Underclass Trials: Pitcher Analysis
August 23, 2018
To conclude our position-by-position breakdown of the Underclass Trials event, we’ll analyze the pitchers who took the mound at The Rock in June. Some of the state’s best 2020, 2021, 2022 talent attended the showcase and, of the classes represented at the event, it was the incoming sophomores who impressed most.
Of the top-10 pitching prospects listed below, seven of them belong to the class of 2021. Among them was Isaac Engelbrecht (Oak Creek), a tall and lean righty with ample projection. The 6-foot-3 Oak Creek arm is showing the right kind of development as he gets accustomed to his lanky, athletic frame. He’s capable of repeating his delivery which is helping Engelbrecht harness his quick arm that should facilitate a jump in velocity down the road.
Righties Andrew Brockwell (Brodhead) and George Henkel (Appleton West) were the next two 2021s who made the ranked list. Both demonstrated some live and loose arm action that helped them create some natural run on their fastballs. Their offspeed is a work in progress, which is certainly commonplace for arms who’ve yet to make their debuts as sophomores, but once they’re able to find those, Brockwell and Henkel will raise their own lofty ceilings.
The pitchers at Underclass Trials might have been the deepest and most talented position at the event, so there’s much more to cover in the top-10 list below. Beyond that, we’ve got full reports on each and every one of the prospects who took the mound in late June. Click the hyperlinks to view our previously posted positional analysis: C, INF, OF.
Tomorrow, we’ll combine all of the event’s prospects to make a Top Overall post to determine who were the best and brightest across Underclass Trials.
TOP PROSPECTS
1. Isaac Engelbrecht, RHP/3B, Oak Creek, 2021
6-foot-3, 185-pound two-way player, high waisted lean athletic frame, projects best on the mound. Ability to repeat delivery, with little effort, uses slide step out of the stretch. Arm action is long, works out of high ¾ slot, quick arm. Fastball is mostly straight, 82-83 mph in the windup, 78 mph out of the stretch. Slider has gradual 10/4 shape, 66-68 mph. Splitter sinks, worked down, 68-72 mph. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride to even. Path is slight uphill, hard contact at times to both gaps. 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm works similar to that on the mound, 80 mph across the diamond. Third base profile, hands play through the baseball, gets tall at times. 7.22 runner in the 60.
2. Charlie Campbell, RHP, South Milwaukee, 2020
6-foot-5, 175-pound right-handed pitcher, long lanky frame, slender build, projectable body type. Delivery is long levered, tall and fall down the hill, lands square into slight recoil finish. Arm action is clean, long and loose with quickness out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball showed control of the zone, mostly straight action, some tilt, sat 77-79 mph, touched 82 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, near fastball arm speed, 60-64 mph. Changeup sinks to arm side, 67-69 mph.
3. Andrew Brockwell, RHP/3B, Brodhead, 2021
6-foot-1, 155-pound two-way player, lean athletic body type. On the mound works directionally down the hill, firm front side, uses slide step out of the stretch. Live arm works loose and quick from a high ¾ slot. Stays on top of the fastball, slight sink and run, 79-80 mph, touched 82 mph. Cutter played at 70-71 mph, slightly decelerated arm action. Changeup sinks, 68-70 mph. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, front foot swings into stride. Path is level through contact, line drive hitter, showed bat speed, hard contact at times. 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short out of a high ¾ slot, 75 mph across the diamond. Hands play out in front, confident hands work through the baseball and funnel to release. 7.46 runner in the 60.
4. George Henkel, RHP/3B, Appleton West, 2021
6-foot-2, 185-pound two-way player, lean projectable frame. Delivery shows ability to repeat, tall and fall type, coil lift at balance point with toe down, swings to square landing. Arm action is loose and quick, high ¾ slot. Fastball runs slightly to arm side, feel for the strike zone, 77-78 mph, topped at 79 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 61-63 mph. Slider is similar, slightly harder at 64-66 mph. Changeup runs to arm side, 67-70 mph, occasionally lower slot. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, short stride, good balance through contact. Loose hands, projectable swing, path is short made line drive gap to gap contact. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is long from a high ¾ slot, 76 mph across the diamond. 7.96 runner in the 60.
