| Player: Kaiden McCarthy | |||||||||||
| School: Vermont Academy (VT) | Position(s): RHP | ||||||||||
| Height: 6′ | Weight: 185 lbs. | Bats: Right | Throws: Right | ||||||||
| Summary: Steele Hall reclassified from 2026 to 2025 in November of 2024, which stood out at how late it was. This year, McCarthy reclassified from 2027 to 2026 even later, in January. There’s a lot to like in how McCarthy moves on the mound, starting with a clean, repeatable operation that stays athletic throughout the delivery. He works from a three-quarters slot and keeps the arm on time, allowing the fastball to jump out of the hand with life. The heater has shown steady velocity growth, sitting comfortably in the low-to-mid-90s and touching higher when he reaches back, with some tail and carry when he works in the upper half. He fills the zone, stays under control, and shows the kind of command you want from a starter track, especially given the cold-weather background and recent reclassification. The changeup is the separator and already plays as a real weapon, thrown with conviction to both sides and showing late tumble with meaningful velocity separation off the fastball. It consistently disrupts timing and gives him a reliable bat-miss option against left-handed hitters. The breaking ball remains the developmental pitch, flashing vertical depth and tilt but still searching for consistent shape and finish. Overall, the mix, delivery, and strike throwing point toward a starter projection, with continued upside tied to sharpening the breaker and maintaining the recent velocity gains as the body and workload continue to mature, although the late reclassification may lead to a higher likelihood of him making it to campus where I would expect big gains in velo and stuff while at Tennessee. | |||||||||||
Shaun Kernahan is the founder and lead writer of Three Quarter Slot, where he blends scouting precision with a storyteller’s eye for the human side of the game. Based in Parker, Colorado, he has covered baseball prospects at every level since 2013, delivering in-depth evaluations, draft analysis, and developmental insight. Over the years, he has built Three Quarter Slot into a trusted home for thoughtful prospect coverage, detailed scouting reports, and a grounded look at how talent evolves
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