Prep Baseball Report

Underclass Games: Team Royal Pitcher Analysis



By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

On July 22-23, a total of 100 players from the Classes of 2016, 2017, and 2018 convened at the University of Kentucky and Bryan Station High School for the 2nd Annual Kentucky Underclass Games Event.  The following is a look at the pitchers from Team Royal.  This is pitching analysis only.  Those players who also played a position at the event will have their position player analysis featured in a subsequent article.

Griffin Wells, LHP/1B, Hazard HS, 2016
5-foot-11, 175-pound prospect uses medium arm action through a high ¾ arm slot, loose arm that shows some quickness, good tempo in delivery, fastball sat 79-81, touched 82, mostly straight, showed two different breaking balls, a 68-71 mph curveball with 1/7 action, and a harder 72-74 mph slider with short/late break, struck out two in two innings of work, arm works, has potential to add velocity.

Ricky Raisor, RHP, Highlands HS, 2016
6-foot-1, 180-pound prospect uses short arm action, works mostly through a high ¾ arm slot, arm is quick, fastball sat 79-81 mph and showed some arm-side run, touched 82, showed a harder curveball since last event at 66-67 mph with 11/5 action, throws a solid changeup at 68-69 mph with good arm-side run and sink, changeup thrown with good arm action, consistently threw strikes in his two innings of work.

Lucas Jones, RHP, Rockcastle County HS, 2017
6-foot-2, 180-pound prospect with projectable frame, uses long arm action through a high ¾ arm slot, good lower half direction, minimal effort in delivery, loose arm, fastball sat 78-80 mph with some arm-side run, showed good command of his curveball which varied between 65-70 mph with 11/5 action, pounded the strike zone with his two-pitch mix, young prospect with good upside, one to follow in the 2017 class.

Brian Baxa, RHP/1B, Danville HS, 2017
6-foot-2, 200-pound prospect uses long arm action through a ¾ to high ¾ arm slot, arm is loose, lower half stays online, fastball sat 79-82 mph with occasional arm-side run, likes to drop down on 68-69 mph curveball, gets under the curveball at times, throws strikes, young prospect with potential to add more velocity, one to follow in the 2017 class.

Tyler Gabehart, SS/RHP, Fern Creek HS, 2018
5-fot-8, 135-pound, young prospect uses short arm action and works through a high ¾ arm slot, good direction from lower half, easy delivery, throws strikes consistently, fastball sat 67-70 mph touching 71 and is mostly straight, curveball shows gradual 11/5 action at 58-61 mph, able to throw the curveball for strikes, should continue to develop on the mound with physical maturity.

Cameron Dukes, 2B/RHP, Bullitt Central HS, 2016
6-foot, 170-pound prospect uses medium arm action though a high ¾ arm slot, arm is loose and shows some quickness, delivery requires minimal effort, fastball sat 74-76 mph touching 77 with occasional arm-side run, shows good command of 65-66 mph curveball that showed some sharpness and 11/5 action, consistently throws strikes, struck out three in two innings of work, has potential to add more velocity.

Rook Ellington, SS/RHP, McCracken County HS, 2018
5-foot-10, 150-pound prospect uses medium arm action through a high ¾ arm slot, good tempo in delivery, good lower half direction, shows above average velocity for age, fastball sat 74-76 mph and is straight, good command of 65-66 mph curveball with gradual 12/6 action, young prospect shows good potential and one to watch continue to develop.

Garrett McIntire, LHP/OF, Christian Academy of Louisville, 2016
5-foot-9, 140-pound prospect uses long arm action through a high ¾ arm slot, works from the stretch only, good rhythm in delivery, fastball sat 71-73 mph with good arm-side run, throws curveball with good arm speed at 63-64 mph that shows 1/7 action, struck out two in two innings of work, able to keep hitters off-balance.

Isaac Humphrey, 3B/RHP, Paducah Tilghman HS, 2017
6-foot-2, 185-pound prospect uses medium arm action through an over the top arm slot, delivery requires some effort, fastball sat 70-71 mph with some arm-side run and sink, showed a curveball that sat at 61-62 mph with mostly 12/6 action, throws the curveball for strikes.

Ethan Hobson, RHP/3B, North Oldham HS, 2018
5-foot-11, 145-pound prospect uses short arm action through ¾ arm slot, fastball is straight at 69-70 mph, curveball varied between gradual 11/5 and 10/4 action at 54-55 mph, young prospect is still developing the curveball, strike thrower who will continue to improve as he physically matures.