Pitchers In Mid-Season Form At Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament
While the calendar at the Under Armour All-America Pre-Season Tournament said ‘January’, there were several pitchers that were already in mid-season form.
Uncommitted RHP Alberto Gonzalez III flashed his plus stuff in an early game at Sloan Park. He touched 90 with late life to his fastball and used his slider as an out-pitch. He also mixed in a curve and change while striking out seven hitters during his outing.
Kyle Rich, a Dallas Baptist commit, also threw well. He’s athletic, was up to 88 and showed solid secondary offerings. He struck out six and did not allow a hit. Some of the event’s best velocity came from South Dakota native Gustaf Radel. He pounded the bottom of the strike zone with a fastball that reached 91 and flashed a breaking ball with sharp, late action. Radel is currently uncommitted.
Another righty with a similar, mature build was Scott Elgin. Elgin, a Hoover, AL native, threw a ton of strikes, pitched in the mid-80s and landed his breaking ball consistently. Elgin is currently uncommitted.
One more sturdily-built RHP to throw well was Texas commit Justin Quinn. The ball jumped out of his hand after a deliberate delivery and his fastball had natural sink to it. He isn’t afraid to pitch inside and induced lots of weak contact when contact was made (7 K’s).
A few other notable performances by RHPs came from some upside guys with extra-large frames.
Texas A & M commit Landry Wideman stands 6’6” and has a very quick arm. He was up to 89 mph with a slurve, and was a very uncomfortable at bat for hitters. Nolan Lepkoske was another intimidating presence on the mound with a 6’5”/230-pound frame and a thick beard. He had good ¾ tilt to his breaking ball and got excellent downhill plane to his fastball, that was up to 87. Lepkoske is currently uncommitted.
Rounding out this group is New York native Arlo Marynczak. Arlo – currently uncommitted – is 6’7” and throws a tailing fastball from a deceptive delivery. He struck out 10 in his outing in Arizona and there appears to be more velocity on the horizon.
Three big left-handed pitchers were also excellent at the event and deserve mention. Chris Weber (committed to Texas A & M) stands 6’4”, and had excellent late life to his fastball making it play faster than the mid-80s gun readings would indicate. He struck out 10 hitters.
VCU commit Jayvien Sandridge showed some things that evaluators can dream on. Long levers on his 6’4”/220 frame worked well and led to an easy 86 with more in the tank. He is aggressive with the fastball and complements it with an intriguing slider.
Another high ceiling guy was Joey Rock. Rock, an uncommitted prospect from Aliquippa, Pennsylvania, showed a loose, easy arm stroke that generated effortless mid 80s velocity. He paired the fastball with a 2-plane breaking ball to strike out 10 hitters.
As usual, the UAAAPS Tournament was a chance for some big arms to make an early-season statement.