2016 Preview Showcase: Pitchers Analysis

November 10, 2014

By Phil Wade
Indiana Executive Director

On Saturday, October 18th over 50 players participated in the 2016 Preview Showcase at Grand Park in Westfield, IN. Despite the cold, rainy weather, the players toughed it out showcasing their talents and abilities to the PBR Indiana staff. Below we analyze the pitchers from the event.

Top Ranked Pitcher

Jack Pilcher, RHP, Zionsville HS, 2016: 6-foot-3, 175 pound righty possesses a strong, athletic frame. Quick arm speed, long/loose action. Easy effort from a tall to fall delivery. Smooth rhythm with good direction. Lands square, athletic finish. Fastball possesses some cut at 84-86. Showed the ability to throw the slider for a strike at 75-77. Best off-speed pitch was his changeup that was thrown near fastball arm speed with some sink at 75-76.

Best of the Rest (In Alphabetical Order)

Ben Balogh, RHP, Brebeuf HS, 2016: 5-foot-10, 140 pound righty pitches from a long, loose arm action with average arm speed. Fastball was up to 78 with some sink and kept in the zone for a strike. Breaking ball shows late break from an 11/5 shape at 66-67 mph. Changeup is thrown with near fastball arm speed with cut at 73-74 mph.

Tyler Blackington, RHP, Carmel HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 190 pound RHP showcased above average arm speed. Long arm action. Tall to fall delivery. Good direction to the plate, land square. Fastball was up to 82 mph and kept down in the zone for a strike. Throws an 11/5 breaking ball at 65-69 with gradual break, erratic in the zone. Changeup shows some sink at 74-75 and thrown near fastball arm speed, erratic in the zone. Possesses good athleticism.

Janzen Bloom, RHP, Seymour HS, 2016: 6-foot-3, 235 pound RHP possesses a strong, athletic frame with strong legs and wide shoulders. ¾ slot with above average arm speed. Short, loose arm action. Easy effort, tall to fall delivery. Good rhythm. Fastball was 80-81 with occasional sink. Sweeping breaking ball at 66-68. Changeup sat 72-73 with some sink and thrown near fastball arm speed. Showed the ability to throw all three pitches for a strike.

Bradyn Bordenet, RHP, Lafayette C.C. HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 215 pound Junior uses a tall to fall delivery. Average arm speed, ¾ slot. Lands square. Fastball was up to 78 mph. Breaking ball sat 62-65 with an 11/5 shape, gradual movement; slows arm down. Slows arm down on the 66-68 mph changeup with some fade.

Christian Chapman, RHP, Fishers HS, 2016: 6-foot-3, 210 pound Junior RHP pitches from a high ¾ slot with good arm speed. Long arm action. Choppy rhythm. Falls off towards 1B side, lands closed. Fastball sat 80-81 with occasional sink, thrown for a strike. Serviceable 73-74 mph breaking ball shows gradual break, but inconsistent in the zone. Changeup was thrown with near fastball arm speed at 75-76 with occasional sink, but erratic in the zone.

Nik Conner, LHP, Penn HS, 2016: 5-foot-11, 210 pound southpaw possesses average arm speed. Pitches from a ¾ slot with a long, loose arm action. Tall to fall type delivery with easy effort. Showed smooth rhythm throughout. Stays in line and lands square, athletic finish. Fastball sat 76-78 for a strike. Spins the 10/4 breaking ball at 63-64 with early break and kept in the zone. Slows arm down on the breaking ball. Changeup was 71-72 and thrown for a strike.

David Corbin, RHP, Beech Grove HS, 2016: 6-foot, 165 pound righty pitches from a ¾ slot with above average arm speed. Short arm action, some stiffness. Tall to fall delivery with average rhythm. Good direction to the plate, lands square. Fastball was up to 81 and kept down in the zone for a strike. Sweeping breaking ball at 68-73 was thrown for a strike. Changeup sat 68-70.

Jordan Cox, RHP, Zionsville HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 165 pound Junior uses a tall to fall type delivery with easy effort. Short, quick arm action from a ¾ slot. Good rhythm throughout with good direction to the plate. Lands square with an athletic finish. Fastball sat 77-79 with occasional sink. Breaking ball was 68-71 with gradual break. Changeup was thrown near fastball arm speed at 72-73 with occasional sink.

