Prep Baseball Report

All-State Games: Pitcher Analysis


By Illinois Scouting Staff

On Aug. 9, we hosted the invite-only showcase in River Grove, Ill., at Triton College: All-State Games. The showcase featured over 50 of the top 2020 prospects from both Illinois and Wisconsin. We’ve already seen one of the event’s attendees commit to play at the next level since All-State Games and, given the talent at Triton College last month, there’s bound to be more in the future.

Today, we’ll continue our position-by-position analysis with a deep dive into the event’s pitchers who toed the rubber.

Among them is RHP Cooper Herold (Minooka; uncommitted) who stole the showcase. Herold was extremely effective in his inning of work in simulated play, sitting in the upper 80s. The 6-foot righty is loose and live from the mound and couples his fastball with an above-average changeup that he was using as his go-to secondary on this day. With a performance like this, Herold has emerged as one of the top unsigned pitchers in Illinois’ 2020 class.

RHP Jake Kuntzendorf (Aurora Christian; Purdue), a 2018 Future Gamer, came to the showcase as the state’s highest ranked uncommitted arm and only just recently decided to commit to Purdue. He was his same impressive self from the bump at All-State Games.

And RHP Aaron Mishoulam (Oak Park-River Forest, 2019; uncommitted) earns a mention here, too. The OPRF righty was rained out a previous event and was handed the ball for an inning at All-State Games as a result. We kept our rankings exclusive to the 2020s in attendance, but Mishoulam established that he is a high-follow unsigned senior moving forward.

We previously published our Statistical Analysis from the showcase, as well as reports on the event’s catchers, outfielders, and infielders. Also, keep an eye out tomorrow where we’ll break down the day’s top-10 prospects overall, regardless of position. For now, read reports on all 23 pitchers who took the mound at All-State Games.

TOP PROSPECTS

1. Cooper Herold, RHP, Minooka, 2020
6-foot, 175-pound right-handed pitcher, average build, live body. Stretch only, repeatable athletic delivery, loads onto back side, works on line, lands closed. Arm action is long and loose, high ¾ slot, live and easy arm. Fastball has run to arm side, feel for the zone, ability to command, 86-88 mph, topped at 89 mph. Changeup played as best secondary, advanced feel with sink to arm side, some swing and miss, 70 mph. Curveball played at 67-68 mph. Struck out the side in an inning of work.

2. Jake Kuntzendorf, RHP, Aurora Christian, 2020
Purdue commit. 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed pitcher, large frame, projects and durable on the mound. Delivery works on line, eyes stay level, lands square, uses slide step out of the stretch. Arm action has length on back side, regular effort, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 86-88 mph, mostly straight action, occasional cut, showed feel for the zone. Multiple breaking balls, curveball has 12/6 shape, 71-73 mph. Slider works on 10/4 plane, 73-74 mph, showed feel for both.

3. Holden Phelps, RHP, Prairie Ridge, 2020
6-foot-4, 185-pound right-handed pitcher, long frame, projects. Delivery stays upright and slightly across his body, creates some deception, little effort. Arm strength present, loose arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball showed late action, gets swing and miss, touched 90 mph, sitting 85-88 mph. Slider works 74-77 mph, 10/4 shape. Flashed changeup at 76 mph.

4. Connor Aten, RHP/OF, Galesburg, 2020
5-foot-10, 160-pound two-way player, lean athletic frame. On the mound delivery is athletic and repeatable, works slightly across his body, closed landing. Regular effort, short loose arm action, over the top slot. Fastball is straight, four seam action that carries/jumps through the zone, late life, showed ability to get swing and miss up in the zone. Sat 85-87 mph. Struck out two in one inning on elevated fastballs. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 68-69 mph. Slider plays 72-74 mph, 10/4 shape. Outfield arm plays short and loose, high ¾ slot, carried well, 87 mph. Easy arm and actions played through. 6.94 runner in the 60. Right-handed hitter, wide setup, arm bar load, short stride. Bat strength present, flashed pull side pop, slight uphill path. 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.

5. Ernie Day, RHP/INF, Taft, 2020
6-foot-2, 190-pound, right-handed hitting infielder, athletic frame. Projects on the mound, tall and fall delivery, compact balance point, slightly cross body, short stride, closed toe land, easy finish with rhythm. Arm plays short and loose, high front side, quick arm speed, over the top slot, easy effort. Fastball, worked straight, came out firm, played up, 83-87 mph, topped 88 mph. Curveball, 11/5 slurvy shape, around it, 68-73 mph. Changeup played 70 mph. Allowed no hits with two K’s and two walks in game. Defensively arm works across the infield, easy, long and loose arm action, winds up, high ¾ slot, steady hands, clean exchange, works through the ball, throws carried 85 mph across. At the plate, balanced, wide setup, back load, short stride. Strong hands, uphill path, line drive hitter, repeats to the middle of the field in BP, rhythm involved, exit velocity topped 93 mph from a tee. 7.48 runner in the 60.

