Chris
Villaman

Worked quickly with a balanced delivery to a high three-quarter release point. He mostly worked to his armside with a 91-93 mph fastball (2300-2400 rpm). It also showed good hop at the letters and a steeper approach angle when located at the knees. A low-spin (1300-1400 rpm) changeup was also an effective pitch, showing at least average on the pro scale. He allowed three hits, while striking out a pair in one inning of work. On Monday, he also showed a below-average rolling slider at 78-79, which lacks bite, though he can drop it in for a strike.

North Carolina State commit.  Athletic with a strong lower half at 6 foot 2, 205-pounds.  Showed total control throughout his session, filling the zone up with ease.  Smooth, fluid, easy delivery.  Loads the hips with the leg kick working to the chest, slightly across his body to the plate.  Long, loose arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Consistently got his fastball to the bottom of the zone with arm side run.  Fastball sits 90-92 mph, topping at 94 mph.  Curveball has depth with 1/7 break at 68-73 mph.  Tight slider with more across action at 78-79 mph. Lands both the curveball and slider for strikes.  Changeup has arm side run at 78-79 mph.  Feel for all three secondary pitches.

09.25.18
North Carolina State commit.  Physical presence with broad shoulders and defined strength in the lower half.  Stands 6-foot-1, 205 pounds.  Athletic, the fastball sat 88-91 throughout his two innings of work.  Control and command continued to increase throughout the outing with an ability to pitch off his fastball.  Secondary stuff is still developing with the breaking ball at 72, flashing just occasional depth.  Slider has some length, turning a bit early as Villaman becomes slightly rotational, touching 81.  Change-up is straight at 75-78, occasionally working from a higher slot.  Very impressive outing considering most arms have been down since the end of the summer circuit.

05.11.18
North Carolina State commit.  Athletic 6-foot-2, 185 pounder with a strong lower half and looseness throughout his frame.  Average leg kick, loading the front hip. Clean arm action, medium swing, to a high-¾ slot with a quick hand through release.  Lands slightly across his body and the back side, lower half is efficient and direct. Fastball has late arm side run, on the arm side.  Creates a lot of swing and miss in the zone and some chase to the arm side. Dominated the down zone, without a need to ever try to elevate.  Ranged 85-90 on the night, settling 86-88 and carrying 85-88 into the 6th. Bumped 89-90 throughout the 1st two innings. Change-up was 2nd pitch, sitting 72-73 with fade and depth from a slightly slower arm.  Shows feel for armside and down zone with the pitch. Used a slider/cutter exclusively vs. LHH at 73-75. Some length on the one plane pitch. Created discomfort vs. LHH getting swing and miss, chase, and soft contact.  The curveball was ineffective and erratic on the night with several “slipping” out of the hand and missing wildly to the arm side. The couple that he threw near the zone sat at 69, but lacked his usual spin rate, depth and aggressiveness. 

02.11.18
North Carolina State commit. Strong, athletic build at 6 feet 2, 185 pounds. Athletic delivery, slightly across his body with deception. Repeats his delivery.  Easy, quick arm action using a high-3/4 slot. Works in the zone with his fastball at 88-90.  Easy run, exploding on the plate.  Curveball has a sweeping action with depth at 74-76mph.  Throws it with ease creating consistent hard arc, featuring a feel for location.  Change-up has sink working at 73-77.  Good hand speed creates deception.  Curveball ahead of change at this time.  Good feel for both off speed pitches.
Offensively he works from the left side with an open, athletic stance. Uses a small leg kick for his load, dives to the plate at times. Easy, fluid swing with above average bat speed. Shows a good bat path getting good extension and showing the ability to drive the ball to opposite field gap. Shows athleticism on the mound and in the box. Exit velocity recorded at 95 mph.

06.28.17
Physically strong with broad shoulders and definition in the lower half.  Powerful build at 6-foot-1, 175 pounds.  Fastball ran up to 91 in a short outing, ranging 88-91.  Feel and occasional arm side action with the fastball.  Easy effort with a quick arm, ball explodes out of the hand and onto hitters.  Two breaking pitches with slider ahead of curveball.  Slider up to 76 with maturity left in the pitch.  More sweep than tilt but movement and arm speed kept hitters off the pitch.  Curveball worked up to 70.  One change at 71, with the arm slowing.  On-line and level.  The body has slight coil at balance.  Loose hips and good extension.  Elite athlete around the mound.

06.25.16
Lanky and high waisted.  Works with a small rocker into an average leg kick.  Strong arm action leads to a high-3/4 slot with a quick hand.  Fastball up to 86, sitting 82-84.  Breaking ball showed depth and hard tilt, getting swing and miss and projecting to be a possible out pitch down the line.