Prep Baseball Report

Underclass Games: Pitcher Analysis


By Illinois & Wisconsin Staffs

One of the biggest showcases on the summer circuit, Underclass Games, was hosted at its usual site at the University of Illinois-Chicago, on July 23. This event collects the best incoming sophomore talent in both Illinois and Wisconsin and arranges a pro-style workout and live game action. This event is among our most highly attended by the college recruiting community, making it one of the most important for our own staff of evaluators.

We started our position-by-position analysis earlier this week by dissecting the day's catchers, outfielders, and infielders. For rapid analysis coming out of the showcase back in July, check out our Quick Hits post. You can also find measured data pulled from the event inside our Statistical Analysis. For now, check out reports on each and every one of the pitchers who took the mound at this event below.

TOP PROSPECTS

1. Brendan Strenke, Turtle Lake, 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. Athletic frame, projectable.
Delivery: Tall and fall type, regular effort,  separates hands early, lands square, works with direction.
Arm Action: RH. Full circle arm action, tight window, some deception, high 3/4 slot. Advanced arm speed for his age.
FB: T88, 85-87 mph. Mostly straight, with finish through the zone.
CB: 70-74 mph. 11/5 shape, tight at times.

2. Luka Radicevich, Joliet Catholic, 2022
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-foot-11, 145-pounds. Wiry, lean, live-body.
Delivery: Slow-paced, tall and fall delivery, on-line direction and lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: RH. Loose, quick, live arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T86, 82-85 mph. Life and jump through the zone, arm-side-run.
CB: 73-77 mph. Thrown aggressively and with intent. Sharp, late action and depth. Swing-and-miss, putaway pitch.
CH: 77-78 mph. Fade action.

3. Shane Curtin, Mount Carmel, 2022
Positional Profile: LHP Stuck out four in two innings pitched.
Body: 5-foot-9, 155-pounds. Lean wiry frame, live body.
Delivery: Carries confidence and mound presence. Athletic repeatable delivery, excellent tempo, stays closed and works online, squared landing, athletic finish.
Arm Action: LH. Loose lively arm, above average arm speed, clean projectable arm swing, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T83, 79-82 mph. Lively action, runs to arm side, showed feel to both sides of the plate.
CB: 70-73 mph. 1/7 shape, well above average action, dropped for strikes.
CH: 70-75 mph. Fade action, gets swing and miss, plus potential pitch for age.

4. Rory Fox, Catholic Memorial, 2022
Positional Profile: SS/RHP High follow athletic two-way prospect.
Body: 5-foot-11, 165-pounds. Athletic frame and actions, moves with ease.
Delivery: Composed presence on the mound, smooth with tempo, easy effort. Worked a clean weak contact inning with one strikeout.
Arm Action: RH. Short loose action, over the top slot.
FB: T85, 80-84 mph. Straight four seam finish, jumps through the zone at times, creates swing and miss.
CB: 70-72 mph. 12/6 shape, showed depth at times with feel.
CH: 72-75 mph. Sinking action.

5. Jake Swartz, Normal University, 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-foot-11, 150-pounds. Lean athletic frame.
Delivery: Slight drop and drive type, lands in line, closed toe, works with uptempo pace, some effort.
Arm Action: RH. Long and loose out of over the top slot, live arm with above average arm speed.
FB: T85, 82-84 mph. Mostly straight, flashed arm side run and occasional late life.
CB: 71-74 mph. 11/5 shape, occasional 12/6, sharp action with feel for strikezone.
CH: 74-76 mph. Sinking action.

6. Michael Mulhollon, Westosha Central, 2022
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-foot-4, 180-pounds. Highly athletic, projectable frame and build.
Delivery: Tall and fall, athletic delivery, works on line, in rhythm and on time, low effort. High pitchability.
Arm Action: LH. Loose arm action, long path out of high 3/4 slot.
FB: T81, 78-80 mph. Played with arm side run, showed control.
CB: 68-70 mph. 1/7 shape, above average feel.
CH: 73-73 mph. Flashed arm side action.

7. Brady Small, Lemont, 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP Two-way prospect, strong arm and high-follow left-handed bat.
Body: 6-foot-1, 180-pounds. Physically-advanced frame, well-proportioned strength.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, works on-line down the mound and lands front-toe open.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm works out of an over-the-top window.
FB: T84, 80-83 mph. Plays straight, life through the hitting zone.
CB: 68-70 mph. 12/6 shape, works down in the zone.
SL: 74-74 mph.
CH: 72-72 mph.

8. Luke Ross, Waunakee, 2022
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-foot-1, 170-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Smooth, quiet, hybrid, tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands square and head stays still at footstrike.
Arm Action: LH. Short, loose, projectable arm action from an over-the-top slot.
FB: T80, 78-79 mph. Works down in the zone, straight action, occasional cut.
CB: 67-71 mph. 12/6 shape, tight spin at times.
CH: 76-76 mph.

9. Gradin Taschner, Neenah, 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/3B Two-way prospect, projects best on the mound.
Body: 6-foot-1, 190-pounds. Large frame and build, durable body type.
Delivery: Natural presence on the mound, easy tall and fall type delivery, works on line and lands square, athletic finish. Struck out two in one inning of work.
Arm Action: RH. Long loose arm action, high 3/4 slot, easy effort.
FB: T81, 77-80 mph. Played with run to arm side.
CB: 68-69 mph. 11/5 to 12/6 shape, showed ability to get swing and miss, sharp action at times.

