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Juco  | Story  | 9/29/2023

Iowa JUCO Notebook

Tyler Kotila     
ICCAC Scrimmage Showcase Notebook 

Dakota County 
Kale Hopke, LHP, Dakota County 

Southpaw Kale Hopke took to the mound for the DCTC squad, working from a taller and more physical frame on the mound. He threw from the wind-up with a side step into a leg lift up around the belt, with some slight coil, leaning back into it a bit too. The left-hander has a compartmentalized arm stroke, reaching through the back before working through a higher three-quarters release. He creates some whip as he works through release, pulling down through it. It was a mostly fastball/changeup attack. The fastball worked 88-90 mph, getting spin up to 2,472 RPMs. The heater had some life to it. Showed the changeup in the mix working 80-81 mph, killing spin effectively down into the 1,700s. The changeup had good depth, and he located well, working away from right-handers. He mixed in the breaking ball but mainly competed around the zone with the fastball and changeup.  

Reece Cox, RHP, Dakota County 

Reece Cox is a taller, right-handed pitcher with a lean build. He’s got longer levers throughout that he uses well on the mound. Higher-set waist. He works from the wind-up with a side-step into his leg lift up above the letters before working downhill. Cox creates some whip of the arm as he gets through release. He releases from a  three-quarters arm slot, creating some arm speed through it. The fastball worked 85-89 mph with spin up above 2,000 RPMs. The pitch rides arm-side with good life. He paired it with a breaking ball in the low-70s with depth. He battled some command issues early on but was able to settle in and compete during his outing. 

Colin Gibson, MIF, Dakota County 

Colin Gibson is a sophomore middle-infielder who handled the stick well for his team during the scrimmage. He showed off a simple approach during BP, which translated in-game as he could pick up a couple of knocks on some good swings. Gibson is a right-handed hitter who sets up with a real wide base, the hands higher and loaded back in his stance. He sinks into the backside and further shifts the weight back, keeping the front foot down and extended out front. He showed quickness to the hands and the ability to work uphill through contact. He has some impressive abilities that showed in-game. He was able to drive the ball in the air with a simple and fluid path through the zone. Gibson picked up a couple of knocks, including a double for the DCTC squad. 


DMACC 
Jc Dermody, LHP, DMACC 

JC Dermody took to the mound early on in the first game slot of the day as DMACC took on Southwestern. Dermody is a lean and slender build with room to continue adding strength to the frame. He’s a southpaw who works from the wind-up, side-stepping before lifting the leg into a belt-high leg lift. He works down the mound, utilizing long levers in the upper half to create some whip as he works through release. He has a longer arm stroke with some looseness to it. He worked 85-87 mph on the fastball, with spin up to 2,238 RPMs, showing some run. He also showed a changeup in the 80-81 mph range, killing spin down to 1,365 RPMs with tons of depth to it. The changeup had a ton of arm-side tumble, which was a problem for the opposition. He also showed a mid-70s curveball in the mix that could get a little slurvy. It was a mostly fastball/changeup attack from the left-handed pitcher who worked away from right-handed hitters for success. Dermody went out and competed for the DMACC squad. 

Chance Key, LHP, DMACC 

Chance Key took to the mound is a left-handed pitcher with a thicker frame with a more physical build. He’s got a 6-foot-1, 243-pound frame. He worked from the stretch, lifting the leg up just underneath the letters before making his move downhill. He had a higher three-quarters release with a longer arm stroke through the back. The fastball has worked 85-88 mph, with spin up to 2,263 RPMs. The pitch had life when thrown arm-side, working away to right-handers or in to left-handers. He also showed a slider with a lateral break to it. He spun it up to 2,203 RPMs. He settled into the outing well and was able to pick up some punchouts, missing some bats to collect a couple of swings and misses.  

