First Thoughts: Preseason West Pitching
February 24, 2018
Last week (February 19, 2018) more than 30 pitchers worked out in front of our New York boots-on-the-ground scouting staff. Overall, the pitching was exciting and talented. Several new names to the system impressed while some veterans to PBR continue to improve. Here's just a few first-thoughts on some of the pitching that impressed last Monday (several pitchers not mentioned impressed as well). *Rankings have not been updated to reflect most recent events and players are in no order.
2019
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Cregg Scherrer LHP / OF / Skaneateles , NY / 2019Rankings StateRank: 12 / POS: 1
Scherrer stands 5-foot-11, 175-pounds with an athletic frame, strong and lean build. Last we saw Scherrer he was sitting 83-85 with clear signs of more to come from the CNY left-handed prospect. Those signs came to light Feb. 19 at our Preseason West event where Scherrer sat 87 mph (peaking 88) from a smooth tempo high 3/4 slot. He uses a firm back side that provides a strong push from a slightly leaning front side before release. The stride length is average, possibly some more hip mobility would only increase his velocity numbers, but overall very impressive arm-speed and action on his fastball. Curveball sat 72-74 and at times shows depth with late action. Two days after the event he committed to Albany. Overall, there's still more to come in terms of velocity and feel from the 2019 lefty. |
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Vincent Stutz RHP / OF / Lancaster , NY / 2019Rankings StateRank: 230 / POS: 55
Standing at 5-foot-9, 190-pounds with a strong thick lower half, Stutz had an overall excellent showing at our Preseason West event. On the mound, he uses a simple side-step with pace to his tempo, above belt knee-lift with a slight coil for more momentum. Arm-swing is shorter and fluid, releases from a high 3/4 slot with a long stride and strong front-side. Fastball ranged 80-82 (peaked 83) working down in the zone with angle, ball jumps late. Shows feel for a 12/6 slow curveball (60-62) with proper spin. Stutz arm works easy out in front giving the impression there is more velocity to come in the future. |
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Josh Van Bramer 1B / LHP / Fairport, NY / 2019Rankings StateRank: 157 / POS: 7
Stands 6-foot-1, 195-pounds from a solid built base, still more strength gains to come. On the mound Van Bramer has made some serious improvements showing off his off-season hard work. Quick pace to his delivery, belt high knee lift, long stride, releases from almost an over-the-top slot. Fastball sat 80-81 (peaking 82) with late downward angle, arm-side tail. Curveball 66-71 with 12/6 shape, could use a touch more hand-speed. Overall, very impressive day for Van Bramer, as he has gotten better every event we have seen him, a true testament to his work-ethic. |
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Bryce Jackson RHP / 1B / Jamestown , NY / 2019Rankings StateRank: 136 / POS: 36
Jackson stands 6-foot-3, 212-pounds (down three from last event) with a strong pitchers build, should see him continue to build overall body strength over his next two HS seasons. On the mound, he works with a slower tempo to his delivery, belt-high knee lift, arm-action is back and shorter with full extension out in front. Releases the ball from a high-3/4 slot, long stride, would like to see him work on getting a stronger front side as he finishes his pitch. Fastball peaked at 83 (up one sense Sept.) with a feel for command down-in-the-zone, was really impressed with his change-up that sat 76-77 with FB hand-speed and feel. Curveball has 11/6 shape. Overall Jackson keeps getting better which is a direct reflection on his work-ethic. |
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Will Hearn LHP / 1B / St. Joseph's Collegiate Institute , NY / 2019Rankings StateRank: 204 / POS: 14
Hearn stands 6-foot-4, 190-pounds with the ideal pitchers frame. He uses quick pace to his delivery, high knee lift, drives hard of his back side with some lean towards home before he releases the ball. Arm-swing is shorter and fluid with a full finish out in front. Fastball jumps in at 81-82 mph (up three MPH since Sept.) from a high 3/4 slot with arm-side run. Curvball sat 71-72 with some looseness, more hand-speed out in front will help add more shape and depth. Change-up was 76-77 with arm-side fade. Overall, Hearn has put in some serious work this offseason and it shows, smoothing out his front side mechanically with help him make even more strides forward, very excited to watch him this spring/summer. |
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Evan Crook RHP / 3B / Liverpool, NY / 2019Rankings StateRank: 199 / POS: 50
Crook stands 6-foot-0, 150-pounds (up ten pounds since August) with a wiry build. He uses an easy tempo to his delivery, belt high knee lift with his hands up around his head. He uses great hip and should extension, pulls a little early on his front side before he releases from a high 3/4 slot, long clean arm-swing, fastball peaked at 83 mph sitting 82-83 almost every pitch. Solid feel for the change-up using FB hand-speed getting the ball out in front and letting it fade naturally. Upper 60's curve/slider that at times he got around the ball with some side-to-side action up in the zone. When he gets it out in front there's some sharp depth. Overall, Crook is continuing to develop and advance on the mound each time we see him. Once he starts physically adding weight the CNY righty has the arm to throw mid-upper 80's. |
