Player Name: Steven Arnsten
School: Manhattan
Position: LHP
Steven is a 6’2″ 160 lb LHP and a 2014 graduate of Eastport-South Manor HS. He led his team to the league championship during his junior year, in which he threw 51.1 innings and compiled a 2.25 ERA.
He is a long, lanky pitcher that can probably add five MPH to his fastball if he gains weight during his collegiate career. He worked mainly at 80 MPH with his fastball, 74 MPH with his change up and 68-69 with the 12-6 curve.
He begins his motion by bringing his hands over his head, something you don’t see too much these days, as he steps back with his right foot. His leg kick is tight and just above the waist, and his foot is parallel to the ground. He has a stiff back leg during the balance point and keeps his eyes fixated on the target. He drops and drives very well with the backleg during his falling action. He lands with a bent front leg, but it straightens out as he delivers the pitch. His stride is good for his height, but his front foot is pointed in towards first base. The arm angle is straight over the top and his extension is good. He finishes balanced towards the plate. The delivery is similar to Tsuyoshi Wada of the Chicago Cubs.
In his April 8 start against Stony Brook, he was victimized by his defense and some dreadful, windy and cold conditions. He ended up throwing three innings, allowing six hits and six runs but only one was earned. He walked one and struck out one.
For a freshman pitching against a loaded lineup, he looked pretty solid. He induced a ground out to the first batter. On a 3-1 count to the next batter, he allowed a single to right on an inside fastball that the batter did a nice job getting the bat head out. After a sac bunt, he would’ve been out of the inning but the second baseman made a bad throw on a routine play to extend the inning. It proved costly, as the fifth place hitter ripped an RBI double down the left field line on a change up that was elevated. He got out of the inning with a weak groundball.
In the second inning, he allowed a hard-hit single through the 5.5 hole on a fastball down the middle. He hit the next batter on an up-and-in fastball. The next batter grounded out to second to advance the runners on a 2-2 change up. He induced a ground out to second with the infield in to keep the runners at bay. Once again, he would’ve alluded trouble but the second baseman misplayed a ground ball to score a run. The offense capitalized when the next batter smacked an RBI triple over the CF head on a fastball elevated. He got out of the inning on a grounder to SS.
He allowed a bunt single to lead off the third, followed up by his first strikeout of the game. The next batter grounded out to third. With two outs, he allowed a triple down the right field line to score a run. He escaped the inning with a ground out to third.
Arntsen has two pickoff moves–the generic one to first base and the snap throw. They were both adequate and did not fool any runners.
