Top 2016 Pitchers at PIS 2014

The showcase season is under way.  Last week, the Premier Instructional Showcase at Pfitzner Stadium took place in Woodbridge, Va with over 150 players taking part in the single day event and over 25 colleges were in attendance to evaluate some of the best players in Northern Virginia. There is a strong group of pitchers in the 2016 class from Northern Virginia, and many were in attendance at PIS. Here are our Top 5.

1) Keagan McGinnis, RHP, Battlefield High School, Haymarket

McGinnis is a tall, lanky righty with long limbs that give him a frame that is very projectable. He throws from a high three-quarters slot and does a very good job of keep himself on line to the target. He gets full extension and finishes in an athletic position without falling off. His arm action is long and loose, and his ball is very heavy.

McGinnis’ fastball was 84-85 on the day and showed a bit of late arm-side run. He showed good command of a good curveball, which ran anywhere between 12-6 and 11-5 with good late action, and was 71-73. McGinnis also threw a change-up with good arm speed that had some late fade and should be an effective pitch for him. Across the board his command of all three pitches was outstanding.

As a prospect, McGinnis has a very high ceiling because of his frame and loose arm. He figures to at be a top end Division I pitcher. Depending on how he fills his frame out, he could develop into a professional prospect before he graduates high school.

The rest of the top 5, in alphabetical order:

Jake Agnos, LHP, Battlefield High School, Haymarket

Agnos stands a bit less than six feet tall, and has an athletic build to his frame, with not much filling out left to do. He throws from a high three-quarters arm slot and has classic drop and drive mechanics. Agnos strides out online and gets good extension at release. His arm action is shorter on the backside but he has decent arm speed and is fluid throughout.

Agnos’ fastball was 79-82 for the day and showed a little bit of late sink. He did show the ability to command his fastball up in the zone. His curveball is between 12-6 and 1-7 and has a more gradual break. Agnos did show good feel for his change-up, which he threw with good arm speed and had good late fade to it.

Trey Braithwaite, RHP, Millbrook High School, Winchester

Braithwaite is an above average sized pitcher, standing a few inches over six feet tall. He has an athletic frame that he could still add some weight to as he develops. Braithwaite throws from nearly over the top, tilting his body to his glove side to allow his arm to clear his head. He has a long arm action that pauses a bit after separation, but then accelerates smoothly through its swing. 

Braithwaite’s fastball was in the 78-83 range for the day with a little bit of late arm side run. He generally commanded the pitch well. His curveball runs 11-5 and while it breaks late, it is more of a gradual break. He showed decent feel of it, keeping the pitch down during his entire bullpen. He showed ok feel of his change-up, throwing it with a slightly slower arm speed than his fastball. The pitch did have good late sink to it.

Jack Howell, RHP, Patriot High School, Bristow

Howell stands 6 foot 2 with a very lanky frame and is projectable. Howell throws from a three-quarters slot and has a very fast arm. The action is a bit short on the back side but accelerates smoothly to release. He gets decent extension, but his upper body is a bit upright at release.

Howell's fastball was 78-81 on the day. He did flash two very strong off-speed offerings, both which he commanded very well. He threw a change-up that came in at 71-72 with outstanding late action. He also showed a good breaking ball that had a 10-4 break on it that was late and sharp.

Trey Shepard, RHP, C.D. Hylton High School, Woodbridge

Shepard stands a little over six feet tall and has a very well-built, athletic frame. He throws from a three-quarters slot has a fast arm with a slight hitch after hand break, but otherwise he has a pretty loose action. Mechanically, Shepard is a drop and drive pitcher who does not get to a tall balance point, sinking a bit early to start a powerful drive out to the plate. He lands a bit closed off and has very explosive hips. He is a bit upright at release, but otherwise his extension is above average.

Shepard’s fastball clocked in at 84-85 on the afternoon, showing some decent arm side boring action to it, especially to the arm side of the plate. He showed good command of the pitch to both sides of the plate. His breaking ball is 11-5 and had more of a gradual break to it, but he keeps good arm speed on the pitch.