By John Nolan

There has been a flurry of commitments in the last few weeks as schools scramble to fill out their 2016 classes. In preparation for November’s Unsigned Senior Games at the University of Mary Washington, Prep Baseball Report VA/DC will take a look at a few of the top available players in each position group. The 2016 Class in Virginia and DC is extremely deep, and there are still a decent number of players available who have the talent to become major contributors during their college careers. Here are some of the top remaining uncommitted arms in the Class of 2016:

Coleman Duty, LHP, Goochland, 2016

Duty stands an athletic 6-foot and throws from a three-quarters slot with a long backside arm action, generating easy velocity. At the Pre-Season All-State Showcase in February, Duty’s fastball sat 76-80, touching 82, with slight run to it. He threw a gradual breaking 11/5 curveball with decent armspeed that ran 60-68. He also threw a fading changeup with decent armspeed that sat 62-66. He commanded all three pitches well.

Zack Hess, RHP/1B, Liberty Christian Academy, 2016

Hess recently de-committed from Virginia Tech and has reportedly visited Florida, Liberty, and Louisiana State University. Hess is 6-5 righty with a prototypical pitcher’s frame who sits in the low-90s with a sharp slider. He also has the potential to be drafted high in the 2016 Rule IV Amateur Draft. 

Matthew Holt, RHP/1B, Nansemond River, 2016

Holt has a big frame with a strong lower half and he throws from a three-quarters arm slot and has a drop and drive delivery. His arm action has a bit of a wrap to it and he has a quick arm stroke that generates easy velocity. Holt’s fastball ran 82-84 in June with late run and good downhill plane. His curveball was thrown with full armspeed and had late 10/4 break, running 67-72. His changeup was also thrown with full armspeed and had armside run to it and sat 73-76. Holt had good command of all three of his pitches.

Grant Johnson, RHP, Liberty Christian Academy, 2016

Johnson stands 6-foot-2 with a strong, athletic frame and throws from a three-quarters slot with a short, loose arm action that generates easy velocity with a quick armstroke. In February, Johnson’s fastball sat 78-82, touching 83. He threw a sharp, 11/5 breaking curveball with decent armspeed that ran 63-67. He also threw a fading change-up with decent armspeed that ran 73-77.

Matt Nickles, RHP, Colonial Forge, 2016

Nickles stands 6-foot-0 tall and has an athletic frame with strong legs and throws from a high three-quarters slot. He has a long, loose arm action and a lightning quick armstroke that generates velocity with some effort. Nickles’ fastball sat 84-86 at the Pre-Season All-State Showcase in February, touching 87 and he commanded it at the top of the strike zone. He threw a sharp 12/6 curveball with full armspeed that was commanded well and ran 61-65. He threw and outstanding change-up with full armspeed and armside run to it that sat 71-73 and was commanded well.

Graham Seitz, RHP, Herndon, 2016

Seitz stands 6-foot-3 and has an athletic frame and throws from a low three-quarters slot. His arm action is long and loose and he has a lightning quick armstroke that allows him to generate easy velocity. In February, Seitz’s fastball had heavy sink to it that he commanded well, sitting 84-85 and topping out at 87. He also threw a sharp, late, 10/4 slider with full armspeed that sat 73-75. His change-up had armside run and he threw it with decent armspeed in the 77-79 range.  

Trey Shepard, RHP, C.D. Hylton, 2016

Shepard stands 6-foot-0 tall and has an athletic frame and throws from a high three-quarters arm slot. His arm action is long and loose and he has a lightning quick arm that generates velocity with easy effort. Shepard’s fastball has late heavy run when thrown to armside and in February, at the Pre-Season All-State Showcase, he sat 86-89 at the top of the zone with the pitch. His curveball has power 11/5 action that ran 70-72. He also threw a late, tight, 10/4 breaking slider that sat 73-76.