MLB Draft: VA/DC Players to Watch

PBR Future Games 8/1/18

Projectable 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. Showed good burst of speed with a 672 60-yard dash. (LH) Hits from a quiet, athletic set up at the plate with bat wiggle while holding at shoulder level. Some arm bar into load that closes off slightly. Shorter swing path that keeps hands inside the baseball at the plate. (RH) Hits from a similar set up but more athletic stance and slightly more open. Hands are more free at the plate from the right side with more strength present. Squares up with smooth load to hitting position. Exit velocity of 94 from the right side and 91 from the left. Balance got him in trouble at times in game. Clean mechanically from the shortstop position. Drop step prior to fielding position to work through baseball. Hands are very clean with smooth exchange to throw with a shorter arm action from a three-quarter slot. Was 84 mph across the diamond... On the mound has a stretch set up on the mound with step back in wind up. High leg kick to set hips and work into his backside. Smooth down to out with loose arm action throwing from a three quarter slot. Creates cross body action with lower half. Fastball showed later life on the pitch up to 84 mph at the event. Breaking ball has 10/4 action with bigger break at 72 mph. Change up had fade to the pitch at 75 mph. Very intriguing prospect in the 2020 class. Still has projection as both a position player and pitcher, might have to focus on one only at the next level.

Underclass Games 6/20/18

Eisert is 6-2, he has an athletic frame that has some projection left to it. He is a switch hitter, from the left side starts from an open upright stance, short leg kick stride on line, has rhythm. Keeps hands inside, short to ball with extension to his swing and some whip in his barrel, showed good approach working middle of field, exit velocity was 92. From the right side, stance is still open and a bit more athletic, very short swing with a quick bat, level to slightly uphill with a lot of extension through contact and a whippy bat, exit velocity was 93. Chance to have easy doubles power to all fields from both sides, showed barrel awareness. At short, clean feet, rounds ball and fields with above average hands and a good wide base. Works through the ball, clean exchange, throws from a low three-quarters arm slot with a loose quick arm, infield velocity was 87. Ran a 4.48 home to first.

2020 DRAFT: The Cavalier reliever has performed at a high level ever since setting foot on the UVA campus. His career numbers before 2020 included 137 strikeouts in 95 IP, and he managed to exceed that K rate with 28 punchouts in just 13.1 IP in 2020. Abbott is a slender bodied, 6-foot, 175-pound loose armed lefty with a high three-quarter release point. He shows good arm speed, that is especially quick out front. His best pitch is an upper-70s power breaking ball with good depth. It's his swing/miss weapon that garners most of his KOs. His fastball will range from 91-95 mph with above average life and control. He will also mix in an occasional 82-83 mph changeup. Abbott was on the radar as a top five round prospect previous to the 2020 season and has done nothing to lessen that value. With a strong resume that also includes success in the Cape and with the USA CNT, Abbott will be among the top left-handed relievers chosen this summer and he has the weapons to move quickly through a minor league system.

6/30/19: Six-foot, 180 pound lefty with a fastball up to 93 mph and a 74-77 mph curveball. Abbott made quick work in his CNT trial debut throwing just ten pitches in one inning of work. He inherited the international tiebreaker situation of runners on 1st and 2nd base with no outs. He induced a popup on a bunt and then easily punched out the last two batters for a three up, three down inning. After catching our eye in the Cape last summer and a solid sophomore year at Virginia (2-3, 3.89 ERA, 59 strikeouts in 44 IP) Abbott is on the radar as a top five round prospect for 2020. He reminds me of Chris Murphy, a recent 6th round pick by Boston out of the University of San Diego this past June. (Seifert)

8/15/18: Slender bodied, loose armed lefty with high three-quarter release point. Worked from the third base side of rubber, landed slightly closed and in-line to the plate. Good arm speed, especially quick out front. Early in the game his fastball ranged from 87-90 mph with below average life and lacked deception. Must be fine with his location. Worked in the 86-87 mph range in the fourth and fifth innings. Flashed an average 73-74 mph curveball with 1/7 rotation. Occasionally varied the shape to a more slider-like 2/8 break and velocity into the upper-70s. Mixed in a BP fastball at 82-83 serving as his changeup. Made five starts, posted a 1.74 ERA in 20.2 IP with 13 strikeouts. (Seifert)

Abbott was named PBR VA/DC 2017 High School Player of the Year

10/23/16 - Abbott, a 5-11, 155 pound Virginia recruit, is a strike-pumping machine. He opened the game with 10 straight strikes and continued to pinpoint his 85-87 mph fastball and shuffle in his 70-mph breaking ball consistently to keep hitters off balance. Abbott works slightly across his body from a 3/4 slot, providing some deception to his delivery. Abbott pitched 6.1 innings, yielding fve hits and one run while striking out eight and walking none. He threw 71 of his 102 pitches for strikes.

