Complete Fall Prospect ID Showcase Write ups

The Fall Prospect ID Showcase at St. Charles Community College on Saturday, September 22nd drew a impressive blend on unsigned seniors and underclassmen.

A complete in-depth look at the players in attendance:

Top Performers
John Howard, RHP/MIF/C, Clayton HS, Class of 2015:
The top overall performer of the event, Howard shows to be one of the top prospects in the class of 2015. On the mound, Howard comes from a high ¾ arm slot with quick arm speed and loose arm action, while throwing all three pitches for strikes. His 81-83 mph fastball had arm side run with late sink. Howard also throws a 11-to-5 breaking ball (68-71 mph) with late movement and fastball arm speed, as well as a 73-mph change up with some depth. Howard also impressed at shortstop, with quick footwork and range while showing soft hands and a fast glove to hand transfer with accurate throws across the diamond. Behind the plate, Howard fired a top pop time of 1.98. Offensively, Howard has an open stance with a short, compact and level swing that produced line drives to al fields.

Kyle Case, C, Ft. Zumwalt West HS, Class of 2013:
Case is an athletically built 6-foot, 180-pound catcher, who saw his stock rise with his ability behind and at the plate. Behind the plate, Case showcased an accurate arm (72-73 mph from the crouch) with pop times of 2.01-2.14. He also showed the ability to stick the ball in all parts of the strike zone. At the plate, Case uses a quiet setup and an aggressive lower half to hammer balls to all fields. He displayed excellent bat control and hand looseness at the plate, creating barrel whip through the zone. He stays balanced throughout, and gets excellent extension through contact. 

Turner Herbek, C, Eureka HS, Class of 2013:
Turner is a well-built 6-foot, 170-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Offensively, Herbek has looseness with his swing and uses a strong lower half to drive the ball hard gap to gap with backspin carry. He has good rhythm at the plate and a repeatable swing. Defensively, Herbek sticks the ball well and shows good instincts while blocking. He has quick feet and a quick glove to hand transfer with all throws on the bag, recording a top pop time of 2.12. He also showed some speed, with a 7.22 60. 

Ryan Wood, SS, Vianney, Class of 2013:
Wood is an athletic 6-foot, 190-pound middle infielder who showed to be one of the top infielders of the event. In the infield, Wood has a good approach to the ball with good lateral movements, getting to the ball quickly on both his forehand and backhand sides. He got the ball out of his glove quick and had a short, quick high ¾ arm slot with accurate throws across the diamond (76 mph) while playing through the ball.  At the plate, Wood has a crouched stance with no stride. His swing was short and compact, with extension through contact and the ability to barrel up the ball.

Best of the Rest (alphabetically)
Grant Bowles, RHP/1B, Francis Howell HS, Class of 2014:
Bowles is a lanky 6-foot-2, 170-pound two-way player. In the field at first base, Bowles moves well around the bag and showed to be a sure handed fielder. He came off the base well in turning double plays. At the plate, Bowles has a long, level swing with the ability to hit the ball to the opposite field. On the mound, Bowles threw three pitches for strikes; a fastball that topped at 80-mph with slight arm side run, a 11-to-5 breaking ball with near fastball arm speed (66-69 mph), and a 70-72 mph change up with some late sink.

Danny Brice, RHP/OF, Windsor HS, Class of 2014:
Brice is a long and lanky 6-foot-3, 185-pound two-way player. On the mound, Brice comes from an over the top arm angle, with a fastball that topped at 76-mph. He also shows an 11-to-5 breaking ball (59-61 mph) and a 65-68 mph change up. When he kept his change up down in the zone, it looked to be a effective pitch. In the outfield, Brice moves with purpose to the ball with a good glove to hand transfer and keeps his momentum toward his target. Offensively, Brice shows the ability to make consistent contact. When he used his lower half and stayed back, there were some glimpses of power.

Michael Del Castillo, OF/SS, DeSmet, Class of 2014:
Del Castillo is a 5-foot-11, 160-pound player who showed skills in the outfield and at shortstop. In the outfield, Del Castillo showed good effort to the ball, while getting in good position and staying behind the ball. His top throw was 78-mph. At shortstop, Del Castillo has fundamental footwork, with quick hands and a clean transfer delivering accurate throws across the diamond (78-mph). Offensively, he showed a long, level swing and the ability to make consistent contact and hit the ball to the opposite field. Additionally he ran a 7.31 60. 

Lawson Hughes, RHP/SS, Rolla HS, Class of 2013:
Hughes has a projectable 6-foot, 182-pound frame and showed to be a talented two-way player. On the mound, Hughes has smooth mechanics with good rhythm showing quick arm speed and easy effort, while throwing three pitches for strikes. He has a heavy fastball that sat 78-80 mph, topping at 81-mph. His best pitch was a sharp, late breaking 11-to-5 breaking ball with fastball arm speed. He also showed a 73-75 mph change up with arm side run and sink. As an infielder, Hughes takes a good approach to the ball with fluid footwork and a quick, clean exchange while playing through the ball and delivering accurate throws across the field (75-80 mph). Offensively, Hughes has a balanced stance, with a short, quick swing that produced some barrel whip through the zone and gap-to-gap line drives. He showed some glimpses of power. Hughes also ran a 7.19 60.

