Prep Baseball Report

2015 Underclass Games: Pitcher Analysis



Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

Prep Baseball Report Missouri held the 2015 Underclass Games at the University of Missouri on June 16 and June 17.  Nearly 90 of the top players in the 2017 and 2018 class attended.  The group was divided into three sessions, with two session on June 16 and one session on June 17.  Profiles have be updated with times, velos and videos.  The games portion of the event can still be viewed on STL Sports Productions. The June 17 games were rained out.

Today we will break down the pitchers from both days, to conclude the analysis for the 2015 Underclass Games.  The pitchers are listed in alphabetical order. 

CLICK HERE, to see a complete spreadsheet of times and velos in PDF format. 
CLICK HERE, to see the Instant Analysis from the 2015 Underclass Games

2015 Underclass Games: Middle Infielders
2015 Underclass Games: Corner Infielders
2015 Underclass Games: Catchers
2015 Underclass Games: Outfielders

Pitchers

Alex Adams, RHP, Lafayette, 2018
Adams is a 6-foot-1, 175-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Alex posted a max fastball velo of 77 mph. Adams has a high 3/4 release and throws with regular effort.  Adams worked at 73-77 mph with his fastball. He has an 11-to-5 curveball that stays down, 64-67 mph. His change-up has downward movement and was thrown at 66-67 mph.

Weston Baker, RHP, SLUH, 2017
Baker is a 6-foot-3 210-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2017 class.  Baker he has a high leg kick and accelerates down the mound, conventional over-the-top arm slot, throws with some effort, stays in line down the mound, throws downhill, fastball at 83 -85 mph, 86 tops, one of the top velos for the event.  Curveball has 12-to-6 shape, 64-66 mph, change-up at 71-74 mph, sink, near fastball arm speed. 

Forrest Barnes, RHP, Ozark, 2018

Barnes is a 6-foot-1 150-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2018 class.  Barnes is long-legged with projectable arm action.  He has a high three-quarters arm slot, with a fastball at 79-82 mph, some having late sinking action.  He was in the strike zone with the breaking ball, 63-68 mph, mostly 12-to-6 action.  Change-up at 71-75 mph.  He throws with regular effort and lands in an athletic position.  Barns will be a player to follow in the 2018 class, with loose arm action and repeatable mechanics. 

Hunter Becker, RHP, Chaminade, 2017
Becker is a 6-foot-0, 165-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2017 class. Max fastball velo at 80 mph. Over-the-top arm slot, regular effort.  Becker worked at 76-79 mph with his fastball. Knuckleball, 62-69 mph. Change-up at 73-76 mph with near fastball arm speed, good sink.

Alec Byous, RHP, Lafayette, 2018
Byous is a 6-foot-0 165-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Alec posted a max fastball velo at 82 mph. Byous has a 3/4 release, throws with regular effort, and stabs in his arm swing.  He stays in line towards the target, lands square, and has an athletic finish.  He worked at 78-81 mph with his fastball. He has an 11-to-5 curveball, down in zone, 67-68 mph. His change-up was thrown at 74 mph. Byous struck out 2 batters in his inning.

Collin Breckner, LHP, Fair Grove, 2017
Breckner is a 6-foot-1 150-pound left-handed pitcher in the 2017 class, and is trending up since his last event.  Breckner touched 80 mph with his fastball and worked 77-80 mph.  He has a slurve-type breaking ball at 63-66 mph with late action, change-up was 70-72 mph, down in the zone.  Breckner has a three-quarters release, raising his hands with knee during his delivery.  He repeats his release point, throwing a high number of strikes and creating ground ball contact.  Breckner’s feel for his pitches, continued growth and velo increase makes him a player to follow in the 2017 class.

Ty Buckner, RHP, Ladue, 2017
Buckner is a 6-foot 180-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2017 class.  Buckner showed to be one of the top pitchers in the event, hitting 87 mph with his fastball, working 85-86 mph.  Fastball has late life, from high three-quarters arm slot, clean arm action, repeatable delivery. Buckner threw a high percentage of strikes with his change up and breaking pitch.  Curveball at 68-71 mph, 11-to-5 shape, fastball arm speed, late action, sharp movement down in zone.  Change-up at 73-76 mph, late arm side release. 

