Pitcher/Catcher Showcase – Day 2
First, my apologies to the catchers/hitters at the event, as they are getting scant attention in this recap. Other PG staff members were tasked to scouting the catchers and hitters during the weekend, my responsibility was the pitchers.
And on Sunday, evaluating the pitchers was a full-time job, as seven different pitchers threw 90 mph or better and a number of hurlers edged up on that mark. It was a fun day and lots of scouts went away impressed by what they saw.
One thing that we’ve concluded is that 2009 is a very solid year for Illinois pitchers. The University of Illinois has signed three of the young prospects who were in Cedar Rapids (RHP Matt Milroy, OF Seth Schwindenhammer and RHP Kevin Johnson) and has every reason to be excited about them.
There were an impressive number of 2009 players who had signed with schools across the Midwest and beyond, including Stanford, Iowa, Louisville, Kentucky, Miami (OH), Dallas Baptist, Evansville, Central Michigan, Western Kentucky, Nebraska, Purdue, Wichita State, Belmont, Iowa Western CC, Meramec CC and Johnson County CC. We’ll note a couple of 2009’s later that haven’t signed yet that college coaches should be aware of.
90 MPH Club
RHP W. Keenan Kish (2010/Worcester, PA): It just seems as if there have been Kish’s at PG showcases/WWBA tournaments forever because C. Colin Kish, now at Florida Southern, went to his first event in 2005. The Worcester, PA family has another top prospect in 2010 RHP W. Keenan, a 6-3, 195 lb athlete with an electric arm. Kish topped out at 91 mph as he continues his steady velocity improvement and there is no reason to believe that he shouldn’t keep improving. Nothing would surprise us a year from now!
RHP Jon Keller (2010/Cedar Rapids, IA): Keller is giving signs that he’s the next top Iowa prospect. Despite having played four basketball games the past six nights, including both Friday and Saturday night, the 6-5, 205 junior from Cedar Rapids came out Sunday morning and touched 91 mph while sitting at 89. He has a power arm that’s just going to keep getting better.
RHP Michael Bibas (2009/St. Louis, MO): Bibas is 6-6 and pushing 240 but is so well proportioned that he actually looks smaller. He has a very deceptive delivery that doesn’t allow hitters to see the ball until very late and sits at 90 mph and touched 91. His change up and curveball are quality secondary pitches and he’s a very uncomfortable at bat for hitters.
RHP Michael Foltynewicz (2010/Minooka, IL): We’ve seen “Folty” touch 93 in the past and he was 88-90 mph on Sunday. He’s another young pitcher who hides the ball with a compact arm action in back and good extension out front. At 6-4, 190 lbs and athletic, he really projects well.
RHP Vincent Spilker (2009/Raytown, MO): Spilker was the highest ranked 2009 player at the event, #117 on the 2009 national list, and he didn’t disappoint. The 6-3, 215 lb right hander has a power pitcher’s build and threw 88-90 mph with minimal effort. His fastball is heavy down in the zone and he shows good feel and command of his curveball and change up.
RHP Matt Milroy (2009/Batavia, IL): Most times when a pitcher has a long, flowing arm action and long stride out front, he’s a strong candidate for a slider because he’ll have problems consistently getting over his curveball out in front. That wasn’t the case with Milroy, who had a hard downer curveball AND a true 82 mph power slider to go with his 90 mph fastball. That’s an impressive combination.
RHP Kevin Johnson (2009/Midlothian, IL): Something tells me that we’ll be hearing more from the 6-3, 185 lb right hander. He was the most raw of the 90 mph pitchers in terms of mechanics and feel for his pitches but it also looked like he had the fastest arm and he threw harder when he was warming up and throwing from the stretch than when he was throwing from the windup.
College coaches, take note of these 2009 pitchers, as they have not signed with anyone according to our records and they can definitely compete at the next level. Contact the PG office if you’d like more information.
RHP Michael Corona (HS for Health Professions, New York, NY): Live FB to 86 mph, very loose athletic actions, lots more in his arm and 6-2, 165 lb frame.
LHP Tim Bado (Eden Prairie HS, MN): Bado pitched in the low 80’s but had an outstanding curveball, nice change up and really controlled the bottom of the strike zone. He’s 6-2, 175 and should keep getting stronger.
LHP Nate Schickling (Pleasant Valley HS, IA): Another slender lefty with 3 good pitches, a feel for pitching and some projection. Schickling topped out at 86 mph.
RHP Dan Okapal (East Aurora HS, IL): 6-4, 190 lbs, threw up to 87 mph and we’ve seen 89 mph in the past. His 73 mph curveball had quality spin and he kept the ball down in zone. Could be a solid DI talent.