Class of 2020 Games: Pitchers Analysis

Prep Baseball Report - Kansas held the Class of 2020 Games at Neosho County Community College in Chanute, Kansas on June 18.

Player profiles have been updated with running times and velocities along with a video of their performance. 

Players can now updated their profiles with a ProspectPlus subscription, while scouts and recruiters can add players on ScoutPlus.

Here is a closer look at the Pitchers from the event, listed in alphabetical order

Pitchers

Bobby Allen RHP / OF / Olathe Northwest, KS / 2020 Allen has a compact delivery, works at a slower tempo, controlled leg lift, hides the ball well behind his body, in line stride, directional towards target, repeats, athletic finish, three-quarter release. Fastball is thrown for strikes, 75-78 mph, occasional run, curveball is 58-60 mph, mostly gradual action, 11-to-5 shape, thrown for strikes, changeup is 68-71 mph, some arm side run, around the zone.

Michael Allen 1B / LHP / Park Hill South , MO / 2020 Allen shows a lean frame with room to grow as he develops. Allen works primarily from the stretch, controlled leg lift, strong glove side action, open stride, downhill tilt with and over the top release, clean arm action. Fastball is 75-77 mph, occasional late cut action, curveball is 64-66 mph, 12-to-6 shape, near fastball arm speed, late downward action, changeup is 70 mph.

Jake Beckmann OF / RHP / Frontenac , KS / 2020 Beckmann’s long limbs and lean from show room for growth as he develops. Delivery shows some rhythm, long and clean arm action, high three quarter release, works downhill, used a mix of fastballs and breaking balls to help keep he hitters off balance. Fastball is thrown for a high percentage of strikes, 79-81 mph, curveball is thrown with aggressive arm speed at 70-72 mph, sharp at times, showed good feel as it was thrown for a high percentage of strikes.

Caden Bressler RHP / 3B / Sterling, KS / 2020 Bressler has a physical appearance on the mound. Delivery is compact, works at a quicker tempo, quick arm that works from a high three quarter release, downhill, shorter stride and slightly across body, accelerates down the mound. Fastball sits 82-84 mph, tops at 85 mph, thrown for a high percentage of strikes, changeup has a chance to be a plus pitch, 72-75 mph, thrown aggressively, arm side run and some depth, curveball is 73-76 mph, sharp and downward action.

Thomas Burns SS / 2B / Blue Valley West, KS / 2020 Burns has a smaller and slender frame with room to grow, athletic delivery, controlled leg lift, higher glove side action for added deception, loose arm action, high three-quarter release, downhill tilt. Fastball sits 76-80 mph, tops at 81 mph, arm side run, thrown for strikes, curveball is 62-66 mph, thrown aggressively for strikes, showed some feel at times to move it around, changeup is 67-72 mph, near fastball arm speed, arm side run.

Jackson Eaton LHP / 1B / Olathe North, KS / 2020 Eaton shows a large frame with a controlled delivery, works smooth down the mound, clean arm action from a high three-quarter release, delivery has slower tempo, consistent finish, utilizes a higher glove side to add deception, shorter leg lift with a mostly directional delivery. Fastball sat 73-76 mph at the event, thrown for strikes, arm side run.

Elijah Gross LHP / OF / Lee's Summit West, MO / 2020 Gross shows a lean frame and slender build on the mound. Delivery is mostly smooth, quicker tempo with his leg lift, accelerates down the mound towards home plate, clean arm action, maintains athleticism throughout, high three-quarter release. Fastball is heavy, sits 77-79 mph, tops at 80 mph, thrown for strikes, showed command of curveball, pitch sits 64-67 mph, late downward action, 12-to-6 shape, showed effective mix of pitches during game action

Braxton Hyde RHP / OF / Liberal , KS / 2020 Hyde shows a lean build with long levers, repeatable delivery, accelerates down the mound, arms and legs coming at the hitter, controlled leg lift, in line stride, directional towards home plate, three-quarter release, clean arm action. Fastball sat 83-87 mph, topped at 88, thrown for strikes, mixed both sides of the plate, curveball shows 10-to-4 shape, mostly gradual action, changeup is 75-76 mph, arm side run, near fastball arm speed.

Alex Johnson RHP / OF / Spring Hill, KS / 2020 Johnson has a long and lean frame that projects as he continues to develop and fill out. His delivery is smooth with some rhythm, shorter and across the body stride, loose arm action, creates downhill tilt as he works toward his target. Fastball is heavy, sat 79-81 mph at the event, topped at 82 mph, arm side run, curveball is 71-72 mph, sharp bite, 11-to-5 shape, changeup is 71-73 mph, near fastball arm speed with some arm side run.

Jake Johnson RHP / OF / Lees Summit North, MO / 2020 Johnson has a medium build and athletic frame. He has an easy delivery, works well down the mound, controlled leg lift, aggressive down the mound towards home plate, loose arm action, repeats delivery with minimal effort needed. Fastball jumps out of his hand, sat 79-81, topped at 83 mph at the event, thrown for a high percentage of strikes, arm side run, curveball is 70-74 mph, 1-to-5 shape with sharp and late action, changeup up is 73-76 mph, thrown aggressively, showed good fading action and some depth.

