By John Nolan
Assistant Director of Scouting

Patriot High School pitcher and 2014 Top Prospect Games participant Austin Gerber (RHP, 2016) has committed to attend Radford University in the fall of 2016. Gerber settled into his role as the Pioneers’ number two starter this spring, behind senior Jacob Christian (RHP, 2015, UMBC). Gerber finished second on the team in innings pitched and registered just under a strikeout per inning for the regular season Cedar Run Conference champions.

Gerber is the twenty-seventh player from last November’s event at Davenport Field, which featured players of the 2016 and 2017 classes, to have committed to a Division I school. Of the players that remain uncommitted, many will be featured in spotlights in the coming weeks as they weigh their offers and make their decisions, and the number of commits looks to increase significantly between now and the conclusion of fall ball.

Gerber’s most recent scouting report is from the Top Prospect Showcase North from June. Gerber has an athletic frame and throws from a low three-quarters arm slot with a rushed drop and drive delivery. He is long on his backside arm action before shortening up as he comes through to a quick armstroke that generates velocity with some effort. His shoulders are uphill and slightly closed as he strides out to an open landing before falling off as he finishes. Gerber’s fastball ran 81-83 that day, and his two seamer ran 77-79 with good, late run and sink to it. His curveball has late 10/4 break and ran 65-67. Gerber threw an outstanding fading changeup with full armspeed that he commanded well, sitting 72-73.

When Gerber arrives at Radford, he will be joining a Highlander program that has been on the rise for years under Head Coach Joe Raccuia. The Highlanders had a great season this spring, winning 45 games and sweeping through the Big South tournament to a Conference championship. Radford would go on to reach the Nashville Regional final before being eliminated by the eventual National Runners-up, Vanderbilt.

Gerber is a kid who can flat out pitch, he knows how to change speeds and use his movement to create weak contact. His changeup is an outstanding pitch that will play will at the college level. While he may not have elite velocity now, he is athletic and has an arm action that would suggest he will add a few ticks with the help of a college strength program. When he arrives at Radford, his fastball-changeup combination will allow him to be a weapon out of the bullpen immediately. He has the ceiling of becoming a weekend starter during his career who will pound the strike zone and getting soft contact in front of a Radford defense that is athletic and fundamentally sound.

Congratulations Austin!