7/15/16 - The best performance of the first day was undoubtedly produced by LHP Andrew Abbott. The Virginia recruit started for the Canes against SACSN, the second game of the day, and went four innings. He allowed just one run on two hits, didn't walk anybody and struck out nine. He was in command early, pounding the strike zone and consistently hitting his spots. Abbott has a slight frame at 6 feet, 155 pounds and lands closed, pitching across his body, while sitting 84-86 mph with his fastball. He spins a good curveball, which ranged from 68-73 as he went, used it for swings and misses as well as a get-me-over pitch. It has 2/8 shape. He threw just one changeup, bit it was a good one with fade at 76. 

6.1.16:  Abbott is a lanky left that throws from a low three-quarters arm slot with a drop and drive delivery. His arm action is short and quick, throwing with normal effort. Shoulders are closed and slightly downhill, closed landing with a fall off finish, classic lefty crossfire. Hides ball well, lots of deception, fastball has good angle and slight run, sitting 85-86 early, touching 87, before settling in to 83-85 late in the game. Big, sharp 1/7 curveball running 67-71. Showed that ability to move both pitches in and out, up and down.

6.1.15:  Abbott is a lanky lefty that throws from a high three-quarters slot with a slight drop and drive delivery. His shoulders are closed and level and he lands closed, leading to a classic lefty crossfire delivery that hides the ball well. His arm action is short, free, and very quick. His fastball has good plane and some sink and touched 84 in the first inning before settling into 80-83 for the duration of his nine innings. Abbott threw a great power 1-7 curveball that ran 67-71. He demonstrated great command of both pitches, moving them in and out and pounding the strike zone. He was especially good at backfooting his curveball to righties for strikeouts. Abbot also is a very athletic defender, making a tough play on a push bunt, including a lunging glove flip to first base.

One of the top stories of 2018 might be the comeback of Jake Berry, who was diagnosed with cancer early at the end of 2017 / beginning of 2018. Berry missed his spring with Bishop O'Connell going through treatment but ended the spring cancer free. he recently made his return to the diamond towards the end of this summer. Great to see that he is back on the diamond.

12/2017 - A tough 2017 for this top player out of Northern Virginia. Injuries have limited his time out on the mound this year although the talented pitcher out of Bishop O'Connell has been able to make a few impressive appearances. Another injury this fall during basketball season hopefully will not slow him down for the upcoming 2018 spring. The injury bug does cause a bit of concern, but this top youngster could quickly make another climb as he stays healthy.

10/2016 - 6-foot-7 200-pounds. Normally sits in the 82-85 range but has revved it up to 87. Simple delivery with fluid tempo. Rotates during lift to balance and reaches with lead foot down hill. Lands slightly closed with a quiet finish. Clean arm action throwing from a high three-quarter slot. Has potential for more usage of lower half in his extremely projectable body. Pitches with light effort making for a very exciting young prospect.

VA/DC Scout Blog

Bosley-Smith is 6-4 with wide hips and some strength on his frame, but still plenty of room to add to it and a lot of projection left. Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot with a short, loose, very quick arm. Some effort to his delivery, shoulders are closed, generates a strong hip drive and falls off a bit as he finishes. Fastball was 85-92 on the day with late run to it. In the first, he worked 89-92, in the third he was still 89-90, and in the fifth he had tailed off to 85-87 touching 88. Showed ability to command his fastball in the zone, attacking hitters inside, moving the ball just off the plate, definitely demonstrated fastball command, not just a strike thrower but a good-strike thrower. Slider was 72-77 with power sharp 10/4 break and good armspeed. Mostly was 77 early in the game, velocity tailed off as the game went on. Pitch was at its best when thrown down and away to righties, he tried to back door it to lefties a bunch of times and it got a bit loopy and hung up on those pitches, did not try to back foot his breaking ball to a lefty. Also did not show a change-up in warmups or the game. His command faded in the fifth inning as well as his pitch count got up and he issued both of his walks in that inning, he struck out 8 and allowed no hits, threw 86 pitches in the outing.

