By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The PBR Kentucky Underclass Games event took place on June 29-30 with a combination showcase/game play event at Sayre HS and the University of Kentucky. The event afforded players from around the state the opportunity to showcase their abilities and establish themselves as top players in their respective classes. The following is a look at the pitchers who took the mound for Team Black at the event. This is pitching analysis only. Those players who also played a position for Team Black will have that evaluation featured in a subsequent article.

Maddex Richardson, RHP, Owensboro Catholic HS, 2017
6-foot-2, 190-pound RHP with good pitcher’s frame, quick arm that works through a high-3/4 slot with regular effort, deliberate delivery, lands open occasionally, fastball sat 83-86 mph topping at 87 with occasional late sink, 76-78 mph slider is advanced for age with tight spin and late/sharp biting action that generates swings-and-misses, showed a 75-79 mph changeup thrown with good arm action, tends to go deep in counts, threw two hitless innings while walking one and striking out four (two on FB, two swinging on SL), high-level 2017 prospect.

James Dupree, RHP, Sayre HS, 2017
6-foot-3, 190-pound RHP with frame that projects well at the next level, has a quick arm that works through a high-3/4 arm slot with regular effort in delivery, arm is clean and projects for more velocity, fastball sat 80-83 mph topping at 84 and is straight, throws a 68-72 mph curveball with 11/5 action for strikes, flashed one 76 mph changeup with good arm action, allowed three hits, one walk, and struck out three (one swinging on CB, two on FB) in two innings of work, expect to see additional velocity in the near future.

Nolan Melton, SS/RHP, Henderson County HS, 2018
5-foot-10, 165-pound RHP shows some quickness in arm and works through an over the top arm slot, fastball sat 78-79 mph topping at 81 and is straight, curveball ranged from 63-68 mph with 12/6 action and some depth, throw consistent strikes, allowed four singles and one walk in his outing, retired the side in order in his second inning of work, has above average velocity for age with potential to add more in the near future.

Aaron Blake, RHP, Christian Academy of Louisville, 2017
5-foot-11, 175-pound RHP uses long arm action and works though a high-3/4 arm slot with regular effort, works both sides of the plate well with fastball/curveball mix (showed changeup only in warm ups), fastball sat 77-80 mph topping at 81, curveball is a solid pitch with sharp 11/5 action at 66-67 mph, velocity was a significant increase from last fall, allowed one hit, one walk, and struck out three (one looking on FB, two swinging on CB’s) in his two innings of work, shows good pitchability.

Tyler Pence, OF/LHP, Eastern HS, 2017
5-foot-9, 140-pound lefty uses long arm action with some wrapping on the backside, works through a high-3/4 arm slot with regular effort, good rhythm in delivery, showed an increase in velocity from last summer, fastball sat 74-76 mph with occasional slight arm-side run, throws a slow curveball at 59-60 mph with gradual 1/7 action, also showed one changeup at 67 mph, gave up one hit, walked two, and struck out two (both swinging on FB) in his two innings of work.

Braeden Lee, SS/RHP, West Jessamine HS, 2017
5-foot-9, 145-pound RHP uses short arm action and works through a high-3/4 arm slot with regular effort, good lower half direction and lands square to the plate, works the lower part of the zone well with the fastball, fastball sat 72-75 mph with some sinking action, tends to get around developing curveball at 56-59 mph leaving it flat and up, allowed two hits and walked none in two scoreless innings of work.

Timothy Rogers, SS/RHP, Anderson County HS, 2018
6-foot-2, 150-pound RHP with lanky frame and good projection, uses long arm action and works through a high-3/4 arm slot with minimal effort, fastball sat 68-70 mph topping at 71 and is straight, showed a 64-65 mph curveball with gradual 11/5 action, has good feel for the curveball throwing it for strikes, had a rough first inning allowing three hits and two walks, retired the side in order in the second inning, finished with two strikeouts (both looking) in his outing.