Prep Baseball Report

Top Prospect Games: Pitching Analysis


Ronald Sims
Mississippi Scouting Director

The Top Prospect Games of Mississippi took place on Saturday, July 17th, at Smith-Wills Stadium, in Jackson, MS. The open event saw prospects from across the state of Mississippi perform in front of several college coaches, and the Prep Baseball Report Mississippi scouting staff.

Today, the Prep Baseball Report Mississippi scouting staff takes a deeper look at pitching performances from the July event.

+ Cooper Smith, RHP/SS, Lewisburg, 2019
Lean, athletic 5-foot-9, 140-pounds with room to add strength and size to his frame. Right-handed pitcher throwing from ¾ release, with solid balance, and easy effort in delivery. Fluid rhythm with tall delivery, level shoulders, working down mound with in-line direction and finishes athletically. Fastball sat 79-81 mph showing ability to command for strike. Breaking ball showed late 10/5-shape with near fastball arm speed at 62-65 mph while change up was thrown at 68-70 mph.

+ Grant Johnson, RHP/C, Hernando, 2019
Medium 5-foot-9, 145-pound frame. Right-handed pitcher that worked from a high-3/4 slot to a side-arm slot with feel to consistently command the zone from both. Worked with fluid rhythm and tempo in delivery, getting down mound with line direction and level shoulders. Easy effort in a repeatable delivery and finishes athletically. Fastball was thrown at 80-81 mph, topping 83 mph and was commanded in zone with arm side run. Curveball ball was thrown from high-3/4 slot with 11/5 shape at 68-70 mph.

+ Jacob Weaver, RHP, Amite School Center, 2020
Maturing 6-foot, 125-pound frame with room to continue to fill. Right-handed pitcher works from a high-3/4 slot with a medium arm stroke and rhythm in delivery. Works down mound with direction finishing tall and slightly off to the first base side. Fastball scattered the zone at 66-67 mph. Breaking ball showed early shape at 56-57 mph. 

+ Caleb Smith, LHP, Lewisburg, 2019
Wiry 5-foot-11, 130-pound frame with room for added strength. Right-handed pitcher that worked from a 3/4 slot to a side-arm slot working with fluid rhythm and tempo in delivery, getting down mound with level shoulders finishing off to third base side. Fastball was thrown at 72-74 mph, topping 75 mph and was thrown around the zone. Curveball ball flashed 1/7 shape at 58-60 mph. 

+Byrion Robinson, RHP/OF, Brookhaven, 2020
Athletic 5-foot-10, 165-pound left-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a short arm stroke and athleticism is delivery. His fastball was 80-83 mph, topping out at 84 mph with natural arm side action while scattering the zone. His curveball has big break and 1/7 shape at 70-72 mph, and 1/7 shape. Delivery has deception as he hides ball well, landing closed at foot strike working around front side off to third base side.

+ Mac Sims, RHP, DeSoto Central, 2020
Athletic 5-foot-10, 165-pound frame with room for added strength. Right-handed pitcher throwing ¾ slot with fluid rhythm and easy effort in delivery. Works down mound with in-line direction, finishing athletically. With a medium arm stroke and quick hand speed, his fastball was 81-83 mph, topping at 85 mph. Threw curveball at 61-63 mph while spinning several sliders that showed tighter, late breaking action at 71-75 mph.

+ Kris Jones, RHP/OF, Oak Grove, 2019
Lean 5-foot-10, 183-pound frame with athletic build. Short arm action into high-3/4 release with quick arm speed, solid balance, and regular effort. Rhythm in delivery, shoulders stay down working down the mound with in-line direction, and finishes athletic. Fastball sat 83-86 mph with heaviness and sink. Breaking ball showed near 12/6 shape with sharp break, with fastball arm speed and control at 74-75 mph. Also showed a changeup with sinking action at 74-76 mph.

+ Bo Gatlin, RHP/SS, Oxford, 2019
Athletic 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame with present strength in build. Right-handed pitcher working from a high-3/4 release with fluid rhythm and controlled delivery, running his fastball up to 86 mph, pitching 84-85 mph. Commanded the zone, showing the ability to throw multiple pitches for strike. Breaking ball showed 11/5 shape at 72-76 mph. Change had slight fading action at 75-76 mph.

+ Colson Harris, RHP/2B, West Jones, 2019
Long 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame with room for added strength. Right-hander works from a high slot with long arm swing, high leg lift, drop-and-drive delivery, and quick hand out front as he clears his front side. His fastball rides through the zone at 79-80 mph. His curveball flashed rotation and near 12/6 shape at 69-70 mph.

+ Caleb Sterling, RHP/C, Warren Central, 2019
Athletic 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame with room for added strength. Arm strength translates well to the mound for the right-hander running his fastball up to 88 mph, pitching mostly 83-86 with command in the zone.  Works from a high-¾ slot with a medium, loose arm stroke. Tilts his shoulder at the top of his leg lift, leaning back before working down the mound with a drop and drive delivery and athletic finish. Arm works well from back to front with in-line direction. Curveball has 11-5 shape at 67-69 mph and changeup showed slight fading action to the arm side at 68-72 mph.

