Eastern Wisconsin Open: Pitching Analysis

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor - Wisconsin/Illinois

Today we conclude positional analysis of the Eastern Wisconsin Open with the pitchers. RHP Jason Jennerjohn (Hortonville) came away as the standout arm of the day. One arm of note in attendance was a 2016 high school graduate from Venezuela, Eric Venegas who is eligible to attend college in January. Venegas showed an impressive arm with a fastball up to 87 mph.

Eric Venegas, RHP, Barquisimeto (VZ), 2016
2016 Venezuelan high school graduate, available for January 2018 semester. 6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed pitcher, average lean frame. Tall and fall type delivery, works upright over firm landing leg. Arm action is clean and quick, short loose arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball topped at 87 mph, sat 85-86 mph. Curveball has tight spin, short action on 11/5 plane, 68-71 mph.  Changeup is thrown with fastball arm speed, showed feel and arm side action, 75-77 mph.

Here’s a look at the top pitching prospects from the event.

Top Pitching Prospects

1. Jason Jennerjohn, RHP, Hortonville, 2019
5-foot-11, 160-pound right-handed pitcher, average athletic frame. Tall and fall delivery, good rhythm and tempo, works on line. Long loose arm action with quickness, high ¾ slot. Fastball has slight armside run, 83-84 mph, touched 85 mph. Curveball played 71-73 mph, showed sharp action, 11-5 shape. Changeup has feel, fastball arm speed, 76-79 mph with sinking action.

2. Riley Frey, LHP, Oshkosh West, 2020
5-foot-11, 150-pound left-handed pitcher, wiry long limbed frame. Tall and fall delivery, works slightly across body, long levers, heel/toe landing, square to target. Arm action is long and loose, quick arm, high ¾ slot. Fastball runs to arm side, pitched at 75-77 mph, touched 79 mph. Curveball has 1/7 shape, 63-65 mph, loose and aggressive arm action. Fastball arm action on changeup, 64-68 mph.

3. Sam Pederson, RHP/3B, Verona, 2019
6-foot-1, 170-pound two-way player, long limbed projectable frame. Projects best on the mound, delivery is upright, and works across his body, timing varies. Arm action is short and loose, ¾ to low ¾ slot with arm speed. Fastball flashed lively action, lacked consistent action, 79-81 mph, topped at 82 mph. Breaking ball showed depth at times, 66-67 mph. Changeup sinks, deceptive arm speed, 73-76 mph. Right-handed hitter, tall setup, slightly open, short stride. Showed fast hands at the plate, pull side approach, uphill. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.66 runner in the 60. Defensively showed a quick clean exchange on the infield, played tall. Arm plays low, loose arm action, 78 mph across the diamond.

4. Adrian Montilva, LHP, Madison East, 2019
5-foot-9, 160-pound left-handed pitcher, average frame. Delivery repeats, works on line, high front side. Arm action is long and loose, over the top slot, showed arm speed. Fastball sat 80-81 mph, showed arm side run. Curveball has 1/7 shape, showed ability to throw for strikes, 68-70 mph. Changeup flashed cut action, 69-70 mph.

5. Tyler Drezek, LHP, West Allis Central, 2019
6-foot-3, 210-pound left-handed pitcher, large frame and build. Delivery is simple and repeatable, closed toe landing to over rotated finish. Arm action is loose and easy, ¾ slot. Showed feel for three pitches. Fastball finishes firm, slight arm side run, 77-79 mph. Curveball has sweeping action, 66-69 mph. Feel for changeup, sinking action, 67-71 mph.

6. Kaden Lehman, INF, Portage, 2019
6-foot, 174-pound infielder, athletic frame. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, leg kick stride. Made hard contact, came off the bat well at times. Pull side approach, uphill path, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played over the top, showed carry, 86 mph across the diamond, advanced arm strength for age. Longer exchange at times, hands played, long release. 7.01 runner in the 60. On the mound arm action is short and loose from a high ¾ slot. Fastball showed slight action, control of the zone, 79-82 mph. Curveball showed feel, 63-65 mph, 12/6 action with depth. Changeup is 67-72 mph.