Jacob Jaycox, C/OF, Hazelwood West HS, Class of 2015:
Jaycox is a wiry 6-foot-2, 180-pound player who showed athleticism behind the plate and in the outfield, while posting the top 60 time at 6.88.  Behind the plate, he showed the ability to stick the ball in all locations with a firm wrist. Jaycox showed good footwork and had a top pop time of 2.22 at 74 mph to second base. In the outfield, Jaycox found the ball quickly off the bat and showed athleticism by taking aggressive routes to the ball with throws on a line. Jaycox recorded the top velocity from the outfield at 86-mph. At the plate, Jaycox has a long, level swing and showed the ability to put the ball in play.

Brendan McEntee, OF, Vianney, Class of 2013:
McEntee is an athletic 5-foot-11, 170-pound outfielder. He showed quick, aggressive routes to the ball, while staying behind it and getting in good position to throw and keep his momentum toward the target. Offensively, McEntee has a balanced set-up with a smooth load and short stride. His swing is a bit long at times, but he manages to keep it level and make solid contact with back spin carry to balls hit in the outfield.

Matt Palmer, RHP/3B, CBC, Class of 2015:
Palmer is a lanky 6-foot-1, 168-pound RHP/3B who has some upside as he continues to mature physically. On the mound, Palmer comes from a low ¾ arm slot and topped out at 75-mph with his fastball, which showed some sink action. He also throws a sweeping breaking ball (60-64 mph) and a 66-67 mph change up that stayed down in the zone with arm side movement. In the field at third base, Palmer showed soft hands and a good transfer with accurate throws across the diamond (68-mph). Offensively, Palmer has good rhythm at the plate with a level swing and putting the ball in play to all fields. 

Justin Perkins, RHP/3B, Francis Howell HS, Class of 2016:
Perkins is a 6-foot-2, 190-pound two-way player who, as he continues to progress as a player, has the potential to be a top Class of 2016 player. On the mound, Perkins topped at 83-mph with his fastball, which showed some arm side movement. He also showed a 11-to-5 breaking ball with near fastball arm speed, and a 65-67 mph knuckle curve with cut and sink; a legit out pitch. In the field, Perkins has fluid footwork and soft hands with a clean transfer while playing through the ball. At the plate, Perkins is very quite in the box with little wasted movement. He shows a short, compact swing with extension through contact and driving the ball to all fields. Perkins is a player to watch as he physically matures the next few years.

Ryan Perkins, RHP/OF, Francis Howell HS, Class of 2016:
Perkins is a projectable 6-foot-2, 180-pound two-way player. At the plate, the left handed hitting Perkins shows quick hands and fast bat speed through the zone creating barrel whip. When he stayed under control, he showed to be a line drive hitter with some power to the right center field power alley. In the outfield, Perkins is controlled to the ball, taking accurate routes and keeping his momentum toward his target, with some carry on his throws (75-78 mph).  On the mound, Perkins comes from a high ¾ arm slot with quick arm speed and easy effort on all pitches.  His fastball toped at 78-mph, breaking ball (62-66 mph) had late 11-to-5 shape, and split finger fastball had late arm side bite (63-65 mph). Look for Ryan to be one of the top Class of 2016 players as he continues to mature physically.

Brady Politte, CIF, Seckman HS, Class of 2013:
Politte is a physically imposing 6-foot-5, 245-pound corner infielder who moves well for a player of his size at both corner positions. At 3B, Politte has a good approach to the ball while showing some range to his forehand side. At 1B, he moves well around the bag with sure hands. At the plate, Politte has a long, uphill swing; when he keeps his weight back, he creates some good bat speed and drives the ball hard with backspin carry and loft.

Brandon Riesmeyer, OF/1B, DeSmet, Class of 2014:
Riesmeyer is a wiry 6-foot-1, 165-pound outfielder/first baseman. He moved well in the outfield, showing some athleticism to the ball and recording a top throw of 76-mph. At 1B, Riesmeyer showed sure hands and athletic movements to the ball, with accurate throws to both 2B and 3B, while working well around the bag while holding runners on. Offensively, Riesmeyer has a tall, open stance with a smooth load and long stride. His bat takes a slightly uphill path to the ball and shows that ability to pull. Additionally, he had the second fasted 60 time, running a 6.90.

Peter Williams, RHP/OF, Lafayette HS, Class of 2014:
Williams is a 5-foot-11, 180-pound two-way player who excelled in all facets of the game. On the mound, Williams comes from a high ¾ arm slot with smooth rhythm and repeatable mechanics. His fastball sat 80-81 mph, with more in tank. His off speed pitches were the best pitches he threw. William’s breaking ball was 64-66 mph with tight 12-to-6 shape and late break, a legit out pitch. He showed good feel for his change-up (71-73 mph) with fastball arm speed and late sink, consistently staying down in the zone. In the outfield, Williams takes accurate routes to the ball with good body control and in good position to throw to his targets. His top throw was 83-mph. Offensively, the left handed hitting Williams has loose hands with good bat control and bat speed, producing line drives to the right side. He shows some power for a player of his size. Williams also showed some speed, running a 7.03 60.