Joe
Placek

1/28/17 - Placek is a 5-foot-11 155-pound right-handed hitting third baseman and right-handed pitcher in Kansas’ 2020 class.  He ran a 7.89 laser timed 60 and a 5.03 home to first.  He has a 79 mph exit velo. At the plate, starts with a wide base, short stride, loads lower half, swing produced solid contact to middle and pull gap, flashed power to pull side.  On the infield, 68 mph positional velo, three quarters release, smooth footwork to the ball, soft hands, clean exchange, mostly accurate throws. On the mound, Placek has a projectable pitcher’s frame, aggressive down mound with controlled leg lift to balance point, body stays under control, over the top release, works slightly across body, fastball at 72-74 mph, showed a cutter at 63-64 mph, some 10-to-4 action, breaking ball is more 12-to-6 64-65 mph, downward action, change up at 64-65 mph.