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Preseason Underclass Showcase South I: Class of 2017 & 2018 Evaluations

January 28, 2015

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By JD Heilmann, Alex Schillig and Dylan Hefflinger
Ohio Scouting Director, Assistant Director of Scouting and Editor in Chief/NW Scout

Preseason Underclass Showcase South I


We would like to thank all who participated in PBR Ohio’s Preseason Underclass Showcase South I. This was a great opportunity for 2016, '17 and '18 prospects to be put on college radars. Many players impressed during their individual workouts at the showcase. Below we have the complete statistical results from the event as well as the top performers across various different categories. 

In the coming weeks, we will be adding and updating profiles for each of the players in attendance, including complete analysis and video.

Interested in attending a PBR Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

For now, please take a look at the statistical results from the event by clicking here.

Also please take a look at the Top Tools Breakdown Article, which highlights the top performers using 12 commonly used criteria for analyzing prospects, by clicking here.

Preseason Underclass Showcase South I: Class of 2017 Evaluations


TOP PITCHER: Dan Rutan, LHP/1B, Grove City
TOP POSITION PLAYER: Dillan Smith, SS/OF, Pickerington North

Austin Cahill, RHP/3B, Finneytown, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-6, 150-pounds with a short, average frame. Throws with average arm speed through a 3/4 slot with short arm action. Uses a three-pitch mix. Commanded the zone well with his 66-68 mph fastball that bumped up to 69 mph a couple times. Uses a 51-54 mph curveball that offers some depth with its gradual 11/5 movement. Also mixed in a 61-63 mph changeup.

Collin Hannan, C/1B, Dublin Jerome, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-1, 190-pound projectable frame. From behind the plate he receives it well but has tendency to open up on his throw. Throws from a high-¾ slot with pop times between 2.19-2.22 and 74 mph arm strength. Right-handed hitter that stays closed on his front side and needs to finish is swing. Registered top exit velocity of 84 mph and ran a 7.40 60-yard dash.

Dan Rutan, LHP/1B, Grove City, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-1, 172-pound athletic build. From first base he shows good footwork around the bag and throws from a loose, high-¾ slot with good arm action and 79 mph arm strength. Left-handed hitter that stands tall. Steps closed and produced line drives from his swing. Registered top exit velocity of 68 mph and ran 7.57 60-yard dash. On the mound, the young southpaw features long, loose arm action while using a three-pitch mix. Fastball shows consistent arm-side run while sitting between 75-77 mph. Two offspeed pitches show some definite potential. Using fastball arm speed, he throws a deceptive 67-70 mph changeup with some late sinking action. He also throws a hard 68-69 mph slider.

Dillan Smith, SS/OF, Pickerington North, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-11, 185-pound strong solid build. From the outfield he shows athleticism and good arm action. Throws from a high-¾ slot with an 87 mph arm strength. From the infield he shows decent range while being able to throw from a lower slot with 79 mph arm strength across the diamond. Right-handed hitter that really shined during batting practice. Has a short compact swing with strength and power to pull side. Quick hands and top exit velocity of 89 mph and ran a 7.19 60-yard dash.

Drew Huffman, RHP/1B, Ross, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-2, 195-pound projectable frame. From first base he shows soft hands. From easy over the top he shows 70 mph arm strength across the diamond. Right-handed hitter that shows some strength in his swing and little leg kick to load. Bat path gets a little long but stays in the zone. Registered top exit velocity of 76 mph and ran 8.19 60-yard dash. On the mound the projectable right-hander comes over the top with a good finish. Fastball sat 70-71 mph. Breaking ball is big and slow at 63 mph with 11/5 break. Also, showed a changeup at 65 mph with good arm speed.

Gabe Edmondson, 1B/OF, Centerville, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-11, 165-pound strong build. From the outfield he creates good momentum on his throw. Comes from over top and winds up a bit with 78 mph arm strength. At first base he fields the ball into his body and showed 74 mph arm strength across the infield. Right-handed hitter with a spread out set up. Shows some strength in his swing with an uphill path. Registered top exit velocity of 75 mph and ran 7.39 60-yard dash.

Jared Telecky, 1B/3B, St. John’s Jesuit, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-2, 205-pound projectable frame. From the infield shows soft hands and projects to play on the corners. If he’s going to play 3rd he needs to quicken up his release. Throws from a high-¾ slot with 68 mph arm strength across the diamond. Right-handed hitter that has a long stride and quick hands. Shows power to the pull side with an impressive 93 mph exit velocity. Ran a 8.15 60-yard dash.

Joseph Bowlin, RHP, Mason, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-0, 135-pounds with a wiry frame. Frame shows some projectability as he fills out. Throws through a 3/4 slot with easy, loose arm action. Features a 72-73 mph fastball and a 66-67 mph changeup that shows some fading action at times. Also mixed in a 62-65 mph breaking ball; the pitch displays 11/5 tilt with average depth.

