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Beloit Prospect Identification Showcase: Pitching Analysis

August 18, 2013

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director - Wisconsin

John Moynihan (Verona Area) took the top pitching spot at the Beloit Prospect Identification Showcase as the sturdy RHP touched 86 mph while sitting 84-85 mph with arm side run. Ryan Cashore was a close second as the projectable RHP sat 82-84 mph touching 85 mph.  Brad Sabol rounded out the group, the 6-foot-3, 205-pound LHP used a long arm action to deliver his 79-82 mph fastball. Here’s a look at the entire pitching group.

Top Pitchers

1. John Moynihan, RHP/3B, Verona Area, 2014
Moynihan is a high-level prospect with projectability. The two-way player has a 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame with a sturdy lower half. Has a soft front side but works in line with the plate following through on his pitches. Showed some rhythm in his delivery throwing with some effort. His arm action was short, loose and quick from a high ¾ slot. Had control of his fastball at 84-85 mph with some late arm-side action topping at 86 mph. 12/6 curveball ranged 67-71 mph, lacked the ability to get it to his glove side but showed above average depth and action. His changeup was his best pitch thrown with command at 73-76 mph with pronounced arm-side run, changeup has potential to be a high level swing and miss pitch. Moynihan showed offensive ability making hard contact at the plate with pop to the opposite field gap. He has bat speed and whip through the zone making contact on an uphill plane, registering an 84 mph exit velocity off the tee maintaining balance throughout the swing. Defensively his arm plays at 80 mph across the diamond. Has a windup release but his fielding was clean and throws were made with accuracy. Moynihan is a high prospect to follow.

2. Ryan Cashore, RHP, Evansville (WI), 2014
Cashore is a lanky 6-foot-2, 180-pound right-handed pitcher with projectability. He had some rhythm in his delivery working in line with an athletic finish. Throws with moderate effort and a quick arm action from a high ¾ slot. He showed control of his fastball at 82-84 mph with hard sink, topping at 85 mph. Curveball worked on an 11/5 plane, showed control with near fastball arm speed, 70-72 mph. Throws a straight change, slight sink, thrown with fastball similar arm action, 75-76 mph. Cashore looks to have a high upside and is a high follow in the Class of 2014.

3. Brad Sabol, LHP/1B, Lake Country Lutheran (WI), 2014
Sabol is a strong 6-foot-3, 205-pound left-handed hitting and throwing two-way player with projectability. On the mound he works in line with the plate finishing his pitches. Threw with long arm action at a moderate arm speed from a ¾ slot. He had feel and command for his fastball at 79-82 mph with slight run. He stayed around the zone with his sweeping 10/4 curveball at 65-67 mph. His slider had similar action and velocity at 68 mph. Threw a straight change at 67-69 mph. Offensively hits from a wide base and no stride, barring his arm on his load. Showed a level, uphill path to and through the ball. Showed some gap-to-gap power with bat speed, registering an 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively he threw 76 mph across the diamond and ran a 7.64 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Ryan Anderson, RHP/3B, Palatine (IL), 2016
6-foot, 162-pound two way player, projectable frame. Defensively showed an accurate arm across the diamond (70 mph). Offensively hits from a slightly taller stance, short stride. Front foot hitter, showed some bat speed and occasional extension through contact. 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.75 runner in the 60. On the mound fastball was mostly straight at 73-74 mph. Showed a curveball at 58-59 mph. Straight change thrown with comparable arm speed, 65-66 mph, occasional sink.

Austin Blackmer, RHP/1B, Mundelein (IL), Class of 2015
6-foot-2, 160-pound two way player, lanky frame. Defensively showed natural instincts around the bag at first base. Long arm action with stiffness, high ¾ slot, accurate arm at 69 mph across the infield. Hits from a balanced stance, slightly wider setup, smooth load, short stride. Level bat path, occasional solid contact, good balanced throughout. On the mound fastball showed arm side action, showed control, 69-71 mph. Breaking ball flashed sweeping action 57-60 mph. Changeup at 64-66 mph, flashed sink and fading action.

Connor Bowen, 1B/RHP, Milton (WI), 2014
6-foot-4, 180-pound two way player, lanky athletic frame with projection. Defensively worked from the outfield with a crowhop at 80 mph, showed the ability to play through the baseball. On the infield, showed average hands, first base looks to be primary position, 75 mph across the infield. Offensively hits from a tall balanced stance, smooth load with slight arm bar, short stride. Lower half works, showed balance through finish. Uphill path, 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound fastball was mostly straight, 77-79 mph. Curveball had 12/6 action, 65-68 mph. Slider had short action, 69-73 mph. Changeup was straight at 73-74 mph.

Kevin Brandt, 1B/LHP, Janesville Craig (WI), 2014
Strong bodied 5-foot-10, 190-pound left handed two way player. Showed natural actions around the bag, flashing occasional softness in his hands, clean exchange, 71 mph arm strength across the diamond. Offensively hits from the left side, open stance, leg kick trigger, slight dive over the plate. Hard contact to his pull side, pull side approach, showed athletic hands at the plate. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound fastball was straight at 71-72 mph. Curveball flashed 11/5 axis, 58-59 mph. Changeup has occasional cut, 60-64 mph.

Ryan Dubs, OF/INF/RHP, Jacobs (IL), 2014
5-foot-8, 140-pound two way player. Defensively arm played at 74 mph from the outfield, showed the ability to play through the baseball. On the infield arm played at 73 mph. 7.57 runner in the 60. At the plate hits from a balanced stance, leg kick trigger. Solid contact, showed a short path, fluid rhythm, 80 mph exit velocity. On the mound, fastball sat at 71-73 mph, straight with slight sink. Curveball at 62-64 mph, mostly up. Slider flashed occasional action, 64-65 mph. Changeup showed sink when down in the zone, near fastball arm speed, 66-68 mph.

Aaron Hammond, SS/RHP, Brookfield Central (WI), 2014
5-foot-11, 185-pound two-way player. Mechanically sound hitter made good opposite field contact at the plate. Starts from an open setup with a short stride, registering an 84 mph exit speed off the tee. Threw 74 mph across the infield and ran a 7.5 60. Throws with a slow delivery on the mound with some direction and short, over-the-top arm action. Fastball was 75-76 mph with control. 12/6 curveball at 66-67 mph. Slows arm on changeup at 70-72 mph with some sink.

Jacob Nelson, RHP/MIF, Jefferson (WI), 2014
Nelson is a 5-foot-10, 145-pound two-way player showed particularly well on the mound displaying three-pitch feel. He has a smooth tall-and-fall delivery with quick high ¾ arm action. He filled up the zone with all three pitches. His 77-78 mph fastball had arm-side run and some sink. Curveball was located with sharp action ranging 63-67 mph. His changeup was thrown with some arm-speed at 66-70 mph with sink. Nelson fielded his position with natural athletic actions playing through the ball with soft hands, fluid feet, and a quick, clean exchange. Throws 71 mph across the infield with some accuracy and short, loose arm action. Offensively showed quicker actions from the right side of the plate. Sets up in a wide base with a minimal load maintaining balance throughout. Exit velocities were 76 mph from the right, 72 mph from the left. Nelson ran a 7.58 60.

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