LATEST PG SHOWCASE REPORT
2006 California Uncommitted Showcase
Travis Bender is a 2007 MIF/P with a 5'11'', 155 lb. frame from Moreno Valley CA, who attends Vista Del Lago HS. Bender is a good baseball player with ability as an offensive player and as a pitcher. He has a lean and strong, compact body and will fill out more. Offensively he has a good hitting approach. He is a contact line drive hitter, with good bat speed. His lower half works well, with a very good weight transfer that creates some power for him. His barrel stays in the zone and he has a flat swing plane. Bender handles velocity well too. He runs the bases well and plays like a gamer. Defensively he is also a good player, making plays on move and taking excellent angles to the baseball, starting with good reads off the bat. Bender has a quick release and a good arm. His hands work well too. On the mound he is very interesting and still developing. He pitches from an over the top slot and has a long, quick, and clean arm action. Bender creates good leverage with that arm action, resulting in surprising velocity that is not topped out yet. His delivery is good and he works pretty easiliy. Bender has an aggressive, closer-type approach and his stuff fits that approach. His fastball topped at 87 and he pitched 84-86, with good hop in the zone. He has a good curveball, with, late action and goof feel for that pitch. His arm action is quite projectable as a pitcher, even if his body is not typically big. He may not have much more height to gain, but size and strength will allow him to keep gaining velocity. Bender is a solid student and well-rounded ballplayer who can and will contribute a lot to a D1 program.