Kyle Metheny, SS/2B, Grove City, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-9, 175-pound strong, stocky build. From the infield he has soft hands and average range. Throws from a high-¾ slot with 71 mph arm strength across the diamond. Right-handed hitter that starts open and gets to even. Has little leg kick to load with a flat path and some strength in his swing. Registered top exit velocity of 78 mph and ran a 8.08 60-yard dash.

Matthew Walters, OF/MIF, Pickerington Central, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-8, 165-pound athletic build. From the outfield he tends to open up on his throws. Has some effort in his throw from a high-¾ slot with 84 mph arm strength. Switch hitter that is slightly better from the left side. From the right side he starts open and gets to even. Uphill swing with 81 mph exit velocity. From the left side he doesn’t stride with a short, compact swing with good rotation. Top exit velocity from the left side was 83 mph and ran a 7.27 60-yard dash.

Michael Cleary, OF/SS, St. Xavier, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-10, 160-pound athletic build. From the outfield he uses a good run through and opens up a little on his throw. Shows 81 mph arm strength from an easy, short, high-¾ slot. In the infield he shows soft hands and clean exchange. Able to throw from different arm slots with 75 mph across the diamond. Left-handed hitter with a spread out stance and balanced. Shows good load and flat swing through the zone with good rotation. Registered a top exit velocity of 80 mph and ran a 7.22 60-yard dash.

Michael Hall, C/2B, Mason, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-10, 190-pound strong, solid build. From behind the plate he shows good arm strength from a short, high-¾ slot. Pop times ranged between 2.00-2.18 with 79 mph arm strength. If he quickens up his exchange his pop times will go down. Right-handed hitter that starts slightly closed. Uses a little leg kick to load and does a good job keeping his hands back. Flat bat path with 82 mph exit velocity and ran a 7.44 60-yard dash.

Rhett Gipe, 2B/OF, Newton, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-9, 160-pound average build. From the outfield he throws the ball uphill from a high-¾ slot with 80 mph arm strength. In the infield he shows a quick exchange and 75 mph arm strength across the diamond from a high-¾ slot. Right-handed hitter that starts open and gets to even. He does a good job keeping his hands inside the baseball with 73 mph bat speed and ran a 7.33 60-yard dash.

Trevor Rider, 3B/RHP, Northwest, 2017
Scouting Report: 5-foot-10, 185-pound strong build. From the infield he fields the ball into his body with average range. Throws from a high-¾ slot with 72 mph arm strength across the diamond. Right-handed hitter with a short, compact swing with quick hands and good rotation on his back side. Registered top exit velocity of 79 mph and ran a 7.72 60-yard dash. On the mound the righty falls off a little to glove side. From over top his fastball sits 70-73 mph with some run. Throws a 12/6 breaking ball at 58-61 mph. Showcases a changeup with good arm speed at 60 mph.

Tyler Wardwell, SS/2B, LaSalle, 2017
Scouting Report: 6-foot-1, 165-pound projectable frame. From the infield he shows average range and good exchange. Throws from a high-¾ slot with 81 mph arm strength across the diamond. Switch hitter with good feel to hit from both sides. From the left side he starts closed and uses leg kick to load. Good swing path with 83 mph exit velocity. From the right side he starts with his hands high and also little leg kick to load. Good rhythm with solid bat path and good finish. Registered top exit velocity from the right at 90 mph. Ran a 7.22 60-yard dash.

Preseason Underclass South I: Class of 2018 Evaluations


TOP PITCHER: Andrew Schnitzler, RHP, Springfield Shawnee
TOP POSITION PLAYER: Tommy Belser, RHP/OF, Bellefontaine

Andrew Schnitzler, RHP, Springfield Shawnee, 2018
Scouting Report: 5-foot-11, 175-pound athletic build. On the mound the righty has a slow tempo delivery and does a good job keeping his weight back over his back leg. He is able to repeat his delivery and has good direction at foot strike. His fastball sits between 73-75 mph and uses a curveball at 61-64 mph with tight spin and 11/5 break. Also, showcased a changeup with good arm speed at 66 mph.

Kaid Milam, RHP/2B, Loveland, 2018
Scouting Report: 5-foot-6, 145-pounds with a thin frame. The right handed hurler throws through a 3/4 slot while using short arm action. Showed excellent command of his 73-75 mph fastball, throwing plenty of strikes while working both sides of the plate. Curveball shows gradual 10/4 movement while sitting between 60-62 mph. Also mixed in a 64-67 mph changeup that shows some comeback action.

Tommy Belser, RHP/OF, Bellefontaine, 2018
Scouting Report: 6-foot-2, 180-pound projectable frame. From the outfield he is aggressive to the ball and throws from a short-¾ slot with 77 mph arm strength. Right-handed hitter with a spread out stance with good balance. Good rhythm with a flat bat path and high finish. Registered a top exit velocity of 83 mph and ran a 7.79 60-yard dash. On the mound, he throws through a near over the top arm slot with short arm action. Two-pitch mix. Showed good command of the zone with his 74-77 mph fastball that displayed minimal movement. Also showed feel for a 69-71 mph changeup thrown with near fastball arm speed.

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