Kyle
Shimp

2/16/14 Iowa commit. High-ceiling prospect who has the potential to receive significant draft interest next year. Athletic 6-foot-6, 190-pound left-handed pitcher, long limbs, plenty of room to physically develop. Operates from 3/4 slot, long, loose arm action, athletic delivery, smooth tempo, works across body. Fastball topped at 87 mph, sitting 85-86, free and easy, late arm-side run when down in zone. More velocity to come. Changeup has sinking action in 72-73 range; good feel for pitch. Curveball has sweeping action in 64-67 range. In a class loaded with right-handed pitchers, Shimp is clearly one of the top left-handed prospects in Illinois’ 2015 class with the potential to be one of the premier left-handers in the Midwest.

Team Illinois came in with a lot of hoopla for the Midwest Future Games, but went 0-3 despite having excellent positional play. One pitcher who emerged from the event as a high-interest prospect is the 6-foot-5, 185-pound Shimp. With his long, athletic frame, Shimp is an extremely projectable left-hander with an easy, loose arm. His fastball topped at 85 mph, sitting in the 83-84 range, with a lot more in the tank, it seems. He showed feel for three pitches and, best of all, had knowledge of the strike zone. He worked two scoreless innings and struck out three.