Prep Baseball Report

Preseason All-State Showcase: Class of 2018-2019 Pitchers



KY UC Games

By Chris Fuller
PBR Kentucky

The annual Preseason All-State Showcase at Champions Baseball Academy in Nicholasville included more than 120 players from all parts of the state looking to showcase their abilities prior to the high school season. In what is the premier preseason scouting event in the state, there were many standout performances.

Complete stats for all players were posted a few days following the event.

CLICK HERE to view the stats from the event.

The following is a look at the Class of 2018 and 2019 pitchers who participated in the event. This is pitcher analysis only. Those pitchers who also participated as a position player at the event had that performance featured in a previous article.

Brennan LaBarbera, RHP/1B, South Oldham, 2018
Max FB: 86, FB: 84-86, CB: 72-73, CH: 75-78,
6-foot-3, 165-pound, highly projectable RHP, uses long arm action through a high-3/4 arm slot with minimal effort, loose arm has produced a recent increase in velocity, shows ability to command the zone with all pitches, stays tall and uses leverage well to create tilt on fastball, shows good feel for his secondary pitches. His 72-73 curveball has sharp 11/5 action and his 75-78 changeup showed improved sink and fade. LaBarbera is one of the top arms in the 2018 class.

Drew Rom, LHP, Highlands, 2018
Max FB: 84, FB: 81-83, CB: 70-74, CH: 78-80, SPLT: 73-74
6-foot-1, 163-pound LHP established himself as a top lefty in the 2018 class. Works through a high-3/4 arm slot with minimal effort in delivery, fastball showed occasional late cut action, shows ability to throw his curveball for strikes with sharp 1/7 action, throws a hard curveball for age, shows limited feel for changeup that needs more velocity difference off fastball, also showed a splitter that could be an effective pitch as he gets better feel for it.

Sam Sutton, OF/LHP, Scott County, 2018
Max FB: 84, FB: 81-83, CB: 63-66, CH: 65-68
 
5-foot-11,160-pound LHP works through a high-3/4 arm slot with regular effort in delivery, quick arm, fastball shows late arm-side run, showed better feel for curveball than previous event with sharp 1/7 action and tight spin, changeup tended to be up in the zone and slows arm speed. Sutton shows good velocity from the left side and is one of the top LHP’s in the 2018 class.

Ryan Hawks, RHP/3B, Warren East, 2019
Max FB: 83, FB: 80-82, CB: N/A, CH: 64-67
6-foot-1, 180-pound RHP uses shorter/quick arm action and works though a high-3/4 slot with regular effort in delivery, did not throw a curveball but showed good pitchability in pounding the zone with a fastball/changeup mix, arm is loose and athletic, fastball shows occasional hard arm-side run that will make it effective in missing barrels, shows feel for changeup though he slows arm on occasion, changeup shows some late tumbling action through the zone. Hawks is certainly a 2019 prospect to keep a close eye on with additional velocity to come. The development of a curveball will be interesting to watch.

Tate Meade, RHP, Johnson Central, 2018
Max FB: 83, FB: 81-83, CB: 63-66, CH: 70-72,
5-foot-11, 185-pound RHP works through a high-3/4 arm slot with minimal effort and some quickness in arm, good tempo in repeatable delivery, fills up the strike zone with all pitches, fastball is straight, curveball has 12/6 action and good depth, solid changeup with some sink and shows good feel for it, good pitchability for the 2018 prospect and one to certainly keep a close eye on.

Ty Ramey, RHP/OF, Caldwell County, 2018
Max FB: 81, FB: 78-81, CB: 64-67, CH: 69-70, SL: 67-68
6-foot-6, 210-pound RHP with large frame, works though a high-3/4 arm slot with regular effort in delivery, shows ability to repeat delivery, uses height and leverage to produce some tilt on fastball and locates it down in the zone, shows feel for curveball with more gradual 12/6 action, also showed a slider that was slightly harder than the curveball with more lateral action, solid feel for changeup with some late fading action. With his size, Ramey needs to be watched for additional velocity.

Luke Fisher, RHP, Eastern, 2018
Max FB: 82, FB: 79-81, CB: 65-68, CH: 70-73
6-foot, 175-pound RHP uses long arm action and works through an over the top arm slot with regular effort, good rhythm and tempo in delivery, shows above average velocity for age, fastball has good tilt at the bottom of the strike zone, shows good feel for curveball with solid 12/6 action and depth, also shows feel for changeup thrown with good arm action and velocity difference off fastball. Fisher is certainly a 2018 prospect to keep an eye on for velocity gains.

