Future Games Preview: Team Illinois Pitchers

10.23.16 - 6-foot-4, 205-pound, extra-large, imposing two-way prospect. Highly projectable, right-handed pitcher. Uptempo, tall and fall delivery, gets down the hill, strong front side, lands square and regular effort throughout. Arm works long and loose out of a high ¾ window.  Fastball, thrown for strikes, heavy action, life through the zone, arm-side-run, sat 82-84 mph. Curveball sharp action, 11/5 shape and sat 66-69 mph. Changeup, arm-side-run, fade action, fastball arm speed and sat 74-77 mph. Offensively, left-handed hitter, fluid rhythm and line-drive approach. Balanced setup, leg-kick timing trigger and average balance. 78 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, athletic fielding position and clean exchange on the infield. Long arm action, high ¾ slot and clocked at 78 mph. Also, ran a 8.67 60.

1.15.17 - Strong solid frame, 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-handed pitcher. Repeats a directional delivery, stays on line and works aggressively to target. Arm action is quick and projects, loose arm from an over the top slot, minimal effort. Four seam type fastball, straight with finish through the top of the zone, sat 81-84 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, flashed sharp bite, some feel, thrown aggressively at 72-75 mph. Changeup is firm with slight arm side action, mostly straight, 79-80 mph, deceptive arm speed.

9.21.16 - 6-foot, 180-pound, durable, projectable, right-handed pitcher. Smooth, repeatable, tall and fall delivery, easy effort, slight cross fire action, creates deception and lands closed. Long and loose arm action out of a high ¾ slot. Feel for a three-pitch mix. Fastball, thrown for strikes, arm-side-run, some sinking action when down, 77-79 mph, touching 80. Curveball, slurve type, 11/5 shape, tendency to get underneath and miss up in the zone; when down in the zone flashed depth, sat 61-64 mph. Changeup, advanced feel, located at the bottom of the zone, sink and fade action,  69-71 mph. High follow arm in the 2020 class.

3.6.16 - 5-foot-11, 190-pound right-handed pitcher. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short, loose arm action. Tall and fall, slow paced delivery. Creates slight crossfire action. Three pitch mix, for strikes. Fastball showed slight running action at 75-76 topping out at 78 mph. Curveball has 12-6 sharp with sharp breaking action at 55-60 mph. maintained arm speed on changeup with sinking action at 63-65 mph. Young arm to follow.

5.12.17 - Currently ranked No. 4 in the Illinois’ 2019 class and No. 87 overall. 6-foot-4, 185-pound, right-handed pitcher with an advanced frame for his age; strong, well-proportioned, projectable frame. Continues to prove he is one of the top uncommitted sophomores in the region. Started on the mound for Effingham, went 5.2 innings, gave up two hits, one earned run, struck out eight and walked three. Calm demeanor on the mound, works fast and showed feel for a three-pitch mix. Arm is long, loose and live from a ¾ slot. Stays on-line with his delivery, works with rhythm, and finishes upright. Fastball flashes hard arm-side-run and sink, works both sides of the plate, sat 88-89 mph, touching 90 early. Settled in anywhere from 85-89 mph and ran it up to 90 once more in the fourth inning. Breaking ball, throws it often, good feel, occasionally slows arm speed, slider action, 10/4 shape, flashed swing and miss at times, 75-79 mph. Only went to changeup a few times throughout, good feel, 83 mph, arm-side-run action. Has potential to develop a legitimate three-pitch mix. Overall, high-level uncommitted 2019 arm in Illinois.

7.26.16 - 6-foot-4, 185-pound right-handed pitcher. On the mound works from a ¾ arm angle with a loose, live arm action. Low effort tall and fall, online delivery. Smooth rhythm with an open toed landing and upright finish. Fastball showed running action at 85-87 topping out at 88 mph. Curveball is firm at 71-75 mph with 11-5 shape and tight rotation. Sharp, late breaking action, will occasionally hang it, but flashes plus. Changeup sat 79 mph.

