The Capital City Open, the final Illinois outdoor showcase of 2017, took place at Lincoln Land CC on Monday, October 9th. Today we continue the analysis from the event taking a look at the pitchers in attendance.

The event has been known to unveil talented underclassman in year’s past. 2020 OF Briar Stinson (Rushville-Industry) burst onto the scene at the 2016 event, was invited to the Future Games and recently committed to the University of Kentucky.

This year’s biggest underclass winner looks to be 2020 RHP Drew Detmers (Chatham-Glenwood). The 6-foot-1, 185-pound, right-hander has a live, loose arm, mid-80’s fastball and looks to have plenty more in the tank. Look for Detmers to make an impact in the upcoming 2020 rankings update.

2018 LHP Giuseppe Mattera (Pleasant Plains), a Lincoln Land CC commit, showed a big jump in velocity at the event, sitting 86-88 mph with his fastball. As a result, Mattera jumped almost 20 spots in the recently updated 2018 rankings.  

Below is a look at the pitchers from the event.

Top Pitching Prospects

1. Drew Detmers, RHP/INF, Chatham-Glenwood, 2020
6-foot-1, 185-pound, strong, athletically built, two-way prospect. Highly-projectable 2020 right-handed pitcher. Athletic arm action, works clean, quick and loose; plenty more in the tank. Tall and fall delivery, works with rhythm, online, lands slightly closed and some effort throughout. Fastball jumps out of his hand, late life, arm-side-run at times, sat 84-85 mph. Changeup, feel, works down in the zone, fade action, 72-75 mph. Still learning to harness his curveball. When on, flashes advanced depth, 11/5 shape, potential out pitch at 64-67 mph. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short stride and fluid rhythm. Loose hands at times, level bat path through the zone, line-drive approach and flashed bat strength. 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, plays through the baseball, works out of a lower slot than on the mound, ¾ to high ¾ and throws topped at 75 mph. 8.06 runner in the 60. High-follow 2020 arm.

2. Giuseppe Mattera, LHP, Pleasant Plains, 2018
Committed to Lincoln Land CC, currently ranked No. 60 in Illinois’ Class of 2018. 6-foot, 156-pound, athletically-built left-handed pitcher. Frame has room for additional strength. On the mound, long, loose arm action, high ¾ slot, quick arm speed, gets in a strong position at balance point, drop and drive delivery. Smooth rhythm, works on-line, lands toe-closed, finishes athletically. Two-pitch mix: fastball and curveball. Fastball, flashed run at times, commanded, 86-88 mph. Curveball, 1/7 shape, sharp break, fastball arm speed, commanded, 68-71 mph.

3. Daniel Chausse, RHP/OF, Mt. Zion, 2019
6-foot, 160-pound, athletically-built, right-handed hitting two-way prospect. Defensively, long, loose arm action, slot varied between high ¾ and over-the-top, accurate with carry, 83 mph from the outfield. Plays through the ball, getting behind it with soft hands, fluid footwork, quick, clean exchanges. Offensively, balanced setup, long toe-tap stride, maintains good balance through swing. Line drive approach, fluid rhythm, some looseness, uphill barrel path, occasionally level, 76 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.73 laser-timed 60. On the mound, short, quick arm action, ¾ arm slot, drop and drive delivery. Works from first base side of rubber, on-line, lands square, finishes crossing over. Fastball, run action, 82-84 mph, touched 85. Curveball, 12/6 shape with depth, near fastball arm speed, threw for strikes. Changeup, fastball arm speed, sink and fade action, swing and miss potential, commanded, 75-77 mph.

4. Richard Snider, RHP, Springfield, 2021
6-foot-4, 185-pound, long, lanky, right-handed pitcher, projectable frame, room for continued physical maturation. On the mound, long arm action, over-the-top arm slot, flashed quick arm speed. Tall and fall delivery, smooth rhythm, works on-line, lands square. Fastball, tilt, run action, sat 77-78 mph, touched 82 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, flashed 12/6 on occasion, gradual break, flashed depth at times, 58-61 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, fade action, kept down in the zone, 68 mph. Slider, fastball arm speed, 76-78. Follow 2021.

5. Gavin Wahlbrink, RHP/INF, Chatham-Glenwood, 2019
5-foot-11, 155-pound, two-way prospect. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, repeatable delivery, works with rhythm and stays on-line. Throws a high-volume of strikes with his three-pitch mix. Arm is loose and quick from a ¾ to low ¾ slot. Fastball flashed arm-side-action, sat 80-82 mph. Curveball, feel, sharp spin, depth, 11/5 shape, sat 70-71 mph. Changeup, maintains fastball arm speed at times, run and fade, 75-77 mph. At the plate, right-handed hitter, open setup, toe-tap stride and average balance through contact. Long bat path, line-drive approach and controlled the barrel at times. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. On the infield, reliable hands, loose arm, accurate throws clocked at 78 mph across the diamond. 7.43 runner in the 60, laser-timed.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Graham Bender, RHP, Chatham-Glenwood, 2018
Recent Lincoln Land CC commit. 6-foot, 190-pound, strong upper-half, wide shoulders, right-handed pitcher. On the mound, short arm action with a slight stab, quick arm speed, high ¾ arm slot. Drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands square. Fastball, mostly straight, slight run at times, 82-83 mph, topped out at 84. Curveball, 11/5 shape, tight break on occasion, some feel, 66-69. Changeup, fade action, 74-75.

