Toby Bicknell
Texas Scouting Director

Twitter: @PBR_Texas
IG: @pbr_texas

WACO, TX - Even with the recruiting process getting earlier every year, in a state like Texas, there are still quality arms with upside, looking for the right program. In the pitching analysis from our Fall Kickoff Showcase Games there are several unsigned seniors that college recruiters will want to see quickly.

Top Performers

+ Otto Stacey, RHP/SS, Klein Collins HS, 2018
Uncommitted. 6-foot-2, 175-pound, projectable pitcher’s frame with plenty of room to add strength. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a quick arm swing. Smooth rhythm, tall-and-fall delivery, good balance, easy effort, and athletic lower half. His fastball sat 86-88 mph with heavy life. Threw his breaking ball with fastball arm speed and good feel for spin. The pitch varies in depth between 11/5 and 10/4 shape, but ranged from 77-81 mph. Mixed in a couple of changeups at 74 mph. With his projectable frame, athletic delivery and current hand speed, it’s easy to dream that Stacey has more velocity in his tank and is an arm that college recruiters will want to see very soon. High Academic student.

+ Matthew Boase, RHP, Tomball Memorial HS, 2018
Uncommitted. 6-foot-1, 185-pound, loose, projectable, athletic, high-waisted frame. The right-hander works from an over the top slot with a long, loose arm swing and repeatable, efficient delivery and more velocity to come in the future. Pounds the zone with steady FB/CB mix. His fastball worked 83-86 mph with some downward tilt. Can really spin 12/6 hammer curveball with good shape and depth in any count at 74-75 mph, threw several that buckled hitters early in count, and got swings and misses with two-strikes at the bottom of the zone. Mixed in one changeup at 80 mph with fastball arm speed and arm side fade as he turns it over at release. With Boase’s frame, loose arm and ability to command a curveball, he would be an excellent addition to a recruiting class.

+ Cayden Lopez, LHP, Marcus HS, 2018
Uncommitted. 6-foot-2, 175-pound, projectable, long-limbed, athletic frame with plenty of room to add strength. Lopez pounded the strike zone with a steady FB/CB mix, working from a ¾ slot. Smooth rhythm, tempo and balance throughout a drop and drive delivery with an athletic finish. His fastball shows arm side run and sink at 80-82 mph. He was able to locate his fastball to both sides of the plate, including getting it into right-handed hitters. Good feel for his curveball at 69-70 mph with nice 2/8 shape and depth, can locate it early and late in counts. Made quick work of hitters during his one inning of work.  

+ Caleb Williams, RHP/SS, Lorena HS, 2019
Uncommitted. 5-foot-9, 150-pound frame. The right-hander works from a low sub-marine slot with a loose arm swing. Showed excellent feel and pitchability from his slot, maintained good upper body tilt throughout his delivery and finishes out front with a quick move down the mound and athletic lower half. Fastball has good sink and arm side run at 73-76 mph, locating to both sides of the plate, including getting the ball into left-handed hitters. Did a great job of mixing in his curveball for weak contact, and swings and misses to right-handed hitters. Also used it as a back door pitch to left-handers. Flashed one changeup at 62 mph.

+ Zackery Honey, LHP/1B, Cedar Ridge HS, 2019
Uncommitted. Honey has a projectable pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-2, 180-pounds. The left-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a short arm stroke and some deception in his delivery as he coils at balance point and hides the ball well. Lands closed as he gets out over his front side with good energy down the mound and extension out front, upright finish and a fairly athletic lower half. His fastball sat mostly 78-80 mph, topping out at 81 mph, with late, arm side tailing action. Does a nice job of working both sides of the plate with his fastball, moving the ball in-and-out to both right-handed, and left-handed hitters. Curveball has a chance to be a plus pitch, he spins it with good feel to both sides of the plate with 2/8 shape at 68-70 mph. Changeup came in at 76 mph and flashed some depth, even though it was close to his fastball velocity.

