Prep Baseball Report

Ft. Wayne Winter Preview: Pitchers Analysis





By Mark De La Garza

NE Indiana Area Scout  



On Saturday, February 28th, we hosted the Ft. Wayne Winter Preview Showcase at Norwell High School in Ossian, IN.  A total of 51 players were in attendance.  Below we analyze the 31 pitchers from the event, 13 of which were 80 mph or higher with their fastballs. 


CLICK HERE to view the statistical results from the event.

Top 5

Andrew Saalfrank, LHP, Heritage HS, 2016: The 6-foot-3, 185 pound lefty showcased a better front side than he has in the past.  Fastball shows run and heavy action in the zone at 85-87.  Breaking ball is a plus pitch with sharp break at 77-79.  Changeup was 74-76 and thrown for a strike.  Possesses a quick arm and throws from a ¾ slot.  Committed to Indiana.  

Michael Dunkelberger, LHP, SB St Joe HS, 2018: 5-foot-10, 155 pounds. Mature and athletic player.  Showcased the ability to control three pitches and pounds the strike zone with a long ¾ arm slot and an up tempo/repeatable delivery. Possesses quick arm speed and smooth rhythm in the delivery.   Fastball was 80-82, up to 83 mph with some arm side run and consistently down in the zone. Sweeping curveball is 64-66 mph.  High projectability and follow in the 2018 class.  

Kory Goodrich, RHP, Huntington North HS:  6-foot-2, 190 pounds, athletic player with a strong lower half and wide shoulders. On the mound he comes at hitters from a loose ¾ slot.  Possesses some arm speed with some rhythm in the delivery.  Good line to the plate.  Fastball topped out at 86 mph, sitting 82-83.  Breaking ball had late break and was consistently in the strike zone (66-68 mph). Changeup is 70-72 with sink.  

Clay Hinrichsen, RHP, Southwood HS, 2016: 6-foot-4, 187 pounds. Tall, athletic with projectability.  Long and low ¾ arm action, goes to the well on the backside. Fastball sat 80-83 mph with some run and in the strike zone. Curveball (60-62 mph) with early break could pass for a slider. Very good changeup down in the zone at 70-72mph.  

Dylan Pranger, RHP, Lakeland HS, 2016:  6-foot, 187 pounds. On the mound he had good presence and a live fastball (82-83 mph) with sink, his curveball (63-65 mph) had late break, and his change up (71-73 mph) had good sink and occasional fade, he throw all three for strikes from a quick ¾ arm slot.  Shows good rhythm in the delivery with a slight inward turn.  Good line to the plate landing square.  

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Luke Adams, RHP, Crown Point HS, 2017: 5-foot-9, 160 pound right-hander pitches from a long high ¾ arm delivery.  Possesses average arm speed.  Good rhythm with a slight inward turn in the delivery.  Good line to the plate.  Fastball sat 73-74, up to 75 and kept in the zone.  Breaking ball shows some depth at 61-64.  Changeup was 62-64 with occasional sink.  

Nathan Alston, RHP, Oak Hill HS, 2019: 5-foot-8, 135 pounds, pitches from a long, high ¾ slot with average arm speed.  Slow, deliberate delivery with good rhythm.  Fastball was kept down in the zone at at 72-74, touching 75.  Breaking ball shows a 12/6 shape with early action at 61-63.  Flashed a couple of power curveballs, but inconsistent.  Changeup was thrown with near fastball arm speed with some arm-side run and occasional sink at 66-68. 

Jacob Anderson, RHP/OF, Munster HS, 2018:  6-foot-2, 160 pound righty.  Tall, lanky with room to fill out. Athletic player with a huge upside. Long ¾ arm delivery with average arm speed.  Good rhythm in the delivery, falls off towards 1B side at times.  Fastball is 71-73 mph heavy and straight, curveball 63-66 mph with gradual movement and his changeup is 64-65 mph. 

Matt Anderson, RHP, Homestead HS, 2017: 6-foot-3, 185 pound righty showcased a quick, short arm action from a high ¾ slot.  Choppy rhythm, tendency to fly open.  Fastball sat 82-83, up to 85 with late life and some run, kept in the zone.  Breaking ball shows a 12/6 shape with gradual break at 67-70, kept in the zone.  Changeup is thrown with near fastball arm speed and straight at 76-78.  Possesses good athleticism.  

Paetan Brennan, LHP, Seymour HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 190 pound southpaw pitches from a high ¾ slot with a loose arm action.  Good rhythm in the delivery.  Fastball was up to 74 mph with some sink and kept in the zone.  Breaking ball shows a sweeping action at 63-65 but erratic in the zone.  Makings of being a very good out pitch.  Changeup was straight at 71-72 and thrown with fastball arm speed.  

