Winter Unsigned Senior 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

Brian Bullock, RHP, Loveland HS, 2014
The 6-foot, 185-pound righty sat at 83-84 mph and bumped up to 86 mph on a couple of occasions. He shows some deception in his delivery and has some arm side sink to his fastball. He doesn't offer a great deal of projectability, but the arm works and he throws multiple pitches for strikes. His slider shows late 10/4 action across the zone at 71-72 mph. He also showed command of a 75-77 mph that he sells with good arm action. Right now, Bullock holds several Division II offers. Now, he has to decide if he waits it out this spring to give Division I schools an opportunity to see him throw again and hope for a jump in velocity.

Top Position Prospect

Austin Middlemus, RHP/C, Hebron Lakewood HS, 2014
6-foot, 180-pound legitimate two-way prospect at this point. Coming from a small town program, Middlemus has played multiple positions throughout his career, never really getting to devote himself to one position. Nonetheless, he shows some quickness in his arm from a high 3/4 arm slot. His lower half works, but still has room for improvement has he tends to swing his leg instead of leading with front hip. His fastball sat at 82-84 mph, but didn't show much movement. He breaking ball is a good out-pitch at this stage with good late 11/5 action. The two-plane action is an effective swing and miss pitch. Meanwhile, his changeup is still in a work in progress as it sits 80-81 mph. Additionally, at a smaller program, Middlemus should be considered a two-way prospect. He has a durable, physical frame; somewhat prototypical catcher's body. His throws are accurate and his pop times ranged between 2.01 to 2.09. He shows some pop in his swing, but will need to simplify and shorten for the next level. 

COMPLETE PLAYER ANALYSIS

Anthony Hopkins, OF, Thomas Worthington HS, 2014
6-foot, 195-pound outfield prospect with strong, physical build. Hopkins, also a talented football player, shows some raw skills (such as a top velocity of 81 mph) that are playable at the next level, but he still needs to improve his footwork and throwing fundamentals. At the plate, he shows some pop in his bat with obvious strength in his hands. With his strong, athletic frame, he shows good potential with continued development.

Brendan Woodruff, OF/RHP, Mariemont HS, 2014
6-foot-2, 170-pound prospect with athletic, lanky frame. From the outfield, he shows some quickness to his arm action. Projects as a corner type. Top velocity of 81 mph with some carry to his throws. Offensively, he starts from a tall, narrow stance. Uses a short stride and incorporates his lower half. Short path to the ball with line drive production. Overall fluid rhythm to his swing.

Connor Bryan, IF, Mason HS, 2014 
Made his first appearance at a PBR Event. I would assume that he will compete and take over the shortstop spot at Mason with the departure of Connor McVey, who is now playing at Cincinnati. If you are a DIII program still looking for an athletic, middle infield type guy, he is worth a look. Bryan has an athletic 6-foot, 175-pound frame. He showed natural actions in the field with fluid footwork to both his glove side and backside. Bryan receives the ball well while showing quickness to his transfer and a top velocity of 77 mph across the infield. At the plate, the right-handed hitter uses a short, compact swing. His swing projects for average with solid line drive contact.

Connor Coup, 1B, Central Crossing HS, 2014
Can flat out swing the bat. The 6-foot, 270-pound left-handed hitter has some softness to his frame, but he has some tools that are playable at the next level. His hands show exceptional quickness through the zone (top exit velocity of 93 mph off the tee). He creates good lift and has obvious pull power in his swing. Given his size, he shows softness in his hands and some quickness in his feet. In the right program and with some commitment to his development, Coup has a chance to excel and offer instant offense.

Ethan Myers, OF/C, Worthington Kilbourne HS, 2015
6-foot-2, 170-pound prospect. Uses short arm action through high 3/4 arm slot with a top velocity of 72 mph. Shows average hands and feet in the field. At the plate, he starts in a balanced stance. Uses a small stride and incorporates his lower half. Takes slight uphill path. Consistent contact. Top exit velocity of 76 mph. 

Griffin Neuer, RHP/OF, Lexington Catholic HS, 2015
Potential two-way prospect. Presently, he throws from two different arm slots. From a high 3/4, he sat 81-84 mph with some sink, but his future may be from a low 3/4 slot from which he sat 81-83 mph with substantial arm side. More importantly, he located his fastball in the zone as well. Beyond the different arm slots, Neuer offers plenty of potential as he currently is an upper-body type arm. If he can make adjustments and incorporate his lower half, Neuer shouldn't have a problem seeing an increase in velocity. His breaking ball shows late life form both slots in the 66-68 mph range while he showed more command of his changeup from the high 3/4 slot. Additionally, at a smaller program, Neuer should be considered a two-way prospect. He showed arm strength from the outfield and quickness in his hands at the plate.

Jared Neiling, SS/RHP, Liberty Benton HS, 2014
5-foot-11, 165-pound prospect with small, strong frame. Projects as a second base type. Uses short arm action through high 3/4 arm slot. Has some softness in his hands. Top velocity of 73 mph across the infield. At the plate, the right-handed hitter uses a short stride. Tendency to bar in his load, but shows some quickness in his hands (top exit velocity of 80 mph). Uses long, uphill path with pull tendencies in his swing. 

Jonathan Clark, OF/1B, West Holmes HS, 2014
5-foot-10, 180-pound prospect with athletic frame. Uses short arm action through high 3/4 arm slot with a top velocity of 78 mph. Shows some quickness in his transfer. Will continue to get better with improved footwork. Best tool is his bat. Starts in a slightly open stance with a bit of a crouch. Uses a short stride. Hands work well through the zone and gets extension. Overall fluid rhythm. Top exit velocity of 75 mph.

Lance Kielbaso, OF/C, Stebbins HS, 2014
6-foot, 185-pound prospect with solid frame. In the field, he uses short arm action through high 3/4 arm slot. Reached a top velocity of 78 mph with some run to his ball as he tends to open his front side a bit early. At the plate, he starts with an open stance. Hands tend to drop in his load creating an uphill path. Will improve as his lower half consistently squares up. Top exit velocity of 78 mph off the tee.

Matthew Warnecke, RHP/3B, Ottawa Glandorf HS, 2014
6-foot, 200-pound prospect with solid frame. Uses a big leg kick in his delivery. Tall and fall type mechanics. Throws through high 3/4 arm slot with long arm action. Fastball shows occasional run at 76-79 mph. Breaking ball shows some 11/5 spin at 65-69 mph. Slider shows more bite at 72 mph. His changeup is probably his best off-speed pitch at 72-73 mph with some downward sink. 

Scott Baker, 3B/C, Bloom Carroll HS, 2014
6-foot-1, 180-pound prospect with lanky frame and long legs. In the field, he uses long arm action with a top velocity of 76 mph. Accurate throws. Average hands and feet. Behind the plate, he uses a bit shorter arm action. Tends to open a bit early. Reached a top velocity of 71 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.21-2.27. At the plate, he starts in an athletic stance. Uses a short stride. Has some baring action in his load. Created solid contact when he got extension. Has some quickness in his hands. Top exit velocity of 83 mph.