Capitol City Open: Pitching Analysis

September 23, 2014

By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

The very first Capitol City Open took place on Saturday, September 13^th on the campus of Sacred Heart-Griffin on their three-year old, $1.5 million dollar turf baseball complex. The open event saw prospects from the 2015-2018 classes come together, and a majority were new to the eyes of the Prep Baseball Report scouting staff. The event allowed the scouting staff of Prep Baseball Report to get a good look at several prospects in the Springfield area.

Sacred Heart-Griffin right-handed pitcher Austin Chapman was new to the Prep Baseball Report scouting staff and may prove to be one of the top arms in the 2017 class thanks to his loose, easy arm action producing 82-83 mph sinking fastballs, with the makings of a three-pitch repertoire.

Let’s take a look at the top pitching prospects at this year’s Capitol City Open.

Top Pitching Prospects

1. Austin Chapman, RHP, Sacred Heart-Griffin, 2017
Big bodied right handed pitcher, 6-foot-2, 225-pounds, large build. Tall and fall delivery, with rhythm and tempo, excellent balance, with athletic finish. Easy effort, high ¾ slot, quick arm speed, loose clean arm action, able to carry more velocity. Fastball sat 82-83 mph, advanced arm side run for his age, with command. Curveball has 11/5 shape, featured sharp action, feel for the pitch, 65-70 mph. Changeup has advanced action, fastball arm speed, excellent feel and command of the pitch, arm side action, 74-77 mph. Flashed a knuckleball at 65-68 mph. Chapman has a clean and easy arm action that bodes well for added velocity in the future, high follow prospect in the 2017 class.

2. Benjamin Williamson, RHP/3B, Blue Ridge, 2016
5-foot-11, 160-pound right-handed hitting 3B/RHP hits from a wide, slightly closed setup, very little movement in hand load, no stride/lifts heel to stride, above average bat speed with pull tendencies during batting practice with 80 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 78 mph across the diamond from long, over the top arm slot with accuracy. Showcased average hands when fielding, stays deep fielding from position. Ran a 7.67 60. On the mound, fastball sat 80-82 mph from long, high ¾ arm slot, toe down at balance point, tall and fall delivery with regular effort, slow tempo, throws slightly across his body, lands square. Threw both a curveball and slider in the 63-66 mph range, curveball was more consistent with more depth and 12/6 action. 71 mph changeup was thrown near fastball arm speed.

3. Tanner Scott, 1B/RHP, Mattoon, 2015
Extra-large body, 6-foot-5, 235-pound two-way player, strong, wide shouldered build. Hits from the right side, open stance, toe tap stride. Impacts the baseball, pull side power approach, occasional bat speed, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound works with a short arm action. Fastball has slight run, 79-83 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, flashed bite, 65-69 mph. Changeup has arm side run, 69-70 mph, near fastball arm speed.

4. TJ Painter, LHP/OF, Havana, 2018
5-foot-10, 135-pound left-handed two-way player, thin build. Left-handed hitter, tall stance, hands load backwards, maintains balance. Stays on top of the baseball, short path down through the ball, line drive type hitter, 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played with length, ¾ slot, exchange is clean, 75 mph from the outfield. Delivery slightly across his body, clean arm action, works quickly. Fastball showed slight running action, 71-73 mph. Breaking ball sat 51-52 mph, more sweeping action. Changeup had cutting action, slight sink, 56-59 mph, near fastball arm speed, inconsistent action.

5. Giuseppe Mattera, OF/LHP, Pleasant Plains, 2018
5-foot-7, 135-pound small framed, left-handed hitting outfielder/left-handed pitcher hits from a balanced, narrow setup, hands held high, short toe-tap stride, creating slightly uphill bat path with fluid rhythm and 75 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 78 mph from the outfield from long, high ¾ arm action. Plays through the ball with quick feet, clean exchanges, arm works athletically, well above average arm strength for a 2018. Ran an 8.18 60, 4.68 from home to first. On the mound fastball sat 75-77 mph with run, though missing consistently high and to his arm side. Works from a high ¾ long, loose, arm slot, drop and drive type delivery, shoulders tilt uphill, stride direction stays in line with home plate, lands slightly closed at foot strike. Slurvy breaking ball with 11/5 shape sat 62-63 mph. Changeup was thrown for strikes at 67-70 mph with cutting action.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Pete Baumgartner, LHP, Highland, 2015
6-foot, 165-pound left-handed pitcher works from a long, loose, ¾ arm slot, medium effort, drop and drive type delivery, some rhythm, throws slightly across his body. Fastball sits 76-78 mph with run, erratic for strikes. Gets around 61-65 mph breaking ball with gradual shape. Best pitch was 67 mph changeup with sinking action, thrown consistently for strikes.

Jason Cross, RHP, New Berlin, 2015
6-foot-2, 175-pound right handed pitcher. Delivery works exclusively from the stretch, tall and fall delivery, works on line with level shoulders. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball flashed arm side run, 77-79 mph. Curveball worked on 12/6 plane, showed some action and feel for the pitch, 60-65 mph. Changeup has near fastball arm speed, arm side run, showed above average action, 68-69 mph, best off-speed offering. Flashed a cutter at 70-72 mph.

