They say this time of year, the pitching is ahead of the hitting and for the most part, that was true last month in Mesa, Arizona last month. Baseball Factory coaches and scouts saw an impressive group of pitchers who took to the hill at the Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament. These athletes, all committed, throw hard, but mix speeds well and racked up the strikeouts using their arsenal of pitches.

Andy Bean

Andy Bean – LHP | 5’11”/175 | St George’s Independent School (TN) | Belmont

Andy had one of the most impressive outings of the event. He threw a high volume of strikes with his fastball/curveball/change mix, striking out nine of the 15 hitters he faced. Andy showed a repeatable delivery with some deception and an excellent overall feel on the mound.

Clayton Black – RHP | 6’5”/250 | Franklin HS (OH) | North Carolina Central

A big, imposing figure on the mound, Clayton ran his fastball up to 88 mph and struck out seven during his outing. He used a slight crossfire delivery to help his stuff to play up and he mixed in a sharp breaking ball with three-quarter tilt to finish off several hitters.

Jack Chester – RHP | 6’5”/200 | Piedmont HS (OK) | Murray State

Jack’s big frame and high three-quarter arm slot allowed him to get good downhill plan on all of his offerings. He complemented his fastball with a breaking ball that had depth and a solid change – working down in the zone with everything. He’s athletic (6.82 in the 60) leading us to believe that arrow is pointing up on him.

Zachary Fernandez

Konner Copeland – LHP | 6’3”/190 | Saraland HS (AL) | East Mississippi CC

Konner is an aggressive LHP that attacks hitters and makes their job difficult. He varies his arm slot – sitting mostly in the three-quarter area. His fastball has tailing action and sat in the mid 80s, touching 87 mph. He struck out 10 and did not allow a hit using mainly a fastball/change-up mix that should make him effective right away at the next level.

Zachary Fernandez – RHP | 5’11”/155 | Union HS (NJ) | Rhode Island

Zachary was dominant in his outing at the Under Armour Pre-Season Tournament in Arizona. He did allow a hit while striking out 12 of the 15 batters he faced. He consistently threw his tailing fastball for strikes, topping at 86 mph, and he used his curve, that had 11-5 shape, to put away several of the hitters.

Cade Fontenot – LHP | 6’2”/210 | Fort Worth Christian (TX) | Xavier

With an intriguing 3-pitch mix of fastball, curve and knuckle (used as his change), Cade put together an impressive outing in Arizona. He lived on the edges of the plate and struck out seven without allowing a hit. His strong, durable frame and pitch arsenal give him the look of a quality starting pitching prospect.

Nicholas Hyde – RHP | 6’0”/170 | Oceanside Collegiate Academy (SC) | Western Carolina

Nicholas is an extremely athletic (6.68 in the 60) RHP with a big arm. He lived in the upper 80s, touching 90 mph with his fastball, and complemented it with a solid breaking ball and developing change. He struck out seven in his outing and showed the ability to compete.

Austin Raleigh

Gunner Morris – RHP | 6’5”/230 | Winnsboro HS (TX) | Texas Tech

Gunner has good presence on the mound with his large frame and long levers. He has a balanced, controlled delivery and attacks hitters with a fastball that was up to 88 mph and has some sink. His breaking ball is an effective pitch with three-quarter tilt and he also mixes in a change. With three quality pitches, a good arm stroke and a durable build, Gunner has the look of a solid starter at the next level.

Austin Raleigh – LHP | 6’3”/205 | Palo Verde HS (NV) | UNLV

Austin pitched as effectively as anyone in attendance at the Under Armour Pre-Season event. The lefty filled up the strike zone with four quality pitches that he commanded well: a fastball with life, two breaking balls with slightly different shapes and a quality change. He used fastballs away to right-handed hitters to get ahead and buried his curve on their back foot to put them away. His outing saw him strike out seven, while not allowing a walk and only surrendering one hit.

Timothy Williamson – LHP | 6’2”/230 | Tomball Memorial HS (TX) | Harvard

With a clean delivery and a thick frame, Timothy generates easy velocity (up to 89 mph) on a fastball that he can move in both directions. His natural ball has some sink and he combines that with a curve, slider and change to pitch to all four quadrants with different late action. Timothy struck out six in a quality outing in Arizona and is a LHP to follow.