Preseason Underclass II: Class of 2015 Player Analysis

Below, we recap the Class of 2015 Performers from the PBR Ohio Southwest Pre-Season Preview. 

To view the complete results from the showcase, please click here.

Top pitching Prospect

Greg Cappel, RHP/OF, Elder HS, 2015
6-foot, 178-pound righty. He is the funky bullpen guy that every team has on its roster. Overall, he is a strong, athletic prospect. Throws from a low 3/4 to side arm slot. Demonstrated command of a deceptive 82-83 mph fastball with good late run. His best off-speed pitch at this stage is a 72-73 mph slider thrown near fastball arm speed. Still developing a 73-74 mph breaking ball that wasn’t consistently in the zone. Shows some potential in the field as well. Corner outfield type with top velocity of 79 mph with some run to his throws. At the plate, he shows some raw power. Upper body type hitter at this stage. Takes a long path, but hand speed helps makes up for it. Ball jumped off his bat with pull power in his swing. Registered top exit velocity of 86 mph.

Top Position Prospect

Jacob Bolton, 3B/RHP, Watterson HS, 2015 
5-foot-11, 170-pound prospect. At this point, he projects as a third baseman. He shows good athleticism in his feet, softness in his hands, and the ability to throw from different angles. He reached a top velocity of 83 mph across the infield. At the plate, the right-handed hitter shows good balance throughout his swing. The ball jumps off his bat as he uses a short, quick path to the ball. At present, he is a gap-to-gap guy with pull power in his swing. Lastly, he started out 83-86 on the mound with some arm side sink to his fastball. He still needs a consistent out pitch. His changeup shows similar movement to his fastball at 76-78 and his cutter shows some late bite. But, his breaking ball lacks depth at 70-72 mph.

COMPLETE PLAYER ANALYSIS

AJ Swetland, RHP/SS, Glen Este HS, 2015
6-foot-1, 155-pound prospect that throws with some quickness through 3/4 arm slot. Uses short arm action with regular effort to his delivery. Fastball sat at 76-78 mph with some arm side run. Breaking ball sat at 66-67 mph with good 10/4 action. Good swing and miss pitch. Also uses a 70-72 mph changeup with some fade to it.

Alex Ennis, OF/RHP, Beavercreek HS, 2015
6-foot, 174-pound prospect with athletic frame. Good feel from the outfield position. Uses long arm action through high 3/4 arm slot. Good accuracy to his throws with top velocity of 81 mph. Plays through the baseball. At the plate, he starts in a tall, narrow stance. Uses a short stride. Hands work through the zone. Line drive production with some pull tendencies. Top exit velocity of 84 mph off the tee.

Alex Lam, 3B/RHP, Springboro HS, 2015
5-foot-8, 175-pound prospect with solid frame. In the field, he uses short arm action through high 3/4 arm slot. Reached top velocity of 74 mph across the infield. Natural actions with good feel for the position. At the plate, he tends to drop his hands in his load causing some extra movement in his swing. Uses a small leg kick to trigger his lower half. Takes slight uphill path to the ball. Top exit velocity of 71 mph. On the mound, he throws through high 3/4 arm slot. Fastball shows some run at 74-77 mph. Breaking ball has some late bit down in the zone at 61-62 mph. Changeup has similar movement to fastball at 65-69 mph.

Alex Murphy, 1B/OF, Vandalia Butler HS, 2015
6-foot-2, 200-pound prospect with solid frame. Moves well in the field with fluid footwork. Shows a quick transfer and short arm action with top velocity of 76 mph across the infield. At the plate, he starts in an athletic stance. Tends to bar his arm in his load. Uses a short stride with good balance. Line drive production. Top exit velocity of 80 mph off the tee.

Andrew Collins, RHP/3B, Wayne HS, 2015
5-foot-10, 170-pound prospect with average, athletic frame. Uses short arm action with average arm speed through a high 3/4 arm slot. Delivery requires regular effort. Tall and fall type delivery. Fastball sat between 68-71 mph with some run to it. Breaking ball has gradual 12/6 action at 61-63 mph. Tends to slow down arm speed on his changeup, which sits at 62-64 mph.

Austin Barber, LHP/OF, River Valley HS, 2015
5-foot-7, 140-pound prospect. On the mound, he throws through 3/4 arm slot with short arm action. Fastball sat at 70-72 mph while breaking ball showed spin at 61-64 mph. Changeup fluctuated between 62-67 mph with development still to come. Knuckle ball showed some drop in the low 60's. In the field, he uses short arm action through high 3/4 arm slot. Average actions with top velocity of 70 mph. Will improve as he plays through the ball. At the plate, he starts in a slightly open stance. Tendency to drop his hands in his load. Pull tendencies in his swing. Top exit velocity of 71 mph.

