Hooper, who entered in relief after a three-inning stint to start the game by righthander Joe DeMers, did not throw a fastball below 92 in his first inning, sitting 92-94 while touching 96. His velocity largely sat in the 90-93 range the rest of the way. Hooper offered a two-seam fastball with greater sink at 88-91 in his second and third frames.
Working from the third-base side of the rubber while throwing slightly across his body, Hooper has a fast arm and the ball jumps out of his hand. His delivery also offers deception because of his arm slot, which is below three-quarters, and extension.
“It looks like the ball is coming out of his arm pit and just jumps at hitters,” a National Crosschecker said.”Lefthanded hitters had no chance against him.”
Hooper generates glove-side run to his fastball and showed the ability to locate to either outer-third of the plate. The UCLA commit relied on his fastball-curveball combination in his first frame, throwing another offering (a slider) only once in 19 pitches in his opening frame. His curveball showed at least above-average potential with considerable depth and shape, as he demonstrated feel for the offering by throwing it for a strike more than two-thirds of the time. In the second and third innings he used his newly added slider more frequently.
“In the bullpen they were both spinning pretty well,” Hooper said. “I started throwing my curveball first, so I have been throwing it forever. My dad taught me how to throw it like a football. My slider I just picked up. I started messing around with a slider a couple of months ago. I didn’t even throw it until the end of the season. I thought about it and said that using the smaller laces, a cutter/slider thing would work. I just said, ‘Let’s throw a slider today.’”
Although some area scouts said they have never seen him use a changeup in game action, Hooper demonstrated feel for the offering by throwing it for a strike four of the five times he threw it.
“It has developed really well,” Hooper said. “I have been working out with Tom House at USC. I stayed down there for a week in the dorms and then I came down there for a day. He really showed me how to have a good feel for my changeup.”
The 17-year-old showed feel for locating his heater to both sides of the plate with a delivery that has been tweaked.
“We changed my leg kick and (House) closed off my shoulder so I could be more accurate and go in and out more,” Hooper said. “He changed me a little bit, and I had been throwing that way for as long as I have been throwing. Then he said, ‘Do it like this.’ Then I was kind of iffy about it. But it works for me.”
Hooper threw three frames without allowing an earned run. He walked one and struck out five on four swinging strikes.
The 6-foot-7, 230-pound Hooper has an extra-large frame and lots of room to get stronger within his athletic build.
“I could add some more muscle in my legs,” he said. “My upper body seems fine but I want to add some strength and drive in my legs.”