Kannon Coakley, 1B/C, DMACC 

Kannon Coakley swung it from the right side, making the most of his chance at the plate, being able to pick up a nice base knock working pull-side, showing off the skillset in the batters’ box. The right-hander sets up with an even base, slightly open feet, higher-set hands, and the back elbow up. He lifts the front foot slightly and makes a forward move. The hands get wrapped as he loads before he strides hard through contact. He creates some leverage through the zone with an accurate barrel to be on plane. He can get the barrel on it quickly and drive it pull-side. Can get some jump off the barrel. Showed some good swings in the batters’ box on Friday in-game and during BP.  

Noah Thein, C, DMACC 

Noah Thein got some work in behind the dish during the scrimmage, showing off some traits to like as a catcher. Thein is a 5-foot-9, 170-pound frame with a compact build that features strength in the lower half. He picked up a base knock at the plate, swinging it from the left side. He starts with a spread base, the back elbow up, and hands set high. He lifts the leg and strides to it quickly. He whipped the hands through the zone and stayed on time, driving the ball back up the middle. Behind the dish, Thein showed out as well. He showed off a quick catch-n-throw to cut down a runner and had a smooth operation coming out of the crouch. Received well, too, working the zone well.  


Ellsworth 
Brock Adamson, LHP, Ellsworth 

Brock Adamson worked on the mound for Ellsworth early on, where he was able to use a heavy fastball attack to navigate the opposition. The left-hander has a 6-foot-3 frame with a strong frame and a higher-set waist. The southpaw uses a sidestep into a leg lift up above the belt before working downhill. He threw from a higher three-quarters arm slot, hiding it well through the back. He worked 86-89 mph on the fastball with spin up to 2,327 RPMs. It was a heavy dose of fastballs, but mixed in a breaking ball and changeup. The breaker had a more slurvy shape to it, working 71-74 mph with spin up to 2,344 RPMs. It had a slurvy shape with both some tilt and horizontal break to it. The changeup was harder, up to 82 mph, with spin down to 1,733 RPMs. He navigated through the outing for Ellsworth, relying on the fastball but mixing in the off speed as much as possible. 

Tanner Short, OF/RHP, Ellsworth 

Tanner Short was a two-way standout for Ellsworth in the scrimmages last Friday. Short started things out by getting it done at the plate while patrolling the outfield. He has a slightly spread base, with the weight favoring the backside. He has the back elbow up and pre-loaded with the hands higher. He loads with a hanging leg lift trigger, utilizing some coil as he does so. He strides into it with a short path, working directly with good turns through the zone. He gathers well over the backside and can drive it pull-side with ease. He picked up a knock early on before jumping on the mound to close things out for Ellsworth. The right-handed pitcher worked from the wind-up with a big side-step and then placement step on the rubber before lifting the leg up under the letters before making his move down the slope. He threw from a higher slot with a short and quick release. Compact arm circle working through release, hiding it well through the back. The fastball worked 90-91 mph with spin up to 2,370 RPMs. He also showed a slider working 76-78 mph with 2,145 RPMs. It was a heavy dose of fastballs, creating some angle on the pitch with life, especially when working the lower quadrants of the zone. Showed a more lateral slider with a 10/4 shape to it. He closed things out with a nice inning of work on the bump for the Panthers. 

Jaden Morris, RHP, Ellsworth 

Jaden Morris took the mound as a right-handed pitcher for Ellsworth, working out of the wind-up from a slender 6-foot frame. He uses a side step, with a placement step on the rubber, before he lifts the leg above the belt with his hands getting up high and deep as he coils with the load. He creates some whip in his arm path as he’s longer through the back with some looseness to it. Morris releases from an over-the-top arm slot. The fastball worked 86-88 mph and had spin up to 2,446 RPMs, where he was able to work up in the zone and miss bats. I don’t have the exact IVB metrics, but I’d bet they were favorable for him to elicit the swing-and-miss because it seemed like hitters swung through it often, even in his short inning of work. The pitch had ride and was solid, allowing him to attack hitters for success. He paired it with a low-70s breaking ball that had spin up to 2,560 RPMs with depth to it. He also turned to a changeup often, killing spin down to the 1600-1700s with a good arm-side fade to it.  