+ Caidon Livingston, RHP/SS, Lorena HS, 2019
Uncommitted. Livingston is a two way player that could have a bright future on the mound with his athletic, 5-foot-11, 165-pound, long-limbed, lean-muscular frame. The right-hander has a loose, quick arm swing from a high slot. Drop and drive delivery with good energy and tempo down the mound, level shoulders, lands open with average effort. Although his fastball was only 80-82, topping out at 83, it did flash heavy sink at times. He also has a sharp curveball with good depth and 12/6 bite at 67-70 mph. Was able to mix the breaking ball early and late in count. Changeup comes in at 72-74 mph with average fade and fastball arm speed.

Best of the rest (alphabetical)

+ Ashton Alvarez, 3B/RHP, Hutto HS, 2019
Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 190-pound, strong frame, with broad shoulders. The right-hander works from high slot with a short arm stroke and some effort. Drop and drive delivery with some rhythm, level shoulders, and good hip turn as he starts down the mound. Lands open with an upright finish. Fastball ranged from 73-76 mph. Curveball has average 12/6 shape and gradual depth at 62-65 mph. Throws a legit knuckleball for strikes that dances up to the plate and drops off the table at 62-64 mph.

+ Andrew Cates, C/RHP, Midway HS, 2020
Uncommitted. 6-foot, 200-pound, sturdy frame. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a short arm stroke. Directional tall-and-fall delivery, level shoulders, late hand separation, lands square on his heel. His fastball ranged from 75-78 mph with slight arm side run. Slider ranges from 66-69 mph with 11/5 shape and some depth. His changeup flashed arm side fade at 68 mph with fastball arm speed.

+ Victor Drago, SS/RHP, Memorial HS, 2019
Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 170-pound, athletic frame with strong lower half. The right-hander works from a ¾ slot with a short arm stroke and average arm speed. Coils at the top of a tall-and-fall delivery with some rhythm, regular effort, level shoulders, lands square, average stride length with an upright finish. Straight fastball at 76-79 mph. Curveball has loose spin at 64-68 mph, with gradual break. Changeup was 72 mph with arm side fade.  

+ Jeremy Garcia, LHP/OF, St. Anthony’s Catholic HS, 2019
Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 155-pound frame. The left-hander works from a high slot with a medium arm stroke and some effort. Drop and drive delivery with good balance, athletic hip turn down the mound, lands closed with a fairly athletic finish. His fastball flashes arm side run at 74-76 mph. His best off-speed pitch was his changeup, which he threw with fastball arm speed and excellent depth and fade at 69-72 mph. Throws his curveball for strikes with 1/7 shape, early break and gradual depth at 61-63 mph. Garcia also picked off a runner at first base with an athletic move from a full leg kick.

+ Dayton Harkey, RHP, Sanger HS, 2018
Uncommitted. 6-foot-2, 205-pound, strong, projectable pitcher’s frame. The right-hander works from a high slot with a long, fairly loose arm stroke with regular effort. Directional tall-and-fall delivery, good balance, smooth rhythm, level shoulders, lands square with a fairly athletic lower half finish. His fastball ranged from 80-82 mph with slight arm side run, topping out at 84 mph. His curveball has 12/6 rotation with loose spin at 66-68 mph and flashes depth. Worth noting, Harkey threw 87 mph from the outfield with good carry and accuracy.

+ Tyler Kelly, 3B/RHP, Hutto HS, 2020
Uncommitted. 5-foot-10, 170-pounds, sturdy frame with broad shoulders and strong lower half. The right-hander works from a high-¾ slot with a medium arm stroke. Tall-and-fall delivery, in-line direction, medium effort, lands open. Fastball ranged from 75-78 mph, sitting mostly 77 mph. Varies his slots from two-seam and four-seam fastball. Turns his two-seam fastball over with some heavy action to his glove side. Curveball had loose spin at 66-68 and gradual rotation at 64-66 mph.

 

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