Toby Bicknell
Texas Scouting Director

Twitter: @PBR_Texas
IG: pbr_texas

 

COLLEGE STATION, TX - Some of the top underclass talent from around the state converged on Texas A&M on Tuesday, July 25 for the South Texas Underclass Games. The event was loaded with underclass talent from the 2019, 2020, 2021 class, with a few 2018 grads sprinkled in. Here is the pitching analysis from that event.

Top Performers

+ Jimmy Lewis, RHP/1B, Lake Travis HS, 2019
Lewis has tremendous upside with his 6-foot-6, 190-pound, long, projectable, athletic frame. He works from a high-¾ slot with a loose, quick, athletic arm stroke. He threw his fastball for strikes and sat mostly 87-89 mph with late, arm-side run and action, bumping 90 mph twice, and dropping only once to 86 mph. His fastball jumps out of his hand with ease. His curveball has 10-4 shape and depth, coming in at 72-74 mph. Has good feel for a changeup that he throws with fastball arm speed at 75-76 mph. With Lewis' projectable frame, quick arm, pedigree, and present arm strength, it is easy to dream that his velocity will continue to climb and his future is most likely on the mound at a Division I program.

+ Quinton Martin, OF/RHP, Sweeny HS, 2019
Martin showcased explosive tools at the South Texas Underclass Game, and committed to Rice recently. He has a strong frame at 5-foot-11, 190-pounds with a strong lower half. On the mound, the right-hander has an aggressive delivery with a quick arm stroke from a high-¾ slot. His fastball was around the zone, ranging from 86-90 mph with some effort, sitting mostly 88 mph. He throws a power curveball with late action, and excellent depth at 71-74 mph. Good feel for a changeup that he throws with fastball arm speed at 76-78 mph.

+ Michael Gresham, SS/RHP, Boerne Champion HS, 2019
Gresham is a legit two-way prospect that stands 5-foot-10, 170-pounds with a strong frame. The rising junior put together one of the better overall performances at The South Texas Underclass Games. The icing on the cake was at the end of a long day, (and 102 degree heat), when Gresham jumped on the mound for a one inning appearance. After his calf cramped in his first warmup pitch, the right-hander went on to pump 87-90 mph and showed a great feel for four pitches. Drop and drive delivery, quick, athletic arm stroke with some effort. His slider is a plus pitch at 75-76 mph with 11-5 shape, and his curveball has good depth at 71-72 mph with 12-6 shape. Threw one changeup at 73 mph. With his upside on the mound, and ability to play the infield, look for Gresham to garner a lot of attention from college recruiters.

+ Nathan Hamberg, RHP/OF, George Ranch HS, 2019
Hamberg has a projectable, long-limbed pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-3, 195-pounds, with plenty of room to add strength in the coming years. The right-hander works from high-¾ slot with a long, loose, low-effort arm stroke. Slow, tall and fall delivery with smooth rhythm, lands closed. Hamberg showed outstanding feel for three pitches, releasing all three from the same window. His fastball ranged from 84-87 mph, sitting mostly at 86 mph, with hard arm side run. His slider has 11-5 shape with late action and depth at 74-76 mph. He throws his changeup with fastball arm speed at 74-76 mph and arm side sink. With Hamberg’s ability on the mound, he will surely draw a ton of attention from college recruiters.

+ Bryce Toney, LHP, Cypress Ranch HS, 2018
Toney was impressive at the South Texas Underclass games, recording two punchouts in as many innings. There is still plenty of projection in his lanky, long-limbed 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame. The left-hander has a quick arm and clean release out front, working from a high-¾ slot he hides the ball well with a slight wrap behind him. He commands his fastball for strikes at 82-85 mph. His fastball varies in movement, flashing cut to his glove side and arm side run occasionally. Shows good feel for his curveball with 2/8 shape at 70-72 mph, the pitch has depth and should continue to develop into a plus pitch. He throws his changeup with fastball arm speed and depth at 76-78 mph. With his quick arm stroke, deception, projectable long-limbed frame, and ability to throw three pitches for a strike, Toney will make a great addition to a recruiting class.

+ Garrett Zaskoda, RHP/SS, Sealy HS, 2019
The 6-foot, 165-pound, athletic, right-hander showed some of the best pitchability at the South Texas Underclass Games, working from a high-¾ slot with a short, quick arm stroke and simple delivery. Smooth rhythm and tempo down the mound with an athletic finish allow him to repeat his delivery. He threw three pitches for strikes with late run and sink on his fastball at 85-86 mph, dipping down to 82 & 83 mph only once. He has a plus curveball with 11-5 shape at 73-76 mph. Throws his changeup with fastball arm speed, creating excellent depth and arm side run at 74-76 mph.