Indian Hills 

Lou Levy, RHP, Indian Hills 

Lou Levy took to the mound early on for the Indian Hills squad. He’s a 6-foot-2 frame with a bigger, more physical look on the mound. Higher-set waist in his build. He worked from the wind-up with a side-step into a leg lift up to the belt before making his move downhill. He had a long and whippy arm slot through a three-quarters release. The fastball worked 86-88 mph with spin up to 2,324 RPMs. The pitch had some arm-side run to it. He also showed a low-70s breaking ball in the 71-73 mph range. He spun it up to 2,333 RPMs. The pitch had a bigger break, and he trusted it, throwing the breaker with confidence. Levy worked a lot of east/west with the fastball, showing a bigger breaker to pair. He was able to get the job done on the mound during his outing.  

Carlos Valenzuela, RHP, Indian Hills 

Indian Hills turned to Carlos Valenzuela on the mound. The right-handed pitcher has a big and physical frame, measuring in at 6-foot-4. He worked from the stretch with a short and quick move down the slope. He lifts the leg to the belt and then makes his move downhill with a short release and plenty of whip to pull down hard. He gets some trunk tilt through release, pitching from a high three-quarters, nearly over-the-top arm slot. The fastball worked 89-92 mph with spin up to 2,079 RPMs. The pitch had good angle from the high slot, and there was a ton of arm-side run to it. He showed the slider in the 76-78 mph range, spinning up to 2,292 RPMs. The slider had a high-tilt shape with sharp depth to miss bats during his outing. He also showed a harder changeup up to 83 mph, killing spin a ton down to 1,558 RPMs.  


Iowa Central  

Daiten Schmidt, RHP, Iowa Central 

Daiten Schdmit took to the mound with a long and lean 6-foot-5, 240-pound frame. It’s an extra-large and projectable frame. He sidesteps into a leg lift up to the belt before he makes his move downhill. He has a simple stride down the mound, working from a three-quarters arm slot with a clean release. He worked 86-88 mph on the fastball with spin up to 2,103 RPMs. The pitch had a ton of ride and tunneled well off his changeup. The changeup worked 78-80 mph, killing spin down to 1,816 RPMs. The changeup had some fade and played well. He also showed a manipulative breaking ball that had a 10/4 shape and could also be more 11/5 working the upper-70s, with spin around 1,951 RPMs. He mixed all three pitches with repeatable mechanics and a simple operation.  

Isaiah Byrkeland, LHP, Iowa Central 

Iowa Central sent Isaiah Byrkeland to the hill, where he showed off some really intriguing stuff, working from the left side. He has a compact 5-foot-10 build with some strength in the frame, providing a bit of a physical look. He worked from the stretch, starting with closed feet as he got into the leg lift. The leg lift was quick and up just above the belt. He had a longer arm action through the back with some whip through release. He threw from a lower slot, creating a tough angle for opposing hitters. Byrkeland worked 86-88 mph on the fastball with spin up to 2,472 RPMs. He also consistently showed a slider in the 73-76 mph range with outlier spin up above the 3,000 RPM mark, getting up to 3,115 RPMs. The fastball had a sinker profile, and the slider was frisbee-like. Battled through some command issues early but was able to hone it in as the outing continued.  

Hunter Frost, RHP, Iowa Central 

Hunter Frost jumped on the mound, working from the stretch only, as a right-handed pitcher with a quick move downhill. Frost has a 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame with athletic actions working down the slope. Frost moves quickly with his leg lift up around the letters, sinking into it slightly before letting his center of mass work downhill. He throws from a three-quarters slot with trunk tilt, providing some angle that can be challenging for opposing hitters. The fastball worked 87-89 mph with spin up to 1,958 RPMs. The fastball had some angle and good arm-side run to it. He also showed a 77-79 mph curveball with spin up to 2,324 RPMs. The breaker had an 11/5 shape with a sharp break to it.  