Thatcher Burns, LHP, Marquette, 2017
Burns is a 6-foot-3 165-pound left-handed pitcher in the 2017 class.  Burns was in the zone with every pitch.  His fastball was 77-75 mph, topping out at 78 mph.  1-to-7 shaped curveball, late action, 70-71 mph, change-up at 69-73 mph, slight arm side release.  Burns has some deception in his delivery, with a brief pause at balance, long arm swing, repeats release point, consistently down in zone, works both sides of plate.

Dominic Canovi, LHP, Marion (IL), 2018
Canovi is a 6-foot-0 170-pound left-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Dominic posted a max fastball velo of 74 mph.  Canovi has a high 3/4 release, with long arm action, and throws with regular effort.  He stays in line towards the target, lands square, and has an athletic finish.  He worked at 71-74 mph with his fastball. Dominic has a 1-to-7 curveball at 61-62 mph. 

Peyton Carson, LHP, Shawnee Heights (KS), 2018
Carson is a 6-foot-1, 140-pound left-handed pitcher in the Kansas 2018 class. Max fastball velo at 79 mph. High 3/4 arm slot, easy effort, smooth rhythm.  Carson worked at 76-78 mph with his fastball. 2-to-8 curveball, sharp break, 62-63 mph. Change-up at 65-68 mph with near fastball arm speed. Projectable and a strike thrower.

Brandon Carvan, RHP, Raymore Peculiar, 2018
Carvan is a 5-foot-10 145-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2018 class.  Carvan has quick arm speed with an over-the-top release.  His fastball was 75-77 mph with late run and curveball was 12-to-6 in shape at 64-65 mph.  He throws his change-up at 67-69 mph with fastball arm speed. Carvan is a quick-twitch athlete that will continue to progress as he matures.

Garrett Darrah, LHP, Fort Zumwalt North, 2018
max fastball velo at 72 mph. Darrah has a 3/4 release, throws with regular effort, and has a controlled delivery.  He stays in line towards the target, lands square, and has an athletic finish.  He worked at 68-71 mph with his fastball and it has movement. He has a 2-to-8 curveball, late action, down in zone, 63-67 mph. His change-up was thrown at 60-61 mph. He also featured a slider at 67 mph. Darrah struck out 1 batter in his inning.

Jake Deakins, LHP, Hickman, 2018
Deakins is a 6-foot-0, 150-pound left-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Jake posted a max fastball velo of 75 mph. Deakins has a high 3/4 release, throws with regular effort, and quick arm action.  He stays in line towards the target, lands square, and has an athletic finish.  He worked at 73-75 mph with his fastball and pumps strikes. He has an 11-to-5 curveball with gradual break, 60-62 mph. His change-up sat at 65-66 with sink. Jake struck out 2 batters in his 1 inning of work.

Conor Dryer, RHP, Rockwood Summit, 2017
Dryer is a 6-foot-3 160-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2017 class.  Dryer is a projectable athlete with clean and easy arm action.  Has body control during delivery, and repeats release point.  Dryer is a able to work both sides of the plate with his fastball at 76-80 mph.  His curveball is at 59-62 mph with 11-to-5 shape.  He shows feel for a change-up at 73-76 mph with fastball arm speed and late sink.  He throws strikes and will be a player to follow in the 2017 class. 

Matt Duley, RHP, Joplin, 2018
Matt Duley is a 6-foot 180-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2018 class.  Duley shows signs of velo increase, touching 83 mph, sitting 78-80 mph during his outing.  He is a strike thrower with both fastball and curveball.  Curveball was 12-to-6 at 62-66 mph, late action.  He has an over-the-top release with smooth rhythm during his delivery.  He works the bottom of the zone with both pitches, getting many ground balls. Quick and efficient tempo between pitches. 

Jake Evans, RHP, Park Hill South, 2017
Evans is a 6-foot-1 170-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2017 class. Evans has an over-the-top arm slot and smooth rhythm in his delivery.  He throws with regular effort and stays in line towards the plate. Fastball at 76-80 mph, slight run, curveball at 65-69 mph, 12-to-6 action.  Evans threw a high percentage of strikes during his inning of work. 

Branden Harder, RHP, Nevada, 2018
Harder is a 5-foot-9, 145-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Max fastball velo at 74 mph. Over-the-top arm slot, regular effort, loose arm action, repeatable delivery.  Hunter worked at 72-73 mph with his fastball, slight run. 12-to-6 curveball, 64-67 mph. Change-up at 61-62 mph with near fastball arm speed, good sink.

