Top Prospect Games West: Pitcher Analysis

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Over 30 uncommitted players from the 2020 - 2023 graduating classes came to Mount St. Mary's University this year for the PBR Maryland Top Prospect Games West. Tons of talent was on display as each player participated in a pro-style workout and game in front of college coaches from around the region and our PBR scouting staff. Below is an analysis of each of the pitchers at the event. Be sure to continue following us right here as we bring you full analysis of all the players from the Top Prospect Games West this week. 

Top Prospect Games West: Pitchers

Shane Bowie SS / RHP / Thomas Johnson, MD / 2020 Athletic, lean body type and 5’11, 150 pound frame with room to fill out. Controlled side-step wind-up and high leg kick into a compact balance position. Gets some lower half drive and lands square to the plate with an upright finish. Clean hand separation with some quick arm speed through release. Throws downhill with long arm action from a high three-quarters slot with light effort. Fastball at 79-81 mph and touched 82 mph. Breaking ball was 64-66 mph with gradual 11/5 shape and changeup showed slight fade at 73-76 mph.

Branden Brown SS / RHP / Atholton, MD / 2021 Long, athletic, lean body type and projectable 6’1’’, 142 pound frame. Pitches from the stretch. Controlled leg kick into a compact balance point. Clean hand separation taking glove straight to the sky. Gets over front side well and lands square to the plate with an athletic finish. Showed some lower half involvement and excellent extension. Throws with shorter arm action from a high three-quarter slot with easy effort. Arm is very loose and creates quick arm speed through release. Fastball sat 72-73 mph and touched 74 mph. Breaking ball was 57-59 mph with gradual 12/6 shape and changeup sat 68-70 mph. Also featured a slider at 69 mph and a cutter at 70 mph.

Travis Fullerton SS / RHP / Francis Scott Key, MD / 2020 Athletic body type and 5’9’’, 150 pound frame. Pitches from the stretch. Quick leg kick into a tall balance point. Clean hand separation and smooth down-to-out lower half drive. Gets over front side well with some extension and lands slightly closed to the plate with an athletic finish. Throws with long arm action from a high three-quarter slot with regular effort. Creates some arm speed through release and pounded the strike zone. Fastball sat 74-77 and touched 79 mph. Breaking ball was 60-62 mph with tight 11/5 shape and changeup showed some fade at 63-65 mph.

Casey Jackman SS / RHP / Huntingtown, MD / 2022 Strong, athletic body type and projectable 5’11’’, 160 pound frame. Pitches from the stretch. Controlled leg kick into a tall, compact balance point with front side corkscrew. Slight hesitation at the top of balance and down-to-out lower half drive. Clean hand separation and throws with longer arm action from a mid three-quarter slot with easy effort. Gets over front side and lands slightly closed to the plate with an upright finish. Pounded the zone with all pitches. Fastball sat 68-70 mph and touched 71 mph. Breaking ball showed some 11/5 shape at 62-64 mph and changeup was 68 mph with slight fade.

Bradley Kahalas RHP / Northwest, MD / 2020 Strong, athletic body type and projectable 6’0’’, 180 pound frame. Controlled side-step wind-up and leg kick into a compact balance point. Smooth down-to-out lower half drive off the rubber. Creates some arm speed through release and lands closed to the plate. Gets over front side with an athletic finish. Throws with shorter arm action over the top with light effort. Fastball sat 75-77 mph and touched 78 mph. Breaking ball was 66-69 mph with gradual 12/6 shape and change-up ranged 71-72 mph.

E.J. Lowry SS / RHP / St. John's Catholic Prep, MD / 2023 Athletic body type and projectable 5’10’’, 150 pound frame. Up-tempo side-step wind-up and leg kick into a slightly crouched, compact balance point. Strong lower half drive, landing slightly closed to the plate with an athletic finish. Gets over front side well with nice extension. Throws with long, loose arm action from a low to mid three-quarter slot with regular effort. Creates very quick arm speed through release. Throws downhill and kept the ball low. Pounded the zone with fastball and breaking ball. Fastball was 75-79 mph and touched 80 mph. Breaking ball was 65-67 mph with tight 11/5 shape and changeup sat 67-69 mph with late dive.

Austin Luther V RHP / OF / St Mary's Ryken, MD / 2020 Athletic, lean body type and projectable 6’1’’, 158 pound frame. Controlled side-step wind-up and leg kick into a tall balance point. Clean hand separation and glides downhill with some strong lower half drive. Lands square to the plate with an athletic finish. Throws from the side with long, loose, whippy arm action and easy effort. Creates quick arm speed through release. Fastball sat 74-76 mph and touched 77 mph with good arm side run. Breaking ball had tight 10/4 shape at 63-65 mph and changeup was 68-70 mph with late fade.

Theodore Meline SS / RHP / Walt Whitman, MD / 2021 Strong, athletic body type and projectable 6’0’’, 165 pound frame. Controlled side-step wind-up and high leg kick into a tall balance position. Smooth downhill delivery and strong lower half involvement. Gets over front side landing square with an athletic finish. Throws over the top with short arm action and light effort. Creates quick arm speed through release and pounded the zone with strikes. Fastball sat 74-77 mph and touched 78 mph. Breaking ball showed big, hard 11/5 shape at 64-65 mph.

