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PA Top Prospect Games: LHP Analysis

July 3, 2014

By Greg Williams
PA Director of Scouting

The summer rush of PBR events in Pennsylvania and West Virginia kicked into high gear over the past two weeks with the PA Top Prospect Games (June 17-18), Shenandoah Valley College Prospect Showcase (June 23) and the PA Underclass Games (June 24-25) offering college coaches a glimpse at some 175 prospects in a short period of time.

Over the course of the coming week we will analyze the prospects that performed by position. Today we take a look at the left-handed pitchers that participated in the PA Top Prospect Games.

 

PA Top Prospect Games: LHP


Top Prospect

Dustin LanderLHP Dustin Lander (South Side), 2015

Lander, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound lefty had a breakout performance at the PA Top Prospect Games displaying a 4-seam fastball that sat 87-88 with arm side run. Lander had been sitting 83-85 for the past 12 months. The uncommitted senior also commanded a 2-seam fastball with cut action at 85-86. Lander flashed a 74 mph changeup at near fastball arm speed and threw a number of plus curveballs at 74 mph with hard biting action.

Lander went 7-0 for South Side during the regular season this spring and followed that up by tossing a no-hitter in WPIAL Class AA playoff action. The Pittsburgh native will represent Team Pennsylvania against Maryland in the Big 26 Classic later this month.


Best of the Rest (alphabetical)

LHP Jake Arienzo (Slippery Rock), 2015

Arienzo is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound lefty that sat 75-77 with hard cutting action to his fastball. The uncommitted senior worked quickly and commanded the strike zone while striking out two in three innings of work. Arienzo also flashed a 64 mph curveball with 1/7 rotation that he used most regularly against left-handed hitters.

LHP/OF Luciano Besh (Franklin Regional), 2016

Besh impressed with a fastball that sat 80-82 with arm side run from a 3/4 arm slot. The lefty displayed a fluid, repeatable delivery with command of a three pitch mix. Besh flashed a 70 mph two-plane curveball with good depth and a 75 mph changeup thrown at fastball arm speed with late fade. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound uncommitted junior faced the minimum over three innings, allowing no hits while striking out five. Besh, who also participate as an outfielder, showcased an 83 mph bat exit velocity and ran a 7.16 60-yard dash.

LHP Derek Cursio (Bishop Guilfoyle), 2015

Cursio worked three very solid innings in game play sitting 82-84 with arm side run from a high 3/4 arm slot. The uncommitted senior commanded a 73 mph curveball with 1/7 rotation and an effective 71 mph changeup thrown at near fastball arm speed. The 5-foot-8, 165-pound lefty registered three strikeouts in game action while allowing just one hit.

LHP Drew Miller (East Pennsboro), 2016

Miller showed a solid feel for a two pitch mix from a 3/4 arm slot. The 6-foot, 160-pound uncommitted junior sat 77-80 with a fastball that showed both arm side run and cut action at various points. Miller's 68 mph curveball had 1/7 rotation with some late bite. The lefty allowed just two hits over three innings in game play while striking out the side in the 1st inning.

LHP Ryan Shirley (Blairsville), 2017

Shirley sat 69-70 with arm side run to his fastball from a high 3/4 arm slot. The 5-foot-11, 165-pound sophomore also showed a feel for a 65 mph changeup thrown at near fastball arm speed. Shirley ran a 7.44 60-yard dash and registered a bat exit velocity of 79 mph during the evaluation period.

LHP/1B Antonio Viviano (Mt. Lebanon), 2015

Viviano is a 6-foot-3, 240-pound uncommitted senior that sat 73-74 from a high 3/4 arm slot. The lefty also displayed a 66 mph curveball with 1/7 rotation during three innings of work in game action. Viviano retired the final six batters he faced and struck out one. The two-way prospect showed capable glove work at 1B with a 74 mph arm across the diamond. Viviano, a right-handed hitter, registered a 90 mph bat exit velocity.

LHP Aidan Zimmerman (Manheim Township), 2016

Zimmerman is a 5-foot-10, 175-pound uncommitted junior that worked three innings, allowing three hits, while striking out three. The lefty sat 77-80 from a high 3/4 arm slot and high knee delivery with cutting action on his fastball. The high knee action allowed Zimmerman to create some deception with his 65 mph curveball that showed 1/7 rotation. Zimmerman has a solid build and appears to have more in the tank as his frame continues to mature.


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