Kyle Heckenbach, RHP, Smithville, 2017
Hekenbach is a 6-foot 170-pound right-handed pitcher from Smithville in the 2017 class.  Heckenbach has a deliberate tempo during his delivery, stays in line and lands in athletic position.  He has an over-the-top release with quick arm speed.  Heckenbach touched 83 mph twice, working at 81-82 mph.  Curveball was 12-to-6 at 67-70 mph, stays on top, release out front, change-up at 75-76 mph.

Reese Hicks, RHP, Joplin, 2017
Hicks is a 6-foot-2, 180-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2017 class. Reese posted a max fastball velo of 75 mph. Hicks has an over-the-top release, throws with regular effort, and has smooth rhythm.  He stays in line towards the target, lands square, and has an athletic finish.  He worked at 72-75 mph with his fastball. He has an 11-to-5 curveball with late/sharp break, 61-62 mph. He looked athletic fielding his position during his inning.

Dalton “Petey” Hill, RHP, Lee’s Summit, 2017
Hill is a 6-foot-2 175-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2017 class.   Hill showed an increase in velo from previous events, topping out at 89 mph and posting the highest velo of the event.  Hill worked his fastball at 83-87 mph, and showed late run.  His breaking pitch was clocked at 71-73 mph with late 11-to-5 action and change-up was at 75-76 with arm side release.  He has a quick arm, and high-three quarters release, high leg kick, and stays inline as he gets down the mound. 

Zack Hunsicker, RHP, Francis Howell, 2018
Hunsicker is a projectable 6-foot-4, 215-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Zack posted a max fastball velo of 84 mph. Hunsicker has an over-the-top release, throws with regular effort, and great down angle on his pitches. He’s aggressive and attacks the zone.  Zach worked at 81-83 mph with his fastball down in the zone. He has a 11-to-5 curveball with gradual break, 69-71 mph. Hunsicker struck out 4 batters in his 1 inning of work.

Max R. Hunter, LHP, Clayton, 2017
Hunter is a 5-foot-10 180-pound left-handed pitcher in the 2017 class.  Hunter is a strike thrower with a three-pitch mix.  He has a conventional delivery with fast arm speed, throwing slightly across body.  He works his fastball at 81-83 mph, and breaking pitch was 1-to-7 in shape at 60-63 mph, near fastball arm speed.  His change-up was 70 mph, with fastball arm speed.  He has smooth rhythm and works both sides of the plate with all three pitches.

Zachary Hurwitz, RHP, Liberty-Wentzville, 2018
Hurwitz is a 6-foot-1, 155-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Max fastball velo - 74mph. Over-the-top arm slot, throws with some effort.  Hurwitz worked at 71-74 mph with his fastball. 12-to-6 curveball, 60-61 mph. Good deception, long legs, clean release. Stays in-line, lands square.

Michael Kolb, LHP, Westminster, 2018
6/16/15 - Kolb is a 6-foot-0 150-pound left-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Michael posted a max fastball velo of 65 mph. Kolb has an over-the-top release, throws with regular effort, and has smooth rhythm.  He stays in line towards the target, lands square, and has an athletic finish.  He worked at 63-65 mph with his fastball. He has a 12-to-6 knuckle curve, gradual movement, 52-56 mph.

Adam Link, RHP, Kickapoo, 2017
Link is a 6-foot-1 160-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2017 class.  Works fastball at 78-80 mph, top velo at 82 mph.  Fastball has movement with late cutting action, throws for a strike consistently.  Curveball has 11-to-5 shape, tight spin, late action, slider at 71 mph. Change-up has slight arm side sink at 72-74 mph.  Link has a simple delivery, easy to repeat, with high three-quarters release.  Lean frame and loose arm action would suggest velo increase in future.

Nick Logusch, RHP, De Smet, 2017
Logusch is a 6-foot-0, 175-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2017 class. Nick posted a max fastball velo of 84 mph. Logusch has an over-the-top release, throws with regular effort, and quick arm action. He has good mound presence and a smooth delivery.  He worked at 82-83 mph with his fastball with slight run. He has a 12-to-6 curveball with gradual break, 69-71 mph. Nick struck out 1 batter in his 1 inning of work.

