South Texas Underclass Games: Pitching Analysis
September 5, 2018
COLLEGE STATION, TX - Some of the top underclass talent from South Texas converged on the campus of Texas A&M on Tuesday for the PBR Underclass Games. Today, we round out our analysis with twenty-seven pitchers.
Peyton Havard, RHP/3B, Bridge City HS, 2020
A burly, 5-foot-11, 220-pound frame. On the mound, the right-handed pitcher repeats an easy, athletic delivery with a quick arm swing from a high ¾ slot. Coming down the slope, he opens his hips with thunder, while transferring his sturdy frame fundamentally compact. His fastball hovered around 86-90 mph, even touching 91 mph, with good life in the zone. His 11-6 curveball sat at 72-73 mph, and showed hard, downward bite, leading to a strikeout. He also showed a 76 mph slider and a deceptive 80 mph changeup as part of his arsenal.
Chase Pelter, RHP/OF, The Kinkaid School, 2021
Strong, projectable 6-foot-2, 198-pound frame, Pelter continues to establish himself as one of the top 2021 arms in the state of Texas. The right-handed pitcher works methodically towards home plate in an elevated, tightly-wound delivery with a quick arm stroke from a ¾ arm slot. Comes downhill with power, as he clears his front side with force and does well to transfer his weight and square his shoulders at the pivot point. His fastball was consistently 86-89 mph with good carry up in the zone. The slider was 74-75 mph with tight 10/4 shape. Still only a rising sophomore, Pelter has the tools to continue inflating his stock.
Kauner Porter, 3B/RHP, Samuel Clemens HS, 2020
Already-strong, projectable 6-foot-3, 198-pound frame. The right-hander works from a high ¾ slot with a short arm stroke, subtle drop-and-drive delivery that produces quick arm speed. His fastball sat 87-88 mph, a pitch he commanded well down in the zone. His curveball, clocked at 75 mph, flashed hard 11-5 break, two-plane movement, and is a plus pitch when commanded. He also mixed in a changeup at 77 mph that he throws with fastball effort. Porter enters his junior year as an already imposing athlete with room for growth, and his development should be a focus for college coaches.
Logan Hamm, OF/RHP, Bridge City HS, 2020
Hamm has a strong, sturdy 6-foot, 200-pound frame with a well defined lower half. On the mound, he works with a simple, repeatable, drop-and-drive and delivery, where his loose-quick arm stroke translates from the outfield and onto the bump. He hides the ball well and finishes from a high-¾ window, throwing all of his pitches from a similar slot. His fastball ranged from 85-90 mph, with a lot of strikes at the bottom of the zone. His 11/5 curveball sat at 73-74 mph, with good snap and two-plane movement. Hamm’s stock rose tremendously this summer, and his tools are to be coveted.
Konnor Baird, RHP/1B, Salado HS, 2020
Projectable, athletic, 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame. The right-handed pitcher has a unique delivery, with tremendous feel for how to use it. Does well to create potential energy before he comes downhill, as he is very compact at the peak of his delivery. Keeps his lead shoulder closed, and fires home with a short, quick arm swing and at a ¾ arm slot. Strides forward with tempo, stays center towards home plate with an athletic finish. His fastball hovered around 85-87 mph, commanding his heater to both sides of the plate, including a backwards K. His curveball ranged from 74-77 mph, with tight 11/5 shape, and has the look of a go-to out pitch. Showed a developing straight changeup at 72-74 mph.
Gray Harrison, SS/RHP, Westlake HS, 2020
Projectable 6-foot-1, 155-pound frame. A two-way player and right-handed pitcher, Harrison translates his superior arm strength on the mound, where he benefits from a long, smooth arm swing that releases from an over-the-top slot. His fastball sat 85-88 mph showing good life and command at the bottom of the zone. His 12-6 curveball played at 70-73 mph, creating a couple of strikeouts in his lone inning of work. He also mixed in a developing changeup at 72 mph.
Jacek Karczewski, RHP/OF, Nacogdoches HS, 2020
Long, projectable 6-foot-3, 170-pound frame. The right-handed pitcher has a flexible, calm, athletic, tall-and-fall delivery with a medium arm swing while working towards home plate with a ¾ arm slot. Easy effort with a soft landing, Karczewski does well to keep his front side closed, and has solid torque in his top-half. His fastball ranged from 82-87 mph, a pitch with downward angle. His curveball hovered around 73-75 mph, a pitch that showed big 11/5 shape and solid bite. He also threw a 75-76 mph slider with 11/3, cutter-like action, and he wasn’t afraid to throw it inside to lefties. Given his height, long limbs and room to put on weight, there is a lot to like about Karczewski’s future.
