Prep Baseball Report

Metro East Open: Pitcher Analysis



By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The Metro East Open took place on Tuesday, June 27th at Blazier Field in O'Fallon, Illinois. The event had over 55 prospects from Illinois and Missouri participate in a pro style workout in front of the PBR Scouting Staff. Today we continue the analysis with a look at the pitchers from the event. 

TOP PITCHING PROSPECTS

1. Dawson Taylor, RHP, Edwardsville, 2019
6-foot-3, 205-pound, strong legs, right-handed pitcher. On the mound, long arm action, arm gets through quick, ¾ slot, some effort. Tall and fall delivery,  smooth rhythm, works on-line, lands square, finishes athletically. Fastball, late run and sink, 84-85 mph. Slider, 11/5 shape, tight, late action, fastball arm speed, commanded, 77-80 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, arm side run, 75-79 mph.

2. Ryan Vogt, RHP, Trico, 2018
6-foot-4, 185-pound, lanky, strong, athletic-frame, right-handed pitcher. On the mound, short, quick arm action, over-the-top arm slot, easy effort and life. Tall and fall delivery, smooth rhythm, works on-line, lands square, finishes athletically. Fastball, mostly straight, commanded, 83-85 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, sharp action, fastball arm speed, has feel for, 68-70 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, feel for, 70-73 mph.

3. Bryan McNeely, RHP, Scott City (MO), 2018
6-foot-4, 165-pound, long, lanky, right-handed pitcher. On the mound, short, quick arm action, high ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes athletically. Fastball, late run, commanded, 80-83 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, tight action, commanded, 67-69 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, fade action, feel for, 74 mph.

4. Andrew Toombs, C/RHP, Ste. Genevieve (MO), 2018
6-foot-1, 185-pound, athletically built, strong, two-way prospect. Defensively, natural catcher actions, quick athletic feet out of the crouch. Short, over-the-top arm action, throws clocked at 75 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.03-2.26. Offensively, right-handed hitter, balanced, quiet setup, leg-lift timing trigger, gets occasional late separation, and maintains balance through contact. Fluid rhythm, flashes bat speed, pull approach. 90 mph exit velocity through contact. 7.69 runner in the 60, laser-timed. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, four-pitch repertoire, smooth rhythm, coiled at balance point, stays on-line with easy effort throughout. Loose, quick arm from a high 3.4 slot. Fastball works mostly straight, thrown for strikes, sat 80-81 mph. Throws a curveball and a slider. Curveball, 11/5, 12/6 shape, thrown for strikes, 60-63 mph. Slider works with more lateral action, 66-68 mph. Also, featured a splitter, flashed tumble, 65-69 mph.

5. Carson Richardson, SS/RHP, Collinsville, 2020
6-foot-3, 175-pound, right-handed, athletic two-way prospect. On the mound, short, quick arm action, ¾ arm slot, smooth rhythm, works on-line. Fastball, slight, late run, commands, 77-79 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, occasionally showed depth, 66-69 mph. Changeup, flashed near fastball arm speed, 72-74 mph. Offensively, athletic setup, balanced crouch, long stride. Line drive hitter, level barrel path, 76 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.57 laser-timed 60. Defensively, short, loose arm action, ¾ slot, accurate with some carry, soft hands, quick exchanges, fields athletically, 78 mph across the infield.  

BEST OF THE REST (Listed Alphabetically)

Noah Davis, OF/LHP, Robinson, 2018
6-foot, 180-pound, left-handed hitting two-way prospect. Defensively, long arm action, high ¾ arm slot, kept throws around the plate, 75 mph from the outfield. Offensively, tall setup, short stride, maintains some balance through swing, short barrel path, pull hitter, 83 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.16 laser-timed 60. On the mound, short arm action, over-the-top slot, works on-line, lands square. Fastball, slight run, 71-74 mph, topped out at 77. Curveball, 12/6 shape, near fastball arm speed, 61-64 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, cut action, commanded, 69-70 mph.  

