Lucas
Collins

+ RHP Lucas Collins, Garrett: Collins went six-innings in my look, allowing three runs on seven hits, walking four, and striking out 11. The strong 6-foot-2, 205-pound right-hander filled the zone at a 62% clip. His fastball showed arm-side run with occasional sink at 86–90 mph, mostly sitting 87–89 through the first four innings. As the outing progressed, Collins leaned more heavily on his 74–77 mph slider, a pitch that plays with big sweep and generated both freezes and swing-and-miss. He also flashed a mid-80s cutter and showed an 80–82 mph changeup in warmups that wasn’t used in-game. Collins worked exclusively from the stretch, utilizing a short stride down the mound with a quick arm out of a lower slot. Command wavered at times, but he creates an uncomfortable look with solid stuff.

Strong, proportional frame at 6-foot-2, 205-pounds. Unique look from the short-strider who attacks from a low release height from a near-sidearm slot. Pitched at 90-91 with the fastball providing what should be an uncomfortable look. Creates arm-side run on it, with some heaters playing with sink while some hold more true for a flatter ASR look. I liked the addition of an 85-87 mph cutter; should be a pitch he can get to the gloveside with for strikes. Big sweep on a mid-70s slider that plays with flat sweep. Changeup in the mid-80s works similiar to the fastball when it sinks, should be a usable offering for him. It is a relief profile with the fringy control that he has, but it is unique and the stuff should miss bats.

Continuing to show one of the classes' best fastballs, Collins was dominant in his stint at the State Games, racking up swings-and-misses and several punchouts in his 2 innings of work. With some present physicality to the 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame - Collins pitched at 89-90, touching 91 on his best bullet, with arm-side run and sink created from a low 3/4 slot. He challenged east to west with his 75-78 SL playing off the fastball with a sweeper look, and he flashed an above average change in the mid-80s that played sinker-like. Collins outing was a perfect summation of his ceiling, a reliever who could easily find a niche as a 'one time thru the order' type arm that provides a mix of unique and power to quiet opposing lineups.

Collins provided a loud look at this event with the days' best fastball. Adding noticeable strength since our last look and now standing at 6-foot, 190 with still projection left, Collins pitched at 88-90 from a low 3/4, near sidearm slot. Stretch-only mover with a low lift and room for refinement in the lower half that could bring even more velocity. Fastball played with heavy sink induced by the slot and he mixed a firm sinker/changeup at 83-86 with big horizontal break. Mid-70s slider played with side-to-side shape. Plenty of rawness to the operation but the arm talent and pitch shapes are certainly intriguing as we near Aug 1...

Lanky, 6-foot, 180 pounder. Repeats best from the stretch with simple delivery. Arm is really intriguing - short, loose sling to a low 3/4 slot produced an 86-88 fastball that touched 89 and played with heavy arm-side life. The slider is thrown firm in the 75-77 range with sharper sweep at times, and he showed a firm sinking change at 80-83. The slot is super intriguing along with the present stuff to go with it, though he lacked feel at times in this look.

+ Collins showed off raw arm talent and hints of his ceiling during his 'pen. A lanky, athletic, 6-foot, 180 pounder - Collins used a shorter, compact arm circle that worked to a 3/4 arm slot. His lower half works in a drop-and-drive fashion, allowing a well-synced arm to produce an 86-88 mph fastball that played from a deceptive slot. Collins showed a 75-77 mph slider that played with sharp, sweeping action and is a present above average pitch. He also showed a low-80s change that played more sinker-like. Though the delivery is raw, there is some athletic bounce in the way that he moves that suggests mechanical refinements can be made. Collins is a '27 arm that cemented himself as a high follow for the class with an impressive bullpen on Sunday.