Top-10 Profiles of 2019: No. 1 Connor Prielipp
December 31, 2019
Tomah’s Connor Prielipp was the No. 1-ranked prospect in Wisconsin’s 2019 class, ranked No. 83 in the country, and is at Alabama these days gearing up for the spring season for the Tide. He had a slow and steady rise up the board in high school and turned the corner for good in the summer of 2018 and never looked back.
Our colleagues at D1Baseball spent some time this past fall covering Alabama’s scrimmages and it looks as if Prielipp has a chance to be Bama’s Friday night starter. The reports sound pretty familiar to what helped Prielipp earn some serious draft looks in June. This fall, the electric lefty sat 91-93 mph, up to 94, with a slider that excites spin rate enthusiasts. The early difference between the prep Prielipp and Alabama’s version seems to be the development of his changeup. A reliable third offering will do wonders for his arsenal and should definitely give him the opportunity to be one of, if not the go-to arm for the Crimson Tide in 2020 and beyond.
The Boston Red Sox spent a 37th round pick on Prielipp in June but Prielipp was and is committed to joining Bama in 2020 and it looks like, already, that could prove to be a wise decision.
NO. 1: CONNOR PRIELIPP
TOP-10 PROFILES OF 2019
Scouting Report
8/18/18 - Verbally committed to Alabama.
7/5/18 - Badger State performance helped him become the state's top-ranked 2019 prospect. 6-foot, 155-pound left-handed pitcher, thin build, sloped shoulders. Delivery is easy with little effort, lower half stays tall, minimal use. Arm is live and loose, whippy action, high ¾ slot, plus arm speed. Fastball was electric, worked 88-91 mph, swing and miss fastball, continued to touch 90 mph deep into outing. Swing and miss curveball, 78-82 mph, plus action, late hard bite, 1/7 shape, showed ability to expand the zone and throw for strikes. Was virtually untouchable in his outing, recorded 17 strikeouts in seven innings, retired 13 of 14 via the strikeout at one point. Prielipp continues to show premium stuff this summer, 2019 draft prospect.
2/25/18 - 6-foot, 155-pound left-handed pitcher, lanky, loose limbed frame, slender build can fill out. Unassuming mound presence, quiet confidence. Forward rocker, swings into and out of balance point, lands closed, quiet front side. Arm is loose and live, easy arm speed, high ¾ slot. Fastball is live, runs to arm side, sat easy 86-87 mph, ability to control. Curveball has short hard action, thrown aggressively, 79-81 mph. Changeup fade to arm side plus action at times, deceptive fastball arm speed, above average feel.
2/26/17 - 6-foot, 155-pound left-handed pitcher. Made a big jump at the event. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a loose arm action. Tall and fall delivery with easy effort. Works in line with home plate with a square landing and smooth rhythm. Good balance throughout delivery. Fastball has running action at 85-86 mph for strikes. Curveball has 12-6 shape with occasional downer action at 80-82 mph. Changeup has running action for strikes at 79-80 mph, thrown with fastball arm speed.
2/28/16 - 6-foot, 155-pound left-handed hitting LHP/1B with a young look. On the mound works form a high ¾ arm angle with a short, quick arm action. Tall and fall delivery with a closed landing. Slide step form the stretch. Fastball sat 78-79 topping out at 80 mph. Curveball showed 1-7 shape at 68-69 mph. Maintained armspeed on changeup that showed some downer and sinking action at 73-74 mph. Offensively hits from an open stance with a drop load and long stride. Choppy rhythm with a long, level path. 73 mph exit velocity form a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.12. Defensively has a short arm action from a high 3.4 slot. Threw 71 mph across the infield.