Anthony Clark, MIF/RHP, Springfield Southeast, 2018
5-foot-9, 150-pound, two-way prospect. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, leg-lift timing trigger and maintains balance throughout. Long, uphill bat path, pull approach. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. On the infield, steady hands, plays through the baseball, short arm action, accurate throws, topped at 73 mph across the diamond. 7.81 runner in the 60. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, arm works short and over-the-top. Works on-line and front foot lands closed. Four seam fastball, works mostly straight, occasional cut action, 75-78 mph. Two-seam fastball sat at 77-78 mph. Curveball works 12/6, thrown aggressively, sharp action, 65-67 mph.

Evan Herpstreith, RHP/INF, Nokomis, 2021
5-foot-9, 150-pound, two-way prospect with a solid lower half. Projects on the mound. Right-handed pitcher, smooth delivery, stays online and lands square. Arm is loose and quick out of a ¾ to low ¾ window. Fastball thrown for strikes, flashed arm-side-run, sat 76-78 mph. Also threw a cutter, acts like a slider at times, tight spin, 67-69 mph. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, leg-kick trigger, looks to lift the baseball,83 mph exit velocity from a tee. On the infield, flashed soft, confident hands, quick release, loose arm. Accurate throws topped at 72 mph across the diamond. 7.74 runner in the 60.

Jacob Jurgens, LHP/1B, Chatham-Glenwood, 2019
5-foot-11, 160-pound, athletically built, two-way prospect. On the mound, left-handed pitcher, works from the stretch only, hides the ball. Short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball, life through the zone, thrown for strikes, downhill tilt, 80-81 mph. Curveball, 12/6 to 1/7 shape, 66-68 mph. Changeup, thrown for strikes, flashed fade, 70-71 mph. At the plate, left-handed hitter, balanced setup, toe-tap stride and maintains balance through contact. Stays short to the ball, spray, line-drive approach and controlled the barrel. 86 mph exit velocity from a tee. At first base, steady defender, clean exchange, loose arm action and throws clocked at 74 mph across the diamond. 7.65 runner in the 60.

Sergio Marchizza, 1B/RHP, Chatham-Glenwood, 2020
6-foot-2, 175-pound, long, athletically built, two-way prospect. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, pre-pitch rhythm, short stride and average balance throughout. Aggressive swing, looks to drive the baseball, loose hands and flashed bat speed. Long bat path, line-drive approach and 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. At first base, reliable hands, clean transfer, long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Throws topped at 71 mph across the diamond. Ran a 7.65 60. Right-handed pitcher, slow repeatable delivery, works online with the plate and lands slightly closed. Long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball works straight, 77-80 mph, topped at 81. Curveball, 12/6 shape, occasional depth, 63-66 mph. Changeup, down, 66-69 mph.

Chris Murphy, LHP, Jacksonville, 2018
6-foot-1, 150-pound, left-handed pitcher. On the mound, short arm action, ¾ arm slot, tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands toe-closed. Fastball, run action, commanded, 70-72 mph, touched 73. Curveball, 2/8 shape, gradual action, 59-60 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, flashed fade, 67-69 mph.

Heath Nolan, INFRHP, Illini Bluffs, 2021
6-foot, 175-pound, athletically built, two-way prospect. Left-handed hitter, balanced setup, bars on load and toe-tap load. Bat path works uphill at times and exit velocity clocked at 87 mph from a tee. At first base, reliable hands, throws from a high ¾ slot and throws clocked at 66 mph across the diamond. 8.23 runner in the 60. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, coiled at balance point and throws from a high ¾ window. Fastball sat 67-69 mph. Curveball ranged between 54-58 mph. Changeup, flashed feel, 60-61 mph.

Cade Slaughter, RHP, Robinson, 2019
6-foot-2, 182-pound, right-handed pitcher. On the mound, sets up wide on the first base side of the rubber, long, wrapping arm action, high ¾ arm slot, works towards third base, athletic finish. Fastball, slight run action, 75-76 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, gradual break, 62-63. Slider, 10/4 shape, 64-66. Changeup, fade, 69-71.

Lucas Unland, LHP, Beardstown, 2018
6-foot-1, 170-pound, left-handed pitcher. On the mound, short, firm arm action, high ¾ arm slot, drop and drive delivery. Works with some rhythm, high front side, on-line, lands square. Fastball, mostly straight, commanded, 74-75 mph, touched 76. Curveball, 1/7 shape, gradual break, kept around the zone, 64-68. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, 67-70. Offensively, balanced setup, pre-pitch bar load and drops hands, leg kick timing-trigger, uses legs well. Aggressive, gap-to-gap approach, long, uphill barrel path through zone, present bat speed, 85 mph exit velocity off a tee.

Kyle Werries, RHP, INF, Chatham-Glenwood, 2018
Recent Lincoln Land CC commit. 5-foot-11, 180-pound, strong, durable, two-way prospect. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, drop and drive delivery, works on-line, repeats and some effort throughout. Clean, loose, quick arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball works straight, heaviness down in the zone at times, 81-83 mph, touching 84. Curveball, thrown aggressively, 11/5 shape, 68-71 mph. Changeup, worked 71-73 mph. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, smooth load, short stride and maintains good balance throughout. Present bat speed, path stays level through the zone, extension through contact, consistent hard contact, gap-to-gap approach and fluid rhythm throughout. 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, profiles as a corner infielder. Steady, sure hands, clean transfer, loose arm, throws topped at 77 mph across the diamond. 7.69 runner in the 60.

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