Preseason ID: Pitcher Analysis

April 28, 2020
Brett Thorney
State Scouting Director

On Sunday, February 9th, PBR Arizona wrapped up its preseason schedule in Mesa, Arizona with our Preseason Identification showcase. This event was slated to be the last event until the spring high school season concluded. We began our post-event analysis with our Statistical Analysis, taking a look at the top statistical performers in each category. We also posted a Quick Hits: Part One and Part Two of instant reactions from the event. This identification event gave us some good knowledge into some players that we haven't seen before. We also had the chance to see a couple of players we haven't seen in a couple months.

We continue our coverage with some positional analysis from the Preseason ID. Today, we will be looking at the pitchers that took the hill at our open event. There was talent across the board with some young 2024s starting to make some appearances. Here are the reports from the day, listed in alphabetical order:

Roman Bracamonte RHP / 1B / Nogales, AZ / 2022

6-foot-1 160-pounds, slim lanky frame, long limbs, minimal strength, room to hold a significant amount of weight. Showed some solid pitch ability on the day. Current level of strength leads to higher effort drop & drive delivery. Throws from H ¾ arm slot, showing some quickness in stab arm action. Created direction coming down the mound with a balanced finish. FB sat at 73-77mph with some heavy run, pounding the zone for strikes. Showed feel for off-speed pitches. Threw a slower RPM CV with gradual 11/5 shape, near FB arm speed. Mixed in a CH with some sink down in the zone. Has the length, monitor as he develops physically.

Lucas Cardy RHP / OF / Canyon del Oro, AZ / 2022

Rankings StateRank: 34 / POS: 10

6-foot-2 175-pound, proportional strength to frame, good make-up. Showed sneaky raw athleticism running a 6.99 60-yard dash, upright runner. Showed some overall toolsy skills on the day. Two-way player. Hits from a squared athletic base using a small forward move. Loads the barrel vertically. Upper Body dominant swing, pull approach. Loud contact & above average pop to LF at 86mph with minimal separation. Hit a HR to LF in BP session. Used a crow up in the OF with some direction to target, 82mph arm from OF. On the mound, throws from a H3/4 slot, slightly quick arm speed with smooth rhythm. Short loose arm action. Sat 83-85mph with his FB that showed some late run at times. Erratic CV showed glimpses of being a plus pitch with more command, varying shape with late sharp break in bullpen. Two-way player that should be monitored closely.

Tommy Chiappetti SS / OF / Verrado, AZ / 2023

5-foot-8 130-pounds, young immature build, small balanced frame. Two-way player. Hits from squared average base, using a rock back load while picking up his front foot slightly. Starts with hands shoulder height, dropping hand in load. Pushes the ball to the right side of the field. Soft contact at 77mph exit velocity. Decent footwork with average quickness. Sure hands with some whipy arm action across the diamond at 80mph. On the mound, threw across his body with long ¾ arm action. Some looseness with average arm speed after breaking hands early. Regular effort with some rhythm. FB sat 73-76mph, thrown for strikes. Showed some feel for his off-speed. Threw a gradual sweeping BB with 10/4 shape. CH had some varying movement, down in the zone.

Caedin Craft LHP / 1B / Trivium Preparatory, AZ / 2022

Thomas DeChesaro 3B / C / Saguaro, AZ / 2022

Rankings StateRank: 48 / POS: 3

5-foot-10 160-pounds, lean athletic build, some present athleticism. Ran a 7.18 60-yard dash. Versatile player that showed some decent actions at 3 positions. Average hitter currently that had some trouble timing his movements. Hits from a narrow base with toes pointed towards the catcher, using leg kick to generate leverage. Mid/oppo approach with ok contact at 84mph. Overall quick arm and some natural arm strength. Quick Releases behind the plate, popping up out of his crouch. Solid footwork in the INF. Fields ball cleanly, funneling baseball to belt buckle. Carry on throws at 81mph. Showed Quick, long arm action on the mound with some effort. Straight FB sat 80-82mph from L 3/4 slot. Inconsistent CV at 67-68mph with varying shape, missing up. He threw a good one or two. CH cuts at 71-73mph. Interesting player to monitor going forward.

Camden Dixon RHP / Paradise Honors , AZ / 2022

Rankings StateRank: 63 / POS: 15

6-foot 166-pound frame, thin wiry frame with athleticism, lots of room to gain strength. Showed some of the best stuff of the day. Drop & drive delivery with smooth rhythm. Threw from a ¾ slot with loose arm action, quick arm speed. Quick to the plate with some effort. Good balance coming down the mound with direction to the plate. Got a big upright at times. Pounded the zone with 3 pitches. FB sat 81-83mph with some late sinking action. Secondary pitches showed above average. Tight SL was thrown at 66-68 mph with sharp 10/4 shape. CH showed some cut/sinking action, thrown at 73-74mph. Overall stuff & projectability should make him a follow going into the summer season.