Blake Pesante SS / RHP / St. Mary's Ryken, MD / 2022 Strong, athletic body type and 5’9’’, 165 pound frame. Up-tempo side-step wind-up and leg kick into a tall balance point. Strong lower half drive off the rubber and good extension. Gets over front side and lands square to the plate with an athletic finish. Clean hand separation and throws with long, loose, arm action from a high three-quarter slot with easy effort. Creates very quick arm speed through release and the ball explodes out of the hand. Fastball sat 79-83 mph and touched 84 mph. Breaking ball was 66-68 mph with hard 11/5 shape. Changeup showed nice late fade and slider was 71 mph with tight spin.

Matthew Rineman RHP / 1B / Delone Catholic , PA / 2021 Strong, solid body type and projectable 6’2’’, 195 pound frame. Slightly up-tempo wind-up and high leg kick into a tall, compact balance point. Smooth downhill delivery with some lower half involvement. Gets over front side and lands slightly closed to the plate with a slightly upright finish. Clean hand separation and showed some arm speed through release. Throws with long arm action from a high three-quarter slot with easy effort. Fastball ranged 74-76 mph and touched 78 mph. Breaking ball had big, gradual 11/5 shape at 61-63 mph.

Jason Rivera OF / LHP / St. Maria Goretti, MD / 2021 Strong, athletic body type and projectable 5’11’’, 163 pound frame. Slightly up-tempo, side-step wind-up and high leg kick into a tall, compact balance point. Smooth down-to-out lower half drive and excellent extension. Throws downhill and gets over front side well. Lands square to the plate with an athletic finish. Throws with long, loose arm action from a high three-quarter slot with easy effort and creates quick arm speed through release. Fastball sat 78-80 mph and touched 81 mph. Breaking ball was 66-69 mph with tight 11/5 shape and changeup showed some late dive at 67-69 mph.

Brett Seils SS / RHP / Sherwood, MD / 2021 Strong, athletic body type and 5’10’’, 165 pound frame. Slightly up-tempo, side-step wind-up and leg kick into a slightly crouched, compact balance point. Quick, downhill stride and delivery with some lower half involvement. Lands slightly closed to the plate with an upright finish. Clean hand separation throwing with shorter arm action from a mid three-quarter slot with regular effort. Creates quick arm speed through release and attacks hitters at the plate. Pounded the strike zone and mixed his pitches well. Fastball sat 77-80 mph and touched 82 mph. Breaking ball had tight spin and 11/5 shape at 68-71 mph and changeup was 70-73 mph.

Jack Surdez RHP / OF / Frederick, MD / 2021 Athletic, lean body type and 6’0’’, 155 pound frame. Controlled side-step wind-up and leg kick into a tall balance point. Smooth downhill stride and delivery with some lower half drive. Gets over front side well with good extension. Lands square to the plate with an athletic finish. Throws with long arm action from a high three-quarter slot with easy effort and creates arm speed through release. Fastball sat 72-74 mph with slight arm side run and touched 76 mph. Breaking ball showed both 12/6 and 11/5 shape at 65-67 mph and changeup was 68-70 mph.

Mike Wineke 1B / LHP / Calvert Hall, MD / 2021 Big, strong, solid body type and projectable 6’0’’, 220 pound frame. Controlled step-back wind-up and high leg kick into a tall, compact balance point. Strides downhill and lands slightly closed to the plate with an upright finish. Drags back-side through release. Throws with shorter arm action from a high three-quarter slot with light effort. Fastball sat 74-76 mph and touched 77 mph. Breaking ball was 66-68 mph with gradual 11/5 shape and changeup sat 60-64 mph.

Brendan Yagesh LHP / 1B / Urbana, MD / 2022 Long, lean athletic body type and projectable 6’2’’, 165 pound frame. Controlled side-step wind-up and high leg kick into a tall balance point. Strong down-to-out lower half drive off the rubber. Lands square to the plate with an athletic, slightly upright finish. Throws with long arm action from a high three-quarter slot with regular effort. Creates quick arm speed through release and gets good extension. Fastball sat 76-80 mph and touched 81 mph. Breaking ball was 65-67 mph with 11/5 shape and changeup was 73-74 mph with slight fade.

Jacob Zuniga RHP / 3B / Good Counsel, MD / 2021 Athletic body type and 5’9’’, 155 pound frame. Up-tempo side-step wind-up and leg kick into a tall, compact balance point. Down-to-out lower half drive. Lands square to the plate with an athletic finish. Throws with long arm action from a low three-quarter slot with easy effort. Creates quick arm speed through release but has a tendency to drag back-side through. Fastball sat 78-80 mph and touched 81 mph. Breaking ball showed tight spin and hard 11/5 shape at 65-67 mph. Also featured a two seamer that showed late arm-side run at 76-77 mph.

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