Southern Illinois Prospect Games: Pitcher Analysis

August 10, 2015

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The inaugural Southern Illinois Prospect Games was held on July 8^th, at “Itchy” Jones Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University-Carbondale. The event consisted mainly of prospects in the Southern Illinois area. Listed below we ranked the top five pitchers from the event, many of whom should be followed closely moving forward.

Top Pitching Prospects

1) Blake Beckmann, RHP, Breese Mater Dei, 2016
6-foot-3, 180-pound, projectable, ideal, pitchers frame. Right-handed pitcher, flashed one of the best breaking balls at the event. Rhythm throughout delivery, pounds the strike zone. Ability to get in on right-handed hitters. Fastball had tilt and sink, when down in zone; ranged between 82-84 and touched 85. Tall-and-fall delivery, long arm action, over-the-top slot, lands square on line to home, athletic finish. Can really spin the baseball; curveball looks to be a plus pitch at times and got plenty of swings and misses. Ranged 71-74 mph, 12/6 shape, sharp, late break. Also, threw a changeup for strikes. Showed arm-side-fade, at 76 mph. High follow, uncommitted prospect, in the 2016 class.

2) Jack Lambert, LHP, St. Charles North, 2016
6-foot, 155-pound lanky, projectable left-handed pitcher, with pitch ability. Smooth, athletic delivery. Pitches out of the stretch. ¾ arm slot, loose, quick arm. Low effort delivery, very repeatable. Pounds the strike zone, heavy fastball and arm-side-run. Fastball ranged between 80-82 mph. Features two off-speed pitches for strikes. Slider with 2/8 action, sat 70-73. Flashed, sharp, tight, late break. Swing and miss pitch, was able to back-foot right-handed hitters. Tough on lefties. Also, mixed in a few change-ups, 74-75. Fastball arm speed, slight fade and some feel. One of the top arms at the event. Should be a high follow, uncommitted prospect, in the 2016 class.

3) Jacob Curry, 3B/RHP, Pontiac, 2016
5-foot-10, 175-pound solidly built left-handed hitting third-baseman and right-handed pitcher. On the mound, Curry operates from an over-the-top slot with a long, quick, athletic arm. Fastball ranged between 83-86 mph; when down in the zone, fastball had some run and sink. Change-up was his second best offering on this day, sitting 74-75 mph. Change-up is thrown with fastball arm speed; flashes run and sink; looks to be a plus secondary offering with swing and miss potential. Threw primarily fastballs and change-ups in his outing. Did throw a couple of breaking balls in his warmup that had sharp 11/5 shape, tight spin and feel. At the plate, hits from the left side with an open, tall setup. Starts with a slight leg lift and long stride. Has a gap-to-gap approach, bat stays flat through the zone. Linear backside and shows balance throughout the swing; 81 mph exit velocity off the tee and ran a 4.62 home-to-first. Defensively, was clocked at 85 mph across the infield, showing plenty of arm strength to play the left side of the infield. In game play, he displayed fluid, quick feet with a clean exchange. One of the top prospects at the event and potential two-way player at the next level

4) Logan Spalt, RHP, Cobden, 2016
Strong lower half, well-proportioned, 5-foot-11, 180-pound, right-handed pitcher. Athletic delivery, smooth rhythm and good presence on the mound. Big, coiled, leg lift. Long, loose, athletic arm action. Throws from a high ¾ arm slot, high front side. Lands square, Finishes to the first-base side. Fastball showed some arm-side-run, sitting 80-83 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, tight spin, lacks depth at times, 70-72 mph. Changeup had fastball arm speed, thrown for strikes, sat 74-77 mph. Threw two cutters clocked at 75 mph, flashed 10/4 shape.

5) Wyatt Kingery, RHP, PBL, 2016
Solid, athletically built, 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-handed pitcher. Short, quick, deceptive arm action. High ¾ slot, pounds the strike zone, ranged between 80-84 mph and touched 85. Challenged hitters with the fastball. Good balance point, some effort in delivery, closed shoulder and slightly across body. Closed landing, and upright finish. Fastball was 80-84 mph and touched 85. Decent feel for a slider, had 10/4 shape, tight spin and sharp action, sat 71-72 mph. Mainly, a two-pitch pitcher. Did throw a couple of changeups, ranged between 71-74 mph. Uncommitted prospect, in the 2016 class, to keep an eye on.

Best of the Rest (alphabetically)

Brayden Bultman, LHP, Nashville, 2016
6-foot-4, 190-pound lanky left-hander. Throws from over-the-top, average arm speed, long action, regular effort, uphill shoulders, in line direction, open landing and upright finish. Fastball was 68-70 mph and touched 72, curveball was 60-61 mph with 12/6 shape and gradual action, and changeup was 63-64 mph with fade.

Noah Dressler, C/INF/RHP, Mascoutah, 2016
6-foot-2, 175-pound two-way player. On the mound the right-hander throws from high ¾, long loose action, good balance, good rhythm, lands square, closed shoulders, and athletic finish. Fastball was 78-81 mph and touched 83 with some arm-side-run, curveball was 64 mph, and changeup was 71-75 mph with some fade. Defensively the catcher has short arm action from high ¾ with clean exchange and average hands. Threw 78 mph from crouch and pop times ranged 2.11-2.26. In the infield showed long arm action from ¾ slot, accurate, clean exchange, and fluid footwork. Threw 80 mph across infield. Offensively hits from tall and balanced setup, no load, long stride, average balance, and extended level path. Exit velo 77 mph.