Grant Brunt, RHP, Chesterton HS, 2018:  5-foot-9, 155 pound righty.  Projectable player with an athletic frame. Long loose ¾ arm delivery with control of three pitches. Shows quick arm speed.  Good rhythm in the delivery, good line to the plate. Lands closed. Fastball 81-83mph with sink, slider 66-69 mph with gradual break and a change up that he slows his arm to throw at 67-70 mph has some late sink. 

Luke Campbell, LHP, Mishawaka HS, 2017: 5-foot-9, 160 pounds. On the mound pitches from a short, high ¾ arm action.  Delivery is rushed, tendency to fall off towards 3B side.  Fastball sat 73-74, touching 77 with some arm side run.  Curve ball was 61-64 mph with early action, slider was thrown a little harder at 65-68.  Changeup sat 63-64 with some sink.

Dylan Cater, RHP, FW Snider HS, 2016: 6-foot, 175 pound righty pitches from an over the top slot, long arm action.  Regular effort with some rhythm in the delivery.  Fastball was straight at 73-74, up to 75.  Breaking ball was inconsistent in the zone at 59-62.  Breaking ball has a 12/6 shape with sharp break, down in the zone.  Slows his arm down on his changeup, 62-65 mph.  Changeup shows some arm side run.  Also throws a split at 58-60 with occasional sink.  

Ben Caylor, LHP, Norwell HS, 2016:  5-foot-10, 195 pound southpaw. He comes at hitters from a long, low ¾ slot.  Good line to the plate, lands square.  Fastball sat 67-69 with good control on both sides of the plate.  12/6 curveball sat 55-57 and kept in the zone.  Changeup was 61-64, effective high school pitch.  

Andrew Hammond, RHP, Adams Central HS, 2017: 5-foot-9, 165 pound RHP pitches from a high ¾ slot with quick arm speed.  Good rhythm in the delivery.  Fastball shows a lot of run at 80-82, up to 83.  Breaking ball shows a 12/6 shape with gradual movement at 70-72, kept in the strike zone.  Changeup is thrown with near fastball arm speed and for a strike at 73-75.  Needs to improve timing, head movement.  

Jackson Hontz, RHP, DeKalb HS, 2018: 5-foot-10, 175 pounds pitches from an over the top, to high ¾ slot.  Short, pie arm action.  High front side in the delivery.  Good line to the plate, lands square.  Fastball was erratic in the zone at 72-74, up to 75.  Breaking ball shows a sweeping action at 64-66.   Did flash a couple of 11/5 breaking balls with some power, his best pitches.  Changeup shows some arm side run at 64-67.   

Brennan Kelly, LHP, Southwood HS, 2016: 6-foot-1, 175 pound southpaw pitches from a high ¾ slot with average arm speed.  Long arm action with a stab on the backside.  Shows good rhythm in the delivery with good direction to the plate.   High front side.  Fastball was thrown for a strike at 74-76, up to 78.  Breaking ball was thrown with an 11/5 shape with gradual break at 57-60 and kept in the zone.  Changeup was thrown with near fastball arm speed at 64-66 and thrown for a strike.  

Zach Klinedinst, RHP, FW Northrup HS, 2018:  5-foot-11, 185 pound right-hander.  Good rhythm in the delivery.  Pitches from an over the top-high ¾ slot.  Good line to the plate, lands square.  Fastball was 72-73 and straight.  Breaking ball, his best pitch, sat 65-66 with late break and in the strike zone, showing good depth. Changeup was 65-67. 

 Zachary Lane, LHP, East Noble HS, 2017: 6-foot-1, 150 pound lefty pitches from a ¾ slot with a quick, clean arm action.  Smooth rhythm in the delivery. Lands closed.  Fastball sat 77-78.  Curveball was 61-65 from a 2/8 shape showing gradual movement.  Good pitch for his age, kept down and in the strike zone.  Changeup shows cut action, but was erratic at 70-73. 

Jakob Layton, RHP, Harrison HS, 2016
: 5-foot-8, 183 pound righty pitches from multiple arm angles.  Short arm action, average arm speed.  Smooth rhythm with level shoulders in the delivery.  Good line to the plate.  Fastball shows some run and kept in the zone at 74-75, up to 76 mph.  Breaking ball shows two different shapes, one more of a curveball at 65-66 the other a slider at 65.  Changeup sat 71-72 and was straight; thrown with fastball arm speed.  