Austin Graffius RHP / 3B / Casa Grande Union, AZ / 2023

5-foot-10 135-pounds, thin immature body, room to hold more weight. Two-way player. Starts from a tall upright base, narrow slightly open stance. Uses leg kick with forward movement, landing with some weight on the front leg. Hands starts low, loading deep into an arm bar at times. Pull approach with raw upward swing. 69mph exit velocity. Raw actions in the infield. Flips glove to field balls underneath body. Momentum going off to glove side on throws at 68mph. On the mound, throws from a H ¾ arm slot with slightly quick arm speed. Some effort to delivery, rotating off to 1B side & finishing upright. Straight FB sat 73-76mph. Some feel for CV that was thrown at slower arm speed at 61-66mph with 11/5 shape.

Kaden Major OF / RHP / Desert Ridge, AZ / 2024

5-foot-8 130-pounds, thin high waisted, physically immature, room to hold significant more strength. Two-way player. Raw approach, starting from a slightly narrow & upright base. Uses a toe tap trigger into a leg lift. Downward path to the baseball. Little separation of stiff hands. Mid/pull approach with soft LD contact at 71mph. Throws with a slight step behind from L ¾ arm slot on throws from OF, 76mph arm strength. Momentum going off to glove side. On the mound, throws from a ¾ arm slot with short arm action. Young raw mechanically. Some effort & rhythm to the delivery, downward tilt of the shoulders. Finishes upright with minimal backside. Straight FB sat 72-74mph, throwing to arm side. Slows down arm speed on off-speed. CV was 54-58mph up in zone. CH was thrown at 55-60mph.

Jack Minhinnick 1B / RHP / Desert Vista, AZ / 2022

Rankings StateRank: 89 / POS: 2

6-foot-3 2020-pounds, big body with some present strength & durability. Hits from a slightly open stance in relaxed upright position with barrel resting flat on his shoulder. Loads his hands down and back. Throws his barrel early, getting around the baseball. Uses leg lift landing hard on front side. Some natural pop when he connects to pull-side. 84mph exit velocity. Heavy footwork in the infield. Plays on his heels. Knocked baseballs down. Also pitches on the day, throwing from a L ¾ arm slot with slower arm speed. Some effort in balanced delivery. Lands tall in finish. FB sat 72-76mph, thrown for strikes. CV was the better off-speed pitch thrown with gradual 10/4 shape.

Cayden Musgrove RHP / OF / Basha, AZ / 2021

Rankings StateRank: 90 / POS: 18

6-foot-3 190-pounds, some strength & durability to frame, strong legs, looks noticeably leaner than back in mid December. Hits from upright base using a leg kick to generate leverage. Minimal stretch in long swing with some extra movement. Had some trouble getting off his backside, back foot stays connected to ground. Turns the barrel early, creating a pull dominant approach. Average contact, some pop to LF at 88mph. Heavy footwork in the OF, ran a 7.81 60-yard dash. Some natural arm strength from position at 81mph. Future is likely on the mound. Pitches from tall/fall delivery with some effort. Straight FB from H ¾ slot sat 78-80mph with slight occasional run. Dropped arm angle slightly on breaking ball’s. Threw a SL & CV that were similar in shape. BB was thrown at L ¾ arm slot at 62-66mph.

Ayden Sauerbrei RHP / OF / Shadow Ridge, AZ / 2022

Rankings StateRank: 87 / POS: 20

5-foot-10 165-pounds, average build with some athleticism, some strength in lower half, some projectability. Throws from a ¾ arm slot, on lower side with quick arm speed. Long & loose arm action. Balance with some effort in quicker delivery, some rhythm. Lands closed off, falling off to the first base side at times. Some deception hiding the baseball, cross firing. Threw lots of strikes. CH is his best pitch. FB sat 77-79mph with late run/sink. CH was thrown with sinking action at 69-70mph. Also, mixed in a gradual spinner with 10/4 shape at 65-68mph. Monitor as he gets stronger and matures physically.

Matthew Storck LHP / OF / Hamilton , AZ / 2024

5-foot-7 145-pounds, young body that hasn't begun maturing, some definition in arms & legs. Two-way player, liked his future projection on the mound. Left-handed hitter. Hits from narrow upright base, staying tall through swing. Uses slight toe tap into small forward move, upper body dominant. Long steep swing plane. Mid/oppo approach. 68mph exit velocity. On the mound, Threw from H ¾ slot with short arm action and easy effort. Direction coming down the mound, finishing athletic with a short stride. Straight FB sat 69-72mph with slight sink on a couple pitches. Mixed in some above average off-speed for age. Threw a late SL with 2/8 shape at 65-66mph. ASR CH had some sink at 67-68mph. Ball came out clean with smooth rhythm. Monitor as he starts physically maturing and getting stronger.

