The second half of the Draft League continues to see outstanding performances by pitchers throughout the league.

Williamsport’s Josh Willits has breezed through the second half of the Draft League season with a 1.59 ERA over seven starts and 39 2/3 innings. The 6-foot-2 right-hander from NJIT has allowed just 23 hits to go along with 37 strikeouts. His sinker/slider combo has been the key to his success. Opponents are batting just .182 against his low-90s sinker that he’s pounded the zone at a 68.6% clip. Just as effective has been his mid-80s slider that has produced a 39.3% whiff rate with consistent 2550+ spin. He’s been exceptional at painting the outer edge of the plate to same-sided hitters. Willits will also add an occasional 83-85 mph changeup that has late dip and a 78-80 mph curve with similar, yet slower break than his slider. All in all, his four pitch mix has been a tough task for opposing bats.

Excelling out of the bullpen with both stuff and command, Mahoning Valley’s Reagan Rivera has struck out 29 in 19 1/3 innings with three high-whiff pitches led by his 94-96 mph fastball. It’s a swing/miss offering with a 99th percentile whiff rate of 37.1% and a 97th percentile Z-whiff of 28.6%. Its carry through the strike zone has overwhelmed opposing hitters, averaging 20 inches of IVB. The 5-foot-10 right-hander from Indiana also offers an 87-89 cutter that he’ll throw to both left and right handed hitters, as well as an 84-86 mph slider with so much depth that one could also call it a hard curveball, averaging 13.2 inches of glove side break. This pitch has produced an 80th percentile whiff rate of 41.2%.

Teammate Jeremiah Newman also boasts three heavy whiffers in a 90-93 fastball, an 85-87 cutter and a 79-80 slider. The slider leads the trio with a 100th percentile whiff rate of 60%. It’s a nasty, late-breaking offering made even more difficult to square with a whippy arm action that creates good deception.

Another reliever in the midst of a strong season in Aberdeen’s Roman Harrison. The 6-foot-3, 240-pound left-hander from Quincy has walked just six batters against 23 strikeouts in 22.2 innings pitched. He controls the game with a 91-93 mph fastball and a swing/miss slider in the 78-80 mph range. It has impressive depth and tough to square shape. He will also subtract velo for a similar shaped curve in the 73-75 mph range. Opponents are batting just .200 overall against Harrison and he’s held them to a 0.97 WHIP over 13 appearances.

Hayden Luke leads State College with a 1.80 ERA in 30 innings covering seven appearances. The 6-foot-2 right-hander from Nicholls State has also struck out 39 while allowing just 25 hits. He has several weapons that induce both chase and whiff, but the best of the bunch are a late-actioned two-seamer with abrupt arm side movement (17-19” HB) and a high carry heater in the low-90s (16-19” IVB). The riding fastball has a chase rate of 99th percentile at 33.3%. Luke will also flash an average slider that he manipulates into a sweeper at times and both pitches arrive at the plate in the low-80s.

Trenton’s 6-foot-5 right-hander Joe Colucci has punched out 18 in 16 1/3 innings with a 93-94 mph sinker and an 80-mph curve as his primary weapons. His two-seamer’s late tailing action has given hitters fits at times with a 22.4% whiff rate, but it’s his curveball that produces outs and leads his arsenal. It’s a filthy breaker with late, frisbee-like action at times, averaging 7.2 inches of glove side break. Its 50% whiff rate is 95th percentile and 31.3% Z-whiff is 90th. Colucci also pounds the zone with this pitch, throwing it for a strike 62% of the time.

With 29 strikeouts in 25 innings, West Virginia’s Andrew Luczak has posted a 2.88 ERA in 16 appearances out of the pen. The loose-armed 6-foot-3 right-hander from Pittsburgh has averaged 90.6 mph with his two-seam fastball that has heavy sink at times, as well as arm side tail, up to 23 inches of horizontal break. Luczak can also really spin it. His 80-mph 11/5 breaker is electric at times with late bottom at the plate with 2,600+ spin. It’s been a nearly unhittable pitch with a .167 batting average against and a 97th percentile Z-whiff of 38.5%. He can also slide it as his 83-85 mph slider with 2,650+ spin has been an excellent chase pitch that he uses mostly to same-sided hitters for putaway. Luczak also subtracts with an effective mid-80s changeup that has yielded a .000 batting average against and averages 18 inches of arm side movement. Its circle action to left-handed batters has produced a 82nd percentile whiff rate of 42.9%. A complete pitcher, he has walked just eight batters, throwing strikes at a 63.2% clip.

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