For the second fall in a row, the PBR staff headed to GCS Credit Union Ballpark for an event. The St. Louis Open took place on Saturday, October 12th. The open event featured close to 50 prospects from 2020-2024 high school graduates.

Today, we conclude the positional breakdown with a look at the pitchers, which was one of the strongest/deepest positions at the event. Two legitimate, two-way prospects, Josh Dima (Belleville West, 2020; Illinois State commit) and Landen Johnson (Westminster, 2021), find their way in the top-three of the pitchers from the day. Both are left-handed pitchers with live arms and above-average secondary offerings. 

Chase Newby (Steeleville, 2022) emerged as a high-follow arm in Illinois and came in at No.2 on the list. Newby has an athletic, strong frame, clean arm and lively fastball that topped at 84 mph. 

Below is a look at all of the pitchers from the day:

TOP PITCHING PROSPECTS

1. Josh Dima, Belleville West (IL), 2020: Illinois State commit.
Positional Profile: LHP/OF. High-level two-way prospect in the 2020 class.
Body: 6-foot-1, 180-pounds. Strong, athletic, wide-shouldered frame.
Delivery: Smooth tall and fall delivery, stays on-line, lands front-toe closed and finishes athletically.
Arm Action: LH. Long, loose, quick and easy arm from a high 3/4 window.
FB: T90, 87-90 mph. Lively, jumps out of the hand, late finish through the zone and sporadic control.
CB: 69-72 mph. 1/7 shape, late downer action, flashed sharp, tight action.
CH: 77-79 mph. Potential advanced offering. Swing-and-miss action; late run and sink, feel for the bottom of the zone.

2. Chase Newby, Steeleville (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-foot-3, 190-pounds. Advanced, strong, wide-shouldered frame.
Delivery: Delivery works with rhythm, full leg-lift at balance point, stays on-line down the mound.
Arm Action: LH. Clean arm circle, over-the-top slot, quick out front.
FB: T84, 82-83 mph. Lively out of the hand, late run, finish through the zone.
CB: 68-70 mph. Flashed sharp action, 1/7 shape.
CH: 73-75 mph. Arm-side-run, sink, potential swing-and-miss offering.

3. Landen Johnson, Westminster (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/1B High-follow two-way prospect.
Body: 6-foot-4, 200-pounds. Extra-large, athletic, well-proportioned strength.
Delivery: Simple, stretch-only delivery. Repeatable, stays on-line and lands square.
Arm Action: LH. Long, live arm action from a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T85, 83-84 mph. Jumps out of the hand, late am-side-run and finish through the zone.
CB: 66-66 mph. Feel, 1/7 shape, short wrinkle.
SL: 69-70 mph. Thrown aggressively, 2/8 shape, short late break.
CH: 72-75 mph. Maintains arm speed, sink and fade action at the bottom of the zone.

4. Cole Lemons, Notre Dame Regional (MO), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP. Follow right-handed pitcher in Missouri's 2023 class.
Body: 6-foot-1, 160-pounds. Long, lean, projectable frame.
Delivery: Delivery works with rhythm, coiled at balance point, works slightly across body and lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: RH. Arm works long and loose from a high 3/4 window.
FB: T82, 79-81 mph. Downhill tilt, late run and sink at times.
CB: 68-70 mph. 11/5 shape, feel.
CH: 76-78 mph. Maintains arm speed at times, fade action at times.

5. Braden Unthank, Eldorado (IL), 2020
Positional Profile: RHP. Unsigned Senior.
Body: 6-foot-2, 195-pounds. Extra-large, strong, mature build.
Delivery: Smooth, repeatable, tall and fall delivery, lands square at times.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot and quick out front.
FB: T81, 77-80 mph. Late cut at times, thrown for strikes.
CB: 64-66 mph. Maintains arm speed, 12/6 shape, sharp action.
CH: 69-71 mph. Arm-side-run.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Peyton Apps, Pittsfield (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 180-pounds. Well-proportioned, high-waisted with room for continued physical development.
Delivery: Repeatable, tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: RH. Long, quick arm action, over-the-top slot.
FB: T78, 76-78 mph. Works mostly straight, thrown for strikes.
CB: 60-63 mph. 12/6 shape, downer action at times.
CH: 64-68 mph. Maintains arm speed, feel for the zone and arm-side-run action.

Jackson Bell, Richland (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot-4, 205-pounds. Physical, extra-large, well-proportioned build.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, works across his body at times, occasional effort at release.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 79-82 mph. Occasional arm-side-run.
CB: 63-66 mph. 11/5 shape, maintains arm speed.
CH: 70-73 mph. Arm-side-run.

Jakob Besand, Notre Dame (MO), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot-3, 168-pounds. Long-limbed, highly-projectable build.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, works on-line and lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: RH. Long, full arm swing, over-the-top slot.
FB: T75, 70-73 mph. Plays mostly straight with occasional cutting action.
CB: 63-65 mph. Short wrinkle.
CH: 66-68 mph. Thrown for strikes, plays straight.

Clayton Ello, Francis Howell Central (MO), 2022
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-foot-5, 127-pounds.
Delivery: Deliberate, tall and fall delivery, stays on-line and lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm action, plays from a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T75, 73-75 mph. Straight action, works mostly up in the zone.
CB: 62-64 mph. Thrown aggressively, 1/7 shape, short late break, tunnels from fastball slot.
CH: 62-66 mph. Fade action, flashed above-average action at times.

