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Southern Wisconsin Open: Pitching Analysis

November 6, 2014

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois

Finishing up our analysis of the Southern Wisconsin Open, we conclude with the top pitching prospects. RHP Alec Marsh (Reagan College Prep, 2016) clearly stood out as the top pitching prospect in attendance. The 6-foot-2, 185-pounder filled up the strike zone with an easy 87 mph fastball, touching 88 mph. Marsh’s changeup looks to be his most advanced secondary pitch and showed the arm speed for a quality breaking ball.

Just outside the top five were two 2017 prospects with a good upside. Jack Mahoney is a southpaw who stands 6-foot-4, 160-pounds and has plenty of room to grow into his frame. Mahoney showed good downhill action at 74-75 mph. Alec Esenther also showed a quick arm with deceptive delivery and feel for a 12/6 breaking ball.

Here’s a look at all the top pitching prospects.

Top Pitching Prospects

1. Alec Marsh, RHP/3B, Reagan College Prep, 2016
Highly athletic frame, 6-foot-2, 185-pound two-way player, projects really well, long legs, slightly barrel chested. Excellent upside on the mound. Tall and fall delivery, easy effort, stays on line with repeatable rhythm and tempo, squared landing and athletic finish. Arm action is free and clean, loose arm action from a high ¾ slot, comes out easy. Fastball has sink and showed the ability to command it, sat 87 mph, one 85 mph from the stretch and finished touching 88 mph from the windup. Curveball has 11/5 shape, ranged 68-74 mph, occasionally gets around it, showed the ability to spin it well. Changeup has fastball arm action, excellent sinking action, kept at the bottom of the zone, 76-78 mph with advanced action and feel. Marsh is a high follow in the 2016 class.

2. Austin “Augie” Mihlbauer, LHP/OF, 2017
Lean athletic frame, highly projectable, 5-foot-11, 150-pound two-way player. Projects well on the mound, delivery is athletic and fluid, tall and fall, highly balanced, repeats well. Closed landing, can get more out of lower half. Arm action is loose and quick, ¾ slot, slight crossfire. Fastball has easy late life to it, arm side run, sits 81-83 mph with good control. Curveball has sweeping action, plays on 2/8 plane, spins it well, late sharp action, 68-71 mph. Changeup is hard, power change at 76-80 mph. Left-handed hitter, tall open stance, smooth loading action back, short stride, chokes up on bat. Loose hands with bat speed, line drive gap to gap hitter, athletic in the box. 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively uses quick fluid footwork in the outfield, athletic defender, takes good routes. Hands play soft, arm works cleanly with carry, 87 mph arm strength from the outfield.

3. Jake Lenz, RHP, West Bend West, 2015
Athletically built right-handed pitcher, 6-foot, 185-pounds, good projectability. Tall and fall delivery, easy effort, mostly upper half, lands closed with athletic finish. Arm action is loose and quick, ¾ slot. Fastball has run, showed the ability to command it, 84-86 mph. Curveball has sweeping action, 10/4 shape, 73-75 mph, slider type shape from ¾ slot. Changeup thrown with arm speed, flashed sink, 72-74 mph. Lenz showed the ability to pound the zone with all three pitches, aggressive up tempo presence on the mound, projects well. Lenz is a strong follow in the 2015 class and still looking for options.

4. Nathan Santos, RHP/3B, Altoona, 2016
6-foot-1, 200-pound two-way player, large frame, solid build. Projects well on the mound, tall and fall type delivery, works on line, athletic finish. Arm action is long and loose, ¾ slot. Fastball has running action, showed feel for the zone and stayed around it, 80-82 mph, topped out at 83 mph. Threw two breaking balls. Curveball has slurve type feel, fastball arm action, good control, 71-73 mph. Slider showed similar action, 69-72 mph. Changeup has arm side action with sink, flashed excellent action, 74-76 mph. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short toe tap stride, good balance. Opposite field approach, slight uphill path, 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed some athleticism in the field, corner type defender. In the outfield arm played at 85 mph, on the infield played at 83 mph. 7.37 runner in the 60.