James Jefferson, RHP, Iowa Central 

James Jefferson has a 6-foot-2, 190-pound frame with some length to it in a lean build, with strength throughout. He worked from the wind-up with a quick side-step before lifting the leg quickly up above the belt with some coil. He had good extension downhill with a longer arm stroke through the back, creating some whip through release to show off some arm speed. The fastball worked 89-91 mph with spin up to 1,987 RPMs, showing good carry. The fastball rode in on right-handed hitters and proved problematic for opposing hitters. Jefferson showed a slider with a 10/4 shape and good tilt to it in the upper-70s. He pieced together an exciting outing, mixing the two pitches and being able to attack the opposition. 

Zak Goodwin, C, Iowa Central 

Zak Goodwin was the backstop for Iowa Central during the scrimmage, but his impact was shown with the bat in his hand. The left-handed hitter handled the stick well. He starts with a spread base and open feet as he gets set up. The back elbow is up, the hands are higher in the stance, and the back elbow is slightly wrapped. He lifts the leg with a hanging leg lift trigger. He explodes forward through the zone and can leverage well with good quickness through the zone. He has a good feel for the barrel. Goodwin creates separation and can produce loud results with a lightning-quick left-handed stroke. Goodwin was able to blast one pull-side to hustle out an RBI double. 

Will Smoot, C/1B, Iowa Central 

Will Smooth handled the stick well for Iowa Central during the scrimmage. The right-handed hitter has a larger physical frame with strength throughout, being able to do some damage. Smoot has a 6-foot-2, 225-pound frame, and he uses it well with a physical look in the batters’ box. He was able to work pull-side in-game, showing off the right-handed stroke. Smoot has an even base with pre-loaded hands higher in the stance, the barrel wrapped, and the back elbow up. He lifts the leg and makes a forward move through contact. He’s pretty direct with the hands being able to extend the barrel through contact. The strength in his frame allows him to impact the ball well with some thump off the barrel. 

Jack Mausser, OF/C, Iowa Central 

Jack Mausser is another bat who was able to get the job done for Iowa Central. The right-handed bat got the job done in-game, driving one deep coming all the way around to score for an inside-the-park home run. The right-hander sets up with an even base, relatively higher hands, and the back elbow up. He lifts the leg, with a hanging leg lift, a gather over the backside, creating good separation as he starts to make his move through the zone. He rotates hard with a quick turn of the torso, being able to get his hands in and impact it. Mausser has bat speed and can work through the zone quickly to impact it out front—plenty to like from Mausser. 

Ian Culver, RHP, Iowa Central 

Ian Culver is a right-handed pitcher who took to the mound for Iowa Central. He has a more compact frame and build with some strength showing. He worked from the stretch with a higher leg lift, up well above the belt. He threw from a higher over-the-top slot and created the higher release that produced some angle when working in the lower quadrants of the zone. The fastball worked 87-90 mph with spin working up to 2,275 RPMs. He paired the fastball with a bigger breaking curveball that worked 73-76 mph with spin up to 2,540 RPMs. Trusted the curveball as needed and was not afraid to mix in the occasional changeup that had good tumble working arm-side. He mixed all three pitches and aimed to navigate the opposition with good sequencing. 


Iowa Lakes 

Ty Thomson, LHP, Iowa Lakes 

Ty Thomson took to the mound for the Iowa Lakes Lakers, throwing from a taller and extra-large frame. Projectable 6-foot-5 build to work with, pitching out of the windup, with a simple sidestep into the leg lift up above the belt, with some coil. It was a controlled delivery, making a good move downhill. He threw from a higher arm slot, high-three-quarters, creating some good whip with a longer arm stroke. The fastball worked 84-86 mph with spin up to 2,131 RPMs. The fastball had a little bit of life, and the higher slot could create some angle to it. He also showed a 1-7 breaking ball with spin up into the 2,100s. It was a spiked knuckle curve grip with great depth and could fall off the table to miss bats. Overall, he was able to avoid barrels and pick up some swings and misses along the way. Intriguing look from the lengthy left-hander. 