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Jed Boyle RHP / OF / Thomas J. Corcoran, NY / 2019Rankings StateRank: 244 / POS: 59
Boyle has premium size standing 6-foot-3, 185-pounds with signs of more physically gains to come. He uses a quick rhythm to his delivery, high knee lift with set around his upper chest area. He shows above average hip mobility has he drives forward before release. Arm action is back and high, slightly choppy but does get full extension out in front, releases from a high 3/4 slot. Fastball jumps at 82-84 mph (up six mph since OCT) with some late depth, two-seam really dives arm side, releases that pitch from a slightly lower 3/4 slot. Curveball has above average 11/5 shape sitting 69-70, change-up is firm in the upper 70's on one plane. Overall, very excited about Boyle's future. He's gained 20-pounds since Oct. and looks more physical. Cleaning up his arm-action on the back will only help. Look forward to seeing him this spring/summer. |
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Thomas Peltier LHP / Niagara Wheatfield , NY / 2019Rankings StateRank: 178 / POS: 13
Peltier stands 6-foot-2, 160-pounds with signs of more physical gains to come. He uses a repeatable delivery with fluid pace. Uses a long stride showing hip mobility, lands with a very flexed front side leg (it's possible a firmer landing could help), back shorter arm-swing, releases from a high 3/4 slot with no restrictions out in front on extension. Fastball peaked at 81 with natural arm-side tail (up one-mph since Sept.), change-up has feel and FB hand-speed with fade down in the zone at 73-74, curveball at times was loose when he rushed, upper 60's with 12/6 shape when he got out in front wit the release. Overall, we have seen Peltier several times and each time he has us impressed after the event. He's going to get bigger and stronger as time goes by which will naturally give him a velocity boost. Excited to see him this summer and possibly hitting another gear on the mound. |
2020
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Owen Parliament RHP / 3B / LaFargeville , NY / 2020Rankings StateRank: 11 / POS: 4
Standing at 6-foot-0, 185-pounds, Parliament shows athleticism from a build able to handle more weight. On the mound Parliament keeps getting better. Tempo is paced with sound mechanics, deep arm-action that stays fluid, releases the ball from a high 3/4 slot using full hip separation on his stride. Fastball sat 84-86 with late life and run, curveball has 12/6 sharp shape and looks advanced, change-up sat upper 70's (slightly firm) with downward depth. Overall, there's clear signs Parliament will be mid-upper 80's this summer, super athletic and currently he's all arms and legs. High-end 2020 we are excited to follow this spring and summer. |
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Jacob Sanders RHP / 1B / Auburn , NY / 2020Rankings StateRank: 79 / POS: 24
Sanders has great size from the mound standing 6-foot-1, 185-pounds with a strong appearance. On the mound he uses a slower pace, clean delivery with a slight pause at the peak of his knee lift. Arm-swing is longer and fluid, releases from a high 3/4 slot with a fastball jumping at 83 mph (sat 81-82), no restrictions on his front side extension, arm-side run. Curve-ball has late 11/4 shape sitting 68-71, change-up was similar speed, slows down his arm-speed, ball fades on the arm-side. Overall, extremely impressed by the 2020 and his projection for the future. The fastball is already good and there's plenty more to come, the curveball has signs of a next-level out pitch, and the change-up will develop with time. Excited to see him this summer. |
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Andrew Bernacki RHP / 3B / Pittsford Mendon, NY / 2020Rankings StateRank: 53 / POS: 17
Standing 5-foot-9, 175-pounds (up ten pounds since Sept.) with a thick strong lower half. On the mound, he uses a quick tempo, high leg-lift, drives forward with angle off his back side, long stride. Arm-action is long and back, quick hand-speed out in front, releases from a high 3/4 slot. Fastball peaked at 83 mph with effort (up five mph since Sept.) sat 80-82, curveball looked above average with 10/6 hard shape with feel for command. Really like the progress he has made from the mound, excited to see him more this spring/summer. |
2021
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Casey Saucke II SS / RHP / Greece Athena, NY / 2021Saucke stands 6-foot-1, 170-pounds from a super lean athletic build. On the mound he's tall and lean with long limbs, oozes projection. Currently works from an upright delivery, belt-high knee lift, fluid back arm-swing with positive direction and long stride. Releases the ball from a high-3/4 slot with a fastball riding 83-85 mph with late life. Change-up has FB hand-speed sitting 75-76, with fade to his arm-side. Overall, one of the more polished 2021 prospects on the mound showing above average velocity with a real feel for a change-up. |
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Gage Ziehl 3B / RHP / Penfield, NY / 2021Ziehl stands 5-foot-10, 180-pounds with a strong build. On the mound he was very impressive. Mechanics are fluid with tempo, uses a high leg lift with power-line direction towards home. Arm swing is back and fluid, full extension out in front releasing from a high 3/4 slot. Fastball ranged 82-86, peaking 87 one time with downward angle at times. Curveball sat in the upper 60's with true spin and feel for the strike zone, 11/5 shape. Overall, Ziehl looks to be one of the top 2021 graduates in the state off the mound, look forward to seeing him this summer. |
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