Houston Preseason ID Quick Hits: Pitchers

Matt Zatopek RHP / RHP / Houston Christian, TX / 2023

Zatopek showed up on Saturday to Rice and made a loud statement with his bullpen.  The Sr. from Houston has an athletic 6’3 195 frame and an uptempo delivery that helped him sit 89-91.6 his entire pen.  He has a quick arm and moves down the mound well, allowing him to hold his velocity.  He complimented the fastball with a slider he threw in the 79-81 range and a changeup that he threw at 86. It was a little firm but he threw with good conviction and it showed some ASR.  Zatopek is a high academic kid, and would be a great pick up for a lot of programs. He is one of the top uncommitted arms in the state for the ‘23 class.  

Kade Johnson RHP / OF / The Woodlands Christian Academy, TX / 2025

Johnson 1st opened my eyes at the Hunter Pence Scout Day in the fall, and he showed up to Rice on Saturday having taken another jump on the mound.  The Sophomore was 87-89.4 on the fastball with some ASR.  He is more control over command right now, but he repeats his mechanics well and the command will come with more game innings.  He also threw a slider that was 75-77 with good depth when he threw it out front.  He threw a vulcan changeup as well, that was in the low 80’s with a lot of ASR.  If he can throw that in the zone, it has a chance to be a weapon for him. Johnson has a good frame with broad shoulders, he should continue to get stronger and the velocity should continue to rise.  As he continues to refine his command, he has a chance to blow up this spring/summer.  

Gunner Greene RHP / 1B / Pearland Dawson, TX / 2024

We hit on Greene’s offensive profile yesterday, but his highest upside may be on the mound. The Jr. from Pearland has a 6’5 frame with some present strength and room for so much more.  His fastball sat 86-88.4  with an avg. spin rate of 2563 on the fastball. Greene also throws an over the top curveball that he threw in the 69-71 range. The command and shape were inconsistent, but when he is on time, it shows good depth and could be a quality put away pitch. Greene has a lot of upside and I expect his velocity to keep climbing.  As the command keeps improving, Greene’s stock will continue to rise.  

Ethan Atchley RHP / Rockwall-Heath, TX / 2024

Brandon Stewart RHP / 3B / Sweeny High School, TX / 2024

Stewart had a great day on both sides of the ball.  He had a 99.2 max exit velocity at the plate, and showed some serious bat speed.  But where I really liked Stewart was on the mound. The 6’1 210 Jr. from Sweeny sat in the mid 80’s with his fastball from an over the top slot that he hides well and can get on the hitter in a hurry.  He throws 2 different breaking pitches, a low 70’s slider and an upper 60’s curveball. The curve really matches up well with his fastball with the OTT slot. He did a good job of commanding it, and the pitch had quality depth at the bottom of the zone.  Stewart also flashed a usable changeup. He threw it in the mid 70’s with good arm speed and was able to throw it for strikes consistently. Stewart does a lot of things well on the baseball field, and showed a quality arsenal on the mound Saturday.  

Braxton Beaty LHP / OF / Angleton, TX / 2026

It was my 1st time to see Beaty since Junior. Future Games last summer at Lakepoint, and he definitely took advantage of the offseason.  Beaty showed up stronger and his numbers have taken a big jump.  He sat 84-86 with his FB and was able to get to both sides of the plate with ease.  He has really good command of the fastball for a freshman.  He followed that up with a mid 70’s slider that he can bury on the back foot to a RHH or back door it on the outside corner.  He rounded out his arsenal with a changeup that he kept at the bottom of zone and on the corners.  It was in the upper 70’s and it looked just like his fastball coming out of the hand.  Beaty is a pitcher and has a plan every time he is on the mound. He attacks everything with a purpose and pitches with extreme confidence.  He may only be a freshman, but Beaty wants the rock in a big moment.  

Coen Devillier RHP / C / Jacksonville, TX / 2024

Devillier is another one that has made gains since the last time I saw him in May. The East Texas Righty looked more physical and his stuff has ticked because of it. He has a longer arm swing out of the glove that he repeats well and stays on time with.  His fastball sat 83-84 and there is a lot more in there.  He did a good job of getting to the glove side with it and filling up the zone.  He also threw a slider that was in the low 70’s that shows potential.  When he stayed on top of the pitch, it showed quality depth with late break.  I thought his best secondary offering was his changeup.  He threw it with conviction and the same arm speed as his fastball. He threw it in the 76-77 range and should help him keep left handed hitters honest. Devillier has a frame that projects for more, and I will be excited to see the gains Devillier makes the next time I see him.  

Aiden Poirier SS / RHP / Foster, TX / 2025

Poirier was another one that had a solid day on both sides of the ball. The Jr. from Foster picked it well on the infield with an arm that plays on the left side of the infield.  He has a short stroke that is geared for line drives in the big part of the field.  Where Poirier stood out to me was on the mound.  He showed a quick arm that generated a fastball that sat 82-84, and filled up the zone with the pitch. He showed a curveball as well that had a 12-6 shape that he could throw for strikes. He also flashed a changeup that he threw at 76 that shows potential, and just needs to keep gaining confidence with it.  Poirier works with good tempo and has an aggressive disposition on the mound that every coach likes to see.   

Jack Stanger C / RHP / St. John's, TX / 2026

Another freshman that caught my eye was Stanger. He had a good day at the plate, consistently finding the barrel and showing a swing that is repeatable.  As he gets stronger, he could develop some power.  I really liked Stanger on the mound. He had clean mechanics, with an efficient arm path that should allow him to really see some gains as he matures and gets stronger.  He had a FB best of 81, but I have a feeling that number is going to jump quickly.  He threw a spike curveball in the upper 60’s that was inconsistent but flashed when he threw it right. His best secondary pitch was his changeup.  He threw it in the upper 60’s and it looks like his fastball coming out of the hand.  Stanger had a good day and showed a great baseline of skills. As he gets stronger and matures, Stanger is going to have some big jumps.  

Travis Berra RHP / OF / Seven Lakes, TX / 2024

Berra was another one that had a solid day on both sides of the ball. He showed good routes and a quality arm from the OF.  I really liked him on the mound, where the arm speed and frame stood out.  Berra is 6’1 155, so there is some projection left to the frame.  He sat 83-84 with his fastball and filled up the strike zone. The pitch that really caught my eye was his curveball. It was a big over the top breaker that showed good depth and the potential to miss a lot of bats.  He threw a mid 70’s changeup as well that he did a good job of killing the spin and showed potential for a quality 3rd pitch.