Whitley Thrilled To Play In The South
November 9, 2020
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Whitley Thrilled To Play In The South
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Fletcher Whitley
Class of 2021 / LHP
Rankings
StateRank: 50 / POS: 9
Player Information
-
Graduating Class: 2021
-
Primary Position: LHPSecondary Position: 1B
-
High School: SalineState: MI
- Summer Team: Five Star 17U National (TX)
-
Height: 6-6Weight: 220lbs
- Bat/Throw: L/L
Statistics
Pitching
84
Max FB
(03/07/20)
83 - 84
FB
(03/07/20)
72 - 74
CB
(10/05/19)
72 - 74
CH
(10/05/19)
Position
7.58
60-yard
(06/18/19)
75
INF Velo
(02/09/19)
82
OF Velo
(02/09/19)
76
Exit Velo
(02/09/19)
Trackman - Fastball
81.5
Velocity (max)
(06/16/20)
79.3 - 80.9
Velo Range
(06/16/20)
76.9
Eff Velocity (avg)
(06/16/20)
2121
Spin Rate (max)
(06/16/20)
1991
Spin Rate (avg)
(06/16/20)
IVB (max)
(06/16/20)
IVB (avg)
(06/16/20)
HM (max)
(06/16/20)
HM (avg)
(06/16/20)
Extension (avg)
(06/16/20)
Release Ht (avg)
(06/16/20)
Spin Score (max)
(06/16/20)
Zone %
(06/16/20)
5 Star Performance Scout Day
Jun 16, 2020
Trackman - Fastball
Velocity (max)
81.5
Velo Range
79.3 - 80.9
Eff Velocity (avg)
76.9
Spin Rate (max)
2121
Spin Rate (avg)
1991
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
Trackman - Curveball
71.1
Velocity (max)
(06/16/20)
69.6 - 71.1
Velo Range
(06/16/20)
67.4
Eff Velocity (avg)
(06/16/20)
1874
Spin Rate (max)
(06/16/20)
1719
Spin Rate (avg)
(06/16/20)
IVB (max)
(06/16/20)
IVB (avg)
(06/16/20)
HM (max)
(06/16/20)
HM (avg)
(06/16/20)
Extension (avg)
(06/16/20)
Release Ht (avg)
(06/16/20)
Spin Score (max)
(06/16/20)
5 Star Performance Scout Day
Jun 16, 2020
Trackman - Curveball
Velocity (max)
71.1
Velo Range
69.6 - 71.1
Eff Velocity (avg)
67.4
Spin Rate (max)
1874
Spin Rate (avg)
1719
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Pitch_Scores
Pitch Scores - Fastball
Hop+
(06/16/20)
Rise+
(06/16/20)
Sink+
(06/16/20)
Pitch Scores - Curveball
Hammer+
(06/16/20)
Sweep+
(06/16/20)
Videos
(6/16/20)
Player News
- Results From 2021 Michigan ProCase - Mar 8, 2021
- Whitley Thrilled To Play In The South - Nov 9, 2020
- The 2020 Michigan Top Prospect Games II - East - Advanced Metrics w/Trackman and Blast Tech - Jul 18, 2020
- The 2020 Michigan Top Prospect Games II - East - Quick Hits - Jul 16, 2020
- Results From The 2020 Michigan Top Prospect Games II - East - Jul 15, 2020
- Whitley Has Dreams Of Playing In The South - Jun 1, 2020
- 'High-Level Talent' Shines At Preseason All-State Event - Mar 17, 2020
- 2020 Preseason All-State - Blast Metrics - Mar 16, 2020
- 2020 Preseason All-State - Quick Hits - Mar 10, 2020
- Results from 2020 Preseason All-State - Mar 8, 2020
- 2020 Scout Day: Little Caesar's - Complete Evaluations - Mar 1, 2020
- 2020 Scout Day: Little Caesar's - Quick Hits - Feb 16, 2020
- Results from 2020 Scout Day: Little Caesar's - Feb 10, 2020
- 2019 Michigan Eastern Fall Upperclass/Underclass Games - Complete Evaluations - Oct 18, 2019
- 2019 Michigan Eastern Fall Upperclass/Underclass Games - Top Performers - Oct 8, 2019
- Results from 2019 Michigan Eastern Fall Upperclass/Underclass Games - Oct 7, 2019
- 2019 Michigan Prospect Games - Complete Evaluations - Sep 1, 2019
- Results from 2019 Michigan Prospect Games - Jul 17, 2019
- 2019 Michigan Future Games Trials - Complete Evaluations - Jul 15, 2019
- 2019 Michigan Top Prospect Games - Complete Evaluations - Jul 15, 2019
- 2019 Michigan Top Prospect Games - Top Performers - Jun 28, 2019
- Results from 2019 Michigan Top Prospect Games - Jun 27, 2019
- 2019 Michigan Future Games Trials - Top Performers - Jun 24, 2019
- Results from 2019 Michigan Future Games Trials - Jun 21, 2019
- 2019 Scout Day: Little Caesar's Baseball - Complete Evaluations - Mar 9, 2019
- Results from 2019 Scout Day: Little Caesar's Baseball - Feb 11, 2019
- 2019 Scout Day: Little Caesar's Baseball - Top Performers - Feb 11, 2019
- Results from Michigan's 2018 Michigan Prospect Games - Aug 3, 2018
- Results from Michigan's 2018 Future Games Trials - Jun 21, 2018
- Eastern Michigan Preseason Preview: Complete Evaluations - Feb 26, 2018
- Eastern Michigan Preseason Preview - Top Performers - Jan 31, 2018
- Results from Michigan's 2018 Eastern MI Preseason Preview - Jan 29, 2018
- Results from Michigan's 2017 Future Game Trials - East - Nov 7, 2017
Whitley Thrilled To Play In The South
SALINE - Fletcher Whitley acquired a taste of the south this summer and came away impressed.
