Prep Baseball Report

Preseason I.D. - Illiana: Illinois Pitcher Analysis



By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director 

The Preseason I.D. - Illiana Showcase took place on Sunday, January 31, 2016 at the Ho-Chunk Sports and Expo Center in Chicago Heights, IL. The showcase featured high school aged players from Illinois and Indiana. Yesterday we took a look at the Top Illinois Position players from the event. The analysis for the Illinois players concludes today as we look at the Top Pitchers from the Preseason I.D. - Illiana Showcase.

TOP PITCHERS


1.
Kyle Wisch, RHP/3B, Hinsdale Central HS, 2019
Advanced frame, prototypical pitchers build 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed pitcher and infielder. On the mound is one of the better 2019 graduates we have seen in Illinois. Clean, quick, short arm action, from a high ¾ slot. Smooth rhythm, slight cross fire action and a repeatable delivery. Fastball worked mainly straight, up in the zone at times and clocked at 83-84 mph. Curveball, solid feel, short and sharp break at times, worked 11/5 and ranged between 69-70 mph. Defensively, at third base, showed body control, soft hands, fielded the ball athletically and flashed a clean transfer. Short arm action, high ¾ slot, accurate throws with carry, clocked at 74 mph. Also, ran a 7.90 60 yard dash.

2. Jimmy Staab, RHP, Sangamon Valley HS, 2017
Solid build 6-foot, 195-pound strong lower-half right-handed pitcher. Three pitch mix, thrown for strikes, with regular effort and some rhythm in his delivery. Quick, short arm action out of an over-the-top window. In-line direction, square landing and athletic finish. Fastball, flashed life, worked mainly straight, thrown for strikes and sat 85-86 mph, touching 87 once. Curveball showed some feel, worked 12/6 and ranged between 70-72 mph. Changeup thrown with near fastball arm speed, for strikes, down in the zone and sat 77-78 mph.

3. Eddie Wilkins, RHP/1B, Reed Custer HS, 2017
Extra-large frame 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-handed hitting infielder and pitcher. Offensively, flashed impressive physicality and strength through contact at the plate. Showed power to all fields and registered an exit velocity of 90 mph. Balanced setup, short stride which ends up closed and average balance. Defensively, had carry on his throws across the diamond clocked at 83 mph. Also, ran an 8.13 in the 60. On the mound, quick arm, some rhythm and regular effort in his delivery. Long arm action, high ¾ slot, in-line direction, square landing and occasionally falls off towards first base. Fastball, slight arm-side-run at times, clocked at 81-83 mph, touching 84. Curveball, thrown aggressively, 12/6 and 11/5 shape, ranged between 65-68 mph. Changeup, quality feel, fastball arm speed, late sink, clocked at 74-75 mph.

4. Trevor Davis, C/RHP, Schlarman Academy, 2020
5-foot-10, 165-pound left-handed hitting catcher and right-handed pitcher. Offensively, present bat speed, uphill bat path and gets extension through contact at times. Fluid rhythm, line-drive and pull approach. Balanced, closed setup, pre-pitch load and good balance. Registered an exit velocity of 77 mph. Defensively, athletic actions behind the plate. Over-the-top arm action, true ball, with carry and clocked at 72 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.05-2.11. On the mound, the right-hander works with some rhythm, long arm action, out of a high ¾ slot and regular effort. Fastball worked mainly straight and ranged between 75-78 mph. Curveball worked 12/6 and clocked at 60-63 mph. Changeup, mostly straight and sat 66-69 mph.

5. Michael Bohlen, Marian Catholic HS, 2019
Long, projectable body 6-foot-4, 170-pound prototypical pitchers frame right-handed pitcher with high upside. Threw three pitches for a strike. Some effort and rhythm, high ¾ slot, drop and drive delivery. Fastball mostly straight action, clocked at 75-76 mph. Curveball a tendency to get underneath it and flatten it out, worked 12/6 and ranged between 60-64 mph. Changeup thrown with conviction clocked at 64-68 mph.


Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Andrew Blair, 1B/LHP, Maroa Forsyth HS, 2017
Bigger build 6-foot-3, 250-pound left-handed hitting infielder and pitcher. Offensively, registered an exit velocity of 83 mph. Crouched setup position, uphill bat path, pull approach and average balance through contact. Defensively, threw from a high ¾ slot, some accuracy and clocked at 66 mph. Also, ran an 8.28 60 yard dash. On the mound over-the-top arm slot, in-line direction and square landing. Fastball clocked at 67-68 mph, touching 70. Curveball sat 57-58 mph. Changeup ranged between 62-65 mph.

