Prep Baseball Report

Sophomore Spotlight - Pine-Richland LHP Ryan Okuda



By Jacob Gill
Philadelphia Region Director of Scouting

Ryan OkudaPine-Richland left-handed pitcher Ryan Okuda was one of the more intriguing prospects to toe the rubber during the 2014 Fall College Prospect Program. Okuda throws out of a three-quarter slot with a clean arm action. He works against a firm front side and his foot is slightly closed when at landing, which portends well for a future velocity jump from his current fastball at 79-81. Okuda also features a quality change-up and good command of his 1/7 curveball. At 6-foot-1, 145-pounds, his still immature frame has plenty of room for added strength.

One doesn't have to go very far to find an eerily similar comparison for Okuda (in fact, just a quick hop up from WPIAL 4A-Section 1 to 4A-Section 2). Okuda's body type and delivery are reminiscent of Penn-Trafford junior southpaw Dom Coconcelli, who, after posting similar velocities to Okuda one year prior, saw his velocity jump to 82-84 the following fall. It would not be surprising in the least if Okuda followed a similar trajectory in his development.

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