Houston Underclass Trials: Pitching Analysis

HOUSTON, TX - To say that the Houston Underclass Trials was loaded with talent would be an understatement. Over 50 players in the 2020-2022 grad classes converged on the University of Houston campus on Tuesday, June 5. Here is the pitching analysis from the event.

TOP PERFORMERS

Peyton Havard, RHP/3B, Bridge City HS, 2020
Havard has a strong, sturdy, barrel chested frame at 5-foot-11, 220-pounds. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long, loose, quick arm stroke. Good hip turn down the mound from a tall-and-fall delivery, lands square with an athletic finish and regular effort. His fastball comes out clean at 87-89. Throws his changeup with fastball arm speed, creating quality depth and slight fade at 77 mph. Curveball has 12/6 action at 71 mph, and his slider has 11/5 shape with short break at 74 mph. Havard will be back on the mound at the South Texas Underclass Games at Texas A&M on July 17, and the PBR Future Games in Indiana, August 1-4.

Logan Hamm, OF/RHP, Bridge City HS, 2020
6 foot, 200 pound frame with wide shoulders and a strong lower half, very physical.  Hamm had the best overall tools in the showcase, showed versatility, and proved he has the tools to be a true two-way player. On the mound, the right-hander has great mound presence. He flashed quick arm speed with a short arm stroke, and hides the ball well in his delivery.  Good balance, with regular effort in a drop-and-drive delivery. His fastball has late slight arm-side run and was 86-87, slider was 75-76 with sharp late break, his curveball was 71-73 with a tight 10/4 shape, and throws a straight changeup from 78-80. Maintains arm speed on off speed pitches, allowing for late and tight movement.

Chase Pelter, RHP, Kinkaid, 2021
At 6-foot-2, 198-pounds, Pelter has a strong, projectable frame with square shoulders. The No. 9 ranked sophomore in Texas continues to impress on the mound. Working from a ¾ slot with a tall-and-fall delivery the right-hander dotted up the zone with his fastball at 86-88 mph with arm side run. His slider has tightened up since we saw him in early January, the pitch is now 73-76 with tight rotation and 10/4 shape. With his feel for two pitches, arm speed, and projectable frame, Pelter is already garnering the attention of college recruiters.

Braden Olson, OF/LHP, Lake Travis HS, 2020
5-foot-10, 175 pound, strong, sturdy frame. Olson showed well both as an outfielder and on the mound.  The left-hander has three-pitch mix of a fastball (79-82), changeup (72, 74) and a curveball (68, 69). Creates solid arm speed with a long, clean arm stroke from a high-¾ slot, and a smooth tempo in a drop and drive delivery down the mound. Does a great job of getting out over his front side, working against a firm front leg with an athletic finish. His fastball ranged from 79-82 mph, but Olson threw the best changeups of the day, each with good hand speed and depth. The pitch was tough to pick up as it was similar to his fastball, and he had plus command as each one started about mid-thigh high and the bottom fell out of them to end up at/slightly below the bottom of the zone. His curveball has 11/5 shape at 68-69 with loose spin. Look for Olsen to make a jump in the future as he can already throw 86 from the outfield, and his arm works well with a synced up delivery.

Cole Van Poppel, RHP/1B, Rotan HS, 2020
Projectable frame with a high waist and long arms, standing 6-foot-2, 190-pounds, with room to continue packing on lean muscle. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a clean, quick arm stroke. Smooth, tall-and-fall delivery that he repeats well, allowing him to command three pitches for strikes. Outstanding body language and business-like presence on the mound. His command of fastball and changeup was excellent, working the ball down in the zone to both sides of the plate.  His fastball has late life, and heavy action from 80-82, changeup had depth and arm side fade at 76 mph. Curveball flashes good depth with 12/6 rotation at 66-68. With Van Poppel’s frame, repeatable delivery, and ability to command three pitches, look for him to climb up recruiting boards as he continues to develop.

Cameron Yadon, SS/2B, Bridge City HS, 2020
Yadon has a high-waisted, lean-muscular, projectable frame at 5-foot-11, 140-pounds. All around athletic player, ran a 6.80 laser-timed 60-yard dash. A two-way player and right-handed pitcher, Yadon works from a ¾ slot with an up-tempo delivery and good energy down the mound. His fastball sat mostly 81-82 mph, flashing arm side run. Best off speed pitch was his curveball that he throws with good arm speed at 75 mph with 11/5 shape, short break and solid depth as he does a nice job of keeping his hand on top of the ball. His changeup has arm side fade at 76-78.