5. Nate Anderson, OF/LHP, Mukwonago, 2015
Heartland CC commit. 6-foot-1, 179-pound two-way player, lanky athletic frame. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride, smooth loading action, good balance. Whippy bat path through the zone, short path, line drive hitter. Defensively plays through the baseball, athletic defender, clean exchange, natural defender. Hands play soft and crowhops through the baseball. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot, 89 mph from the outfield. Ran the 60 at 7.05. On the mound delivery is athletic, arm action is loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball has arm side action, tended to miss arm side, 82-84 mph. Slider has downer action, some back up, 71-74 mph, some control. Hard changeup showed action, fastball arm speed, 78-80 mph.

Underclassmen on the Cusp

Jack Mahoney, LHP, Appleton West, 2017
Projectable left-handed pitcher, long thin frame, body has huge upside, extra-large hands, 6-foot-4, 160-pounds. Tall and fall delivery with smooth/deliberate repeatable rhythm, occasionally gets head off line, creates good downhill angle, easy effort, squared landing. Arm action is long and clean, loose free and easy, projects for more, high ¾ slot. Fastball has sink, works downhill, showed feel for the zone. 74-75 mph. Throws two breaking balls. Curveball has more 12/6 shape, showed decent feel, 62-64 mph, can be more aggressive. Slider has flatter action, 62-63 mph, 2/8 shape, showed feel. Looks to project better with curveball, creates a better angle and matches fastball window better.

Alec Esenther, RHP, Oconomowoc, 2017
5-foot-8, 128-pound right-handed pitcher, thin build, well above average arm strength for size. Full windup delivery, high front side, shoulders get uphill, gets on heels some. Arm action is long, over the top slot, good arm speed. Fastball has sink with slight running action, comes out of hand well, 78-80 mph, showed control of the zone. Showcased two breaking balls, slider flashed late action, 11/5 plane, 68-71 mph with control. Curveball has 12/6 shape, 67-68 mph, showed some depth and ability to land for strikes.

Derek Crawley, RHP/SS, Arrowhead, 2017
5-foot-11, 160-pound two-way player, lean thin build, athletic shape. On the mound delivery has regular effort, open landing, works slightly on heels. Arm works from an over the top slot. Fastball is mostly straight, 78-79 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, gradual action, showed some feel for the zone, 66-68 mph. Straight change, slight fading action, near fastball arm speed. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, slightly closed, short stride with good balance. Line drive type approach, slight pull tendency, 69 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays the infield with a short arm action, high ¾ slot, 72 mph across the diamond.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

David Fodor, OF/LHP, Bradford, 2016
5-foot-9, 161-pound left-handed two-way player. Left-handed hitter, closed setup, reverse toe tap stride, dives to hit, bat waggle load. Pull side swing, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with two hands from the outfield, deliberate routes to the baseball, arm action is short, high ¾ slot, arm plays at 74 mph. On the mound delivery works rotationally, slight coil into balance position with toe up. Arm action similar to that in the outfield. Fastball has slight cut, 68-73 mph. Curveball sat 54-56 mph, 1/7 plane. Changeup has slight cut action as well, 57-61 mph.

Patrick Foldy, 3B/RHP, Hamilton, 2018
6-foot, 135-pound two-way player, lanky frame, thin build, long legs. Defensively plays with a short loose arm action, high ¾ slot, 70 mph across the diamond. Loose easy actions, showed the ability to play through the baseball, projects as a third base type. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride, good balance throughout. Bat path works, short to the baseball, 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.96 runner in the 60. Athletic delivery on the mound, works online, high ¾ arm action, quick loose action. Fastball has arm side run, showed control of the zone, 72-74 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, showed feel with depth, big bender, 58-60 mph. Flashed a knuckleball at 63-64 mph.

Nick Hammel, RHP/1B, Muskego, 2016
6-foot-1, 225-pound two-way player, physically advanced strength, wide shouldered, strong lower half. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, longer stride. Strong hitter, bat speed present, longer path slightly uphill, power type hitter. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed footwork around the bag, long arm action, 74 mph across the diamond. On the mound works from a full windup, high ¾ slot. Fastball is mostly straight, four seam action, 74-77 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, gradual action, 61-66 mph. Straight change sits 66-68 mph. Forkball has downward action, 60-64 mph.