Aaron Burden, 3B/RHP, Central Hardin, 2018
Max FB: 81, FB: 78-81, CB: 68-71, CH: 74-76, SL: 69-70
6-foot-2, 200-pound RHP uses long arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot with regular effort, up tempo delivery, occasionally lands open, does a good job locating all pitches at the bottom of the strike zone, fastball is straight, curveball shows sharp 11/5 action and is solid, changeup shows significant late tumbling action, slider is similar to curveball action. Burden has potential to pick up additional velocity.

Braxton Kelly, RHP, Johnson Central, 2018
Max FB: 79, FB: 78-79, CB: 60-65, CH: 70-73, SL: 63
6-foot-4, 165-pound RHP with long/lanky frame that projects well, uses long arm action and works through a ¾ slot with minimal effort, arm is loose and projects to add velocity, keeps fastball down in the zone with some late sink to the arm side, curveball showed fairly wide velocity range and has gradual 11/5 shape, showed a 63  mph slider that mimics the curveball, changeup is very solid and he does a good job staying behind it to produce sink and fade. With his frame and arm action, Kelly has the potential to develop into a high-level prospect.

Brock Littleton, 2B/RHP, Paul Laurence Dunbar, 2019
Max FB: 79, FB: 75-78, CB: 57-61, CH: 69-72,
5-foot-10, 145-pound RHP uses long arm action and works through a ¾ slot with regular effort, quick arm with above average velocity for age, fastball shows some arm-side run, shortens up arm action and tends to cup curveball which should continue to see development, showed a solid changeup especially when he stays behind it to produce some sink and fade. Littleton is a 2019 prospect to watch as he continues to develop on the mound.

AJ Hacker, 1B/RHP, Rowan County, 2019
Max FB: 78, FB: 77-78, CB: 60-62, CH: 59-64
 
6-foot-2,190-pound RHP uses shorter arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot with regular effort, showed an increase in velocity from previous event, fastball shows occasional sinking action, shows some feel for slower curveball with 11/5 action, lacked some feel for changeup that has some late sinking action. Hacker has shown a recent jump in velocity with more likely to come.

Griffin Sahli, LHP, Lexington Christian, 2019
Max FB: 75, FB: 72-75, CB: 63-67, CH: 68-69,
5-foot-9,150-pound LHP uses long arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot, loose arm, drop and drive type delivery, fastball is mostly straight and locates it down in the strike zone, shows good feel for his curveball with solid 1/7 action, changeup is thrown with good arm speed and shows some late sinking action. Sahli has advanced feel for his age for secondary pitches and is a LHP to keep a close eye on from the 2019 class.

Dillon Bland, 3B/RHP, Central Hardin, 2019
Max FB: 82, FB: 79-81, CB: 66-67, CH: 72-75, SL: 67
6-foot-2, 157-pound RHP with projectable frame, uses long arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot, violent delivery with maximum effort, shows well above average velocity for age, fastball is straight, curveball shows good potential with 11/5 action when located down in the zone, slider mimics curveball action, tends to bury the changeup but it is thrown with good arm speed.

Wade May, RHP, Johnson Central, 2018
Max FB: 78, FB: 76-78, CB: 63-65, CH: 67-68
6-foot, 180-pound RHP uses shorter arm action with some quickness in arm, works through an over the top arm slot with regular effort, arm slot produces some tilt on fastball, shows a 12/6 curveball with sharp action but tended to bury it, located changeup in the strike zone with some sink to it. May has some upside and the curveball has potential to be a solid pitch as he develops more feel for it.

Benton McGill, RHP, Nelson County, 2018
Max FB: 74, FB: 72-74, CB: 61-63, CH: 67-69
6-foot-3, 170-pound RHP with ideal pitcher’s frame, uses long arm action and works through an over the top arm slot with regular effort, good tempo and repeats delivery well, average arm speed, fastball shows occasional cut action, has feel for curveball with gradual action that was mostly 12/6, great feel for changeup and locates consistently at the bottom of the zone with some tumbling action. McGill has shown steady velocity but would expect a jump at some point in the near future.

