Underclass Prospect Games: Class of 2016 Pitcher Analysis
October 27, 2013
By Sean McCann
Prep Baseball Report Kansas
After watching the Class of 2016 pitchers at the Underclass Prospect Games its safe to say the pitching staff for next summer’s Midwest Futures Games Kansas team (major event for class of 2016-2017 prospects) is likely to be very talented.
This group was extremely difficult to rank especially considering these guys are two years away from being seniors in high school and won’t play their first college game until February 2017! Any of these kids could emerge into a front-line prospect over the next two years, however three out of the group stood out on Saturday.
Event Rankings - Top Class of 2016 Pitching Prospects
1. Braden Minor, RHP, Eisenhower HS, Class of 2016: I realize that you are supposed to discriminate against sub-6-foot right-handed pitchers in any type of prospect rankings, and I was prepared to do that in Minor’s case – then he pitched two innings and erased any and all reservations. The Goddard, KS, right-handed pitcher makes pitching look easy. He has an efficient delivery with clean arm action. He throws from a high ¾ slot and worked in the 80-85 mph range with his fastball – cutting and sinking the ball seemingly at will. His curveball was 68-70 and change 69-72. He has advanced feel and command of all three pitches. In addition, Minor showed great focus handling his two innings in workman-like fashion. He looks like a college pitcher now and is in a great position to develop into a national prospect.
2. Tommy Barnhouse, RHP, Leavenworth HS, Class of 2016: Already sporting the sturdy frame of a MLB pitcher, the 6-foot-2, 210-pound Barnhouse is well on his way to establishing himself as a top prospect in the 2016 class. Working from a high ¾ slot the right-hander throws downhill with a smooth rhythmic delivery and easy arm. Barnhouse has advanced body control for a kid his size/age allowing his loose arm to deliver strikes repeatedly. On Saturday he worked in the 81-84 mph range with his fastball with a mid-60’s breaking ball and 70-74 change-up. Barnhouse was in total control in his two innings of work striking out 3 batters.
3. Will Brennan, LHP/OF, Blue Valley HS, Class of 2016: Brennan was the top 2-way prospect in the camp. The 5-foot-10, 155-pound athlete does everything easy and has advanced feel for the game as both a left-handed pitcher and left-handed hitting centerfielder. On the mound, he has a simple, efficient delivery and loose arm. Brennan made quick work of his one inning on Saturday. Showing no fear, he attacked the strike zone against an older, very physical portion of the Black Team line-up. After surrendering a lead-off hit he flashed some athleticism in turning a 1-6-3 double play and ended the inning with a strikeout. His fastball registered 78-79 mph with good feel for a mid-60 mph breaking ball.
Best of the Rest (alphabetical order by last name)
McCae Allen, RHP/1B, Bishop Carroll HS, Class of 2016: A physical 6-foot-3, 190-pound 2-way player, Allen struggled a bit in his one inning of work on the mound but showed a simple, balanced delivery with good body control – especially considering his size and age. He throws with short arm action from a high ¾ angle with some effort. The class of 2016 product worked 78-80 mph with his fastball and flashed a 69 breaking ball.
Tyler Clark, RHP/3B, Blue Springs South HS (MO), Class of 2016: Clark pitches with a short arm action and a balanced, rhythmic delivery. The 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-handed pitcher worked 75-78 mph with his fastball, 59 breaking ball and a 67 change-up with good action to it. He’s another of the group of 2016 projectable pitchers in this camp – out of this group it will be interesting to see who jumps up in the next year and beyond.
Max Dehon, RHP, Olathe Northwest HS, Class of 2016: Dehon is a low ¾ slot right-handed pitcher that throws across his body making him very difficult versus right-handed hitters. His long arm action produces a 75-77 mph fastball, 64-67 sweeping slurve and 70 change-up. His funky, segmented delivery and low arm slot reminds of a high school version of the guy big league managers bring into the game in the 7th inning to get the right-handed hitter out. The 6-foot-4, 185-pound Dehon is only a sophomore which means the mid-80’s version could be coming in the next year or so – not good news for Kansas high school hitters.
Cole Duensing, RHP/IF, Blue Valley Northwest HS, Class of 2016: The 6-foot-0, 140-pound Duensing is a very interesting prospect on the mound as he shows present signs of a sound pitching delivery and clean arm action yet isn’t anywhere close to filling out physically. The thin, athletic right-hander showed a quick arm, attacking the strike zone in his one inning on Saturday. Strength and body control will come, and when it does Duensing could emerge as the top pitching prospect out of the group. Just a sophomore, his fastball was clocked at 75-78 mph with a 58-62 breaking ball.
Landon Whitmore, RHP/OF, Wichita Northwest HS, Class of 2016: The 6-foot, 160 pound Whitmore class of 2016 right-hander worked mostly 77-80 mph with his fastball and a 70 breaking ball. He threw both pitches in the strike zone utilizing a ¾ slot and rhythmic delivery. He registered a strikeout in his one inning of work. Whitmore already throws 80 and is yet another young, thin, athletic pitcher in this camp that needs to be followed closely.
ADDITIONAL underclass prospect games covereage
- KS Underclass Prospect Games Results10.23.13
