Showcase Scene: 2010 Perfect Game World Showcase

January 11, 2010

By Nick James

-- From Event Home Page at www.perfectgame.org; Home Page includes event history and links to various other event info (usually Perfect Game will post their own write-ups and a list of the top performers - I'll this article provide the links when they come up, as they obviously were able to cover much more with reps at each field)

The Backstops

Two of the day’s better showings came from catchers with SEC commitments. Will Allen (Buchholz HS, Fla.) (pictured at bat) is a big-bodied receiver with big offensive upside, as well as solid catch-and-throw skills. The Ole Miss commit put in an impressive performance at the plate, making hard contact a couple of times and showing good leverage in his swing. He also recorded pop times ranging from 2.00 to 2.17 and showed surprising agility behind home -- something he’ll likely have to consistently work on to stick at catcher, given his large frame.

Tyler Ross (Barron Collier HS, Fla.), like Allen, has a large frame and lots of potential with the bat. He showed a solid approach at the plate, working the count well and driving a double to the left-center gap towards the end of the day. His swing is short to the ball with good extension through contact, and could produce serious power as he continues to develop. He also had a strong arm on display, posting a sub-2.0 pop and showed good footwork and side-to-side actions while handling one of the livelier arms of the day, Bryan Brickhouse (more on Brickhouse below). Ross ended his day logging some time at 1B and looked comfortable there. Committed to LSU, the Florida prepster, like Allen, should garner serious attention on draft day.

Another offensive-minded catcher, Tommy Ferguson (West Forsyth HS, Ga.) (pictured left) squared-up on the ball a couple of times, flashing some pull-side power. He has a good idea of what he’s doing at the plate, and was forced to stay focused while shaking off a couple of hit-by-pitches in 30-degree weather (in the showcase format, the batter does not take first base). He’s a little stiff in his receiving, but shows potential behind the dish. He’s also a solid catch-and-throw arm that should improve upon his already solid 1.93 to 2.05 pop times as he continues to work his transfer. Ferguson is currently committed to Young Harris College and while his draft stock is highest as a catcher, he could potentially provide value in the infield or the outfield, as well. His bat should play.

Additionally, Ferguson’s showcase teammate Jeff Kammer (Lafayette HS, Mo.) put in a good day behind the plate. He showed soft hands and quiet receiving while posting a couple of sub-2.0 pop times with good accuracy.

The Arms

Brett Winger (Olympia HS, Fla.) started the first game of the day for the Gold squad and impressed with a three-pitch mix that still has room for projection moving forward. His fastball was 87 to 89 mph with some late life, and he was effective working it to both sides of the plate. His best secondary offering was a 76 to 77 mph breaking ball with good spin, effective as both a freeze pitch and as a swing-and-miss offering. Winger showed some feel for his change-up, boasting around an 8 to 10 mph delta from his fastball, and showed a good level of comfort with all three pitches in varying counts. He benefits from some deception in his motion and I wouldn’t be surprised to see him grow another inch and continue to get stronger, given his frame. The Michigan commit also displayed balance at first base during the morning workout and perhaps the best arm of the first base crop.

In addition to solid velocity (85 to 88 mph), San Diego State commit Kyle Hayes (Santana HS, Calif.) (pictured right) showcased good life and a quick arm action that added to the pitch’s effectiveness. His breaking ball was a mid-70s offering with good shape and spin, with the potential to develop into a plus pitch. The Crimson squad definitely struggled some getting a handle on his fastball/curve, as evidenced by Hayes’s four strikeouts (three looking) over two innings pitched. His landing and follow-through are a bit inconsistent and he was a lengthy 1.81 seconds-to-home from the stretch (though he showed a slide-step clocking 1.6 seconds). He’ll be on watch lists this spring and with some clean-up in his mechanics could take a big step forward.

A member of the 2011 draft class, Bryan Brickhouse (The Woodlands HS, Texas) has a developing power arsenal and an impressive swagger on the mound. The high school junior worked primarily off of a two-pitch mix, pairing a lively 86 to 88 mph fastball with a low-70s curve with good depth and hard bite (he also flashed an 80 mph slider with some tilt out of the same trajectory as his fastball). High school teammates with this year’s top high school arm, 2010 draft-eligible Jameson Taillon, Brickhouse has undoubtedly benefitted from being a part of a competitive pitching staff, as he showed great confidence and aggressiveness attacking the older competition. He could be one of the top arms to watch in next year’s class as a power arm packaged in a medium-framed body. Worth noting is Brickhouse’s impressive, and consistent, sub-1.3 seconds-to-home times, making it difficult for baserunners to get any kind of jump. The righty has already committed to North Carolina.
 
Tulane commit Jacques De Gruy (Jesuit-Dallas HS, Texas) (pictured left) had one of the more impressive breaking balls on the day, flashing 2-plane movement and very tight, late break. He was 74 to 76 mph for the pitch and worked it well off of his mid-80s fastball. His arm action is free and easy, and there’s certainly room in his frame to add strength. I have to think De Gruy is an excellent candidate to see a velocity jump over the next year or two, and potentially as early as this spring. If he can develop a solid third offering, he could turn into a high-level prospect after three years with the Green Wave, and he’ll likely get a good long look from plenty of Major League organizations over the next six months.

Matt Dearden (Gainesville HS, Fla.) and Jose Dore (The First Academy HS, Fla.) also impressed in their outings. Dearden, an Indiana commit, showed mid-80s velocity and armside life with his fastball, utilizing a high leg kick and low-3/4 slot reminiscent of Colorado Rockies prospect, and former Vandy closer, Casey Weathers. Dore was also in the mid-80s with his fastball and mixed in a workable change-up that clocked 73 to 76 mph.