Prep Baseball Report

Uncommitted Upperclass Games: Pitcher Evaluations


Brandon Hall & Matt Payne
NC Executive Director & Scouting Director

Prep Baseball Report was at BB&T Point in High Point, NC on Sunday November 3rd.  The Uncommitted Upperclass Games featured over 30 players from the 2020 and 2021 classes going through a full pro-style workout followed by a controlled scrimmage.  PBR scouts were able to collect and verify statistics on each player while working to put a full evaluation on each player as well.

Today we finish our dive into the full player evaluations with the primary pitchers in attendance at the event.   The group of eleven arms includes five working at 82 or better.  Several arms are going to be late bloomers as they work to grow into their length, while others have some upside with their ability to create spin or movement.

CLICK HERE to see the full roster and stats from the Upperclass Uncommitted Games

 

Uncommitted Upperclass Games: Pitchers

 

Jack McIntosh RHP / SS / Cleveland, NC / 2021

Average frame at 5-foot-10, 165 pounds.  Strike thrower, attacks with a solid fastball – curveball combination.  Repeats the delivery with ease.  Small rocker to the side with solid hip turn to an average leg kick.  Slightly closed at balance, working level, landing on-line and square.  Long, easy arm swing to an over-the-top slot.  Fastball has some ride to the arm side occasionally.  Showed fastball to both sides with some ease, sitting 79-82.  Breaking ball has big, arcing 11/5 tilt, with a slight hump out of the hand at 67-71.  Adds and subtracts on the breaking ball, flooding the zone.  Good feel for when to get it over and when to try to finish a hitter.  As arm speed develops, he is in position to take a jump.  Pitch-ability is ahead of stuff at this point.

Todd Lautenschlager RHP / 3B / Myers Park , NC / 2021

Lanky frame at 6 foot 3, 165-pounds.  Attacks the zone on the mound with a 3-pitch mix.  Nothing overpowers at this time but there is plenty of room for strength and quickness to tick the stuff up across the board.  Low kick to the belt with some rhythm, working level and in-line.  Lands square on the front foot.  Long, loose arm swing wraps around the body line.  Above average arm speed at a high-3/4 release.  Good extension on the fastball.  Extension on the breaking ball should increase.  Fastball ranged 78-81, cutting when thrown to the glove side at times.  Breaking ball is advanced with late, 10/4 tilt and good hand speed creating some deception.  Curveball sat 71-72 with an ability to attack and expand the zone.  Change-up at 73 plays straight with good arm speed. 
Hits from the right side with a narrow base and bend in the knees.  Hands work back during the load with a long stride.  Barrel works flat through the zone with a gap to gap approach.  Gets jumpy at times.  Has feel for his barrel when he stays behind the ball.  Exit velocity recorded at 86 mph.  Fluid feet on the infield working around the ball with above average hands.  Takes the ball to his chest after catch, with a longer arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 79 mph.  Recorded a 7.62 in the 60.

Noah Carter RHP / Chatham Charter, NC / 2020

Physical stature with strength present.  Potential for more to come as the body learns to use his existing leverage.  Stands 6-foot-5, 225 pounds.  Arm strength is present, working up to 86.  Impressive feel for the off-speed arsenal, especially with his size.  Flashed an ability to pitch backwards to several hitters.  Good rhythm over the rubber.  Stable head through the leg lift with the hands setting at the belt and breaking from that same position.  Small step at rocker just to start the rhythm.  Leg lift to the belt, closing the shoulders.  Lands slightly across his line with a square front foot.  Long arm swing is loose working with above average arm speed to an over-the-top slot.  Good extension that could increase.  Fastball worked to both sides at 84-86.  Breaking ball has late, sharp 10/4 tilt at 69-73.  Has the ability to land the pitch and expand it when ahead.  Change-up has early run out of the hand with solid arm speed at 80.

