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Midwest Future Games Tryout: Pitching Analysis

July 18, 2013

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director

Today we break down the pitching group at the Midwest Future Games Tryout where we saw Simon Rosenblum-Larson and Jack Bredeson both earned spots on the Wisconsin Midwest Future Games Roster. Although a small group of pitchers, our top ranked definitely didn’t lack any size. All of the top pitchers were listed at 6-foot-2 or better, topping out at 6-foot-7 with Liam Jenkins.

Check out the list of top pitchers.

Top Pitchers

Scouting Reports by Dan Duran

1. Simon Rosenblum-Larson, RHP, Madison West, 2015
Very projectable, 6-foot-3, 175-pound right-handed pitcher. Utilizes his lanky frame in his tall-and-fall delivery – shows some athletic rhythm working with direction towards the plate and balance throughout his delivery. He has a high leg kick and repeatable mechanics. Easy effort arm with long high ¾ arm action. He threw four pitches effectively during his bullpen. Throws a heavy fastball with command which sat 80-82 mph with sink, topping at 83 mph. Flashed control of his 68-71 mph curveball with sharp 11/5 action. Both his slider and changeup were at 71-74 mph – slider thrown with action, changeup with slight arm-side run. He’ll continue to project at a high level as he matures. Rosenblum-Larson was selected to represent Wisconsin at the Midwest Future Games.

2. Jack Bredeson, RHP, Arrowhead, 2015
The physically advanced 6-foot-5, 215-pound right handed pitcher impressed in his bullpen session. Bredeson has some rhythm in his tall-and-fall delivery – throws with deception to the plate, hiding the ball well from short, over the top arm action. His fastball sat 81-83 mph consistently, works on a downhill plane, flashes heavy feel. Curveball worked 67-70 mph on 12/6 plane, flashed bite, has swing and miss potential. His slider sits 69-70 mph, lacks identification. Changeup ranges 73-77 mph, near fastball arm action, missing low. Bredeson’s physicality is easy to see, his deceptive release point and 12/6 breaking ball have high level upside. Bredeson was also selected for the Midwest Future Games.

3. Liam Jenkins, RHP, Lincoln-Way North (IL), 2015
Large frame, 6-foot-7, 225-pound right-handed pitcher shows projectability. Jenkins delivers with some rhythm in a tall-and-fall approach – works in line with the plate with an athletic finish and throws with long, quick high ¾ arm action. Flashed control for his fastball and curveball – fastball sat 80-81 mph topping at 82 mph, curveball showed loose, gradual break between 61-65 mph. His 65-67 mph changeup showed cutting action with occasional sink. With his size and loose arm action, Jenkins could be a prospect to follow.

4. Jonathan Stiever, SS/RHP, Cedarburg, 2015
Tall and lanky two-way player with projectability on the mound. His tall-and-fall delivery works well with his frame – shows athletic rhythm and works with direction towards the plate, landing squared and finishing balanced. He throws with long ¾ arm action and has feel for all three pitches. Stiever’s fastball was thrown for strikes at 79-82 mph with occasional run and sink, topping at 83 mph. He had command for his big sweeping 11/5 curveball sitting 66-68 mph flashing some sharp break. His changeup showed slight cutting action ranging 67-71 mph. Offensively Stiever hits from a wide setup using minimal load and short stride. He maintains balance throughout the swing – recorded a 79 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively he throws across the infield with long arm action at 78 mph.

5. Matt McCarty, RHP/SS, South Milwaukee, 2016
Highly projectable tall, lanky, and athletic two-way player. McCarty displayed athletic actions defensively, fielding cleanly with fluid feet and a loose arm at 75 mph across the infield. His athleticism could project to multiple positions on the diamond.  He showed an approach at the plate with occasional gap power. McCarty hits from an open stance, rocking back in his load using a short stride. Makes use of his lower half and swings on a long uphill plane flashing some bat speed. McCarty has a smooth delivery off the mound, working with direction and a balanced finish. He has long arm action from a ¾ slot, fully extending out in front of his body. He has run on his fastball sitting 78-80 mph topping at 81 mph.  He had some feel for his 11/5 curveball, at 65-66 mph, and his changeup was thrown for strikes at 68-70 mph with arm-side run.  The 2016 grad is a two-way prospect to follow. McCarty also received an invitation to the Top Prospect Games at UIC.

5. Chase Scharnek, RHP/OF, Waukesha West, 2015
Projectable lanky left-handed hitting outfielder and right-handed pitcher stands 6-foot-3, 175 pounds. Scharnek displayed some rhythm and drop-and-drive type delivery on the mound. Throws with shorter arm action from an over-the-top slot. His fastball is mostly straight, sits 79-81 mph topping at 82 mph, showed control. Throws a 71-73 mph slider with some late 11/5 action, and his curveball ranges 64-67 mph. Scharnek showed foot-speed running a 4.14 home-to-first. Offensively hits from a wide setup using a short stride. Showed an approach at the plate and maintains balance through his swing. His bat path was long, slightly uphill, and recorded an 81 mph exit speed off the tee. Definitely a player to watch as he physically matures and develops added feel.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Alexander Dages, LHP/OF, Bradford, 2016
Dages is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound left-handed hitting and throwing two-way player. He hits from a balanced setup using a short stride. Flashed bat speed, swinging on an uphill path with extension maintaining balance throughout. He has pull tendencies recording a 79 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, displayed quick actions in the outfield, throwing with long, over-the-top arm action at 79 mph with some accuracy. He also showed some athleticism running a 4.15 home-to-first. On the mound, Dages delivers with some rhythm and direction from a high ¾ arm slot. His fastball sat 74-76 mph, topping at 77 mph with slight run and sink. His slider is thrown with arm speed and slight 11/5 action at  63-66 mph, and changeup ranged 53-56 mph. 

Aaron Jaeck, OF/RHP, Case, 2016
5-foot-9, 165-pound outfielder and right-handed pitcher.  Throws with long high ¾ action from the outfield at 75 mph with some accuracy.  Offensively hits from a balanced, slightly closed setup, using a short stride maintaining balance throughout the swing – recorded an 80 mph exit velocity.  From the mound, Jaeck delivers from a high ¾ slot.  Fastball sits 69-70 mph, curveball at 58-60 mph; and changeup sitting 61-62 mph. 

Jimmy Olear, RHP/MIF, St. Joseph Catholic, 2015
5-foot-11, 165-pound two-way player who projects well on the mound. Tall-and-fall delivery, Olear works with some rhythm and direction towards the plate with a balanced finish. His shoulders stay level and has long arm action from a ¾ slot. He has feel for all three pitches: fastball sits 74-76 mph thrown for strikes and topping at 77 mph; slurve-like 11/5 curveball ranges 61-64 mph; and changeup stays 71-72 mph with arm-side run and sink. Defensively his infield was clean and showed an athletic arm, throwing 71 mph across the infield. Offensively hits from a slightly open stance using a short stride, recording an 82 mph exit velocity off the tee.

Kyle Scoville, SS/RHP, Bradford, 2016
Scoville is a 5-foot-9, 140-pound two-way player.  At the plate, he sets up in a balanced stance using a short stride.  Makes use of his lower half and maintains balance throughout, hitting line-drives in the gaps consistently with hard contact (78 mph exit speed off the tee).  Long arm action defensively, throwing 68 mph across the infield.  On the mound, Scoville delivers with some rhythm working with direction, throwing from a high ¾ arm slot.  Fastball sits 68-71 mph; 11/5 curve thrown at 59-61 mph with early break; straight change ranging 58-63 mph.

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