The St. Louis Preseason Prospect Showcase at the St. Louis Sports Center had quite a few standout players and performances.  We bring you the results and write ups of the pitchers. Position players to follow in the next few days

Raymond Bailey, RHP, Alton HS (IL), Class of 2013: Baily is a strong bodied 6-foot-2, 220-pound RHP. Baily displayed a heavy 80-81 mph fastball, with some late arm side run.  He also showed command of his secondary pitches, a 12-to-6 breaking ball and a 69-71 mph change up that was consistently down in the zone.

Benjamin Baldridge, RHP, Alton HS (IL), Class of 2013: Baldridge is a lanky 6-foot-1, 170-pound right handed pitcher who showed repeatable mechanics from a ¾ arm slot, and as he continues to fill out his frame, should have good upside. His fastball sat 77-80 mph with arm side run and sink. Baldridge showed good control of his off speed pitchers, with a sharp 66-69 mph 11-to-5 breaking ball and a 75 mph changeup with some depth.

Austin Bartle, RHP/3B, Belleville East (IL), Class of 2012: Bartle has a strong lower half with his 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame, a lower half he used to generate barrel whip at the plate and delivered consistent line drives gap to gap, showing the potential to have some power.  In the infield, Bartle has a good approach to the ball and flashed some range, while showing arm speed in his throws across the diamond (76-79 mph). Bartle also showed some ability on the mound, with a fastball that topped out at 79mph. Bartle kept both off speed pitches, a 68 mph breaking ball and 73 mph change up down in the zone with fastball arm speed on both pitches. 

Cody Boyers, RHP, Nearville HS, Class of 2013: Boyers features a wiry 6-foot-3, 165-pound frame and showed feel for all three of his pitches.  He operates from a ¾ arm slot and delivered fastballs in the 75-76 mph range. He also demonstrated the ability to command his curveball, in the 61-62 mph range, and a changeup that showed some sink and in the 64-65 mph range.

Clayton Buddemeyer, LHP/1B, MICDS, Class of 2013: Buddemeyer showed to be a two way player who excels in all facets of his game. The projectable 6-foot-3, 190-pound Buddemeyer  showed quick hands and a short, compact swing that was consistently level. Buddemeyer drove the ball hard gap-to-gap with backspin carry.  At first base, Buddemeyer showed soft hands, with above average footwork when holding a runner on and turning double plays.  On the mound, the left handed throwing Buddemeyer sat 73-74 mph with his fastball. He showed a sharp 11-to-5 breaking ball (61-63 mph) and 65-68 mph change up with some depth.

Daniel Covert, LHP/OF/1B, Marquette HS, Class of 2015: Covert is a wiry 5-foot-8, 140-pound two-way player who has potential as he continues to physically develop.  On the mound, the left handed throwing Covert has a loose arm and smooth delivery working from a high 3/4 arm slot and threw three pitches: a 68-71 mph fastball with some sink, a 57-58 mph curveball, and a 66-67 mph changeup.  Offensively, Covert has a level swing and generated some good barrel whip through the zone. Defensively in the outfield, Covert moves well to the ball and shows an accurate arm (70-73 mph). At 1B, Covert moves well off the base and has soft, confident hands.

Peter Forsee, LHP, Webster Groves HS, Class of 2012: On the mound, the big bodied 6-foot-3, 195-pound Forsee showed good feel for all three pitches. Coming from a ¾ arm slot, Forsee’s fastball sat 75-77 mph, and was complimented with a cutter (66-69 mph) and 69-71 mph changeup. As he continues to progress and learn to use his body, Forsee should see an increase in velocity off the mound.

Ryan Franklin, RHP/C, Ft. Zumwalt West, Class of 2013: Franklin is a 5-foot-10, 145-pound right-handed pitcher who showed the ability to throw three pitches for strikes. With a quick delivery and and over-the-top angle, Franklin has a loose arm and a fastball toppjng out at 78 with some arm side run. Franklin impressed with his 65-67 mph curveball, which had a sweeping motion. He also showed good feel for his changeup, in the 69-71 mph range. At the plate, the ball carries well off of his bat, with a slightly uphill bat path.  When he didn’t try to lift the ball, Franklin showed the ability to be a consistent line drive hitter.

CJ Goenecker, LHP/OF, Ladue HS, Class of 2013: The 5-foot-11, 175-pound Goenecker comes from a high ¾ arm slot with a short backside arm action. He hides the ball well in his delivery, throwing three different pitches, a fastball in the 71-73 mph range, a late breaking curveball in the 64-66 mph range, and a changeup with arm side run in the 65-66 mph range.

