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Unsigned Senior Showcase: Pitching Analysis

October 22, 2014

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois

Today we look at the top pitching prospect from the Unsigned Senior Showcase. RHP Jacob Watzka (Green Bay East) has a projectable frame with upside and took the top spot. He brought the best fastball of the event topping out at 83 mph and looks to have more in the tank. Bradley Calkins closely followed with a similar frame and fastball.

Here’s a look at the top pitching prospects from the Unsigned Senior Showcase.

Top Pitching Prospects

1. Jacob Watzka, RHP, Green Bay East
6-foot-4, 190-pound right-handed pitcher, typical pitchers frame, long limbed with solid lower half, advanced body with good projectability. Tall and fall delivery, works online, long stride, jumps to landing, squared landing. Arm action is long and loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball is mostly straight four seam action, 80-83 mph. Curveball has some depth, 11/5 shape, 67-68 mph. Splitter has downward action, some tumble, appears to have most confidence in it. Also flashed a cutter that backed up at 75 mph. Watzka is a strong 2015 prospect with good upside.

2. Bradley Calkins, RHP/3B, Sun Prairie
6-foot-4, 195-pound two-way player, lanky frame, long legs, projectable. On the mound delivery is a tall and fall approach, works directionally with a closed soft landing. High ¾ arm slot, short arm action. Fastball is mostly straight 80-82 mph. Shows excellent feel of curveball, 12/6 shape, 67 mph. Changeup is 70-73 mph. Projectable RHP has good upside with present control of curveball. Right handed hitter, balanced setup, slightly open, short stride, hands load back. Pull side approach, level stroke, line drive hitter. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a high ¾ arm slot at 76 mph across the diamond.

3. Reggie Rappis, LHP, Cedarburg
Longer frame, lanky build, 6-foot-1, 170-pound left handed pitcher, good projection. Tall and fall delivery, regular effort, squared landing and smooth rhythm. Long arm action, high ¾ arm slot, slight wrist wrap. Fastball has run, 76-78 mph, maintains velocity from stretch. Curveball has gradual action, 68-70 mph, arm action could be better suited for a slider. Good projectable left handed pitcher strong follow.

4. Dan Malak, OF/RHP, Muskego
Large frame, strong build, advanced physical make up, 6-foot-1, 190-pound two-way player. Defensively showed athleticism in the outfield, plays through the baseball, fluid footwork, clean exchange, uses crow hop. Strong arm from the outfield, high ¾ slot, 86 mph arm strength. Right handed hitter, high elbow setup, open stance, short stride, slight leg lift, good balance. Gap to gap approach, strong contact. 7.45 runner in the 60. On the mound delivery works on line, high hands separation, slightly open, squared toe landing, level shoulders, slide step stretch. Fastball is mostly straight, ranged 77-82 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, throws aggressively, 72-73 mph, sharp break, controls the pitch well. Changeup has sink at 74-75 mph.

5. Austin Reed, RHP, Stevens Point
6-foot, 190-pound right handed pitcher, large build, wide shouldered. Tall and fall type delivery, some effort, works online with closed landing. Long arm action, over the top slot. Fastball is mostly straight, four seam action, works downhill, 77-79 mph. Curveball has 12/6 action, thrown with near fastball arm speed, 67-68 mph, sharp action with depth. Changeup has arm side action, 71-73 mph, some feel. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Daniel Behlke, RHP, Fond Du Lac
6-foot-1, 205-pound right handed pitcher, strong build, wide shoulders, sturdy lower half. Tall and fall delivery, regular effort, works online with up/out/over stride, landing is square, uses slide step in stretch. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 76-79 mph touching 80 mph. Throws two breaking balls. Curveball has 12/6 shape, near fastball delivery, showed feel for the zone, 64-67 mph, with depth, throws with confidence. Slider sat 69-70 mph, curveball is the better of the two. Straight changeup sat 74-75 mph.

Luke Eide, RHP/1B, Osseo-Fairchild
6-foot, 215-pound two-way player, large strong build. On the mound works slightly across the body, regular effort, closed landing. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball worked 79-82 mph, showed control. Curveball played at 57-64 mph, showed a tendency to decal arm action, looked better from the stretch. Changeup sat 69-70 mph. Right-handed hitter, open stance, tall setup, lower half works. Strong swing with the ability to impact the baseball on the inner half. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively played with a short arm action, high ¾ slot across the diamond, 70 mph. Ran a 7.86 60.

Alex Kermendy, SS/RHP, Waukesha West
5-foot-8, 170-pound two-way player, stocky build with strength. Right-handed hitter, slight open stance, smooth loading action, short stride. Strong balance through contact, repeats swing well, showed the ability to impact the baseball, line drive type hitter, gap to gap. Bat speed present, level path, barrel aware. Defensively plays with an athletic arm action on the infield, short high ¾ slot, strong arm, 82 mph across the diamond. On the mound delivery has a slower tempo, slight pause at top of balance point. Arm plays from a high ¾ slot. Fastball showed slight action, 80-81 mph, touched 82 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, gradual action, 60-62 mph. Changeup sat 62-64 mph.

Alex Morland, RHP, Badger
5-foot-11, 170-pound right-handed pitcher, thin build, some projection. Drop and drive delivery, some effort, long stride, up tempo delivery, works online. Arm action is long, over the top slot. Fastball is mostly straight, 74-75 mph. Curveball works on 12/6 plane, 61-63 mph. Showed feel for a changeup, 67-69 mph.

Kayin Moudy, OF/RHP, Wilmot
Lanky frame, 6-foot-3, 175-pound two-way player, room to fill out. In the outfield played through the baseball with fluid footwork, 7.30 runner in the 60. Arm action is short , high ¾ slot, accurate arm at 81 mph from the outfield. Right-handed hitter, open stance, loads hands back, short stride. Loose whippy swing, level path, line drive tendencies. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound arm played from a high ¾ slot, loose arm action, two piece back swing. Drop and drive style delivery, closed landing that works slightly across his body. Fastball sat 74-76 mph. Curveball ranged 63-65 mph. Changeup showed fading action, 68-71 mph.

Ryne Sack, RHP, Indiana Trail
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed pitcher. Delivery shows regular effort, straight back rocker step, leg swings out and around. Arm works from a high ¾ slot. Fastball is 77-79 mph, showed slight action, control of the zone. Curveball has 11/5 shape, flatter action, 67-68 mph. Changeup is thrown with near fastball arm action, 70-72 mph.

Justin Scoville, OF/RHP, Freedom
5-foot-9, 180-pound outfielder, medium build. Right-handed hitter, wide setup, smooth minimal loading action, short stride. Showed the ability to backspin the baseball, pull side approach, longer path showed some extension. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively played through the baseball, fluid footwork. 7.20 runner in the 60. Arm action is long, over the top slot, showed accuracy and occasional carry. On the mound, arm plays from an over the top slot. Fastball sat 75-77 mph, occasional sink. Curveball has steeper shape, 58-60 mph. Changeup flashed cut action, 67-69 mph.

Zach Zeidler, RHP, Rio
Thin build, long legged, 6-foot-1, 155-pound right handed pitcher. Tall and fall delivery, short stride, open toe landing, upright delivery, regular effort. Arm action is long and loose, ¾ slot. Fastball has slight sink, 76-77 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, slow bender, 59-63 mph.

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