Jacob Dickson, RHP, Portage HS, 2016: 6-foot-3, 205 pound righty possesses a strong frame with wide shoulders. Average arm speed with a long, loose arm action. 73-75 mph fastball was thrown for a strike with slight cut. Sweeping breaking ball at 63-66 shows early break, but inconsistent. 63-66 mph changeup has occasional sink and thrown for a strike. Slows arm down when throwing his off-speed.

John Fesler, RHP, Frontier HS, 2016: 6-foot, 185 pound RHP possesses average arm speed from a long arm action. Tall to fall delivery, easy effort. Lands square. 72-76 mph fastball shows slight run and thrown for a strike. Throws a slider at 67-68 with gradual break; slows arm down. Changeup sat 62-64 with some sink and kept in the zone; slows arm down.

Will Gorsuch, RHP, Bishop Dwenger HS, 2015: 6-foot-1, 175 pound righty uses a long arm action and high 3/4 slot. Shows some stiffness in the arm. Good rhythm. Finishes upright with a tendency to fall off towards 1B side. Fastball sat 72-75 consistently in teh zone. 12/6 breaking ball with depth at 61-63. Changeup sits 67-69

Brett Herndon, RHP, Terre Haute North HS, 2016: 6-foot, 170 pound RHP pitches from a high ¾ slot from a long, loose arm action. Quick arm speed. Tall to fall delivery, easy effort. Fastball shows some sink at 81-82 and kept in the zone. 68-70 mph breaking ball shows late, sharp break for a strike.

Kaleb Huxford, RHP, Rockville HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 160 pound righty possesses a lanky frame with long arms. Pitches from a ¾ slot with quick arm speed. Short, loose action. Easy effort from a tall to fall delivery. Smooth rhythm. Good direction to the plate, lands square. Fastball showed slight run at 80-82 and thrown for a strike. Keeps the breaking ball down in the zone with late break at 70-71. 74-77 mph changeup is thrown near fastball arm speed and shows some sink. Strike thrower.

Lukas Jaksich, LHP, Andrean HS, 2016: 6-foot, 155 pound southpaw pitches from a ¾ slot with above average arm speed. Short arm action. Tall to fall delivery, easy effort. Showcased good rhythm with good direction to the plate. Lands square. Fastball possesses some cut and sink action at 77-79 mph. Breaking ball was 64-65 from an 11/5 shape with late break and kept down in the zone for a strike. Slider was up to 68 mph. Changeup sat 72-73. Also showcased a knuckle ball at 69 mph. Projects to add velocity as he physically matures.

Andrew Kennedy, RHP, Northridge HS, 2016: 6-foot-1, 200 pound Junior showcased a quick arm from a ¾ slot. Long arm action. Tall to fall delivery, easy effort. Fastball was kept down in the zone for a strike at 81-83. Throws an 11/5 breaking ball at 72-74 with gradual break, but erratic in the zone. Slider sat 72-73.

Alan Lozer, RHP, North Central HS, 2016: 5-foot-11, 155 pound righty pitches from a high ¾ slot with average arm speed. Long arm action. Tilt to topple delivery with some effort. Good line to the plate, lands square. Fastball was kept down in the zone. Showcased an arsenal of off-speed pitches. 11/5 breaking ball was thrown for a strike at 63-64 mph. 64-65 mph slider shows gradual break and thrown for a strike. Changeup sits 67-68 with some cut and kept in the zone. Also showcased a split at 70 mph.

Jacob O’Donnell, RHP, Andrean HS, 2016: 5-foot-10, 170 pound Junior RHP uses a long, loose arm action. Tall to fall delivery, easy effort. Good line to the plate, lands square. Fastball possesses slight sink action at 74-75 mph. 11/5 breaking ball has gradual break at 62-66 and kept in the zone. Changeup is thrown with near fastball arm speed at 68-69 with occasional sink.

Joseph O’Neil, RHP, Brebeuf HS, 2016: 5-foot-11, 175 pound Junior pitches from a ¾ slot with average arm speed. Over the head pump, tall to fall delivery, with a slight hesitation. Choppy rhythm. Fastball sat 69-70 for a strike. Curveball was 60-62 while the changeup sat 62-65 mph.

Kyle Palermo, LHP, Munster HS, 2016: 5-foot-11, 165 pound southpaw pitches from a ¾ slot with average arm speed. Arm action is long and loose. Tall to fall type delivery. Good direction to the plate, lands square. Fastball sat 76-79. 11/5 breaking ball was 62-66 with late action and in the zone. Changeup sat 68-72 with some sink and kept down in the zone. Has a tendency to slow his arm down when throwing off-speed pitches.