Austin Cline, 3B/RHP, Benjamin Logan HS, 2015
5-foot-11, 180-pound prospect continues to show physical development. Frame has strengthened over the off-season. Showed a top velocity of 76 mph. Needs to continue quickening transfer. Has athleticism to potentially be a corner outfielder as well. At the plate, he starts in an athletic stance. Uses short stride. Takes long, level path to the ball. Line drive production. Top exit velocity of 76 mph. On the mound, he throws through high 3/4 arm slot. Tendency to open early with his top half. Fastball sat in the high 70's and bumped up to 81 moh. Breaking ball showed some 11/5 action at 68-69 mph. Demonstrated good command of 72-73 mph changeup. Also uses a 69-70 mph splitter.

Austin Rabon, C/3B, Blanchester HS, 2015
5-foot-9, 184-pound propsect. Behind the plate, he uses short arm action through high 3/4 arm slot. Pop times ranged between 2.17 to 2.23 with top velocity of 70 mph. Accurate throws. In the infield, he reached a top velocity of 76 mph across the infield. Needs to continue improving footwork. At the plate, he starts in a balanced stance. Tends to bar in his load. Takes uphill path. Top exit velocity of 77 mph. On the mound, he throws from a high 3/4 to over the top arm slot with short arm action. Fastball sat in the mid to high 70's with straight action. Will improve as he better incorporates his lower half. Breaking ball shows late 11/5 action at 66-68 mph. Changeup has some diving action at 65-66 mph.

Cameron Macioce, 3B/MIF, Bishop Hartley HS, 2015
5-foot-10, 205-pound prospect with solid frame. Moves well on his feet in the field with good reactions. Shows some softness in his hands. Throws through 3/4 arm slot with top velocity of 71 mph. Uses short arm action through high 3/4 arm slot. At the plate, the right-handed hitter uses a small leg kick. Tendency to dive with his stride. Shows some quickness in his hands with top exit velocity of 82 mph. Slight uphill path with signs of some pop in his swing. 

Chris Sackett, C/1B, Loveland HS, 2015
6-foot, 210-pound prospect with solid frame. Probably projects best as a first baseman. Uses short arm action with a quick transfer. Top velocity of 71 mph. Behind the plate, he uses short arm action with top velocity of 69 mph from the crouch. Feet work with good direction behind the plate. Pop times ranged between 2.22 to 2.24. At thh plate, he starts with high hands before his load. Partial use of his lower half with more to come. Shows some quickness in his hands. Line drive production. Top exit velocity of 82 mph off the tee.

Corey Hooker, LHP/OF, Preble Shawnee HS, 2015
5-foot-10, 170-pound prospect with thin, athletic frame. From the outfield, he uses short arm action through high 3/4 arm slot. Reached a top velocity of 74 mph. More to come with improved use of his lower half and consistently playing through the ball. At the plate, he starts with a closed stance. Drops his hands in his load. Inside/out type production with a short path to the ball. On the mound, the lefty throws from a high 3/4 arm slot. Delivery is clean and stays in line. Fastball sits 71-74 mph while breaking ball has some depth at 58-60 mph. Changeup is thrown near fastball arm speed at 63-64 mph.

Dylan Akers, OF/MIF, Lakota West HS, 2015
6-foot-1, 164-pound prospect with athletic frame. Uses short arm action through high 3/4 arm slot. Quick exchange and transfer. Reached a top velocity of 80 mph with more to come as he better incorporates his lower half into his throws. At the plate, he starts in a wide stance. Minimal upper half load and stride. Showed quickness in his hands from the slotted position. Takes a level path. Top exit velocity of 81 mph. Will continue to get better in all aspects as his lower half becomes more incorporated into his actions. Interesting follow.

Dylan Bryan, RHP/3B, Mason HS, 2015
6-foot-1, 172-pound prospect with solid, athletic frame. Looks the part. Uses short arm action through high 3/4 arm slot in the field. Reached a top velocity of 75 mph with accuracy to his throws. Displayed some athleticism in his feet and range. At the plate, he tends to wrap a bit in his load, which creates some length to his swing path. Uses a short stride and incorporates his lower half. Reached a top exit velocity of 79 mph off the tee. On the mound, the righty throws with long arm action through high 3/4 arm slot. Fastball has late life at 75-77 mph. Breaking ball has spin and stays on one plane at 65-66 mph while changeup has some run at 69-72 mph. 

Ethan Beck, RHP/OF, Sycamore HS, 2015
6-foot-2, 190-pound prospect with big, projectable frame. Throws through high 3/4 to over the top arm slot with long, loose arm action. Effort is rather easy. Tall and fall type delivery. Fastball was straight at 77-79 mph while two-seam showed action at 76 mph. Breaking ball showed 12/6 action at 67-69 mph some bite to it, but has tendency to slow down his arm action. Changeup is thrown near fastball arm speed at 70-71 mph. 

