Chicagoland Open: Pitching Analysis

September 29, 2016

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The Chicagoland Open took place on Sunday, August 21st at The MAX in McCook, IL. Following the event the PBR scouting staff compiled all of the notes from the workout and over the next week we will break down the event position by position.

Earlier this week, we began the analysis of the event taking a look at the catchers.Today we conclude the position analysis with a look at the pitchers from the event.

Top Pitching Prospects

1. Riley Gowens, RHP, Libertyville, 2018
Strong bodied, 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-handed pitcher. Balanced, slow tempoed to top of balance point, tall and fall delivery, upright through release, lacks lower half. Arm action is quick and loose, good arm speed, can get more out of lower half, short action from over the top slot. Fastball flashed heavy feel, 83-85 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, occasional sharp action, 67-72 mph. Changeup showed arm side run, above average feel, 74-77 mph.

2. Ryan Leland, 3B/RHP, Sandburg, 2019
6-foot-2, 165-pound right-handed hitting 3B/RHP with a lanky, athletic frame. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a smooth load and short leg lift stride. Fluid rhythm with good balance. Gap to gap hitter with extension thru contact. Showed strength thru contact with 85 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.04. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball, slower actions with fluid footwork. Threw 76 mph across the infield. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall, online delivery with smooth rhythm. Fastball has slight running action at 77-79 mph. Slider has sweeping action with tight rotation at 66-68 mph, thrown with conviction. Changeup showed sinking action at 65-68 mph.

3. Zach Fricke, RHP/SS, Buffalo Grove, 2018
6-foot-2, 158-pound right-handed hitting RHP/SS. Projects well on the mound. Works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short, loose, quick arm action. Tall and fall, slow paced delivery. Works in line with home plate. Fastball showed slight running action at 83-84 topping out at 85 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape with tight rotation with late breaking action at 68-69 mph. Maintained fastball arm speed on changeup that has sinking action at 71-73 mph. Also threw a knuckleball at 66-67 mph. Defensively has a loose arm action from a high ¾ slot. Accurate throws with carry throwing 79 mph across the infield. Showed good body control with a quick, clean exchange. At the plate hits from a tall open stance. Line drive hitter with a long, level swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 86 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.37.

4. Jack McCullough, LHP/OF, Warren, 2017
Army commit. 6-foot-4, 185-pound left-handed two-way player. On the mound delivery repeats and shows feel for three pitches. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball has slight run, showed control of the zone, 80-81 mph. Curveball has 2/8 sweeping action, ability to control. 68-72 mph. Slider is similar to curveball, sweeps, 70-71 mph. Changeup is straight, thrown with arm speed, 75-76 mph with control. Left-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride slightly dives. Low effort swing, dive/pull hitter, 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 83 mph from the outfield, high ¾ slot. Clean exchange, average hands. 7.54 runner in the 60.

5. Brett Taucher, RHP, Elk Grove, 2017
6-foot-4, 212-pound right-handed pitcher, extra large body, stronger build. Delivers with some effort, toe lift to balance, slightly on heels, squared landing. Arm action is long and firm, high ¾ slot. Fastball has arm side run, played 84-86 mph, some feel for the zone. Curveball flashed action, 11/5 shape, 68-72 mph. Changeup is thrown aggressively, flashed arm side action, 78-80 mph.

6. Will Michalski, RHP, Mundelein, 2017
6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed pitcher, athletic shape. Athletic delivery, showed ability to repeat, works with tempo, active hands, regular effort. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball showed good feel for the zone mostly straight with slight boring action, 81-82 mph. Curveball worked on 11/5 plane, 67-69 mph, showed depth and feel. Changeup fades, thrown with fastball arm speed, 72-74 mph.

7. Andrew Hoffmann, RHP/3B, Plainfield East, 2018
6-foot-3, 160-pound two-way player, long lanky frame. On the mound, arm action is long and loose, works well out front, high ¾ slot. Fastball is straight, 77-79 mph, touched 80 mph with slight arm side run. Curveball showed feel, gradual action on 11/5 plane, 65-68 mph. Changeup fades to arm side, 70-74 mph. Right-handed hitter, slightly open setup, short stride, good balance. Loose and easy bat, level path. 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed similar arm across the diamond as on the mound. Average hands, 79 mph across the diamond. 8.03 runner in the 60.

