If you have great command and three pitches (four if you count 4 seamers and 2 seamers as separate), you really only need to average about 92 to be a top pitching prospect (see Nola), and 90-91 to be a back of the rotation guy. So gambling a college pitcher who is 21-22 with those attributes can add 1-2 MPH isn't outrageous in the 3rd to 8th rds. Same way you gamble that a college starter throwing 91-92 with a good slider might jump to 94-96 with a move to the bullpen. Doesn't always work out but worth a shot if you have good scouts. The problem with Eshelman is he needed to add more like 3-4 MPH, and that's rare at that age, same with Liebrandt. Very few pitchers make it these days throwing under 90-91 MPH, Kuechel has averaged 88.7 and 89.2 the last two seasons, Grienke 90.6 and 89.6, but they're the exceptions that prove the rule.
Now HS kids you're projecting off body types, same with LA, where the low cost of many lanky and possibly undernourished young pitchers (especially these days in Venezuela!) means you'll gamble that an improved diet and workout regime could pay big dividends in added velocity.
