Seattle, WA - This edition of Commitment Corner takes a look at RHP Duke Brotherton (Mercer Island). The polished RHP and Washington State commit cracked our initial Top 25 state rankings for the 2020 class after a strong showing this spring. Then made a huge rise all the way up to #5 overall after a big velocity jump this summer. Find out more about his decision to be a Coug as well as some other memorable baseball moments. 

Scouting notes

Athletic frame with highly projectable build at 6-foot-3, 180 pounds. Low effort, repeatable delivery with sound mechanics. Lands soft, head stays quiet throughout throwing motion. Full arm swing with clean action and  ¾ release point. Stays tall on backside while keeping a level shoulder plane. 3-pitch mix: Back in April, FB sat 83-86, topped  87. Then when we saw Duke again in July, the FB topped at 90 and began comfortably sitting 87-89 with the same easy effort as before. Has 2 different breaking balls that he works with. Slider has been up to 83, mostly 77-81 after his velocity jump. 11/5 CB sits between 72-75. SL tunnels well with FB out of hand and features late break/depth, especially when he locates to his glove side. CB improved considerably in terms of bite and shape once it started sitting in the mid 70s. Overall, Duke's offerings have taken a big step forward in a short period of time. Expect him to be one of the top arms in the state for the 2020 season, especially if he comes out with the velocity that he finished the summer with. 

PBR: Why did you choose Washington State?
DB: I chose Washington State because I believed in the coach's system and I want to be apart of a rebuild of an organization I have been apart of my whole life. Along with that, I am going to be a fourth generation Coug.

PBR: When did you make your decision?
DB: I committed to Marty Lees and his coaching staff December 3rd 2018, then when WSU made the decision to change staff and hire coach Green, I was able to spend time getting to know his staff and coaching philosophy, which led me to commit in July 2019

PBR: Where did the coaching staff first see you play? Who was your primary recruiter?
DB: When Marty Lees was a coach, he first saw me play in the Palouse Summer Series when I was a freshman. After that, he continued to watch me and he recruited me when I was 16. I then committed early Junior year and then I got recruited again when WSU made their coaching change by Brian Green and Anthony Claggett. They saw me pitch at the Area Code tryouts at Gonzaga. 

PBR: Who do you play for in the summer/fall and what has that experience been like?
DB: I played for Boys of Summer the past 3 summers and it has been a ton of fun. I developed a ton as a baseball player and a person through their coaching system. Coach Kevin Ticen has helped develop me beyond technique; he has helped me on the mental side of baseball both on and off the field. For fall, I played for the Baseball Northwest regional team In Florida and it has been a ton of fun competing against the top players in the nation. 

PBR: What is your most memorable baseball moment to date?
DB: My most memorable baseball moment was playing in the Area Code tournament in Long Beach, California this summer. It was so much fun competing against the top baseball players in the nation. 

PBR: Who is the toughest hitter you have faced in Washington?
DB: I think Cole Fontenelle is the toughest hitter I have faced in Washington. This summer, he went yard off of me, and I couldn’t really figure out how to strike him out. He is a very good hitter. 

PBR: Any pre-game superstitions?
DB: I don’t really have a superstition but I have a very consistent warm up routine that gets me ready for every game I pitch in.

PBR: Favorite MLB player and why?
DB: My favorite player is Max Scherzer. He is probably the most entertaining pitcher to watch because I love his intensity and his confidence when he pitches. He is someone I strive to be on the mound.