By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

On December 14 at Legends Sports Academy in Louisville, our winter Unsigned Senior Showcase did not disappoint the crowd of college coaches in attendance as several players stood out at the event proving there are still many quality players left on the board in Kentucky.  In fact, the group of pitchers who took the mound for the event led one coach to say it was the best group of arms he had seen at an unsigned senior event this winter. 

Two pitchers in particular showed significant velocity jumps from where we had seen them previously.

Ricky West, RHP, Jeffersontown HS

At the Unsigned Senior Games in August, West’s fastball routinely sat 82-85 mph and touched 86 on one occasion.  But his first pitch on this day checked in at 86 mph and he continued to sit 86-87 mph throughout his bullpen session.  His arm looked quicker than it did in August, and when he was told to throw his best fastball on his last pitch of the day, West lit up the gun at 90 mph.  West complimented his fastball with a 70-74 mph breaking ball with sharp 11/5 action, a 73-76 mph changeup, and a 72-75 mph knuckleball that showed some late tumbling action.

Patrick McBride, RHP, Hancock County

At 6-foot-5, 215-pounds, McBride has the size many coaches covet, and he appears to be growing into that frame at just the right time.  Last February, McBride participated in our Preseason All-State Showcase with a fastball that topped at 82 mph.  At this year’s Unsigned Senior Showcase, however, McBride’s fastball was clocked mostly in the 86-88 mph range.  He also showed a sharp 72-76 mph breaking ball with late 11/5 action and a 75-78 mph changeup that he was able to locate down in the zone with good arm-side run and sink.  With his frame, McBride’s upside is obvious, and it will be interesting to see where the jump in velocity leads to this spring.