Nick Suspenzi RHP / SS / Desert Mountain, AZ / 2021

Rankings StateRank: 13 / POS: 4

5-foot-11 170-pounds, recently committed to San Diego, average build with some athleticism & projectability. One of the better arms of the day. Throws from L3/4 slot with loose arm action and quick arm speed. Some effort & rhythm to go along with balanced delivery. Good back leg drive & front side extension. FB sat in the mid 80’s, topping at 87mph with late cutting action. Above average CH thrown at 75-80mph with some cut & sink, near FB arm speed. SL was average with 10/4 shape, getting around the baseball at 68-71mph. Should continue to be followed on the hill. Ball jumps out of his hand.

Damien Tipton LHP / OF / Betty H. Fairfax, AZ / 2021

Rankings StateRank: 107 / POS: 17

5-foot-10 155-pounds, small with strong legs, some projectability. Two-way player. Left-handed hitter that hit from an athletic setup. Raw middle/away approach. Small leg kick trigger. Level swing path with consistent contact, 81mph exit velocity. Average footwork with low effort. Ran a 7.88 60-yard dash. Arm played in the OF with carry on throws at 82mph, showed accuracy. On the mound, threw with a drop & drive delivery. Close to max effort from ¾ arm slot with quick arm action. FB was thrown for strikes at 79-81mph with late run. Varying shape on his CV at 70-74mph, showed above average on a couple pitches. CH was a better pitch that had some high spin, thrown down in zone with some sinking action.

Steven Vasquez LHP / 1B / Odyssey Prep, AZ / 2021

Rankings StateRank: 47 / POS: 6

6-foot-4 200-pounds, long limbs with strength in legs, body really stood out. Two-way player that was one of the more interesting follows of the day. Hit from a wide closed off stance, cutting himself off at times. Natural pop at 93mph with a middle approach. Showed some ability to lift baseball. On the mound, showed a smooth delivery with some body control, landing athletic. Flat footwork in the infield, slowing his body down. Raw when it comes to reads and taking angles. 67mph arm strength across the diamond. Threw strikes down in the zone from a H ¾ arm slot with a quick arm. Showed some feel for 3 pitches. Ball jumped out of the hand on straight FB, sitting 80-83mph with occasional late run. CV showed above average potential at 62-66mph with 1/7 shape. High spin CH showed some sink down. His body & overall potential should make for a good follow over course of the spring & summer.

Stephen Veres SS / RHP / Millennium, AZ / 2023

6-foot-1 145-pounds, long limbs, thin lanky build, plenty of room to add size. Two-way player. Hits from relaxed upright base, using leg kick trigger. Starts with the bat resting on his shoulder, lifting slightly back in load. Flat barrel entry into the zone. Turns barrel slightly early creating a pull approach. Line drive & ground ball contact at 73mph exit velocity. On the mound, threw from a higher arm slot with slower arm speed. FB sat 69-72mph with occasional cut, throwing strikes up in the zone. Developing a feel for his off-speed. Mixed in a 10/4 spinner at 63-65mph and a gradual CH at 62-65mph.

Marshall Williams SS / C / Sunnyslope, AZ / 2021

Rankings StateRank: 94 / POS: 22

5-foot-9 170-pounds, compact build, present strength especially in the lower half, some durability to build off, showed some athleticism running a 7.28 60-yard dash. Switch Hitter with some raw actions. Worked out at SS/C/P, ambidextrous on the mound. Hard for a player to be more versatile than that. Hits from a relaxed squared base from both sides, using a leg kick trigger. Mid/pull approach from LH side with natural loft. LD pull approach from RH side. Solid pop from both sides of the plate, 85mph exit velocity. Showed some quickness and flexibility behind the plate. Some extra movement when receiving. Consistent arm up the middle & behind the plate, turning in consistent pop times around 2.0. 81mph arm strength across the diamond. On the mound, his RH side is more natural. LH side is softer but smooth. FB worked 76-78mph from RH with a decent knuckleball. Development should be followed.

Jackson York RHP / Chandler School, AZ / 2021

6-foot-2 205-pounds, broad shoulders, thick build, some strength & durability to build off. Threw from a low ¾ arm slot with slower arm speed. Longer arm swing. Some effort and rhythm to delivery. Created direction coming down the mound, landing upright & square. Threw FB for strikes sitting 71-73mph with occasional run. Erratic 11/5 CV was thrown with shorter arm action at 60-64mph, floating action. Also threw a CH for strikes with some sink at 55-57mph.