The Metro East Open returned to the St. Louis area once again on Tuesday, June 25th. The showcase, which took place at GCS Ballpark, the home of the Gateway Grizzlies, was an open event that featured 50 players from all high school classes. Earlier in the summer we began the analysis of the event with a Quick Hits and Statistical Analysis. 

Today we continue the roll-out of the event with a look at the pitchers in attendance. 

The top two arms at the event, Evan Herpstreith and Carter Sabol, hail from the small 1A school of Nokomis.

Herpstreith, a 2021 two-way prospect, will be a right-handed arm to watch in the coming years. Herpstreith has a quick, live arm, ran his fastball up to 85 mph and showed feel for a three-pitch mix. Look for Herpstreith’s velocity to continued to climb as he physically matures.  

Sabol made quite an impression at his first ever PBR event and came away as the top-ranked pitcher. The imposing, 6-foot-8, 2020 right-handed pitcher, filled up the strike zone with a mid-80’s fastball that showed extreme tilt at times. Sabol also featured a clean arm and feel for two secondary offerings. Sabol recently committed to Lake Land JC.

Behind the two Nokomis arms is physical two-way prospect, Zachary Kempfer (Nashville). Kempfer, a Wabash Valley JC commit, showed well at the plate and on the mound. On the mound, Kempfer has a loose, easy arm, low-80s fastball and confidence in both offspeed offerings. 

Two Breese Central 2022s to keep an eye on moving forward are Landon Geragosian and Easton Rakers. Both have long, lean frames, clean arms, mid-to-upper 70’s fastballs and plenty more in the tank. 

TOP PITCHING PROSPECTS

1. Evan Herpstreith, Nokomis, 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 5-foot-11, 155-pounds. Athletic, live-body.
Delivery: Controlled, balanced, drop and drive delivery, works with rhythm. Works on-line, lands square and finishes athletically.
Arm Action: RH. Clean, loose arm action, works quick out of a ¾ slot. Projects for more velocity to come.
FB: T85, 81-85 mph. Late life and finish through the zone, works mostly straight.
CB: 65-71 mph. Fastball arm speed, 11/5 shape, inconsistent feel, worked best out of the stretch.
CH: 73-74 mph. Has a chance to be a swing-and-miss offering. Maintains arm speed, late run and sink. 

2. Carter Sabol, Nokomis, 2020 - Lake Land JC commit.
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-foot-8, 240-pounds. Extra-large, imposing, physically-advanced frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, directional and lands square. Repeats delivery well for his size, gets minimal use out of his lower half.
Arm Action: RH. Clean, short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T87, 83-85 mph. Extreme downhill tilt at times, late running action, thrown for strikes.
CB: 70-72 mph. Maintains arm speed, 11/5 shape, flashed sharp spin and bite.
CH: 75-77 mph. Tilt at the bottom of the zone.

3. Zachary Kempfer, Nashville Community, 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-foot-5, 210-pounds. Extra large, physical, strong frame.
Delivery: Full wind up, clean and repeatable, works with rhythm. Directional, lands square with regular effort. 
Arm Action: RH. Loose, clean arm action from a high ¾ slot.
FB: T83, 81-82 mph. Shows run and sink, heavy action, can throw for strikes, misses are down in the zone.
CB: 71-73 mph. Fastball arm speed, 11/5 shape, sharp action, feel.
CH: 71-75 mph. Sink and fade action, above-average offering.

4. Eli Brown, Saxony Lutheran (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-foot-2, 160-pounds. Athletic, projectable build.
Delivery: Athletic delivery, works with rhythm, repeats and works on-line, front-toe open landing.
Arm Action: LH. Long, loose, easy arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T79, 77-78 mph. Run and sink, heavy action, thrown for strikes.
CB: 59-63 mph. Near fastball arm speed, 1/7 shape. 
CH: 65-66 mph. Fade action.