In fact, so much so that the Saline senior has made a commitment to Tennessee.
“I mostly played this summer in the south,” explained Whitley, a Virginia native who was a member of the Five-Star 17U National team based out of Texas in the summer. “I was happy to be on a team with such tremendous talent. It also helped me realize how hot it’s going to be after being in Texas and Oklahoma. It’s nice. I really enjoy playing in the south in the summer.”
The connection with Tennessee began in July with an offer eventually coming in early October.
“I was emailing them when I started play for Five-Star,” the eighth-rated 2021 left-handed pitcher in Michigan reflected. “They have a relatively new staff and (head) coach (Tony) Vitello started getting more interested in me so I sent more video. I noticed they have a few guys recruited from Michigan, so they’re looking up here. I thought, why not one more. I kind of fell into the right place.”
The 6-6 230-pound southpaw would likely have gone to Roane State Community College in Texas had Tennessee not come into the picture. Virginia Commonwealth, where his father played basketball, was another Whitley had talked with as well as Charleston Southern and East Tennessee State. But nothing compared with the Volunteers in the eyes of the 46th-ranked senior in the state.
“I’ve never heard a negative thing about the program,” Whitley said. “Guys there improve greatly. Those I’ve talked to that have gone there love the university and the campus. And it’s SEC baseball, there’s nothing like it.”
The opportunity to compete in the Southeastern Conference is attractive to Whitley.
“I’m extremely excited to go up against the greatest teams in the nation,” Whitley noted. “They have a great staff there and I’ll be able to play with guys coming from Michigan.”
The third LHP in Michigan’s 2021 class to commit to Tennessee, along with Gavin Brasosky and Sam Bassett-Kennedy, had no doubt he was selecting the right school.
“I knew when they offered I’d take it,” Whitley admitted. “It’s my absolute dream school. I initially saw it as a freshman and that’s when Tennessee went on my radar. They offered in early October and I waited a little bit. I wanted to call all the other coaches and thank them for their interest in me.”
Tennessee saw projectabily in the Saline left-hander.
“They like guys from the north,” Whitley said. “They have a lot of room to improve.”
Videos showed the coaches at the SEC school the promise Whitley presents.
“I’m a tall body and a lefy that knows how to use his body fully,” Whitley explained. “They think they can improve me greatly.”
Getting better is something Whitley has been doing this year.
“I’ve been going to the gym a lot,” noted Whitley, who pointed to mobility as one focus point. “Playing with Five-Star also helped. The coaches there are amazing. They made sure I threw with a great motion to squeeze out the most I can.”
Playing at the next level is something Whitley has strived to do.
“I’ve always kind of dreamed about playing college baseball but I didn’t know if I could get there,” Whitley explained. “I was a late improver. I shot up before junior year and that’s when my velo went up. Getting bigger helped a lot, lifting and growing. That’s when college baseball became a possibility.”
It is now reality, thanks in part to influences along the way.
“My dad helped a ton with recruitment, being on me about reaching out to coaches,” Whitley said. “My high school coaches helped me improve my offspeed pitches. They helped make my curve more consistent. Mike Coval at Coval Fitness in Ann Arbor taught me how to get muscle quickly. He helped me become the big guy I am today.”
Whitley is pleased to become the fourth member of his high school senior class to commit to playing baseball in college.
“I’m very excited for the spring season,” said the soon-to-be 18-year-old. “We’re going to have a good team at Saline and I look forward to that.”
Then it is on to Tennessee where Whitley, who carries a 3.1 GPA, will major in communications and minor in sports science.
“It felt good to finally announce where I’m going,” explained Whitley, whose family plans to move to Chattanooga after high school graduation. “I had a good time with the entire process but I’m glad to have it over with and know where I’m going.”