By Matt Huck
Area Scout

The GPA Games took place on Sunday August 13th at Lee Pfund Field in Carol Stream, Illinois. Pitchers faced hitters in simulated gameplay. Marian Central Catholic RHP AJ Golembiewski takes the top spot among the pitchers. The 6-foot-4 right-hander showed the ability to sink his fastball and induce weak ground ball contact, topping out at 87 mph with his fastball.

Let’s take a look at the pitching scouting reports from the event.

Top Prospects

1. AJ Golembiewski, RHP, Marian Central Catholic, 2018
Currently ranked No. 134 in the Illinois Class of 2018. 6-foot-4, 175-pound lanky right-handed pitcher. Frame and stuff projects well. Works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short, quick arm action. Tall and fall delivery, works in line with home plate. Regular effort with an upright finish. Consistently induces weak ground ball contact. Fastball has sinking action, heavy at times, at 84-86 topping out at 87 mph. Loses some velocity form the stretch, works down in the zone for strikes. Slider has 10-4 shape at 72-74 mph. Changeup has running action at 76-77 mph. Biggest riser from the event.

2. Austin Selz, RHP, Eau Claire Memorial (WI), 2018
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed pitcher. Works from an over the top arm angle with a long, quick arm action. Works exclusively out of the stretch. Tall and fall delivery with a high front side. Works in line with home plate, athletic finish. Fastball has downhill tilt, working in on right-handed hitters at 83-85 topping out at 86 mph for strikes. Curveball has 11-5 to 12-6 shape at 67-70 mph. Changeup sat 72-75 mph. Struckout two in his inning of work.

3. Evan Warrington, RHP, Sacred Heart-Griffin, 2018
Currently ranked No. 133 in the Illinois Class of 2018. 6-foot, 170-pound right-handed pitcher, athletic frame. Works from and over the top arm angle. Short, quick arm action. Tall and fall delivery working in line with home plate. Some effort in release. Fastball worked 82-85 topping out at 86 mph. Curveball has 12-6 shape with occasional sharp breaking action 69-71 mph. Struckout two in his inning of work.

4. Mark McCabe, LHP, Naperville North, 2018
6-foot-2, 175-pound left-handed pitcher. Presently raw on the mound with good arm strength and deception. Works from a low ¾ arm angle with a short, quick arm action. Tough for hitters to pick up. Drop and delivery with working in line with home plate, some effort in release. Fastball has running action at 80-82 topping out at 84 mph. Curveball has sweeping action at 67-70 mph. Changeup showed cutting action at 68-71 mph. Impressed in his inning of work striking out three of the four hitters he faced.

5. William Jackson, RHP, Loyola, 2018
5-foot-11, 170-pound right-handed pitcher. Works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short arm action and wrap on the backside. Drop and drive delivery, works in line with home plate. Some effort on release. Filled up the strike zone in his inning of work. Fastball was straight at 82-84 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape at 64-67 mph. Changeup sat 73-74 mph. Had a perfect frame retiring all four hitters he faced with two strikeouts.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Jacob Arndt, OF/RHP, Oconomowoc (WI), 2019
6-foot-1, 150-pound lanky right-handed hitting OF/RHP. Defensively has a loose arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball with fluid footwork. Long exchange. Threw 83 mph from the outfield. At the plate hits from a balanced spread out stance with a leg lift stride and average balance. Loose hands, pull approach with a long swing path. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.49. On the mound works form a low ¾ arm angle with a loose arm action Tall and fall delivery with a closed landing. Fastball sat 79-81 topping out at 82 mph. Showed command of fastball down in the zone for strikes at lower velocity. Changeup is best secondary offering, showed feel, maintained arm speed, running action at 68-70 mph. Curveball has 10-4 shape with loose rotation at 62-63 mph.

Nick Black, RHP/SS, Geneva, 2019
6-foot-2, 165-pound right-handed hitting RHP/SS with a lanky frame. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short, quick arm action. Tall and fall slow paced delivery. Works in line with home plate, regular effort. Fastball has slight running action at 80-82 topping out at 83 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape at 64-68 mph. Also threw a knuckleball at 69 mph. Struck out one in his inning of work. At the plate hits from a crouched, wide base, heel lift stride, average balance. Gap to gap hitter with an uphill swing path. 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.58. Defensively has a long arm action from a ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball with athletic actions. Can play on the run. Threw 77 mph across the infield.

Nicolas Bridgeford, RHP, Whitney Young, 2018
6-foot-2, 165-pound right-handed pitcher. Works from a low ¾ to side arm angle. Long arm action. Drop and drive delivery with a closed landing and crossfire landing. Fastball sat 76-77 mph. Curveball has sweeping action at 64-67 mph. Changeup worked 70-71 mph.

