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By Jerry Shank
Maryland Scouting Director

The Future Trials West took place on July 6th, 2016. Over 30 prospects from around  Maryland and around the region took part in the event in front of the PBR Maryland staff and colleges. Today we break down the 2017 and 2018 grads from the event.

Noah Allen RHP Smithsburg 2018
Lnaky frame at 6-foot-1 145-pounds. Submarine pitcher from stretch only. Low set up to get to low angle. Throws from low sub angle with loose arm action and average arm speed. Gets lower half involved. Could get himself more loaded before committing to the plat. Fastball has sink o the pitch at 66 mph.  Breaking ball has 10/4 action on the pitch at 54 mph. Interesting as young arm fills out his frame.

Harrison Barger OF/LHP Grace Academy 2017
Solid frame at 5-foot-9, 155-pounds. Quick twitch with 6.89 60-yard dash. Hits from an athletic open set up. Smooth load to bar arm. Level swing path quick hands, with some extension. Nice rhythm and balance. Moves well in outfield. Active feet and set up nicely. Clean hands and exchange throwing with loose arm action from ¾ angle. Throws have some carry on them at 75 mph. Exit velocity of 85 mph…Slow build up delivery. Slight drop n drive style on mound. Long loose arm action throwing from a ¾ arm angle. Gets some lower half involvement. Fastball has slight run on pitch at 76 mph. Breaking ball is big with 1/7 sharper action on the pitch. Throws change up with near fastball arm speed at 69 mph.

Tre Davis OF Saint James 2018
Lanky projectable frame at 5-foot-11, 140-pounds. Ran a 7.01 60-yard dash. Hits from a balanced set up. Short load to hitting position. Has a short swing path to the ball in and out of the zone. Spray type hitter. Active feet in the outfield and moves well. Works thru the ball well throwing from a ¾ arm angle. Short arm action with outfield throws up to 74 mph.

Matthew Dillard RHP Middletown 2018
Longer projectable athletic frame at 5-foot-11, 155-pounds. A very intriguing prospect in the 2018 class from western Maryland. Hits from an athletic set up. Short load to hitting position. Short path to the baseball. Quick hands and some extension through contact. Gap-to-gap type spray hitter. Nice rhythm throughout. Active feet in the outfield. Moves well, clean exchange, smooth actions. Throws from a high ¾ arm slot. Throws have some carry on them up to 81 mph…Pitches from the stretch only. Controlled delivery. Longer, sound arm action throwing from an almost over the top angle. Gets nice lower half and hip load. Lands square to the plate. Fastball has slight run on the pitch up to 83 mph. Breaking ball shows hard 12/6 action on the pitch and potential to be a put away pitch. Change up show fade on the pitch at 75 mph.

Ryan Downes 1B/RHP St. Maria Goretti 2017
Imposing frame at 6-oot-1, 235-pounds. Hits from a balanced set up. Bars arm in smooth load. Level bat path looking to elevate the baseball. Strong hands with bat speed, pull type hitter. Nice rhythm and could get more of his lower half involved. Gets around the ball at times. Active feet at first with sound actions. Clean exchange and releases ball well with short arm action throwing from a ¾ arm slot…Short, quick build up delivery. High leg kick to generate some power with some drive from backside. Sound arm action, gets behind ball a bit on fastball, better finish on off-speed. Slight finish towards first base side. Slight run on fastball at 80 ph. Breaking ball showed better depth and action on pitch with 11/5 shape. Changeup has run to the pitch with near fastball arm speed on the pitch.

Bret Fogle SS/RHP Grace Academy 2017
Lanky projectable frame with room to grow at 6-foot, 165-pounds. Hits from a slightly closed set up with short double tap load. Has a short swing path with average bat speed in and out of the zone. Stays inside ball well. Sound footwork and actions in the infield. Clean exchange with a shorter arm action throwing from a low ¾ slot. Ran a 6.90 60-yard dash with 83 mph exit velo and 77 mph infield velocity…Controlled delivery. Long, loose arm action throwing from a high ¾ angle. Lands cross body with nice extension. Fastball has run to the pitch up to 82 mph. Breaking ball shows 10/4 action with shorter tight break. Changeup has sink to the pitch with fastball arm speed at 70 mph.

Ryan Greene RHP/2B Williamsport 2018
Compact frame at 5-foot-7, 155-pounds. Controlled delivery with pause at rocker step. Generates some backside power with lower half. Loose arm speed throwing from a ¾ slot. Fastball is straight with some late sink to the pitch at 80 mph. Breaking ball has sharp, later 11/5 action on the pitch with power potential at 68 mph. Changeup has some sink to the pitch up to 74 mph. Interesting projection in the pitcher with some arm speed.

Cameron Kutchey SS Smithsburg 2018
Athletic frame at 6-foot, 190-pounds. Hits from a balanced set up, short load, and with swing path to the ball. Gets slightly on the back foot in swing but shows nice extension through contact. Simple swing with rhythm throughout and nice balance. Sprays ball over and shows some pop with 88 mph exit velocity. Active feet and sound actions in the infield. Clean hands and exchange with short arm action throwing from a ¾ arm slot. One to keep an eye on in the 2018 class.

