Prep Baseball Report

All-State Games: Pitching Analysis


Toby Bicknell
Texas Scouting Director

On Saturday, October 28, some of the top talent in Texas met in Tomball to compete in the PBR Texas All-State Games. The event featured players from all four high school classes, including 2018 & 2019 grads, along with a select few 2020 & 2021 grads. Here is the pitching analysis from that event.


Pitching analysis

Chandler Freeman, 3B/RHP, Liberty Hill HS, 2019
Freeman has an athletic, strong frame at 6-foot-1, 182-pounds. The Dallas Baptist recruit had a great all-around day, including a stellar performance on the mound. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a quick arm stroke. Athletic, drop and drive delivery with regular effort, lands in-line with front foot closed. Fastball sat mostly 89-90 mph with good late life, dropping only a couple times to 87 and 88. Flashes arm side sink on two-seamer. Sharp curveball at 75-77 mph with 11/5 shape and short downer break. Threw 91 mph across the infield during the position workout.

Ryan Bogusz, RHP/OF, Lonestar HS, 2019
At 6-foot-2, 165-pound, Bogusz has a lean, wiry frame. The uncommitted junior is an athletic two-way player and has made jumps with his velocity this fall, showing good command of his sinker/slider stuff. After doing the position player workout in the morning, Bogusz hopped on the mound for an inning of work. The right-hander works from a ¾ slot with a long arm swing. In-line delivery down the mound, lands square. His fastball has arm side run and sink at 83-85 mph, and we have seen it up to 86-87 this fall. Slider has tight spin and short, lateral 10/4 shape at 73-74 mph. Pounds the zone, attacking hitters early in the count with his fastball to both sides of the plate. Can spin the slider early and late in the count. With his athleticism (6.94 runner) and projectable frame, look for Bogusz to make jumps this spring as he continues to add strength.

Blake Helton, RHP, Lake Travis HS, 2018  
Uncommitted. Helton has a projectable, long-limbed pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-5, 180-pounds. The right-hander put together a sharp outing, pounding the zone with three pitches, and making quick work of hitters. Helton not only got ahead early in the count, but the unsigned senior also did a nice job of throwing his offspeed pitches in hitter’s counts. Working from a high slot with a loose, quick arm stroke, Helton has a bright future with more velocity in the tank. Fastball gets on top hitter quick, coming out clean with good tilt, sitting 85 mph for the entire outing. Throws a 12/6 curveball with sharp depth at 69-71 mph. After falling behind to one hitter in a 2-0 count, he went back-to-back changeups at 74-75, getting a swing and miss on both, then punched the hitter out on a curveball to finish.

Hambleton Oliver, RHP/1B, Calallen, 2019
Oliver is one of the top uncommitted players in the ‘19 class with a strong, sturdy frame at 6-foot-2, 195-pounds. On the mound, the right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a quick arm stroke, drop and drive delivery with some effort. Pounds the zone with a fastball that has good downward tilt at 85-86 mph, dropping only once to 84 mph. Spun his curveball for a strike whenever he wanted at 72-73 mph with tight spin and 11/5 shape. Flashed one slider at 77 mph with more lateral shape. Also worth noting, Oliver topped out at 90 mph from the outfield.

Beckett Vine, C/RHP, St. John’s HS, 2020
Vine is an athletic two-way player with a strong lower half in his 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a fast arm stroke and smooth delivery down the mound. Fastball jumps out of his hand at 83-85 mph, flashing arm side life. Was able to get swings-and-misses on as sharp 73-74 mph curveball with good depth and 11/5 shape.

Jack Hattrup, LHP/1B, Plano West HS, 2019
Hattrup has a projectable, high-waisted, long-limbed pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-4,182-pounds, and has plenty of room to add strength as he continues to develop. Still uncommitted, the left-hander has a confident demeanor on the bump, and had a stellar outing at the All-State Games, punching out three hitters and getting weak contact overall. Working from a high slot, Hattrup has deception in his delivery and creates steep angle on his fastball at 80-82 mph. The pitch also flashes arm side fade. His curveball was sharp at 69-71 mph with good downward bite and 1/7 shape. For good measure, he mixed in a 70-73 mph changeup that he throws with fastball arm speed and arm side fade. Above average pickoff move to first base. With his ability to command the zone with three pitches, look for big things from Hattrup this spring, as he continues to log varsity innings.