Hunter De La Rosa, RHP/OF/SS, Moline, 2018
5-foot-8, 150-pound right-handed hitting utility player. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall delivery working in line with home plate. Fastball sat 76-78 mph. Calls breaking ball a slider but has curveball action at 70-72 mph. Changeup worked 73 mph. Defensively took drills in the outfield and infield, projects better in outfield. Long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball, threw 80 mph from the outfield and 78 mph across the infield. At the plate balanced setup, short linear stride. Short, uphill swing path. 85 mph exit velocity from a tee. Moves well, ran the 60 at 7.01.

Ethan Elazegui, RHP, Carmel Catholic, 2018
6-foot-3, 175-pound right-handed pitcher with a thin, lanky frame. Works from an over the top arm angle with a short arm action. Works exclusively out of the stretch. Tall and fall delivery with a deceptive hitch at balance point. Slider cutter/curveball combo. Fastball has late cutting action at 73-74 topping out at 76 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape at 62-65 mph. Worked a perfect inning striking out all three hitters he faced.

Ethan Flynn, RHP, Plainfield East, 2018
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed pitcher. Sidearmer. Drop and drive delivery, square landing, works in line with home plate. Fastball sat 75-78 topping out at 79 mph. Curveball sat 64-68 mph. Changeup worked 67-68 mph. Inconsistent command.

Harvey Freed, RHP, Milford (MI), 2018
6-foot-2, 195-pound right-handed pitcher. Works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short arm action. Tall and fall delivery working in line with home plate, square landing. Fastball works up armside at 78-80 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape at 64-65 mph. Changeup sat 68-69 mph.

Jake Garvey, OF/RHP, Riverside-Brookfield, 2018
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed hitting OF/RHP. Offensively open setup, long stride with fair balance. Long swing path. 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.62. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball. Threw 71 mph from the outfield. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action and stab on the backside. Tall and fall delivery with an open landing. Fastball sat 64-67 mph. Curveball worked 55-56 mph.

Matthew Grubb, RHP, Lakes, 2018
5-foot-10, 180-pound right-handed pitcher with a compact frame. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short arm action. Tall and fall delivery, uptempo, some effort on release. Fastball sat 78-82 topping out at 83 mph. Slider has 11-5 shape with sharp, late breaking action at 71-74 mph. Changeup worked 70-73 mph. Worked a perfect inning striking out two.

Jack Hansen, RHP, Lane Tech, 2019
6-foot-1, 178-pound right-handed pitcher with a lanky frame. Works from an over the top arm angle with a short, quick arm action. Tall and fall delivery, short leg lift, works in line with home plate. Good balance throughout delivery with some effort. Fastball worked 79-82 topping out at 83 mph. Slider has curveball sharp at 73-75 mph, thrown aggressively. Changeup worked 73-74 mph. Struckout two in his inning of work.

Joseph Kaminski, RHP/3B, McHenry, 2019
6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed hitting RHP/3B with a lanky frame. On the mound works from an over the top arm angle with a short arm action. Tall and fall, slow paced delivery working in line with home plate. Short stride, slide step from stretch. Fastball is straight showing occasional cut at 79-81 mph. Slider has 10-4 shape at 65-67 mph. Curveball has 12-6 shape with gradual action at 61-64 mph. Changeup worked 72 mph. Offensively balanced setup, short stride, sinks into load. Pull hitter with an uphill swing path. 85 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.51. SIngled and walked twice in game. Defensively has a loose arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays tall. Threw 76 mph across the infield.

Lucas Konopinski, LHP, Penn (IN), 2018
6-foot, 170-pound left-handed pitcher. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short arm action. Tall and fall delivery, square landing, with regular effort. Fastball has cutting action at 76-78 mph. Curveball has gradual action at 56-59 mph. Changeup has fading action at 65-68 mph.

Isaac Rudolph, RHP, Peoria Notre Dame, 2018
6-foot-4, 215-pound right-handed pitcher. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Full, overhead tall and dall delivery with an upright finish. Fastball sat 77-79 mph topping out at 80 mph. Slider has short, sweeping action, more of a cutter at 73-74 mph. Maintains arm speed on changeup at 70-72 mph.

Dylan Schick, RHP/SS, Batavia, 2019
6-foot-2, 160-pound right-handed hitting RHP/SS with a lanky, thin frame. On the mound works from an over the top arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall delivery, works in line with home plate, regular effort. Fastball sat 78-79 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape with short breaking action at 67-69 mph. Changeup sat 64 mph. At the plate balanced setup, short heel lift stride, average balance. Pull hitter with an uphill swing path. Went 1-2 with a single in game. 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.23. Defensively long arm action, ¾ arm slot. Long release, threw 75 mph across the infield.