7.14.17 - 6-foot-1, 170-pound, athletically built right-handed pitcher. One of the top arms in the tournament. Started at shortstop on varsity for 3A state champion St. Viator this past spring. On the mound, athletic, repeatable delivery, pounded the strike zone. Clean, quick arm. Fastball sat 82-86 mph. Mixed in a slider at 74 mph. High follow 2020 two-way prospect.

5.15.17 - 6-foot, 170-pound, lean, athletically built, right-handed hitting shortstop. Starts on varsity as a freshman for St. Viator who finished fourth in the state last year in Class 3A. Defensively, sure hands, arm works short, accurate arm with carry across the diamond. Offensively, even, crouched setup, short stride, keeps head still throughout and has a short swing. Tracks the ball well, advanced knowledge of the strike zone, laid off tough pitches. Follow 2020 infielder.

4.12.17 - 6-foot-2, 190-pound, strong, athletically built right-handed pitcher, has strength in lower half. Got the start and threw seven shutout innings. Scattered two hits, struck out five and walked two. Full wind-up delivery, with deep rocker step back, stays directional and finishes towards first base. Slight stab arm action out of the glove, comes out of a short window from a ¾ slot; arm is live, quick and loose. Fastball has life, arm-side-run, controls it around the zone, gets underneath at times and rides it up in the zone; sat 84-86 mph in the first inning, touching 87. In the sixth inning sat more 81-84 mph. Has feel and confidence for his breaking ball, went to it often, throws it aggressively, go-to pitch, can throw it in any count, gets good depth when he stays on top, 74-79 mph. Did not see a changeup. High-follow uncommitted 2019 right-handed arm.

10.23.16 - 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed pitcher, average build. Full windup delivery, deep rocker step straight back to directional heel toe landing, recoil finish falls to first base side. Arm action is quick and loose, ¾ slot. Fastball finishes with straight four seam life through the zone, occasionally gets underneath and creates flat action, sat 83-85 mph, touched 86 mph. Throws two breaking balls, curveball has 11/5 shape, showed some feel at 63-67 mph. Slider has flatter action, more lateral with 10/4 shape, tight rotation at 71-73 mph. Changeup has good feel, arm side sink, 71-75 mph. High follow 2019 prospect with live arm and showed potential for four above average pitches.

7.3.17 - 6-foot-1, 160-pound, lean, athletic two-way prospect. Above average actions at shortstop, hands play soft and through the baseball, athletic arm. Offensively, right-handed, open setup, pick up, put down stride. Line drive approach that can spray the ball to all fields. On the mound, loose, athletic arm action, ¾ slot, works on-line finishes athletically. Fastball, arm side run, glove-side cut, 82-84. Curveball, 11/5 shape, 69-71 mph.

1.28.17 - 5-foot-11, 145-pound, loose, live-bodied right-handed pitcher. Put himself on the map as a high-follow 2019 arm. Schlaffer has above-average arm strength for his age and the makings of a legitimate three-pitch mix. Smooth, repeatable delivery, stays on-line, lands square, finishes athletically with easy effort throughout. Arm works long, loose, uninterrupted and quick, out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball, thrown for strikes, late life, arm-side action at times and sat 84-85 mph, touching 86. Curveball currently works 11/5, feel, tight spin and sits 68-71 mph. Given his arm slot, quick arm, and feel for spin he may be well-suited for a hard slider down the road. Changeup looks to currently be his best secondary offering. Maintains arm speed, good feel, late sink and sat 70-72 mph. Highly projectable 2019 right-handed pitcher.

7.27.16 - 6-foot-5, 215-pound, big bodied two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short stride, uphill bat path; exit velocity clocked at 77 mph. Defensively, short, high ¾ arm slot, throws clocked at 77 mph across the diamond. Also, ran an 8.40 laser timed 60. On the mound, high ¾ slot, long arm action. Tall and fall delivery style, stays in line, lands square. Fastball, worked mainly straight, sat between 78-80 mph, topped 81 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, sat between 63-67 mph. Splitter, down in the zone, sat between 57-61 mph.  