Big physical frame with athleticism. Regular effort on the delivery. Loose arm from a three-quarter arm slot. Gibson offered a four pitch mix with feel for all four pitches. Fastball was 90-92 early and tended to work to the arm side. Once he settled in he sat more in the 87-90 range and had some feel to both sides of the plate with a 1900-2100 spin rate and topped at 2214. Slider was 80-83 mph with tight late two-plane break. Gibson had an advanced feel for a cutter that got up to 88 mph early and settled in at 83-85 mph with 2300-2439 spin rate. Flashed a few changeups that displayed hard fade at 82-84 mph. This is a name that could certainly be rising up the draft boards as we get deeper into the spring and closer to the draft.

VA/DC Scout Blog

We saw Gibson early on in the Menchville scrimmage and he didn't appear to be dialed in, as many pitchers in scrimmages aren't. But he looked much better today. Velocity picked up and was 85-88 mph early touching 89 mph a few times. Had above average command of the fastball, but featured the breaking balls a little bit more today. Showed two breakers, a slider with armspeed at 80-82 mph that had a tight late break, and a curveball at 74-76 mph that had a little more up and down to it with 11/5 shape. Had solid feel for both pitches and leaned on the two offspeed pitches very heavily. Had to work out of some tough situations, as he didn't get a ton of defensive help on the night, but used the offspeed to put hitters away without running the pitch count up.

VA/DC Scout Blog

Strong physical frame standing around 6-foot-4 and still has some projection left to it. Struggle with command a little in the first, especially with secondary pitches, but settled in for a quick second inning. Fastball had carry through the zone and sat 84-86 on the day touching 87 a few times. Showed solid arm speed on his offspeed pitches with a hard changeup at 77-79 that got a few hitters out front. Curveball seemed to have the better shape versus the slider. Curveball showed a hard 11/5 break at 72-74 mph with some swing and miss potential, but didn't appear to have feel for it today. Slider sat around 75 mph and had a more side to side shape.

2/29/20: Six-foot-4, 180 pound long bodied lefty with a deceptive herky, jerky delivery. One piece arm action with a big wrap in back. Jerks arm through to a low three-quarter release. Presents a tough look and at-bat for left-handed hitters with a fastball up to 93 mph, a fringe 81-83 mph slider and a low-spin (1650 rpm) 81 mph changeup. His control comes and goes due to his delivery/arm action. Just profiles perfectly as a left on left specialist, but due to a recent change in MLB rules with a three-batter minimum, will this role exist in three years? (Seifert)

8/19/19: Pitched at 91-93 with his fastball. Mostly flat and on-plane from a low three-quarters release point with much jerk to the motion, a short stride and inconsistent release point. Worked his curveball 77-79 mph with 2/8 sweeping action. Well below average changeup at 88 mph; too firm and flat. Overall, has a chance for an average fastball and curveball, but his in-zone command is too loose and very hittable over fat part of the plate.

3.21.17:  Longer lanky projectable frame with room to add to as he matures. Has a compact simple delivery with balance throughout. Athletic on the mound. Sound arm actions throwing from a three-quarter slot and pitches with regular effort. Falls toward third base side through finish. Fastball shows later arm-side run with occasional sink as well. Topped out at 88 mph in his first inning working 84-87 in the first. Only second time on the mound this year, ranged from 82-87 throughout his five innings of work. Breaking ball has 1/7 shape, tight rotation, and depth to the pitch.

5.22.16:  Justice is a lanky lefty that throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a drop and drive delivery. He has a quick, loose arm, generating velocity with normal effort. Shoulders are closed and downhill, lands on line and falls off as finishes. His fastball was 83-86, touching 87, with late run. Hard 2/8 curveball that was 68. Showed the ability to field his position.

7.14.15 Justice has a tall, lanky frame and throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a tall and fall delivery. He has a short, loose arm action and a lightning-quick arm that generates easy velocity. His shoulders are level and closed and he lands closed before falling off hard as he finishes. His crossfire delivery made it very hard for hitters to pick him up. Justice pounded the zone with has fastball and touched 86, he worked at 81-85 with sink and a bit of run to armside. He threw a big, 1/7 breaking curveball with decent armspeed that he threw for strikes at the bottom of the zone, running 66-69. His changeup was straight and was 76.

