VA Insider: Unsigned 2018 Arms

5.1.17: Russell has an athletic frame and has added strength to it in the last 9 months. Throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a longer, free arm action, normal effort. Shoulders closed and level, lands square with athletic finish. Fastball was consistently 83-85 all game in the windup, hitting 86 once in the seventh inning, pitch dropped to 81-83 in the slide step. Fastball had late run and good plane, he showed he could move it in and out and commanded it well. Change-up had some sink at 74. Breaking ball had late, sharp 10/4 break and some armspeed, running 66-72, the pitch was very good when he threw it in the 70-72 range.

6.21.16:  Russell is 6-2 and has a lanky frame. Throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a smooth tall and fall delivery. Short, loose, quick arm action with normal effort. Shoulders are closed and down as he strides to a square landing with a slight fall off finish. Fastball sat 80-81, touched 82. Sharp 11/5 curveball with good armspeed, 61-64. Fading change-up with good armspeed was 71-73. Russell hits from the right side with an open stance. Smooth load into a wrap, short leg kick stride. Ok lower half with good balance throughout his swing. Short path with extension through the ball that is quick, exit velocity of 86. Line drive hitter with a good gap to gap approach. Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot with a loose arm action and accuracy to his throws, position velocity of 75. Average hands and fluid footwork. 60 time was 7.34.

11.6.16 - Lanky projectable frame at 6-foot-3, 160-pounds. Sound, clean arm action with fast arm speed through finish. Nice lower half involvement. Some head whip in finish. Nice tempo throughout. Pitches with some effort. Lands square to the plate. Fastball has slight sink of the pitch up to 86 mph. Throws 2-seam with more sink and run on it.  Breaking ball has sharper break with 11/5 action on it up to 69 mph. Change up is harder ranging from 75-81 mph. More in tank as he fills out frame and adds strength.

7.15.17

Garber has a lankier athletic frame. Hits from the right side, short line drive swing, good approach uses the whole field. Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot, with some arm strength and fields with above average hands. On the mound, throws from a three-quarters arm slot, shorter quick arm action. Shoulders slightly closed and uphill, lands open with an athletic finish. Fastball was 82-84 with late run. Good slider with late sharp hard 10/4 break and good armspeed at 73-75.

6/5/17 

Garber was impressive in TA's victory over Abingdon in the 3A Regional Semi-finals, shutting down a highly talented Abingdon lineup over the course of six innings. Garber throws from a high three quarter slot with a controlled delivery. Creates quick arm speed while pitching with regular effort. Fastball had slight run to the pitch, topping out at 84 and sitting 81-84 throughout the game. Breaking ball was bigger with 11/5 shape and depth to the pitch. Got around it at times when he tried to backdoor it to lefties. Had good command of the strikezone on the day. 

Steele has been injured and missed the summer and fall of 2017 due to arm injury and should return for the 2018 spring.

2.18.17:  Steele is 6-0 and has an athletic frame with a strong lower half. Throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action and some effort. Shoulders are uphill and closed, strides on line to a slightly open landing, athletic finish. Fastball was 81-83 with late run. Good curveball with late sharp 12/6 break and good armspeed, running 72-75. Change-up had good armspeed with armside run, running 74-78, pitch was very good at the bottom end of the range.

8.9.17:  Loving is 6-2 with an athletic frame, has a drop and drive delivery and throws from a higher three-quarters arm slot with a shorter, free quick arm action and normal effort. Good rhythm to delivery, shoulders are closed and uphill, lands on line with a slight fall off finish. Fastball was 81-85 with downward plane and some late sink to it. Curveball was 64-66 with hard sharp 11/5 break and good armspeed. Change-up was 68-70 with late run and some armspeed. Good feel for all three pitches.