7. Liam Stumpf, RHP/INF, Mineral Point, 2021
6-foot, 155-pound right-handed pitcher, long slender frame, room to fill out. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, long leg lift stride, average balance through contact. Occasional hard line drives in BP, level path with some length, worked to pull side at times. 73 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ran the 60 at 7.26. Defensively arm action is loose, ¾ slot, 72 mph across the diamond. Played through the baseball with clean transfer. Projects well on the mound, delivery works in rhythm with regular effort, balanced finish. Arm action is long, ¾ slot. Fastball played with arm side run, 74-76 mph, topped at 78 mph. Curveball showed feel, 63-65 mph, 11/5 shape. Changeup worked in the zone, 67-68 mph, feel for the zone.

8. Bryce Staveness, OF/1B/RHP, Rio, 2018
6-foot-4, 180-pound two-way player, lean frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short leg lift stride. Path works outside the baseball with length, pull side contact. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 82 mph from the outfield, 80 mph across the infield. Above average arm strength and showed it on the mound. Long loose arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball touched 84 mph, sat 79-82 mph. Curveball played on 11/5 plane, 62-63 mph. Changeup occasionally cuts, 66-71 mph.

9. Ben Hampton, LHP/OF, West De Pere, 2020
6-foot-150-pound two-way player, lanky frame. On the mound works from a tall and fall delivery, regular effort, lower half can get more involved. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot, drops to sidearm in the stretch. Fastball showed feel, flashed heavy cut, 75-76 mph topped 78 from high ¾ slot, 72-73 mph from sidearm slot. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 62-64 mph, controlled the zone. Slider at 60-61 mph, sweeps at times. Changeup showed feel 60-66 mph. Left-handed hitter, open stance, arm bar load. Occasional hard contact, timing can improve. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is long, high ¾ slot, 76 mph from the outfield. 7.66 runner in the 60.

10. Keenan Kling, RHP/INF, Arrowhead, 2020
6-foot-1, 175-pound two-way player, large athletically built frame. Tall and fall delivery, high front side, regular effort, heel to toe landing. Arm action is long, high ¾ slot. Fastball has slight run, 74-76 mph, touched 78 mph. Curveball played with 12/6 shape, 53-57 mph, loose action. Straight changeup showed feel for zone with some sink, 62-65 mph. Right-handed hitter, open stance, leg lift stride. Occasional hard contact, uphill path, 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played loose from a high ¾ slot, 71 mph across the diamond. 7.42 runner in the 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Noah Brindley, LHP, Oregon, 2019
5-foot-9, 165-pound left-handed pitcher, average frame. Delivery works with some effort, closed landing. Long arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 70-72 mph, topped at 73 mph. Curveball has 1/7 shape, 56-59 mph. Showed feel for changeup, sinking action, 66-68 mph.

Issiah Butler, OF/1B/LHP, Oak Creek, 2020
5-foot-11, 160-pound two-way player, lean athletic build. Left-handed hitter, tall open setup, leg kick stride, maintains balance. Athletic and aggressive swing, showed present bat speed, controls the barrel with pull side approach. 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 72 mph from the outfield, 68 mph across the infield, high ¾ slot and played accurate. Plays through the baseball with more natural actions in the outfield. 7.52 runner in the 60. On the mound fastball showed control at 70-73 mph. Curveball has 2/8 shape at 56-59 mph, feel for the zone. Changeup is straight, fastball similar arm speed with feel, 63-66 mph.

Brad Katte, RHP, Cedar Grove-Belgium, 2020
6-foot, 160-pound right-handed pitcher, average frame. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line. Arm action is long, high ¾ slot. Fastball topped at 76 mph, sat 74-75 mph. Curveball has 12/6 action, 65-69 mph. Straight changeup sat 68-70 mph.