6. Alex Rodriguez, RHP, Bradley-Bourbonnais, 2020
Lean projectable frame, 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-handed pitcher. Repeatable delivery, tall and fall type, regular effort. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot, above average arm speed, projects well. Fastball is straight, showed slight arm side run, ability to get in on RHH, sat 82-84 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, sharp action, swing and miss capabilities, 70-72 mph. Changeup has arm side run, 77-79 mph. Projectable follow in the 2020 class.

7. Jonathon Hanscom, RHP, Mundelein, 2020
5-foot-10, 150-pound right-handed pitcher, wiry frame. Stretch only, drop and drive delivery, quick load into balanced finish. Arm plays out of a ¾ slot, long and loose. Fastball sits 84-85 mph, touching 86 mph, sinks to arm side. Slider has 10/4 shape, 71-76 mph. Changeup sinks, 71-72 mph.

8. Michael Ellingsen, RHP, Loyola, 2020
6-foot-1, 195-pound right-handed pitcher, solid durable build. Tall and fall delivery, regular effort, short arm action, over the top slot, above average arm strength. Fastball is mostly straight, occasional arm side run, 84-86 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, 71-74 mph, flashed swing and miss. Changeup showed arm side action, 73-75 mph.

9. Donovan Schultz, LHP, Kimberly, 2020
6-foot-2, 180-pound left-handed pitcher, long limbed projectable frame. Deceptive delivery, works with high front side, coils at top and works across his body. Easy arm action, long and loose, slight plunge on back side, high ¾ slot. Fastball runs to arm side, feel for the zone, sat 80-81 mph. Curveball has 1/7 shape, 66-67 mph, ability to drop for strikes. Changeup fades to arm side, 76-78 mph.

10. Arthur Liebau, RHP/1B, Homestead (WI), 2020
6-foot-1, 195-pound, right-handed hitting first baseman, strong build. On the mound, tall and fall delivery, works in-line to home, quick tempo, athletic finish. Arm plays short and loose, high ¾ slot, rhythm throughout. Fastball played straight, up in the zone, 82-85 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, 74-75 mph. Changeup dropped straight, 79 mph. At the plate, balanced setup, smooth load, toe tap trigger, hard stride landing. Short, level bat path, line drive hitter, middle/opposite field approach, hands generate quick bat speed, exit velocity topped 93 mph from a tee. 7.13 runner in the 60. Defensively, feet work in rhythm, steady hands, clean exchange,. Long, over the top slot, clean action, throws topped 83 mph across the diamond.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Nick Cairo, RHP/1B, Kenosha Bradford (WI), 2020
6-foot-2, 225-pound, right-handed hitting first baseman, thick, strong build. At the plate, balanced setup, top wrap load, short stride. Long, uphill bat path, pull side tendencies, loose hands  generate bat speed, exit velocity topped 91 mph from a tee. Defensively, steady hands, clean exchange, short arm action high ¾ slot, throws topped 77 mph across the diamond. 7.61 runner in the 60. On the mound, tall till slight sit on back side, works in-line, square landing, head jerks, athletic finish. Short arm action, high ¾ slot, some effort and rhythm involved. Fastball, ran down in the zone, 81-83 mph, topped 85 mph. Curveball, 11/5 gradual break, 72 mph. Worked a 1-2-3 inning in one inning.

Blake Donnan, RHP, Taylorville, 2020
6-foot-5, 205-pound right-handed pitcher. Tall and fall delivery, easy effort, stays balanced and head on line. Arm action is long and loose, ¾ slot. Fastball showed sinking action, 79-82 mph, induces ground balls. Slider has 10/4 shape, near fastball arm action, 74-76 mph. Changeup sinks, slight fade action, near fastball arm action, 70-72 mph.

Andrew Etter, RHP/OF, Mount Carmel, 2020
6-foot-2, 170-pound two-way player. Profiles best on the mound, tall and fall delivery, easy effort, lands square, smooth in rhythm, clean and repeatable. Loose arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball plays with slight run, sat mostly 80-82 mph, topped at 83 mph. Slider is tight, 10/4 shape, late action, 74-75 mph. Changeup fades, 72-73 mph. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Path has length, works uphill, pull topspin contact. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm plays easy, carried and accurate, short high ¾ slot, 85 mph from the outfield. Actions play through the baseball, fluid. 7.39 runner in the 60.