Noah Farmer, OF/RHP, Massac County, 2017
6-foot-3, 165-pound lanky two-way player. On the mound throws from over-the-top, long arm action, regular effort, clean delivery, square landing, and in line direction. Fastball was 79-82 mph, curveball was 70-72 mph with some sharp action, and changeup was 77 mph. Offensively hits from tall setup, loads back, long stride, quick bat speed, and pull type. Exit velo 84 mph. Defensively has long loose arm action, over-the-top, accurate, has some carry on ball. Showed clean exchange and plays thru. Threw 85 mph from outfield.

Brant Glidewell, RHP, Goreville, 2017
6-foot-5, 180-pound, lanky build, some projectability. Showed long, loose arm action, high ¾ slot. Smooth rhythm, lands square, falls off to first-base side. Fastball thrown for strikes, sat 73-75 mph, touched 78 mph. Curveball showed 10/4 shape, gradual break, sat 57-60 mph.

Stanton Hathaway, 1B/RHP, Eldorado, 2016
6-foot-3, 225-pound two-way player. Offensively hits from left side with balanced and wide setup, loads back, short stride, ok lower half, and fair balance. Showed average bat speed, good approach, long path, gap-to-gap type, and used whole field. Exit velo 85 mph. Defensively, showed long action from ¾, slot, some accuracy, average strength and average hands. Threw 69 mph across infield. On the mound throws from high ¾, long action, regular effort, in line direction, square landing, and upright finish. Fastball was 73-76 mph and touched 77 with sink and slight action, curveball was 62 mph with 11/5 shape and gradual action, and changeup was 64 mph.

Blake Klett, RHP/C, Anna-Jonesborro, 2016
6-foot-2, 185-pound, two-way player, some length. Hits from a tall set up, leg kick, average balance. Line drive, opposite field approach, 78 mph exit velocity. Behind the plate showed short arm action, high3/4 arm slot, pop times ranged from 2.18-2.26, 71 mph from the crouch. On the mound displayed a tall-and-fall delivery, long arm action, high ¾ arm slot, some rhythm, lands square. Straight fastball sat 75-77 mph, touched 79 mph. Curveball showed 11/5 shape, had some feel for the pitch, 61 mph. Changeup sat 67 mph.

Gabe Schimpf, OF/LHP, Zeigler-Royalton, 2017
5-foot-9, 155-pound, two-way player, right-handed hitter. Hits from a tall, narrow stance, short stride, good balance. Average bat speed, short, level bat path, 78 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed soft hands, clean exchange, plays through the ball. Short arm action, high ¾ arm slot, with accuracy, 80 mph from the outfield. Ran a 4.44 home-to-first. On the mound the lefty displayed short arm action, high ¾ arm slot, some rhythm, landing slightly open. Fastball showed some arm-side-run, sat 78-80 mph. Feel for a curveball, had 1/7 shape, gradual break, 65 mph. Slider showed sharp brake at 72 mph. Changeup 64 mph.

Aaron Schluter, LHP/1B, St. Joseph-Ogden, 2016
6-foot-1, 200-pound strong, big-bodied first basemen and left-handed pitcher, hits from the right-hand side. Tall, balanced setup, smooth lower-half load. Short stride and uphill swing path. Flashed some pull pop during batting practice. Off the tee registered an 82 mph exit velocity. Defensively the left-handed thrower showcased a smooth exchange on double play turns to second base. Long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Clocked at 71 mph across the infield. On the mound, the solid southpaw showed the ability to throw two pitches for a strike. On-line direction, square landing and had some effort in delivery. Fastball showed slight run while ranging between 73-77 mph. When the fastball was not in the zone; tended to miss down. Feel for a curveball that was clocked at 63 mph, 1/7 shape and gradual break.

Mason Smith, OF/RHP, Woodlawn, 2018
5-foot-10, 140-pound, two-way player, left-handed hitter. Hits from a tall set up, short stride, lower half works linear, average balance. Level bat path, 60 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed long arm action, ¾ arm slot, threw 68 mph from the outfield. Ran a 4.51 home-to-first. On the mound had long arm action, low ¾ arm slot, some rhythm, landing square. Fastball had arm-side-run, sat 67-70 mph, touched 71 mph. Curveball had 11/5 shape, 60-62 mph. Changeup 60-63 mph.

Braden White, LHP, Marion, 2016
5-foot-11, 170-pound left-handed pitcher. Throws from high ¾ with average arm speed, short loose action, regular effort, smooth rhythm, level shoulders, in line direction, and square landing. Fastball was 76-78 mph with run and sink and slight action, curveball sat 68-69 mph with 1/7 shape and gradual action, and changeup was 71-72 mph with arm-side-run. Threw all three pitches for strikes. White projects well on the mound.

Colt Wilkey, SS/RHP, Carterville, 2016
6-foot-1, 160-pound lanky, projectable body, showcased above average speed running a 4.35 down the line from the right-hand side. Offensively, balanced setup with a toe-tap trigger. Line drive hitter, with a flat bat and short path; 71 mph exit velocity. Defensively, flashed lateral agility and a clean exchange. Over the top, long arm action. Clocked at 73 mph across the infield. On the mound, Wilkey operates from an over-the-top slot with a long arm. Maintains rhythm throughout the delivery. Toe pointed up at balance point, ala Bronson Arroyo. Lands slightly open and has a tendency to finish toward first base. Fastball sat 77-79 mph and touched 80 mph once; when down in the zone; flashed some arm-side run. Has feel for a curveball that ranged between 64-65 mph. 12/6 shape that he routinely threw for strikes in game play.

Southern Illinois Prospect Games: Pitcher Analysis

Top Pitching Prospects

Best of the Rest (alphabetically)

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