Dylan Handlin, LHP/OF, Rochester HS (IL): The athletic 5-foot-9, 170-pound Handlin is a LHP who showed the ability to throw all pitches from a consistent ¾ arm slot. Handlin showed a 73-75 mph fastball, topping out at 76 mph, with some cut action and consistently down in the strike zone. Handlin also threw a 62-64 mph breaking ball with gradual break. Handlin also showed a 69-71 mph change up, with some arm side run.  In the outfield, Handlin took good angles to the ball, and played through the ball delivering 71-74 mph throws. At the plate, Handlin uses a smooth load and has a short stride with quick hands showing the ability to consistently find the barrel.

Connor Harrison, RHP/OF, DeSmet, Class of 2013:  The lanky 6-foot-2, 178-pound Harrison showed versatility as a right handed pitcher and outfielder. On the mound, Harrison showed a 74-77 mph fastball, 65-68 mph breaking ball, and 67-70 mph change up. In the outfield and infield, Harrison showed good athletic movements for a player of his size, showing soft hands and good routes to the ball with a quick glove to hand transfer.  At the plate, Harrison showed the ability to let the ball get deep, and use his quick hands to spray the ball to all fields.

Brennan Hehner, RHP, Westminster, Class of 2014: At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, Hehner has a projectable body type, one that will continue to develop as he physically develops. Hehner has long legs and arms, and demonstrated athleticism, rhythm and fluidity on the mound. The right-hander operates from a high ¾ arm slot and has a quick, loose arm action.  He showcased a fastball that topped out at 81 mph that was thrown with little effort.  His curveball showed some sharp break in the 70-73 mph range, and changeup in the 74-75 mph range that displayed sink when down in the zone.

DJ Hickey, LHP, Timberland, Class of 2013: The athletically built 6-foot-1, 190-pound Hickey comes from a high ¾ slot with an easy arm action. He has a deceptive delivery and hides the ball well on all pitches, as he repeatedly threw his fastball at 75-76 mph with some cut.  He also featured a 2-to-8 curveball in the 62-64 mph range.  Hickey’s changeup looked to be his best pitch, as it demonstrated late downward action to the arm side with fastball arm speed.

Caleb Hicks, RHP/SS, Westminster, Class of 2014: Hicks has a projectable 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame and has the potential to be an impact player on the mound and in the field as he progress and becomes more physically mature.  On the mound, Hicks came from ¾ arm action with good arm action and repeatable mechanics, delivering a 76-78 mph fastball. He also showed a gradual moving 10-to-4 breaking ball (62-64 mph) and a 66-68 mph change up. In the field, Hicks showed good footwork, fielding mechanics, and some range with accurate 73-76 mph throws across the diamond. At the plate, Hicks used a good lower half with strong, quick hands to create barrel whip through the zone producing line drives, and the potential for some pull side power.

Cale Laughlin, LHP, Francis Howell North, Class of 2012: Laughlin is a 5-foot-10, 145-pound left-handed pitcher with a high 3/4 arm angle.  His fastball was in the 74-75 mph range and also showcased a breaking ball in the 60-62 mph range and a change up in the 62-65 mph range, with good arm speed.

Austin Meine, RHP/3B, Wright City HS, Class of 2013: With his 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame, Meine showed to be a versatile two way player.  On the mound, Meine has good tempo and rhythm out of the windup, throwing all three pitches consistently for strikes. Meine’s heavy fastball topped out an easy 82 mph, while his breaking ball showed to be his best pitch with its 11-to-5 sharp break.  Meine also throws a 73-74 mph changeup that stayed down in the zone.  In the infield, Meine was aggressive to the ball and flashed some range to his backhand side, with strong 78-83 mph throws across the diamond.  At the plate, he flashed some power potential with his strong hand and powerful swing.

Brendan Murray, RHP, Lindburgh, Class of 2013: Murray is a 6-foot, 160-pound right-handed pitcher with a long over the top arm angle.  Murray showed good tempo on the mound with his three pitches: a heavy fastball sitting at 76-78 mph, a 65-68 mph two-plane curveball, and a 76 mph changeup that had fastball arm speed and showed late some sink.

Gannon Peavler, RHP/OF, Centralia HS, Class of 2014: Peavler is a projectable 6-foot-2, 175-pound two-way talent who showed well in all facets of the game.  Peavler displayed a strong arm, whether in the field (80 mph) or on the mound.  Peavler has a long, loose arm with smooth rhythm on the mound, throwing from a high ¾ arm slot in which the ball jumps out of his hand.  He has three different pitches, a heavy 79-82 mph fastball that was consistently in the zone; a 69-72 mph curveball that has a two-plane break, and a 69-70 mph changeup.  Defensively, Pevler showed fundamental movements to the ball with a strong, accurate arm (81-83 mph).  Offensively, he has a level swing in which he used to hit consistent line drives.

