PBR Midwest ProCase: Pitcher Analysis
August 24, 2018
In our final position-by-position look at the PBR Midwest ProCase invitees, we’ll examine this lively group of pitchers. Of the 12 arms who took the mound, half of them touched the 90 mph mark, at least.
No one made the radar read 90 mph-plus with greater ease than Indiana’s RHP Michael Doolin (Andrean; Vanderbilt commit). Doolin’s built strong and durable and his delivery is simple and easy –creating life on the his fastball that got up to 92 mph. The 6-foot-3 righty sat in the 89-91 mph range and mixed in a curveball that showed some serious bite to it. His ProCase performance was just another notch in his belt in a summer where he’s built himself into a 2019 draft prospect.
While Doolin lulls batters into a false sense of security with his extremely easy delivery, Illinois RHP Griffin Holderfield (Oak Park-River Forest; Creighton) does the opposite. He’s a big, physical, imposing presence on the mound who works uptempo with effort to surge the radar gun. Holderfield recorded the hardest fastball at the ProCase at 93 mph and throws his slider with equal aggressiveness. While this profile likely keeps him out of a starting rotation, Holderfield has the livewire repertoire to stroll into a high-leverage relief role at the next level.
Also representing Illinois in Joliet was RHP Grant Leader (Lyons Township; Illinois). The Illinois-bound righty makes the most out of his 5-foot-9 frame and touched 91 mph multiple times at the ProCase. Leader is a competitor and he’s also got the makings of a legitimate four-pitch mix that could earn him a starting role at some point in Champaign.
For full reports on each of the pitchers who stepped on the mound at the Midwest ProCase, continue reading below. If you missed the previous positional breakdowns, check out these hyperlinks: C, INF, OF. Be sure to stay tuned for some final analysis from one of the region’s premier showcase, too.
TOP PROSPECTS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)
Michael Doolin, RHP/SS, Andrean (IN), 2019
Vanderbilt University commit. 6-foot-3, 200-pound, strong, durable, highly-athletic build, right-handed pitcher. One of the top 2019 arms in the Midwest and showed why at the event. Struck out the side in his scoreless inning of work. Tall and fall delivery, works simple, repeatable and with extreme ease. Long, loose, quick arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball comes out of the hand with ease, late jump and life through the zone, gets swings and misses above the belt, sat 89-91 mph, touched 92. Curveball, feel, late bite and depth, worked between 10/4 and 11/5, 74-77 mph. Changeup, only saw one at 77 mph. High-follow draft prospect for 2019.
Joe Glassey, RHP/1B, Lakes Community (IL), 2019
6-foot-3, 190-pound, long, athletically built, wide-shouldered, right-handed pitcher. One of the top uncommitted arms in the Illinois’ 2019 class. Smooth, repeatable delivery, works on-line, lands square and finishes athletically. Arm works long, loose and quick from a ¾ slot. Struck out one in his scoreless inning of work. Fastball, commands it to both sides of the plate, down in the zone, late run and sink, sat 87-88 mph. Changeup is go-to secondary offering, confident, maintains arm speed, feel, run and fade action, 79-80 mph. Curveball is still developing, 10/4 action, around the zone, 67-70 mph.
Griffin Holderfield, RHP/1B, Oak Park-River Forest (IL), 2019
Creighton University commit. 6-foot-3, 215-pound, durable lower half, wide-shouldered, physical, right-handed pitcher. One of the hardest throwing right-handers in the Midwest, recorded the firmest fastball of the day at 93 mph. Holderfield struck out two in his one inning of work. Profiles as a late/inning reliever with an advanced fastball/slider combination. Side rocker-step wind up, drop and drive delivery with rhythm and effort throughout. Loose, quick, clean arm action out of a ¾ slot. Fastball, jumps out of the hand, heavy, bowling ball type when down in the zone, sat 90-91 mph, touched 93. Slider, out-pitch, thrown with aggression, flashed 10/4, power action, 78 mph.
Cameron Kissel, OF/RHP, Plainfield North (IL), 2019
5-foot-11, 170-pound, quick-twitch, well-proportioned, right-handed pitcher. Rocker-step, linear delivery, lands slightly front-toe closed. Electric arm speed, short and compact arm action out of a high ¾ window. Erratic command in his one inning stint but stuff is dynamic. Fastball is explosive when in the zone, late life, works straight, sat 89-91 mph, touched 92. Curveball is thrown with aggression, struggled to throw for strikes, hard downer action 83 mph. Changeup worked 81 mph. One of the strongest arms in the 2019’ Illinois class.
AJ Lattery, RHP/1B, Prior Lake (MN), 2019
6-foot-6, 225-pound, extra-large, well-proportioned, imposing, right-handed pitcher. Compact delivery, repeats well for his size, works on-line, lands front toe closed with minimal effort at times. Slight plunging action on the backside, loose out front, out a high ¾ window. Fastball
Fastball, occasional arm-side action, around the zone, sat 86-87 mph. Curveball 11/5 to 12/6 shape, depth at times, sat 68-69 mph. Saw a couple changeups in warmups, late fade action. One of the top uncommitted 2019 arms in Minnesota.