5. Joseph Crum, Springfield, 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-foot-1, 160-pounds. Athletic, wide-shouldered, young look. Plenty of room for continued physical development.
Delivery: Drop/drive delivery, level shoulders, hides the ball well, works in line with target, square landing, athletic finish, easy effort.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, quick arm speed.
FB: T80, 78-79 mph. Plays straight, downhill tilt at times, occasional boring action. Feel for the strike zone.
CB: 63-65 mph. Fastball arm speed, 12/6 shape, sharp action, depth, feel.
CH: 68-70 mph. Maintains arm speed at times, slight cutting action.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Brock Bellaver, Hillsboro, 2020
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-foot-4, 180-pounds. Highly-athletic, high-waisted, projectable frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, direction is in line, square landing, occasionally closed.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
FB: T78, 76-77 mph. Plays straight, has some tilt, shows control.
CB: 64-68 mph. Mixes between 12/6 to 11/5 shape, sharp spin, advanced depth at times, feel.
SL: 69-72 mph. Plays different than curveball; 10/4 shape, short, late break. 

Hayden England, Woodlawn, 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 6-foot, 165-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Methodical delivery, on-line direction, lands front-toe open, regular effort.
Arm Action: RH. Short, quick arm action, high ¾ slot.
FB: T79, 77-79 mph. Plays straight, thrown for strikes.
CB: 59-63 mph. 11/5 shape, depth at times.
CH: 60-65 mph. Plays straight.

Hunter England, Woodlawn, 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-foot, 165-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned build.
Delivery: Slight drop and drive, crunched at balance point, on-line direction, closed landing.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action from a high ¾ slot.
FB: T75, 73-75 mph. Flashed run and sink.
CB: 56-58 mph. 11/5 shape, near fastball arm speed.
CH: 64-65 mph. Works mostly straight, occasional cut.

Nolan Folks, Holt, 2023
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-foot-9, 115-pounds. Lean, projectable, loose-bodied build.
Delivery: Athletic, balanced delivery, works with rhythm, high front side, sightly across his body and lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: LH. Long, loose arm action, high ¾ slot.
FB: T71, 70-71 mph. Straight action.
CB: 61-62 mph. 1/7 shape, feel for the zone from the wind up.
CH: 63-65 mph. Maintains arm speed.

Jacob Frerichs, Litchfield, 2021
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-foot-7, 195-pounds. Compact, thick frame.
Delivery: Drop and drive delivery, stays on-line, lands front-toe closed, upright finish.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm action from an over-the-top slot.
FB: T76, 73- 75 mph. Plays straight, misses are down in the zone.
CB: 65-66 mph. 12/6 shape.
SL: 69-70 mph. Maintains arm speed, tighter than curveball, 1/7 shape.
CH: 67-70 mph. Fastball arm speed, shows slight fade.

Landon Geragosian, Breese Central, 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-foot-11, 155-pounds. High-waisted, athletic frame.
Delivery: Slow and controlled, tall and fall delivery, works with rhythm. Level shoulders, on-line direction, lands square and easy effort throughout.
Arm Action: RH. Clean, loose arm action, works from a high ¾ slot.
FB: T79, sat at 76 mph. Shows run, with slight action, misses are inside.
CB: 65-68 mph. Thrown aggressively, 12/6 shape, depth.
CH: 69-70 mph. Near fastball arm speed, fade and sinking action.

Nolan Hallum, Fort Zumwalt South, 2020
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-foot, 165-pounds.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, level shoulders, in line, square landing, easy effort delivery.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high ¾ slot.
FB: T76, 72-75 mph. Plays straight.
CB: 59-63 mph. 12/6 shape, near fastball arm speed.
CH: 66-70 mph. Straight action.

Conrad Heppler, Edwardsville, 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 5-foot-11, 146-pounds. Lean frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, hesitation at balance point, works on-line and lands front-toe open.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm action, high ¾ slot.
FB: T74, 70-72 mph. Works straight.
CB: 60-62 mph. 1/7 shape,  near fastball arm speed.
CH: 64-66 mph. Plays straight.

