Maryland Top Prospect Games II: Pitchers and Catchers Analysis
September 20, 2018
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This week we take one final look at the roster from our Maryland Top Prospect Games II at Towson University. Today we continue with a full analysis of the pitchers and catchers from the event.
MARYLAND TOP PROSPECT GAMES II PITCHERS AND CATCHERS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)
PITCHERS
Gavin Bigelow RHP/SS Archbishop Curley 2022
Athletic body type and 5-foot-10, 145 pound frame with room to grow and fill out. Pitches from the stretch with front foot open to the plate. Uses a high leg kick to get into a tall balanced position. Clean hand separation and down to out lower half drive. Long, whippy arm action creating quick arm speed through release. Throws from a high three-quarter slot with light effort. Pitches with smooth rhythm and lands square to the plate in a more upright finish. Fastball was 73-74 mph. Breaking ball showed late 11/5 break at 62-64 mph and change-up sat 64-65 mph with some fade.
Aidan Brown OF/RHP Bohemia Manor 2020
Athletic, lanky body type and 6-foot, 140 pound frame with room to grow and fill out. Controlled side-step wind-up and high leg kick into a tall balance point. Clean hand separation and pitches downhill with some lower half drive. Long arm action creating some arm speed through release. Throws from a three-quarters slot with easy effort. Lands square to the plate with a recoil finish. Fastball touched 77 mph and sat 71-74 mph. Breaking ball showed gradual 12/6 and 11/5 shape at 56-61 mph. Cut fastball was 65-67 mph.
Patrick Burns 3B/RHP Freehold Township (NJ) 2021
Athletic body type and 5-foot-11, 155 pound frame. Controlled side-step wind-up and leg kick into a tall balance point. Clean hand separation with strong down to out lower half drive. Pitches downhill and gets over front side well. Long, whippy arm action creating some quick arm speed through release. Throws from a high three-quarter slot with some effort. Lands square falling off to the first base side slightly in finish. Fastball sat 77-79 mph with some arm side run. Breaking ball showed tight spin and sharp 11/5 break at 70-73 mph.
Ian Kline RHP Thomas Johnson 2020
Long, lanky, body type and projectable 6-foot-3, 155 pound frame with room to fill out. Controlled side-step wind-up with a high leg kick into a tall balance point. Smooth rhythm, clean hand separation and average lower half drive. Long, loose whippy arm action throwing from a low three-quarter slot with easy effort. Creates quick arm speed through release and lands square with a more upright finish. Fastball showed some cut at 77-78 mph. Breaking ball was 65-67 mph with bigger, gradual 11/5 shape. Change-up showed some fade at 72-74 mph.
Grant Labelle RHP Saint Michael’s 2020
Solid, athletic body type and projectable 6-foot-1, 185 pound frame. Controlled wind-up with minimal extra movement. Gets to a tall balance point with clean hand separation. Down to out lower half drive with a slight pause. Lands square with an athletic finish. Long, whippy arm action throwing from a high three-quarter slot with some effort. Creates quick arm speed through release and gets over front side well. Fastball was 79-80 mph. Breaking ball showed 11/5 shape at 64-66 mph and change-up sat 69-73 mph.
Ethan McCormick SS/RHP Archbishop Spalding 2020
Athletic, lanky body type and 6-foot-1, 160 pound frame. Small side-step wind-up into a tall balance point. Smooth rhythm and clean hand separation. Generates strong lower half drive and creates quick arm through release. Lands square and in-line with the plate falling slightly off to the first base side. Shorter, whippy arm action throwing from a mid to low three-quarter slot with some effort. Fastball showed some arm side run at 83-84 mph. Breaking ball had tight spin and showed late, sharp 11/5 action at 73-75 mph. Change-up was showed nice fade at 74-77 mph.
