Prep Baseball Report

Top 2018 Defensive Arm Velocities



Jeff Markle
Assistant State Director

PBR Colorado strives to be the most comprehensive source of player information across the state. The Prep Baseball Report is the No. 1 resource for high school baseball in each state we cover through our variety of events, boots-on-the-ground scouting staff, daily coverage, and multimedia platforms. Our multimedia platforms and events work in tandem, ultimately creating the most powerful source of high school baseball promotion in each state.  While other organizations take a national approach, our goal is to become the authoritative voice on the ground level of each state.

We recently did a series on the top uncommitted pop-times, 60-times, arm velos, and exit velocities. Now we are doing a series on our Top 5 overall numbers for each class.

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Top 2018 Defensive Arm Velocities:

Joshua Thompson, Highlands Ranch, OF/RHP
Defensive Arm Velocity: 88
A 6-foot-2, 150-pound switch hitter who ran a 4.3 home to first.  At the plate his swing mirrors itself on both sides of the plate.  He is tall with a slight leg kick for timing.  Long arms keep the bat in the hitting zone and good weight transfer produced an exit velocity of 84 MPH.  On the mound he gets the most out of his 6-2 frame.  He is tall through balance and then drives t the plate.  He does a nice job of extending and releasing out front.  He showcased an 83 MPH fastball with good late movement; a 75 MPH hard curve ball with 10/4 break and a 76 MPH change.  In the field he showed an 88 MPH arm velocity from the outfield.  Identified with the most projectable arm at the UCI.

Blake Mackintosh, Cherokee Trial, SS/RHP
Defensive Arm Velocity: 87
5-foot-11, 155-pounds. Bats and throws right.  At the plate he hits from a wide stance with a slight short leg kick on the pitch.  Wrists are quick through the zone. Starts hands a  little load then gets to proper hitting position and had a nice level swing through the zone with good lower half rotation. Produced an 83 mph exit velo off the tee.  In the field is aggressive and shows good glove to hand transfer, and gains good ground towards first.  He featured an 87 mph arm.  On the mound is tall and balanced and lines inline to the plate. Hides the ball well and comes from a short high 3/4 arm slot. He showcased an 84 MPH fastball along with a 69 MPH curve with sharp 11/5 break and a 75 MPH change with good downward movement. Ran a 7.5 laser timed 60.

Jeremy Onken, Pine Creek OF/RHP (Utah)
Defensive Arm Velocity: 86
A 6-foot-2, 190-pound right hand hitter who ran a 4.53 home to first.  At the plate he hits from a balanced stance with a slight bat wrap on his load.  He fires his hands and hips through the zone and registered an 88 MPH exit velocity.  He shows good power to the pull side.  In the field he is quick to the ball with a quick release.  He showcased an 86 MPH arm from the outfield.  On the mound he rounded out a very good day.  He is a sink and drive pitcher and lands in-line with home plate.  He delivers over the top and showcased an 84 MPH fastball with good command of the inside part of the plate.  He added a 73 MPH curve with sharp 11/5 break and a 75 MPH change that stayed down in the zone.

Garrett Grant, ThunderRidge, OF/3B
Defensive Arm Velocity: 85
A 5-foot-9, 145-pound right hand hitter who ran a 4.23 home to first.  At the plate he hits from a balanced stance with a medium leg kick for timing.  He shows quick hands and hips throw the zone and hits off a firm front side.  His exit velocity was 81 MPH.  In the field he has a plus arm at 85 MPH with smooth actions through the ball.  On the mound he has good balance and closes off slightly to the hitter.  Good leg drive to the plate and he releases from a high ¾ arm slot.  He showed good command of an 80 MPH fastball and was able to mix a 68 MPH curve with 11/5 break and a 74 MPH change into the zone.

Jordan Medina, Highlands Ranch, C/RHP/INF  (Northern Colorado)
Defensive Arm Velocity: 85
6-foot-0, 186-pound right hand hitting catcher/right hand pitcher who ran a 4.23 home to first.  At the plate he hits from a narrow open stance.  He loads on his back foot and then weight and hands come through the zone together.  Good barrel whip creates an exit velocity of 92 MPH.  He has a plus arm behind the plate at 80 MPH and a 1.99 pop-time.  From Short Stop he showed a quick release and an accurate 85 MPH arm. On the mound he stand tall and hides the ball well.  He has good extension on release and featured an 85 MPH fastball.  He also showcased a 64-68 MPH curve and a 72-75 MPH change.  

Tanner O’Tremba, Cherry Creek, OF (Texas Tech)
Defensive Arm Velocity: 85
A 6-foot-0, 210-pound right hand hitter. O'Tremba has a motor that doesn't turn off. In the Top Prospect Games he went a total of 5-6, but what impressed the PBR staff was his hustle double off a routine single. O'Tremba ran a 6.9 laser timed 60, the 3rd fastest time at the event. At the plate he hits from a slightly open stance and uses a leg kick for timing now to come square.  He shows extremely quick hands to the ball, and good hip rotation at contact.  He registered a showcase best 96 MPH exit velocity (We have had at 97 in past events). In the field he is smooth through the ball and has a good over the top delivery. Ranges very well going back on ball stealing what looked like a no-brainer double.  He had an 85 MPH arm velocity from . O'Tremba is one of the top players to follow in the 2018 class.

Cole Winn, Silver Creek, RHP/SS (Notre Dame)
Defensive Arm Velocity: 85
6-foot-2, 180 pounds. Winn is one of the top pitchers in his age class in the country. Arm is flat out electric. In two innings of work struck out all 6 batters. Fastball was 90-91 mph, but he has touched 93 before. Has a wipeout slider with late depth at 76-77 mph. Solid change at same arm speed that lives at 81-82 mph. Winn over the last year has impressed many scouts across the country, and recently impressed at Jupiter playing for the Houston Astros Scout team where he struck out 8 in 3 innings. To read about that click here. Winn is positioning himself to be a potential high draft pick after he graduates high school.  In the field he showed smooth actions and footwork on balls left and right.  He has an accurate over the top release at 85 MPH.

Luke Ziegler, Valor Christian, 3B/RHP (Pepperdine)
Defensive Arm Velocity: 85
6-foot-2, 175-pound. Bats and throws right.  At the plate he stands tall and athletic and a little wider then last time we saw him. Generates good bat whip through the zone, and gets good separation. Hands are loose and gets good extension. Bat has level swing path that stays in hitting zone a long time. He hits off a firm front side with an exit velocity of 87 MPH.  In the field he shows smooth actions and a quick release.  He was accurate with an 85 MPH arm across the diamond, but we have at 85 mph before.  On the mound he stands tall and falls towards 1st. He lands in-line with good extension out front and throws from a high ¾ arm slot.  He showed good command of all three pitches.  He featured an 86 MPH fastball with late movement, a 64 MPH curve with 11/5 break and a 75 MPH change that lived down in the zone. Ran a 7.40 laser timed 60.