Cooper Schmidt, RHP, Cary-Grove, 2019
5-foot-11, 165-pound right-handed pitcher, small, athletic frame. Works from an over the top arm angle with a short arm action. Drop and drive delivery with a slightly closed landing. Fastball worked 80-81 topped out at 84 mph on his last pitch of the inning. Curveball has 12-6 shape with gradual action at 67-70 mph. Changeup sat 72 mph. Quick, efficient inning striking out two of the three hitters he faced.

Nick Skrabis, 3B/RHP, Sandburg, 2019
6-foot, 185-pound left-handed hitting 3B/RHP. Offensively hits from a balanced, open setup. Short, linear stride with average balance. Long, swing path with loose hands. 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.72. Defensively has a long arm action from a ¾ slot. Accurate throws across the infield at 80 mph. Plays thru the ball, clean exchange. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long, high draw out of the glove. Tall and fall delivery with a slightly closed landing. Retired all four batters he faced in his outing. Fastball sat 76-79 mph. Curveball was effective with sweeping action at 66-68 mph. Changeup worked 71 mph.

Kenneth Slepicka, RHP/OF, Fenwick, 2018
6-foot, 155-pound right-handed pitcher with a lanky frame. Works from an over the top arm angle with a short arm action. Drop and drive, slow paced delivery with an open landing. Fastball worked down in the zone on the corners at 76-78 mph. Curveball has 12-6 shape, occasional backup at 65-66 mph. Changeup sat 67 mph. Filled up the zone and struck out two in his inning of worked. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short stride and average balance. Pull hitter with a short uphill swing path. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.31. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball, quick footwork, clean exchange. Threw 77 mph from the outfield.

Bryce Spaulding, RHP, Racine Case, 2019
6-foot-1, 160-pound right-handed pitcher. Works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall delivery working in line with home plate. Some effort in release. Two pitch mix, filled up the zone in game. Induces groundball contact, perfect outing retiring all four batters he faced, three on the ground and one strikeout. Fastball sat 75-76 topping out at 77 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape at 64-66 mph.

Mikey Strong, C/RHP/OF, St. Thomas Aquinas (KS), 2018
Currently ranked No. 31 in the Kansas Class of 2018. 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed hitting utility player. Showed the best all around arm strength at the event. Threw 88 mph from the outfield, 78 mph out of the crouch, and topped out at 85 mph on the mound. Defensively behind the plate has a short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Blocks pitches well. Popped 2.17-2.26. In the outfield showed off raw arm strength and actions. Accurate throws with carry, threw and event best 88 mph from the outfield. Offensively hits from a balanced setup with a short leg lift stride and good balance. Line drive hitter works gap to gap. Uphill swing path with fast hands and fluid rhythm. 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.12. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short arm action. Works exclusively out of the stretch. Tall and fall delivery working in line with home plate. Fastball has running action at 81-84 topping out at 85 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape at 68-70 mph. Slows arm on changeup at 71-73 mph.

Jordan VonBehren, OF/RHP, DeForest (WI), 2018
5-foot-11, 185-pound right-handed hitting OF/RHP. Offensively hits from a wide base, slightly open. Short leg lift stride with average balance. Uphill swing path. 86 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.88. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball with average hands. Threw 78 mph from the outfield. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall delivery with a square landing and smooth rhythm. Fastball has running action at 77-80 topping out at 82 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape at 66-71 mph. Changeup sat 70 mph.

Charles Wood, RHP/3B, Fenwick, 2018
6-foot-4, 200-pound right-handed hitting RHP/3B with a lanky, athletic frame. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall delivery, works down the mound with a square landing. Fastball has slight running action at 80-81 mph. Slider has 10-4 shape at 68-70 mph. Changeup worked 73-75 mph. Offensively hits from a balanced setup, leg lift stride, average balance. Pull hitter with a long, uphill swing path. Showed off pull side power in batting practice. 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.28. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Threw 77 mph across the infield.

Tyler Yang, RHP, Bartlett, 2018
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed pitcher. Works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall delivery, max effort, falls to first base side after release. Fastball sat 78-79 topping out at 80 mph. Curveball has 12-6 shape at 68-71 mph. Featured a changeup and slider in warmups. Slider had 11-5 shape at 74 mph. Changeup worked 74 mph. Struckout two and allowed two hits in his inning of work.

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