Sam Greene, C/RHP, Highland, 2016
5-foot-10, 220-pound two-way player, developed build, strong lower half, shows overall present strength. Right handed hitter, balanced setup, minimal stride, lower half works, good balance through contact. Makes hard impact, showed barrel awareness, path is short, line drive gap to gap type hitter. Defensively works from a short arm action, over the top slot. Arm played at 73 mph from the crouch, 2.18-2.22 pop times. Sturdy receiver. 8.01 runner in the 60. On the mound worked from a high ¾ slot, longer arm action, squared landing. Fastball flashed cut action, 73-76 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 60-62 mph, tendency to decelerate. Changeup showed sink, near fastball arm speed, 68-71 mph.

Austin Gusewelle, OF/RHP, Staunton, 2016
6-foot, 170-pound left-handed hitting outfielder/right-handed pitcher hits from a wide, balanced setup, hands load back smoothly, short stride, average bat speed, level bat path with an up the middle approach. Hit several line drives during batting practice with exit velocity up to 80 mph from the tee. Defensively, threw 83 mph from outfield from long, loose, high ¾ arm slot with accuracy. Showcased average hands, plays through the baseball when fielding with fluid footwork. Ran a 7.60 60, and 4.73 seconds from home to first. On the mound, fastball sat 76-78 mph with run from shorter, high ¾ arm slot, easy effort, tall and fall delivery, no load at balance point, some rhythm, and level shoulders throughout delivery. Lands 11/5 breaking ball for strikes at 63-65 mph. Change was best secondary offering at 68-70 mph with arm side run.

Bryce Nolan, OF/LHP, Kewanee, 2017
6-foot, 150-pound right-handed hitting outfielder/left-handed pitcher hits from a tall setup, hands held high, short stride, long, level bat path with pull tendencies and 74 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, uses short, high ¾ arm slot, throwing 70 mph from the outfield. Ran a 7.82 60 yard dash. On the mound, threw 69-71 mph from short, high ¾ arm slot with smooth rhythm, level shoulders, lands square. Only secondary offering was 65-67 mph changeup thrown near fastball arm speed with sinking action.

John Plattner, 1B/RHP, Sacred Heart-Griffin, 2016
6-foot, 180-pound two-way player, athletic build. Right-handed hitter, tall open stance, short stride, high loading action, good balance through contact. Produced pull side line drives, some bat speed present, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively played through the baseball athletically, short loose athletic arm action, 73 mph across the diamond, softer hands. 7.74 runner in the 60. Delivery has regular effort, tall and fall approach, stays closed. Arm works from high ¾ slot. Fastball ranged 73-76 mph. Curveball has 12/6 action, 63-66 mph, flashed sharp tighter break. Changeup thrown with near fastball arm speed, 67-68 mph.

Joe Roscetti, 3B/1B, Williamsville, 2017
5-foot-11, 160-pound corner infielder. Left handed hitter, balanced stance, heel lift load, partial lower half involvement. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ran the 60 at 8.00. Defensively fields out in front, long firm arm action, 72 mph across the diamond. On the mound, fastball sat 72-74 mph, touched 75 mph controlled the zone. Changeup showed feel, 68-69 mph, arm side action. Flashed a knuckle ball at 65-67 mph.

Addison Ruot, OF/RHP, Pleasant Plains, 2018
5-foot-7, 155-pound right-handed hitting outfielder/right-handed pitcher hits from a tall, open setup, leg kick stride, short, slightly uphill bat path with exit velocity up to 77 mph. Defensively, threw 67 mph from the outfield from short, high ¾ arm slot with accuracy from an aggressive crow hop. Quick footwork when fielding the baseball. Ran a 7.84 60, 4.87 from home to first. On the mound, fastball sat 65-69 mph from short, high ¾ slot, easy effort from tall and fall delivery, level shoulders throughout, lower half stays in line with home plate. Utilizes overhead windup, curveball showed gradual break at 62-64 mph. 64-67 mph slider had cutter action and was thrown more consistently for strikes than curveball. Also threw 61-64 mph changeup.

Sawyer Scott, RHP/OF, Mattoon, 2016
6-foot-4, 220-pound two-way player, lanky frame, highly projectable body. Hits from an open stance, quick short lifted stride, minimal load. Line drive hitter, pull side approach, 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively shuffles through the baseball, showed the ability to play through the baseball. Arm works from an over the top slot, short loose arm action, accurate arm, 79 mph. 7.78 runner in the 60. On the mound works from a full windup, over the top slot. Fastball flashed hard sink, 73-76 mph. Curveball had 12/6 shape, 58-62 mph. Changeup thrown with near fastball arm action, 65-69 mph.

Griffin Welz, 3B/RHP, Highland, 2016
5-foot-10, 150-pound right-handed hitting 3B/RHP hit from an open setup, leg kick stride, long uphill bat path, with pull tendencies and 74 mph exit velocity from the tee. Impressed defensively showing steady hands and actions, 72 mph across the diamond from short, loose, high ¾ slot with accuracy. Ran a 7.92 60. On the mound, short, high ¾ arm slot delivered 72-75 mph fastballs. Slows arm on 57-58 mph gradual breaking, 11/5 curveball. 66-70 mph changeup flashed cutting action.

Cody Womack, SS/RHP, Williamsville, 2017
5-foot-8, 150-pound right-handed hitting shortstop hits from a balanced setup, raises hands during load, utilizes a leg kick stride, short, level bat path with pull tendencies and 77 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 64 mph across the diamond long, ¾ arm slot with accuracy. Plays tall, average hands, corner infield actions. Ran a 7.81 60. On the mound, threw 70-72 mph fastball with run. Tall and fall delivery, level shoulders, lands closed. Landed 55-60 mph curveball with 11/5 shape for strikes. 57-61 mph changeup flashed occasional fading action.