Fall pitching observations (9/20): Willoughby, McIntyre impress
A loaded group of pitchers threw to hitters on Sunday at Kentucky Proud Park.
The UK baseball team was back at Kentucky Proud Park on Sunday for more fall practice. The last hour-plus was dedicated to pitchers throwing to hitters. Just like Friday's report from Adam Revelette – read that now for FREE – the count starts at 1-1 and at-bats are fastball heavy with some off-speed mixed in. There are no position players during these sessions.
Here are the pitchers who threw on Sunday:
- Senior LHP Ben Cleaver
- Junior RHP Nate Harris
- Freshman LHP Joey Ansell
- Freshman RHP Grayson Willoughby
- Junior RHP Logan Hastings
- Sophomore RHP Dylan McIntyre
- Fifth-year RHP Chase Alderman
Cleaver and Harris faced a hitting group that featured Houston transfer Riley Jackson, first baseman Hudson Brown, freshman outfielder Rob Czarniecki and freshman outfielder Kaden Powell.
I was curious to see a number of players, but Cleaver was near the top of my list. Cleaver's junior year setback, after an outstanding sophomore campaign, has been well documented. But in speaking with head coach Nick Mingione last month, this quote about Cleaver was one of the most interesting from the interview:
"I thought Ben had maybe the most productive summer," Mingione said. "He was out in Arizona and trained, and he's got his weight back to where he needs to be. He got his velocity back to where it needs to be. He's been throwing on the Trackman, and the data and the velo is there, and the strength level is there. He didn't pitch in competitive environments, but I think we know that about Ben, about how much he loves the competitiveness. But he got his body back to where it needed to be. Moving, organizing, and throwing with the right intent and delivery."
Cleaver's velocity dropped last season and he struggled with his mechanics, leading to too many free passes. But on Sunday, the senior southpaw was back up near 90 miles per hour with his fastball.