8. Graham Radabaugh, SS/RHP, Geneva, 2019
6-foot-2, 170-pound right-handed hitting SS/RHP with a raw present tool set. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a toe tap stride. Short swing path with stiff rhythm. Showed strength thru contact with 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.41. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Showed raw arm strength throwing 80 mph across the infield. On the mound works form a high ¾ arm angle with a short, quick arm action. Tall and fall delivery with an open landing and effort in delivery. Will continue to improve with more backside involvement Fastball sat 82-83 topping out at 84 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape at 68-69 mph. Changeup has slurve action at 64-65 mph.

9. Anthony Rogers, LHP, Montini Catholic, 2017
6-foot-2, 210-pound left-handed pitcher, large frame, broad shouldered. Showed ability to repeat delivery, heavy landing, low front side. Arm action is short, high ¾ slot. Fastball found the zone regularly, 78-80 mph, touching 81 mph, running action to arm side. Threw two breaking balls, curveball worked at 63-65 mph, slurve type action. Slider had similar action, 64-69 mph.

10. Zach Zentz, LHP, Mundelein, 2017
Wiry, 6-foot, 170-pound left-handed pitcher, thin projectable frame. Slightly rotational, quiet glove side, lower front shoulder, occasionally gets underneath. Arm action is loose, ¾ slot, tough angle, gets out front, loose release. Fastball gets occasionally sneaky, touched 80 mph, 78-79 mph, slight running action, controlled the zone. Slider has sweeping action, dropped for strikes, 66-68 mph. Changeup showed feel, occasionally cuts it, near fastball arm speed, 71-73 mph.

10. Justin Mazur, RHP, Manteno, 2017
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed pitcher, wiry build. Confident mound presence, rotational delivery, toe lift to balance point, closed toe landing, recoil finish. Long arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball is mostly straight, 81-83 mph, touched 84 mph. Curveball played on 11/5 plane, good spin and action, showed feel, 69-73 mph. Changeup sinks, throws aggressively, 74-76 mph.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Joe Bogdan, LHP, Hinsdale Central, 2018
6-foot-4, 180-pound left-handed pitcher, lanky frame. High ¾ slot, long firm arm action, regular effort. Fastball sat 67-70 mph. Curveball played at 58-61 mph, gradual 12/6 action. Changeup slightly fades, 63-64 mph.

Joshua DeLeon, RHP/3B, De La Salle, 2020
5-foot-8, 125-pound two-way player. On the mound arms slots out of a high ¾ window. Fastball is straight, 67-70 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 55-59 mph. Knuckle ball flashed some action, 59-61 mph. Right-handed hitter, even setup, short stride. Loose hands, sprayed the baseball, 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is long, high ¾ slot, 70 mph across. 7.85 runner in the 60.

Andrew Gatland, SS/RHP, Lyons, 2019
6-foot-2, 165-pound right-handed hitting SS/RHP with a thin, lanky frame. Defensively has a long, loose arm action from a high ¾ slot. Athletic actions with fluid footwork. Threw 74 mph across the infield. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a wide base. High back elbow with a long, uphill swing path. 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.18. On the mound works from an over the top arm angle with a short arm action. Tall and fall online delivery with smooth rhythm. Fastball sat 71-74 mph. Curveball has 12-6 shape with loose rotation at 59-62 mph. Fastball arm speed on changeup with arm side run at 67-70 mph for strikes.

David Grunder, RHP/SS, Madison West (WI), 2018
5-foot-11, 165-pound two-way player. Delivery works slightly across body, closed front side, little effort. High ¾ slot. Fastball is straight, 74-75 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, slurve type action, 59-62 mph. Changeup is 63-66 mph, decelerated arm action. Right-handed hitter, squared setup,short stride, simple setup and approach. Mostly opposite field contact, 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short high ¾ slot, 71 mph across the diamond. Second base type defender, stays deep on the baseball. 8.38 runner in the 60.