Jake Lufft, RHP, Blue Springs, 2018
Lufft is a 6-foot-0, 186-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Max fastball velo at 86 mph, one of the top for the event and top among pitcher in the 2018 class. High 3/4 arm slot, regular effort, quick arm speed, loose arm action.  Lufft worked at 82-85 mph with his fastball. 12-to-6 curveball, sharp break, 66-67 mph. Change-up at 68-70 mph with near fastball arm speed. Projectable strong frame.

Connor Martin, RHP, Rockwood Summit, 2018
Martin is a 5-foot-8 165-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2018 class.  Martin has an over-the-top arm slot, with a fastball at 71-74 mph, late run.  Breaking pitch is 55-61 mph 12-to-6 curveball, gradual break, change up at 58-59 mph, slight sink.  Martin has conventional delivery and throws with regular effort. 

Trey McDaniel, RHP, Greenville, 2017
McDaniel is a 5-foot-11, 190-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2017 class. He touched 88 mph twice and worked at 84-86 mph. All of his pitches showed life. High 3/4 arm slot, some effort, quick arm speed, athletic finish.  McDaniel worked at 84-87 mph with his fastball, strike thrower. 12-to-6 curveball, 70-72 mph. Slider at 74-77 mph, 10-to-4 shape. Change-up at 74-76 mph with fastball arm speed, good sink. McDaniel showed velo increase since last event.

Connor Morehouse, RHP, Park Hill, 2017
Morehouse is a 5-foot-11 185-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2017 class.  Morehouse has an over-the-top release, with a simple/repeatable delivery. He throws with smooth rhythm and regular effort.  His fastball was 76-80 mph, with high percentage of strikes.  Breaking pitch has 11-to-5 movement, and he showed a cutter with sink at 72-74 mph. 

Ian Meyer, RHP, Monette, 2017
Meyer is a 6-foot-0, 180-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2017 class. Max fastball velo at 76 mph. Over-the-top arm slot, regular effort, strike thrower.  Meyer worked at 71-75 mph with his fastball. 12-to-6 curveball, 58-61 mph, gradual break. Change-up at 62 mph with near fastball arm speed, sink.

Jarrett Newell, RHP, Jackson, 2017
Newell is a 5-foot-11 175-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2017 class from Jackson.  Newell is a drop and drive type delivery, with a quick arm.  He creates in line direction and finishes in an athletic position.  His fastball was down in the zone at 75-77 mph, topping at 78 mph.  He has a 12-to-6 curveball with gradual break at 52-54 mph and a change-up at 65-68 mph, near fastball arm speed. 

Jaxon Passino, RHP, Rockwood Summit, 2017
Passino is a 5-foot-11 180-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2017 class from Rockwood Summit.  Passino has smooth rhythm in his delivery, with an over-the-top release.  He stays inline as he gets towards the plate and finishes in an athletic position.  His fastball was at 79-82 mph.  He showed a late breaking curveball at 70-73 mph with 12-to-6 shape, throws for a strike.  Change up at 75 mph.

Gage Patton, RHP, Timberland, 2018
6/16/15 - Patton is a 5-foot-11, 150-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Gage posted a max fastball velo of 79 mph. Patton has a high 3/4 release, with quick arm action, and throws with easy effort.  Patton worked at 76-79 mph with his running fastball. He has an 11-to-5 curveball, 66-73 mph. He worked 2-seam in and curve away, repeated well.

Douglas Payne, RHP, Cuba, 2017
Payne is a 5-foot-9 145-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2017 class.  Payne has a quick arm and controls his body well during his delivery.  He has a high-three quarters release, and throws strikes with three pitches.  His fastball registered between 79-82 mph, with slight run.  Curveball was 66-69 mph

Tanner Phipps, RHP, Lamar, 2017
Phipps is a 5-foot-7 165-pound right-handed pitcher.  Phipps has a controlled delivery with loose arm action.  He stays in line as he gets down the mound, high three-quarters arm slot, repeatable mechanics.  Fastball at 79-82 mph, late cut action.  Curveball at 69-71 mph, 11-to-5 shape, change-up at 69-72 mph, throws for a strike. 