7/28/15 - 6-foot-3, 200-pound, RHP/1B. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long am action. Tall and fall delivery with a closed landing. Slow paced delivery with easy effort. Fastball showed run at 72-73 topping out at 76 mph. Curveball showed 11-5 shape with loose rotation at 59-62 mph. Changeup sat 59-62 mph. Will continue to improve with coordination and maturity. Defensively has a long arm action from a ¾ arm slot. Plays thru the ball with a clean exchange and slower actions. Threw 75 mph across the infield. Offensively hits from a tall relaxed setup with a long stride. Pull hitter with a long swing path. 74 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.63.

7.3.17 - 6-foot-4, 195-pound, tall, athletic first baseman with further room for physical development. Highly projectable frame. Offensively, balanced setup, loose swing resulted in a two-run homerun to left center.

4.28.17 - Currently ranked No. 14 in the Illinois’ 2019 class. 6-foot-4, 195-pound, strong, durable, athletically built, right-handed pitcher. Came out of the bullpen, threw the seventh inning and picked up the save in the 7-5 win. In the one inning of work he struck out two. Works with a short, quick arm action out of a high ¾ slot. Ball jumps out of his hand at times. When his delivery times up, pitches at the bottom of the zone with tilt. Fastball flashed life, mostly straight action, sat 84-85 mph. Mixed in a 12/6 curveball with advanced spin and depth, swing and miss potential, 68-70 mph. At times struggles to repeat his delivery but Wisch has a high ceiling with more velocity to come. High follow 2019 right-handed pitcher. 

1.28.17 - 6-foot-4, 195-pound, physically advanced, strong, well-proportioned two-way prospect. Right-handed pitcher, advanced arm speed and arm strength on the mound. Arm is short, loose and quick out of a high ¾ window. Delivery works with rhythm, slight hip coil at balance point and lands slightly closed. Fastball, life, sat 86-88 mph. Threw a curveball and slider. Curveball, works 11/5, good depth and spin at times, 68-70 mph. Slider, tighter, more lateral action than curveball, 10/4 shape, 71-74 mph. Changeup, slows arm action at times, thrown for strikes, straight action, 74-77 mph. Offensively, balanced, open setup, short stride and maintains balance through contact. Creates easy bat speed, occasional hard contact and gap-to-gap approach. Registered an 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, profiles as a third baseman. Soft hands, plays through the baseball tall, short, loose arm clocked at 81 mph across the infield. 7.96 runner in the 60.

6.8.16 - Currently ranked No. 5 in the 2019 class. 6-foot-3, 190-pound, physically advanced, strong, two-way prospect. Right-handed pitcher with big upside on the mound. Showed feel for a four pitch mix; slider and curveball have two distinct shapes and velocities. Tall and fall, controlled, repeatable delivery; lands closed and falls off towards first base at times. Arm works quick and loose out of a high ¾ window. Fastball, thrown for strikes, flashed life and boaring action when located down in the zone, sat 82-83 mph. Curveball, feel, works mostly 12/6, good spin and depth; 66-68 mph. Slider, tight, sharp 10/4 action, 69-71 mph. Changeup, maintains arm speed, arm-side-run and clocked at 72-73 mph. Offensively, hits from the right side. Flashed bat speed, lift in swing, pull approach; 80 mph exit velocity. Balanced setup, slight load and short stride. Defensively, profiles as a third baseman. Steady hands and a clean transfer on the infield. Long, loose arm action from a high ¾ slot, throws were accurate across the diamond and clocked at 79 mph. Also, ran an 8.06 60. High level 2019 prospect on the mound.

1.31.16 - Advanced frame, prototypical pitchers build 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed pitcher and infielder. On the mound is one of the better 2019 graduates we have seen in Illinois. Clean, quick, short arm action, from a high ¾ slot. Smooth rhythm, slight cross fire action and a repeatable delivery. Fastball worked mainly straight, up in the zone at times and clocked at 83-84 mph. Curveball, solid feel, short and sharp break at times, worked 11/5 and ranged between 69-70 mph. Defensively, at third base, showed body control, soft hands, fielded the ball athletically and flashed a clean transfer. Short arm action, high ¾ slot, accurate throws with carry, clocked at 74 mph. Also, ran a 7.90 60 yard dash.