Northern West Virginia College Showcase: Full Prospect Analysis
August 31, 2018
The summer 2018 West Virginia Showcase event schedule continued on August 26th with the Northern West Virginia College Prospect Showcase at Wheeling Jesuit University. A number of interesting prospects dotted the roster with complete analysis of all players in attendance provided below.
+ For complete results from all prospects in attendance - CLICK HERE.
Top Prospects
Josh Cline, 2019, Oak Glen, 3B/RHP
Defensively, funnels ball out front and bottom up with active feet to and through the ball. Flashed an accurate 80 mph arm on throws across.
Offensively, 6-foot, 180 pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with controlled stride staying neutral. Separation is excellent, weight shift and hip turn are aggressive. Hands are quick and loose. Bat path is slightly up hill creating natural lift. Swing has balance, rhythm and intent. A 92 mph bat exit velocity was registered. Overall projects to potential next level power bat.
On the mound, the right-hander works out of an over-the-top arm slot. There is significant arm speed. Delivery is moderate effort and repeatable. Fastball sat 81-82 mph with arm side run. Curveball at 67-71 mph showed 11/5 shape and good depth. Change up was thrown with good sell and consistent fade. Cline flashed ability to command three pitch mix to all quadrants. Overall presents as potential sleeper in Class of 2019.
Logan Fox, 2020, Meadowbrook (OH), RHP/1B
Defensively, hands are adequate. There is tendency to work top down and play the ball deep. Feet work well around the bag and length plays at first base.Christian Fluharty, 2022, Hundred, RHP/OF
Defensively, there is tendency to funnel ball on ground as OF. Fluharty would benefit from consistently getting behind and aggressively playing through the ball in the air.
Offensively, 5-foot-8, 125 pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from open set up with knee to knee leg kick and stride staying open. Separation is solid. weight shift and hip turn are aggressive. There is subtle front side softness following heel plant. Barrel feel was demonstrated in squaring of multiple balls during round of bp. A 77 mph bat exit velocity was registered. Mechanics suggest potential development into solid offensive player.
On the mound, right-hander works out of mid 3/4 arm slot. There is balance, rhythm and repeatability to moderate effort delivery. Fastball at 72-75 mph was commanded with consistent am side run. Curveball sat 65-66 mph with 11/5 shape and moderate depth. Command of spin was solid. Change up at 68-70 mph was thrown with fastball arm speed flashing late fade/sink. Overall, young arm who presents as follow in Class of 2022.
Remainder of roster (in alphabetical order)
Tanner Akers, 2019, Spring Valley, C
Defensively, glove hand is soft and confident. Presents a soft, square wall with overall solid blocking technique. Feet and hands are quick while arm stroke has length in recording 2.09 pop time on throw of 78 mph.
Offensively, 5-foot-9, 180 pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with short, controlled stride staying neutral. Separation is adequate. There is subtle front side softness following heel plant. Swing path is short and flat while staying behind baseball and achieving solid leverage. Intermittent dropping of the hands in slotting is present. Aker's consistently barreled ball during his round of bp. An 85 mph bat exit velocity was recorded.
Max Anderson, 2019, Parkersburg, RHP/OF
Defensively, shows athletic actions in tracking. Consistently and aggressively plays through ball on ground flashing accurate 77 mph OF arm.
Offensively, 6-foot-3, 165 pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with subtle leg hang and short stride staying neutral. Separation is adequate. Weight shift is passive followed by an aggressive hip turn. Hands are loose and work directly to the baseball with short, flat bat path. A 78 mph bat exit velocity was registered.
On the mound, the right-hander works out of a mid 3/4 arm slot. Delivery is low effort and repeatable. Hip coil lends deception. Fastball is commanded with considerable arm side run at 77-78 mph. Curveball at 64-67 mph showed moderate depth and 11/5 shape. Change up at 69 mph was thrown at fastball arm speed and at best solid arm side fade/sink.