8/20/19: Showed above-average raw power in batting practice, easily driving the ball from pole to pole, but was not able to carry it over to the games, slashing .256/.299/.278 (.022 ISO). The bat speed was average in our summer looks and he continually spun off pitches, but there’s good strength and athleticism in the body. He’s an average runner out of the box but above-average underway, with a good glove and arm on the grass. The summer wasn’t as loud as evaluators had hoped for, but he remains an interesting collection of tools that could break out in a big way this spring. (Faleris)

5.31.17: Ludowig had a tough day of results at the plate against Hanner. He had good at-bats, working the count deep in each of his three at-bats, but was only able to put the ball into play once, striking out twice and grounding out in another at-bat. He showed good make-up and ability to mentally bounce back from tough results, reaching first on a swinging strikeout that got away from the catcher and sprinting out of the box immediately. Ran a 4.19 on the groundout. On the mound, came in from center with no warm-up in the middle of an inning, was 83-84 at first. In first full inning of work was 86-88, touching 90 with late run. A bit of effort to his delivery. Change-up had heavy fade, slowed his arm down to throw it, velocity was 70-71. Breaking ball had big 2/8 break, slowed his arm to throw it at 63.

3.26.17: Ludowig has an athletic frame and hits from the left side from a balanced athletic stance. Big leg kick stride, smooth load back, good rhythm to swing. Short to ball, level swing path with good extension through the ball, very quick bat with power to all fields. Doubled off of the leftfield wall on a two-strike pitch in first at-bat, tripled to center later in game. Home to first times with those turns were 4.53 and 4.46. In the outfield, good first step, plays ball in the direction he wants to throw it, very quick clean transfer, strong arm. Pitched in the game as well, drop and drive delivery, throws from a three-quarters arm slot, short arm action with easier effort. Shoulders closed and uphill, lands closed with slight fall off. Fastball sat 86-89, touched 90 once. Threw a change-up with heavy fade running 69-70, slowed his arm a bit on it. Pitched at the belt most of the night, struck out seven in three innings, walking two and allowing a lone base hit.

2.11.17:  Ludowig is 6-1 and hits from left side from an open balanced athletic stance. Leg kick stride, smooth load back with good rhythm, explosive hips and good balance throughout swing. Short to ball, level swing with extension through it, line drive swing with power potential, showed good approach working middle of the field, exit velocity was 102. In the outfield, gets behind the ball well, above average hands, plays through the ball to a quick clean exchange. Throws from a three-quarters slot with a loose, quick arm, outfield velocity was 87. Home to first was 4.2.

9.29.16 - Wake Forest commit. Athletic frame with a ton of athleticism. Quick hands at the plate and stayed inside the ball well during BP. Shows some power potential at the plate. Quick twitch athlete that was consistently in the 4.2 range on home to first and got as low as 4.12. Loose arm action from the outfield with carry on throws. Got on the mound and used that frame and arm action to get up to 88, sitting 87. 

4.22.16:  Ludowig has an athletic frame and hits from the left side with high hands. He loads back into an arm bar with a big leg kick. He has explosive hips and good balance, with fast hands generating good batspeed. He gets good extension through the ball and has gap or better power to all fields. He is quick, running a 4.04 home to first. On the mound, Ludowig has a drop and drive delivery and throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a lightning fast, loose arm action that generates easy velocity. His fastball sat 85-87, touching as high as 89. His changeup was 82. He slowed his arm to throw a 1/7 curveball that was 63-67.

10/15: Committed to Wake Forest

2/11/19 - Committed to Virginia Tech out of St. John's River State College (FL)

11-1-2018: 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed pitcher, strong, athletic frame, transfer from Coastal Carolina. Athletic delivery, quick two-step, inconsistent rhythm. Fastball sat 88-89. Curveball, sweeping action, 77-79, lacked command at-times but has makings of an above-average pitch. Changeup, fade action, 83.

Transferred from Coastal Carolina to St. John's River State College

4.6.17: Simonelli is recovering from Tommy John surgery in the summer of 2016 and is now almost nine months post-operation. He has successfully completed the flat ground portion of his rehab throwing program and has begun to throw bullpens.