Wesley Pyles, LHP/OF, Poplar Bluff HS, Class of 2014: The lanky 6-foot, 176-pound Pyles is a left handed pitcher who should show continued progress as he continues to develop. Coming from a high ¾ arm slot, Pyles has deceptive delivery and a quick arm that works well, with fastballs from 79 to 81 mph that had late sink. He showed good feel for a sharp breaking ball (68-72 mph). Pyles also showed a 67-69 mph change up, with late sink. The movement of his pitches looks like he could be very tough on left handed hitters.  At the plate, the left handed hitting Pyles showed good hands and a level swing driving the ball gap to gap with backspin carry. In the field, Pyles showed concise routes to the ball and good arm action with accurate throws (75-79 mph)

Kai Rebmann, RHP/MIF, MICDS, Class of 2013: The athletic 5-foot-11, 175 Rebmann has quick instincts in the outfield and plays through the ball on all throws (71-72 mph).  He showed fluid footwork with a quick clean exchange.  At the plate, Rebmann is very balanced and takes short, quick path to the ball and consistently found the barrel. On the mound, Rebmann has good rhythm while showing a 72-75 mph fastball with late arm side run. He also showed a 10-to-4 breaking ball down in the zone and a 74-75 mph change up with some sink, a pitch that if he can take a bit off has to potential to be a very effective pitch.

Brent Ricketts, LHP/OF, St. Charles West HS, Class of 2013: Ricketts has short arm action on the mound showing the ability to throw three pitches for strikes.  Ricketts’ fastball sat 78-79, his slider (67-69 mph) had late, sharp movement and could be a legitimate out pitch. Ricketts also threw a 75-76 mph changeup with some fade. In the outfield, Ricketts took fundamental routes to he ball and showed good arm speed on his throws (75-80 mph). Offensively, Ricketts showed the ability to use the opposite field, and when he kept his weight back, was able to hit the ball with some authority.

Daniel Schnicker, RHP, Lafayette, Class of 2013: Schnicker is an athletic 6-foot, 190-pound RHP. Coming from a ¾ arm slot he impressed with a 70-72 mph late moving arm side changeup, which has the potential to be an out pitch. Schnicker also showed a 78-80 mph fastball, topping out at 81 mph with some run. He also throws a 75-75 mph breaking ball that was consistently down in the zone

Jordan Smith, RHP/OF, Westminster, Class of 2014: Smith proved to be a solid two-way talent. On the mound, the 5-foot-9, 170-pound Smith has repeatable mechanics and comes from a high 3/4 arm slot. Smith showed feel for three pitches, including an 78-79 mph fastball that had sink. He also showed a solid curveball with a 12-to-6 shape that flashed late break, and a changeup that had arm side run and sink.  Defensively, Smith moves with athleticism, and was quick to the ball, as he delivered 79-81 mph throws.  Offensively, Smith has good rhythm at the plate and uses a short, compact swing spraying the ball to all fields.

Tyler Stevenson, RHP/MIF, Francis Howell North, Class of 2013: RHP/MIF Tyler Stevenson showed well on the mound, in the field, and at the plate. On the mound, Stevenson used a quick, loose arm to throw an easy 78-80 mph fastball. Stevenson also threw his 60-62 mph 12-to-6 curveball and 70-73 mph change up consistently for strikes. As he gets stronger, Stevenson should see an increase in velocity.  At the plate, the undersized 5-foot-9, 130-pound Stevenson had an aggressive approach, spraying the ball gap-to-gap. If he levels his swing out, he should find more consistency at the plate. In the field, Stevens used athletic movements, soft hands, and a quick transfer to deliver accurate throws.

Joseph Tanner, LHP/OF, Chaminade, Class of 2014: Tanner is a projectable 6-foot, 165-pound LHP. He showed good command of all three pitches. Coming from a low ¾ arm slot, Tanner flashed a 76-78 mph fastball, topping out at 79 mph. Tanner also showed a cutter type breaking ball (71-74 mph) and at 69-71 mph changeup with late fade. As he continues to mature physically, Tanner should see an increase in velocity.  In the outfield, Tanner was quick to the ball and showed accuracy and some arm strength with all throws (77-79 mph). At the plate, Tanner has an athletic stance with good balance and showed the ability to make consistent contact, hitting the ball where it is pitched.

Jordan Yackel, RHP/3B, Hazelwood West, Class of 2014: Yackel was one of the most athletic prospects at the event, proving to be a solid two-way talent. On the mound, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound Yackel has a strong lower half and a quick arm. Coming from a ¾ arm slot, Yackel showed feel for three pitches, including a heavy 79-82 mph fastball that had sink. As he continues to mature physically, he should see a velocity spike. He also showed a solid curveball that had flashed late break, and a changeup that had arm side run and sink.  Defensively, Yackel showed to be a sure handed fielder.  At the plate, Yackel uses his strong lower half to create barrel whip through the zone and some pop in his bat hitting the ball hard gap to gap.