Mid-Atlantic ProCase: Maryland Pitcher Breakdown
August 24, 2022
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As we conclude our annual Mid-Atlantic Procase, we want to take a few minutes to dive in a little deeper on some of the pitchers that were in attendance on August 13 at University of Richmond.
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Amari Allen LHP / 1B / Sherwood , MD / 2023The top uncommitted two-way in the MD/DE Class of 2023 rankings, Allen features a physical 6-foot-3, 220 pound frame. Working out of a normal effort delivery, the southpaw showcases quick hand speed with whippy arm action out of a three-quarter slot. Showcasing a true three pitch mix, the fastball shows ride through the zone with feel to the arm side at 86-88 mph, touching 89 mph. The slider features sharp downer action and produces consistent swing and miss with feel to the bottom portion of the zone at 73-77 mph (max 2340 rpm). The changeup is thrown sparingly, but plays well off the fastball at 80-83 mph with some fade to the arm side.
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Liam Diehl RHP / OF / Hereford, MD / 2023Rankings StateRank: 28 / POS: 10
The lean 6-foot-4, 200 pound High Point recruit continues to impress each time we see him. The high-waited righty fits a starter profile, showcasing consistent feel for the three pitch mix with a bulldog like mentality on the bump. The arm works quick out of a high three-quarter slot with intent. The fastball works all quadrants of the plate and explodes out of the hand to the top of the zone, inducing swing and miss at 88-89 mph, touching 91 mph. The curveball produced 13” of sweep with bigger 11/5 shape that plays down and away to RHH at 73-75 mph. The cutter is a work in progress, but showed extremely well on the day with tight shape away to RHH at 85-86 mph. Producing late action, the cutter flashed the ability to get whiffs on the edges and played extremely well off the fastball/curveball.
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Oliver Ellison RHP / SS / Brunswick, MD / 2023Rankings StateRank: 16 / POS: 6
In what was one of the more dominating performances on the mound, the Coastal Carolina recruit faced six hitters on the day, striking out four. Possessing a lean, athletic 6-foot-1, 180 pound frame, Ellison features strong feel for a three pitch mix and shows the ability to throw all three in any count. Hiding the ball well out of a higher three-quarter slot, the arm works quick with some whip through release with occasional cross-body action. Free and easy effort, the fastball works in and out to both RHH and LHH and plays up in the zone for whiffs at 89-90 mph, touching 91 mph. Attacking hitters with confidence, the secondary fills up the zone and plays well off the fastball. The slider produces low spin (Max 2179 rpm), but showcases late break away to RHH with feel for the edges. Velocity ranged on the slider, but was mostly 78-80 mph with feel in any count. The changeup showed to be the best secondary with 15” of fade and worked extremely well against RHH at 80-82 mph. Maintaining arm speed with all three, Ellison will be an intriguing follow for the Spring of 2023.
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Jai Sample RHP / SS / Pro5 Baseball Academy NC, NC / 2023Rankings StateRank: 15 / POS: 5
The uber-projectable two-way will be taking his talents to Pro5 in North Carolina this year, and he has a ton to offer in his bag on both sides of the ball. Possessing a lean, but strong 6-foot-1, 175 pound frame, the recent James Madison recruit flashes some polish on the bump with a three pitch mix to both RHH and LHH. Consistently pitching with intent and pace, Sample works with long, loose arm action as the fastball explodes out of the hand from close to an over the top slot at 88-90 mph. Inducing consistent weak contact on the fastball, Sample works it to both slides of the plate with advanced feel to the arm side with an average of 7” of horizontal movement. The curveball shows to be the best secondary with bigger 12/6 shape that is thrown in any count to both RHH and LHH at 68-71 mph, occasionally flashing a tighter 10/4 slider in the low to mid 70’s. Strike thrower with a ton of energy on the bump.
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Aidan Smith RHP / RHP / Good Counsel , MD / 2023Rankings StateRank: 14 / POS: 4
Another dominating and eye-opening performance on the bump from the Old Line State participants was Smith. The physical 6-foot-3, 220 pound West Virginia recruit features a dominating three pitch mix that profiles as a high leverage back end guy at the next level. Working out of a quick, but fluid delivery, Smith was up to 93.5 mph on the fastball and sat in the low 90’s with some cut action. Attacked hitters and filled up the zone with all three, Smith not only showed an electric fastball, but the secondary induced a ton of whiffs with feel to the bottom of the zone. The slider plays more like a power slurve with 6-8” of sweep, sitting in the high 70’s, low 80’s range, producing consistent weak contact when put in play. The splitter was devastating all day, proving to be the out pitch when needed. Playing well off the fastball/slider, the splitter shows low spin efficiency (791 max rpm) with a ton of feel for the bottom of the zone.
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Maclelland Stiffler RHP / OF / North Hagerstown, MD / 2024The recent West Virginia recruit may have the highest ceiling of all Maryland participants, possessing a lean and uber-projectable 6-foot-6, 205 pound frame. The arm works quick out of a longer, high three-quarter slot with plenty of intent for the zone. The fastball plays up, with some feel to both sides at 86-88 mph, touching 89 mph. Max 2333 rpm on the fastball created some whiffs at the top, while showcasing the ability to work in and out to both RHH and LHH. When in the zone, the slider proves to be the most devastating out pitch in his arsenal, producing a max of 18.9” of sweep with an average of 14”. Sitting in the mid 70’s range, the slider plays tight with sharp 10/4 shape with an average spin of 2457 rpm (Max 2521 rpm). Kills the spin on the changeup (871 rpm) and is thrown with fastball arm speed with minimal fade in the high 70’s, low 80’s range.
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