Christopher Huettner, LHP, Appleton West, 2016
6-foot-2, 155-pound left-handed pitcher, lanky build, long thin limbs. Slight drop and drive style delivery, high front side, toe down balance position, open toe landing. Arm works from a high ¾ slot, slight stab on back side, regular effort. Fastball showed slight run to arm side, 73-75 mph with control. Throws two breaking balls. Curveball sat 59-62 mph, 1/7 shape, slider had similar action, sat 62 mph, lacked identity from curveball. Changeup thrown with near fastball arm speed, mostly straight, 68-70 mph, showed better feel from the stretch.

Jake Lange, RHP, Mukwonago, 2016
6-foot, 175-pound right-handed pitcher. Delivery works across body, flexed lower half, loose glove side. Long arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball has some feel, 79-81 mph. Throws two breaking balls, curveball has 11/5 shape, slurve type action, 63-66 mph. Slider has similar action, gets around it more, 65-67 mph, breaking balls lack separation and identity.

Jonah Nosek, LHP, Kettle Moraine, 2016
6-foot-2, 180-pound left-handed pitcher, good athletic build. Delivery creates unique angles, funky left-handed pitcher that can create deception, works slightly across his body, ¾ arm slot. Fastball has run, showed good feel for the zone, pounded strikes with good arm side action at 72-73 mph, touched 74 mph. Curveball has slurve type action, 61-63 mph, occasionally backs up. Changeup thrown with good arm speed, flashes sinking/fading action, 63-64 mph.

Jerry Reinhardt, RHP/OF, Rib Lake, 2015
5-foot-10, 180-pound two-way player, average frame with strength. On the mound delivery starts with straight back rocker step to a high toe lift in to balance position, landing opened toed but staying on line. Regular arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 74-76 mph, mostly straight four seam. Curveball has sweeping action, 10/4 plane, 63-65 mph. Flashed a knuckleball at 59-63 mph. Right-handed hitter, closed stance, minimal loading action, short stride. Strong muscled swing, made occasional hard contact. 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively played the outfield with a long ¾ arm action, 75 mph. Ran the 60 at 8.01. 

Joey Scaffidi, OF/LHP, New Berlin Eisenhower, 2017
Left-handed two-way player, 5-foot-9, 160-pounds, athletic build carries strength. Left-handed hitter, slightly open stance, short stride, minimal loading action – slight arm bar, lower half can get more involved. Simple approach, handsy hitter, opposite field ground ball hitter, slap type swing. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Excellent runner, 6.79 laser timed in the 60. In the outfield showed athletic footwork (quick), raw athleticism in the outfield. Arm played over the top with some carry, 80 mph arm strength. Left-handed pitcher, tall and fall delivery, stretch only. Arm works from high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 76-77 mph. Showed two breaking balls, curveball has gradual action, 57-61 mph, slider sat 65-65 mph. Changeup cuts, 68-70 mph.

Jake Thomas, 3B/RHP, Pacelli, 2017
6-foot-1, 195-pound two-way player. Offensively hits from the right side, balanced stance, short stride, low finish. Swing created occasional whip, level path, gap to gap approach, 73 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a short over the top arm action on the infield, 65 mph across the diamond. 8.26 runner in the 60. On the mound delivery works online, slightly open stride. Arm action is short high ¾ slot. Fastball has slight cut action, 72-74 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 56-59 mph. Changeup had cut action, 66-68 mph.

Austin Vasquez, RHP/SS, Tremper, 2016
5-foot-9, 145-pound two-way player, medium fame and build. Delivery works slightly across body, slightly closed landing, toe up balance position. Arm action is short over the top slot. Fastball sat 72-73 mph, showed the ability to throw a number of strikes. Curveball has 12/6 shape, gradual action, landed for strikes at 60-64 mph. Changeup sat 60-62 mph, slightly decelerated arm action. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short reverse toe tap stride. Pull side approach, some length, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively played the infield with short abrupt footwork, arm played at 75 mph, over the top slot. Ran the 60 yard dash at 7.52.

Nathan White, 1B/RHP, Union Grove, 2017
5-foot-6, 165-pound two-way player, solid lower half. Offensively hits from a tall open stance, short stride. Opposite field contact, level path, 71 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed some footwork around the bag. Arm action has length, high ¾ slot, 64 mph across the diamond. On the mound arm action is similar to that on the infield. Fastball has sink, 61-63 mph. Curveball has 11/5 action, sweeping, 55-59 mph. Changeup sat 55-58 mph.

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