Unsigned Senior Showcase: Pitcher Analysis
February 6, 2020
On January 12th, the PBR Illinois and Wisconsin staff hosted its annual winter Unsigned Senior Showcase providing 2020 graduates one last chance to get in front of our staff and over colleges that were in attendance before their final spring season.
Yesterday we took a look at the position players from the event. Today we conclude the analysis with a look at all of the pitchers from the day, ranking the top five. RHP Blake Oesterblad (Loyola Academy) took home the top spot from the event. Oesterblad, a 6-foot-4, 200-pound, wide-shouldered, right-hander showed a big jump in velocity since our last look, sitting 85-88 mph, touching 89 at the event. Oesterblad paired his firm fastball with two above-average off-speed offerings.
Right behind Oesterblad is highly-projectable RHP Charlie Campbell (South Milwaukee, WI), who recently committed to Madison JC. Campbell, who is listed at 6-foot-6, 190-pounds, has a long, loose, upside arm action and ran his fastball up to 87 mph while pairing it with an advanced changeup. As Campbell continues to firm up his breaking ball it will give him a true three-pitch repertoire that could play at the next level.
Take a look at the top five pitchers as well as all of the other prospects in attendance below.
TOP PITCHING PROSPECTS
1. Blake Oesterblad, RHP, Loyola Academy HS, 2020
6-foot-4, 200-pound, proportional strength, athletic, right-handed pitcher. Displayed high-level pitching ability and high projectability as a 2020 prospect. Athletic delivery, drop and drive, smooth rhythm, stays in line and lands athletic. Long, loose arm action, high ¾ arm slot, quick arm speed. Fastball, heavy, cut, throws strikes down in the zone, sat 85-88 mph, touched 89. Change-up, arm side run, down in the zone, sat 74-76 mph. Slider, 10/4 shape, flashed sharp tight spin, sat 73-75 mph.
2. Charlie Campbell, RHP, South Milwaukee HS (WI), 2020
Recent Madison JC commit. 6-foot-6, 190-pound, right-handed pitcher. Drop and drive, fluid rhythm, high front side, stays in line and lands athletic. Long, loose arm action, high ¾ arm slot, quick arm speed. Fastball, throws for strikes, heavy, sat 84-86 mph, touched 87. Change-up, feel for the bottom of the zone, arm side run, potential plus offering, sat 74-76 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, gradual movement, sat 65-67 mph.
3. Ken Middleton, RHP, Providence Catholic HS, 2020
6-foot-3, 190-pound, athletic, right-handed pitcher. Drop and drive, fluid delivery, level shoulders, stays in line, lands square and athletic. Short arm action, high ¾ arm slot, quick arm speed. Fastball, throws for strikes, sat 82-84 mph. Change-up, mimics fastball, throws for strikes down in the zone, sat 73-75 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, sharp, feel, potential swing and miss pitch, sat 71-72 mph.
4. Gustavo Gamboa, RHP, Providence Catholic HS, 2020
6-foot, 160-pound, athletic, right-handed pitcher. On the mound, slow delivery, tall and fall, stays in line and lands square. Long, loose arm action, high ¾ arm slot. Fastball, late, arm side run movement, sat 82 mph. Change-up, feel down in the zone, arm side run with fade, sat 72-74 mph. Curveball, throws for strikes, 11/5 shape, late bite, swing and miss potential, sat 67-70 mph.
5. Alijah Acevedo, OF/LHP, Kaneland HS, 2020
5-foot-10, 190-pound, proportionally strong, two-way prospect. Emerged as a solid unsigned senior prospect. Offensively, left-handed hitter; tall setup, short stride. Smooth, aggressive swing, level bat path, backspin, line-drive approach, clocked 96 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, in the outfield, fluid footwork, sure-handed, plays through the baseball. Short arm action, high ¾ arm slot, clocked at 82 mph. On the mound, throws from stretch, tall and fall, level shoulders, stays in line, lands upright. Short arm action, ¾ arm slot. Fastball, throws for strikes, heavy, sat 79-80 mph, touched 81. Change-up, mimics fastball, throws for strikes down in the zone, sat 70-72 mph. Slider, 10/4 shape, late bite, feel, swing and miss potential, sat 67-69 mph. Ran a 7.48 laser-timed 60.
Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)
Connor Baker, SS/RHP, Serena HS, 2020
5-foot-9, 180-pound, proportional strength, two-way prospect. Defensively, at shortstop, fluid footwork, clean exchange and plays through the baseball. Short arm action, High ¾ arm slot, accurate throws, clocked at 72 mph. Offensively, right-handed hitter, tall, open setup, short stride. Long, level bat path and line-drive approach. Registered 85 mph exit velocity from a tee. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, drop and drive, level shoulders, stays in line, lands upright. Short arm action, high ¾ arm slot. Fastball, slight run action, throws strikes, sat 75-76 mph, touched 77. Change-up, arm side run, sat 66-69 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, sat 65-67 mph. Ran a 7.90 laser-timed 60.
Michael Campanaro, RHP, St. Patrick HS, 2020
6-foot, 168-pound, wiry, right-handed pitcher. Unorthodox delivery, level shoulders, stays in line, lands athletic and square. Long arm action, over the top arm slot. Fastball, straight, sat 77-79 mph. Change-up, mimics fastball movement, sat 74-75 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, gradual movement, sat 60-62 mph.
