Unsigned Senior Showcase: Pitchers

October 25, 2014

By: Zac Bottoms
Arkansas Scouting Director

We started off the week looking at top overall performers from our Unsigned Seniors at Hendrix College. Now we take a look at the top pitchers. Robert Harrison, a right-hander from Wynne led this group. He commanded the arm side of the plate with a fastball at 82-84 with a sharp 12/6 curveball. The group we look at today had similar pitch-ability and project-ability.

Chad Cox, RHP, Maumelle HS,
Cox is a 6-foot, 180-pound right-hander. He pitched off his fastball of 83-85 mph that had slight arm-side run when he was down in the zone. He threw his curveball for strikes with 11/5 action, near fastball arm speed, consistently at 71 mph. He threw a change up one time at 68 mph. Mechanically he works from a ¾ arm slot. He has a quick arm but a shorter arm action, he stays online through the pitch landing square to the hitter. Cox does not have a distinct balance point, which makes his arm drag behind and he gets very little extension at the end. He uses very little effort in his motion, that combined with some timing issues makes me believe he can easily pitch into the upper 80’s as he improves.

Gunnar Etzkorn, RHP, Southside HS,
Gunnar is a 6-foot-4, 180 pound right hander with a quick and free arm from a ¾ arm slot. He has smooth rhythm and normal effort. He stays online, I would like to see him get more extension. He located his fastball (81-84 mph) for strikes. He maintained his arm speed to throw an 11/5 curveball with sharp break. The velocity on the curveball was 70-72 mph. His changeup is a work in progress he threw it for strikes but it lacked deception due to slowing his arm and mechanics down to throw it. Overall, Gunnar has tremendous upside with a free and easy arm and a frame that can hold weight.

J.P. Aiken, RHP, Woodlawn HS,
A 6-foot-3 190-pound right-hander, has a frame and body that makes any talent evaluator want to keep tabs on. He works from a High ¾ arm slot, he possess quick but short arm action with little effort. If he would lengthen the arm and come to balance point his velocity would pick up, and he would not appear as rushed. He located his fastball on both sides of the plate pitching at 79-81 mph. He also located his curveball for a strike. The curveball as 11/5 action and breaks late, and he threw it from 70-72 mph. He did throw threw change up, they lacked depth but the arm speed was near fastball, so it showed some deception. The velocity on the change up was 68-71 mph. Aiken is overall an interesting player, I have personally seen him better velocity wise and you can’t help but project on the frame. I personally will look forward to seeing him again over the winter and early spring.

Unsigned Senior Showcase: Pitchers

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