By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The 2016 Top Prospect Games took place on June 14-15 and afforded more than 150 players from around the state the opportunity to showcase their abilities to the PBR Kentucky staff and numerous college coaches in a combination showcase/game play event.

CLICK HERE to view the top statistical performers and statistics for all players in attendance.

The following is an in-depth look at the pitchers from Team 5 (White). Please note that this is pitcher analysis only. Those pitchers who also participated as a position player will have that performance featured in a subsequent article.

Seth Hill, RHP, Knox Central, 2017
Max FB: 83, FB: 81-83, CB: 65-68, CH: 72-73
5-foot-11, 195-pound RHP uses long arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot with regular effort in delivery, shows very good pitchability, works both sides of the plate with his fastball that shows occasional arm-side run, has very good feel for his curveball with 11/5 action and good depth, has confidence in his changeup and throws it with good arm action, allowed one hit and struck out two (both on FB) in his two innings of work. Hill’s ability to throw strikes with a three-pitch mix will bode well for him at the college level.

Dominick Lawson, LHP/1B, Nelson County, 2017
Max FB: 81, FB: 80-81, CB: 65-67
6-foot-1, 185-pound LHP with athletic frame, works through an over the top arm slot with some effort in delivery, occasionally lands open and falls off third base side, shows the ability to throw strikes with his two-pitch mix, fastball showed occasional arm-side run, has good feel for his curveball with solid 1/7 action and some depth, allowed two hits with no walks in his one inning of work. Lawson has made very noticeable improvements since we last saw him, both in velocity and with his curveball.

Nathan Lanham, RHP, Daviess County, 2018
Max FB: 82, FB: 78-81, CB: 69-71
6-foot-3, 165-pound RHP uses shorter arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot with regular effort in delivery, fastball works occasionally on a downhill plane, curveball shows short and late break that produced a few swings and misses, does a good job of pounding the zone with his two-pitch mix, allowed two hits, walked none, and produced mostly ground ball outs in his two innings of work. Lanham has good upside and is a projectable arm to watch in the 2018 class.

Hale Sims, 1B/RHP, St. Mary, 2018
Max FB: 80, FB: 77-80, CB: 60-64
6-foot-3, 235-pound RHP uses long and loose arm action through a high-3/4 slot with normal effort, good rhythm and tempo in delivery, fastball is generally straight but he uses leverage well to throw downhill, not afraid to pitch inside and does so effectively, has feel for the curveball with gradual 11/5 action, allowed two hits (one infield) and hit a batter in his one inning of work, would expect to see velocity gains from the large-framed right-hander.

Justin Manley, RHP, North Hardin, 2018
Max FB: 80, FB: 78-80, CB: 66-67, CH: 75-76, SL: 70
6-foot-4, 160-pound RHP has plenty of room to fill out his long/slender frame, continues to make improvement in staying closed in his delivery which has led to an increase in velocity, works through a low-3/4 arm slot, fastball showed varying action ranging from arm-side run to cutting action, tends to get around the curveball leaving it somewhat flat and up in the zone, changeup would benefit from bigger velocity difference off the fastball, allowed three hits and walked one in his two innings of work. Manley will be one to watch as he continues to improve mechanics and secondary pitches.

Ryan Kearney, OF/LHP, Campbellsville, 2019
Max FB: 75, FB: 74-75, CB: 65-66
5-foot-8, 140-pound LHP uses an up tempo delivery with, arm action is clean and works through an over the top arm slot, pounds the strike zone with a fastball/curveball mix, fastball is generally straight and he spots it on both sides of the plate, curveball has good spin and varies between 1/7 and 12/6 action, allowed one hit and produced several ground balls in his one inning of work. Kearney’s arm works well, and he should see velocity gains as he continues to mature and fill out frame.