2019 Preseason All-State Showcase Analysis: Pitchers
March 16, 2019
The 2019 Preseason All-State Showcase took place February 24th at Pro Performance RX in Morgantown, WV. Today we conclude the series of articles analyzing the prospects in attendance with a look at the Pitchers that participated.
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Pitchers
Cody Sharp, Spring Valley, Class of 2019
On the mound, the 6-foot-1, 190-pound primary Pitcher was very impressive on this day. Not only with velocity, but with overall command. He threw out of a high 3/4 arm slot. His FB sat 88-89 with arm side sink. He had overall good feel for his CH at 78-79 mph, and CB which sat at 75-77 mph with 2/7 shape. Overall, his mechanics were sound and his hip explosion was noted. Sharp has the ability to throw meaningful innings for the Herd sooner rather than later.
Tyrus Baumgardner, Spring Valley, Class of 2020
On the mound, the 6-foot-2, 200-pound primary Pitcher worked out of a 3/4 slot. His FB sat 84-86 mph with good arm side run. His SL shows serious potential to be a put away pitch at 71-72 mph and 10/4 shape. His CH has good life and solid deception at 74-76 mph. He uses his bottom half well to get down the hill, along with a quick arm action toward the plate. Overall, Baumgardner is very impressive on the mound, and will be a highly sought after pitcher in the 2020 Class.
Cullen Horowicz, Jefferson, Class of 2021
On the mound, the 6-foot-4, 215-pound primary Third Basemen works out of a high 3/4 slot. He shows overall good strength and the ability to create tilt towards his target. His delivery was low effort, repeatable, and displayed a FB that sat 84-86 mph with good action at the plate. His CB sat 72-73 mph to go along with a 77-78 mph CH. Overall, Horowicz athleticism and overall strength make him one of the top prospects in the 2021 Class in West Virginia.
Gavin Pratt, Carmicheals, Class of 2021
On the mound, the 6-foot, 155-pound primary Pitcher worked out of a high 3/4 slot. His mechanics were low effort, repeatable, and overall impressive. His FB sat 84-86 mph with arm side run. Displayed control on both sides of the plate. His CB sat 64-70 mph with 11/5 shape and hard bite. He threw both pitches out of the same arm slot. Overall, Pratt has the make up and tools to be a high level arm if he continues to progress.
Hunter Ridgeway, Greenbrier East, Class of 2020
On the mound, the 6-foot, 215-pound primary Pitcher worked out of a mid 3/4 arm slot. Ridgeway has a powerful lower half, which will help him as he progresses. His FB sat 80-82 mph, topping at 83 mph. He throws it heavy, which usually isn't the case in that velocity range. He throws all 3 pitches in the strike zone and can do so in any count. His CB sat 66-67 mph, had 11/5 shape with good action at the plate. His CH is a developing pitch at 69-70 mph, and has come along since the fall season. Overall, Ridgeway will a highly sought after prospect for the 2020 Class.
Casey Smith, University, Class of 2021
On the mound, the 6-foot-2, 165-pound primary Pitchers throws out of a mid 3/4 arm slot. Smith's delivery is some what deceptive as he hides the ball until the last possible second during his delivery. This gives him a solid advantage over hitters. His FB sat 80-81 mph with cut action at the plate. His CB sat 66-67 mph with 10/4 shape and had good break. His CH sat 70-71 mph with arm side dive at the plate. Overall, with his athleticism, Smith is a player to follow closely in the 2021 Class.
Zac Rose, Jefferson, Class of 2021
On the mound, the 6-foot-2, 230-pound primary Pitcher throws out of a high 3/4 arm slot. His FB sat 79-81, maxing at 82 mph with good arm side run. His best pitch on this day was his CH which sat 68-69 mph thrown at the same arm speed as his FB. He did a good job of throwing it on top of the plate and will be a pitch that helps him get outs this spring. His CB sat 70-71 mph with 2/7 shape in which he had some trouble getting on top of consistently. Overall, Rose looks the part on the bump and if he consistently throws strikes, will be a player to follow in this Class.
Dawson Beckett, Logan, Class of 2020
On the mound, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound primary Pitcher throws out of a over-the-top arm slot. One of the best pure pitchers in the state, Beckett continued to impress on this day. His FB sat 79-80 mph and was thrown with pin point control to both sides of the plate. His CH sat 69-70 mph and was thrown with the same arm speed as his FB. His CB showed 11/5 shape and was thrown down in the zone. His ability to throw 3 pitches in any count will make him a highly sough after pitching prospect in the 2020 Class in West Virginia.
Josh Cline, Oak Glen, Class of 2019
On the mound, the 6-foot, 180-pound primary Third Basemen throws out of a over-the-top arm slot. His delivery was max effort, but he was able to keep his body under control and not lose his balance, which was impressive. His FB sat 79-80 mph with good cut action at the plate. His CB sat 65-67 and had 11/5 bite. His CH sat 70-74 mph and was thrown at near same arm speed as his FB. Overall, Cline is one of the best available pitchers in the 2019 Class in West Virginia.
Evan Juniper, Huntington, Class of 2020
On the mound, the 6-foot, 215-pound primary Third Basemen throws out of a mid 3/4 arm slot. On this day, Juniper was impressive throwing most all of his pitches in the lower half of the strike zone. His FB sat 79-80 mph with cut action out of his hand. His CB sat 69-70 mph with 10/5 shape and good break. His CH sat 68-69 mph and was thrown with good deception. One thing that would help Juniper would be to throw his CH with the same arm speed as his FB. Overall, Juniper is strike thrower with the ability to get guys out consistently pitching in the lower half of the strike zone.