Tony Deluna, 1B/RHP, Morton HS, 2017
Solid, athletically built 6-foot-3, 205-pound right-handed hitting infielder and pitcher. Offensively, started from a narrow, tall setup, pre-pitch load and leg-kick timing trigger. Long bat path with a pull approach. Registered an exit velocity of 80 mph. Defensively, short arm action, ¾ slot, some accuracy and clocked at 71 mph across the diamond. Also, ran an 8.30 60 yard dash. On the mound some rhythm in his delivery, in-line direction and square landing. Fastball sat 72-75 mph, touching 76. Curveball clocked at 60-62 mph. Changeup ranged between 62-64 mph.

Thomas Englehart, RHP, Marist HS, 2017
Sturdy, solid build 6-foot-2, 220-pound right-handed pitcher. Long arm action on the backside but comes out of a short window by his ear. Drop and drive delivery and three pitch repertoire. Fastball worked mainly straight and ranged between 73-75 mph. Slider worked 10/4, tendency to pull across it and clocked at 69-71 mph. Changeup sat 65-66 mph.

Tim Franczak, LHP/1B, Westmont HS, 2017
Projectable frame 6-foot-5, 195-pound well-proportioned left-handed hitting infielder and pitcher. Offensively, pull approach with a long and level bat path at times. Balanced setup, pre-pitch drop of his hands and average bat speed. Registered an exit velocity of 82 mph. Defensively, long arm action, over-the-top arm slot, some accuracy and clocked at 70 mph across the diamond. Also, ran a 7.50 60 yard dash. On the mound worked out of an over-the-top window. Fastball clocked at 67-68 mph. Curveball ranged between 57-60 mph. Changeup sat at 57 mph.

Adam Huekels, OF/RHP, Marian Catholic HS, 2020
5-foot-8, 130 pound outfielder and pitcher. Ran an 8.05-60 and was 72 from the OF.  Young player with a small frame.  Currently lacks elite foot speed. Fielded most balls clean. Long, ¾ arm action, shows some stiffness.  At the plate hits from a tall, balanced setup.  Uses a toe-tap.  Tends to drop his hands during the load, bars the front arm.  Long path to the baseball, flat bat.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 72 mph. On the mound flashed some rhythm in his delivery, square landing, occasionally falls off towards first base. Long arm action, high ¾ slot and regular effort. Fastball mostly straight and clocked at 67-68 mph, touching 70. Changeup thrown with near fastball arm speed, slight sink at times and ranged between 60-63 mph. Curveball worked 11/5 action and sat 60-63 mph.

Ethan Krumwiede, RHP, Batavia HS, 2017
Lean frame 6-foot, 165-pound plenty of room for continued physical development right-handed pitcher. On the mound featured a three-pitch repertoire with some rhythm in his delivery. In-line direction, square landing and athletic finish. Long arm action, out of a high ¾ window. Fastball worked mostly straight and sat 78-80 mph. Curveball worked mainly 12/6, flashed depth at times, clocked at 66-70 mph. Changeup, down in the zone and ranged between 73-75 mph.

Jalen Lemons, C/3B/RHP, Simeon HS, 2018
Solid lower half 5-foot-8, 185-pound strong bodied right-handed hitting infielder, catcher and pitcher. Offensively, flashed bat speed and strength through contact at times. Pull approach, solid contact and good balance through contact. Open setup, pre-pitch load and short stride. Registered an exit velocity of 81 mph. Defensively, feet work well on the infield. Soft hands, quick, clean exchange and athletic fielding position. Throws clocked at 76 mph across the infield. Behind the plate, short arm action, throws had some arm-side-run and clocked at 71 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.10-2.17. Also, ran a 7.51 60 yard dash. On the mound, had some rhythm with a slight pause throughout his delivery. In-line direction, square landing and athletic finish. Fastball, straight and clocked at 75-77 mph, touching 78. Curveball worked 10/4 and ranged between 60-63 mph.  

Jamarion Loston, SS/RHP, Morgan Park HS, 2018
5-foot-8, 145-pound right-handed hitting infielder and pitcher. Offensively, flashed a short, level bat path with extension through contact at times. Fluid rhythm, balanced setup, leg-kick timing trigger and good balance. Registered an exit velocity of 77 mph. Defensively, actions and soft hands on the infield. Athletic fielding position, good body control, fluid footwork and clean exchange. Loose arm action, high ¾ slot, accurate throws with some carry, clocked at 82 mph across the infield. Also, ran a 7.18 60 yard dash. On the mound had feel for three pitches. Long, loose, quick arm action out of a high ¾ window. Regular effort, smooth rhythm and repeated his delivery well. Fastball sat 78-79 mph, touching 80. Curveball thrown for strikes, 11/5 shape, ranged between 66-68 mph. Changeup thrown with fastball arm speed and clocked at 69-71 mph.