Shea Walker, RHP/SS, Smithson Valley HS, 2020
6-foot-2, 185-pounds. A two-way player and right-handed pitchers, Walker works from a high-¾ slot with a long arm stroke and good energy down the mound. Drop-and-drive delivery, lands closed. Throws a two-seam fastball that has heavy sinking action at 81-84 mph. Maintains quality arm speed on his changeup, and has outstanding arm side fade at 68-70. His curveball has downer 12/6 break at 67-69. His slider was inconsistent but he still throws the pitch with good arm speed at 71-73 and 10/4 shape.

Kenton Weiland, LHP, The Woodlands HS, 2020
6-foot-3, 170 pound frame with a high waist.  Working exclusively out of the stretch, the left-hander has a long arm stroke from an over the top slot. Drop-and-drive, max effort, slightly cross-body delivery, lands closed. His fastball was 80-82 and flashed good angle toward the end of his bullpen. Changeup has good depth with slight fade at 72-73 mph.  Slider varies in shape and movement, but is a nice change of pace at 76-77. Also mixed in a 74 mph curveball that has short downward break.

Kal Edmundson, LHP/1B, Lake Travis HS, 2020
Edmundson has a long, lean, projectable frame at 6-foot-3, 185 pounds. The left-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long, loose, whip-like arm stroke. The ball is tough to pick up out of his hand as he has some deception in his drop-and-drive delivery, landing slightly across his body with a late hand separation, after a strong balance position. Throws a heavy fastball at 79-81. His curveball has a 10/4 shape at 68-70, and showed feel for a changeup at 70-72 mph.

Ethan Siegel, LHP/1B, Westlake HS, 2020  
Siegel has a projectable, long-limbed frame with broad shoulders at 6-foot-4, 180-pounds. On the mound, the left-hander works ¾ slot with a long, clean arm stroke, drop and drive delivery, and regular effort down the mound. After working out at two positions prior to his time on the mound, Siegel’s fastball was 76-78 mph, but there is likely more in the tank because of his frame and arm action. His curveball backed up on him a bit, but still had had good depth on his arm side at 67-68 mph. Throws his changeup with fastball arm speed at 73 mph with some depth at the bottom of the zone.

Best of the Rest (Alphabetical)

Blake Baker, LHP/OF, Wimberley HS, 2020
5-foot-9, 150-pound frame.  Has a three-pitch mix with a fastball (72-74), slider (68) and a curveball (64).  Delivery has smooth tempo, reaches a good balance point, and finishes upright with his upper body working towards 1st baseline upon his follow through.  All three pitches have the same arm speed and arm slot, which will make it tougher for hitters to pick up his pitches.  His fastball showed flashes of late life and should become more explosive as he continues to mature physically.

Justin Barry-Smith, RHP/2B, The Woodlands HS, 2021
5-foot-7, 130-pound frame.  Barry-Smith had a quick tempo to the plate out of the windup, a high ¾ delivery with some effort involved. Threw a 4-pitch mix of a fastball (74-75), slider (71-73), curveball (64-67) and a changeup (70-72).  His fastball was his feel pitch, as he was consistently around the zone with it. Slider thrown with good hand speed and has late cutter-like movement when he is on top of it throwing it downhill.

Jake Burris, C/RHP, Marion HS, 2022  
Burris has a strong frame for a rising freshman at 6-foot, 195-pound frame. On the mound, the right-hander works primarily out of the stretch with a tall-and-fall delivery, lands square with an athletic finish. From a ¾ slot, his fastball ranged from 78-80 mph with some arm side run. Spun his curveball at 61-64 mph with 10/4 shape. His changeup was 61-65 mph.

Cole Carroll, OF/LHP, Lake Travis HS, 2022
5-foot-6 120-pound frame. The left-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a smooth delivery and solid 3-pitch mix for strikes. Directional delivery, athletic finish, his fastball sat in the 67-69 mph range with slight arm side fade; changeup was 64 mph with good hand speed, late sink, and he located his changeup consistently down in the strike zone.  Curveball had gradual 11/5 break at 60-63 mph, and he had good feel for this pitch throwing it with consistent spin down at or below knee level.

Canon Chester, 1B/RHP, Sinton HS, 2022
Chester has an already projectable frame for a rising freshman at 6-foot-3, 185-pounds. A two-way player and right-handed pitcher, Chester has rhythm and tempo throughout a drop and drive delivery with good hip turn at the top of his balance point. Works from a high-¾ slot with a long arm stroke. His fastball was 74-77. His curveball had 12/6 rotation with good depth at 63 mph. Changeup was 59-62, and he shows feel for his slider at 69 mph with 10/4 lateral shape.