Mason Brandenberger, LHP, Clifton HS, 2020
Listed at 5-foot-10, 155-pounds, Brandenberger has been nails all fall, chewing up innings with plus feel for his for three pitches, all coming out of the same window with good arm speed. The left-hander works from ¾ slot with a clean arm swing. He locates his fastball to both sides of the plate with pinpoint control at 80-82 mph. Spun his curveball with 2/8 shape and good depth at 68-70 mph. Shows the ability to add and subtract from this pitch, get-me-over early, then chase late. Only threw one changeup with fastball arm speed and arm side fade  but he also showed a 75-77 mph changeup with depth and fade. Brandenberger works quick between pitches and has an “ice in his veins” demeanor as he can throw any pitch in any count. Look for his stock to continue to rise this spring during the high school season.

Gavin LaBruyere, SS/RHP, Montgomery HS, 2018
LaBruyere has a projectable, long-limbed, lanky frame at 6-foot-3, 175-pounds. The right-hander had a solid outing, recording four punchouts, working from a high slot with a short, quickish arm circle. Repeats his delivery with good tempo and feel for two pitches. Fastball flashes tilt at 84-85 mph, topping out once at 87. Was able to get swings and misses with a 12/6 curveball that has short, late break at 71-72 mph. Maintains good arm speed, creating depth on his changeup at 75 mph.

Jared Barta, RHP/1B, Cuero HS, 2019
Barta has a strong, projectable frame with broad shoulders at 6-foot-4, 225-pounds. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a clean arm stroke, short circle in the back and quick arm out front. Tall and fall delivery, lands square with an athletic lower half finish. His fastball topped out 85 mph, sitting mostly 82-84 mph. Showed a sharp curveball 71-73 with 11/5 shape and good downward bite. Also flashed a solid changeup with arm side depth at 75 mph. With his projectable frame, quick arm, and ability to spin a curveball, Barta is a junior that college recruiters will want to keep a close eye on this spring.

Jace Hutchins, RHP, College Station HS, 2018
Hutchins, a recent Blinn JC recruit, stands 6-foot-4, 205-pounds, with a projectable pitchers frame. The right-hander put together a solid outing, punching out three batters in one inning of work, two on changeups. He works from a high-¾ slot with short arm stroke. Good tempo in a drop and drive delivery, maintains good posture down the mound, athletic finish. Both fastball and changeup come from same window and have solid depth. Turns his fastball over with heavy sinking action at 83-84 mph, topping out at 85 mph. Changeup is a plus pitch with heavy arm side fade from 73-76 mph.

Cole Payne, RHP/SS, Cuero HS, 2018
Payne has a strong, athletic frame at 6-foot, 175-pounds, and will be a nice addition to a recruiting class with his ability to hit, pitch and play multiple positions. On the mound, the right-hander works from a high slot with an in-line, drop and drive delivery and athletic finish. The unsigned senior showed solid command in one inning of work. Straight fastball sat 81-82 mph. Threw his changeup with fastball arm speed at 74-75 mph, the pitch had heavy depth and fade. Threw his curveball for strike with gradual depth at 67-69 mph.

Austin Teel, LHP/OF, College Station HS, 2019
Teel has strong frame with broad shoulders and high-waist at 5-foot-10, 171-pounds. The left-hander works from a high slot with a quick arm stroke. Drop and drive delivery with an athletic lower half finish. Fastball flashes tilt at 82-84 mph, as he turns it over at release. Curveball came in at 64-67, ranging between 1/7 and 2/8 shape. Throws his changeup at 77 mph with arm side fade.

Tye Sampson, LHP, Guyer HS, 2019
Sampson has projectable, lean frame at 6-foot-5, 170-pounds. The left-hander works from a high slot with a loose arm stroke. Athletic, drop and drive delivery with good hip mobility. Coils at balance, then has good hip turn down the mound with an athletic lower half finish. Fastball comes out easy, flashing tilt and ranging from 76-80 mph. Really like the way he spins his curveball at 69-72 mph. The pitch has good downward bite and 1/7 rotation. Lots upside and plenty of projection still left in the tank.

Joseph Wolf, LHP, Liberty Christian HS, 2019
At 6-foot-2, 215-pound, Wolf has a strong, sturdy frame. The left-hander is a confident, strike throwing machine that logs significant innings because of his ability to keep hitters off balance with good feel for three pitches. Working from a ¾ slot with a long arm stroke, Wolf has good tempo and timing in a simple, repeatable delivery as he gets down the mound. Tons of strikes with his fastball that sat 80 mph. His curveball comes in with 1/7 shape and flashes downward bite, ranging from 67-72 mph. In previous outings we have seen him use 70 mph changeup to keep hitters off balance, turning it over at release, creating late, sinking action.

