Daily Leaders
Iowa Select Black defeated Top Tier American 18u 6-0 in the opening game at Perfect Game Field thanks to good pitching from Anthothy Alepra (2017, Cedar Rapids, IA) and Connor Schultz (2017, Cedar Falls, IA). Alepra, a Northwestern commit, was handed the baseball to start the game and tossed three scoreless innings, allowing only three hits. Alepra showed a loose arm action from a low three-quarters slot that produced good running action to arm side, with his velocity clocking in at 81-83 mph. Alepra tends to land at a closed position on his front side at release, causing some arm drag at times. When Alepra was working with rhythm, he pounded the strike zone and produced quick outs.
The 6-foot-4, 180-pound uncommitted righthander Connor Schultz earned the victory on Friday night. Schultz has a tall, projectable frame with plenty of room to fill as he continues to mature. The Cedar Falls native showed a compact three quarters arm slot that generated good downward angle to the plate in the mid 80’s. Schultz consistently worked ahead of hitter, then was able to put them away with a sharp, 12/6-shaped curveball. The length and leanness of his frame projects for additional strength moving forward, and that additional strength combined with his arm speed helps project for velocity increases as well. Schultz received the win tossing three scoreless innings while allowing one hit.
A Nebraska commit, John Swanda (2017, Des Moines, IA) showed why he is one of the most highly sought after two way prospects in the state of Iowa. The 6-2, 185-pound shortstop displayed his consistent, dependable hands in the middle infield while showing off his strong arm while throwing across the infield. There are few in the state of Iowa who are more consistent with the barrel while at the plate, and he continued to show of those hitting traits on Friday night. Swanda also closed out the game on the mound for Iowa Select Black, tossing a perfect last inning with two strikeouts and topping at 89 mph.
Top Tier’s Scott Youngbrandt (2018, Tinley Park, IL) showed a very calm, relaxed presence on the mound for a 2018 graduate. At 6-foot, 175-pounds Youngbrandt consistently changed speeds throughout each inning of work with the ability to throws his off speed pitches in both positive and negative counts. Youngbrandt reached 85 mph early, but sat 81-83 mph for much of his outing. Possibly his most dangerous pitch is the changeup in the low to mid 70’s. With late fade and sink, the changeup consistently stayed off hitter’s barrels and induced weak contact. Fellow teammate Ari Gordon (2018, Buffalo Grove, IL) took the opposite approach showing a high energy, power pitch delivery. The uncommitted righthanded pitcher ran his fastball 83-87 mph with a quick arm, accelerating cleanly through release. Continued development of a secondary pitched will make Gordon a very dangerous pitcher with the potential to consistently rack up plenty of strikeouts.
Iowa Select Navy’s Clayton Nettleton (2018, Davenport, IA), a University of Iowa commit, got the nod for the nightcap against Minnesota Blizzard Black. Nettleton has a large, athletic frame with good present lower half strength. He stays very smooth through delivery, creating a loose and easy arm action up to a high-three quarters slot, generating good extension through release as well. Nettleton’s fastball ranged from 86-89 mph with very heavy life to the bottom of the zone. He worked to each edge of the plate with ease, but really began to impress when he was able to implement his off speed pitches. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound righthanded pitcher showed a 12/6-shaped curveball with very tight spin that flashed excellent depth when located down in the zone. He loses feel for the curveball release at times, but when he gets in rhythm he is a very difficult pitcher to square up.
A Kansas State commit, Daniel Powers (2018, Coal Valley, IL) showed some of the cleanest, repeatable mechanics of the night. Powers’ tall frame, long limbs and athletic build all help to create a smooth, methodical delivery to the plate. The baseball exploded out of his hand with extreme ease from a high-three quarters arm slot, allowing him to create very good downhill angle to the plate in the mid 80’s, topping at 87 mph. He showed varying command of his curveball, which featured short, slurvy shape in the mid 70’s. There is no doubt that the 6-foot-3, 180-pound righthanded pitcher will continue to add velocity while on the mound for K-State.
Brayden Frazier (2018, Cedar Rapids, IA) continues to command attention at every event he attends, and Friday evening’s game was no different. The University of Iowa commit absolutely hammered a line drive home run deep to left field in his first at bat. Frazier continues to show advanced hitting mechanics paired with fluid defensive skills at shortstop that will play very nicely for the Hawkeyes in the future.