Miguel Pena, INF/OF, Iowa Lakes 

Miguel Pena has a more compact frame, with some thickness and strength showing. He is a right-handed hitter who was able to get the job done and pick up a triple as he belted one to the wall. He had a slightly open base with the hands around the shoulders and the bat pointed upward. He toe taps and works inward, loading deep with the hands before swinging hard through contact. He rotates hard and was able to impact it with an uphill path. He’s direct with the hands and had some bat speed through the zone as he picked up the triple.  


Kirkwood 

Dylan Christensen, RHP, Kirkwood 

Dylan Christensen took to the mound as a right-handed pitcher for the Kirkwood Eagles, showcasing a medium frame and higher waist in the compact build. He’s 6-foot, 210 pounds, and works from the wind-up with a leg lift up above the belt, with some tempo to his actions. Quick sidestep into the leg lift before he gathers and makes his move down the slope. He has an over-the-top release, pulling down hard through it. He creates good hip-shoulder separation as he makes his move downhill. He came out and worked 88-91 mph on the fastball with some carry through the zone. He also created some angle on the pitch from the higher slot he threw from. He paired it with a slider that worked 79-81 mph and showed some tilt to it, getting good lateral depth to miss bats and induce weak contact. He was efficient in his outing, working with some pace and tempo—clean operation top to bottom from the right-handed sophomore. 

Jake Pemble, LHP, Kirkwood 

The Eagles sent left-handed sophomore Jake Pemble to the mound, where he showed plenty to like. The southpaw operated with a straight leg lift up just above the belt, with a controlled and deliberate pace. He was direct working downhill, making a move direct to home plate with a shorter release. He had a lengthy stride extending down the mound, using every bit of his 6-foot, 200-pound frame. He threw from a lower three-quarters arm slot, with some trunk tilt at release that could make it a bit more of a three-quarters look. Pemble worked 84-86 mph on the fastball with spin up to 2,161 RPMs and some life to it. He paired it with a breaker and changeup that rounded out a three-pitch mix. The breaker was a big 1-7 shaped pitch with plenty of depth working 74-76 mph with spin up around 2,426 RPMs. The changeup had good arm-side fade working 76-79, killing spin down to 1,722 RPMs. Pemble showed a ton of pitchabiity on the mound, mixing pitches and sequencing well for success in his outing. He worked with plenty of energy on the mound and a high compete-level for the Eagles.  

Jacob Barrett, RHP, Kirkwood  

Jacob Barrett is a 6-foot, 200-pound right-handed pitcher with a sturdy frame, showing present strength. He worked out of the wind-up with a hybrid setup, stepping back, pausing with a big breath, and then lifting the leg above the belt before quickly moving downhill. He threw from a higher slot with an over-the-top release, showing some length to the arm stroke. The fastball worked 87-89 mph, reaching back to grab 90 mph as well. The heater spun up to 2,271 RPMs, occasionally cutting the pitch. He showed a slider in the 81-83 mph range, with spin up to 2,693 RPMs. Barrett showed a ton of confidence in the pitch, throwing it with conviction and being able to locate to elicit the swing-and-miss. The Redshirt Freshman navigated an impressive inning of work during the scrimmage. 

Juan Reyes, RHP, Kirkwood 

Juan Reyes took to the mound for Kirkwood and was impressive in his opportunity. The taller and slender right-handed pitcher has a projectable frame with room to keep adding in some strength to a 6-foot-4, 180-pound frame. Reyes worked from the wind-up, sidestepping and using a placement step to get set on the rubber before lifting the leg up above the belt. He had a really fluid arm path with a loose arm stroke that made his fastball come out of the hand really easy. The pitch worked 86-88 mph with spin up to 2,207 RPMs. He created good arm-side run on the pitch from a lower slot and whippy release, making it a tough look for hitters, especially right-handed hitters, as he worked in on the hands. He also showed a slider in the 76-77 mph range, with spin up to 2,420 RPMs, showing good lateral shape with some tilt to miss bats. Reyes was intriguing in his outing with a simple arm path and low slot that helped him attack hitters well. 

