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 White at the event. This is pitching analysis only. Those players who also played a position for Team White will have that evaluation featured in a subsequent article.

Tanner Robins, RHP/2B, Mercer County HS, 2017
6-foot, 180-pound RHP, quick arm that works through a high-3/4 slot, good rhythm in delivery with regular effort, works quickly, mostly straight fastball sat 80-82 mph (up to 85 at Top Prospect Games), throws a 70-72 mph curveball with solid 11/5 action, did not throw a changeup in his outing, has potential to add velocity, threw two hitless innings, walked one, and struck out three (two looking on CB, and one swinging on CB) in his solid two inning outing.

Austin Shepherd, RHP/3B, Paul Laurence Dunbar HS, 2017
6-foot-1, 190-pound RHP has a quick arm that works through a high-3/4 slot with regular effort in delivery, fastball sat 81-84 mph with some arm-side run and sink, showed a 68-72 mph curveball with sharp 11/5 action, also threw a 73 mph changeup on a few occasions with good arm action, allowed one hit, walked one, and struck out three (two swinging on FB, one swinging on CH) in his two innings of work, has shown a steady increase in velocity with potential for more.

Kendall Peters, OF/RHP, West Jessamine HS, 2017
6-foot-2, 180-pound RHP with long and loose arm action, works through a ¾ slot that produces good arm-side run on fastball, throws slightly across body at times, fastball sat 80-83 mph topping at 84, only showed a curveball in warm-ups and stuck with the fastball in game action, allowed one hit and struggled some with command walking three batters, struck out two (one looking, one swinging) in his two innings of work.

Kyle Browning, OF/RHP, Lafayette HS, 2018
5-foot-10, 165-pound RHP uses long and loose arm action through a high-3/4 slot, shows some quickness in arm, regular effort in delivery, above average velocity for age, fastball sat 77-79 mph with occasional arm-side run, shows some feel for 64-67 mph curveball with 11/5 action, did not show a changeup in his outing, allowed two hits and walked one, in his two innings of work, arm works and would expect to see more velocity to come for the right-hander.

Jake Hansen, 3B/RHP, Daviess County HS, 2018
6-foot-2, 170-pound RHP with projectable frame, uses shorter arm action through a high-3/4 slot with regular effort in delivery, fastball sat 75-77 mph topping at 78 and is straight, lacked some feel for 65-68 mph curveball but has potential to be a good pitch and showed solid depth when down in the zone, did not throw a changeup in his outing, allowed two hits, walked one, and struck out one (swinging) in his two innings of work.

Justin Manley, RHP, North Hardin HS, 2018
6-foot-3, 155-pound RHP works through a low-3/4 to ¾ arm slot, opens hips early and lands open causing a loss in velocity, fastball sat 73-74 mph topping at 75, showed a 64-66 mph breaking ball that is flat and backed up on a few occasions, has some arm-side run to fastball, had a solid outing allowing one hit, walking none, and striking out two (both swinging on FB’s) in his two innings of work, showed better velocity at winter event.

Conner Ryle, 1B/LHP, Ryle HS, 2018
6-foot-3, 185-pound LHP uses short arm action and works though a high-3/4 slot with regular effort in delivery, lands closed, fastball sat 70-75 mph and topped at 76 with occasional arm-side run, showed a 63-65 mph curveball with short lateral action, did not throw a changeup in his outing, allowed one hit and walked one while striking out one (FB swinging) in his two innings of work.