By Brandon Hall
Director of Scouting, PBR NC

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The premier winter showcase event for baseball players in North Carolina took place at On Deck Baseball Academy in Pineville, NC on Saturday January 28th.  The invite only event featured 76 of the top players in North Carolina.  Running through an extended pro-style workout, position players were able to show off their talents on defense, in the cages, and with a series of speed and agility tests.  The pitchers threw controlled bullpens, keeping in mind it is still January, showcasing their delivery, arm slot and arm action.  

Below is a look at part II of the Pitchers, with the 2019 and 2020 graduates.  Many of these arms are on pitch counts or regulating their effort with the January bullpens.  PBR still got a good look at each arm and a feel for how they are continuing to develop.

CLICK HERE to view all of the statistical results.

CLICK HERE to see the complete roster of the Preseason All-State Event.

PITCHERS

2019 Graduates

Casey Shipman, RHP, Gray’s Creek HS, NC

Right hander is listed at 5-foot-11, 180 pounds, works with some effort to a high-3/4 slot with a long arm stroke.  Fastball ranged 68-71, around the zone.  Breaking ball touched 61, rolling through the zone, flashing some command.  Change-up ranged 61-64, slowing the arm speed at times to maintain the zone.  A little choppy through the delivery, the shoulders work level, and lands on-line to maintain a direct path to the glove.

 

Conner Matzuga, RHP, Heritage HS, NC

Multiple slot guy that created some intrigue with the number of strikes thrown from two slots, throughout the bullpen.  Fastball ranged 81-83 from the high-3/4 slot, dropping off some when dipping to the sidearm slot.  The breaking ball flashed late 10/4 arc from the higher slot, topping at 68.  From the side arm slot, uses more of a slider that sweeps in the zone topping at 63.  Flashed a few change ups with decent hand speed, ranging 75-76.  Long, loose arm stroke from both slots with a smooth delivery.  Does create the arm angle early in the delivery with his head, eliminating late deception.  Flooded the zone with fastball from both angles and slider from the side angle.

 

Trey Tujetsch, RHP, Ardrey Kell HS, NC

Still working to build to maximum arm speed, stayed under control throughout the January bullpen with the fastball reaching 81.  Easy delivery, simple mechanics, and repeats throughout.  Average arm speed from a high-3/4 slot uses a long arm stroke.  Lands on line, keeping his shoulders level throughout.  Breaking ball has a good ceiling, showing 11/5 late downer type action.  Maintains hand speed and head posture on the spin pitch, ranging 68-69.  Flashed change-up in the zone at 72-73.  Looks to have a feel for pitch-ability, moving fastball around the zone and showing feel for off-speed location.

 

Keanu Buentipo, RHP, Forestview HS, NC

Lanky athlete that jumped on the scene at the event.  Fastball ranged 77-80, but flashed a quick arm with more velocity to come out of the frame.  Ball seemed to jump from a delivery that is a little raw.  A stiff front side and choppy rhythm, create a little stiffness in the long arm stroke, working to the high-3/4 slot.  Some of this can be worked out quickly.  Listed at 6-foot-3, 170 pounds the frame and athleticism suggest plenty of room for projection.  Breaking ball has a gradual shape, working with an 11/5 arc.  Filled the zone up with the spin pitch, sitting 65-67.  Change-up is the third pitch at this time, lacking some hand speed, ranging 71-73.   

 

Jake England, RHP, Forestview HS, NC

Lanky 6-foot-2, 170 pounder uses an arm action that reaches back from the glove, creating a long arm into the high-3/4 slot.  Arm speed is average with the fastball settling at 77-79.  Slider acts as a sweeping cutter, gradually breaking through the zone, ranging 67-69.  Flashed command of both fastball and slider, using good direction down the hill.  Change flashed at 67-69.

 

Tim Cao, RHP, Northwest Guilford HS, NC

High pitch-ability and arm strength jumped off the page throughout the January bullpen.  Fastball ranged 82-84, getting to 86 later in the bullpen with ease.  Uses a smooth, effortless delivery, that is repeated consistently to get to a high-3/4 slot from a long, loose arm swing.  Quick arm and great head posture lean to producing deception as well. Change-up sat 72-74 with arm side run and look-alike tendencies with the fastball.  The breaking ball is a “young” pitch with a high ceiling.  Throwing it with the same posture and hand speed as the fastball, the curve ranged 65-66, a little early and gradual now with 10/4 shape.  Flooded the zone with all three pitches, showing the ability to locate the fastball to both sides of the plate.  At 5-foot-10, 145 pounds there is room for the body to fill out.

