Senior Games: Pitcher Analysis
October 18, 2018
At Kapco Park on Sunday, Sept. 23, we hosted fall’s annual Senior Games event in Mequon, Wis. The invite-only showcase is designed to provide the top remaining unsigned seniors in the state a platform to perform in front of a host of college coaches prior to the final offseason of their prep careers. Over 40 prospects made it to Mequon for the pro-style workout and 10-inning simulated game.
Today, we’ll continue our position-by-position analysis with the group of pitchers who took the mound at Senior Games last month.
One of the event’s top overall performers was RHP Jacob Arndt (Oconomowoc). The lanky righty was up to a lively 87 mph on the mound in Mequon. He struck out a couple of batters in gameplay and managed to turn the quality performance into a commitment to Madison College shortly following the showcase.
Two other arms from this group committed soon after Senior Games: RHPs Jack Perinovic (Menomonee Falls; Wisconsin-La Crosse) and Hruz Wagner (Slinger; McHenry County JC). Perinovic had a neat two-inning workload in simulated play where he struck out three batters all while showcasing a feel for at least three of his four-pitch mix. Wagner works at a slow pace with repeatable mechanics, allowing him to fill up the zone with his low-80s fastball and curveball-changeup combo.
To read all of the infielder reports from Senior Games, continue on below. We previously published the event’s Statistical Analysis, as well as a look at the day’s catchers, outfielders, and infielders. Keep an eye out tomorrow when we complete our showcase analysis by ranking the top overall prospects from Kapco Park.
ALL PROSPECTS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)
Jacob Arndt, RHP, Oconomowoc, 2019
Recent Madison JC commit. 6-foot-2, 167-pound, right-handed pitcher, lanky frame with athleticism in actions, plenty room for continued physical growth. Partial hybrid delivery, short, deliberate side step to tall, sturdy balance point, short stride, gets his foot down early and in line, toe lands square, athletic finish, rhythm throughout. Arm plays loose and clean, full arm swing, high ¾ slot, super easy effort, ball jumps out of hand. Fastball, mostly straight and firm through zone, some late run at times, 84-86 mph, topped 87 mph. Curveball, 11/5 gradual break, 68-71 mph. Changeup played 73-74 mph. Struck out two and walked two in gameplay, induced multiple weak groundouts.
Tyler Drezek, LHP, West Allis Central, 2019
6-foot-3, 220-pound, left-handed pitcher, thick, strong frame. Tall, sturdy balance point, slight sit on back side, works in line to home, toe lands square and spins open, heavy leg swing and spin-off towards third at finish, some rhythm. Arm plays short and clean, arm gradually speeds through a high ¾ window, regular effort. Fastball, flashed run in the zone, downhill with late life in-game, 79-82 mph, topped 84 mph. Curveball, 1/7 shape, near fastball arm speed, 68-71 mph. Changeup, cuts out of the hand, played 72-75 mph.
Joel Grunert, LHP/1B, Oak Creek, 2019
6-foot, 220-pound two-way prospect. On the mound, works uptempo, tall-and-fall type, hides the ball. Keeps rhythm, works on line, lands slightly closed. Fastball, straight, 78-81 mph. Curveball, some feel, 1/7 shape, 66-70 mph. Changeup, sinking action, 70-71 mph. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, bat wrap load. Uses thick lower half to finish through the ball, fast bat on short path, gap-to-gap contact, 89 mph exit velocity. Defensively, long and loose arm action, over-the-top slot, smooth footwork, feel for the bag; 78 mph throws to third. 7.90 runner in the 60.
Ryan Hubley, LHP/1B, Marquette University, 2019
6-foot-4, 185-pound left-handed pitcher/first baseman with strong, wiry frame that carries further projection. On the mound, works on line and lands square. Long, loose arm action from a high ¾ slot, long draw, arm swing, quick arm speed. Fastball, slight run, 82-84 mph. Slider, 2/8 shape, short and tight action, thrown at arm speed, 73-76 mph. Curveball played at 71 mph. Struck out two in his lone inning of work in simulated play. Left-handed hitter, balanced setup, loads hands back, short stride. Fluid rhythm, line drives to all fields, 94 mph exit velocity. Defensively, long arm action from high ¾ slot, fluid feet, 71 mph throws to third. 7.10 runner in the 60.
