MCYSA International Showcase: Pitching Analysis

August 31, 2016

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The MCYSA International Showcase took place on Wednesday, July 27th at Lippold Park in Crystal Lake, IL. We began the analysis from the event with a look at the position players.

Today we conclude the analysis of the event with a look at the top pitchers in attendance.

For a complete list of stats in PDF format CLICK HERE.

Top Pitching Prospects

1. Nick Skurka, LHP/OF, St. Charles North, 2018
6-foot-1, 190-pound, strong bodied two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, toe tap timing mechanism, hard contact, simple approach. Short, uphill bat path, gap-to-gap hitter; exit velocity registered at 86 mph. Defensively, ¾ arm slot, short arm action, flashed accurate throws to the plate. Throws from the outfield were clocked at 79 mph. Also, ran a 7.37 laser timed 60. On the mound, ¾ arm slot, quick, long and loose arm action with easy effort. Smooth, tall and fall delivery, stays in line with the plate, lands square with an athletic finish. Fastball, flashed slight arm side run, sat between 81-82 mph, topped 84 mph. Curveball, sweeping action, near fastball arm speed, clocked between 70-71 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, cut, breaking ball rotation, sat between 68-70 mph.

2. Johnny Beck, LHP, Rochelle, 2019
6-foot-6, 185 pound, long and lean, extremely projectable, left-handed pitcher. Drop and drive delivery, delivery works with rhythm, stays in line, lands closed. Long arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Fastball, flashed sink and run action, 76-78 mph, touched 81. Curveball, thrown for strikes, 12/6, 1/7 shape, gradual action, 61-62 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, arm side run, 69-70 mph. High follow 2019 LHP.

3. Justin Lavrisa, LHP, Jacobs, 2018
5-foot-11, 150 pound left-handed pitcher. On the mound, Tall and fall delivery, easy effort, smooth rhythm, stays in line, lands square, finishes athletically. Long, loose arm from a high ¾ slot. Fastball, arm-side run, 78-79 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, late action, 69-71 mph. Changeup, 71-74 mph.

3. Eric Steensma, RHP/3B, Lyons Township, 2019
6-foot, 155-pound athletic, lanky framed two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, wide, balanced setup, short stride, maintained balanced throughout the hitting zone. Rhythmic, loose, whippy swing, flashed back spin, level bat path with extension through the zone, line drive approach; exit velocity registered at 78 mph. Defensively, high ¾ slot, loose arm action, accurate throws across the diamond clocked at 72 mph. Also, ran an 8.26 laser timed 60. On the mound, high ¾ window, short arm action, live arm. Tall and fall delivery, stays in line, lands closed. Fastball, pounded the zone, sat 79-80 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, flashed feel, near fastball arm speed, clocked between 62-66 mph. Straight changeup, feel, near fastball arm speed, sat 67-69 mph.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Michael D’Angelo, OF/RHP, Stevenson, 2019
5-foot-11, 140-pound, right-handed hitting two-way prospect. Offensively, balanced set up, smooth load, short stride, long path. Recorded an exit velocity of 75 mph. Defensively, clean exchange, long, loose arm action, ¾ slot, flashed accuracy. Clocked at 75 mph from the outfield. On the mound, ¾ slot, long arm action, easy effort, rhythm, closed landing. Fastball sat 73-74 mph, topped 76. Curveball, 11/5 action, sat 57-60. Changeup, cut movement, sat 67-67 mph.

Sam Fenske, 1B/RHP, Glenbard West, 2018
6-foot-3, 220-pound, big bodied two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, strong through the zone, flashed pop, balanced setup, short stride. Uphill bat path, powerful, pull side approach; exit velocity recorded at 81 mph. Defensively, long, high ¾ arm slot; throws registered at 75 mph across the diamond. Also, ran a 7.68 laser timed 60. On the mound, high ¾ window, short arm action with regular effort. Up-tempo, drop and drive delivery style, strides open, lands closed. Fastball, some run, sat between 75-77 mph, topped at 79 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, clocked between 63-65 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, slight sink and cut, sat between 64-66 mph.

