Norcal Upperclass ID: Pitcher Analysis
November 3, 2020
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LATHROP, CALIF. - The Northern California Upperclass ID event took place at Islanders Field at River Islands on the morning of 10/10/20. There were 35 players in attendance, 14 of whom got on the mound.
TrackMan was used for pitchers during their on field scripted bullpen sessions, tracking velocity, spin rate, as well as all the other more advanced data points.
We are rolling out position reports this week, starting with pitchers today. Be on the look out for future reports on catchers, infielders, and outfielders, as well as reports on the players took part in the underclass ID event earlier that day.
Here are the reports for the upperclass pitchers, catchers, outfielders, 3rd basemen, and shortstops, as well as underclass pitchers.
(Click to individual player profiles for full stats and video)
Listed in order of peak fastball velocity:
Jimmy Moore, Los Gatos (CA), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP - One of top uncommitted RHP in the region.
Body: 6-2, 195-pounds. Physical well-defined body, sculpted and muscular.
Delivery: Simple, small delivery, quick rocker/turn, modest knee lift, long in-line stride, powerful hip drive, maintains body control.
Arm Action: RH. Overhand, compact backside with clean circle, powers ball to the plate.
FB: T88, 87-88 mph. Has life through zone, very effective above the belt, can get chases, above avg spin, complements his CB well.
CB: 73-75 mph. Big 12/5 type continuous break, feel for this pitch, usable as a K pitch or to cross count a hitter.
CH: 80-83 mph. Deceptive given the strong similarity to the FB release, finishes well, feel for the bottom of the zone.
Tyler Blair, Redwood (Larkspur, CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP - One of more intriguing uncommitted 2022 RHP in Northern CA.
Body: 6-0, 170-pounds. Strong well-proportioned build, lower body is well developed.
Delivery: Powerful, gathers energy over rubber, drives home with strength and body control, high knee lift and tuck, stays compact prior to stride, well-schooled delivery.
Arm Action: RH. Loose quick arm, consistently controls arm swing, compact backside with modest depth, gets to 3/4 slot.
FB: T87, 85-86 mph. Above average spin and arm side movement, flashes explosive run, quick FB capable of being an out pitch.
CB: 70-71 mph. Smaller CB, showed feel for starting in the zone and breaking off plate, slider type look with two plane action, fairly quick change of direction.
CH: 75-77 mph. Maintains arm speed, worked knee height over the plate, similar movement pattern to FB, looks to be an effective offering for him.
Michael Banderas, San Ramon Valley (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-1, 197-pounds. Fuller body type, broad, has some natural power in lower half.
Delivery: Big pinch of lead knee over rubber showing cleat to catcher, gathers power prior to long stride.
Arm Action: RH. Long circle on backside, gets to overhand slot, has above average arm speed, some inconsistencies in repeating the arm stroke and release point.
FB: T85, 83-84 mph. Flashes as potential upper 80s FB, can spin it and maintain plane, fairly straight, control is inconsistent but there is a bigger FB in his future.
CB: 73-74 mph. Shows consistent feel, quick two plane break, late action capable of getting swings/misses.
SL: 73-74 mph. Slightly firmer and smaller than CB, usable as a steal strike pitch to also set up bigger sharper CB, has feel of this.
CH: 76-77 mph. Creates more arm side movement than w/FB, release height consistent with FB release, maintains arm speed, can be an abv avg offering.
Luca Bove, Redwood (Larkspur, CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds. Strong and athletic with lean musculature, streamlined build.
Delivery: Methodical over the rubber, leans shoulders back a bit as knee lifts, smooth and controlled down slope then explosive after foot strike, maintains body control through his in-line stride.
Arm Action: RH. Long clean circle on backside, nears full extension, loose and easy getting to high-3/4 slot, accelerates the arm through release.
FB: T84, 82-84 mph. Flashed spin and movement patterns that project the FB favorably, feel for the zone was inconsistent.
CH: 70-74 mph. Late movement to arm side, release a little early resulting in being up in the zone, looks close to developing this pitch.
Colby Evans, San Joaquin Memorial (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-1, 210-pounds. Physical body type, has developed musculature, well-proportioned strength throughout.
