Freshman Spotlight: West Virginia’s Chase Meyer Features Electric Pitch Mix
Image credit: Chase Meyer (Mike Janes/Four Seam Images)
When it comes to pure stuff, Chase Meyer might have the most electric arsenal of any freshman in the country. A product of Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.), Meyer had an impressive senior season to the tune of a 0.87 ERA and a strikeout-to-walk ratio of 100-to-15 across 48 innings pitched. Between his senior year and performance on the summer circuit, Meyer had plenty of draft buzz and earned an invitation to the MLB Draft Combine.
He performed well at the event, showcasing a lively fastball and hellacious slider that generated the six highest in-game spin rates (3,027-3,243 rpm). While he certainly could have opted to begin his professional career, Meyer instead chose to honor his commitment to West Virginia where he is the headliner of its freshman class.
An Incredibly High Ceiling
On the mound, Meyer has an easy delivery and attacks from a mid–three quarter slot. He has a long, whippy arm stroke with present arm speed. Meyer’s fastball sits in the 93-96 mph range, but this fall has topped out at 98. Given his arm slot, it has ample natural running life and plays well against both right and lefthanded hitters. If Meyer is able to further develop his pitchability, his heater will become that much more effective. It has life through the zone, and with its velocity and shape would grade out as a plus pitch.
The 6-foot-2 righthander’s calling card is his high-spin, mid-80s slider. Meyer has decent feel for the pitch and it has tons of sharp, horizontal movement with a bit of depth. He generates plenty of swing and miss with the offering and it is a legitimate out-pitch. As is, it is a borderline 70 on the 20-80 scale. Finally, Meyer features a mid-80s changeup that has armside fade and profiles as a potential above-average pitch.
Meyer’s Future
This fall, Meyer has shown well and is on track to log significant innings this spring. Coach Randy Mazey is tasked with replacing two-thirds of his 2023 rotation following the departures of Ben Hampton (5-3, 4.45 ERA) and workhorse Blaine Traxel (7-6, 3.86 ERA). Northwood (D-II) transfer Derek Clark (10-2, 2.78 ERA) will fill one slot, while Gardner-Webb transfer Tyler Switalski (8-5, 5.60 ERA) likely fills the other.
Even if Meyer does not end up initially pitching in the weekend rotation, his stuff and pitch mix will play extremely well in a late-inning role. Looking ahead, Meyer is slated to play this summer for the Bourne Braves of the Cape Cod Baseball League where he figures to gain experience as a starter. Meyer’s ceiling is incredibly high and if he is able to prove himself as a starter, he has day one upside in 2026.