Nick Tucker RHP / OF / Hibriten, NC / 2021

Strong build at 5 foot 10, 160-pounds.  Some effort in the delivery that coils the lower half at balance with a low leg kick to the belt, closing the hips and front shoulder.  Front side works to stay on-line and create some downhill action in the shoulders.  Long arm swing has some elbow lead.  Above average arm speed and an over-the-top slot.  Rhythm and coil can create some issues for hitters.  His athleticism allows him to still have some feel for the fastball.  Fastball sat 77-80, playing harder vs. hitters at times.  Breaking ball works with 12/6 action at 64-66.  Gradual movement with a slight hump out of the hand on the curveball.  Misses were typically up in the zone.  Arm speed and athleticism suggests more could be coming as he develops better timing in the delivery.
Balanced setup from the right side with a wider base.  Weight works back during his load with his hands working down and back.  Uses the whole field with average feel for his barrel.  Weight gets stuck on his back leg at times creating some length in the swing.  Uphill bat path with his exit velocity recorded at 85 mph.  Plays aggressive through balls in the outfield using a two-hand catch.  Long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm with some carry that topped at 79 mph.  Recorded a 7.54 in the 60.

Bain Sipe RHP / OF / Maiden , NC / 2020

Athletic build at 5 foot 10, 170-pounds.  Arm strength is present, working up to 86 out of the windup and stretch.  Small side step works to an average leg kick to the belt.  Rolls the knee inward to load his hips as the hands separate at the mid-chest.  Front side works level, landing on-line and square.  Falls to the 1B side, lacking extension as the front side works to create more arm speed.  Quick arm with a medium arm swing gets to an over-the-top release.  Fastball at 83-86 attacked the zone with a lot of success up in the zone.  Straight change-up has occasional run at 75-79.  Good feel for the change.  The breaking ball uses gradual 11/5 tilt at 66-68, lacking arm speed and aggression it does roll out of the hand.  Sipe is just tapping his athletic potential on the mound.  The arm strength alone will continue to grow on the bump, and that should allow the secondary stuff to grow as well. 
Posted the best outfield velocity on the day at 91 mph.  Athleticism is present running at 6.88 in the 60.  Plays fluid through balls in the outfield with average hands.  Arm is accurate with carry from a high ¾ slot.  Hits from the right side with a wide base and his barrel starting in an upright position.  Works middle to his poll side with some quickness to his hands.  Doesn’t use much lower half during his swing, causing some length in the swing path.  Stayed on a breaking ball during game action hitting a double down the left field line.  Exit velocity recorded at 87 mph.

Colin Shannon RHP / 1B / Pine Lake Preparatory, NC / 2021

Average frame at 5-foot-11, 165 pounds.  Simple delivery over the rubber.  Repeats the delivery with some ease.  Flashed solid feel for a fastball – curveball combination.  Small side step works to an average kick to the low-chest.  Good rhythm, working level, on-line, and landing in-line and square.  Medium arms swing is loose and athletic working to a high-3/4 slot with average arm speed.  Fastball is straight, showing control of both sides of the plate at 77-79.  Breaking ball has late, 12/6 tilt with good arm speed at 63-69.  As Shannon continues to develop strength and quickness, it should translate easily on the mound.

Dawson Wiggins RHP / 3B / Midway, NC / 2021

6 foot, 185-pound build.  Sink/Slide guy on the bump that can create issues for hitters with his ability to get in with movement and then start balls in similar windows and have the slider break the other way.  Aggressive mentality, works to attack hitters with pace.  Heavy fastball sat 79-82 with late arm side boar.  Slider at 69-72 worked with late 10/4 bite.  Good arm speed on the slider created some awkward takes and bad chases from hitters.  Quick tempo to the delivery, at times choppy.  Small side step works to a leg kick that coils and crouches the front side.  Lands slightly across his line with a closed front foot.  Tends to loose some extension, falling toward 1B as the body uncoils through the delivery.  Above average arm speed with a long arm swing, that wraps behind the body line, to a high-3/4 slot.  There is some effort throughout the delivery but it could lend itself to deception.
Hits from the right side with a balanced setup with his upper body leaning in to the plate.  Quick load with his hands working down and back with a short stride.  Works middle to his pull side with a mostly level bat path.  Average barrel feel and bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 81 mph.  Plays through balls in the outfield with average hands.  Clean transfers, throwing from a ¾ slot.  Some accuracy to his throws that topped at 80 mph.  Active feet on the infield working around the ball.  Average hands with an accurate arm to first base that topped at 81 mph.  Recorded a 7.73 in the 60.