Peyton Mellenthin, INF/RHP, Neenah, 2019
5-foot-10, 155-pound two-way player, lean strong frame. 7.12 runner in the 60. Defensively showed actions, hands played, fluid footwork. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot, 74 mph arm across the diamond. Right-handed hitter, slightly open, crouched stance. Path has length, showed bat speed. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound, arm action is long, submarine slot, regular effort. Fastball topped at 73 mph, 70-71 mph, showed control. Slider had sweeping action, 63-66 mph.

Zach Schlegel, OF/LHP, Arrowhead, 2019
5-foot-8, 155-pound two-way player. Left-handed hitter, short lifted stride with bog loading action. Pull side approach, uphill path, 71 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm plays short and over the top from the outfield at 68 mph. Short strided footwork, flat at times. 7.69 runner in the 60. On the mound arm played similarly. On line delivery with little effort. Fastball topped at 69 mph, sat 67-68 mph. Curveball has gradual 1/7 shape, 59-62 mph. Changeup is firm, fastball arm speed, 64-68 mph.

Tanner Schmidt, RHP/INF, Bay Port, 2021
Wiry upside frame, 6-foot, 155-pound two-way player. Projects best on the mound, delivery is balanced and directional. Arm action is clean, high ¾ slot. Fastball flashed sinking action, occasional heavy feel, topped at 75 mph, sat 71-73 mph. Curveball works with 11/5 shape, 58-61 mph. Changeup is firm, 66-70 mph. Right-handed hitter, open setup, leg kick trigger. Path is long, level plane, occasionally uphill. 70 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 68 mph across the diamond. 7.73 runner in the 60.

Saxton Shore, INF/RHP, Stoughton, 2018
6-foot-2, 160-pound two-way player lanky frame with projection. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot, accurate across the infield, occasional carry, 80 mph across. Fields out in front, showed body control and rangy actions, ability to play through the baseball. 7.16 runner in the 60. Right-handed hitter, open stance, tall setup, leg lift trigger, loads hands back. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee, inside out path, uphill at finish. On the mound delivery worked with easy effort, short quick arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball showed feel for the zone, worked down, 77-79 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 69-70 mph. Changeup thrown with arm speed, mostly straight, showed feel, 72-75 mph.

Mario Sienza, RHP, Mukwonago, 2021
5-foot-11, 145-pound right-handed pitcher, thin wiry frame. Drop and drive delivery, regular effort, closed toe and works uphill. Arm action is long and loose, low ¾ slot. Fastball runs to arm side, 71-72 mph, topped at 73 mph. Curveball played at 60-63 mph. Feel for changeup at 64-68 mph, arm side action.

Jason Von Heimburg, RHP, Cedar Grove-Belgium, 2018
6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed pitcher, solid build. Drop and drive delivery shows some effort, simple. Arm action is firm, over the top slot. Fastball sat 75-76 mph, mostly straight, four seam type. Curveball works 12/6, 66-69 mph, short action. Changeup has feel, sinking action, 65-67 mph.

Hruz Wagner, RHP, Slinger, 2019
6-foot, 175-pound right-handed pitcher, average frame. Delivery is repeatable, works online with direction. Arm action is short and over the top, clean arm. Fastball sits 77-78 mph, mostly straight. Curveball plays 12/6, 63-65 mph. Had feel for changeup, 69-72 mph, fastball arm speed.

Jackson Wall, OF/INF/RHP, West De Pere, 2020
6-foot-2, 160-pound two-way player, thin lanky frame. Right-handed hitter, tall open stance, long stride. Pull side tendency, looks to lift, 76 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively worked out at multiple positions, arm action is long, high ¾ slot, firm arm action, 73 mph from the outfield, 66 mph across the diamond. Defensively can work more to the balls of his feet, ran the 60 at 7.62. On the mound fastball topped at 70 mph, sat 67-69 mph. Curveball showed some control, 50-56 mph. Changeup similar to fastball, firm at 64-67 mph.

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