Prep Baseball Report

IP Showcase - The Top Arms Part 1


Quinn Allen
BC Writing Intern

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IP Showcase: The Top Arms Part 1

The Inside Performance showcase was held on February 24th at the Inside Performance facility in North Vancouver. This event featured 54 of BC’s top players ranging from the 2020 to 2023 class, including many guys who are already committed to top-notch schools south of the border, along with a handful of Junior National Team athletes.

This will be the first of three articles highlighting the top arms that showcased themselves in late February. Second, we will discuss the top uncommitted players. Lastly, we’ll look ahead to the future and talk about the most exciting youngsters in the 2021-2023 class.

Micah Bucknam RHP / 3B / M.E.I, BC / 2021

Top Velo at IP- 92.7 MPH

Bucknam broke onto the scene last summer where he impressed scouts at the PBR Future Games in Georgia, joining the 90 MPH club for the first time in front of hundreds of college and pro scouts. His outstanding showing earned him a scholarship to the University of Washington, who Bucknam signed to last August. The 16-year old was solid at Inside Performance, sitting consistently at 91-92 with his heater. The Fraser Valley product complimented his four-seamer with a sharp breaking ball that sat in the high 70's and a mid-80's changeup with arm-side tail. The youngster has a smooth, effortless delivery with a solid command of all three offerings. As he continues to physically mature over the next year, we should see Bucknam creeping closer to mid-90 with his fastball and become a legitimate prospect for the 2021 draft.

Vic Domingo RHP / 3B / Saint Thomas More Collegiate, BC / 2020

Top Velocity at IP- 89.6 MPH

One of the top two-way talents in the country, Domingo has the ability to be a very good player at both positions. Although he stands at just 5 foot 10, the UBC commit can bring it on the mound, touching 91 before this event and consistently sitting in the high 80's. At Inside Performance he was 88-89 with the four-seamer, complimenting his heater with a high 70s slider and low 80's breaking ball. Domingo was utterly dominant in the PBL last season, striking out a ridiculous 58 hitters in just 29 innings for UBC while registering 10 or more strikeouts on three separate occasions. With continued development and strength, Domingo could profile more as a late-innings guy or a starter at the next level, but as he matures and potentially takes on a different role out of the bullpen, Domingo could end up being a very exciting player to watch at two positions in college.

Dominic Hambley RHP / 3B / NA, BC / 2021

Top Velocity at IP - 92.3 mph

Hambley joins Bucknam as one of the most intriguing arms in the 2021 class. The 6 foot 2 16-year old has slowly increased his velocity on the bump over the last year, going from a high 80's arm to a 90 guy. At IP, Hambley was consistently 91-92 but has flashed 93 in the past. He showed good command of the fastball but did struggle to locate the changeup and curveball. However, the breaking ball had one of the highest spin rates among all the invitees, with a major league average of 2500 rpm's. With that in mind, it has the potential to be a plus offering in the future if he can improve his command of the pitch. At such a young age, Hambley has a terrific arm and a big body that will catch the eye of pro scouts and college recruiters.

Gio Mezzomo OF / LHP / Centennial, BC / 2020

Top Velocity at IP- 91 mph

Mezzomo dedicated himself this past offseason to increase his strength in the weight room and the results so far this spring was impressive, both on the mound and at the plate. Although he's been known more as a left-handed power bat, Mezzomo is now making a name for himself on the rubber. The lefty throws a fastball that sits 88-91 while generating a lot of power from his strong lower half in his delivery. Due to his ¾ arm slot, Mezzomo's high 70's curveball is more a slurve than a general 12-6 breaking ball. Considered one of the top LHH power-potential bats in the country, he continues to prove that he could be a force to be reckoned with at two positions at the division one level. As he continues to grow and physically mature over the next few years, Mezzomo could be a mid-90's weapon from the left side and a guy with a loud bat for Sacramento State.

Jack Seward RHP / Charles Best, BC / 2020

Top Velocity at IP- 86 mph

Seward is another intriguing arm who has garnered interest heading into the draft. At T12 in the fall, the 6-foot-3 right-hander consistently sat 88-91 with his heater, touching 92. The Oregon signee compliments the four-seamer with a low 80's slider that has a good bite. He sat at just 85-86 at Inside Performance, but he has shown the ability in the past to sit in the high 80's/low 90's. The Coquitlam Reds product has quality stuff but does tend to lose command of the strike zone at times. He struggled in a short stint with Team Canada in March, but it's important to note that he was facing big-league hitters. Seward will be heading to a strong college program in Eugene and with more development and maturity, the youngster will be an interesting arm to closely watch in the coming years as a pro prospect.