Riley Phelps RHP / C / Wesleyan Christian, NC / 2021

Lanky frame at 6 foot 1, 165-pounds.  Repeats his delivery and is around the zone with a fastball – curveball combination.  Fastball has constant action, running to the arm side or cutting to the glove side, based on the pitch’s location.  Fastball sat 73-76.  Breaking ball works to create tilt, occasionally working with slider action.  Gradual 10/4 tilt with solid arm speed at 68.  Straight change-up sat at 72.  Side step and slight slide to the 1B side of the rubber.  Abbreviated leg lift to the belt with some hand rhythm action.  Long arm swing works to an over-the-top slot.  Tends to finish with his hand and arm across his chest, lacking some extension.   Level and on-line, lands square.  Some pace to the delivery and works to stay in attack mode pitch to pitch.
Tall, balanced setup from the right side of the plate.  Has barrel waggle and hands cock during the load, creating bat angle above his head.  Short stride with loose, quick hands.  Flat bat path working gap to gap. Flashes feel for his barrel with average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 87 mph.  Arm topped at 73 mph to second base from a crouch position.  Clean transfers, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm with pop times ranging from 2.18-2.37.  Recorded a 7.68 in the 60.

Slater Ward RHP / SS / Northern Guilford , NC / 2021

Athletic frame with room to add strength at 6 foot 2, 175-pounds.  Some effort on the mound, pounding the zone with the fastball.  Kick to the mid-chest and closed at balance.  Good rhythm down the hill, landing across his line with a square front foot.  Long arm swing, reaches a bit, working to a ¾ slot.  Cuts off the extension through his finish.  Above average arm speed with the fastball sitting 77-81.  Worked with the fastball in the game setting but flashed a change-up at 66-68 in the bullpen.  Breaking ball sat 62-66 with gradual 11/5 tilt.
Balanced from the right side with a narrow base.  Quiet hands during the load with an average stride.  Short barrel path to the ball with some quickness to his hands.  Works mostly middle to his pull side with some feel for his barrel.  Average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 86 mph.  Works to the ball on the infield, catching the ball in the center of his body with better than average hands.  Funnels to his belt after catch with a quick release.  Accurate arm with carry across the diamond that topped at 79 mph.  Recorded a 7.16 in the 60.

Nolan Connaughton RHP / 1B / Middle Creek , NC / 2021

Long, lanky build at 6 foot 6, 179-pounds.  Small rocker to the side, lifting to the mid-chest while closing the front side at balance.  As the hands separate just above the belt, the hips load and begin down the mound.  Level, lands on-line and square.  A bit of short strider, the extension is average and can improve.  Long arm swing works through some stiffness to a high-3/4 slot.  Fastball is straight, occasionally cutting when on the glove side, sitting 76-79.  Fastball works with some ease, suggesting it could jump quickly.  Change-up has early run with solid arm speed at 70.  Change has a chance to be a weapon that keeps hitters off balance and can create swing and miss.  Still working to find consistent rhythm in the delivery.  As the delivery becomes more consistent, look for the hand speed and stuff to take a jump. 
Hits from the right side with a tall, open setup with a narrow base.  Hands work back during the load with an average stride.  Short barrel path to the ball with some quickness to the hands.  Pull approach with his exit velocity recorded at 87 mph.  Active feet around the first base bag with average hands.  Clean transfers with an accurate arm that topped at 64 mph.  Recorded a 7.51 in the 60.

Cole Schiff LHP / 1B / Heritage, NC / 2021

Lanky 6-foot-4, 190 pound frame with strength and athleticism present.  Small rocker with head stability over the rubber as he lifts to the low-chest.  The hands separate from the mid-chest as the front knee loads the hips with an inward turn.  Reach out of the glove as the front side closes and works back to on-line, landing with an open foot-strike.  Above average arm speed through a high-3/4 slot.  Fastball worked 78-82, sitting 81-82 out of the wind-up.  Arm side run to the arm side with occasional cutting action when on the glove side.  Knuckles the breaking ball producing solid 1/7 action at 63-68.  Better tilt and later action when thrown with better arm speed.  Good extension down the hill.  Stuff could jump as the body finds some consistent rhythm in the delivery allowing the hips to work with more initial speed.