Riley Frey, LHP, Oshkosh West (WI), 2020
6-foot-1, 160-pound left-handed pitcher, loose wiry frame. Delivery works across body, smooth tempo, rotational type delivery. Easy arm action, high ¾ slot, long action. Fastball creates angle, run and sink to arm side, 80-81 mph. Curveball worked 68-71 mph, 1/7 shape. Changeup flashed fade action, 70-72 mph.

Thomas Giese, RHP, Huntley, 2020
6-foot-4, 185-pound right-handed pitcher, lean slender build. Tall and fall delivery, lands closed toe, regular effort. Arm action is long and firm, high ¾ slot. Fastball showed slight arm side run, touched 85 mph, 80-82 mph. Curveball worked at 65 mph. Showed above average feel for the zone in game, struck out two in one inning.

Payton Mather, RHP, Hononegah, 2020
6-foot-3, 175-pound right-handed pitcher, lean frame. Tall and fall delivery, in rhythm, lands square. Arm action is long and loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball played 78-81 mph, touched 82 mph. Breaking ball plays slurve type action 11/5 shape, 67-70 mph, got occasional swing and misses, also drops for strikes.

Aaron Mishoulam, RHP, Oak Park-River Forest, 2019
6-foot-5, 190-pound right-handed pitcher, lean slender frame. Slight drop and drive style, some deception, open toe landing, finishes behind the baseball. Arm speed present, loose arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball had hard finish, got late swing and misses, touched 88 mph, sat 85-87 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 71-74 mph, flashed sharp action.

Luc Melnick, RHP, Joliet Catholic, 2020
6-foot-2, 180-pound right-handed pitcher. Stretch only delivery, simple lift and go, slightly across body. Arm action is short and over the top. Fastball sat 76-79 mph, creates occasional angle. Curveball has 11/5 shape, slurvy type, ranged 61-65 mph.

Breck Nowik, INF/RHP, Lake Forest, 2020
6-foot-2, 165-pound, right-handed hitting infielder, lanky frame. Defensively, loose, athletic arm action arm across the diamond, ¾ slot, fields deep, funnels into stomach, clean exchanges, long to release, throws topped 79 mph across. At the plate, wide, balanced setup, smooth load, short stride. Loose hands, level bat path, some extension through the zone, controls the barrel, line drive hitter to the middle of the field, rhythm involved, exit velocity topped 88 mph from a tee. Singled back up the box in game. 7.28 runner in the 60. On the mound, third base setup, tall and fall style, works in line, toe lands closed, upright finish. Arm plays long and loose, ¾ slot, smooth rhythm. Fastball, run in the zone, 76-79 mph. Slider, 10/4 sharp sweeper for strikes, spins it well, 67-69 mph. Changeup, arm side run, 74-75 mph. Two groundouts and a infield fly in-game.

Emmett Olson, LHP, Maine West, 2020
6-foot-4, 210-pound left-handed pitcher, large frame and build. Tall and fall delivery, maintains balance, in rhythm. Arm action is short out of a tight over the top window. Fastball has feel for the zone, above average control, 78-80 mph, touched 81 mph. Curveball has 1/7 shape, 60-62 mph. Changeup fades, occasional decel, 63-65 mph.  

Joel Sarver, RHP, Champaign Central, 2020
6-foot-1, 175-pound, right-handed pitcher, athletic and strong frame. Repeatable delivery, stays on line with balance, head stays level, upright finish. Arm action is long, high ¾ slot. Fastball plays 83-84 mph, feel for the zone. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 71-74 mph, feel for the zone. Flashed changeup with sinking action.

Joseph Shapiro, LHP, Glenbrook South, 2020
6-foot, 180-pound left-handed pitcher, lean frame. Delivery works with high front side, toe lift to balance point, lands square. Arm action is long, over the top slot. Fastball is mostly straight, 80-83 mph. Slider has 1/7 shape, 74-77 mph. Flashed changeup at 78 mph. Induced weak contact in game action.

Nolan Vincent, RHP, Germantown (WI), 2020
6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed pitcher, solid build. Tall and fall delivery, lands square and works on line. Regular effort, arm plays from a high ¾ slot. Fastball played 80-83 mph, worked downhill. Curveball played at 63-69 mph. Flashed changeup at 72 mph. Keeps ball down in the zone, heavy ground ball contact in game.

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