Carlos Martinez, SS/RHP, Grant, 2019
5-foot-4, 126-pound two-way player, smaller body type. Defensively projects at second base, showed actions on the infield, some body control, and quick release. Arm plays from a high ¾ slot, flashed quick release, 73 mph across the infield, 77 mph from the outfield. 7.52 runner in the 60. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short toe tap stride. Singles contact, path is level, some length, 73 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound fastball has slight run, 71-75 mph, touched 76 mph. Curveball has short 11/5 shape, 63-67 mph. Changeup played at 68-70 mph, fades. Flashed a cutter at 72-74 mph.

Aiden Monce, 1B/RHP, Wheaton Warrenville South, 2020
5-foot-11, 175-pound two-way player. Right-handed hitting first baseman, open stance, longer stride with leg lift, drifts to front foot. Barrel works around the baseball, average bat speed. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is long, high ¾ slot, showed an athletic arm action, 71 mph across the diamond. 7.73 runner in the 60. On the mound fastball sat 71-73 mph, slight running action. Curveball has 10/4 gradual action, 58-61 mph. Changeup thrown with fastball arm speed, 64-70 mph.

Luke Olbrot, INF/RHP, Morris, 2019
5-foot-6, 140-pound two-way player. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup. Swings with effort, level path with length, 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Positionally plays short footwork, 8.10 runner in the 60, average hands. Arm action is long, high ¾ slot, 70 mph across the diamond. Right-handed pitcher, similar arm action on the mound, showed feel for the zone. Fastball has slight arm side run, 71-72 mph. Curveball has short break, 58-63 mph. Changeup is 59-61 mph, ability to throw for strikes. Showed splitter at 63-64 mph with some sink.

Justin Rios, OF/1B/LHP, St. Laurence, 2018
5-foot-6, 150-pound two-way player. On the mound arm works from a high ¾ slot, short arm action. Fastball showed arm side run, 76-78 mph. Curveball has 1/7 shape, showed feel for the zone, 63-66 mph. Changeup thrown with fastball arm speed, straight action, 68-72 mph. Left-handed hitter, leg lift stride. Path works uphill, loose hands, fly ball contact. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played similar to that on the mound, 80 mph from the outfield and across the infield. Active and aggressive footwork in the outfield, 7.56 runner in the 60.

Sagan Seeling, LHP, Naperville Central, 2018
5-foot-9, 147-pound left-handed pitcher. Short draw arm action, high ¾ slot, regular effort. Heel toe landing, finishes towards third base side. Fastball is straight, 71-73 mph. Curveball has 1/7 shape, 64-65 mph. Changeup sinks at 69-71 mph.

Bryson Schmidt, RHP, Plano, 2019
6-foot, 150-pound right-handed pitcher, thin build. Pitches with some effort, high ¾ slot, short arm action. Fastball has slight sink, 74-76 mph. Curveball is 12/6, early action, found the zone, 62-68 mph. Changeup plays 64-70 mph.

Austin Verhaeghe, OF/RHP, Sycamore, 2018
5-foot-11, 155-pound two-way player. Right-handed hitter, tall narrow setup, arm-bar load, reverse tap stride. Swings with effort, creating bat speed on slightly uphill plane. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.43 runner in the 60. Uses crow-hop through the baseball in the outfield, plays through with two hands. Arm action has length, over the top slot, 80 mph. Fastball sat 76-78 mph, slight run to arm side. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 61-62 mph. Changeup sinks, 71-72 mph. Also showed a knuckleball at 61 mph.

Kyle Wemstrom, RHP, Saint Viator, 2018
6-foot-2, 168-pound right-handed pitcher. Arm plays from a ¾ slot, rotational delivery, lacked extension. Fastball has slight arm side run, 68-70 mph, topped out at 72 mph. Curveball gradually bends on 11/5 plane, 57-60 mph. Changeup has slight fade thrown at fastball velocity, 66-67 mph.