Jack Riney, LHP, Lafayette, 2017
Riney is a 6-foot-4 195-pound left-handed pitcher in the 2017 class.  Riney is a strike thrower pitching to contact and throwing to several hitters during his outing.  He works both side of plate and has feel for off-speed pitches.  Fastball at 78-80 mph, late run, curveball has 1-to-7 shape, near fastball arm speed, 59-63 mph, change-up at 69-73 mph, fastball arm speed.  Evans has high three-quarters release, controlled tempo, aggressive getting down mound, lands in athletic position. 

Matt Russell, RHP, Staley, 2017
Russell is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2017 class. Max fastball velo at 83 mph. High 3/4 arm slot, throws with regular effort.  Russell worked at 81-83 mph with his fastball. 12-to-6 curveball, gradual break, 69-72 mph. Change-up with sink 73-74 mph. Repeats, attacks zone, projectable frame

Nicholas Schmidt, RHP, Holt, 2018
Schmidt is a 6-foot-1 170-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Nicholas posted a max fastball velo of 80 mph. Schmidt has a high 3/4 release, quick/loose arm action, throws with regular effort, and has smooth rhythm.  He stays in line towards the target, lands square, and has an athletic finish.  He worked at 78-80 mph with his fastball. He has a 11-to-5 curveball, late/sharp break. His change-up was at 68-70 mph.

Colten Weber, RHP, Jackson, 2017
Weber is a 6-foot-2 170-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2017 class.  Weber shows body control during his delivery with a loose arm action, staying in line as he gets down the mound.  Fastball topped at 86 mph, sitting 84-86 mph, slight run.  Curveball has 12-to-6 shape, fastball arm speed, down in zone, 74-78 mph, change-up with arm side release, 74-75 mph, near fastball arm speed.  Lean build with room to put on muscle and velocity. 

Tyler West, RHP, Lindbergh, 2018
West is a 6-foot 170-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2018 class.  West worked both sides of the plate with his fastball at 71-76 mph.  Breaking pitch has 12-to-6 shape, 54-56 mph, change-up at 65-67 mph.  West has an over-the-top release, and simple/repeatable delivery.  He throws with regular effort and smooth rhythm. 

Nick Wiley, RHP, Lindbergh, 2017
6/16/15 - Wiley is a 6-foot-0, 155-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2017 class. Max fastball velo at 79 mph. High 3/4 arm slot, throws with some effort.  Wiley worked at 75-78 mph with his fastball. 11-to-5 curveball, gradual break, 63-70 mph. He struck out 2 batters in his one inning worked.

Jared Wilson, RHP, Platte County, 2017
Wilson is a 5-foot-11 175-pound right-handed pitcher in the 2017 class.  Wilson threw strikes with three pitches from a high-three quarters release.  Wilson worked his fastball 81-84 mph, topping out at 85 mph, throwing mostly running fastballs to RHH.  Has an 11-to-5 curveball with late action, down in the zone at 70-73 mph. Change-up was down in the zone at 75-76 mph, arm side release.  Wilson throws with regular effort and clean arm action, suggesting an increase in the future.

Nick Wohlbold, RHP, Rock Bridge, 2017
Wohlbold is a 6-foot-0, 190-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2017 class. Max fastball velo at 86 mph, one of the top velos for the event. High 3/4 arm slot, regular effort, loose arm action, athletic finish.  Wohlbold worked at 83-85 mph with his fastball. 11-to-5 curveball, 70-75 mph, late/sharp break. Change-up at 77-80 mph with fastball arm speed.

Dennis Yingling, Lindbergh, 2017
Yingling is a 6-foot-1 195-pound left-handed pitcher and one of the top southpaws in the 2017 class.  Yingling touched 87 mph, and worked 83-86 mph.  His delivery has some deception, as he works slightly across his body.  He has an over-the-top release with quick arm speed, throwing a high percentage of strikes.  Curveball at 65-68 mph, 2-to-8 shape, late action.  Change-up at 76 mph. Works the bottom of the zone with all three pitches.

Nicolas Zeitlow, RHP, Boonville, 2017
Zeitlow is a 6-foot-5, 180-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2017 class. Max fastball velo was 84 mph, working 81-83 mph. High 3/4 arm slot, throws with regular effort.  Zeitlow worked at 81-83 mph with his fastball. 11-to-5 curveball, late/sharp break, good feel, 68-71 mph. Repeats, attacks zone, projectable frame, clean release, hides ball well from hitters.

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