Gunner Gibbens, 3B/RHP, Van Vleck HS, 2022
At 6-foot-1, 199-pounds, Gibbens has a strong frame for a rising freshman. The right-hander works from exclusively from the stretch with a drop and drive delivery. Gibbens has good hip turn at balance point before he breaks his hands and works from a long arm swing from a ¾ slot with some effort. His fastball was 73-75 mph, flashing arm side depth. His curveball has 11/5 shape at 67 mph.

Levy Hammack, C/OF, Magnolia HS, 2020  
Hammack has a wiry-strong frame at 5-foot-10, 145-pounds. A two-way player and right-handed pitcher, Hammack works from a high-¾ slot with short arm stroke from the ear, after a slight reach out of the glove. Tall-and-fall delivery, good hip turn down the mound, lands square with an exaggerated finish. His fastball has some arm side depth as he pronates on release. His curveball has 12/6 shape with gradual, downer break at 65-67. His changeup flashes arm side fade at 68-69.

Landon Hammond, RHP/OF, Sweeny HS, 2022
6-foot-1, 160 pound frame.  Throws from a high ¾ arm slot with easy effort and a smooth delivery with direction in-line to the plate.  He had good feel for all three of his pitches throwing them for quality strikes down in the zone and he lived on the corners of the plate.  His fastball sat 77-78, and flashed 81 mph velocity, his slider (72-74) is his best pitch with tight spin and a sharp late break with plenty of depth, and a curveball with 11/5 shape at 65-66.

Tres Organ, RHP/SS, Episcopal HS, 2022 71-73, 55-59 cb, 57-58 ch
Organ has a young, still developing frame at 5-foot-7, 140-pounds. The right-hander works from a ¾ slot with a fairly quick, whip-like arm stroke. Up tempo, drop-and-drive delivery. His fastball was 71-73, and he showed good feel for 12/6 curveball that he throws for strikes with good depth at 55-59 mph. Slight push on his changeup at 57-58, but look for that to improve as he continues to develop.

Dakota Palmer, LHP/1B, Needville HS, 2020
5-foot-11, 185 pound frame.  Rhythmic delivery working in line to the plate, throws from a low ¾ arm angle.  Pounded the zone with his fastball working at a 75-76 mph range, had a sweeping breaking ball that ranged from 59-62, and his changeup was 67-70 flashing late sink.

Carson Queck, OF/RHP, The Woodlands Christian Academy, 2022
Projectable frame, athletic 6-foot, 168 pounds. He ran a 7.30 laser-timed 60.  Off the bump, he was 73-76 with his fastball showing some arm side run, sliders at 66-68, and a changeup at 59 mph. Maintained good direction with his lower half and shoulders in his delivery.

Joseph Richard, RHP/3B, Ridgepoint HS, 2021
Richard has a long-limbed, high-waisted frame at 6-foot-3, 165-pounds. A two-way player and right-handed pitcher, Richard works from a high-¾ slot with a long arm stroke and up tempo, drop-and-drive delivery with a high leg lift and good hip mobility. Long stride down the mound as he does a nice job of getting out over his front side. His fastball ranged from 73-75 mph. Shows feel for his changeup at 63-64 mph, and his slider ranged from 59-63 mph with loose spin. Look for Richard to make strides moving forward as he continues to add strength to his already projectable frame.

Caleb Sowell, OF/RHP, Kingwood Park HS, 2021
Sowell has a long-limbed frame at 6-foot-1, 165-pounds. On the mound, the right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long stroke and reach out of the glove. Tall and fall delivery with hip turn at balance point, lands square with regular effort. His fastball was 70-72 mph. His curveball has 12/6 shape at 65-67 mph.

Luke Thrutchley, RHP/C, Fort Bend Christian Academy, 2021
6-foot, 160 pound frame.  Thrutchley was 77-79 off of the bump flashing slight arm side fade on his fastball, his changeup was 67-68 with similar arm speed and late sink with some arm side run, and a slider that swept across the zone ranging from 63-67.  He controlled his changeup well by locating it down in the zone.

Weston Valasek, OF/SS, Tompkins HS, 2020
At 6-foot, 170 pounds, Valasek has an already athletic, long-limbed frame that should allow him to add strength as he continues to develop. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a clean, whip-like arm stroke. Smooth delivery with good tempo down the mound, allows him to repeat his release point consistently. Showed the ability to locate his fastball in the zone to both sides of the plate at 75-77 mph. Has good feel for a 12/6 curveball that located consistently for strikes - including quality missed below the zone at 65-67 mph. Threw his changeup for a strike with good arm speed at 66-68 mph.

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