Noah Mrotek RHP/OF Archbishop Spalding 2021
Athletic, solid body type and projectable 6-foot-1, 180 pound frame. Up-tempo side-step wind-up and delivery. Gets to a taller, compact balance point with clean hand separation. Gerates some lower half drive and creates quick arm speed through release. Long, loose arm action throwing from a high three-quarter slot with light effort. Lands slightly open with an athletic finish. Showed the ability to command all three pitches well. Fastball touched 87 mph and sat 85-86 mph. Breaking ball had tight spin and sharp 11/5 shape at 75-77 mph. Change-up showed slight dive at 75 mph.
Liam McFadden RHP Oakdale 2020
Athletic, lanky body type and 5-foot-11, 150 pound frame. Small side-step wind-up into a tall balance point. Clean hand separation with a controlled down to out lower half drive. Pitches with smooth rhythm and longer arm action. Throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with regular effort. Lands square with an athletic finish. Fastball sat 79-81 mph. Breaking ball showed sharper 11/5 action at 71-73 mph. Slight fade on the change-up.
Aidan Rannals RHP Damascus 2020
Solid body type and 6-foot-2, 215 pound frame. Controlled side-step wind-up and smooth delivery. Gets to a tall balance point with some lower half drive. Lands square and finishes over front side well in an athletic position. Shorter arm action throwing from a high three-quarter slot with easy effort. Fastball sat 72-75 mph. Breaking ball was 65-67 mph with gradual 11/5 shape. Change-up was 69-71 mph.
Jonathan Rodenhaver RHP Bishop McNamara 2020
Long, lanky body type and projectable 6-foot-1, 150 pound frame with room to fill out. Side-step wind-up into a corkscrew balance point position. Clean hand separation. Gets some lower half drive and pitches downhill. Long, loose arm action throwing from a high three-quarter slot with regular effort. Lands square to the plate and falls slightly off to the first base side. Fastball sat 78-79 mph. Curveball was 64-66 mph with gradual 11/5 break. Slider had more tight 11/5 action at 72-73 mph and change-up sat 70-71 mph with slight fade.
Aidan Ruiz 1B/LHP John Carroll 2020
Athletic, lanky body type and 5-foot-11, 170 pound frame. Pitches from the stretch. Controlled tall balance point and smooth, compact delivery. Clean hand separation and generates strong lower half drive. Creates quick arm speed through release and finishes well over front side. Short arm action throwing from a high three-quarter slot with regular effort. Lands square, in-line with home plate and finishes falling towards third base. Fastball was 79-81 with arm side run, breaking ball was 67-69 mph with gradual 1/7 shape and change-up showed some fade.
Stephen Schenning RHP Loyola Blakefield 2021
Solid body type with strong lower half. 5-foot-11, 170 pound frame. Rhythmic side-step wind-up into a controlled, tall balance point with hands set high. Smooth down to out lower half drive with clean hand separation. Gets over front side well. Long arm action creating quick arm speed through release. Throws from a high three-quarter arm slot with regular effort. Lands square with an athletic finish. Fastball sat 79-81 mph. Breaking ball had sharp 11/5 shape at 68-70 mph. Change-up was 73-75 mph with late fade.
Van Switzer RHP/OF Howard 2021
Athletic body type and 5-foot-9, 133 pound frame. Controlled side-step wind-up and leg kick into a compact balance point. Clean hand separation and strong lower half drive. Gets over front side well and lands square to the plate with an athletic finish. Long, whippy arm action creating some arm speed through release. Throws from a high three-quarter slot with regular effort. Fastball touched 76 mph and sat 72-74 mph. Breaking ball showed gradual 11/5 shape at 59-63 mph and change-up ranged 58-70 mph.
Nick Trey OF/RHP/SS South Carroll 2020
Solid, compact body type and 5-foot-11, 180 pound frame. Quick side-step wind-up and up-tempo delivery. High leg kick into a compact balance point with clean hand separation and uphill shoulders. Strong lower half and average drive off the rubber. Short arm action but creates quick arm speed through release. Throws from a three-quarters arm slot with regular effort and lands open with an athletic finish. Fastball was 78-79 mph. Power breaking ball showed sharp 12/6 shape at 70-72 mph and change-up sat 70-71 mph.
