9 to Know: PNW Arms
June 2, 2020
The Pacific Northwest is well-stocked with immense baseball talent, and as rich as the produce has been in recent years, the talent of tomorrow looks just as promising. This week, On the Hunt takes a look at nine arms out of the region, from both Oregon and Washington, who possess lots of upside. Included on the list are multiple quick-armed southpaws with high-ceilings and a collection of right-handers who profile as starters moving forward.
2021
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Caden Vire LHP / OF / Skyview, WA / 2021Rankings StateRank: 26 / POS: 1
Uncommitted. With a collection of the Pacific Northwest’s finest prospects on hand, Vire is clearly the most intriguing arm in the region. Long-limbed and lean at 6-foot-5, 180-pounds, he gets the most out of his wiry-athletic frame driving long down the mound with aggressive use of the lower half before seeming to touch the catcher's mitt at extension. The arm works short and quick out of the glove with some whip out front, and the ball jumped out of the hand at 82-85 (2200-2245 RPM) in this bullpen. Far from full strength, and with a frame that oozes projection, Vire will likely be one of the first arms that many college coaches will be heading out to see once play resumes this summer. Given the quickness of the arm and the frame, there is a strong chance that his velocity sees a considerable jump in the future, and while his 70-72 (1754-1912 RPM) slider was inconsistent, it flashed proper shape at times, and he demonstrated the ability to make adjustments throughout the bullpen session including one back-leg offering to a would-be right-handed hitter. He also flashed feel for a changeup at 78 mph (1838) that profiles well to the fastball. But above all else, the fastball, and it's late life, stands out as a pitch that can rapidly see growth, and for this reason, college coaches will want to be glued to his outings from here out.
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