Kyle Humphres, LHP, Tremper (WI), 2018
6-foot-2, 155 pound, long and lean, left-handed pitcher. Drop and drive delivery, flashed some rhythm, lands square. Long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball, fairly straight, 71-73 mph. Curveball, 62-67 mph. Changeup, fade action, 61-64 mph.

Mark Johnson, OF/RHP, Barrington, 2019
6-foot-3, 185-pound, right-handed hitting two-way prospect with an athletic frame. Offensively, balanced set-up, short stride, gap to gap approach. Recorded an exit velocity of 81 mph. Defensively, quick, clean exchange. Short action, high ¾ slot, flashed accuracy and carry. Clocked at 80 mph across the infield. 7.47 runner in the 60. On the mound, high ¾ slot, short action, regular effort. Rhythm, in line direction, athletic finish. Fastball sat 73-75 mph topping 77. Curveball, 11/5 action, sat 63-65 mph. Changeup, sinking action, sat 63-64 mph.

Michael Lopez, SS/RHP, St. Edward Central Catholic, 2019
5-foot-6, 140-pound right handed hitting, two-way prospect. Defensively, plays through the baseball with fluid footwork, athletic actions. Short, low ¾ arm slot; throws registered at 73 mph across the diamond. Offensively, balanced setup, back side load, short stride, leg lift timing trigger. Contact hitter, opposite field approach; exit velocity clocked at 71 mph. Also, ran a 7.48 laser timed 60. On the mound, high ¾ slot, short arm action with easy effort. Smooth, tall and fall delivery, stays in line with the plate, athletic finish. Fastball, sat between 71-73 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, pounded the zone, clocked between 60-65 mpg. Changeup, fastball arm speed, controlled down in the zone, sat between 68-70 mph.

Ken Middleton, 3B/RHP, Providence Catholic, 2020
6-foot-1, 160-pound lanky framed, two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, open setup, short stride, toe tap timer, stays balanced throughout the hitting zone. Short, quick bat, line drive approach, flashed looseness; exit velocity registered at 74 mph. Defensively, high ¾ window, long arm action. Fluid footwork, plays through the baseball, throws recorded at 73 mph across the diamond. Also, ran a 7.89 laser timed 60. On the mound, same high ¾ slot seen in the field, long arm action. Tall and fall delivery, lands slightly closed. Fastball, slight cut, sat 73-75 mph. Curveball, 10/4 shape, late, sharp action, pounded the zone, clocked at 60-63 mph. Changeup, cut, sat between 63-66 mph.

Tyler Statler, 1B/RHP, Hononegah, 2019
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.

Mike Sullivan, RHP/SS/C, Wheaton North, 2019
5-foot-8, 155-pound right-handed hitting, two-way prospect. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride, opposite field approach; exit velocity recorded 72 mph. Registered throws at 68 mph across the diamond. Behind the plate, showed a short, high ¾ arm slot. Popped off times between 2.29-2.36 to second base, recorded at 68 mph. Also, ran an 8.20 laser timed 60. On the mound, used the same high ¾ arm slot as seen in the field, short arm action with easy effort. Smooth, tall and fall delivery, stayed in line with target. Fastball sat between 69-72 mph. Curveball, cutter action, clocked between 62-64 mph. Changeup, cut, sat 60-62 mph.

Braeden Wegner, OF/RHP, Jacobs, 2018
6-foot-1, 165-pound, right-handed hitting two-way prospect. Offensively, balanced set up, back load, lift stride. Bat speed, uphill path, uphill path, pull-side approach. Recorded an exit velocity of 80 mph. Defensively, clean exchange, plays through the ball. Long arm action, high ¾ slot, flashed carry. Clocked at 79 mph. 7.75 runner in the 60. On the mound, over the top slot, short action, smooth rhythm, in line direction. Fastball sat 74-75 mph. Curveball, 11/5 action, sat 61-63 mph, with accuracy. Changeup, cut action, 68-70 mph.