Delivery: Gets behind the ball early over the rubber, leans back into gathering phase, modest knee lift, cross body stride, lands with stability in fielding position.
Arm Action: RH. Long easy arm action, gets near full backside extension, overhand slot, accelerates well through finish.
FB: T84, 82-83 mph. Pounded the zone, flashes plus movement on arm-side, more extension would allow the effective velo to play up.
CB: 64-67 mph. Showed quality feel, understands the movement of it, continuous rolling action through zone, slow 11/5 CB that is a big change of pace.
SL: 69-70 mph. More of an out pitch than the CB, slightly smaller and slightly firmer, smooth shape that isn't snappy but can get hitters to expand.
CH: 68-71 mph. Big movement pattern arm side, big spin differential off FB look can create deception between the two offerings.
Donovan Chriss, De La Salle (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds. Lean upper body with strength through thighs and hip region, athletic build.
Delivery: Simple rhythmic delivery, tuck over rubber modest knee lift, hands sync'd w/feet, in-line stride, maintains body control, lands in fielding position.
Arm Action: RH. Short compact backside, sneaky and hard to find the ball, quick arm with delivery to get more out of the arm, high-3/4 slot.
FB: T83, 81-82 mph. Works easily on arm side, abv avg movement, around the zone, spin hints at some future velo gains, sneaky quick.
CB: 67-71 mph. Feel for shaping this pitch in the zone, fairly tight, good control, late lateral break w/smaller depth.
CH: 74-75 mph. Slight late fade, minimal depth, flashed ability to feel it, certainly a capable future third offering.
Max Hippensteel, Salinas (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-0, 158-pounds. Athletic body, strength in lower half, lanky rangy upper body proportions.
Delivery: High comfortable knee lift over rubber, breaks hands quickly in sync with lower half working down slope, maintains body control, athletic delivery, fluid and repeatable, in-line stride.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action on backside, tilts front shoulder up a bit which creates some ability to hide the ball, high-3/4 slot, arm works easy, has control of the arm swing.
FB: T83, 81-82 mph. Max spin hints at velo spike down the road, release height works to allow FB to maintain plane up in zone, abv avg movement pattern to arm side.
CB: mph.
SL: 65-67 mph. Wide sweeping CB, big break can work starting in or out of zone depending on desired outcome, lowers slot with CB.
CH: 70-74 mph. Feel for the zone and the pitch, lesser movement than FB with similar arm speed, looks capable of starting bats and getting soft contact.
Collin DeBorde, Clovis North (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-11, 195-pounds. Strong build, stout body type, power in lower half, durable looking frame.
Delivery: High lift, twist/torque movement over rubber, keeps hands low off right hip, hides ball well, in-line stride, repeats well, understands his delivery.
Arm Action: RH. Quick arm, more in there than raw velo shows, somewhat sticks on backside as he readies to come forward, 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 80-82 mph. Big arm-side movement (both avg and max), can work up and in and off plate, release height could create chases up in zone.
CB: 72-73 mph. Big tight snapper, depth and lateral action, flashed as a buckling type CB and also one that will get many chases.
SL: 72-74 mph. Tight SL, quick change of direction, flashed darting break, depth of the pitch is a plus.
CH: 76-77 mph. Release similar to CB/SL, big arm side movement pattern, works down well, capable of getting swing-overs, showed feel for zone.
Cody Zachariasen, Truckee (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-0, 160-pounds. Lean body with budding muscle and strength, athletically built, good frame.
Delivery: Smallish delivery, modest hip high lift, quick separation actions/movements, in-line stride, simple backside finish, ends a bit upright.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, hand below elbow before reversing to come forward, high-3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 78-79 mph. Straight-ish FB, fair spin, can create some angle, arm stroke can create some deception, inconsistent control.
CB: 63-67 mph. Best pitch, feel for showing in the zone and breaking out, smaller down break with more lateral action, some quickness to the change of direction.
SL: 69-70 mph. Minimal depth with wide sweeping action, has feel for the zone, spin is good w/potential to improve.