5. Danny Perdzock, RHP/INF, Milwaukee Lutheran, 2020
6-foot-4, 200-pound two-way player, long lanky frame, projects. Delivery works with long levers, direction is on line, lands square. Arm action is long, high ¾ slot. Fastball is straight, touched 83 mph, 80-82 mph. Curveball worked 12/6, 65-67 mph. Changeup sinks, near fastball arm speed, 68-72 mph. Right-handed hitter, open stance, big leg kick stride. Pull side approach, occasional hard contact, line drive. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, 72 mph across the diamond. Exchange is clean, glove pat release. 7.81 runner in the 60.
6. Jake Leverenz, OF/RHP, Lake Country Lutheran, 2020
6-foot, 195-pound, left-handed outfielder, strong, athletic build. Offensively, tall, open setup, smooth load, leg kick timing-trigger. Pull hitter, long, uphill barrel path, aggressive swings, 92 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short arm action, ¾ slot, kept throws around bag with some carry, 79 mph. Plays through the ball, clean on exchanges, fluid footwork at-times. Ran a 7.35 laser-timed 60. On the mound, long arm action, high ¾ slot, regular effort. Tall and fall delivery, some rhythm, lands square, finishes athletically. Fastball, run action, sat 78-79, touched 80. Curveball, 1/7 shape, 63-67. Changeup, armside run, 73-75.
7. Carl Cano, SS/OF/RHP, Bay Port, 2021
6-foot, 160-pound, two-way prospect, lanky frame. Offensively, right-handed, closed setup, bar load, maintains balance. Opposite field approach, makes line drive contact, 88 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, more natural actions in outfield, arm action is long, loose, high ¾ slot, 77 mph from the outfield. On the infield, short arm action, high ¾ slot, fields deep, 79 mph across the infield. On the mound, quick, loose arm action out of a high ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery. Fastball, running action, sat 79 mph, touched 80. Curveball, 11/5 shape, gradual break, 62-66. Changeup, sinking movement, 68-71.
8. Will Staviski, RHP/1B, Brookfield East, 2021
6-foot-1, 150-pound two-way player, long slender frame. Projects best on the mound, tall and fall delivery with regular effort, works directional, lands square. Arm action is long and over the top. Fastball has slight sink, 77-78 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape. 63-64 mph. Changeup sinks, fades to arm side, 69-72 mph. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, leg kick trigger, average balance. 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays at 74 mph across the diamond, high ¾ slot. Showed body control on the infield, clean exchange. 7.99 runner in the 60.
9. Josh Caron, C/RHP, Sun Prairie, 2021
5-foot-10, 170-pound two-way player, strong loose build, projects best behind the plate. Right-handed hitter, open stance, loads hands back with slight bat wrap, long leg kick trigger. Aggressive hitter, attacks the baseball, hard contact with bat speed, path is level and loose, occasional pull side approach. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, loose arm, flashed carry, 72 mph. Strong block, hands are soft, feet work fluid to target. 2.11-2.22 pop times. On the mound arm is short and over the top. Fastball is straight, 76-78 mph, topped at 80 mph. Curveball has depth on 12/6 plane, 58-61 mph. Changeup is straight, gets underneath at times, occasional fade, 65-66 mph.
10. Hunter Johnstone, 3B/RHP, Oak Creek, 2021
6-foot-1, 185-pound two-way player, strong mature build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, loads hands back, short stride, average balance. Level path, showed bat strength, 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively exchange is clean, feet work through, projects at third base. Strong arm for age, 79 mph across the diamond, short over the top slot. 7.61 runner in the 60. On the mound arm works similar. Fastball is straight, worked downhill with occasional tilt, 78-80 mph. Cutter has downer action, 10/4 shape at times, ranged 61-67 mph. Changeup sinks, 64-69 mph.
Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)
Dylan Ackermann, LHP/1B, Newman Catholic, 2021
6-foot-1, 150-pound left-handed two-way player, lean lanky frame. Left-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Path works uphill, natural lift from the left side, 74 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.91 runner in the 60. Defensively arm action is long and over the top, 64 mph across the diamond. On the mound delivery works with regular effort, long arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball is straight, slight running action, 74-76 mph, touched 77 mph. Curveball worked gradually on 1/7 plane, 58-60 mph. Changeup sinks, 62-63 mph.
