Jake
Bloss

A fast-rising prospect on the national level, Bloss came out pumping 95-97 at Xavier. He struck out the side in the first, but did allow a solo home run on a 95 mph center cut heater. The Hoyas’ ace is a fourth-year junior who graduated from Lafayette College before portaling to D.C. this year. At 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and 22 years old, he has limited projection in his frame but good present stuff in his offerings. His fastball ranged from 93-97 and sat 94-95 in the fifth innings and showed occasional run, but generally was straight with below average life overall. It played down a grade from its velocity and was not an overpowering type of fastball, at least on this look. However, his curveball did show that potential, starting with a big breaking 78 mph hammer that whiffed his first strikeout victim in the first inning. After that eye-popper, he could not consistently catch his curve out front so he switched gears to feature a hard slider in the 82-86 range. It improved as the game progressed with the best ones showing above average. His fourth pitch was a firm 89 mph changeup. Bloss struggled to hold runners, allowing several stolen bases with a time of 1.5+ seconds to the plate from the stretch. This will be a needed improvement as he enters pro ball, especially with the stolen base back in vogue. Bloss will likely be selected in the top three to four rounds.

Average build with some maturity at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds.  Right handed hitter works from a balanced setup, loading in, slightly, with the hands.  Short stride works to a short path producing line drives with good rhythm.  Average barrel awareness and bat speed.  Hands work around the baseball at times, with an emphasis on the pull side.  Exit velocity peaked at 83 mph off the barrel.  Defensively the feet work with decent rhythm as the hips tend to work high through the catch.  Long arm action gets to a high-3/4 slot with some accuracy.  Positional velocity of 77 mph across the diamond.  Ran a 3.28 twenty, followed by a 5.00 in the 5-10-5 agility test.  Stand broad jump of 8’6”.

On the bump, the fastball peaked at 81, sitting 79-80 in the mid-January session.  Long arm swing has some looseness as it works to the high-3/4 release.  Strike thrower works with easy effort, staying level and on-line through the delivery. Throws a curveball at 64-65 and a slider at 72-73.  Better action out of the slider, working as a short, late cutter.  The straight change sat 72-73 with some deception out of the hand.