Nathan
Ackenhausen

JUCO Gems: Pitchers, Vol. 2

Ackenhausen showed everything you hope to see as a scout in his start against Rose State, firing six one-hit frames with 14 punchouts in a performance that ultimately netted him NJCAA Div. I Pitcher of the Week honors. 

The LSU recruit has very good arm speed, with the ball coming out of his hand effortlessly from an ideal three-quarters slot. The slight crossfire action in Ackenhausen’s delivery makes him naturally deceptive, and hitters generally struggle to pick up the ball out of the 6-foot-2, 230-pound southpaw’s hand. That, in turn, causes his 89-92 mph fastball to play up, and he commanded the pitch very well to both sides of the plate with good life against Rose State. He throws quality fastball in the zone and isn’t afraid to attack right-handed hitters inside.

Ackenhausen’s 80-83 mph slider is deceptive, with late, sharp break and hard diving action. He commands it well, generating a lot of swing and miss. He also has an advanced feel for throwing a changeup with very good arm-speed deception and late sink. All three of Ackenhausen’s pitches have late action and were tough for hitters to pick up. 

Ackenhausen has a strong, athletic, durable pitcher's body, is an intense competitor and has a very good overall feel for pitching. He could have plus command of three quality pitches at maturity, with the potential to develop into a middle-of-the-rotation lefty at the highest level.

7-17-18
A broad and durable 6-foot-2, 230-pound frame with strength and athleticism. On the mound, the left-hander works from an abbreviated wind-up with rhythm before gliding down the mound and finishing far to the third base side. Arm action is clean and moderate behind him before coming through a high-¾ slot with quickness. Fastball shows occasional arm-side run at 85-88 mph, mostly strikes. Curveball has sweeping shape with some late depth at 76-77 mph, mostly strikes. Changeup is thrown for strikes with slight fade at 78-81 mph. 

7-28-18
The big 6-foot-2, 225-pound southpaw stands high atop the rubber, and touched 89 mph with fast arm speed in his first inning of work while sitting 85-87 before settling in at mostly 83-85 after a brief weather delay. The fastball showed some arm side life in the zone, and he was effectively wild in the zone for much of his outing. He also showed some feel for a breaking ball at 70-73 that broke across the plate, and received a few swings and misses. Using a methodical delivery, Ackenhausen’s front leg swings open while remaining linear down the mound before his quick hand gets through the ball from a high ¾ slot as he falls towards the third base line. There is a lot to like about the big left-hander, and as he continues to develop the movement patterns of his big frame, he should continue progressing.