By Mike Penn
Michigan Director of Scouting

Today we kick off our coverage of Team Michigan heading into the Midwest Futures Games this weekend at Indiana University. We look at two pitchers who seemingly come from worlds apart.

One is left-handed, one is right.

One is 6-foot-6, the other 6-foot-1.

One was born in the United States, the other the Dominican Republic.

But that is where their differences end.

Both players hail from small towns and enter this weekend as relative unknowns.

Both players have been up to 86 mph this summer.

Both players have good upside.

 

Grant Wolfram is the first of the two pitchers and will be one to watch at the Midwest Futures Games. He possesses two gifts that you can’t teach: left-handedness and size.  Wolfram stands at a very lanky 6-foot-6, 185-pounds but easily could put another 40 pounds on.  He certainly will not go unnoticed when he steps on the field.

Wolfram however, has more than just size.  He recently performed extremely well at a workout when he touched 86 mph but typically pitches between 82-84 mph. At Top Prospect Games he threw the ball well also and sat between 80-84mph.  His breaking ball is starting to shape up better and he is commanding it with more consistency.    When it all clicks for Wolfram he has a chance to be special. 

Jorge Lozano is the other pitcher representing Michigan who has flown under-the-radar, somewhat not by choice.  As his name would indicate, Lozano comes from a Latino descent.  In fact, Lozano, moved from the Dominican Republic this past winter. 

Lozano, like Wolfram, is starting to round into form.  He has an extremely quick arm from an over-the-top slot.  The 6-foot-1, 155-pounder is athletic and has a good makeup.

In the same workout as Wolfram, Lozano starting to see his velocity climb.  He too touched 86mph one time and pump the strike zone full of 83-84mph fastballs.  He features a hard breaking ball (74-75mph) with sharpness and depth which can be a true out-pitch at the next level.

Both players may come in from relative obscurity, but both should leave firmly planted on the map.