Blake Leadford LHP / OF / CBC, MO / 2020 Leadford has a lean build and projectable frame with long limbs. Leadford works at a quicker tempo with some rhythm to his delivery, quick and loose arm action, high three-quarter release, athletic delivery that repeats, aggressive with lower half as he accelerates down the mound. Fastball sat 81-84 mph at the event, late action with arm side run, thrown for a high percentage of strikes, curveball has swing and miss potential, 1-to-7 shape with sharp bite at 66-70 mph, changeup is 75-78 mph, arm side run, near fastball arm speed.

Cal Leonard RHP / 3B / Iola, KS / 2020 Leonard is a lean and athletic RHP from Iola, KS. Delivery is directional towards home plate, controlled leg lift, in line stride, gains momentum down the mound, high three-quarter release. Fastball sat 79-82 mph at the event, thrown for a high percentage of strikes, slight arm side run, curveball is 68-70 mph, gradual bite, 11-to-5 shape, changeup has a chance to be a plus pitch, 70-71 mph at the event with quality arm side run, thrown with near fastball arm speed.

Blake Millman LHP / OF / DeSoto, KS / 2020 Millman is a left-handed pitching prospect out of DeSoto HS in Kansas’ 2020 class. Delivery showed to be athletic, fluid movements, repeatable and have direction towards home plate, controlled leg lift, clean arm action from a high three-quarter release. Fastball was thrown for a high percentage of strikes, sat 73-75 mph while topping at 77 mph, arm side run, located to both sides of the plate, curveball is 62-65 mph, late bite at times, 1-to-7 shape. Millman’s ability to throw strikes and mix pitches make him a prospect to keep tabs on his senior year.

Zach Millman LHP / OF / De Soto , KS / 2020 Millman is a left-handed pitcher in Kansas’2020 class out of DeSoto HS. Millman has a bigger frame and thicker build and 6-foot, 195-pounds. His delivery includes some deceptiveness as he hides the ball behind his body with his arm swing, controlled leg lift, body control with direction towards home plate, clean arm action, high three-quarter release, gains momentum as he works down the mound. Fastball was thrown for strikes, sat 74-79 mph while topping at 80 mph, arm side run, curveball is 63-66 mph, late downward action, some swing and miss potential, 1-to-7 shape, changeup is 68-69 mph, near fastball arm speed.

Brant Morris SS / RHP / Baxter Springs , KS / 2020 Morris is an athletic and lean right-handed pitcher out of Baxter Springs HS in Kansas’ 2020 class. His delivery shows some rhythm at times, arms and legs coming at the hitter, controlled leg lift, downhill tilt, clean arm action, three-quarter release, athletic finish. Morris’ fastball showed some late life to his arm side, sat 83-86 mph, thrown for a high number of strikes, curveball showed slurve like spin, gradual action, sat 69-71 mph. Morris’ long limbs, wirey frame and athletic movements make a prospect to keep tabs on as he develops his senior year.

William Ponce SS / RHP / Olathe West, KS / 2020 Ponce is an athletic middle infielder and right-handed pitcher in Kansas’ 2020 class. Ponce has a smooth and rotational delivery, slight coil into leg lift, leverages up front side, clean arm action that works from a low three-quarter release, accelerates as he moves down the mound. Fastball shows quality arm side run, 78-82 mph, thrown for a high percentage of strikes, drops arm slot to create more arm side movement, curveball shows potential to be a swing and miss pitch, thrown aggressively, sharp bit, tough for right-handed hitters to pick up, 67-70 mph, changeup has arm side run at 66-68 mph.

Andrew Schmidtlein 3B / RHP / Hayden , KS / 2020 Schmidtlein shows a simple, compact and repeatable delivery, high but controlled leg lift, directional towards target, deceptive as he hides the ball behind his body with his arm swing and uses a high glove side, creates downhill tilt with his shoulders, high three-quarter release, showed a good mix of fastballs and curveballs during game action. Fastball sat 75-79 mph while topping at 80 mph, some arm side run, curveball was thrown aggressively at 64-68 mph, late and hard downward action, 12-to-6 shape, potential to be a swing and miss pitch, changeup is 70-71 mph.

Clayton Schneider LHP / OF / Rock Bridge, MO / 2020 Schneider has an aggressive and quick tempo delivery, explosive lower half and gains momentum as works down the mound, works from the third base side of the rubber, slightly open with his stride, loose arm action, three-quarter release. Fastball sits 76-79 mph while topping at 80 mph, arm side run, around the zone, curveball is thrown aggressively, 63-66 mph, sharp bite at times with hard downward action, changeup shows good fading action to Schneider’s arm side, 72-73 mph, near fastball arm speed.

Chase Torkelson RHP / Basehor-Linwood , KS / 2020 Torkelson has a long and lean frame with room to grow. Delivery is compact with some rhythmic movements, controlled leg lift, explosive back hip, hides the ball well behind his body during his back swing, creates downhill tilt with his shoulders, quick arm action from a high three-quarter release. Fastball is heavy, sat 78-81 mph while topping at 82 mph with more left in the tank, occasional arm side run, curveball is mostly gradual with 12-to-6 shape, thrown for a high percentage of strikes during game action. Torkelson’s long limbs, repeatable delivery and quick arm make him a prospect to keep an eye on as he develops.

Grayson Walden SS / RHP / Columbus , KS / 2020 Walden displays a strong frame on the mound, works at a slower tempo, aggressive back leg drive, shorter leg lift, hides the ball well behind his body, directional towards the target, clean arm action from a high three-quarter release. Fastball sits 76-80 mph while topping at 81, thrown for a good amount of strikes, curveball is 62-65 mph, gradual action with 11-to-5 shape.

For Related Content