+ Alan Kivett, RHP/3B, Warren Central, 2020
Lean 6-foot, 170-pound frame, athletic build. Right-handed pitcher showed a long arm action with a slight stab on backend, and quick arm speed from a high-3/4 release. Smooth rhythm, level shoulders, lands square, and finishes occasionally falling off to the first base side. Fastball sat 83-84 mph, topping at 86 mph, with slight arm side run and control in the strike zone. Breaking ball showed 11/5 shape with solid spin, depth, command at 68-70 mph. changeup with fastball arm speed, deception and fade action at 72-74 mph.

+ Luke Smith, RHP, Picayune Memorial, 2020
Athletic 6-foot, 173-pound. The right-hander works from a ¾-ish slot with long arm swing, high leg lift, drop-and-drive delivery, and quick hand out front working down mound with in-line direction, finishing slightly off to first base side. His fastball scattered the zone at 79-81. Curveball has 10/5 rotation with depth at 71-72. Threw his changeup with near fastball arm speed at 63-64 mph.

+ Austin Russell, RHP/3B, Pisgah, 2021
Maturing 6-foot, 180-pound frame, with present large build for age. Right-handed pitcher throwing from high-¾ release with fluid rhythm working down mound with in-line direction and finishes athletically off to first base side after working around front foot. Fastball  seemed to jump on hitters at 74-76 mph, with slight arm side action. Breaking ball showed gradual 10/5-shape at 60-61 mph.

+ Josh Bailey, RHP/2B, St. Joseph Catholic, 2019
Lean 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame, athletic build with room to add strength. The right-hander works from a high ¾ arm slot with a short arm action, and using in-line direction to the plate.  His fastball sat 80-82 mph, topping 83 mph and was commanded for a strike. Curveball had 11/5 shape break with fastball hand-speed at 62-63 mph, and his changeup was down in the zone at 71-72 mph. Works with regular effort delivery with smooth rhythm, level shoulders, and an athletic finish.

+ Landon Rawson, RHP, Central Holmes Christian, 2019
Athletic, wiry 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame with room to add strength. Short, loose arm action into 3/4 release with quick arm speed and regular effort. Delivery shows deception and athleticism with fluid rhythm working into a lowered arm slot. Displayed fill for the zone with multiple pitches, throwing fastball that had solid arm side life at 81-83 mph and a slider that had sweeping, lateral action at 71-72 mph.

+ Zachary Griffith, RHP/1B, Mize, 2020
6-foot-2 178-pound frame. The left-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long arm stroke and slight stab on the backend. Works down the mound with direction lands closed, working around front side. Located his fastball at 75-77 mph, topped at 79 mph. Flashed a curveball had early break with 1/7 shape at 58-59 mph.

+ Shane Lewis, RHP/3B, Warren Central, 2020
Lean, athletic 6-foot-2, 205-pound frame. The right-hander works from a high slot with a long arm swing, level shoulders and quick hand out front. Pounds the zone with his fastball at 80-83 mph, topping at 84 mph. Spins his curveball for a strike with 10/4 shape at 68-72 mph, and his changeup flashed arm side fade at 68-71 mph.

+ Landon Rascoe, RHP/3B, Hattiesburg, 2020
Athletic 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame. Long, loose, quick arm action from a high-3/4 arm slot.  Strong at balance position, working in-line and downhill with dominate front side, some effort and good finish to the plate. The baseball jumps out of his hand, sitting 85-87 mph with late life. Secondary stuff is still developing, but he flashed the ability to spin a tight breaking ball at times, with 11/5 shape and depth at 68-74 mph while slider was a tighter 75-76 mph with good spin. 

+ Caleb Stewart, RHP/OF, Starkville, 2019
Athletic 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a short arm stroke. Drop-and-drive delivery with good hip load before working down the mound with in-line direction, finishing of to the first base side. Scattered the zone with fastballs at 70-73 mph. His changeup was 66-68 mph, while his curveball had early break with 1/7 shape at 62-64 mph.

+ Cole Pittman, OF, Porers Chapel Ac., 2019
Wiry 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame with room for added strength. Right-handed pitcher throwing from high-¾ release with fluid rhythm and regular effort in delivery. Fastball sat 81-83 mph and was scattered around the zone. Breaking ball showed spin, depth and early 11/5-shape at 67-68 mph and change was thrown at 74-78 mph.

+ Farmer Abendroth, RHP, Warren Central, 2019
Extremely long and rail-thin at 6-foot-5, 170-pounds. Worked his fastball at 88-91 mph, with angle and occasional arm-side life. While he set hitters up with his lively fastball, he put them away with a hard 12/6 curveball that ranged between 78-80 mph. Recorded four of his six outs via strikeout, all of which came off his breaking ball. Smooth drop-and-drive delivery with a high leg lift, lands in-line, with slight head movement and athletic lower half finish.

