Michael
Gurka

2.11.18 - 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-handed pitcher, solid build. Delivery works with direction, high front side, toe down balance point, regular effort. Arm action is loose and quick, over the top slot. Fastball is straight, four seam type, occasional two-seamer with run to arm side, 85-87 mph, touched 88 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, sharp action is aggressive arm speed, short downer action, 76-79 mph. Slider worked 74-79 mph, some depth. Changeup has feel, fades to arm side, above average control, 79-81 mph.

2017 Future Games (8.2.17) - 6-foot-3, 195-pound, athletically built, strong lower-half, right-handed pitcher. Frame should be able to handle a heavy workload. Showed dynamic swing and miss stuff in his first of two innings, striking out the side. Confident demeanor on the mound, worked fast and went right after hitters. Live arm, works quick out front and from a high ¾ to over-the-top slot. Fastball jumps out of the hand, flashed life through the hitting zone, late finish, pounded the zone, sat 84-87 mph, touched 88. Slider showed late biting action, able to drop for strikes and expand the zone, 74-77 mph. Changeup sat 79-80 mph, did not have to feature it much in game action. Gurka had one of the top performances from a Team Illinois arm.

1.15.17 - Strong solid frame, 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-handed pitcher. Repeats a directional delivery, stays on line and works aggressively to target. Arm action is quick and projects, loose arm from an over the top slot, minimal effort. Four seam type fastball, straight with finish through the top of the zone, sat 81-84 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, flashed sharp bite, some feel, thrown aggressively at 72-75 mph. Changeup is firm with slight arm side action, mostly straight, 79-80 mph, deceptive arm speed.