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Northern Indiana Winter Preview: Pitchers Analysis

January 15, 2015



By Phil Wade
Indiana Executive Director



On Saturday, January 3rd, PBR Indiana hosted the Northern Indiana Winter Preview Showcase at Hobart High School  in Hobart, Indiana.  A total of 28 players participated in the event, with the majority coming from the northern part of the state.  Below we take a look at the pitchers that participated in the event.  

Top Ranked Pitcher

Michael Wolfe, RHP, Hobart HS, 2017: 6-foot-1, 165 pound right-hander possesses a long, lanky frame with room to fill out.  Pitches from a high ¾ slot with above average arm speed.  Loose arm action.  Tall to fall type delivery.  Fastball shows some cut at 78-80, topping out at 82.  Flashed a couple of good breaking balls with an 11/5 shape and late action at 64-66.  Changeup shows some sink at  67-69, but with a tendency to push the ball.  Projectable arm, should see an increase in velo in the near future.  

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Alex Batistatos, RHP, Hobart HS, 2016: 6-foot-1, 175 pound righty pitches from a low ¾ slot with average arm speed.  Long, loose arm action.  Overall easy effort in a tall to fall delivery.  Fastball was up to 80 mph with occasional run.  Breaking ball sat 68-70 with early break and an 11/5 shape.  Changeup was thrown with near fastball arm speed at 71-73 with some arm side run.  

Nate Buss, RHP, Lowell HS, 2017: 6-foot, 145 pound righty pitches from a low ¾ slot with average arm speed.  Loose arm action.  Easy effort.  Good line to the plate, lands square.  Fastball shows some run and sink action at 75-76 and thrown for a strike.  67-68 mph breaking ball shows gradual break from a 10/4 shape, more of a spinner pitch.  Throws a 2-seam at 71-75 with good run.    

Riley Cuma, LHP, Westville HS, 2016: 5-foot-9, 185 pound left-hander pitches from a ¾ slot with average arm speed.  Long arm action.  Tall to fall delivery with easy effort.  Stays in line and lands square.  Fastball was up to 79 mph with some run.  Curveball has a downer shape at 57-60.  Curveball was erratic and his arm slowed down when throwing the pitch.  Slider sat 60-63 with a 10/4 shape, the better of the two breaking balls; occasionally slows arm down.  

Christian Gloff, LHP, Munster HS, 2017: 5-foot-10, 165 pound southpaw pitches from a high ¾ slot using a long arm action with average arm speed.  Gets a little rushed at times in his delivery.  Good line to the plate.  Lands open.  Fastball was thrown for a strike at 71-72 mph.  Breaking ball sat 62-65 with gradual break.  Breaking ball shows a 10/4 shape; slows arm down.  Changeup was 64-67 mph.  

Lukas Jaksich, LHP, Andrean HS, 2016: 6-foot-1, 160 pound southpaw is fairly sound mechanically.  Pitches from a ¾ slot and short arm action.  Tall to fall type delivery with good rhythm.  Lands closed with an athletic finish.  Fastball was up to 80 mph with some run.  Breaking ball was 67-70 and thrown for a strike; early break.  Changeup was thrown with near fastball arm speed at 71-72 mph and kept down in the zone.  

Matt Olovich, RHP, Guerin Catholic HS, 2017: 5-foot-9, 167 pound righty pitches from a high ¾ slot with some arm speed.  Short arm action with a tilt/topple delivery.   Good line to the plate, rhythm a little choppy.  Lands square.  Fastball was 79-81 mph with slight downhill plane.  Breaking ball shows a 10/4 shape at 65-68 with early break.  Changeup was 73-75.  

Mitchell Sparks, LHP, Carmel HS, 2015: 6-foot-3, 172 pound southpaw possesses a long, lanky frame.  Pitches from a ¾ slot with average arm speed.  Long arm action.  Easy effort from a tall to fall delivery.  Big leg kick.  Good line to the plate, lands square.  Fastball was straight at 77-79.  Slider shows a 10/4 shape with early break at 61-63.  Tends to come around the slider and slows his arm down. Splitter was 68-69 with some sink, his best off-speed pitch.  

Douglas Visnack, RHP, Lake Central HS, 2018: 5-foot-10, 180 pound right-hander  pitches from a high  ¾ slot with average arm speed.  Tall to fall delivery.  Good line to the plate.  Fairly sound mechanically for a 2018. Fastball was 73-74 and thrown for a strike.  Breaking ball sat 66-68 and kept down in the zone from an 11/5 shape.  Changeup was 67-69 with occasional sink.  Ability to throw all three pitches for a strike.  

Alex Zarazee, LHP, Marian HS, 2017: 6-foot, 155 pound lefty pitches from a ¾ slot with average arm speed.  Short arm action with a slight stab on the back side.  Good line to the plate, lands square.  Rhythm is a little choppy.  Fastball topped out at 79 with some run and kept down in the zone for a strike.  Breaking ball was 57-58 with early break and an 11/5 shape; slows arm down.  Changeup was thrown with fastball arm speed at 69-71 with some arm side run.  

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