Underclass Invitational: 2018 Pitchers Analysis
February 27, 2015
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By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting
On Sunday, February 15, Prep Baseball Report Virginia/DC hosted its first event of 2015, the Underclass Invitational for members of the 2017 and 2018 graduating classes. Over 70 players showcased their skills for PBR staff at Virginia Sports Complex in Ruther Glen, Virginia. Here is our analysis of the pitchers from the Class of 2018. (Listed Alphabetically)
Pitchers analysis: 2018 Graduating class
+Drew Davis, RHP, Faquier
Davis has a big frame with a strong lower. He throws from a high three-quarters arm slot and has a long, loose arm action. He has some rhythm to his delivery. He takes a short stride and his shoulders are closed and elevated at power position. Davis’ fastball ran 68-69 mph with a bit of late run to it. He had decent command but was up in the zone with the ball. Davis also threw an 11/5 curveball with gradual break to it that ran 58-62 mph and a change-up with decent armspeed that ran 62-63 mph.
+Derek Domecq, LHP, Western Albemarle
Domecq has an athletic frame and throws from a three-quarters slot. He has a long, clean arm action. He rushes through his balance point, but stays on line to the target with level shoulders and he finishes in an athletic position. Domecq worked in the upper-70s, touching 79 mph with hard running fastball. He also featured a sharp slider around 70 mph and a fading change-up that ran 72-74 mph. He showed good feel of all of his pitches.
+Austin Estridge, RHP, Battlefield
Estridge is very tall and has an extremely lanky frame. He throws from a three-quarters slot and has a clean, quick arm action. His hips are already open at footstrike, but his shoulders are on line and uphill. He finishes in an athletic position. Estridge’s fastball sat 74-75 mph, topping out at 76 mph and has heavy sinking action to it. He threw a curveball that had 11/5 break that ran 63-67 mph and a fading change-up that ran 68-70 mph. Estridge had good command of his change and fastball, but he was erratic with his curveball.
+Wes Glass, LHP, Tuscarora
Glass has an athletic frame and throws from a low three-quarters slot. He has a good balance point and breaks his hands late, creating a short, quick, arm action. His shoulders stay level and on line and he falls off a bit as he finishes. Glass threw a sinking fastball that sat in the mid-70s, touching 77 mph. He commanded his fastball well at the bottom of the zone. Glass also threw a slider that showed two different actions that he will need to improve as he develops. His change-up had fading action to it and ran in the low-70s.
+Eric Poff, RHP, Great Bridge
Poff has a lanky frame with a strong lower half. He throws from a high three-quarters slot and has a short backside arm action. Poff stays online as he strides out and starts rotating his hips before footstrike. At power position, his shoulders are elevated and on line. He comes to a complete finish and does not fall off. Poff’s fastball was 71-72 mph with some cutting action to it. He throws a slider that has 11/5 action to it that ran 60-62 mph and a sinking change-up that ran 65-67 mph.
+Stephen Strout, RHP, Woodside
Strout has an athletic frame and throws from a high three-quarters slot. He has a very short, stiff backside arm action, but with some effort, he has a quick arm. He stays on line as he strides out and his shoulders are uphill and closed at footstrike. He falls off after his finish. Strout’s fastball ran 71-74 mph with some slight run to it. He also flashed a cutter that ran 68 mph. His curveball had gradual 11/5 action to it and was 59-62 mph and will be good as it tightens up. Strout’s commanded his change-up well and it had fading action to it, running 64-66 mph.
+Matt Sykes, LHP, The Covenant School
Sykes has a lanky frame and throws from a high three-quarters slot. He has a long, loose arm action that is quick. His rhythm is a bit choppy, but he does a good job of staying on line throughout his delivery and finishes in an athletic position. Sykes sat in the low 70s, touching 74 mph with a fastball that had late run to it. He commanded a good slider very well in the mid-60s and flashed a fading change-up in the low-60s.
+Colin Taeschner, RHP, Calvert (MD)
Taeschner has a lanky frame that he could add some weight to. He throws from a three-quarters slot and has a very early hand break, which contributes to a short, stiff backside arm action. His arm stroke is quick with regular effort. His mechanics are a bit choppy and his shoulders and hips are open at footstrike. Taeschner’s fastball had heavy sinking action to it and ran 75-78 mph, touching 79 mph. He commanded it well down in the zone. He threw a curveball with gradual 11/5 break that ran 56-60 mph. Taeschner also flashed a fading change-up with decent armspeed that ran 64-67 mph.
+Garrett Thomas, RHP, Patriot
Thomas has an athletic frame and throws from a three-quarters arm slot. He has very clean, simple mechanics. Thomas has a long arm action and a quick arm stroke. His shoulders are uphill and on line at power position. He finishes in an athletic position. Thomas’ fastball ran 68-69 mph with slight run to it. He threw a 12/6 curveball with gradual break that ran 58-59 mph and should improve as it tightens. Thomas threw his change-up with full armspeed and it ran 63-65 mph with slight cut to it.
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