Edward
Birch

6-foot-4, 220-pound right-handed pitcher. The fastball was 81-82, touching 83 MPH. The small spin pitch was 74/75 mph, needs to continue to develop a feel for the pitch. The changeup is his best pitch, fade and sink at 72/73 mph. The delivery is clean, online, and the slot is above 3/4. The glove comes across the hitters face. Solid frame who needs to continue to develop.

6-foot-2, 210-pound, strong, physical, durable pitchers frame. The shoulders are squared off, back is wide, is well proportioned throughout with the lower half having strength to it. A right-handed pitcher, delivery is sound and simple, with easy repetition. The hands start chest high, has a small rocker step to the side, pivot foot slides just so slightly to first base side of rubber. The direction is inline, has good length with stride foot, on contact is in a good balanced position. The lead arm stays on target, with minimal pull to it. The arm action has average length to it, works freely out of a high ¾ slot, is strong on the back side, getting a good downward angle to the plate. The fastball was pounded in the zone to both sides, clocked at 76-80 mph, with some bore action to it. The changeup is a filthy pitch, clocked at 72 mph, works out of the same slot as fastball, creating above average deception, shown to have the proper fade to it. The breaking ball was clocked at 71-73 mph, has 11/7 break, showed feel to drop it in for strikes. A pitcher, look for the velocity to climb, should be a mid 80’s guy by spring time with pitchability, get out and see him.

Birch, a 2018 right-handed hitting first baseman and RHP, stands at 6-foot-2 and weighs 210 pounds, ran a 8.22 60. Offensively- Starts with a balanced square lower half, feet shoulder width apart with the hands above the back shoulder while barrel of the bat is almost straight up. Initiates the swing with a lead foot toe-to-heel movement while the hands are loaded straight back off the shoulder. Drove the ball well from the pull side gap to the middle of the field. Recorded an impressive exit velocity of 84 MPH, but could improve with more involvement from the back side, allows the hands to get ahead of the rotation which causes a heavy influence from the waist up during the swing.  Defensively- Approached the ball with some apprehension, fielding the ball with a bend at the waist rather than lowering the body with the legs causing the ball to get a bit deep. Transferred the ball efficiently from the chest area with a short arm action which stayed in good sequence with the lower half, recording an arm velocity of 73 MPH. Pitching- Starts from the center of the rubber with the feet shoulder width apart and hands held in front of the chest. Gets to the gathered position with the lead foot making a step towards the catcher while the pivot foot moves heavy to the first base side of the rubber, hands elevate slightly to chin height. Sticks the landing firm with the lead foot, toe slightly closed, getting quality separation with the hands creating a clean long arm action. The fastball, thrown from a mid to high ¾ arm slot, showed good downward tilt sitting between 75-76 MPH with a top velocity of 77 MPH. The changeup, thrown from the same arm slot, showed quality depth and rotation as well as a good differential from the fastball at 69 MPH.