+ Jace Hutchins, RHP, College Station HS, 2018
Hutchins has a strong, projectable, high-waisted frame at 6-foot-4, 200-pounds with broad shoulders. The right-hander works from a high slot with a short, compact arm stroke, and a quick hand from back to front. His fastball flashes downward tilt, ranging from 81-85 mph. Hutchins can really pull the string on his changeup, a pitch he throws with fastball arm speed at 73-75 mph with good depth at the bottom of the zone. He threw one breaking ball that he was on the side of at 69 mph.

+ Carson Keithley, LHP/OF, Alvin HS, 2020
Keithley is an exciting young player with a quick arm and athletic frame at 5-foot-9, 145-pound frame. On the mound, he works from a high slot with a loose, quick arm stroke. Drop and drive delivery, good hip turn and leg drive down the mound, landing open with an athletic finish. Confident on the mound with an up tempo delivery, Keithley goes right at hitters. His fastball velocity was 81-85 mph, but there is certainly more to come in the future. His curveball was 66-69 mph with good 2/8 shape and more lateral action. Although the pitch has mostly sidespin, he did flash one at 71 mph with sharp break. Throws his changeup with fastball arm speed at 76 mph and arm side fade.

+ Gage Boehm, RHP/1B, Hutto HS, 2020
Boehm has advanced strength with broad shoulders and a thick frame at 6-foot-3, 245-pound frame. On the mound, the right-hander has a long, loose, ¾ arm stroke with a slight cross-fire delivery. His fastball comes out of his hand clean and easy and sat mostly 83-85 mph. Showed good feel for spinning the baseball with his slider at 67-69 mph with short, late break and slurvey shape. He also throws a late sinking changeup with fastball arm speed at 79 mph. Look for big things in the future as Boehm, both on the mound and at the plate.

+ Nicolas Gullo, RHP/SS, Dripping Springs HS, 2019
Gullo has an athletic, lean, 6-foot, 160-pound frame. The right-hander works from a ¾ slot with a longer, whip-like, quick arm stroke. Athletic delivery down the mound with good energy in his lower half and a fairly athletic finish as he falls off to his glove side. His fastball jumps out of his hand at 83-87 mph with a clean release. He stays on top of the ball well, occasionally creating some heavy action at the bottom of the zone. His breaking ball came in at 72-73 mph and varies between 10-4 and 11-5 shape and occasional depth. He throws his changeup with fastball arm speed at 72-74 mph. With his athleticism and arm action, look for Gullo to continue to make jumps in the near future.

+ Christian Cienfuegos, RHP/SS, Goose Creek Memorial HS, 2019
Cienfuegos stands 5-foot-9, 155-pounds, with a quick twitch frame. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a short, quick arm stroke. Drop and drive delivery with some effort, lands open with a recoiled finish. His fastball sat mostly 86-88 mph, dipping down to 83 and 84 mph a couple of times. Changes arm slots slightly on his curveball with gradual break, and 11/5 shape at 68-71 mph. His changeup was 76-78 mph with arm side run and fade.

+ Preston Hackney, RHP, Westlake HS, 2019
Hackney has a bright future with his solid build and projectable pitcher’s frame. He stands 6-foot-2, 171-pounds with a high waist, broad shoulders, and long limbs. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long, quick arm stroke. Uninterrupted, drop and drive delivery with his shoulders tilted upward as he gets down the mound by riding his back leg. Lands square, arm comes through release with an athletic finish. His fastball sat 82-84 mph for two innings. His curveball was 70-74 mph with 11/5 shape, and flashes signs of depth even though it had gradual break during the game. His changeup came in at 75-77 with near fastball arm speed. Hackney will be an arm that recruiters will want to follow closely this fall.

Best of the rest (alphabetical)

+ Drew Baggerley, 1B/RHP, Deer Park HS, 2019
Baggerly stands 6-foot-1, 180-pounds. The right-hander works from a ¾ arm slot with a long arm stroke and a tall-and-fall delivery. His fastball was 68-71 mph. His curveball had loose spin at 63-64 mph. Changeup came in at 67 mph.