Joshua Chajet, LHP, Carmel Catholic HS, 2020
6-foot-3, 165-pound, athletic, left-handed pitcher. Throws from the stretch, smooth rhythm, lands upright. Long, loose arm action, submarine arm slot. Fastball, throws down in the zone, slight cut, sat 70-73 mph, touched 75. Change-up, throws down in the zone, sat 58-61 mph. Curveball, 1/7 shape, gradual movement, sat 58-60 mph.
Kai Formella, RHP, York HS, 2020
6-foot, 181-pound, strong lower half, right-handed pitcher. Throws from the stretch, uphill shoulders, stays in line and lands upright. Short arm action, high ¾ arm slot. Fastball, life, sat 81-84 mph, touched 85. Change-up, mimics fastball movement, sat 73-75 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, gradual action, sat 65-67 mph.
Robby Gray, RHP, Lake Forest HS, 2020
6-foot-1, 190-pound, proportional strength, right-handed pitcher. Smooth tempo, tall and fall, stays in line, land square and upright. Long arm action, over the top arm slot, above average arm speed. Fastball, throws for strikes, heavy, sat 80-82 mph, touched 83. Change-up, throws for strikes down in the zone, mimics fastball, sat 75-76 mph. Slider, 11/5 shape, sat 69-71 mph.
Dylan Johnstone, RHP, Joliet West HS, 2020
6-foot-2, 160-pound, wiry, right-handed pitcher. Tall and fall, fluid delivery, level shoulders, stays in line, lands athletic and square. Short arm action, high ¾ arm slot. Fastball, slight run movement, throws for strikes, sat 73-75 mph, touched 78. Change-up, flashed arm side run at times, sat 68-70 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, gradual action, sat 64-66 mph.
Owen Luchinske, RHP, Walden HS, 2020
6-foot-1, 150-pound, athletic, right-handed pitcher. Fluid delivery, tall and fall, level shoulders, stays in line, lands closed and athletic. Long, loose arm action, ¾ arm slot. Fastball, slight arm side run, sat 76-78 mph, touched 79. Change-up, slight arm side run action, sat 70-72 mph. Curveball, 10/4 shape, early gradual movement, sat 67-68 mph.
Tommy Martini, SS/RHP, Lincoln-Way Central HS, 2020
5-foot-8, 160-pound, strong lower half, two-way prospect. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, tall and fall, stays on-line and lands square. Short arm action, high ¾ arm slot. Fastball, heavy sinking action, sat 78-80 mph. Change-up, sink action, sat 69-70 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, sat 62-64 mph. Slider, 10/4 shape, sat 66-67 mph. Defensively, at shortstop, sure-handed, clean exchange. Short arm action, high ¾ arm slot, clocked at 78 mph. Offensively, from the right-side, balanced setup, leg-kick. Long, uphill bat path, looks to lift the baseball. From the left-side, slightly crouched, open setup, leg-kick, short stride. Level bat path and pull approach. Registered 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran a 7.53 laser-timed 60.
Griffin Polett, 3B/RHP, Lane Tech HS, 2020
6-foot-2, 215-pound, strong lower half, two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, slightly crouched, balanced stance, short stride. Aggressive, simple swing, uphill bat path, line-drive approach, registered 80 mph from a tee. Defensively, fluid footwork, soft hands, clean exchange, plays through the baseball. Short, loose arm action, low ¾ arm slot, accurate throws, clocked at 72 mph. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, tall and fall, level shoulders, stays in line and lands square. Short arm action, high ¾ arm slot. Fastball, ranged 72-74 mph. Change-up, throws for strikes, sat 64-66 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, throws for strikes, sat 61-62 mph. Ran a 8.45 laser-timed 60.
Jacob Sullivan, RHP, Brother Rice HS, 2020
6-foot-2, 165-pound, wiry, athletic right-handed pitcher. Fluid delivery, drop and drive, level shoulders, stays in line and lands square. Short, loose arm action, high ¾ arm slot and above average arm speed. Fastball, throws for strikes down in the zone, sink, sat 79-81 mph, touched 82. Change-up, throws for strikes, slight sink, sat 68-71 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, tight spin, gradual movement, throws for strikes down in the zone, sat 68-70 mph.
Isaac Trejo, RHP/3B, Solorio HS, 2020
6-foot, 175-pound, athletic, two-way prospect. Offensively, open, balanced setup, leg-lift stride. Loose hands, level bat path, gap-to-gap approach, 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, at third base, sure-footed, plays through the baseball. Loose, short arm action, ¾ arm slot, clocked at 77 mph. On the mound, tall and fall, level shoulders, stays in line, lands square and upright. Fastball, throws strikes, sat 75-77 mph. Change-up, sat 72-73 mph, touched 75. Slider, slight 12/6 shape, sat 59-62 mph, touched 64. Ran a 7.76 laser-timed 60.
Kyle Wodziak, OF/RHP, Naperville Central HS, 2020
6-foot-6, 180-pound, wiry, two-way prospect. On the mound, right-handed pitcher; tall and fall, stays in line and finishes athletic. Long arm action, over the top arm slot. Fastball, throws for strikes, sat 74-76 mph, touched 78. Change-up, slight sink action, throws for strikes, sat 69-70 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, gradual action, throws for strikes, sat 63-65 mph. Defensively, in the outfield, sure-handed, clean exchanges, plays through the baseball. Short arm action, high ¾ arm slot, clocked at 86 mph. Offensively, right-handed hitter; wide, open setup, no stride. Long, level bat path, line-drive approach, registered 90 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran a 7.56 laser-timed 60.