Showcase Spotlight: Brennan Connell (Olathe West, 2021)

6/5/18 - Connell is a 6-foot-1 165-pound right-handed hitting third baseman and right-handed pitcher in Kansas’ 2021 class.  He ran a 7.44 60 and a 4.72 home to first.  He has an 82 mph exit velocity. At the plate, balanced set up, smooth load with weight shift to back side to load, accelerates aggressively to the ball, quick hands, short to contact, slight lift to end of bat path, solid contact gap to gap during hitting evals.  On the infield, 80 mph positional velocity, quick catch and throw from a high three quarters arm slot, quick to the ball with footwork, maintains momentum through the catch, accurate throws. On the mound, controlled tempo in delivery, throws with regular effort, short takeaway, loose and quick arm speed, hides ball until release, throws high number of strikes, repeats release point, fastball has occasional run, 80-83 mph, breaking ball at 63-65 mph, 12-to-6 action, throws for a strike, gradual action, lean build with loose arm action would suggest increases with continued physical development.