Notes on the IMG Summer Wood Bat Showcase

June 27, 2015

By Rob Sidwell
Florida Scouting Director

Bradenton, Fl -- Players from all over the world came to IMG academy to try out for the summer wood bat league this past week and we were there as well. There were local players from the Tampa area and as far as the Czech Republic and Tokyo, Japan. The players were run through a pro style workout in front of the IMG staff who will draft and coach the players. The staff includes former big league players and college coaches and the facilities are second to none.

Today we take a look at some of the top pitching performances. The following arms stood out at the showcase:

2019 RHP Daniel Padysak (Czech Republic) – Young athletic tall lean projectable body. Loose easy working arm with a fluid delivery at a high ¾ slot. Lands in line but head occasionally comes off target. Has a sneaky fast ball at 79-81 mph with some downward tilt to it. Curve ball is a ¾ breaker that breaks 2 planes at 61-62 mph. Good rotation. Good upside to a very young arm.

2016 RHP Santiago Riera Venezuela) – Lean athletic projectable body. Hides ball in back, lands in line. High ¾ slot. Fast ball was 74-79 mph. Curve ball was 65-66 mph with some downward bite to it. Occasionally works around it. Throws strikes.

2016 LHP Andrew Braun (Santiago HS, CA) – Tall lean loose athletic projectable body. Loose working arm at an over hand slot. Hides ball in back. Clears head to get to release point. Lands across the body. Fast ball has some downward tilt and glove side cut action at 75-78 mph. Curve ball is a tight downer at 64-65 mph. Some effort in delivery. Throws strikes.

2016 RHP Christopher Gijsbers ( International School of Brussels) – Tall loose skinny projectable body. Loose live arm at a high ¾ slot. Fast ball has some downward tilt at 79-80 mph. Curve ball is 67-71 mph but drops slot to ¾ to throw it. It has good rotation to it. Lands across the body but gets out front most of the time to release point.

2015 LHP Kenta Nishiyama (Keio Academy, NY) – Athletic loose projectable body with a strong lower half and a wide back. Loose live arm with a wrist wrap in back. High ¾ slot with some deception. Fast ball has tailing action at 76-77 mph. Curve ball is a soft downer at 61-62 mph with an inconsistent release out front. Change up has tumbling action at 67-68 mph.

2018 RHP Jake Artzt (Stroudsburg HS, PA) – Tall athletic strong very young body with a strong lower half. Loose whippy arm at a high ¾ slot. Big arm arc in back. Lands in line. Fast ball is 74-78 mph with tailing action. Slider is 65-66 mph with a short slurvey break. Has feel for the change up at 66-67 mph with same action as fast ball.

Notes on the IMG Summer Wood Bat Showcase

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