Austin Bestul, INF/RHP, Elkhorn, 2021
5-foot-8, 145-pound two-way player, athletic frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup with smooth loading action, short reverse load stride, good balance throughout. Bat path is short, line drive gap to gap contact, fluid rhythm. Athletic hands, works the middle of the field. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is loose, some length, high ¾ slot, carry across the infield, 81 mph. Hands played soft, out front, fluid actions, plays through the baseball. 7.33 runner in the 60. On the mound arm plays over the top long action, plunges in back, regular effort. Works in rhythm, lands square with closed toe. Fastball is straight, 77-79 mph, touched 80 mph. Curveball plays with 11/5 shape, 62-66 mph. Changeup sinks, 68-71 mph.
Mason Buss, RHP/OF, Arrowhead, 2022
5-foot-11, 135-pound, right-handed two-way prospect. On the mound, long arm action, some looseness, ¾ slot. Drop and drive delivery, lands toe open, falls off first base side. Fastball, run action, commanded, sat 74-75. Curveball, 12/6 shape, feel for, 63-67. Changeup, mostly straight, 63-66. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride, maintains balance. Long, controlled barrel path through zone, uses whole field, 77 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.82 60. Defensively, long, clean arm action, high ¾ slot, fluid footwork, clean exchanges, 72 mph from the outfield.
Adam Diedrich, INF/RHP, Hilbert, 2020
6-foot-2, 150-pound two-way player, long lean frame. On the mound arm works clean, regular draw, loose action, high ¾ slot. Delivery lacks lower half, mostly all arm with quick action, in rhythm, little effort. Fastball has run to arm side, sat 79 mph, topped at 80 mph. Curveball showed occasional 12/6 action, 68-70 mph. Changeup sinks to arm side, near fastball arm speed, 69-71 mph. Offensively hits from both sides, showed more strength from the right side, balanced setup, uses level path, 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays short, high ¾ slot, 76 mph arm strength across the diamond. Plays tall at times through the baseball, hands out front. 8.06 runner in the 60.
Noah Dixon, INF/RHP, Waunakee, 2020
5-foot-10, 170-pound two -way player. Right-handed hitter, wide setup, short toe tap stride. Aggressive swing, showed some strength through contact, path was level. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short from a high ¾ slot, accurate across, 74 mph. Hands worked clean to deliberate exchange. 7.91 runner in the 60. On the mound delivery works tall and fall, regular effort, ¾ slot. Fastball topped at 75 mph, sat 73-74 mph, sinking action. Curveball plays 10/4, 60-63 mph. Changeup sat 60-63 mph.
Brennan Foeckler, RHP/1B, Marquette University, 2020
6-foot-5, 210-pound two-way player. On the mound arm action works long from a high ¾ slot, regular effort. Fastball has slight run, touched 80 mph, sat 76-77 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, ranged 60-67 mph. Changeup sinks, slight arm deceleration, 67-68 mph. Right-handed hitter, open stance, loads hands back, leg kick trigger. Path is long and works uphill, works off backside, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the infield arm plays 68 mph across the diamond, long high ¾ arm action. 7.90 runner in the 60.
Kaiden Forsyth, RHP/3B, Oconomowoc, 2022
6-foot, 240-pound two-way player. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, high back elbow, short heel lift stride, average balance. Swing is firm, flashes power, 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively profiles at a corner infield spot, arm action is long, 68 mph across the diamond. 8.61 runner in the 60. On the mound arm action is loose, high ¾ slot, regular effort. Fastball is mostly straight, 73-75 mph. Curveball has gradual 11/5 shape, 60-62 mph. Changeup sinks, near fastball arm speed, 67-70 mph.