+ Patrick Little, RHP, Northeast Jones, 2019
Projectable 6-foot-7, 185-pound frame with long wiry build. and work from a smooth arm stroke and a high-¾ slot. His fastball was 82-85 mph with angle down in the zone, and threw his breaking ball with near 12/6 shape at 71-75 for a strike. Also flashed a changeup at 70-72 mph. Works down the mound with good extension and angle out front in delivery.

+ Austin Fugler, LHP, Enterprise, 2020
The left-hander works with a slowed, nearly segmented rhythm with high front knee as he comes to balance. The arm action is long from back-to-front working into a high-3/4 release. Commanded the zone with a 79-81 mph fastball that showed natural tailing action, while breaking ball ranged 66-68 mph showing early 1/5 shape with occassional depth. Flashed a changeup that showed fading action at 73-75 mph. Works down mound with direction, landing closed at foot strike working around front side slightly off to third base side.

+ Tanner Watts, RHP, Brookhaven Ac. 2020
Athletic 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. Right-handed pitcher that works from a mid-¾ slot with a short arm stroke and athleticism. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long arm swing in the back. Smooth drop-and-drive delivery with a high leg lift, lands slightly close and across his body. Head stays on line with an athletic lower half finish. Throws fastball at 81-83 mph that got on top of hitters quickly. Curveball was thrown around the zone at 65-66 with big 10/4 bender shape while spinning a tighter slider at 76-77 mph. Change up flashed slight fading action at 70-72 mph. 

+ Gates Pee, RHP/C, Clinton, 2019
Medium 6-foot, 195-pound frame, athletic build with room to add strength. Right-handed pitcher who works from a high arm slot, with a quickess, medium arm action, regular effort and high athletic finish.  His fastball sat 80-81 with downward angle when located down in zone. Flashed an 11/5 shaped breaking ball with early action and depth at 70-72 mph.

+ Landon Gartman, RHP, Enterprise, 2019
6-foot-1, 200-pound frame with hulky build. Short arm action into high-3/4 release with hand speed and medium effort.  The delivery is smooth working down the mound with in-line direction and finishes athletically. Repeated his delivery with relative ease down the mound, and pumped strikes with fastball at 86-89 mph, that flashed riding action through the zone. Displayed good feel for his breaking ball at 74-76 mph with depth and late action, that received several swings and misses.

+ Josh Hill, RHP, Indianola Ac., 2019
Medium build 6-foot-1, 221-pounds, with a strong, projectable frame. The right-hander pumped strikes at 86-88, topping at 89 mph, while mixing in a 72-73 mph breaking ball, and a 79 mph changeup. The arm works well from a high-¾ slot with rhythm and control in delivery. Good hip load working down mound with in-line direction finishing in athletic fielding position.

+ Austin Dean, RHP, Pearl River Central, 2019
Hulky 6-foot-2, 247-pound frame. The right-hander has a clean arm swing from a high-3/4 slot, with a long arm circle. Smooth drop-and-drive delivery with a high leg lift and good hip load while finishing slightly off to the first base side. Fastball shows life and angle when down in the zone at 81-85 mph. Breaking ball has 11/5 shape at 71-73, and he has feel for a changeup with arm side fade at 67-68.

+ Weston Fuller, RHP, Lewisburg, 2020
Sturdy 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame. Right-handed pitcher with long clean arm stroke into a high-¾ slot.  His fastball jumped out of his hand with regular effort at 80-83 mph. Showed breaking ball at 65-66 mph while throwing a tighter spinning slider at 74-75. Works with fluidness, balance, and looseness in his delivery. He has a high balance point, works with direction to the plate, lands square, and has a quick arm into an athletic finish. 

+ Holland Townes, RHP/1B, St. Andrews Ac., 2019
Projectable 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame with lean, athletic build. Right-handed pitcher showed a short arm action with a slight stab on backend, and quick arm speed from a high-3/4 release. Smooth rhythm, level shoulders, lands square, and finishes in athletic fielding position. Fastball sat 81-84 mph and showed angle and arm side action when location down in the zone. Breaking ball showed 11/5 shape with spin and depth at 70-73 mph. changeup with fastball arm speed, deception and fade action at 74-76 mph.

+ Lance Elsen, RHP, Canton Academy, 2020
6-foot-3, 210-pounds. The right-hander has a clean arm swing from a high slot, with a long arm circle from front to back. The rhythm is slowed and controlled working down the mound with direction, landing slightly closed. Fastball scattered the zone at 77-80 mph and flashed angle when down in the zone. Breaking ball showed gradual 11/5 shape at 65-66, also flashing a change up at 72-75 mph.

+ Branson Tadlock, RHP/3B, Ridgeland, 2021
Physical 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame. Right-handed pitcher works from a high slot, level shoulders, landing closed with athletic finish off to first base side. Delivery has rhythm and control. Fastball was 72-76 mph and was commanded around the zone. Curveball flashes spin and 11/5 shape at 61-62 mph.

+ Hayden Campbell, RHP/1B, Marengo Academy, 2020
Projectable 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame. The right-hander works from a ¾-ish slot, with a long arm circle from front to back. Delivery has rhythm and direction with recoil in finish. Fastball showed slight tailing action through the zone 81-83 mph, while change up was thrown at 69-71 mph.

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