A fastball with hop has a flat approach angle and visually jumps through the zone. When thrown up in the zone, it is more likely to generate a higher swing and miss average. Hop+ of 100 is MLB average.
Fastball
Sink+
A fastball with sink has low backspin and drops through the strike zone. When thrown down in the zone, it is more likely to generate a higher ground ball percentage and lower launch angle. Sink+ of 100 is MLB average.
Fastball
Rise+
A fastball with rise has a high percentage of backspin. When thrown up in the zone, it is more likely to generate a higher fly ball percentage. Rise+ of 100 is MLB average
Curveball
Hammer+
A hammer breaking ball drops vertically with velocity through the zone, or 12-to-6 movement. Hammer+ of 100 is MLB average.
Curveball
Sweep+
A sweeping breaking ball moves horizontally with velocity through the zone. Sweep+ of 100 is MLB average.
Clayton Hicks, Evans (GA), 2025 Positional Profile: RHP/OF Body: 6-1, 160-pounds. Delivery: Unorthodox delivery with minimal pace, hip hinge allows him to gain proper momentum down the slope. Quick twitch fibers allow him to move quickly despite lack of pace. Arm Action: RH. Quick full circle arm action that builds with intent. Optimal scap load from a near sidearm slot that creates nastgy angle. FB: T88, 85-88 mph. Low spin pitch with live run and sink. Feel to both edges. T1894, 1760 average rpm. CB: 74-77 mph. Hard sweeping action with short, late break. Shows depth at times. T2212, 2062 average rpm. CH: 82-82 mph. Some fade and depth. T1133, 1133 average rpm.
4/18/23
Uncommitted. 6-foot-1, 170 pounds. This was a very pleasant surprise to find down in Augusta for a Region Championship matchup vs Glynn Academy. I had heard he was in the mid 80’s and could really pitch, but what I saw was even more impressive. The delivery is definitely unorthodox, but once his hands break this becomes one of the more explosive arms in the class. What I saw was pure electric arm speed in the 86-88 range, even touching 89 in the 1st INN (on another radar gun). He builds momentum easily, which is one of the first signs I look for in an arm. It shows effortlessness and the ability to store energy instead of wasting it, and shows a pitcher’s understanding of how their delivery should be sequenced. With that being said, the delivery builds a bit too slowly at the beginning and middle. If he can develop a gradual increase in tempo and take the pauses out of his delivery, this is a guy who has the arm speed to be 88-91 right now. Once his hands break, this delivery checks all the boxes and his athleticism really shines. He holds the hip hinge well during scap load in stride, allowing the arm to stay very well connected. His stride length is optimal, and creates stretch in his vast hip/shoulder separation. The arm action is very fluid and reminds me of one of the best arms in the 2024 class, Connor Shouse. If he can just make the 1st half of his delivery build momentum and move like the 2nd half of his delivery, we will be talking about one of the best arms in the class. The slide step needs work to become timed up like his wind-up, and shows his current rawness as a pitcher. But Hicks has the most important tools of arm speed, and pitchability. His 74-77 SL was sharp early on, with some big time sweep and late depth at times. The FB life is impressive for his age, with run+sink from a tough slot for hitters to track. This is a high follow for the summer and beyond
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Clayton Hicks, Evans (GA), 2025
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-1, 160-pounds.
Delivery: Unorthodox delivery with minimal pace, hip hinge allows him to gain proper momentum down the slope. Quick twitch fibers allow him to move quickly despite lack of pace.
Arm Action: RH. Quick full circle arm action that builds with intent. Optimal scap load from a near sidearm slot that creates nastgy angle.
FB: T88, 85-88 mph. Low spin pitch with live run and sink. Feel to both edges. T1894, 1760 average rpm.
CB: 74-77 mph. Hard sweeping action with short, late break. Shows depth at times. T2212, 2062 average rpm.
CH: 82-82 mph. Some fade and depth. T1133, 1133 average rpm.
Uncommitted. 6-foot-1, 170 pounds. This was a very pleasant surprise to find down in Augusta for a Region Championship matchup vs Glynn Academy. I had heard he was in the mid 80’s and could really pitch, but what I saw was even more impressive. The delivery is definitely unorthodox, but once his hands break this becomes one of the more explosive arms in the class. What I saw was pure electric arm speed in the 86-88 range, even touching 89 in the 1st INN (on another radar gun). He builds momentum easily, which is one of the first signs I look for in an arm. It shows effortlessness and the ability to store energy instead of wasting it, and shows a pitcher’s understanding of how their delivery should be sequenced. With that being said, the delivery builds a bit too slowly at the beginning and middle. If he can develop a gradual increase in tempo and take the pauses out of his delivery, this is a guy who has the arm speed to be 88-91 right now. Once his hands break, this delivery checks all the boxes and his athleticism really shines. He holds the hip hinge well during scap load in stride, allowing the arm to stay very well connected. His stride length is optimal, and creates stretch in his vast hip/shoulder separation. The arm action is very fluid and reminds me of one of the best arms in the 2024 class, Connor Shouse. If he can just make the 1st half of his delivery build momentum and move like the 2nd half of his delivery, we will be talking about one of the best arms in the class. The slide step needs work to become timed up like his wind-up, and shows his current rawness as a pitcher. But Hicks has the most important tools of arm speed, and pitchability. His 74-77 SL was sharp early on, with some big time sweep and late depth at times. The FB life is impressive for his age, with run+sink from a tough slot for hitters to track. This is a high follow for the summer and beyond