James Walsh, Jefferson, Class of 2020
On the mound, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound primary Pitcher throws out of a low 3/4 arm slot. His FB sat 79-80 mph with good downward plane. He does tend to show the ball a long time to the hitter, but the movement on his ball will help with that. His CB sat 65-70 mph with 10/4 shape and slurvy action. Overall, Walsh has the potential to get outs this spring for the Cougars.
Samuel Romano, Notre Dame, Class of 2020
On the mound, the 6-foot3, 180-pound primary Pitcher throws out of a over-the-top arm slot. His FB sat 78-79, topping at 81 mph with cut action out of his hand. His CB sat 67-68 mph with 11/5 shape. He had trouble controlling this pitch on this day. His CH sat 70-71 mph and was thrown at near FB arm speed.
Evan Smith, University, Class of 2021
On the mound, the 6-foot-2, 165-pound primary Pitchers throws out of a mid 3/4 arm slot. Along with his brother, Smith's delivery has deceptive as he hides the ball until the last possible second during his delivery. This puts hitters at a disadvantage. His FB sat 77-80 mph with cut action at the plate. His CB sat 66-68 mph with 10/4 shape and had good break. His CH sat 70-71 mph with arm side run at the plate. Overall, with his athleticism and arm, Smith is a player to follow closely in the 2021 Class in West Virginia.
Will Hunt, Lewis County, Class of 2021
On the mound, the 6-foot, 160-pound primary Pitcher throws out of a mid 3/4 arm slot. Overall, displayed sound mechanics and lands is solid fielding position. On this day, his FB sat 77-79 mph with arm side run out of his hand. His CB sat 66-69 mph with 10/4 shape and solid break at the plate. His CH sat 65-66 mph and is a developing pitch for Hunt. Overall, Hunt's athleticism makes him a player to watch in the 2021 Class.
Leewood Molessa, Williamstown, Class of 2021
On the mound, the 6-foot-2, 240-pound primary First Basemen throws out of a high 3/4 arm slot. He displayed the ability to get over his front side and pitch in the lower half of the strike zone. His FB sat 77-79 mph with cut action out of his hand. His CB sat 66-68 mph with tumbling action out of his hand and 11/5 shape. His CH sat 69-70 and was thrown at near FB arm speed. Overall, with his size, Molessa is an intriguing prospect in his Class and a player to keep an eye on.
Mason Lantz, Jefferson, Class of 2020
On the mound, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound primary Third Basemen throws out of a mid 3/4 arm slot. On this day, Lantz threw all three pitches around the strike zone which was impressive. His ability to command the lower half of the zone at his size was noted. His FB sat 76-79 mph with cut action out of his hand. His CB sat 65-66 mph with 10/4 shape and hard bite at the plate. His CH sat 64-65 mph and was thrown at near FB arm speed. Overall, with his size and athleticism, Lantz is an impressive athlete and a player to follow in his Class.
Lane Jordan, Oak Hill, Class of 2020
On the mound, the 6-foot-1, 175-pound primary Third Basemen throws out of a high 3/4 arm slot. Usually, at this arm slot it is hard to pitch in the lower half of the strike zone. This wasn't the case with Jordan. He showed impressive command of his FB which sat 75-77 mph with arm side run. His CB sat 69-70 mph with 10/5 shape.His best pitch of the day was his CH which sat 68-69 mph with good deception out of his hand. Overall, Jordan has the ability to help his high school team on the mound this spring.
Gage Bibey, Philip Barbour, Class of 2021
On the mound, the 6-foot, 170-pound primary Pitcher throws out of a lower 3/4 arm slot. On this day, he displayed confident, controlled mechanics and the ability to throws strikes to both sides of the plate. His FB sat 75-76 mph with cut action out of his hand. His CB sat 69-70 and had 10/5 shape and action. Overall, Bibey made significant gains over his previous event and continues to be a player to follow closely in the 2021 Class.
Dustin Corley, Parkersburg South, Class of 2021
On the mound, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound primary Third Basemen throws out of a high 3/4 arm slot. His ability to pitch to both sides of the plate continues to be impressive even in a bullpen environment. His FB sat 73-74 mph with heavy sink at the plate. His CB sat 69-70 mph with 10/5 shape and bite at the plate. His CH sat 70-71 mph and was thrown at good arm speed which created deception. Overall, Corley continued to impress on this day and is a player to follow in this Class.
POST EVENT ANALYSIS
- Monday, March 11th - Preseason All-State Showcase Analysis: Catchers
- Tuesday, March 12th - Preseason All-State Showcase Analysis: 3B
- Wednesday, March 13th - Preseason All-State Showcase Analysis: MIF
- Thursday, March 14th - Preseason All-State Showcase Analysis: 1B
- Friday, March 15th - Preseason All-State Showcase Analysis: OF
- Saturday, March 16th - Preseason All-State Showcase Analysis: Pitchers
UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| 2019 West Virginia Top Prospect Games | WV | 06/11 | Frank Loria Field |
| Central West Virginia Summer Kickoff Showcase | WV | 06/26 | Sue Morris Complex |
| Parkersburg College Prospect Showcase | WV | 07/09 | Bennett Stump Field - City Park |
| Eastern Panhandle College Prospect Showcase | WV | 07/16 | Potomac State College |
| West Virginia Deep South College Prospect Showcase | WV | 07/24 | Linda K Epling Stadium |
| Junior Future Games | NATIONAL | 07/30 | LakePoint |