Prep Baseball Report

2015 LHP Brett Newberg making visits



By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director – Illinois/Wisconsin

Moline HS LHP Brett Newberg is the best available left handed pitcher in Illinois’ Class of 2015. After the recent updated rankings in the state Newberg is currently ranked No. 19 in his class.Brett Newberg

Newberg is a physical 6-foot-1, 220-pounds featuring a durable frame with developed lower half. He is a high-pitchability left-hander with three-pitch command. His arm works free and easily from a high-3/4 slot; has good rhythm and tempo throughout delivery and repeats well, throwing everything with the same arm action. His fastball sits at 82-84 mph with the ability to touch 85 mph. He also shows the ability to command his fastball with arm-side run and occasional sink. His changeup looks to be an advanced pitch at 74-76 mph with arm-side sink down in the zone. He also has feel for a 70-73 mph slider.

Holding a 3.8 GPA in the classroom, Newberg has been on several campuses as he continues to narrow his decision. According to Newberg he has visited Austin Peay, Western Michigan, Illinois and Southern Illinois. He is looking to make a few more visits before making a decision and still remains in contact with the four schools he previously visited.

Newberg said,

“When I look into colleges, I try to keep a very open mind. I like seeing what different places have to offer. My personal ideal place is somewhere that baseball is a big deal to the college and the community around that school. Being part of tradition, hopefully a winning one, to me is a really cool thing. Also, player development is a very big thing that I look for. Like almost every young baseball player, I have ambitions to play professional baseball. Picking a college that both sees me being able to play professionally, and can develop me into a professional caliber player is a big part of my decision. Obviously coaching is what makes player development possible and the coaching staff will also play a big role in where I will decide to go.”

Moline HS should be a tough foe again in 2014 after making it to the Super Sectionals in 2013. After starting the year 0-4 in conference play Newberg remembers the changes that had to be made.

“We were kind of down on ourselves and we had to dig deep. As a team we realized something had to change, or playoffs was not going to be possible for us. We got hot towards the end of the season and we were able to ride it out all the way to super sectionals.”

Newberg should be a big part of the Maroons success in 2014 as they look to surpass their Super Sectional exit from a year ago.

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