Toronto Elite Prospect Showcase: 2015 Evaluations
November 5, 2014
By Chris Kemlo
PBR Ontario Director of Scouting
We would like to thank all who participated in PBR Ontario’s Toronto Elie Prospect Showcase. This was a great opportunity for the class of 2015, '16, '17, and '18 prospects to be put on college radars.
In the coming weeks, we will be adding and updating profiles for each of the players in attendance, including complete analysis and video.
Interested in attending a PBR Ontario event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.
Also please take a look at the statistical results from the event by clicking here.
Toronto Elite Prospect Showcase: 2015 Evaluations
Top Position Player
Top Pitcher
Individual Evaluations for the Class of 2015
5-foot-10, 185-pound stocky, sturdy build. Defensively fields ball and transfers clean, arm path is correct, fights to get out front at times, top outfield velocity was 75 mph. Offensively, hits from even, upright stance. Small load and separation, some lift to swing, aggressive hacks with some strength. Exit velocity was 84 mph, 40 time was 5.28.
5-foot-11, 185-pound sturdy frame. Over-head delivery from the wind-up. Down and up arm action, ¾ arm slot that’s on time and finishes with good extension. Fastball thrown for strikes at 71-72 mph. Able to locate curveball both sides of plate with sweeping 2/8 action. Change was 59-62 mph with some late fade, tendency to slow arm.
5-foot-10, 150-pound average build with remaining strength gains. Two-way Prospect. Defensively takes good routes to the ball from the outfield, throws from a high-¾ slot with top velocity of 82 mph from outfield. From the infield, projects as a second baseman but has arm strength to play left side. 84 mph across the infield with carry and accuracy. Athletic actions in lower half, hands work with good transfer. At the plate, starts in athletic position with small load and little stride. Swing is short and compact. Exit velocity was 80 mph while his 40 time was 5.13. On the mound, Wowk worked from on over the top arm angle with some sink and run to his fastball that sat between 79-80 mph. Does good job of keeping arm speed on his curveball, 11/5 shape that was 64-69 mph and in the strike zone. Changeup was 66-70 with some stiff actions in his wrist. Had arm-side run when down in the zone.
5-foot-9, 145-pound righty who fills the strike zone, with all three pitches. Worked fastball to both sides of the plate between 80-82 mph. Arm works, shows quickness, and is on-time. Tendency to drag backside through delivery. More velocity should come in future. Curveball was best pitch, true rotation and late break at 66-68 mph with downward action. Change was up at 74-76, mostly straight. Has been a useful pitch in the past.
5-foot-10, 160-pound lefty with small frame, plenty of room for additional strength gains. Arm action is long and loose, delivery is clean, lands flat and online. Fastball was 78-80 mph, used a two and four seam with some deceptiveness. Ability to locate down and to both sides. Curveball is best pitch, showed good depth and rotation, 1/7 break to it. Changeup had feel, threw for strikes, kept arm speed. Polished lefty who will get better with strength gains, chance for quality three-pitch arsenal.
6-foot-2, 220-pound thick frame. Room for added development. Pitches from a high-¾ angle with a quick arm. Strictly out of the stretch, picks up the catcher late and is across his body. Fastball was 83-84 mph with some sink and run, some effort involved. Have seen Harvey up to 88 this summer. Curveball showed late, sharp action with 11/5 break. Kept arm speed and was able to throw for strikes. Changeup had arm-side run and at times cutting action, similar to his fastball. Quality three-pitch potential.
5-foot-11, 210-pound stocky frame with strength. Behind the plate, received well with soft hands, transfer was quick. 2.00 pop time with velocity reading of 78 mph. Good carry with some life and strength in the arm. Offensively, narrow stance with upright approach. Small load with some power in swing. Gets the head out front and through the baseball. Exit velocity was 79 mph, 40 time was 5.90. On the mound, Angelo used a ¾ arm angle with loose, long arm action that showed quickness. Fastball was 83 with some occasional run, better quality when Angelo stayed controlled and within himself. Slider was 76 mph with lots of spin and short sweep to it. Changeup was 74-75 mph, had trouble finding consistency. Flashed a few that had good action and arm speed. Has lacked reps off mound, the arm plays, more experience will be biggest asset.
6-foot-1, 185-pound strong build with room to add more. Defensively, approaches ball with proper footwork from the outfield. Arm works from high-¾ angle, head tends to pull to left side away from arm. Velocity from outfield was 74 mph. At first base has good instincts around the bag. Angles could be a little better, hands show ability to pick balls in dirt, was 75 mph across the infield. Offensively, open stance with hands started at back shoulder away from body. Lots of current movement in swing, jumps at ball. Hands work with some looseness and quickness, have seen better in past. Exit velocity was 88 mph while 40 time was 5.15
6-foot-4, 170-pound projectable frame with room for added strength. Received well with soft hands behind the plate. Moved well for long frame, direction was online while popping a 2.01. Transfer was clean into ¾ position with a velocity of 76 mph with some tail. At the plate, hits from wide, crouched position with leg kick to load. Starts hands at shoulder height, generates good rhythm to contact point. Bat plane is down, hands show some quickness, stays loose. Exit velocity was 76 mph while his 40 time was 5.25
5-foot-10, 175-pound medium build with remaining strength gains. Balanced delivery with on time separation. Long arm with regular effort, wraps at the back. Works slightly across his body from a ¾ arm angle. Fastball was 77-79 mph for strikes. Curveball was best pitch, had late break and good downward action to it and kept arm speed. 11/5 shape at 65-67 mph. Mixed in a straight change at 71-73 mph for strikes, arm speed was near fastball action. Threw three pitches for strikes.