Andrew Javoroski, INF/RHP, Brown Deer, 2019
6-foot-3, 180-pound two-way player with lanky frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced, crouched setup, toe-tap stride. Short bat path, line-drive contact, 82 mph exit velo. In the infield, right-handed, long, loose arm action from high ¾ slot. Quick footwork, clean exchanges, throws 73 mph to first. On the mound, long, high ¾ arm action, works on line. Fastball, some run, control, 74-76 mph. Slider, 11/5 shape, 68-70 mph. Changeup, thrown near-fastball arm speed, some fade, 68-69 mph. 7.69 runner in the 60.
Sam Killian, RHP, Independence, 2019
6-foot-4, 185-pound, right-handed pitcher, lanky, athletic frame. Behind the rubber step to high knee, crunched balance point, extends down the mound, hips open early, works straight to home, toe lands closed, some spinoff at finish. Arm plays short and whippy, gradually speeds through a ¾ slot, deception in offerings, early release out of the hand. Fastball, run and some sink in the zone, climbed the ladder in-game, 80-82 mph, topped 83 mph. Curveball, 10/4 shape, flashed feel for, 67-69 mph. Worked two clean innings with one K in each.
Matthew Obst, RHP/3B, Waukesha West, 2019
6-foot-1, 185-pound right/right two-way player. On the mound, over-the-top, short arm action. Works in line and lands square. Fastball, straight, with control, 73-75 mph. Curveball, slows arm, 60-61 mph. Changeup, kept in zone, 69-71 mph. Worked a quick inning with a couple Ks in game action. Offensively, balanced setup, leg lift stride. Short, level bat path, line drives, 85 mph exit velocity. 7.96 in the 60.
Jack Perinovic, RHP, Menomonee Falls, 2019
Recent Wisconsin-La Crosse commit. 5-foot-10, 165-pound, right-handed pitcher. Works with tempo, short side step to low hanging knee balance point, works in line to home, toe lands square, athletic finish, some rhythm involved. Arm plays long and loose, slight stab on back side, high ¾ slot, dropped slot on a few off speed pitches in-game, effort is easy. Fastball, mostly straight, some tilt down in the zone, 79-81 mph. Curveball, 11/5 breaker with tight spin, sharp break, fastball arm speed, in the zone, 67-69 mph. Slider, distinctly different than CB, 10/4 sweeper, lowers arm slot, feel for it, 72-73 mph. Changeup played 70 mph. Struck out three, walked one and allowed one hit in two innings of work in-game.
Cade Pisca, RHP, Oak Creek, 2019
6-foot-3, 160-pound, right-handed pitcher, wiry, athletic frame. Stretch only delivery, repeats tall, sturdy balance, works in line to home, toe lands slightly closed, upright at finish. Arm plays long and loose, present arm speed, high ¾ slot, some effort involved. Fastball, worked mostly straight with occasional run, 79-81 mph, topped 82 mph. Curveball played 67 mph. Slider 10/4 sharp break, 71-73 mph. Changeup played 75 mph.
JD Schultz, RHP, Stevens Point, 2019
6-foot, 180-pound, right-handed pitcher, athletic build. Works with tempo, high hanging leg balance point, drop and drive delivery, works down the mound cross bodied, athletic finish with slight pop up at release. Short arm action, over the top slot, regular effort. Fastball, played straight, 78-81 mph, topped 83 mph. Curveball, 11/5 gradual break, depth at times with arm sped maintained, 64-67 mph. Changeup, worked straight, 74-75 mph. Went two innings striking out four and walking two.
Alec Strupp, RHP, Slinger, 2019
6-foot-2, 205-pound, right-handed pitcher, strong, athletic frame. Deliberate side step to crunched balance point, directionally in line to home, shorter stride, toe lands square, head jerk at finish. Long arm action, stab on back side, arm speeds up through an over the top slot, effort involved. Fastball, mostly straight with slight run at times, 76-79 mph, topped 80 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, 62-68 mph. Changeup played 66-69 mph. Most outs were caught through the air, two K’s in his two innings of work.
Hruz Wagner, RHP, Slinger, 2019
Recent McHenry County JC commit. 6-foot, 180-pound, right-handed pitcher, athletic frame. Short side step to sturdy balance point, works across body to home, toe lands closed, easy finish, some rhythm throughout. Long arm action, slight stab on back side, over the top slot, regular effort. Fastball, worked mostly straight with occasional cut, 77-79 mph, topped 80 mph. Curveball, 11/5 gradual break, around the zone, 66-68 mph.Changeup played straight with slight cut, 72-73 mph.