Nebraska Scout Blog: Week of June 22nd

Week of June 22nd 

Big Fred’s Senior Legion (Millard North) vs. KB Building Services (Omaha Westside)

• Concordia signee Alec Blakestad (RHP, 2020) made the start for Big Fred’s, pounded the zone in the 81-84 mph range through 5.1 innings. Fastball has straight action but lives in the bottom of the zone. Also showed some feel for a 70-72 mph breaking ball with 10/6 shape. Blakestad has a compact frame with a clean arm action and repeatable mechanics. 

• IWCC signee Michael Finan (RHP, 2020) was up to 89 mph with heavy cut action on his fastball. Average feel for the zone on the night and got stuck deep into counts. Settled in the 84-85 mph range. Punched out 8 and walked 3 in 5 innings. 

• Southeast CC signee Tommy Roland had a big night at the plate driving in 4 runs on two hits.  Roland provided the big blow with a 2 out, 3 RBI double in the bottom on the 6th inning to break a 2-2 tie. 

• Cole Payton (OF,2021) a North Dakota State football recruit showed again why he is one of the top baseball prospects in the 2021 class. Payton had 3 hits including a two run homerun that might have landed on 144th street.

• Nebraska Omaha signee Harrison Kreiling (C/RHP, 2020) who is one of the top defensive catchers in the Nebraska 2020 class threw the last inning for KB and was up to 89 mph with heavy run action on his fastball. Kreiling is still developing a feel for secondary pitches and consistency in the zone but he has definitely emerged with stuff that looks like it could play at the next level in the bullpen. 

Nebraska Prospects 2022’s vs. Nebraska Prospects 2023’s 

• We got a chance to see some of the top uncommitted prospects in the 2022 class for the first time in 2020 including Tadan Bell (LHP, Columbus), Maddux Fleck (MIF, Creighton Prep) and emerging Brandon Lundquist (RHP/OF, Millard North). Bell, who is ranked #410 in the national PBR rankings was up to 85 mph with his fastball, more sporadic than we’ve seen Bell in the past, he still shows advanced feel for his secondary in his inning of work. Fleck, a 5-foot-9 150 pound switch hitting middle infielder has advanced actions and twitchy athleticism that will allow him to stay in the middle at the next level. Fleck had a pair of hits for the 2022 Prospects. Lundquist, who has an athletic 6-foot 160 pound build was 84-87 mph with his fastball and showed the ability to spin a upper 70’s breaking ball. Arm works clean on the backside and is long out front. 

• Nebraska got a commitment on Monday night from 2023 Tucker Timmerman (RHP/3B, Beatrice).  Timmerman has a physical frame at 6-foot-1 190 pounds and looks the part athletically. On the mound, he struck on the side while sitting in the 83-86 mph range with cut action on his fastball. 

• Cade Parry (RHP/INF, Elkhorn South) pitched in the 79-83 mph range from a H ¾ slot. Fastball has straight action but gets on a downhill plane. Perry has an athletic frame and also produced 2 hits at the plate. 

  T3: ‘23 Nebraska commit Tucker Timmerman strikes out three in his inning of work. 83-85 with his fastball T86 w/ cut action. pic.twitter.com/LidsmYlzGZ

  — PBR Nebraska (@PBR_Nebraska) June 23, 2020

Nebraska 2021’s vs. Nebraska 2021’s 

• We got a chance to see the top pitching prospect in the 2021 class, Drew Christo for the first time live in 2020. Ranked #112 in the National Rankings, Christo pounded the strike zone with a 89-92 mph fastball which got plenty of swings and misses in the zone. The arm action is clean and he has low effort repeatable actions on the mound.  A hard 80-82 mph breaking ball looks to have potential to be an above average pitch at the next level. Christo looks the part and has positioned himself as one of the top pitching prospects in the 2021 class leading up to next year's MLB Draft.  

  #1 prospect in the 2021 class for Nebraska, Drew Christo 89-92 in an inning of work. Filled up the strike zone with his fastball, mixed in a few 80-81 mph sliders. pic.twitter.com/YwnM9RQ7Bb

  — PBR Nebraska (@PBR_Nebraska) June 23, 2020

• Uncommitted Landon Goeser (RHP/INF, Elkhorn South) worked a quick inning and pounded the strike zone with a 82-83 mph fastball, mid 70s change up, and 66-67 mph breaking ball with depth. 6-foot-1, 180 pound frame with some strength throughout, compact mid ¾ slot with some run action to his arm-side. 

  Landon Goeser works around a couple hits and gets a K to end the 1st. Pounded the zone with three pitches. Topped at 83 mph. pic.twitter.com/f5xzbAGjT8

  — PBR Nebraska (@PBR_Nebraska) June 23, 2020

• Uncommitted Brock Merkel (C, Lincoln Southwest) had a strong day behind the plate and took solid rounds of BP. It’s an aggressive left hand approach at the plate with juice to the pull side. Compact build with strength throughout, Merkel threw in the 2.04-2.15 range consistently in between innings. 

• Uncommitted Luke Broderick (OF, Mount Michael, 2022) looks the part at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds and shows strength at the plate. There's some stiffness in his movements at the plate but he’s got a short quick path to the ball and showed hard contact during the game portion and batting practice. 

• Brody Darnell (INF/Auburn) has flown under the radar in the 2021 class but has the tools to have an impact at the next level. Darnell is sure handed in the infield with an above average arm. It's a simple quiet approach at the plate with a linear path. He’s not flashy but looks to have the characteristics of the “lunch pail” player.

• Jackson Brockett (Elkhorn South) worked one inning while striking out two. The Nebraska recruit worked with a quick tempo in his inning of work showing a feel for all three pitches out of his high ¾ release point. Fastball was in the 83-86 range and had average run to his arm side. Possesses a 1/7 shaped breaking ball with good depth and a 76-77 mph change up that works well off his fastball.

• Uncommitted Austin Schneider (RHP/OF, Lincoln East) worked a clean inning while working comfortably in the 85-87 range with some late arm side run. Schneider shows the ability to throw a hard 77-79 mph breaking ball with 11/5 shaped and late hard action. 

• Uncommitted CJ Fleeman (LHP/OF, Columbus) worked two scoreless innings with three strikeouts. Fleeman showed a 3 pitch mix with solid feel for all three pitches. The fastball was in the 80-83 range with slight running action. Both off-speed pitches were thrown effectively with a gradually breaking curve ball and a change up that showed some arm-side run at 68-70 mph. Fleeman is 6-foot-3, 185lb and has some room to add some strength to his frame to increase his velo numbers.

• The #11 ranked prospect in the 2021 class, Malakai Vetock (Elkhorn High School)  worked two innings while striking out three and not allowing a hit. The Creighton recruit showed a three pitch mix that projects well to the next level. His fastball sat in the 84-86 range while topping at 87. The tight spinning 11/5 curveball can be a put-away pitch or thrown early in the count to get ahead. A mid to upper 70’s change up shows some decent arm side run with good feel.