CH: 65-69 mph. Fairly straight CHG, showed feel for the pitch and zone, large differential off FB, looks capable of being used in FB counts.
Adam Stothard, Los Altos (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds. Average athletic body type, well-proportioned, frame can hold more size/strength in the future.
Delivery: Athletic, high knee lift, in-line stride, uses hips well, finishes in fielding position, does fan plant foot as arm comes through.
Arm Action: RH. Clean circle on backside, overhand slot, pretty quick arm swing, repeats the arm stroke well, ability to manipulate the ball.
FB: T82, 80-82 mph. Holds velo well through zone, abv avg movement on arm side, feel for edges of the zone, somewhat sneaky quick, strike throwing ability.
CB: 67-68 mph. Smaller break more resembling a SL, feel for the zone, looks fully capable of using in cross counts or to start bats, fair spin that with improvement will enhance the bite of the pitch.
CH: 71-72 mph. Flashed plus movement to arm-side, above avg feel for the pitch and the zone, late depth/action.
Tyler Kersey, Oakmont (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Stout body type with strength through lower half, wide shoulders, frame to hold strength and size gains.
Delivery: Calm methodical actions over rubber, high knee lift, down and out L action of stride leg, lands in-line and closed, repeats well.
Arm Action: RH. Small compact circle on backside, controls arm swing well, high-3/4 slot.
FB: T80, 79-80 mph. Pounded the zone, has some length through zone, flash avg/slightly abv movement, hints of spin that should allow modest velocity gains in the future.
SL: 67-68 mph. Traditional SL shape, smooth action, usable as show pitch to enhance the FB.
CH: 73-74 mph. Finishes well, movement pattern gives similar look to the FB as does the release height.
Aaron Martinez, Le Grand (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds. Strong body, still with a frame that will fill out with muscle, wide back.
Delivery: Athletic delivery, high knee lift to strong gather position over rubber, in-line stride, creates leverage for extension, has rhythm and ability to repeat.
Arm Action: RH. High-3/4 slot, quick arm, backside depth to mid-thigh, controls fairly compact arm stroke.
FB: T80, 78-80 mph. Aggressive FB strikes, holds plane well, slight late movement wrinkle, felt quicker than the velo readings, sneaky.
CB: 65-68 mph. Flashed big downer shape that can dive below bats, high spin w/feel around the zone, depth gives it swing and miss potential.
CH: 71-72 mph. Similar release height as FB (exact same as CB), more movement than FB while shoving it down in the zone, quality third pitch.
Bode Joyner, St. Bernard's (CA), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-4, 185-pounds. Long legs, athletic proportions, highly projectable frame, lean lanky body type.
Delivery: Smooth delivery, high knee lift, gathers in compact manner before separation, in-line stride, pulls to 1B side, high effort finish.
Arm Action: RH. Overhand slot, long two part arm action on backside, snaps head off line to bring arm stroke through to release.
FB: T76, 73-75 mph. Straight FB with potential to create steep angle to bottom of zone, around zone enough to project strike throwing ability.
CB: 57-62 mph. Big 12/5 bender, fair spin, smooth continuous rolling action with some depth to the bottom of zone, plays well off a FB up.
SL: 64-67 mph. Smaller break though with width similar to CB, spin is similar to CB, throws it aggressively.
Rocky Reyes, Buchanan (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds. Average frame, longer arms, lean with strength and very well-proportioned.
Delivery: Calm patient beginning to delivery, high knee lift just above hips, tucks and gathers over rubber in compact manner, glides down slope to long stride, finishes well.
Arm Action: RH. Circular backside getting toward full extension away from body, elbow getes above hand just before starting forward, overhand slot.
FB: T73, 70-73 mph. Straight, worked up quite a bit, arm speed appears to be better than the velo coming out, long extension can help it play up a bit.
CB: 57-59 mph. Slow CB with smaller lateral break, spin rate will have to climb to create more action, did work down in zone well.
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UPCOMING EVENTS
SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
NorCal ProCase Preview (2022) | CA | 11/14 | Islanders Field - Lathrop |
NorCal Rising Stars (2024/2025) | CA | 11/15 | Islanders Field - Lathrop |
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