Alec Mark, RHP, Elkhart Central HS, 2016:  6-foot-2, 215 pound RHP possesses a strong lower body.  Short, quick ¾ arm delivery to the plate. Shoulders tilt slightly uphill during launch. Throws three pitches in the zone. Fastball 80-81, touching 82 mph with heavy action.  Breaking ball was 70-72 mph with late action while the change up 76-79 with sink and occasional run. 

Max Minich, RHP, Leo HS, 2018: 6-foot-1, 185 pound righty pitches from a high ¾ slot with average arm speed.  Shows a stab/wrap on the backside.  Easy effort with some rhythm in the delivery.  Good line to the plate, lands closed.  Fastball was erratic in the zone at 73-75, up to 76.  Breaking ball shows a sweeping action at 60-63, down in the zone but erratic.  Changeup was 62-64, but inconsistent.  Flashed a few changeups with good arm side run.  

Alex Mitchell, RHP, Decatur Central HS, 2018: 5-foot-9, 135 pounds, Long arm action, ¾ slot.  Shows some stiffness in his arm.  Good line to the plate.  Fastball sat 76-77, up to 78 and kept down in the zone.  Breaking ball was 65-68 

Austin Mitchell, LHP, Decatur Central HS, 2018: 5-foot-9, 135 pound southpaw pitches from a high ¾ slot.  Long arm action, stab on the back side. Slow, deliberate delivery.  High leg kick, good line to the plate.  His fastball was 74-76 with good sink and in the strike zone, and change up was 71-72 with some late fade.  Breaking ball was 57-59.  

Remington Monce, RHP, Northfield HS, 20166-foot-1, 195 pound righty showcased a long, loose high ¾ arm action.  Slow delivery with some rhythm, good line to the plate.  Fastball sat 80-82, touching 83 mph with hard sink and in the strike zone.  Tendency to slow his arm down on the breaking ball.  Breaking ball sat 67-70 mph with gradual break.  

Zach Mosby, RHP, West Noble HS, 2016: 5-foot-10, 180 pounds.  Short, ¾ arm action.  Choppy rhythm in the delivery.  Good line to the plate.  Front side needs refined.  Fastball sat 80-82 with occasional run and thrown for a strike.  Breaking ball was 67-71 with gradual break. Flashed a couple of breaking balls with good depth, down in the zone. Changeup sat 73-75.

Mason Shinabery, RHP, Bellmont HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 190 pounds, strong and athletic with room to grow. Fastball was 82-83, up to 84 mph from a quick ¾ slot, his delivery is rushed and he goes to the well on the back side. Change up is 76-78 mph with some sink, curveball is 71-73 mph.  

Mason Simmons, RHP, Bishop Luers HS, 2017: 6-foot-2, 155 pound right-hander pitches from an over the top slot.  Arm speed is slow.  Shows regular effort in the delivery with some rhythm.  Fastball was thrown for a strike at 66-69 mph.  Breaking ball is a loopy, spinner type pitch thrown for a strike at 59-60.  Changeup shows some arm side run and kept in the zone at 66-68.  Changeup was his best offspeed pitch.  

Chris Torres, RHP, Chesterton HS, 2018: 6-foot-4, 165 pound projectable pitchers frame, long limbs.  Looks the part, just needs to continue to mature physically.  Pitches from a high ¾ slot with some arm speed.  Smooth rhythm.  Falls off towards 1B side.  Fastball was thrown for a strike at 75-76.  Breaking ball shows an 11/5 shape with gradual break at 63-66 and kept in the zone.  Throws a splitter at 67 mph.  Interesting follow in the 2018 class.  

Brayden White, RHP/C, Coverdale HS, 2016: 5-foot-10, 200 pound righty pitches from a high ¾ slot.  Short arm action, average arm speed.  Delivery is slow and deliberate.  Good line to the plate.  Front side needs improvement. Sat 80-81, touching 82 with his fastball showing hard arm side run.  Breaking ball shows an 11/5 shape with gradual break at 65-67.  Change up is 68-70 from a ¾ slot with short arm action.  Also throws a 63-64 knuckle ball.  

Sy Zickler, RHP, Brownstown Central HS, 2017: 6-foot-2, 210 pounds, pitches from a ¾ slot with a long arm action.  Lacks arm speed.  Max effort delivery, finishes upright.  Fastball was straight at 71-73, up to 74.  Slows his arm down when throwing the breaking ball.  Breaking ball lacks identity at 55-58.  Slows arm down on the changeup.  Changeup was thrown for a strike at 59-60.  

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