PG National Showcase

That is amazing!  Have you had a chance to see Jarred Kelenic hit?  I have read that is starting to be talked about as a potential #1 overall pick

I wasn't actually there. My wife took him. I had to follow along via texts, twitter, etc. 

So, my 2018 just finished up. It wasn't the performance he had hoped. Not a disaster, though. Threw 2 innings (standard). Fastball sat 88-89. The stadium radar had him at 89.8 several times, but they only give credit for 89. He's been sitting 88-92 his last few outings, so he was hoping for that. The other rub is that he usually hits his highest velocity in the second inning. Here however, he threw an 8 pitch second and half of those were offspeed. So he only threw 18 pitches. One walk, one HBP, one K, a bloop single (picked him off) and no runs. I don't want to add up the dollars/pitch, but I guess it would be worse if he had to throw 50 pitches.

roothog66 posted:

Wow! So far, 20 pitchers at this event have eclipsed 94 mph and there are still about 30 pitchers to go. I looked back at last year's event and there were a total of 16 who threw 94+. The 2018 class is stacked with arms, led by Kumar Rocker who tossed 98mph.

My son is scheduled to start the very last game of the event. I am unable to be there and having to follow through tweets. It's only started to hit me that he must watch all of this and feel some serious pressure. If you only throw 90, you probably, as a pitcher, feel a bit inadequate. Lol. It must be a shock coming from events where throwing in the low 90's makes you a standout to participating in this thing where that type of velocity is just plain common. Not to mention what a challenge it must be for hitters. Seriously, though, wow, what a class.

+1, I've heard it is truly an amazing class....the draft should be fun!

3and2Fastball posted:

That is amazing!  Have you had a chance to see Jarred Kelenic hit?  I have read that is starting to be talked about as a potential #1 overall pick

I don't think this event is much fun for position players. With pitching like this, there wasn't much hitting. Two home runs the whole week.

Root, had to leave before I could see your son.... a couple of things.... while there were a lot of players that were  at 92-94  not all those pitches were strikes.  at this level  and trying to get to the next level, everyone has velo.... your son at 88-92 has velo .... so it's like a room full of millionaires,  money ( velo) kinda loses some importance. 

Not to say velo is not important but in order to keep moving on you have to be able to command 92-94  not just throw it up there. 

I saw many pitchers throwing for the gun one pitch was 94 , but in the zone 89-91   , you must have repeatable delivery ... one scout I was talking to said what's more impressive than son throwing 93+ is the slider at 84.....

I saw a few 93-95 that had command and they will move on...   Son plays with KR and EH .... freaks but at some point they will have to command off speed.

Heck his numbers are good.... and that's the pinnacle event...  it's a long road

Son was just standing around Rocker and that was enough to make him a target of autograph seekers. "Who are you? Whatever, just sign this."

Kumar is a good kid 

bacdorslider posted:

Root, had to leave before I could see your son.... a couple of things.... while there were a lot of players that were  at 92-94  not all those pitches were strikes.  at this level  and trying to get to the next level, everyone has velo.... your son at 88-92 has velo .... so it's like a room full of millionaires,  money ( velo) kinda loses some importance. 

Not to say velo is not important but in order to keep moving on you have to be able to command 92-94  not just throw it up there. 

I saw many pitchers throwing for the gun one pitch was 94 , but in the zone 89-91   , you must have repeatable delivery ... one scout I was talking to said what's more impressive than son throwing 93+ is the slider at 84.....

I saw a few 93-95 that had command and they will move on...   Son plays with KR and EH .... freaks but at some point they will have to command off speed.

Heck his numbers are good.... and that's the pinnacle event...  it's a long road

 

A lot of truth here.

A "credible"  fastball requires both adequate velocity and consistent placement at the edges of the zone. If your goal is to pitch routinely at the college level, develop a reliable, credible fastball. The flamethrower who can't is destined to ride the college bench.