Braden Olson, OF/LHP, Lake Travis HS, 2020
Strong 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame with a thick lower-half. On the mound, the left-hander gathers himself with a repeatable, tall-and-fall delivery as he clears his front side. Showed good command to both sides of the plate with a 81-82 mph fastball. Flashed a 72-74 mph with good 11/5 shape and depth. Also mixed in a 74 mph changeup. With his clean arm stroke, durable frame, and ability to spin a breaking ball, Olson is an arm that college coaches will want to follow closely.
Nicholas Perry, RHP/1B, Denton Braswell HS, 2020
Sturdy 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame. The right-handed pitcher has a fluid, tall-and-fall delivery with uphill shoulders. Comes over his front side well with good reach down the mound. Easy tempo both in his delivery and his arm swing, as the baseball jumps out his hand with little effort. Throws all of his pitches with the equal conviction and from a similar slot. His fastball was 83-85 mph with good downward angle, producing a few swings and misses. His 72-73 mph curveball has big 11/5 shape with good depth, a pitch that caused some knees to buckle. Also mixed in a developing a changeup with some arm-side fade.
Oscar Zepeda, RHP/1B, Incarnate Word Academy, 2020
6-foot, 160-pound frame. A two-way player and right-handed pitcher, Zepeda translates his unique arm stroke along with a compact, repeatable, drop-and-drive delivery. His fastball hovered around 83-86 mph, with command at the bottom and around the perimeter of the strike zone. His 11/6 curveball was clocked at 72 mph, a pitch with impressive depth.
Cale Wagoner, RHP/1B, Reagan HS, 2020
6-foot-2, 180-pound, high-waisted frame. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long arm swing. Up tempo delivery as he coils his body and uses a high leg kick to generate momentum down the mound with a long stride in a drop-and-drive delivery. Located his fastball at 82-84, topping out at 86, changing the hitter’s eye level by locating at the top - and bottom of the zone. Mixing in his 11/5 curveball at 73-75 made a tough inning for hitters. The pitch has tight rotation and good depth.
Joshua Cordova, LHP/OF, Klein Collins HS, 2020
Lean-strong 5-foot-9, 160-pound frame. The left-handed pitcher works from a balanced, repeatable delivery with a medium arm swing, shortish arm stroke at a high ¾ arm slot. Has a relaxed rhythm towards home plate, throwing all of his pitches from a similar window. His fastball, ranging from 80-83 mph, has natural lefty run to his arm-side and in his lone inning of work, wasn’t seen well by opposing hitters. Cordova has tremendous feel for his 71-73 mph curveball, a pitch with 1/7, almost sweeping-like shape when he gets on top of it. Produced a swinging strikeout down-and-in to a right-hander with his breaking ball, and isn’t afraid to throw it any count. Also flashed a 70-72 mph changeup with a little bit of arm-side fade.
Luke Thompson, LHP/OF, Cypress Christian HS, 2020
Thompson has a high-waisted frame at 6-foot-2, 165-pounds. The left-hander works from a low-¾ slot with a medium arm stroke. Creates deception in his delivery as he hides the ball well. Tends to pronate on release which creates heavy sink on his fastball that was 80-83 mph. His changeup has good arm side fade at 74-75 mph. Also throws a slider with more lateral-slurve 2/8 shape and action at 70-72.
Cole Van Poppel, RHP/1B, Rotan HS, 2020
Van Poppel has a strong, durable frame at 6-foot-2, 190-pounds with broad shoulders. Working from a high slot, the right-hander pounded strikes for the duration of his outing with a tall-and-fall, directional delivery, and athletic finish. Creates good angle on his fastball to both sides of the plate at 80-83 mph, mixing in a plus changeup that he throws with fastball arm speed at 74 mph. Threw his curveball for strikes with deep break and 12/6 shape at 67 mph.
Tate Van Poppel, RHP/1B, Argyle HS, 2020
Strong 6-foot, 190-pound frame. On the mound, the right-handed pitcher strides down the slope with a clean, repeatable, tall-and-fall delivery, working from an over-the-top arm slot with a short arm swing. Showed solid command of his fastball at 80-83 mph, pitching down and to the boundaries of the zone. His 12/6 curveball showed depth at 66-68 mph, as he buckled some knees. Van Poppel also mixed in a straight changeup at 67 mph.
Will Hauser, SS/RHP, Rosehill Christian HS, 2020
A wiry 6-foot, 170-pound frame. The right-handed pitcher works solely from the stretch position, with a compact delivery. His arm works from a high ¾ slot, where he flashed good explosion over his front side with an athletic finish. His fastball ranged from 76-83 mph, mixing in a 63-66 mph curveball with 11-5 action.