Alex Neal, RHP/SS, Kirkwood 

Alex Neal is a two-way prospect who took to the mound for the Kirkwood Eagles during the scrimmage. The Redshirt Freshman worked out of the wind-up with a simple and controlled operation. He side-stepped into a leg lift around the letters, with higher hands moving upward in unison. He showed some coil as he got into the leg lift, closing off with the pelvis before letting his center of mass make his downhill move. He gets good extension as he works down the mound with a long and loose arm stroke through a three-quarters release. It’s a slow and steady start to the delivery before speeding up and showing a quick arm slot through release. The fastball worked 86-88 mph, with spin up to 2,285 RPMs, showing life to the pitch. He also showed a slider in the 77-78 mph range, spinning it up into the 2,300s. The slider had sweeper shape, tunneling really well off the fastball to allow him to attack hitters. He showed an efficient inning overall for the Eagles in the scrimmage.  


NIACC 

Sam Schmidt, OF, NIACC 

Sam Schmidt was one of many NIACC hitters who found some barrels against Marshalltown, but he certainly made his presence known with a couple of hits. Schmidt is a 6-foot-3 frame with some length and strength throughout. He’s a right-handed hitter who starts with the weight on the backside; hands set high & back elbow up, barrel wrapped, and front foot angled inward.  He works directly through the zone with a quick forward move through contact. Schmidt is direct through the zone with an uphill path and strength in a bigger frame that was able to lift the ball—produced a good thump off the barrel to help him pick up a couple of hits, including a home run. He extended through contact well, being able to get the barrel on it and do a job. Schmidt had some good swings for the NIACC squad.  

Tyler Froland, INF, NIACC 

Tyler Froland has a 6-foot-3 frame with some strength in a bigger build. He had an athletic stroke from the right side of the plate and was able to leave the yard for a three-run home run. The righty sets up with a spread base, higher set hands, and the back elbow up. He uses a quick leg lift to drive the ball, getting on the barrel and impacting it. He had some juice showing on the homer and was able to impact the ball for loud results. He was long through the zone to do some damage and was one of several NIACC hitters to leave the yard on the day.  


Southeastern 

Colin Schmitke, INF, Southeastern 

Colin Schmitke was able to tap into some offense for Southeastern as they battled a depth Iowa Central crop of arms. Schmitke was able to pick up a triple, find a barrel, and do a job. He has a more compact 5-foot-11 frame with good strength and some sturdiness to the build. He’s a right-handed hitter who sets up with a spread base, the bat on the shoulder, and back elbow out. He lifts the leg with a quick hanging leg lift, allowing his hands to get to a hitting position before creating some separation, striding hard through contact. Schmitke worked uphill through it with a good path through the zone to impact it hard. He found the barrel and did a job. Compact frame with strength that allowed for loud results.  


Southwestern 

Christopher Lugo, INF, Southwestern 

Christopher Lugo got it done at the dish for Southwestern, showing off some traits to like in his time in the batters’ box. Lugo is a right-handed bat who was able to show off a simple and fluid right-handed stroke from an athletic frame with a lean build. He sets up with the barrel high, back elbow up, and working in a spread base. He rocks back onto his rear leg, minimally lifting the front foot, coiling with the torso and hips before shifting the weight in a forward move, uncoiling well. He created some whip and was able to get to the ball out front to drive it pull-side. Showed the ability to stay through it. Lugo can extend the hands through it to drive it.  

Drew Miller, OF, Southwestern 

Drew Miller was another bat from the Southwestern squad who was able to get the job done in the batters’ box. He has a taller frame with a lean build and some athleticism showing. He has a wider base as he sets up with his spread base. Hands are set high with the back elbow up. He loads up with some coil, keeping the lower half quiet. He showed the ability to create some separation. He was able to control the barrel and get to the ball out front as well. Miller was able to pick up a ground-rule double on a ball that nearly left the yard working pull-side.  
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