Scouting notes from LakePoint

2/27/16

The full slate of games started at 1PM and carried through the afternoon. Morehead State split their double header with Nebraska-Omaha, while Arkansas State swept St. Louis for the D1 action. Sinclair CC and Volunteer State CC each earned sweeps of their double headers on the JUCO side. 

Standouts from today's action include:

Sr. RHP Matt Anderson, Morehead State University

The 6-foot-2, 195 pound right-hander toed the rubber for the Eagles in the first game of their double header on Saturday. Anderson looks slightly smaller than his listed build, but he managed to effectively work downhill from a high three-quarter arm slot. Anderson landed online on a stiff front leg, but managed to be controlled and balanced with his delivery, generating good extension down the mound. He worked his fastball consistently 89-92 mph throughout his outing and topped out at 94 mph with very sharp cut action. The movement on the pitch allowed him to work away to right-handed hitters and inside to lefties. The only three hits he gave up were of the slap variety and not well struck. He also relied heavily on a sharp 11-5 breaking curveball that hit 84 mph. The curveball showed good depth and tight spin and he often pitched hitters backwards, working his fastball off the breaker. Anderson had easily the most impressive outing of any pitcher on the day and should be a name to watch this spring as a MLB prospect.

For video of Anderson, please follow this link.

Jr. OF Ryan Kent, Morehead State University

Kent served as one of the igniters for an Eagles' offense that scored 14 runs in their opening game. Kent utilized a very short, compact swing at the plate geared towards line drives. His level plane and fast hands allow him to work the ball in the middle of the field. Kent showed good present bat speed and a good, quick step out of the box with a time of 4.14 down the line from the right-handed batter's box. 

RS Jr. Alex Stephens, Morehead State University

The Eagles from Morehead State were hardly light on offense in either game of their double header with a combined 20 runs being scored. Stephens collected eight hits on the day including five in the second game where he finished a mere triple shy of the cycle. Stephens showed good present bat speed as well as feel for barrel timing allowing him to consistently drive the ball in the air. He showed strong, loose wrists with the ability to pull, but also drive the ball to the opposite field. 

RS So. Bryan Ayers, Arkansas State University

The 6-foot-2, 200 pound right-hander showed a good, athletic build on the mound and even looks slightly bigger than his listed height and weight. Ayers worked from a low three-quarter slot on the mound with a loose arm action and crossfire delivery. He landed closed on the mound with a slight fall off towards first base. Ayers generated good arm-side life on his fastball that worked in the upper 80's and topped out at 90 mph. He also showed some feel for a 10-4 shaped curveball that had some elements of slurvy action. The pitch flashed two-plane break and tightness, but was inconsistent for the most part for the righty.  

For video of Ayers, please follow this link.

Sr. 3B Tanner Ring, Arkansas State University

Not many people swung as hard or with as much intent as Ring did on Saturday. The 6-foot-1, 170 pound third basemen led the Red Wolves' offense going 3/9 with a double at the plate. Ring probably could have had an additional four hits at the plate if it weren't for the Billikens' sound defense. He generates very good torque through his lower half and has leverage in his swing allowing for hard, consistent contact. He utilizes an all-fields approach with quick hands and a line drive swing plane through the zone. His swing may not look like it's built for home run power, but what Ring does exceptionally well is generate backspin on the ball when hit in the air. 

Sr. LHP Josh Moore, St. Louis University

The senior left-hander helped ease the burden on a taxed bullpen in the Billikens' second game Saturday. Moore threw easy starting from a medium leg raise and three-quarter slot. He lands slightly closed showing a slight crossfire in his delivery and landing on a stiff front leg. Moore worked his fastball between 87-89 mph with good arm-side life. He flashed the ability to control the pitch arm-side and on the outside corner to right-handed hitters, but struggled with his glove-side command. Moore mixed in a 1-7 breaking curveball that showed some tightness and depth, but the pitch was inconsistent, but he did do well to maintain his arm speed for the pitch. 

For video of Moore, please follow this link.

RS So. RHP Ricky Krieger, Sinclair CC

The Tiffin University commit took the mound for Sinclair in the second game of their double header against Georgia Highlands. Coming back from Tommy John surgery, Krieger showed a smooth, long arm action with a three-quarter arm slot. He showed very impressive arm speed with a fastball that ran up to 93 mph in the first inning, but worked between 87-91 mph throughout his five innings on the mound. His fastball worked much better when thrown low in the zone when he showed slight run, but it straighten out when he left it up. Krieger had some issues with command, most stemming from his upper body position at foot strike and his release point. He mixed in a 11-5 breaking curveball that showed some depth up to 76 with tight spin. He also showed a changeup in warmups that had slight sinking action, but was intermittent with its usage in game. 

For video of Krieger, please follow this link.

Sr. 3B Clayton Taylor, University of Nebraska Omaha