Josh Hejka
Scouting Profile
Class of 2019
Johns Hopkins University
Right-Handed Submarine Pitcher
6'1" 175lbs
Fastball
- Velocity: 84-86 mph, T88
- Spin Rate (Rapsodo): ~2200-2400 rpm
- Movement (Rapsodo): ~18 in. arm side, ~3 in. downward
- Gets swings and misses and induces weak grounders due to late downward action
- Velocity comparable to Major League submariners
- Still growing, hasn't hit ceiling – potential for 90+ mph
- Great command to both corners against both lefties and righties
Slider
- Velocity: 72-75 mph
- Spin Rate (Rapsodo): ~2600-2800 rpm
- Movement (Rapsodo): ~14 in. glove side, ~1 in. downward
- Legitimate swing-and-miss pitch
- Tunnels well with fastball to deceive hitters
- Effective against both lefties and righties
Changeup
- Velocity: 75-78 mph
- Spin Rate (Rapsodo): ~1600-1800 rpm
- Movement (Rapsodo): ~13 in. arm side, ~6 in. downward
- New pitch under development to attack lefties
- Looks like a fastball out of the hand but is slower and drops off the table, leading to swings and misses and weak contact
Johns Hopkins University
- Holds a 2.81 career ERA (6th all time in program history)
- 12 career wins (10 in relief), 15 career saves (most in program history)
- 3 starts senior year (all in postseason) - went 9 IP, 9 IP, 9.2 IP with 1 ER given up in each start
- Top 15 in the country in pitching appearances, strikeout-to-walk ratio, and fewest walks per 9 IP in senior season
- 7.5 K/BB ratio senior year, 4.45 career K/BB ratio
- 0.93 walks per 9 IP senior year, 1.67 career walks per 9 IP
- Holds school record for appearances at 74 (previous record was 59)
- All-Conference and All-Region selection
- 4-time Centennial Conference Pitcher of the Week
- D3 World Series All-Tournament Team
Collegiate Summer Baseball
- Played in the Cal Ripken League in the summer of 2017 against D1 hitters and many draft prospects
- Starting pitcher
- 0.85 ERA in 42 innings
- BAA under .200, WHIP under 0.90
- Started against champions of the league (more than 5 players drafted): 8 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 10 K, 0 BB
- Five starts, pitched into the eighth inning in four of them
- First-Team All-League
- All-Star Game Starting Pitcher
- Picked to pitch for league showcase team
Arm Slot
- Submarine
- Leads to deception and movement
Velocity
- Comparable to Major League submariners
- Still growing, hasn't hit ceiling – potential for 90+ mph
Command
- Can throw consistent, repeatable strikes to both sides of the plate
- Can throw inside fastballs with confidence to both lefties and righties
- Can throw slider and changeup consistently to get swings and misses as well as taken strikes or weak contact
Deception
- Incredibly deceptive delivery due to arm slot and mechanics
- Great tunneling of off-speed pitches and fastball
Durability
- Consistently used on back-to-back days or in both ends of a doubleheader
Mound Presence
- Command of game
- Composure in all situations
- High baseball IQ
Battle Tendency
- Used as a high leverage reliever all four years of college
- From sophomore through the beginning of this season:
- Allowed only 13% of inherited runners to score (MLB Average = 33%)
- Allowed only 22% of inherited runners in scoring position to score (all were runners on 3B with less than 2 outs)
- Had a 0.78 ERA in the first inning of appearances
- Has the mentality and ability to pitch in high leverage situations
Johns Hopkins vs. Haverford
- Centennial Conference Championship
- Monday, May 6th
- W, 9 IP, 6 H, 1 ER, 2 K, 1 BB, 79 pitches
- Johns Hopkins wins 11-1
Johns Hopkins vs. Farmingdale State
- NCAA Regional First Round
- Friday, May 17th
- W, 9 IP, 7 H, 1 ER, 11 K, 1 BB, 116 pitches
- Johns Hopkins wins 6-2
Johns Hopkins vs. Babson College
- D3 College World Series Game One
- Friday, May 31st
- W, 9.2 IP, 9 H, 1 ER, 8 K, 2 BB, 152 pitches
- Johns Hopkins wins 7-6 in extra innings
- Got save two days later in World Series quarterfinal
- Chosen to All-Tournament Team