 

Ethan Haislip, RHP, Cuthbertson HS, NC

Strong build in the 5-foot-10, 160 pound righty.  Fastball ranged 85-87, jumping out of the hand.  There is some effort in the delivery but it produces a quick arm at a high-3/4 slot.  Delivery is choppy at times leading to some command issues in the January bullpen.  The breaking ball is hard, at 70-74, with late downward movement, showing an ability to be around the zone with the pitch.  Change-up is the third pitch at this time, using near fastball hand speed and reaching 76.

 

Jackson Galbraith, RHP, TC Roberson HS, NC

Works downhill with above average hand speed.  Fastball reached 85, sitting 82-84.  There is some effort in the delivery as the lower half is loaded at balance, working to level shoulders, a long arm action with minimal stiffness, to an over-the-top slot.  Breaking ball has late tilt, working 68-71.  At times erratic, did show an ability to throw the pitch for strikes.  Change-up  is the third pitch for now, slowing the hands at times, ranging 75-77.

 

Xander Hamilton, RHP, Broughton HS, NC

Physically imposing 6-foot-4, 195 pounds.  Strong and athletic, has a presence on the bump.  Righty works from a side-saddle position on the rubber, eliminating the need for motion in the pivot foot.  Short arm action is led by the elbow and allows the hand to work to a high-3/4 slot with the fastball sitting 82-83.  The slider has out-pitch potential, sweeping across the zone, late and hard, at 74-75.  Maintained hand speed and deception on the slider, showing command of the zone.  Uses a split finger grip for the change.  Decent hand speed, although the arm arc seemed stiffer, allowing the pitch to touch 76-78 with limited depth.

 

Hunter Hutchens, RHP, East Forsyth HS, NC

Lanky and projectable at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds on the young frame.  Loose arm swing works from a delivery with some rhythm and normal effort.  Average to above arm speed gets to a high-3/4 slot with the fastball ranging 77-80.  Slider flashed late sweeping action at 62-64 with near look-alike hand speed.  High quantity of strikes from the fastball and slider.  Body tends to coil at balance and uncoil through the on-line landing, at time challenging extension.  Change touched 73 maintaining slot and head position, but lacking some arm speed.

 

Alex Sniffen, RHP, New Hanover HS, NC

Physical at 6-foot-4, 218 pounds, the righty flashed athleticism during the day.  Long arm stroke works to an over-the-top slot, at times fighting the front side.  Fastball worked 81-82 but it was the offspeed that grabbed eyes.  Breaking ball is a hard downer, touching 71 with sharp action.  At times erratic, hand speed never wavered on the pitch.  A straight change flashed at 74-75, showing deception and a feel for the strike zone, with good hand speed. 

 

Landen Harris, RHP, South View HS, NC

Big bodied at 6-foot-4, 240 pounds, demonstrated decent awareness for his body in space and showed an ability to throw all pitches for strikes.  Fastball ranged 77-80, with run.  The breaking ball works with gradual 10/4 tilt, at 63-65.  The arm stroke is long, working early to the top, loading the scap as the body begins to work toward the plate.  Decent rhythm in the delivery works to a high-3/4 slot and average extension.  The change-up is the third pitch sitting 67-69.

 

Andrew Vladyka, RHP, Jacksonville HS, NC

Young build on the 6-foot-1, 175 pound righty.  Arm works with a long stroke, turning the ball over early as it gets to a high-3/4 slot.   Somewhat choppy through the delivery, keeps the shoulder level and lands on-line.  Fastball worked 77-79.  Change-up has potential, ranging 67-68 with sink and look-alike tendencies with hand speed and head posture.  The breaking ball lacks arm speed, rolling through the zone at 61-63.

 

2020 Graduate

Aaron Smith, RHP, Gray’s Creek HS, NC

Intriguing young player that does a lot at a high level.  On the bump, works to an over-the-top slot with a long arm stroke.  Good balance position leads to some effort as the body closes down the line and the arm can be late through the release point.  Fastball sat 76-79, at times missing to the arm side, but showing feel for the strike zone.  The breaking ball ranged 61-62 with gradual downward action.  Change-up worked 64-66 with decent hand speed.  Feel and command of off speed should improve with time