Cade
Obermueller

Took to the mound on an adjacent field for the Hawkeyes against a confident Lehigh squad. Slender bodied and wiry strong, the 5-foot-11, 165-pound lefthander pitched around some traffic in the first inning, impressed with a quick second inning that included three punchouts, then pitched around a pair of walks in the third before excelling once again in the fourth. His fastball, which has been up to 97 in the past, sat mostly in the 90-92 range and topped out at 94 on this cold morning. It showed above average life with below average command. Obermueller’s money pitch is an abrupt change of direction sweeper that spins in the 2700s and arrives at the plate in the low-80s. It’s a swing/miss dandy, a true 70-grade offering at its best. At times he got out of sync with his delivery, causing misfires up and to his armside. Time and continued maturity/strength development will no doubt help him better hold it together and repeat his delivery. Currently profiling more as a reliever than starter due to his operation (think Josh Hader), Obermueller is a mid Day Two draft prospect.

Cape Cod: After posting a 4.91 ERA with 36 strikeouts in 22 innings as a freshman at Iowa this spring, Obermueller emerged as a shutdown bullpen weapon for Hyannis this summer, striking out 30 against nine walks in 17 innings while posting a 2.11 ERA. A wiry 5-foot-11, 160-pounder with an electric arm, Obermuller ran his fastball up to 97 mph this summer and sat comfortably at 92-94, with high spin rates in the 2400-2700s. But his best pitch is a devastating 81-83 mph slider with serious bite and tight spin in the 2700-3000 rpm range — he leans on it heavily, and it is particularly filthy against lefthanded hitters. Obermueller also hides the ball well in his delivery, making his stuff play up even more. If he can develop a changeup, Obermueller could get a chance to start at Iowa, but he has clear All-America potential as a multi-inning bullpen stopper, and he profiles in pro ball as a fastball/slider lefty reliever with serious swing-and-miss stuff. If he carries his strong summer over into next spring, he could climb into Day One draft consideration as an eligible sophomore.

Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-10, 150-pounds.
Delivery: Short rocker step into athletic tuck and turn balance point, has body control and rhythm to delivery, lands slightly across body.
Arm Action: LH. Long whippy arm swing with above avg. hand speed out front; ¾ slot.
FB: T89, 87-89 mph. Life to fastball with late run and sink for strikes.
CB: 72-74 mph. Sharp 2/8 break with above avg. late depth.
CH: 77-78 mph. Tends to slow mechanics through release; occasional late run and sink.

Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 5-10, 140-pounds. 
Delivery: Slide step into higher tuck and turn, lands closed and inline to plate, finishes across body.
Arm Action: LH. Whippy low ¾ slot generating life.
FB: T86, 85-86 mph. Ball jumps out of hand well. Occasionally underneath at release effecting control.
CB: 67-68 mph. Higher spin with inconsistent release point; flashes sharper break.
CH: 71-74 mph. Cutting life to CH with late horizontal movement.

Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-10, 140-pounds.
Delivery: Shows body control, simple rhythm and tempo, lands slightly across body, upright on release.
Arm Action: LH. Clean and loose from low ¾ slot.
FB: T81, 78-80 mph. Life on FB with late running action to arm-side of plate. Underneath on release occasionally causing ball to sail up and arm-side.
CB: 62-65 mph. Repeats arm path well producing solid 1/7 shaped breaking ball.
CH: 66-69 mph. Heavy action; mostly elevated with hand underneath at release. 

Hit: LHH. Slight open stance, low hand set, works up through ball, inconsistent contact, gap to gap approach.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 83 mph. Long loose ¾.
Defense: Solid athlete, works through ball, shows accuracy to target with projectable arm from OF.
Run: 7.59 runner in the 60.