Brady Putnik, LHP/1B, Stratford HS, 2019
Putnik has a ton of upside still left in his 6-foot-7, 190-pound frame. The left-hander works high slot with a short arm stroke, up-tempo delivery, short stride down the mound. Shows good command of a straight fastball, ranging from 79-81 mph. Throws a 12/6 curveball with short, late break at 66 mph. Maintains fastball arm speed and flashes depth on his changeup at 74 mph.

Jordan Viars, 1B/LHP, Reedy HS, 2021
Just a freshman, Viars has a strong, projectable frame at 6-foot-3, 185-pounds. A two-way player and left-handed pitcher, Viars works from a high-¾ slot with a clean arm stroke. Smooth, drop and drive delivery with an athletic lower half and quick hand out front. His fastball sat 75-76 mph with some arm side run. His curveball shows signs of becoming solid pitch as he is able to repeat his release point and command the pitch for a strike at 61-63 mph with 1/7 shape.

Justin Dibler, RHP/OF, Cypress Springs HS, 2018
Dibler has an athletic, lean-muscular, projectable pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-3, 170-pounds. The right-hander works from ¾ slot with a long arm stroke, tall and fall delivery, and a quick hand out front. Throws a heavy fastball that sat 81-82 mph, topping out ounce at 85. Throws his curveball has depth and 10/4 shape, ranging from 71-73 mph. Showed solid command in one inning of work. With his heavy fastball, ability to spin a curveball, athletic frame, 7.14 60-yard dash, and 87 mph from the outfield, there is likely more velocity in the tank for Dibler.

John Cashimere, LHP, Coppell HS, 2019
5-foot-10, 160-pounds. The left-hander works from a ¾ slot with a short, quick arm stroke. Drop and drive, up-tempo delivery, good leg drive, lands square, gets out over his front side with an athletic finish. Fastball ranged from 75-77 mph, flashed arm side run. Does a nice job of staying on top of his curveball, creating downer 10/4 shape at 66-67 mph.

Cooper Timmons, SS/RHP, Clear Falls HS, 2019
6-foot, 160-pounds. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long, loose arm stroke. Smooth drop and drive delivery with an athletic finish. Fastball ranged from 76-77 mph, topping out at 79. Recorded a strikeout on his curveball that has 11/5 shape at 61-62 mph. Changeup shows signs of becoming a solid secondary pitch with good arm speed and depth at 69-72 mph.  

Reid Dalrymple, LHP/OF, Burnet HS, 2018
6-foot, 170-pounds. The left-hander works from an over the top slot with a long arm swing in the back. Gets down the mound with a long stride, drop and drive delivery, athletic finish with max effort and some deception. Fastball got on top of hitters quick at 80-82 mph and flashed cut into right-handed hitters. Curveball has more cutter type 2/8 shape at 70-71 mph.

Kaden Fikac, 3B/RHP, Victoria West HS, 2019
Fikac has a strong frame at 6-foot-3, 220-pounds. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a tall-and-fall delivery. Scattered a straight fastball around the zone at 78-79 mph. His curveball came in at 63-64 mph with gradual depth and 11/5 shape.

Jacob Flores, OF/LHP, Foster HS, 2019
Flores is a two-way player with an athletic frame at 6-foot, 160-pounds. On the mound, the left-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long arm swing. Drop and drive delivery with regular effort down the mound. His fastball has some arm side run at 75-76 mph. His curveball flashes depth with gradual break and 1/7 shape at 63-68 mph. Turns his changeup over at release, creating arm side fade at 71 mph.

J.T. Tackett, 1B/LHP, Cypress Christian HS, 2020
6-foot, 160-pounds. The left-hander works from an over the top slot, tilt and topple delivery, hips coil at balance point, lands square. Fastball flashes arm side depth at 73-74 mph. Although the velocities are close together, his slider slight cut to his glove side at 70-71 mph. Throws his changeup with fastball arm speed, turning it over at release, creating some depth at 63-64 mph.

Gavin Huson, LHP/1B, George Ranch HS, 2020
Huson has a sturdy frame at 6-foot-4, 195-pounds. The left-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long arm stroke, tall and fall delivery, lands square. Fastball sat 74-75 mph. Spun his curveball from 66-69 mph with short, gradual break. Changeup comes in at 69-71 mph.

 

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