Will Peterson, RHP, Evanston HS, 2018
Well-proportioned 6-foot, 180-pound right-handed pitcher. On the mound featured a three-pitch repertoire from a high ¾ slot and long arm action. Worked slightly across his body with a drop and drive delivery. Fastball mostly straight and flat clocked at 74-76 mph, touching 77. Curveball thrown aggressively, worked 10/4, minimal depth and ranged between 68-70 mph. Changeup had some feel, worked mostly straight and clocked at 71-73 mph.

Nathan Sanchez, SS/RHP, Mount Carmel HS, 2019
Smaller build 5-foot-6, 135-pound left-handed hitting infielder and right-handed pitcher. Offensively, couched setup, pre-pitch load, short stride and average balance through contact. Pull approach at the plate and could benefit from getting extension through contact. Registered an exit velocity of 75 mph. Defensively, reliable hands on the infield. Threw from a 3/4, low ¾ arm slot, loose arm and clocked at 77 mph across the diamond. Also, ran a 7.84 60 yard dash. On the mound, featured a two-pitch mix. High ¾ slot, average arm speed, long arm action and regular effort in his delivery. Fastball sat 71-73 mph, touching 75. Curveball worked 61-63 mph.

Wendell Smith, 3B/RHP, Marist HS, 2019
Lanky 6-foot, 155-pound plenty of room for continued physical development right-handed hitting infielder and pitcher. Offensively, flashed a quick bat, level bat path and some looseness. Balanced setup, early pre-pitch load, hands get back and in a good position to hit from. With added strength should develop into an above average hitter. Registered an exit velocity of 74 mph. Defensively, steady hands and fluid footwork on the infield. Long and loose arm action, high ¾ slot, accurate throws and clocked at 74 mph. Also, ran a 7.25 60 yard dash. On the mound, fluid rhythm, and repeated delivery well. Average arm speed, short arm action and regular effort in his delivery. Fastball worked mainly straight and ranged between, 70-73 mph, touching 75. Curveball flashed short break and sat 60-63 mph. Changeup, tendency to slow his arm and ranged between 57-62 mph.

Jake Walters, RHP, St. Thomas Moore HS, 2018
Thick lower half 5-foot-11, 195-pound right-handed pitcher. Slow tempo, exaggerated leg-lift delivery out of the wind-up. Comes at the hitter from an over-the-top slot. Fastball mostly straight, up in the zone and sat 79 mph. Curveball, slows arm speed at times and clocked at 64-66 mph. Changeup had near fastball arm speed and ranged between 71-74 mph.

Barry White, OF/LHP, Lincoln-Way East HS, 2019
Undersized 5-foot-7, 120-pound plenty of room for continued physical development left-handed hitting outfielder and pitcher. Offensively, flashed bat speed and fluid rhythm. Line-drive approach and excellent balance through contact. Balanced setup, smooth pre-pitch load and short stride. Registered an exit velocity of 72 mph. Defensively, fluid movements and soft hands in the outfield. Long arm action, over-the-top slot, accurate throws clocked at 71 mph. Also, ran a 7.53 60 yard dash. On the mound, regular effort from an over-the-top slot. Average arm speed and tendency to fall off towards first base on his finish. Fastball sat 70-71 mph, touching 72. Curveball worked with short break and ranged between 59-61 mph. Changeup clocked at 61-63 mph.

Joshua Williams, OF/LHP, Morgan Park HS, 2019
Long and lean 6-foot, 144-pound athletic, projectable framed left-handed hitting outfielder and pitcher. Offensively, worked above the baseball with looseness and bat speed. Fluid rhythm, line-drive type hitter with an advanced approach for his age. Open setup, pre-pitch load, short stride and good balance. Registered an exit velocity of 76 mph. Defensively, actions in the outfield with quick and fluid footwork. Soft hands, plays through the baseball athletically, long and loose arm action. Throws were accurate and clocked at 76 mph. Also, ran a 7.29 60 yard dash. On the mound flashed easy effort with a short, quick arm action from a high ¾ slot. Quick tempo, in-line direction, square landing and athletic finish. Fastball was clocked at 74-75 mph, touching 76. Curveball, flashed feel, worked 12/6 and clocked at 64-66 mph. Changeup sat 70-72 mph.

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