Ethan Fremder, C/1B, Piketon HS, 2015
6-foot-1, 230-pound catching prospect with solid, muscular frame. Has made continual improvements in his game over the past two years. Behind the plate, he uses short arm action through a high 3/4 arm slot. Reached a top velocity of 75 mph from the crouch with some quickness to his transfer. Pop times ranged between 2.22 to 2.41. Still has some room for improvement with his footwork. At the plate, the big right-handed hitter starts from a balanced stance. Uses a small, simple load in his swing. Takes short, slight uphill path to the ball. Solid contact off the bat. Registered top exit velocity of 80 mph.

Jack Schmidt, 3B/2B, Glen Este HS, 2015
5-foot-11, 180-pound prospect. Projects as a second base type. Feet work well in the field. Throws with short arm action through a 3/4 arm slot. Reached a top velocity of 67 mph. At the plate, he uses an aggressive lower half with a leg kick. Hands work on slight uphill path. Consistently squared up the baseball with line drive production. Registered top exit velocity of 78 mph.

Justin Moore, OF/3B, McNicholas HS, 2015
6-foot-2, 185-pound prospect with tall frame. In the field, he reached a top velocity of 69 mph on his throws. Tendency to play on his heels. Will continue to improve as he plays through the baseball. At the plate, he starts in an open stance. Uses a leg kick to trigger his lower half. Hands drop in his load creating an uphill path. Registered a top exit velocity of 76 mph/

Kellan Elsbury, LHP, Zionsville HS (IN), 2015
Possess athletic 5-foot-10, 165-frame. Smooth, clean delivery with loose arm action through high ¾ arm slot. Demonstrated command of multiple pitches. Fastball sat at 74-76 mph but showed ability to locate. Uses a 63-65 mph breaking ball as well as an excellent 68-70 mph changeup that he sells with good arm action through release. Projectable arm with room to fill out and grow. Elsbury’s father pitched at Purdue. 

Kevin Schnedl, SS/OF, Roger Bacon HS, 2015
6-foot, 170-pound prospect with athletic frame. Throws with long arm action through 3/4 arm slot. Reached a top velocity of 71 mph across the infield. Shows average hands and feet in the field. At the plate, he uses a short stride. Tendency to bar in his load, but shows some quickness in his hands. Takes uphill path to the ball. Top exit velocity of 80 mph off the tee.

Mark Petersen, OF/3B, Lakota West HS, 2016
6-foot, 170-pound prospect. Uses long arm action through 3/4 arm slot. Reached a lot top velocity of 73 mph on his throws. Will improve as he plays through the baseball and creates more momentum. At the plate, he triggers his lower half with a small leg kick and stride. Minimal upper half load. Hands work from shoulder slot with slight uphill path. Registered a top exit velocity of 74 mph.

Marshall Eippert, OF/1B, Moeller HS, 2015
6-foot, 205-pound prospect. Uses long arm action through high 3/4 arm slot in the field. Reached a top velocity of 74 mph with accuracy. Plays through the baseball and creates momentum towards his target while throwing downhill. At the plate, he uses a short stride. Has a tendency to dive a bit. Minimal upper half load. Takes slight uphill to the ball. Upper body type hitter at this stage with quickness in his hands. Top exit velocity of 87 mph off the tee.

Nigel Williams, C/IF, La Salle HS, 2015
5-foot-10, 195-pound prospect that offers versatility. Projects best as a catcher. Sturdy, durable body. Uses short arm action with some quickness to his transfer. Arm strength works at 72 mph with good accuracy. Tendency to throw uphill at times. Pop times ranged between 2.14 to 2.27. In the field, he projects as a second base or third base type depending on how much he hits. Feet work well at third with some softness in his hands. Reached a top velocity of 71 mph. At the plate he starts in athletic, balanced stance. Minimal upper half load with a short stride. Overall, simply, compact swing. Line drive production. Top exit velocity of 83 mph off the tee.

Russell Woehrmyer, 3B/C, Mason HS, 2015
5-foot-9, 190-pound prospect with strong, athletic frame. Uses short arm action through high 3/4 arm slot. Reached a top velocity of 74 mph across the infield. Average hands and feet. Will be aided by creating momentum through the baseball. At the plate, he starts in a closed stance. Tends to bar in his load. Uses a short stride with partial use of his lower half. Pull tendencies in his swing. Top exit velocity of 76 mph off the tee.

Ty Hezlep, MIF/OF, Milford HS, 2015
5-foot-8, 135-pound prospect with small, athletic frame. Uses short arm action with a top velocity of 67 mph. Good accuracy to his throws. Projects as a second base type. Average hands and feet at this stage. At the plate, he starts with a slightly open stance. Hands have tendency to drop in his load and takes a level path from there. Consistent contact off the bat. Reached a top exit velocity of 73 mph off the tee.