11/2015: Committed to Coastal Carolina

4.1.16:  Simonelli throws from a low three quarters arm slot with a smooth delivery. His fastball touched 89 in the first inning and he worked 83-88 on the day, still sitting 86-87 in the fifth inning. His changeup has outstanding armspeed and heavy fading action, running 76-80. Simonelli’s slider had hard 11/5 action, running 72-75, with the ones at the higher end of the range showing no snap, just biting off the table late.

3.10.16:  Simonelli is a lanky righty that throws from a low three-quarters arm slot with a smooth delivery. He has a long, loose arm action that is quick and generates easy velocity. His shoulders are closed and level as he strides out to a square landing before falling off and recoiling a bit as he finishes. Simonelli’s fastball has good late run and sink to it, sitting 85-87 for four innings and reaching as high as 89 early in the game. His changeup is outstanding and is thrown with full armspeed and has a ton of sink to it, running 77-79. His breaking ball has 11/5 action and ran 70-72.

Simonelli stands a lanky 6-foot-1. His fastball is in the low to mid 80s and has touched as high as 87. Simonelli also shows feel for a full arsenal of secondary pitches, using a curveball, change-up, and slider.

8/20/19: Works on tough angles out of a big 6-foot-5 frame, pumping fastballs in the 88-91 mph range and quality low-to-mid-70s curves with 11-to-5 action. His curve is a legit swing-and-miss weapon, but the command is loose in the zone and the fastball is hittable over the fat of the plate.

3.26.17: Stewart has an athletic frame that he can still add to. Throws from a three-quarters arm slot, shorter quick arm action, normal effort. Shoulders closed, strides to square landing with recoil. Fastball was 84-86, touching 87, held his velocity through five innings. Fastball has good angle but flattened out at the top of the zone. Change-up had fading action at 75, slowed arm on a few of them. Curveball had sharp 11/5 action, running 66-67.

6.4.16 -   Nick Stewart pitched 84-85 with his lanky projectable frame on the hill to go with his above average secondary. 

4.19.16:  Stewart has a lanky, athletic frame and throws from a high three-quarters arm slot. He has a long arm action that is loose and a quick arm that generates easy velocity. His shoulders are uphill and closed as he strides to a square landing with a fall off finish. His fastball had downward plane and late run, sitting 84-86 early and still holding 83-84 while touching 85 in the seventh inning. His changeup had a lot of run and good armspeed, sitting 76-77. His breaking ball had late, hard break with 12/6 or 11/5 action depending on what side of the plate it was thrown to, running 70-74. He showed good command of all three pitches, and attacked the strike zone all game.

3.10.16:  Stewart is a tall, athletic righthander that throws from a high three-quarters arm slot. He has a loose arm action and a fast armstroke that generates easy velocity. His shoulders are closed and uphill as he strides out to a slightly closed landing. Stewart’s fastball had good downward plane and some late run and sat 84-86, touching 87 during his two innings of work. He commanded it well, moving it in and out. Stewart’s breaking ball had late, sharp 11/5 break and ran 71-76.

1.18.16: Stewart has a very tall, lanky frame and long arms. He has a loose, quick arm action that is very clean and generates easy velocity. Stewart gets good downward plane on his fastball and his breaking ball has good bite and 11/5 action.

11.1.15: Stewart is an athletic frame that is very projectable. He throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a smooth tall and fall delivery. He has shortened his arm action a bit over the last 9 months, but it works well and is loose and lightning quick and generates easy velocity. His shoulders are uphill and closed as he strides out to a square landing before falling off a bit as he finishes. Stewart’s fastball had late, hard run and good downward plane, running 81-85. His curveball had late 11/5 break and was thrown with good armspeed, running 73-74. His changeup was also thrown with good armspeed and had fading action, running 70-72. He showed good command of all three pitches.

7.30.15 - Long and lanky with projectable frame at 6-foot-4, 160-pounds. Throws from a high three-quarters arm angle with a long, loose arm action. Creates quick arm speed in his controlled delivery and in-line direction. Shows lower half usage and slightly finishes to first base side. Shows nice command of his fastball with sink at 84 mph. Breaking ball has 11/5 action with near fastball arm speed at 71 mph. Pitch shows good rotation and depth. Very interesting prospect as he fills out frame and matures.