Champ Wert RHP Arundel 2020
Solid body type and 6-foot-2, 225 pound frame. Controlled side-step wind-up and delivery. Gets to a compact balance point with clean hand separation. Creates quick arm speed through release and has strong lower half drive off the rubber. Long, sound arm action throwing from a high three-quarter slot with light effort. Lands square to the plate and finishes falling off to the first base side. Fastball touched 83 mph and sat 77-80 mph with some arm side run. Curveball had gradual 11/5 shape at 68-70 mph and slider was more 10/4 at 72-74 mph. Change-up sat 70-71 mph.
CATCHERS
Michael Coit C/3B St. Mary’s 2021
Solid, compact body type and 5-foot-7, 185 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, athletic, slightly open stance at the plate. Smooth back load and small leg kick. Gets some separation and lower half involvement. Would like to see more lower half used in swing as strength is present in the box. Showed quick bat speed with an exit velo up to 76 mph. Short, slightly uphill swing path and gap-to-gap, line drive type hitter now with more power in the bat to come. Quiet body receiving behind the plate and sticks it well. Showed some quick footwork and clean exchanges. Short arm action throwing from a low three-quarter slot with front side open at release. Position velo of 68 mph. Pop times ranged 2.26 - 2.34. Also ran a 4.38 home-to-first time.
Sam Merchant C/2B Arundel 2020
Athletic body type and 5-foot-9, 150 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, athletic, square stance at the plate. Short, smooth back load and controlled leg kick for timing. Stays through the ball well and gets nice extension through contact. Explosive lower half involvement, quick hands and fast bat speed. Short, level swing path with an exit velo of 82 mph. Quiet body behind the plate and receives the ball well. Showed quick footwork and quick, clean exchanges. Gains ground on throws to second base with pop times ranging 1.96 - 2.09. Throws with shorter arm action from a high three-quarter slot at 74 mph. Also ran a 4.28 home-to-first time.
Miles Peterson C/OF Bishop McNamara 2021
Long, lanky, athletic body type and 5-foot-11, 155 pound frame. Hits from a open, balanced, slightly crouched stance. Smooth back load and slight front foot toe tap. Showed some lower half involvement, quick hands and fast bat speed. Short, level swing path with an exit velo of 79 mph. Line drive type hitter with occasional pop. Ran a 4.63 home-to-first time. Quiet body and receives the ball well behind the plate. Athletic and showed quick footwork gaining ground on throws to second base. Threw with shorter arm action from a high three-quarter slot at 70 mph. Pop times ranged 2.12 - 2.26.
Parker Smith C/3B Harford Tech 2021
Big body type and 5-foot-11, 190 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, athletic, slightly open stance at the plate with front knee slightly inverted. Short back load with a small leg kick. Gets some lower half involvement and showed nice extension through contact. Showed quick bat speed and a level swing path with an exit velo up to 85 mph. Power type hitter. Sways upper body slightly behind the plate receiving. Had quick footwork and quick, clean exchanges gaining ground on throws to second base. Short arm action throwing from a high three-quarter slot at 64 mph. Pop times ranged 2.20 - 2.43.
AJ Vigliotti C/1B St. Joseph by the Sea (NY) 2021
Big, solid body type and 5-foot-10, 195 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, athletic, slightly open stance at the plate. Smooth back load with a toe tap. Creates nice separation showed some bat speed. Strong lower half involvement and good extension through contact. Short, level swing path with an exit velo of 79 mph. Quiet behind the plate and stick the ball well. Showed quick footwork and clean exchanges. Pop times ranged 2.06 - 2.19. Throws with short arm action from a high three-quarter slot at 72 mph. Ran a 4.97 home-to-first time.