Player Name: Daniel Vignola
Position: P
School: Holy Trinity
Daniel is a 6’4″ LHP that is a 2016 graduate of Holy Trinity. He won one game last season, their stacked rotation of upperclassmen made it difficult to get starts. He figures to be a key cog in their rotation next year.
He has a classic lefty delivery. He begins with his hands held belt high in a relaxed position. He takes a rapid step back as he proceeds into his balance position. He has a leg kick that is identical to Cole Hamels of the Texas Rangers. At his apex, his leg is nearly shoulder height, his back leg is straight up and his foot is pointed down and his eyes locked on his target. From that point, he begins his falling action–although he could benefit from getting more drive from his back leg. He has a good stride and lands on line with home plate, but his front foot is pointed towards first base. Just like Hamels, his arm angle is directly over the top. He gets terrific extension on his pitches and finishes in the classic lefty position with his leg high in the air–again reminiscent of Hamels.
He had a 1-2-3 inning, although it did require a bit of work. He induced a 5-3 to the first batter on a six-pitch at bat that concluded with a 78 MPH fastball on the inside corner. He got ahead of the next batter on a fastball away. He missed up with a fastball, got ahead on a fastball looking and then struck him out on a curveball. The next batter he got to swing-and-a-miss on a curve, missed with a fastball down, induced another swinging strike with a curveball, then there was a foul with a fastball, followed with another on a curveball and then he struck him out looking on a curveball. The last two batters were lefties. Vignola showed a propensity to use the curve against the lefties.
Vignola has the prototypical build for a pitcher. At 6’4″ 200 lbs he possesses both the height and the athleticism to be a dominant pitcher. He threw strikes and he had command of his curveball. Frankly, it is hard to believe he hasn’t been signed at this point. He hit 81 MPH with the heater and his curveball sat at 67. Not overpowering, but he will likely be 84-85 in another year. At that velocity any Div-II in the area should be all over him and possibly Div-I.