Landen Kitson, Holt, 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-foot-10, 150-pounds.
Delivery: Rocker step, drop and drive delivery, works on-line and lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: RH. Short, loose arm action, comes out of a high ¾ window.
FB: T78, 75-77 mph. Plays straight, occasionally heavy action at the bottom of the zone.
CB: 66-69 mph. 12/6 shape, works down in the zone.
 CH: 70-72 mph. Maintains arm speed, straight, misses down.

Carson Krapf, Edwardsville, 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-foot, 187-pounds. Strong frame.
Delivery: Simple, controlled delivery, works on-line and lands front-toe open.
Arm Action: LH. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
FB: T69, 67-68 mph. Plays straight.
CH: 62-64 mph. Near fastball arm speed, flashed fade.
SPLT: 66-68 mph. 

Sean Mitchell, Marquette Catholic, 2022
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 210-pounds.
Delivery: Rotational delivery, on-line and lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action from a high ¾ slot.
FB: T78, 74-76 mph. Slight arm-side-run, thrown for strikes.
CB: 64-66 mph. 11/5 shape, near fastball arm speed, around the zone.
CH: 69-71 mph. Flashed fade action.
SPLT: 64-65 mph. Downward tumble at times.

Griffin Neuweg, Rochester, 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 5-foot-11, 170-pounds. Strong, well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Delivery works with rhythm, stays on-line and lands front-toe closed at times.
Arm Action: RH. Plunging action out of the glove, comes out of a high ¾ slot.
FB: T80, 76-79 mph. Plays straight.
CB: 66-69 mph. 11/5 shape, maintains arm speed, short break, feel.
CH: 72-74 mph.  Thrown aggressively.

Hunter ONeil, Waynesville, 2020
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 220-pounds. Strong, physical build.
Delivery: Controlled, repeatable, tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands slightly closed, upright finish and easy effort.
Arm Action: RH. Short, clean arm action, high ¾ to over-the-top slot.
FB: T80, 77-78 mph. Straight action, downhill tilt and thrown for strikes.
CB: 68-69 mph. 11/5 shape.
SL: 73-74 mph. 10/4 shape, flashed short break.
CH: 71-75 mph. Arm-side-run at times.

Easton Rakers, Breese Central, 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 5-foot-10, 130-pounds. Wiry frame, long levers.
Delivery: Drop and drive delivery, directional, minimal use out of lower half, easy effort.
Arm Action: RH. Short, loose, clean arm action. Mixed slots between ¾ and sidearm.
FB: T76, 73-75 mph. Plays mostly straight, occasional arm-side-run and sink from low slot.
CB: 62-64 mph. Thrown aggressively, fastball arm speed, tight spin, depth, 11/5 shape.
CH: 66-67 mph. Sinking action.

Joseph Schweska, Sacred Heart-Griffin, 2023
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 5-foot-10, 210-pounds. Big-bodied, thick build.
Delivery: Full wind up, on-line direction, lands square and easy effort.
Arm Action: RH. Loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T77, 73-74 mph. Plays straight.
CB: 64-66 mph.
CH: 61-63 mph. Feel for the zone.

Austin Segrest, Edwardsville, 2020
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 5-foot-11, 170-pounds. Wiry frame.
Delivery: Delivery works on-line, lands square and easy effort throughout.
Arm Action: RH. Long draw out of the glove, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T76, 73-75 mph. Flashed slight cutting action.
CB: 58-61 mph. 11/5 shape.
CH: 64-66 mph. 

Austin Toler, Highland, 2020
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-foot-11, 165-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned build.
Delivery: Linear delivery, works on-line and lands square with regular effort.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
FB: T76, 75-76 mph. Plays straight.
SL: 65-67 mph. Varied between 12/6 and 11/5 shape, thrown for strikes.
KN: 66-68 mph. 

To see all statistics from the event in a sortable sheet, click here. Also click the following hyperlinks to quickly get to the positional groups rolled out earlier in the week - C, OF, INF.

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