Adam Drewry, C/RHP, O’Fallon, 2018
5-foot-10, 195-pound, strong, durable, two-way prospect. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, three-pitch feel, repeatable delivery, stays on-line, lands square with regular effort throughout. Quick arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball works mostly straight, thrown for strikes, 81-82 mph. Curveball thrown aggressively, feel, flashes depth, true 12/6 action, sat 68-70 mph. Changeup, flashes arm-side action and ranged between 73-75 mph. Offensively, right-handed hitter, balanced, tall setup, leg-kick timing trigger and good balance through contact. Simple overall approach, consistent hard contact, sprayed balls to all fields with lift in swing. 85 mph exit velocity through contact. Defensively, clean exchange, accurate arm and throws clocked at 74 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.12-2.30. Ran a 7.45 laser-timed 60.

Nick Hemann, LHP, Marquette Catholic, 2019
6-foot-5, 185-pound, lanky, athletic, left-handed pitcher. On the mound, firm arm action, over-the-top slot. Tall and fall delivery, slow rhythm, works on-line, lands square. Fastball, mostly straight, tilt, commanded, 74-75 mph, topped out at 78. Curveball, 12/6 shape, 60-62 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, 64-67 mph.

Maxwel Kampwerth, C/RHP, Breese Central, 2019
6-foot-2, 170-pound, long and lean, two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, tall setup, short stride and fluid rhythm. Long and loose levers, uphill bat path and looks to pull at times. 73 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, short, loose arm from an over-the-top slot, clocked at 68 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.39-2.50. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, slow, repeatable delivery, stays on-line and toe-closed landing. Long arm action, over-the-top slot and easy effort throughout. Fastball works straight, occasional tilt, 69-72 mph. Curveball, gradual action, clocked at 56-59 mph. Changeup, flashed fade, 64-66 mph.

Nathan Kellermann, OF/RHP, O’Fallon, 2018
5-foot-10, 165-pound, right-handed hitting two-way prospect. Defensively, short arm action, high ¾ slot to over-the-top slot, accurate on the throws with some carry. Plays through the ball athletically, fluid footwork, quick, clean exchanges, 81 mph from the outfield. Offensively, tall, narrow setup, leg-kick timing trigger, maintains balance through swing, long, level barrel path, 79 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.51 laser-timed 60. On the mound, long arm action, high ¾ arm slot. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands open, finishes athletically. Fastball, mostly straight, commanded, 78-79 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, gradual action, 62-64 mph. Changeup, arm side run and fade, 64-67 mph.

Jake Levin, MIF/RHP, O’Fallon, 2019
6-foot, 155-pound, two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, hands drop on load, long stride. Gap-to-gap hitter, loose hands, uphill barrel path, fluid rhythm, 78 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.26 laser-timed 60. Defensively, arm action varied between long and short, low ¾ arm slot, gets rid of the ball fast, quick on exchanges, 74 mph across the infield. On the mound, works from left-side of rubber, short arm action, ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery, works towards third, lands closed. Fastball, slight run, 71-74 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, 61-63 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, sink and fade action, 69-70 mph.

Jaysn Miller, RHP, O’Fallon, 2018
5-foot-9, 150-pound, right-handed pitcher. On the mound, short arm action, high ¾ arm slot. Drop and drive delivery, smooth rhythm, works in-line, lands square, finishes upright. Fastball, slight run and sink action, 77-78 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, 65-66 mph. Changeup, fastball arm speed, fade action, good feel, 72-74 mph. Slider, 10/4 shape, short sweep action, has feel for, 69-71 mph.

Spencer Owens, RHP/1B, Dexter (MO), 2018
6-foot-2, 215-pound, strong, two-way prospect. Defensively, long arm action from high ¾ slot, clean on exchanges, maintains body control, 72 mph across the infield. On the mound, long, wrapping action, high ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands square. Fastball, slight run action, 75-79 mph, topped out at 80. Curveball, 11/5 shape, gradual break, 65-69 mph. Slider, downer, 64-66 mph. Offensively, balanced setup, bar load, long stride, long, uphill barrel path, 84 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.28 laser-timed 60.

