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Eastern PA Open ID Showcase (Session 2): Pitcher Analysis

January 29, 2013

By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

The final Open ID Showcase of January produced some impressive pitching performances and a glimpse into the depth of the talent pool in the Class of 2015. Following is analysis of the pitchers at the Eastern PA Open ID Showcase (Session 2).

HigginsLHP/1B Connor Higgins, Parkland HS, Class of 2015
Higgins is a 6-foot-3, 200-pound prospect who also quarterbacks his Parkland HS football team. The athletic lefty sat 83-86, touching 87 mph several times with a heavy four seam fastball. Higgins has a sound, repeatable high 3/4 arm slot delivery that will allow for significant increases in velocity in the coming years. He also commanded the strike zone with a 72 mph 1/7 breaking curveball and an 81 mph changeup. Higgins has a power pitchers frame and gets out over his front side very well to create a downward plane to the plate.

CyphertLHP/OF Dylan Cyphert, Cranberry HS, Class of 2015
One week after impressing from the mound in Erie, PA, Cyphert made the trip across state to showcase his abilities. The 6-foot, 160-pound lefty had impressed with an 82-84 mph fastball in Erie, but had everyone in attendance buzzing following his performance on the opposite side of the state. Following Higgins impressive outing on the mound, Cyphert showed his competitive nature by amping up his velocity from a week earlier. He sat 83-85 while touching 87 mph on three occasions with his fastball. Cyphert also commanded a 68 mph curveball and a 78 mph changeup.

catchmarkRHP/3B John Catchmark, Governor Mifflin HS, Class of 2015
Catchmark commanded three pitches from a high 3/4 arm slot. His fastball sat 80-82 with arm side run. Catchmark shows his numerals to the hitter that adds to the amount of movement he gets on his fastball as well as his 70 mph changeup. Catchmark also showcased a 64 mph slider that has tight rotation. In time and with better arm speed, the slider could become a good out pitch for the 6-foot, 185-pound sophomore.

LHP/OF Joe Thompson, Avon Grove HS, Class of 2014
Thompson continues to impress with his understanding of how to pitch. The 5-foot-11, 140-pound lefty sat 74-76 with his fastball that showed good arm side run. His curveball has tight 1/7 break at 71 mph and he displayed a plus changeup at 67-69 mph. Thompson's changeup may be the best we have seen in Pennsylvania since PBR began operations in June of 2012. It is thrown at fastball arm speed and has late, hard downward movement. Thompson is a strike thrower who lives down in the zone and on the corners.

SS/RHP A.J. Grezeszak, LaSalle College HS, Class of 2015
Grezeszak was one of the most impressive infielders at the event, but also had an impressive showing on the mound commanding three pitches for strikes. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound right-hander used a high 3/4 arm slot and excellent balance throughout his delivery. Grezeszak's fastball topped at 81 mph with some arm side run. He also showed an 11/5 breaking curveball and a 69 mph changeup that he threw at fastball arm speed with some arm side run.

RHP/3B Nate Dickey, Central Dauphin HS, Class of 2014
Dickey topped at 83 mph from the mound out of a high ¾ arm slot. He shows some arm side run on his fastball as well as on his 76 mph changeup. His curveball sits 67-69 with an 11/5 break. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-hander is very athletic and shows indications he may see significant velocity gains over the next two years.

OF/RHP Max Mattei, Downingtown East HS, Class of 2016
The 5-foot-8, 145-pound right-hander topped topped at 76 mph while displaying command of his 11/5 breaking curveball and a changeup that he throws at near fastball arm speed. Mattei has solid mechanics and should continue to develop velocity as his athletic frame continues to fill out.

1B/LHP Austin Krammes, Blue Mountain HS, Class of 2015
The 6-foot-2, 165-pound lefty topped at 74 mph from the mound. He utilized a high 3/4 arm slot to generate a 2/8 breaking curveball at 62 mph and a 69 mph changeup. Krammes has a high leg kick that hides the baseball well and was consistently down in the strike zone through the course of his bullpen session.

OF/RHP Robert Gerofsky, Warwick HS, Class of 2013
Gerofsky has change arm angles from the mound since we last saw him. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound right-hander now uses a sidearm delivery and was able to command the strike zone with three pitches. He sat 71-73 with a fastball that showed some late arm side run. Gerofsky also showcased a 63 mph slider and a 64 mph changeup that has some late sinking action. As he becomes more comfortable with the new delivery, Gerofsky should see his velocity begin to spike.

3B/RHP Zeb Stough, Red Land HS, Class of 2018
Stough was the youngest participant at the event by two years, but held his own during his bullpen session. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound 7th grader sat 72-74 mph with his fastball out of a high 3/4 arm slot. He also commanded a 65 mph 11/5 breaking curveball and a 64 mph changeup. The changeup is thrown at near fastball arm speed and has the potential to be a plus pitch. Stough pounded the strike zone and stayed down in the zone throughout his time on the mound.

2B/RHP Owen Goryl, Pope John Paul II, Class of 2015
The 6-foot, 165-pound prospect threw out of a 3/4 arm slot and topped at 63 mph. He has a deceiving throwing motion that creates some interesting angles to the plate. He is a strike thrower who will add velocity as he matures physically.

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