Chris Wall, LHP, State College Spikes

Wall has been one of the Spikes’ most lethal pitchers this year, leading the team in WHIP (1.27) and ranking second in ERA (1.64). The 6-foot-5, 235-pound left-hander out of Columbia College is extremely deceptive with good control, striking out 21 batters and only walking seven in 11 innings (4 games/2 starts). 

Not only has Wall effectively put hitters away, he has also avoided barrels and induced a lot of weak contact, allowing just two balls to be hit over 300 feet, both of which ended up as harmless flyouts. Overall, Wall has not given up an extra-base hit to the 48 batters he’s faced this season, collectively holding them to a .171 average. 

Wall’s success has come in large part due to his 90-92 mph (T94) fastball, which he throws at an astounding 83-percent clip. He’s baffled Draft League hitters with his heater, posting a 34-percent whiff rate and a 27-percent chase rate with the pitch. In addition to the velocity, Wall’s fastball also rises, achieving a 107 Hop+ score that suggests it could be an out-pitch for him if located at the top of the zone consistently.

Wall has been able to keep hitters honest by mixing in a stellar changeup that he tunnels well with his fastball. It moves down and in to evade barrels against right-handed hitters, averaging 14.6 inches of horizontal break and 12.3 inches vertically. Wall has been able to locate his changeup effectively, too, throwing it for a strike at a 50-percent clip to register a 50-percent CSW.

Wall’s curveball has been a put-away pitch this season, garnering a 71-percent whiff rate and a 66.7-percent CSW. The curve moves down and away from left-handed hitters, dropping off the table and diving out of the zone as it crosses the plate. It’s been a weapon for him against same-sided hitters, who are only batting .071 (1-for-14) against him. The curve’s drastic break and tight spin are a product of Wall's average extension of 6.5 feet, which puts him in the 97th percentile in the Draft League for that specific pitch.