Tyler Wagner, SS/RHP, Beechwood, 2019
Max FB: 78, FB: 75-76, CB: 57-60, CH: 63-65,
6-foot-1, 163-pound RHP with young/projectable frame, uses quick arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot with regular effort, showed a jump in velocity from event last fall, works the bottom of the zone well with his fastball that has arm-side run and sink, showed a slower curveball than previous event with 11/5 action, solid changeup with sink and fade and thrown with good arm speed. Wagner’s arm action and frame should lead to significant velocity gains. He is a 2019 prospect to keep a close eye on.

Nathan Cunningham, LHP, Greenwood, 2018
Max FB: 74, FB: 71-73, CB: 64-65, CH: 63-66,
6-foot, 207-pound LHP uses long arm action and works through an interesting low-3/4 slot with regular effort, works slightly across body at times, shows good pitchability, arm slot produces good arm-side run on fastball, throws a sweeping 2/8 curveball, has some feel for changeup that shows good sink and fade to the arm side. Arm slot is intriguing and could provide some added deception to pitches.

Christian Tackett, RHP, Pikeville, 2018
Max FB: 74, FB: 72-74, CB: 54-58, CH: 68-71,
6-foot-3, 160-pound RHP with lanky/projectable frame, uses long arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot with minimal effort in delivery, slight hip turn in delivery, repeats delivery well allowing him to throw consistent strikes with all pitches, fastball shows good arm-side run, throws a slower curveball with gradual 11/5 action with good feel, solid changeup that is his current best secondary pitch with good sink and fade. Tackett is one to keep an eye on from the 2018 class with significant more velocity potential.

Justin Manley, RHP, North Hardin, 2018
Max FB: 76, FB: 73-76, CB: 67-71, CH: 70-73, SL: 68
6-foot-4, 160-pound RHP uses shorter arm action and works through a low-3/4 arm slot with regular effort, showed some improvement in staying closed longer in delivery, arm slot produces some arm-side run and sink on fastball, showed an improved curveball with 10/4 action, has feel for changeup that has some sink through the zone. Has made notable overall improvements with the potential to continue developing with his lanky frame.

Jackson Haddle, RHP/3B, St Henry, 2018
Max FB: 76, FB: 75-76, CB: 65-66, CH: 64-65,
5-foot-11, 160-pound RHP uses short arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot with regular effort in delivery, fastball shows occasional cutting action thrown for strikes, curveball varies between 11/5 and 12/6 gradual action, throws a changeup with good arm speed that shows some tumbling action as it approaches the plate.

Collin Watson, RHP, Taylor County, 2018
Max FB: 75, FB: 73-74, CB: 64-68, CH: 71-72,
6-foot-1, 165-pound RHP uses shorter arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot with minimal effort in delivery, fastball shows occasional arm-side run, has good feel for his curveball which has tight rotation and sharp 11/5 action, changeup needs bigger velocity difference off fastball to be most effective but shows some late sink through the zone.

Kevin Justice, RHP, Pikeville, 2018
Max FB: 75, FB: 71-73, CB: 56-60, CH: 67-68, SPLT: 71
6-foot-1, 160-pound RHP uses long arm action with some stiffness and works through an over the top arm slot, fastball is straight, shows ability to throw the curveball for strikes with gradual 12/6 action, changeup shows some cut action, also showed a knuckleball that has some late tumbling action in the strike zone.

Dwight Parsons, C/RHP, Fairdale, 2018
Max FB: 76, FB: 72-75, CB: 64-65, CH: 66-68, KN: 53,
6-foot, 185-pound RHP uses short arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot with regular effort, shows ability to throw fastball for strikes, fastball is straight, curveball shows sweeping 10/4 action and tends to miss out of the zone, changeup shows some sinking action and shows some feel for the pitch.

Kyle Taylor, 2B/RHP, Simon Kenton, 2018
Max FB: 69, FB: 65-68, CB: 53-56, CH: 59-60,
5-foot-7, 135-pound RHP uses long arm action through a high-3/4 slot, minimal effort in delivery, below average arm speed with developing arm strength, throws his fastball for consistent strikes with some arm-side run, curveball has gradual 11/5 action, changeup is best secondary pitch as he throws it for strikes and stays behind it well to produce good sink and fade.