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Name: AJ Labas
Born: Middleburg, Florida
Age: 18 (12/08/98)
Height/Weight: 6'3"/220 lbs
Position: RHP
Bats/Throws: R/R
School: Trinity Christian Academy
A standout from Trinity Christian Academy who helped pitch them to the 2017 Tournament of Champions, AJ Labas is among one of the better prep pitchers in Florida.
His fastball sits 89-91, topping out at 93 MPH. The pitch gets good late life and good sinking action. He complements his fastball with a changeup and curveball. His changeup sits in the low-80s, and is his best pitch, often graded by scouts as a plus offering. It fades away late, and he is able to locate it to both sides of the plate. As a result, the right-hander has enough confidence in the pitch to double- and triple-up on it during at-bats. His curveball is nowhere near as advanced, but it has flashed potential. Sitting in the high-70s, the curveball sometimes shows tight spin with sharp biting action, and at other times is more slurvy with less defined movement.
Labas throws from a high three-quarters arm slot. His delivery is not always in sync, as he often kicks his front leg out and has a tendency to rush off his back ankle and land with his hips open. His arm action is fast and clean. When his mechanics are working, he is a strike thrower able to command his fastball and both of his secondary pitches, which is somewhat rare for a pitcher his age. He has a very big frame, looking more like a linebacker than a pitcher, and should develop into an innings-eater.
Labas had a commitment to the University of North Florida, but recently changed his commitment to Louisiana State University, which will be much harder for the Mets to buy out.