Jonathan Isbell, 1B/RHP, Klein Collins HS, 2020
Wiry, projectable 6-foot-2, 160-pound frame. On the mound, Isbell works from a submarine slot with, 72-75 mph fastball flashing some arm-side run. His curveball, clocked at 68 mph with side spin and lateral break. Did a great job of pounding the strike zone, and showed the ability to keep the bend in his torso which provided for sink and run on his fastball.
Noah Krieger, RHP, Gateway Prep, 2021
Projectable, 6-foot-1, 160-pound frame. The right-handed pitcher works primarily from the stretch in a tightly closed delivery. With more of a push-back arm swing, Krieger comes towards home plate with a low, loose ¾ arm slot. His fastball maintained at 80-83 mph with good command at the bottom of the zone to produce a pair of ground balls. His 61-66 mph curveball showed arcing 10/4 shape with depth.
Trajan Lee, RHP/1B, Houston Christian HS, 2021
With a sturdy, 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame that isn’t done filling out, On the mound, he attacks the plate with a drop-and-drive delivery, while his arm works from a high ¾ slot. His fastball ranged from 76-82 mph, mixing in a 72 mph curveball. With long arms and plenty of time to grow into what projects to be a larger frame, Lee is an interesting 2021 prospect.
Tristan Ordeneaux, RHP/2B, Needville HS, 2020
5-foot-9, 175-pound athletic frame. The right-hander has a smooth delivery, hides the ball behind his body in his delivery, has a short arm stroke with a low over-the-top release point, has direction to the plate and a strong front side working in line to the plate, and has an athletic finish. His fastball was 80-84 mph and he worked it around the strike zone. Also threw an 11/5 curveball with developing shape at 64-66 mph, and he showed the ability to throw it in various counts plus the ability to put hitters away with it.
Dakota Palmer, LHP/1B, Needville HS, 2020
5-foot-11, 185-pound frame. On the mound, the left-handed pitcher works from a high ¾ slot with a repeatable, tall-and-fall delivery. His fastball hovered around 75-78 mph, also showcasing a 61-68 mph curveball with developing shape.
Evan Potter, Lake Creek High School, RHP/OF, 2020
Potter has a lean, athletic frame at 5-foot-11, 140-pounds. A two way player and right-handed pitcher, Potter work from a high-¾ slot with a medium arm swing and quick hand out front. Drop and drive delivery that syncs up well with a high leg lift and long stride down the mound, landing across his body. His fastball ranged from 79-84 mph with occasional tilt. Showed good feel for a downer curveball with 12/6 shape at 69-74 mph.
Mitchell Reddy, SS/RHP, Memorial HS, 2020
A lean 5-foot-7, 130-pound frame. The right-hander works with a repeatable, drop-and-drive delivery from a ¾ arm slot, allowing him to pound the strike zone with his fastball at 77-81 mph, flashing life at the bottom of the strike zone. His curveball had good rotation with 11/5 shape at 69-70.
Matt Scannell, OF/LHP, St. Mary’s Hall, 2020
Scannell has a durable 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame with broad shoulders. A two-way player and left-handed pitcher, Scannell works from a high-¾ slot with a clean arm swing. Easy leg lift with good hip turn down the mound. His sat mostly 79-81, dropping only a couple of times to 77 from the stretch. Maintains arm speed on his curveball and the pitch has good depth at 63-68 mph with 2/8 shape. Also works in a 71-72 mph changeup that he turns over at release, creating arm side depth.
Christopher Stallings, OF/RHP, The Kinkaid School, 2020
The recent Air Force commit is an all around athlete, with a projectable, lean-muscular, high-waisted frame at 6-feet, 165-pounds. A two-way player and right-handed pitcher, Stallings works from an over the top slot with a tall-and-fall delivery. His fastball was 76-81 mph. Throws a 12/6 curveball at 69-71 with 12/6 rotation, flashing occasional sharpness. Threw his changeup at 73 mph with fastball arm speed.
Will Szymanski, RHP, Bellaire Episcopal HS, 2021
Szymanski has a long-limbed, projectable frame at 6-foot-2, 160-pounds. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a clean arm stroke, drop-and-drive delivery, and athletic lower half finish. Gets on top of his fastball, flashing tilt at 77-81, topping out at 82. Throws a 12/6 curveball with good rotation at 66-68. With his frame, ability to repeat his delivery, and feel for spin, Szymanski will be an arm to follow closely over the next year.
Kenton Weiland, LHP, The Woodlands HS, 2020
At 6-foot-3, 170-pounds, Weiland has a long-limbed, wiry frame. The left-hander works predominantly from the stretch from a ¾ slot with a long arm swing and cross-body delivery. Scattered command of his fastball was 71-75 mph. Curveball had 2/8 shape at 68 mph.