Nick Perez, RHP, Andrean HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 175 pound righty possesses average arm speed with some stiffness. Tilt to topple delivery. Falls towards 1B and lands open. Straight fastball at 73-74. Breaking ball was 63-64 with gradual break, but erratic in the zone. Slows arm down on the 65-66 mph changeup. Changeup shows occasional sink and kept down.

Jack Phillips, RHP, Cathedral HS, 2017: Projectable pitchers frame at 6-foot-5, 185 pounds. Arm works from a short ¾ action. Quick arm speed. Easy effort with smooth rhythm. Good direction to the plate. Fastball was up to 80 mph and thrown for a strike with occasional sink. 68-72 mph breaking ball shows an 11/5 shape with gradual break. Throws the changeup near fastball arm speed at 70-73. Should continue to add velo as he gets stronger.

Sam Phillips, RHP, Roncalli HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 212 pound righty possesses a strong, athletic frame with wide shoulders. Pitches from a high ¾ slot with above average arm speed. Good line to the plate and lands square. Athletic finish. Fastball sat 78-80 with some cut action. 11/5 breaking ball shows late action and thrown for a strike at 66-69. Changeup was thrown near fastball arm speed at 70-73 with some sink action and kept in the zone.

Ben Pinegar, RHP, Zionsville HS, 2016: 6-foot, 195 pound righty pitches from a high ¾ slot with quick arm speed. Loose arm action. Good direction to the plate landing square. Finishes athletic. Fastball sat 81-83 with some sink and kept in the zone. Throws a sweeping curveball at 69-72 for a strike. Changeup sits 75-77 with sink and kept down in the zone.

Jared Schoen, RHP, Hauser HS, 2016: 6-foot-1, 210 pound RHP pitches from a ¾ slot with good arm speed. Long, loose arm action. Tall to fall delivery. Fastball was straight at 79-80 mph. 11/5 breaking ball was 64-66 with sharp, late break and thrown for a strike. Changeup thrown with near fastball arm speed at 73-75 with some sink and thrown for a strike.

Conner TenHove, LHP, Valparaiso HS, 2016: Projectable frame at 6-foot-7, 195 pounds. Pitches from a high ¾ slot with average arm speed. Long arm action. Straight fastball at 70-73. 10/4 breaking ball was thrown at 61-62. Changeup thrown near fastball arm speed at 62-63 with occasional sink.

Nate Thomas, RHP, Mishawaka Marian HS, 2016: 6-foot-3, 235 pound Junior possesses a projectable pitchers frame. ¾ slot with average arm speed. Long, loose arm action. Tall to fall delivery, easy effort. Smooth rhythm and good direction to the plate. Lands square. Hard fastball sat 83-84, consistently thrown for a strike. Curveball was 65-66 with early break. Slider sits 70-72 and kept in the zone. Changeup is straight at 73-74 and left up in the zone.

JB Washburn, RHP, Hamilton Southeastern HS, 2016: 6-foot-3, 152 pound RHP pitches from a ¾ slot with quick arm speed. Long arm action. Tall to fall delivery. Good direction to the plate. Fastball was up to 82 mph with occasional sink and thrown for a strike. Best pitch was his 12/6 breaking ball which showed sharp, late break at 70-72 and consistently in the zone. 70-72 mph changeup is thrown with near fastball arm speed and shows occasional sink, but erratic in the zone.

Joseph Wells, LHP, SB John Adams HS, 2016: 6-foot, 180 pound lefty pitches from a ¾ slot. Arm action is short. Tall to fall delivery with good rhythm. Stays in line and lands square. Finishes upright. Fastball was straight at 65-66 and kept in the zone. 11/5 breaking ball was 54-59 with gradual break. 55-57 mph changeup shows some sink. Also throws a split at 58 mph. Slows arm down when throwing off-speed.

Devin Williams, RHP, Lawrence North HS, 2016: 5-foot-10, 145 pound RHP uses a short arm action with slight wrap on the back side. Good line to the plate, lands square. 71-72 mph fastball shows some run and thrown for a strike. Slider sat 63-66 with late break. Throws his changeup at 67-69 mph with occasional sink action; thrown for a strike.

2016 Preview Showcase: Pitchers Analysis

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