Ayden
Mertz

Mertz is a lean and athletic 5-foot-11, 165-pounds with room to fill out in his frame. Arm action is loose, free and easy with good whip like action. Delivery is repeatable with fluid and rhythmic actions. Fastball jumps out of his hand, sat 84-86 mph with arm side run at the event. Changeup is 78 mph, fading action, near fastball arm speed. Mertz throws two breaking balls, slider is 74-76 mph, chance to be a plus pitch, late bite at times, curveball is slower at 70-73 mph, late downward action, 11-to-5 shape.

8/4/18 - Mertz worked from a high three quarts arm slot and has a smaller frame at 5-foot-11 160-pounds.  He has a quick arm producing fastballs at 84-87 mph, touching 88 mph.  He showed a sharp, swing and miss, slider with 10-to-4 action at 70-71 mph.  He allowed just one hit and struck out three in two innings of work.  Mertz has a high projection with arm action and frame and will add to already above average fastball velo and good slider.

6/5/18 - Mertz is a lean 5-foot-11 160-pound right-handed pitcher in Missouri’s 2020 class. On the mound, Mertz has an athletic delivery, high three quarters arms slot, quick arm speed, slight tuck at balance point, arm works, some life at the end of fastball with slight running actin, 84-85 mph, breaking ball has 11-to-5 slider-type action, late break, starts on same plane as fastball, swing and miss potential. He ran a 7.40 60 and a 4.78 home to first.  He has an 87 mph exit velocity. At the plate, starts slightly open, aggressive bat speed with in line stride, quick hands, flashes pull side power, mostly middle to pull side line drives.  On the infield, 82 mph positional velocity, over the top arm slot, works around ball and through the catch, athletic actions with some quick twitch movements, arm works, mostly accurate throws with carry, still room to fill out physically.