Summer Preseason I.D.: Pitching Analysis

May 26, 2016

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor - Wisconsin/Illinois

Yesterday we rolled out the top positional players at the Summer Preseason I.D. and today we take a look at the pitchers. Sophomore Bryce Konitzer took the top spot with a running 82-84 mph fastball. 2019 graduate Casey Wade (Germantown) stood out with a low 80's fastball and a highly projectable frame. Here's a look at the top pitchers.

Top Pitching Prospects

1. Bryce Konitzer, SS/RHP, Mukwonago, 2018
6-foot, 190-pound two-way player, solid athletic build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, reverse toe tap stride, average balance. Above average bat speed, uphill path, 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Some lift with a strong bat. 7.63 runner in the 60. Defensively showed athletic actions, solids hands, funnels to release, showed body control. Arm action is short and loose, high ¾ slot, athletic arm action. On the mound delivery is repeatable and works on line, high ¾ arm slot. Showed above average feel for the zone with his fastball, 82-83 mph, touched 84 mph with arm side run. Curveball has 11/5 shape, near fastball arm action, good spin, 64-67 mph. Changeup showed sinking action, 74-76 mph.

2. Casey Wade, RHP, Germantown, 2019
6-foot-3, 160-pound right-handed pitcher, long lanky frame, projectable build. Showed high upside on the mound, athletic delivery, tall and fall type with rhythm. Quick arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball has arm side run and sink, showed finish through the zone with control, 78-80 mph, touched 81 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, slurve type with two-plane action, flashed sharp action, 71-73 mph, good feel. Changeup is thrown with fastball arm speed, good feel and action, arm side run, 74-76 mph. Upside right-hander who showed feel for the zone with a projectable arm.

3. John Vanderploeg, LHP, Sheboygan Falls, 2017
6-foot-2, 185-pound left-handed pitcher, solid average frame. Methodical delivery, tall and fall type, stays balanced. Long back swing arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball runs to arm side, sat 78-81 mph, touched 83 mph. Curveball has 1/7 shape, showed feel for the zone, 65-67 mph. Changeup plays with fading action, 72-76 mph.

4. Devin Fish, RHP, New Berlin Eisenhower, 2018
6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed pitcher, solid frame. Delivery plays with some effort, uptempo style, finishes first base side. Arm action is quick and over the top. Fastball is mostly straight, sat 81-82 mph, topped at 84 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, throws aggressively, good spin, fastball arm action, 67-70 mph. Straight changeup at 72-74 mph. Good sinker with downer action, better action than changeup, 74-76 mph, could play as a power changeup.

5. Joshua Hunt, LHP, Waukesha West, 2017
6-foot-1, 170-pound left-handed pitcher, lean projectable frame. Delivery has tempo, high front side, regular effort. Arm action is short and quick, high ¾ slot, occasionally gets higher on curveball. Fastball has slight running action, showed feel for the zone, 79-80 mph. Curveball played 1/7 action, 64-66 mph. Slider has shorter/harder action, 10/4 plane, 72-73 mph. Changeup has good feel, 72-74 mph, arm side run, near fastball arm action.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Brett Brander, 2B/RHP, Menomonee Falls, 2018
5-foot-11, 155-pound left-handed hitting 2B/RHP. At the plate hits from a wide base with a heel lift stride. Pull hitter with an uphill path, looking to elevate. 68 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.31. Defensively has a long arm action from an over the top slot. Fields the ball deep with average hands. Threw 71 mph across the infield. On the mound works from an over the top arm angle with a long, stiff arm action. Stab out of the glove. Tall and fall online delivery with a short stride. Fastball was straight at 72-73 topping out at 74 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape at 55-59 mph. Changeup is straight at 62-64 mph.

Brandon Dodge, RHP/SS, Waukesha South, 2018
5-foot-8, 130-pound right-handed hitting RHP/SS. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall, slow paced delivery with a closed landing. Fastball flashed sinking action at 70-72 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape at 55-59 mph. Changeup showed sinking action at 67-68 mph. Offensively hits from a tall setup with a toe tap stride. Short, uphill swing path. 69 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.71. Defensively has a long arm action from a high 3/4 slot. Threw 71 mph across the infield.

Tyler Gaecke, OF/RHP, Mukwonago, 2018
6-foot-2, 190-pound two-way player, excellent frame with upside. Right-handed hitter, open stance, leg kick trigger. Loose hands with a fast bat, aggressive swinger, pull side approach. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 81 mph from the outfield, long over the top slot, flashed carry. Plays through the baseball with a crowhop, 7.43 runner in the 60. On the mound arm action is long with slight wrap, high ¾ slot. Works with regular effort occasionally across his body. Fastball showed occasional cut action, feel for the zone, 78-79 mph. Curveball has 11/5 action, slurvish, solid feel, 62-67 mph. Changeup is straight with occasional cut, 69-71 mph.

Luke Kundinger, RHP, Waukesha West, 2017
5-foot-11, 160-pound right-handed pitcher. Works from a ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Drop and drive, slow paced delivery with a square landing. Fastball flashed sinking action at 79-81 topping out at 82 mph. Gets underneath curveball that has sweeping action at 68-70 mph. Slows arm on changeup at 73-74 mph with sinking action.

Brian Sullivan, OF/LHP, Whitnall, 2017
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitting OF/LHP with a lean, lanky frame. At the plate hits from a tall, balanced setup with an arm bar, and slight wrap load. Long, uphill swing path. 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.50. Defensively has long arm action from an over the top arm angle. Plays thru the ball with solid footwork and average hands. Threw 75 mph from the outfield. On the mound works between a ¾ to high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall delivery with regular effort. Fastball flashed running action at 70-72 topping out at 73 mph. Slider showed sweeping action at 63-64 mph. Changeup has fading action at 66-69 mph.

Keegan Torkilson, RHP/2B, New Berlin West, 2019
5-foot-11, 150-pound right-handed hitting RHP/2B with a lanky frame. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short arm action. Tall and fall delivery with a closed landing, falls to first base side after release. Fastball was straight at 72-73 topping out at 75 mph. Curveball has slurve action at 61-63 mph. Changeup has sinking action at 67-68 mph. At the plate hits from a tall, balanced setup with a toe tap stride and average balance. Fluid rhythm with a long swing path. 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.32.

Jacob Wilde, LHP/1B, Waukesha West, 2019
Lean projectable frame, 6-foot-1, 165-pound left-handed hitting two-way player. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, smooth loading action, leg kick trigger with solid balance. Fluid hitter, good path, hands work to create bat speed, occasionally spins off. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed feel and athleticism around the bag, feet work. Arm played accurately at 76 mph across the diamond from a loose high ¾ slot. On the mound arm worked similarly, with a slightly lower slot, more ¾ slot. Slinging arm action short draw with extension out front. Fastball flashed sink, 71-73 mph. Curveball has 1/7 shape, occasionally sweeps, 61-64 mph. Changeup showed above average action, thrown with comparable arm speed, sinking action with feel for the zone, 67-70 mph.