Ty Kwiatkoski SS Calvert 2018
Athletic projectable frame at 5-foot-11, 164-pounds. Hits from a wider athletic set up. Smooth load back with leg kick. Shorter swing path to the ball with average bat speed. Sprays type hitter that gets uphill at times. Nice foundation at plate. Hnads drop in load at times. Smooth actions in the field. Soft hands, nice exchange, short arm action throwing from a high ¾ slot.

Josh Mann RHP River Hill 2018
Athletic frame at 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Quick, delivery controlled hips and head. Has loose arm action with some arm speed throwing from a ¾ arm angle. Falls slightly to 1B side but stays pretty square to plate.  Fastball has slight sink to the pitch up to 82 mph. Breaking ball has late 11/5 action on the pitch and change up shows fade and some sink at 73 mph. Interesting arm to follow in the 2018 class.

Aaron Myers RHP St. Maria Goretti 2018
Durable pitching frame at 6-foot-1, 210-pounds. Deliberate, build up delivery. Longer arm action with from high hand position. Throws with regular effort from a high ¾ arm slot. Lands square to the plate with slight finish to the first base side. Fastball has slight run on the pitch up to 76 mph. Breaking ball has gradual break on the pitch with 11/5 movement and bigger break on the pitch. Gets around slightly with hand on breaking ball. Changeup has nice fade on the pitch. Off speed has near fastball arm speed.

Myles Nicholson SS/2B Saint James 2017
7.6.16 - Compact frame at 5-foot-9, 160-pounds. 6.69 60-yard dash. Very athletic and underrated middle infield prospect with first step quickness. Hits from a taller slightly open set up. Short swing, some extension, nice rhythm, and some balance throughout. Barrelled up the middle of the field with his BP. Active feet and athletic actions in the field. Moves well and covers ground. Quick exchange and release from a low 3/4 arm angle. Versatile player that could play multiple positions. 

Brock Penn SS/3B St. Maria Goretti 2018
Athletic frame at 6-foot-1, 155-pounds. Ran a 7.16 60-yard dash. Hits from a slightly open athletic set up. Short load Has a shorter swing path with some extension through contact. Shows nice balance and rhythm throughout. Exit velocity of 83 mph. Could get some more backside drive. Active feet in the infield. Clean hands and exchange with short arm action throwing from ¾ slot.  Sound actions and will get better as he smoothens out. Interesting skill set in the 2018 grad and one to keep an eye on to see how he develops.

Steven Ricketts RHP South Hagerstown 2018
Solid frame at 5-foot-9, 145-pounds. Build up controlled delivery. Generates lower half in lift and drive. Longer arm action throwing from a ¾ arm angle. Quick arm and has nice movement on fastball at 79 mph. Breaking ball has tight 11/5 action on the pitch with tight rotation and potential with the pitch. Throws a cutter with similar slider action. Changeup has slight sink on the pitch. Cuts it slightly but keeps nice fastball arm speed on the pitch.

Isaac Schlotterbeck RHP Saint James
Projectable frame at 6-foot-3, 205-pounds. Has a controlled fluid delivery. Has a longer loose arm action throwing from an almost over-the-top arm slot. Slight corkscrew up to leg lift. Gets nice lower half involvement and finishes sightly toward first base side after release. Pitches with regular effort. Pushes fastball at times, but gets some sink on the pitch when stays on top and works downhill. Breaking ball is a nice pitch with nice break and tight almost 12-6 action. Throws a split-change with nice fade and sink to the pitch with near fastball arm speed.

Bryant Shives SS/2B St. Maria Goretti 2018
Athletic frame with room to add on at 6-foot-1, 145-pounds. Really beginning to fill out frame and making continued improvement. Ran a 7.32 60-yard dash. Hits from A taller balanced set up. Short load with level swing path to the ball. Got barrel on ball well and should continue to get better as he gets strong and controls the bat more. Spread the ball over field well. Active feet in the infield. Clean hands and exchange to release. Loose arm action throwing from a ¾ arm slot. Infield velocity of 79 mph. Exit velocity of 87 mph.

Brock Smith LHP St. Maria Goretti 2018
Lanky projectable frame at 6-foot-1, 160-pounds. Side step delivery with some tempo throughout. Has a clean arm action and creates some arm speed. Lands square to the plate in athletic position. Could get more lower half involvement. Fastball has slight sink on the pitch up to 75 mph. Changeup has sink on the pitch with fastball arm speed at 70 mph. Breaking ball has good rotation with bigger 1/7 shape and gradual break on the pitch. Breaking ball shows potential. Interesting prospect as he fills out frame and gets lower half to work.

Ethan Souders C Hancock 2018
Strong athletic frame at 5-foot-11, 185-pounds. Hits from an athletic set up. Has a short and quick load to hitting position. Shorter level swing path. Shows nice strength with an 88 mph exit velocity. Has a clean and quick exchange from behind the plate with a short arm action throwing from a high ¾ slot. Throws have carry and are accurate at 71 mph. Pop time got as low as 2.03 and consistent around the 2.1 range.