Tyler Placke, 1B/RHP, Parkway South (MO), 2018
6-foot-2, 205-pound, left-handed hitting, strong, athletic two-way prospect. On the mound, right-handed, short circular arm action, high ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands square. Fastball, run action, commanded the zone, 77-80 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, gradual break, near fastball arm speed, 63-66 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, fade action, 70-71 mph. Defensively, high ¾ slot, accurate with carry, 77 mph across the infield. Offensively, balanced setup, short leg kick timing-trigger, some looseness, 84 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.49 laser-timed 60.

Elliott Prott, 3B/RHP, Highland, 2018
5-foot-11, 200-pound, strong, right-handed two-way prospect. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride, maintains balance through swing. Pull hitter, long, uphill barrel path, fluid rhythm, 85 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.52 laser-timed 60. Defensively, long arm action, high ¾ arm slot, accurate on some, 78 mph across the infield. On the mound, short arm action, mostly works from high ¾ slot, drops to side-arm occasionally for fastball. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, finishes athletically. Fastball, run action, 77-79 from high ¾ slot, 73-75 from side-arm. Curveball, 11/5 shape, 67-69 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, fade action, 72-76 mph.

Philip Reinhardt, LHP, Valmeyer, 2020
6-foot, 150-pound, lanky, left-handed pitcher. On the mound, short, quick arm action, ¾ arm slot. Tall and fall delivery, smooth rhythm, works towards first, lands closed, finishes walking off. Fastball, late run, commanded, 74-75 mph. Curveball, slurve shape and action, has feel for 63-65 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, fade action, 64-66 mph.

Marc Rodriguez, RHP, O’Fallon, 2018
6-foot-2, 180-pound, lanky right-handed pitcher. On the mound, long arm action, slot varies between over-the-top and high ¾, easy effort. Tall and fall delivery, works fast, smooth rhythm, works on-line, lands square. Fastball, mostly straight, slight run at times, 77-78 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, gradual action, near fastball arm speed, feel for, 66-67 mph . Changeup, near fastball arm speed, mostly strike, commanded, 72-74 mph.

Robert Sigman, 1B/LHP, Highland, 2018
6-foot-1, 198-pound, left-handed hitting two-way prospect. Defensively, left-handed, short arm action, ¾ slot, maintains body control, 73 mph across the infield. Offensively, tall, open setup, long stride, level barrel path, 82 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.37 laser-timed 60. On the mound, stretch only, firm arm action, high ¾ slot. Possesses some rhythm, occasionally falls third base, lands square. Fastball, mostly straight, 74-75 mph. Slider, 1/7 shape, 65-68 mph. Knuckleball, some feel, 60-63 mph.

Scott Thoelke, RHP, Lafayette (MO), 2018
6-foot-3, 195-pound, athletic, strong, right-handed pitcher. On the mound, long, stabbing action, over-the-top slot, some quickness. Tall and fall delivery, some rhythm, works on-line, lands closed. Fastball, downward action, commanded, 79-81 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, gradual break, 70 mph. Splitter, near fastball arm speed, tumble, commanded, 70-73 mph.

Andrew Whipple, RHP/2B, Valmeyer, 2018
6-foot-5, 165-pound, lanky two-way prospect. Defensively, short, loose arm action from ¾ arm slot, accurate. Fields athletically, fluid footwork, clean on exchanges, 77 mph across the infield. Offensively, left-handed hitter, tall, balanced setup, short stride, long barrel path, 75 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.20 laser-timed 60. On the mound, short arm action, ¾ to low ¾ arm slot. Drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands square. Fastball, flashed cut, commanded the zone, 74-76 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, gradual break, showed feel, 62-65 mph.

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