The Reds Midwest Scout Team, a perennial power in the Midwest, sent uncommitted righthanded pitcher Connor Van Scoyoc (2018, Cedar Rapids, IA) to the mound in their first game Saturday against the Pro Player W4arriors. Van Scoyoc displayed his normal smooth-paced delivery with a very loose arm stroke up to a three quarters slot release, generating good downhill plane to the plate at 84-86 mph. Van Scoyoc worked through three scoreless frames before surrendering five runs in the fourth inning. Connor’s curveball, a pitch which is normally very tight with excellent depth, had shorter movement on Saturday with varying command. The Pro Player W4arriors eventually caught up to Van Scoyoc who was then replaced by left handed pitcher Brendan Murphy (2017, Mundelein, IL).
Murphy, an Arizona State commit, has a tall frame with long limbs and an athletic build. At 6-foot-4, 200-pounds with a high three-quarters release point, Murphy generated very good downward angle to the plate producing good sinking action at 86-89 mph, topped at 90 mph. The future Sun Devil also showed very good feel for his curveball and changeup throughout the rest of the game. When all three pitches were working together, Murphy flashed the potential to be a future top of a rotation starter at the next level.
The Reds Midwest Sout Team briefly trailed, but was quickly re-energized by shortstop Mark Vierling (2017, St. Louis, MO). Vierling hammered a solo homerun to deep left center field to bring the Reds back within one run. The Missouri commit showed a naturally leveraged swing plane with present strength that will play nicely in the middle of the Tigers lineup in the future.
Fairfax was a hitter’s ball park throughout Saturday, as many baseballs left the yard. Tyler Brandenburg (2019, Saukville, WI) of Rhino Baseball North provided two of those home runs against Hitters Baseball Navy. The 6-foot-3, 220-pound first baseman has a very balanced swing plane with big strength when he is able to extend his hands at contact. Brandenburg produced home runs in two consecutive at bats, first to right center field and then again to straight away right field.
Hitters Navy Baseball third baseman, and future Louisville Cardinal Alex Binelas (2018, Oak Creek, WI) also homered to deep right center field. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Binelas has a smooth, naturally lifted swing plane that will produce many extra base hits both at present with the Hitters and into the future when he’s wearing Louisville colors.
Chad Cwik (2017, Hometown, IL) an Arkansas commit, threw from a mid-three-quarters arm slot that generated occasional arm side run at 79-82 mph. Cwik’s best pitch on Saturday was a 1/7 curveball that had loose spin, early break and solid depth. The 6-4, 165-pound lefthanded pitcher has plenty of room to continue to fill and add velocity.
GRB Rays Green and Arkansas commit, Tanner Kohlhepp (2018, Eau Clairie, WI) drove an opposite field double in his first at bat against STIKS Academy showing a compact, inside swing plane through extension. Kohlhepp also flashed the hand and barrel skills to turn on pitches located inner half. The 6-2, 170-pound shortstop has the tools and athleticism to be a productive hitter and impact defensive player for the Razorbacks.
Grant Leader (2019, La Grange Park, IL) toed the rubber for Top Tier Americans 18U on Saturday. The 5-9, 145-pound right handed pitcher has a very quick arm from a three-quarters slot. Leader did not seem to be phased at all by the age gap, as he consistently pounded the strike zone with a fastball that sat 82-86 mph, topping at 86 mph. Leader’s put away pitched is a 9/4 curveball that has very tight rotation and late bite. Grant consistently spotted to both edges of the plate with the demeanor and command of a very matured pitcher. The Minnesota Starters had a mid 80’s righthander on the mound as well in Jacob Goraczkowski (2017, Chaska, MN). The 6-1, 175-pound Goraczkowski has a lean, athletic frame with a quick arm action from a high three-quarters slot. The uncommitted righthander created very steep downhill angle to the plate with a fastball that sat 82-85mph, topping at 86 mph. Jacob also flashed a very good curveball at times with 12/6 shape that had tight rotation and late depth.
Ryan Eiermann (2017, Naperville, IL) of the Reds Midwest Scout Team tossed possibly the most impressive game of Saturday completing 6 1/3 inning while allowing only one earned run and striking out 14 batters. The 6-0, 185-pound lefthander consistently spotted his fastball to each edge of the plate ranging 84-88 mph. Eiermann rarely had to turn to his curveball, but when he did it proved to be a devastating swing and miss pitch. The TCU commit shows the physicality and mechanics to continue to add velocity. Jimmy Ramsey (2017, Tonka Bay, MN) an Oregon Ducks commit, cleaned up the last two outs of the game topping at 90 mph from a high energy three-quarters arm slot. Ramsey’s fastball had explosive heaviness to the plate that proved to be very difficult for hitter to catch up on.