5-foot-11, 145-pound athletic frame with room for development. Defensively, ate everything up in the infield. Transfer and approaches were confident, arm had loose, athletic action to it. Moved well laterally, top velocity was 73 mph. At the plate, starts in even stance with hands back with a flat bat. Short and compact to ball, little movement, stays through the baseball. Exit velocity was 81 mph, 40 time was 5.00.
5-foot-11, 168-pound average build with some strength. Rhythm to delivery, drives hard of back leg, landing flat and online. Was at best when on top off the ball creating downward finish and extension. Some whip to arm, fastball was 77-80 and would get underneath the ball at times. Slider had 10/4 action to it, showed some tilt when Picciolo would get on top and out front. Changeup ranged from 64-69 mph, body stayed with the pitch and was able to work down in the zone for strikes.
5-foot-10, 185-pound solid build with strength. Good direction out of the crouch behind the dish. Transfer can get low, best pop time was 2.05 with a radar reading of 73 mph from home-to-second. At best when under control, ball had online carry. At the plate, starts with an even stance with rock to load. Hands in good position to hit with good rhythm to the ball. Gap power right now, potential for more. Exit velocity was 82 mph and a 40 time of 5.68.
5-foot-11, 155-pound athletic frame. Defensively, hands showed feel and softness. Moves through ball and can get rid of it quickly at 82 mph across the diamond. At the plate, hits from wide stance with hands up high. Gets bat started, hands did good job of staying inside, bat plane was level. Exit velocity was 79 and his 40 time was 4.97.
Michael Howard-Smith, RHP, 2015
Presence on mound at 6-foot-6, 225-pounds. Works from a high-¾ arm slot, arm path works, needs to improve direction to plate as Smith is across his body, hindering his extension and ability to work down. Fastball sat in the low-80s, topping out at 85. Curveball showed spin and 11/5 shape at 69-74, created some downward action. Mixed in changeup at 73 mph. Projects velocity with correction of mechanics, needs reps and innings, can’t teach size and strength.
6-foot-1, 195-pounds athletic build. Defensively, moved well around the bag. Actions and footwork were clean with top velocity of 76 mph from first. At the plate, Bench uses a quiet, upright approach with small leg kick to load. Hands are quiet with some uphill bat path. Swing needs to get started sooner. Exit velocity was 81 mph and 40 time was 5.16. On the mound, Bench stays compact over the rubber and hides the ball well. Fastball was 78-80 with some life and tail while pounding the zone. Some effort involved, repeats delivery well. Slider showed more of a cut action at 73 mph. Changeup was 71-73 mph with some run when Bench was out front and finished.
6-foot-2, 200-pound muscular, strong frame. Defensively, big bodied corner guy, strong arm across diamond with carry at 81 mph. Fielded a couple balls off back leg, hands are there, need to soften up a touch but work right now. Offensively, flashes serious power with strength and bat speed. Hands work through the zone, stays balanced and produces loud contact. With size and strength could turn into serious power threat with some minor mechanical tweaks. Exit velocity was tops at 93 mph. 40 time was 5.50.
6-foot-1, 175-pound projectable, wiry frame. Best pop time was 2.12, hands work, receives well with quiet movements. Arm has been better, throws close to low-¾ slot, can get underneath at times. Actions are there with some arm speed, was 75 mph from home-to-second. At the plate, starts in a small, slightly bent stance. Hands work quick, tends to get pull happy and wrap wrists. Tools are there with hands and bat speed. Exit velocity was 89 mph and 40 time was 5.22. Defensively strong right now while bat projects.
5-foot-11, 180-pound strong build. Good tempo to delivery, actions were clean, arm works, lands flat on front foot and slightly across his body. Curveball was best pitch with 11/5 shape, late break with arm speed, was able to locate for strikes at 66-68 mph. Fastball was 76-80 with some sink and his changeup showed good arm-side fade, down in the zone at 70 mph. Projects well with Martin’s clean mechanics, velocity could jump with strong off-season.
5-foot-10, 190-pound compact build with strength. Best pop time of the day at 1.93. and highest velocity from catcher’s at 79 mph. Actions are raw behind the plate but there is lots to like. Needs reps and innings to continue to improve. Hands work well, transfer can be low at times, arm strength is there with ease. At the plate, rocks back to load with short stride. Bat speed and hands work well, wants to pull and lift. Needs to get off back side and be more explosive. If that happens watch out. Still very raw but has makeup and tools needed from the catching position. Exit velocity was 87 mph, 40 time of 5.52.
5-foot-9, 135-pound athletic frame with quick twitch actions. Comes at you from a ¾ arm slot with natural run and sink. Arm is loose with some quickness. Closes of hip from the wind-up, able to get back online with tilt in shoulders. Fastball was 81-82 on the day but have seen Greenwood up to 84 mph this fall. Throws spike curveball at 62-64 mph, at best when he keeps arm speed and throws it hard. Threw a couple that had some depth with late break. Showed feel for change, threw for strikes with some late action to it, 69-72 mph.
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