Paul Kashishian II, RHP, Whitnall, 2020
6-foot-3, 225-pound right-handed pitcher, large frame. Tall and fall type delivery, lifts straight up into balance point and straight down into slight pause, working out to stride. Arm action follows, separates down with plunge on back side, slight hesitation into high ¾ slot. Fastball is mostly straight, occasional tilt sat 71-73 mph, touched 74 mph. Slider has 10/4 shape, occasionally gets underneath, ranged 60-65 mph. Changeup slightly sinks, ranged 64-70 mph.
Jacob Kleemann, OF/LHP, Bay Port, 2021
5-foot-7, 162-pound, two-way prospect, strong frame. Offensively, balanced setup, smooth load back, short stride. Simple pull approach, short, level barrel path, fluid rhythm, 80 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.55 laser-timed 60. Defensively, short arm action, over-the-top slot, fluid footwork, clean exchanges., 64 mph from the outfield. On the mound, short arm action, high ¾ slot, regular effort. Tall and fall delivery. Fastball, sinking action, sat 62-64. Curveball, 1/7 shape, gradual break, 50-56. Changeup, sinking action, 51-56.
Corey Monty, OF/RHP, Kettle Moraine, 2021
5-foot-10, 143-pound, two-way prospect. Offensively, wide, balanced setup, loads weight back, long stride, maintains balance. Line drive approach, long, level barrel path through the zone, 79 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.40 laser-timed 60. Defensively, long arm action, ¾ slot, 76 mph from the outfield. On the mound, long arm action, high ¾ slot, works on-line, lands square. Fastball, run action, sat 67-68, touched 69. Curveball, 11/5 shape gradual break, 55-58. Changeup, mostly straight, 59-62. Ran a 7.92 laser-timed 60.
Cole Osness, INF/RHP, Wausau West, 2021
5-foot-8, 145-pound two-way player, lean build. Right-handed hitter, tall setup, balanced stance, short stride. Simple approach, average bat speed, opposite field contact. 71 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is firm, ¾ slot, accurate across, 69 mph across the diamond. Quick transfer, hands played average in the middle of the body. 7.73 runner in the 60. On the mound delivery works tall and falls to target, regular effort. Arm action is long, ¾ slot. Fastball sinks, 72-74 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 63-65 mph. Straight changeup, near fastball arm speed, 68-70 mph.
Brandin Podziemski, LHP/OF, Muskego, 2021
6-foot-3, 175-pound, left-handed, two-way prospect, long frame. Defensively, long arm action, high ¾ slot, kept throws on target, 72 mph. Plays through the ball, good pre-catch footwork, fluid throughout, clean on exchange. Offensively, left-handed, open setup, hands start low loads back, maintains balance. Line drive approach, pull-side tendency, level barrel path through the zone, some fluidity, 84 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.73 laser-timed 60. On the mound, long arm action, high ¾ slot, regular effort. Tall and fall delivery, smooth rhythm, works on-line, lands square. Fastball, some run and sink, controlled, 68-72, touched 73. Curveball, 12/6 shape, depth, 59-61. Slider, 1/7 shape, more lateral movement than curveball, 62-65. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, fade, 65-68.
Kellan Short, C/INF/RHP, Catholic Memorial, 2021
5-foot-8, 150-pound C/RHP, wide shouldered, carries some strength for age. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short lifted stride. Line drive approach, level path, 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm is short and over the top, accurate arm, 72 mph out of the crouch, 78 mph across the diamond. Showed playable hands at both positions, funnels to release on the infield, works to play through the baseball. Pop times ranged 2.16-2.19. 7.80 runner in the 60. On the mound, arm worked similar. Fastball is mostly straight, worked down, 74-77 mph. Curveball has depth, 12/6 action, 61-64 mph. Changeup sinks, 64-65 mph.
Harrison Toone, INF/RHP, Brookfield East, 2021
5-foot-5, 120-pound two-way player. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short toe tap stride, good balance. Path is short to the baseball, line drive contact, singles type hitter. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, played accurate, 65 mph across the diamond. Hands played clean out in front, plays through the baseball. On the mound works short and direct to target. Arm action is clean high ¾ slot. Fastball is straight, 67-69 mph, topped at 71 mph. Curveball worked 12/6, 55-57 mph. Knuckle ball has slight sink, minimal spin, 56-59 mph.