Grant Leader, RHP, Lyons Township (IL), 2019
University of Illinois commit. 5-foot-9, 165-pound, live-bodied, right-handed pitcher. Continues to prove he is one of the top arms in the Illinois’ 2019 class. Struck out the side in his one inning stint. Delivery works with rhythm, front side opens early with regular effort throughout. Arm works short and quick, comes out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball jumps out of the hand, life through the hitting zone, works straight, commands to both sides of the plate, sat 88-91 mph. Mixed in a curveball at 73 mph and a slider anywhere from 76-78 mph. Slider is go-to pitch with two-strikes. Throws it with conviction, feel, 10/4 shape, late, biting action. Curveball, thrown early in counts, depth, 11/5 shape and feel. Did not see a changeup in game play but have seen one in the past. True four-pitch mix and profiles as a possible starter at the next level.
Andrew Pogue, RHP/OF, Dunlap (IL), 2019
University of Illinois commit. 6-foot-4, 185-pound, long-limbed, highly-projectable, right-handed pitcher. Stock has been on the rise all summer long. Struck out one in his one-inning of work. Frame and arm action are highly-interesting. Arm is loose and whippy, out of a high ¾ slot; clean and one piece on the backside. Delivery is still raw but manages to repeat given his long-limbs. Slight drop and drive action, works on-line with regular effort throughout. Fastball comes out of his hand easy, slight arm-side action, life through the zone, sat 87-89 mph, touched 90. Curveball continues to be a work in progress, 11/5 action, slows arm at times, 71-72 mph. Also throws a splitter but did not see it in game. Pogue is just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential.
Hunter Rosenbaum, RHP/SS, Webster (WI), 2019
University of West Virginia commit. 6-foot-2, 182-pound, athletically-built, well-proportioned right-handed pitcher. Did not allow a hit in his one-inning stint at the event. Delivery works over a high front side, uptempo out of balance point with some effort at release. Works out of a high ¾ slot, arm is quick out front, slight plunge out of the glove. Fastball creates downward tilt, thrown for strikes, sat 86-87 mph. Velocity seems to play up with late jump through the zone. Curveball, creates steep angle, 11/5 shape, depth, feel, maintains arm speed, 78-79 mph. Saw one changeup at 80 mph.
Jack Sauser, RHP/OF, Normal University (IL), 2019
Northwestern University commit. 6-foot-6, 196-pound, long-limbed, highly-projectable right-handed pitcher with plenty of room to add strength down the road. Did not allow a hit in his inning of work. Uptempo delivery, repeats well given his extra-large frame, works on-line and lands front-toe open. Arm action is long and quick out of a high ¾ window. Fastball, works mostly straight, thrown for strikes, sat 86-88 mph. Flashed two above-average secondary offerings. Slider, thrown with conviction, late, short 10/4 break, 79 mph. Changeup, feel, confidence, sinking action at times, 80-82 mph. Projectable right-handed pitcher just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential.
Cole Schroeder, LHP/OF, CBC (MO), 2019
Missouri State commit. 6-foot-2, 180-pound, athletically-built, well-proportioned, left-handed pitcher. Struck out two in his one-inning of work. Athletic delivery, works with rhythm, minimal wasted movement, repeats. Short, compact, clean arm action; loose and quick following foot strike out of a high ¾ slot. Projects as a possible starter at the next level; features three above-average offerings, all out of the same tunnel and with fastball arm speed. Commands the fastball, late running action, sat 85-86 mph, touched 87. Curveball, advanced feel, sharp action, 12/6 shape, depth, 74-76 mph. Changeup, feel, arm-side-run, sinking action, swing-and-miss offering, sat 81-83 mph. Highly-pitchability left-hander.
Bennett Theisen, RHP/3B, Minnehaha Academy (MN), 2019
University of Minnesota commit. 6-foot, 200-pound, strong, durable, right-handed pitcher; workhorse type frame. Struck out one in his inning of work. Controlled, side-step delivery, works with effort and intent; upright finish and falls off at times. Profiles as a late-inning reliever. Strong, quick arm action, high ¾ slot. Slight plunge action out of the glove. Fastball works straight, rides it up in the zone at times, sat 88-89 mph, touched 90. Slider, thrown aggressively, average feel, 11/5 shape, 78 mph. Also, mixed in a curveball at 71-74 mph, more 12/6 action. Saw one changeup in game, 75 mph.
Jack Washburn, RHP/OF, Webster (WI), 2019
Oregon State University commit. 6-foot-2, 198-pound, strong, wide-shouldered, defined lower half, two-way player; has put on over 30 pounds of muscle since the 2017 summer. One of the top arms in the state of Wisconsin. Was extremely efficient in his outing, retiring all five hitters that he faced. Methodical, controlled delivery, works on-line, slight open-toe finish. Arm action is highly-athletic; full, clean arm circle on the backside, quick out front, comes out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball works mostly straight, around the zone, 87-89 mph. Breaking ball, thrown with fastball arm speed, intent, late, sharp 11/5 action, 79-81 mph. Also, hit at the event. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, smooth loading action, toe-tap stride and average balance throughout. Strong hands, creates leverage, uphill bat path and flashed pull power. 93 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran a 7.0 laser-timed 60.