Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Elite Prospect Showcase Analysis: Class of 2015 Pitchers

November 5, 2013

By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

The Elite Prospect Showcase gave 25 pitchers the opportunity to showcase their talents on the mound with 15 of the talented arms being from the Class of 2015. Following is a look at the top prospects among the group and a complete analysis of all pitchers in the class.


Top Prospects

Rhett JacobyRHP Rhett Jacoby (Parkland HS)

Jacoby is a 6-foot-3, 195-pound righty with a long, lean frame. He has room to continue adding to his frame and his velocity. Jacoby sat at 85 mph with late life to his fastball out of a high 3/4 arm slot. His 76 mph curveball has 11/5 breaking action and he showed some arm side run to his 78 mph changeup thrown at near fastball arm speed. Jacoby displayed the same mechanics and velos out of the stretch and continues to show strides towards becoming one of the top right handed arms in this class. 

C/3B/RHP Zach Minnick (Logan HS, WV)

Minnick is a C/3B that also pitches. If he were to concentrate solely on being a pitcher the results could be interesting. The 6-foot, 215-pound righty, ranked No. 1 in the WV Class of 2015, sat 85-87 out of a high 3/4 arm slot. Minnick commanded a 72 mph 11/5 breaking curveball and a 72 mph splitter that shows down action at the plate. While Minnick's abilities as a power hitting catcher are well documented, it is likely that he will also be recruited for his potential on the mound.

Jacob PotockRHP Jacob Potock (Shaler Area HS) 

Potock sat 85-87 from a high 3/4 arm slot. The 6-foot-5, 225-pound junior showcased a 74 mph 11/5 breaking curveball, a 78 mph slider and a 73 mph changeup with substantial arm side run. Potock will need to continue to refine the two breaking pitches or eliminate one in favor of the other, but the changeup is a quality pitch that will get outs. He throws the changeup at fastball arm speed and it shows solid late movement down in the zone.


Best of the Rest (Alphabetical order)

3B/RHP Logan Buell (Pennsbury HS)

Buell utilized a high leg kick and a strong lower half to sit 79-81 out of a high 3/4 arm slot. He showed the makings of a quality 11/5 breaking curveball with tight rotation at 69 mph. His 75 mph changeup is thrown at near fastball arm speed, but lacks any real movement. The 5-foot-8, 190-pound two-way prospect shows potential from the mound and could develop additional velocity as his frame matures.

2B/RHP Michael Kuypers (Central Bucks South HS)

Kuypers is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound two-way prospect that showed promise on the mound. He sat 83-84 from a high 3/4 arm slot with a quick arm action. His 71 mph curveball showed slider break and his 75 mph changeup showed arm side run and was thrown at fastball arm speed. Kuypers showed well as a two-way prospect and will be an interesting follow in this class.

RHP/3B Sam Lazowski (Donegal HS)

Lazowski is a 6-foot-5, 200-pound two-way prospect that sat 81-82 out of a high 3/4 arm slot. He has a long, loose throwing motion and gets some arm side run on his fastball. His 11/5 breaking curveball sat 67-68 and he showcased a 73 mph changeup at near fastball arm speed. Lazowski has more in the tank and could see significant velocity gains as his frame matures and he finds a tempo on the mound that will allow him to get the most out of his body.

OF/LHP Brian Lucey (Episcopal Academy)

Lucey sat 73-74 out of a high 3/4 arm slot with repeatable mechanics. The 6-foot, 165-pound lefty is a strike thrower that showcased a 1/7 curveball with tight rotation at 66 mph. His 68 mph changeup showed some arm side run at near fastball arm speed.

C/RHP Derrick McHenry (Octorara HS)

McHenry is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound primary catcher that also threw a bullpen session. The righty sat 72-73 from a high 3/4 arm slot. He also showed a 63 mph curveball with 1/5 rotation and a 67 mph changeup at near fastball arm speed. His changeup showed significant arm side run and was thrown consistently for strikes.

RHP/3B Steve Moppert (Penncrest HS)

Moppert was one of the more intriguing pitchers to throw at the event. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound righty sat 78-80 out of a high 3/4 arm slot, but it was the action of his fastball that stood out. He throws the pitch with natural cut action and it also showed some downward plane. Moppert also commanded a 72 mph 11/5 breaking curveball and a 73 mph changeup. As he develops his athletic frame Moppert could add velocity and his cut fastball could be a very effective pitch at the next level.

OF/RHP Nick Newman (Cardinal O'Hara HS)

Newman is a 6-foot-1, 195-pound two-way prospect that was very impressive at the plate. He sat 72-73 on the mound from an over the top arm slot. He also showcased a 67 mph 11/5 breaking curveball and a 68 mph changeup.

1B/LHP Nick O'Shea (Springfield HS)

O'Shea is a 6-foot, 195-pound lefty that sat 73-74 out of an over the top arm slot. His 69 mph changeup lacked movement, but his 65 mph 12/6 curveball showed promise. While the curveball lacks the velocity necessary for the next level, it has tight rotation and good down action.

1B/RHP Dylan Spiegel (Bishop McDevitt HS)

Spiegel sat 76-78 out of a high 3/4 arm slot. His 11/5 breaking 70 mph curveball showed solid down action with tight rotation. The 6-foot, 155-pound righty also showcased a 72 mph changeup at near fastball arm speed.

RHP/SS Zack Tocyloski (Mount Carmel HS)

Tocyloski showed good life to his 83 mph fastball and a quick arm out of a 3/4 arm slot. His 70 mph 11/5 breaking curveball showed tight rotation, but the 5-foot-11, 155-pound righty had difficulties commanding it for strikes. Tocyloski also showcased some arm side run to his 73 mph changeup at near fastball arm speed.

LHP Antonio Viviano (Mt. Lebanon HS)

Viviano is a 6-foot-2, 240-pound lefty with a clean arm action that sat 74-75 from a high 3/4 arm slot. His 1/7 breaking curveball showed good rotation and was thrown consistently for strikes. Viviano also showcased a 68 mph changeup at near fastball arm speed. The lefty has the potential to develop into a recruitable arm in this class. He will need to get more from his lower half and improve his core strength to get to the next level.

RHP Brandon Wermuth (Bensalem HS)

Wermuth sat 66-68 out of a 3/4 arm slot with arm side run to his fastball. The 6-foot, 145-pound righty also showcased a 10/4 breaking curveball at 54 mph and a 58 mph changeup with arm side run. With an athletic frame and the potential for added growth, Wermuth should see some velocity gains in the next two years.

additional pa news: