Prep Baseball Report

Pitcher Showcase: Quick Hits


Walt Jones
Louisiana Assistant Scouting Director

The annual Pitcher Showcase took place on Saturday, January 4th at The Kastle in Mandeville. The open event saw 20+ of pitching prospects from across the state of Louisiana.

Yesterday we continued our instant analysis from Saturday’s event with the stats story. Which you can view HERE.

Today, Louisiana Scouting Directors Trey Sofio and Walt Jones run through a few additional quick hits with focus on prospects from the annual event with standout performances on the mound.

Quick Hits

+ 2022 RHP Zeph Arnold (Bunkie HS, LA) is a 6-foot-1, 175-pound right-handed pitcher that continues to raise his stock. The junior produced an event high 90 mph fastball with an athletic delivery, a longer, clean arm action working into a high-3/4 slot with quality arm speed, solid balance and minimal effort.  Arnold showed off a quality three-pitch mix with a clean delivery with smooth rhythm and level shoulders landing square working downhill with good direction and solid finish. Fastball sat 86-90 mph with occasional arm side life. Breaking ball showed 11/5 shape with fringy spin and solid command at 71-75 mph. Also flashed advanced feel for a changeup with quality arm side fade at 78-82 mph.

+ 2022 RHP Gavin Guidry (Barbe HS, LA) is a premium position player who worked out on the mound on Saturday. The athletic 6-foot-2, 165-pound right-handed pitcher has a lean, wiry frame with room to continue to add strength. Guidry used an athletic, easy delivery with low effort to show off a quality three-pitch mix working 85-88 with  his fastball. Breaking ball showed 11/5 shape with solid spin and command at 74-75 mph while his change showed good arm side fade and solid command with the makings of a quality third pitch at 77-80. 

+ We also got a quality look at 2021 LHP Ben Tate (Teurlings Catholic HS, LA). The 6-foot-2, 200-pound left-hander put his three-pitch mix on display working 85-87 mph with his fastball with solid command of both a 76-79 mph slider and a 77-82 mph changeup. 

+ 2022 RHP Canaan Clayton (Jesuit HS, LA) was another arm that stood out on Saturday. The 6-foot-3, 210-pound right-hander worked 84-87 with a solid delivery working  downhill from a high-¾ slot. The breaking ball is a developing pitch with good shape at 73-77 mph flashing solid depth. Clayton also flashed a solid changeup at 80-83 mph that looks to be coming along.

+ 2020 RHP Nate Bush (University HS, LA) pitched well at the Pitcher Showcase despite not showing his best velocity. The 6-foot-1, 215-pound right-hander who pitched 84-86 mph on Saturday with average command of the zone. Bush showed a solid 4-pitch mix flashing a curveball with good downward action at 67-69 mph and a shorter slider at 73-76 mph. He showed solid feel for his changeup at 77-79 mph with arm side fade.

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