Clayton Blucher, 2020, Seneca Valley (PA), C/2B
Defensively, shows soft, quiet glove hand while consistently beating ball to the spot in receiving and framing. Flashes soft wall and appropriate trunk angle in blocking. Feet are quick while throwing motion has length in registering 2.21 pop time on throw of 73 mph.
Offensively, 5-foot-9, 155 pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with toe-tap stride staying neutral. Separation is adequate. Weight shift and hip turn are aggressive. Hands are loose achieving solid barrel whip. Blucher stays behind ball and works into a firm front side resulting in excellent leverage. Bat path is slightly up hill creating natural lift. A bat exit velocity of 80 mph was recorded.
Blaine Dettinger, 2022, George Washington, OF/RHP
Defensively, shows confident glove hand in attacking and playing through ball on the ground. Dettinger would benefit from being more aggressive in reads allowing him to consistently get behind and play through the ball in the air.
Offensively, 5-foot-8, 130 pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from neutral set up with lift and replace stride. Weight shift is passive and bat wrap lends to length. Barrel feel allowed squaring of multiple balls during round of bp. Imminent strength gains in young player should translate to marked, short term gains in all facets of game.
On the mound, works out of a mid 3/4 arm slot. Delivery is moderate effort and repeated well. Fastball was true at 67-68 mph. Curveball at 58-59 mph was thrown for strije showing 11/5 shape and rolling action. Change up at 66-67 mph remains work in progress.
Hunter Hickman, 2020, Wirt County, RHP/OF
Defensively, consistently catches ball at it's height. Displays confident glove hand in playing ball on the ground. hickman would benefit from being more decisive in his reads with greater commitment to getting behind and playing through the ball in the air.
Offensively,, 5-foot-10, 155 pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from a neutral set up with controlled stride staying neutral. Weight shift and hip turn are aggressive. Separation is adequate. There is balance and rhythm to swing. A short, flat bath path is present. Leverage is achieved through backside release into a firm front side. Hickman turned in a solid round of bp spraying line drives to all fields. He registered an 80 mph bat exit velocity.
On the mound, the right-hander works out of a high 3/4 arm slot. Delivery is moderate effort with balance, rhythm and repeatability. Fastball sat 77-78 mph with moderate arm side run. Curveball at 67-69 mph had 11/5 shape and rolling action. Change up was thrown with good sell and inconsistent command at 63-67 mph.
Charlie Kerzak, 2020, Morgantown, C/RHP
Defensively, glove hand is soft, quiet and confident in framing and receiving. Presents soft, square wall in blocking while maintaining solid trunk angle. Feet are quick,transfer and arm stroke have length in recording pop time of 2.19 on throw of 78 mph.
Offensively, 6-foot, 190 pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from open set up with heel raise and no stride. No stride approach lends to passive weight shift and reduced separation. There was intermittent difficulty being on time on this day. A bat exit velocity of 82 mph was registered.
On the mound, the right-hander works out of a mid 3/4 arm slot showing ability to repeat low effort delivery. Fastball was true and commanded at 74-76 mph. Curveball flashed 11/4 slurvy action with moderate depth and was thrown for strike. Change up at 70 mph remains a work in progress.
Jordan Mize, 2021, Greenbrier East, OF/3B
Defensively, flashes fluid, athletic actions in tracking ball in the air. Consistently, gets behind and plays through ball both in the air and on the ground. Shows soft, confident glove hand.
Offensively, 6-f00t-3, 170 pound right-handed hitter initiates swing from slightly open set up with short stride staying open. Separation and weight shift are adequate. Hip turn and backside release are passive. A solid for age bat exit velocity of 84 mph was registered.
UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| 2018 Eastern PA Fall Review | WV | 09/15 | Widener University |
| 2018 Western PA Fall Review | WV | 09/15 | La Roche College (Pittsburgh, PA) |
| 2018 Western PA Fall Scout Day (Invitation Only) | WV | 09/30 | Allegheny College (Meadville, PA) |
| West Virginia Fall College Prospect Showcase | WV | 11/18 | Pro Performance RX - Morgantown |
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