Lane Funneman, Pana (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 170-pounds. Athletic, long-limbed frame with plenty of room for continued physical development.
Delivery: Directional, linear delivery, works with rhythm, repeats and lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: LH. Short arm action, 3/4 slot and quickness out front.
FB: T77, 73-76 mph. Late run and sink, heavy at times.
CB: 66-68 mph. 2/8 shape, short wrinkle, up in the zone at times.
CH: 73-74 mph. Sinking action.

Austin Gast, Notre Dame (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-foot, 230-pounds. Strong, durable frame, thick lower half.
Delivery: Hybrid, tall and fall delivery, lands front-toe slightly closed.
Arm Action: RH. Clean, quick arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T81, 79-80 mph. Thrown for strikes, works to the arm side, mostly straight action.
CB: 65-66 mph. 11/5 shape, maintains arm speed, short, tight break.
CH: 69-71 mph. Thrown with fastball arm speed, feel at the bottom of the zone, fade action.

Cooper Howell, DeSmet (MO), 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 5-foot-10, 148-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Rocker-step delivery, strong front side, stays on-line and lands front-toe closed with minimal effort throughout.
Arm Action: RH. Short, uninterrupted arm circle, clean and loose out of a 3/4 slot.
FB: T77, 74-77 mph. Late arm-side-run action.
CB: 61-63 mph. 10/4 sweeping shape.
CH: 67-69 mph. Arm-side-run, fade action.

Graham Kasey, Windsor (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-foot-1, 155-pounds. Lean, high-waisted, athletic build.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, small leg-lift at balance point, works slightly across body, soft, squared landing.
Arm Action: LH. Long, loose, clean arm action from a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T75, 73-75 mph. Plays mostly straight, flashed arm-side-run.
CB:  mph.
SL: 63-65 mph. 2/8 shape, short sweeping action.
CH: 67-69 mph. Lowers slot, slight arm-side-run action.

Barrett Lohman, Fort Zumwalt North (MO), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-foot-10, 145-pounds. Well-proportioned, athletic build.
Delivery: Methodical, tall and fall delivery, stays on-line and lands front-toe slightly open.
Arm Action: RH. Short draw, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T72, 70-72 mph. Thrown for strikes, works straight.
CB: 57-58 mph. 12/6 to 11/5 shape, depth and feel out of the windup.
CH: 63-65 mph. Maintains arm speed at times, occasional cut action.

Nicholas McElroy, Woodlawn (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-foot-11, 155-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted frame.
Delivery: Delivery works with tempo, stays on-line and lands front-toe slightly closed.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm swing, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T75, 72-74 mph. Late arm-side-run and thrown for strikes.
CB: 60-63 mph. 11/5 shape.
CH: 64-67 mph. Near fastball arm speed, occasional cut to the glove side and thrown for strikes.

Sean Mitchell, Marquette Catholic (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 215-pounds. Extra-large, wide-shouldered frame.
Delivery: Linear delivery, works on-line with rhythm and effort at times.
Arm Action: RH. Long, clean arm action, high 3/4 window.
FB: T77, 75-76 mph. Flashed late arm-side-run.
CB: 60-65 mph. 11/5 shape, occasional downer action.
SPLT: 63-67 mph. Tumble at times.

Jacob Roettgen, Jefferson City (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-foot-1, 216-pounds. Thick build with strength in lower half.
Delivery: Simple, repeatable delivery, stays on-line and lands square.
Arm Action: LH. Clean arm, high 3/4 slot and easy effort.
FB: T80, 76-78 mph. Easy out of the hand, late arm-side-run and up in the zone at times.
CB: 62-67 mph. Maintains arm speed, 1/7 shape, tight spin, feel.
CH: 66-66 mph. Sinking action.

Ayalew Sisay, Timberland (MO), 2022
Positional Profile: UTIL/RHP
Body: 5-foot-9, 160-pounds. Lean frame.
Delivery: Stretch only delivery, works with slow tempo, slight cross body and effort at release.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T77, 75-76 mph. Occasional arm-side-run.
CB: 51-54 mph. 12/6 shape.
SL: 63-64 mph. Thrown aggressively. 

Cole Smith, Auburn (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Repeatable delivery, slight drop and drive, works on-line and lands square at times.
Arm Action: RH. Short, clean arm action, works from a 3/4 slot.
FB: T80, 80-80 mph. Thrown for strikes, slight arm-side-run action.
CB: 66-69 mph. 10/4 shape, maintains arm speed.
CH: 72-73 mph. Looks to be best secondary offering. Fade and sink action.

Trenton Trieb, Blue Springs South (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot, 184-pounds. Athletic, strong build.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, smooth rhythm, on-line direction and lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose, quick arm action from a high 3/4 window.
FB: T79, 78-79 mph. Thrown for strikes, works mostly straight.
CB: 64-66 mph. Works 12/6, late bite at times, feel.
CH: 67-70 mph. Feel for pitch, works straight. 

Leo Verdecchia, Marmion Academy (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-foot-10, 155-pounds.
Delivery: Rocker-step, tall and fall delivery, on-line direction and lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: RH.
FB: T76, 75-76 mph. Fastball works mostly straight.
CB: 57-61 mph. 12/6 shape.
CH: 57-61 mph. Fade action.

Jordan Wilson, Steeleville (IL), 2020
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot-3, 205-pounds. Highly-athletic, strong, wide-shouldered frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, level shoulders, strong front side and works on-line.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
FB: T76, 73-76 mph. Works mostly straight, late running action on two-seam.
CB: 64-67 mph. 11/5 shape, maintains arm speed.
CH: 70-72 mph. Arm-side-run.

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