for Redmon.

Name: Darren Williams
Height: 6-6
Weight : 200
High School: Mason County
State Ranking: 41
Scouting Report: (June 16, 2015) 6-foot-6, 200-pounds, large frame with projection, uses long arm action, high-3/4 slot, up tempo delivery, showed a big increase in velocity since last summer, fastball sat 83-85 mph touching 86 on one occasion, showed a slurvy type breaking ball at 63-67 mph, mixed in one 73 mph changeup that produced a strikeout swinging, pounds the strike zone, allowed one hit with one strikeout in an efficient two-inning outing, size and projectability makes him a very interesting 2016 pitching prospect.

Name: Ricky Raisor
Height: 6-1
Weight : 175
High School: Highlands
State Ranking: 44
Scouting Report: (February 14,2015) 6-foot-1, 175-pound RHP showed a significant increase in velocity from last summer, uses shorter arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot, fastball sat 82-84 mph topping at 85 with some late arm-side life, curveball has really evolved as he showed one of the best of the day with sharp 11/5 action at 67-71 mph, throws 71-72 mph changeup with good arm action and has good deception off the fastball, stays behind the changeup well as it displays good arm-side fade and sink. Raisor is one more velocity jump away from developing into a high-level prospect on the mound.

Name: Brian O’Neil
Height: 6-4
Weight : 180
High School: St. Xavier
State Ranking: 55
Scouting Report: (June 17, 2015) 6-foot-4, 180-pound RHP with ideal pitcher’s frame that projects well, uses long arm action through a high-3/4 slot, arm shows some quickness with regular effort, fastball sat 81-84 mph mostly straight, shows good confidence in his 68-71 mph curveball that has good depth and sharp 11/5 action, stuck with the fastball/curveball mix in game action, throws strikes with both pitches consistently, allowed one hit, no walks, and struck out three (two swinging on curveballs) in his two innings of work, projectable arm has shown significant velocity gains.