+ Kaiden Beaty, C/RHP, Clear Falls HS, 2019
Beaty has a strong, sturdy frame at 6-foot, 170-pounds. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long arm stroke. Tall and fall delivery with choppy rhythm down the mound, lands in-line with his front foot closed and a fairly athletic, upright finish. Average command of his fastball at 77-81 mph. Curveball has loose spin with 11/5 shape.

+ Bradlee Evans, OF/RHP, Bryan HS, 2018
5-foot-7, 175-pound frame. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long arm swing with average effort. Decent rhythm in a tall-and-fall delivery, lands closed with a fairly athletic lower half finish. Evans commanded the strike zone with good feel for both his fastball and changeup, retiring four in a row at one point. Fastball ranged from 72-76 mph. Throws his changeup with fastball arm speed at 68-69 mph with slight fade. His curveball has early break with lateral 10-4 shape at 68-70 mph.

+ Zachary Freshcorn, SS/RHP, Waller HS, 2020
6-foot, 150-pounds, high-waisted, with a young projectable frame. The right-hander works from a ¾ slot with a long, loose, whippy arm stroke. Good balance, smooth rhythm, level shoulders, lands square with an athletic finish and average effort in a tall-and-fall delivery. Fastball ranged from 74-77 mph and comes out clean. Slows arm down leaving him on the side of his curveball, coming in at 59-62 mph with loose spin and 10/4 shape. His changeup was 65-68 mph.

+ Justin Gale, 3B/RHP, The Woodlands HS, 2019
Gale has a long, lanky frame at 6-foot-4, 170-pounds. The right-hander works from a high slot with a long arm stroke in a tall-and-fall delivery. Good hip mobility with a high leg kick at balance point. Smooth rhythm down the mound, level shoulders, lands square. His fastball sat 65-68 mph. He threw his curveball 58 mph with gradual break. His changeup cam in at 61 mph.

+ Nicolas Hernandez, LHP, Bishop HS, 2019
The 5-foot-7, 145-pound Hernandez attended both Underclass games and distinguished himself as an arm to watch in the 2019 class. The left-hander works from a ¾ slot with a long, loose, quick arm stroke. Athletic delivery with good energy as he gets down the mound with hip turn and leg drive. He showed good feel for his fastball at 80-83 mph with arm side run, topping out once at 84 mph. Commands his fastball well and locates to both sides of the plate. The pitch has more run when he goes to his arm side. Slightly drops his arm slot on off speed pitches. His curveball has a chance to be a very good pitch with 2-8 shape at 72-73 mph with sweeping, sharp break. His changeup was his third best pitch and inconsistent at 71 mph but shows signs of depth.

+ Caden Queck, OF/RHP, The Woodlands Christian Academy, 2020
5-foot-11, 160-pound, athletic frame. Queck works from a high arm slot with a short arm circle and a quick arm stroke. Tall-and-fall delivery with some rhythm and medium effort, level shoulders, lands closed, athletic lower half, upright finish. His fastball flashed sink at times, ranging from 80-81 mph for most of his outing, dipping down to 77 mph toward the end. Slowed his arm down on his curveball which had 10/4 shape, ranging from 63-64 mph with gradual break. His changeup cam in at 66 mph.

+ Chase Richter, LHP/OF, Cypress Woods HS, 2020
5-foot-11, 170-pound, athletic, lean-muscular frame. The left-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a short arm stroke, average rhythm, level shoulders, and in-line delivery. His fastball ranged from 74-76 mph, while his curveball was 64-67 mph with 1/7 shape. Straight changeup shows depth at 64-65 mph.

+ Peyton Rusk, C/RHP, College Station HS, 2020
Rusk has a projectable frame with a strong lower half at 6-foot-1, 185-pounds. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a long arm stroke. Directional, drop and drive delivery with balance, average effort and rhythm, lands square. His fastball ranged from 75-77 mph, topping out once at 79 mph. Throws his curveball for strikes at 64-66 mph with 11/5 shape. The pitch has good downard action when he keeps his hand on top. His changeup came in at 70-71 mph with some depth.

+ Chris Vann, OF/RHP, Clement HS, 2019
6-foot-2, 155-pound, lean, athletic frame. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a short arm stroke. Tall and fall delivery, front side pulls arm through release, lands square. His fastball was 76-80 mph, topping out at 81 mph once. Curveball has 10/4 shape with gradual break at 63-66 mph. Straight changeup came in at 71 mph. Occasionally drops down to a low-¾ slot to throw his fastball and curveball.

 

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