10. Ryan Karst, Brookfield East, 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 195-pounds. Large frame, projects, athletic build.
Delivery: Smooth minimal effort, tall throughout, upright finish, works online.
Arm Action: RH. 3/4 slot, long and loose, projectable arm.
FB: T83, 79-82 mph. Played with arm side run, above average action at times.
CB: 64-69 mph. 11/5 shape, played sharp at times.
CH: 73-74 mph. Slight fade and sink action.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

David Andolina, Oak Park-River Forest, 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-foot-11, 182-pounds.
Delivery: Stretch only delivery, loads hips and gets lower half working down the mound, smooth down tempo rhythm, lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Low effort arm, loose action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T84, 79-83 mph. Sinks to arm side, produced ground balls and weak contact.
CB: 67-68 mph. 11/5 shape, showed feel to drop for strikes.
CH: 70-72 mph. Sink action.

Ryan Bibb, Mascoutah, 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 6-foot-1, 183-pounds. Strong, muscular, athletic build.
Delivery: Methodical delivery, coiled at balance point, stays closed down the mound and lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose, quick arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 77-81 mph. Late arm-side-run action.
CB: 63-67 mph. 11/5 to 10/4 shape, thrown for strikes.
SL: 76-76 mph. Thrown aggressively, 10/4 sweeping shape.

Ethan Clark, Lakes Community, 2022
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 150-pounds. Long-limbed, high-waisted, projectable frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, works with ease and rhythm. Works slightly across his body and lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: RH. Loose, easy arm action, high 3/4 slot, quick out front.
FB: T80, 77-79 mph. Control of the zone, run and sinking action.
CB: 61-62 mph. 11/5 shape, depth.
CH: 63-63 mph.

Ethan Cole, Winnebago Lutheran Academy, 2022
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-foot-0, 165-pounds. Projectable frame, high waist, lean with strength.
Delivery: Repeatable delivery works tall and falls to target, stays on line and balanced, lands square, front side closed, regular effort.
Arm Action: LH. Clean action, easy, shorter draw then long and loose out front, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T79, 77-78 mph. Plays with arm side run, showed feel, above average finish at times.
CB: 61-64 mph. 1/7 shape, showed control, ability to drop for strikes to change speeds in the zone.

Braydon Cooper, Catholic Memorial, 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 180-pounds. Lean athletic frame, projects.
Delivery: Slight tilt and topple type delivery, works exclusively from the stretch, works directional and stays closed, some deception.
Arm Action: RH. Short loose arm action, over the top slot, hides it.
FB: T80, 78-70 mph. Slight sink action, works downhill, occasional tilt.
CB: 64-67 mph. 12/6 shape, gradual action, dropped for strikes.

Sam Dodd, Hortonville, 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-foot-3, 170-pounds. Strong, athletic build.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, smooth rhythm, on-line direction, lands square and easy effort throughout.
Arm Action: RH. Short draw out of the glove, over-the-top slot.
FB: T78, 75-77 mph. Works straight, occasional sinking action.
CB: 57-64 mph. 12/6 shape, depth.

Charlie Giese, Huntley, 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 160-pounds. Lean projectable frame, slender build.
Delivery: Delivery work sin rhythm, wide toe lift, up to big balance point, swings into landing, finishes first base side.
Arm Action: RH. Long path, slight reach on back side, loose arm out of high 3/4 slot.
FB: T81, 77-80 mph. Sinking action, worked down in zone.
CB: 64-66 mph. 12/6 to 11/5 shape, gradual action.
CH: 71-72 mph. Sink and fade action, maintains arm speed.

Thomas Harper, Wauwatosa East, 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot-3, 165-pounds. Long lean projectable frame.
Delivery: Balanced delivery, works on line, stays tall and falls to target, lands square with closed front side.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm path gets extension, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 78-81 mph. Showed slight run and sink action.
CB: 68-71 mph. 11/5 shape.

John Nickel, Bay Port, 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-foot-4, 160-pounds. Slender build, long limbed.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, regular effort, regular lift into closed landing, stays on line.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T72, 70-71 mph. Flashed run and sink.
CB: 61-64 mph. 11/5 shape, gradual action.
CH: 65-65 mph. Near fastball arm speed.

Willard Peterson, Evansville, 2022
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-foot-2, 210-pounds. Large durable build.
Delivery: Delivery works slightly across body, level shoulders closed front side, in rhythm.
Arm Action: LH. Long loose arm action, high 3/4 slot, low effort.
FB: T77, 74-76 mph. Natural cut action, also showed sink at times.
CB: 64-65 mph. 1/7 shape, slurve type.
SL: 68-69 mph. Similar shape to curveball, firmer with some depth.

Carter Tower, Oconomowoc, 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot-4, 150-pounds. Extra-long frame, thin build.
Delivery: Upright, tall and fall delivery, regular effort, works on line and lands square, upright finish.
Arm Action: RH. Short draw, works out of 3/4 slot, showed occasional extension out front.
FB: T79, 77-78 mph. Played with sinking action, occasional run and showed control.
CB: 67-68 mph. 11/5 shape, slurve type action.

Cole Van Bever, Waupun, 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-foot-10, 165-pounds.
Delivery: Wide rocker step leads to rotational delivery, tucks balance point and swings to closed landing.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T78, 75-77 mph. Mostly straight action, four seam type.
CB: 67 mph. Slurve type action.
SL: 62-66 mph. Similar action to curveball.
CH: 72-73 mph. Slight sinking action.

Cuyler Zukowski, Madison LaFollette, 2022
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-foot-11, 165-pounds. Lean strength, athletic frame.
Delivery: Slight drop and drive type, works slightly across his body, lands closed, some effort.
Arm Action: RH. Quick arm, loose action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T83, 77-82 mph. Mostly straight, slight cut action.

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