By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The early signing period is a little more than a month away for this year’s senior class, and while the recruiting process in baseball has sped up significantly over the past few years, there are always quality players left on the board this time of year. This year is no different.

We recently updated our Class of 2016 rankings, and over the next week or so will take a look at some of the top uncommitted seniors by position group. Our previous article focused on some of the top-ranked uncommitted right-handed pitchers. Today we take a look at some of the top lefties who are still on the board. As is typically the case, the top three lefties are committed, and the depth of left-handers in this class is thinner than normal. But there are some guys who can pitch with the potential to add more velocity down the road. Lefties who may not pitch at higher velocity levels but can spin the breaking ball will always have a place on college rosters.

Here is a look at seven of the top uncommitted lefties in the Bluegrass State.

Name: Chase Thomas
Height: 6-0
Weight: 185
High School: Campbellsville
State Ranking: 67
Scouting Report: (9/13/15) Started for the Delta One Raiders in the first game of the day and impressed. He allowed two singles while walking two and striking out five in his first three innings of work. Four of his five strikeouts came via his 67-70 mph curveball, and Thomas worked his 79-83 mph fastball well on both sides of the plate. He worked quickly through three innings but appeared to tire and lost some command before being removed from the game in the fourth.

Name: Marcus Johnson
Height: 6-0
Weight : 185
High School: Bryan Station
State Ranking: 69
Scouting Report: (6/16/15)  6-foot, 185-pounds, strong and athletic frame, works through a high-3/4 to over the top slot, minimal effort delivery, has room for more extension, fastball sat 80-82 mph touching 83 once, threw one curveball at 67 mph with gradual 1/7 action, good arm action on 74-77 mph changeup, allowed three hits, hit a batter, and struck out one in his inning of work.

Name: Griffin Wells
Height: 5-11
Weight : 175
High School: Hazard
State Ranking: 70
Scouting Report: (7/23/14) 5-foot-11, 175-pound prospect uses medium backside arm action through a high ¾ arm slot, loose arm that shows some quickness, good tempo in delivery, fastball sat 79-81, touched 82, mostly straight, showed two different breaking balls, a 68-71 mph curveball with 1/7 action, and a harder 72-74 mph slider with short/late break, struck out two in two innings of work, arm works, has potential to add velocity. 

Name: Jordan Walburn
Height: 6-1
Weight : 175
High School: East Carter
State Ranking: 101
Scouting Report: (8/9/15) Walburn sat 80-81 from a high 3/4 arm slot with late arm-side run to his fastball. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound lefty gets downhill well and registered three strikeouts in his three innings of work. Walburn also showcased a 71 mph curveball with 1/7 rotation and a 75 mph changeup thrown at near fastball arm speed.

Name: Gus Garrison
Height: 5-11
Weight : 140
High School: Harrison County
State Ranking: 119
Scouting Report: (8/8/15) 5-foot-11, 140-pound LHP works through a high-3/4 slot with shorter arm action and regular effort in delivery, good lower half direction, shows good pitchability, fastball sat 77-78 mph topping at 79 and showed some cutting action, shows feel for the 67-69 mph curveball with the ability to throw it for strikes on any count, curveball varied between 12/6 and 1/7 action with good depth, has a solid idea of how to attack hitters, allowed one hit and struck out four (3 on CB’s) in two scoreless innings of work. Solid lefty with potential for additional velocity.

Name: Drew Clark
Height: 6-2
Weight : 210
High School: Butler County
State Ranking: 129
Scouting Report: (8/8/15) 6-foot-2, 210-pound LHP works through an over the top arm slot with shorter arm action, has some quickness in arm, showed solid command of three pitches, fastball sat 78-81 mph with occasional arm-side run, shows a 66-68 mph curveball with short 12/6 action, good arm action on 71 mph changeup, pitched well allowing two hits, no walks, and struck out four (3 on FB, 1 CB) in his two innings of work. Clark has shown similar velocity at each event he has attended since last summer.

Name: Blake Harper
Height: 6-1
Weight : 178
High School: Trinity
State Ranking: 152
Scouting Report: (6/16/15) 6-foot-1, 178-pounds, uses long arm action and works through a high-3/4 slot, regular effort in delivery with good rhythm, throws strikes with two-pitch mix, fastball sat 76-78 mph with occasional arm-side run, 66-67 mph curveball varied between 1/7 action and occasional sweeping action, likes to backdoor right-handed hitters with the curveball, allowed two hits and struck out one (back door curveball) in his two innings of work.