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Best Tools: Uncommitted 2017 Pitchers

September 23, 2016

By Jacob Gill
Pennsylvania Assistant Director of Scouting

As we reach the midpoint of the fall season with the NCAA signing period less than two months away, we are highlighting a group of the top uncommitted prospects in the senior class this week.  We conclude today with pitchers.

Best Fastball Velocity: Trevor Smith, IF/RHP, Delaware Valley

A primary position player, the 6-foot-2, 175-pound Smith is a pitching neophyte. However, during an inning of work back in July, he touched 90 mph with his fastball, while sitting in the mid-80s, out of a low three-quarter slot.

Honorable Mention: Beck Way, OF/RHP, Cumberland Valley - Another primary position player, Way has a projectable 6-foot-2, 160-pound frame and clean arm action that generated a mid-80s fastball which topped at 87 mph at last month's Pennsylvania Travel State Championships.


Best Fastball Movement: Matt Gorman, RHP, William Penn Charter

A member of Team PA at the 2014 PBR Future Games, the 5-foot-11, 170-pound Gorman himself works with a mid-80s (touching 87 mph) fastball that consistently shows late armside action.


Best Curveball: Michael Crawford, LHP, West Allegheny

In three viewings this summer and fall, Crawford has featured a two-plane curveball with sharp 1/7 action that projects as an out-pitch at the next level. Lean 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame and easy delivery currently produce a low-80s fastball that touches 84 mph and projects for more.


Honorable Mention:
Gorman - low-70s, 11/5 curveball exhibits very good depth
Evan Raiburn, RHP, Bonner-Prendergast - big 11/5 curveball has good shape and depth. Standing at 5-foot-11, 175-pounds, also has FB 84-85.

Best Slider: Daniel Sabath, RHP, Christopher Dock Mennonite

Sabath had this category locked up in early May when he got multiple swings-and-misses (including two swinging strikeouts) via his slider from the eventual second round pick of the Cleveland Indians. The mid-70s offering features tight spin with late action that bites away from right-handed hitters and dives under the barrel of left-handed hitters. The 6-foot, 170-pounder has good arm speed and complements this out-pitch with a fastball at 82-83 that touches 84 mph.


Honorable Mention: Cory Storm, RHP, Hollidaysburg Area - 5-foot-10, 175-pounder consistently demonstrates a good feel for his sharp, mid-70s slider. (Note: he signals CB in the video below, but the pitch has short, slider-like action, which is why we list it here)


Best Change-up: Aidan Welch, RHP, Roman Catholic

This 6-foot-3, 190-pounder shut down eventual PIAA class 2A state champ Neumann-Goretti in an early May start, primarily on the strength of a diving change-up that he threw out of the same arm slot and with the same arm speed as his low-80s fastball, which played up due to how well he sold the change-up. Welch showed an ability to double-up on the change and effectively employ it against right-handed hitters.


Best Command: Michael Jenkins, RHP, Parkland

Jenkins pounds the strikezone (60 IP, 60 H, 6 BB, 65 K as a junior) and demonstrates pitchability, locating his fastball (82-84, touch 85 mph) to both sides of the plate. He also has a good feel for his change-up and 11/5 curveball.

Honorable Mention:
Sabath - 54 IP, 31 H, 6 BB, 80 K as a junior
Gorman - has had an advanced feel for his three-pitch mix since his freshman year
Crawford - 45.2 IP, 26 H, 15 BB, 62 K as junior vs stiff WPIAL Section 3 competition

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