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Chicagoland Open: Corner Infield Analysis

September 10, 2014

By Ryan Quigley              
Illinois Scouting Director

The Chicagoland Open took place on Sunday August 17th on the campus of Saint Xavier University and included prospects from the 2015-2018 classes.  Several players impressed, and over the next few days we will roll out a position-by-position analysis and finally the top overall prospects from the event.  Today we’ll take a look at the corner infielders led by Glenbard West’s Arno Curtis.  The 6-foot-1, 180-pounder impressed with 86 mph exit velocity, and 82 mph arm strength across the diamond.  Plainfield South’s Marco Megloza has impressed this summer both at the Prospect I.D. and the Unsigned Senior Games.    Notre Dame’s Ranko Sevanovic impressed as the top first baseman with a feel around the bag, and future power potential at the plate.

Let’s take a look at the top corner infield prospects from this year’s Chicagoland Open.

Top Corner Infield Prospects

1. Arno Curtis, 3B, Glenbard West, 2016
Strong build, athletic frame, 6-foot-1, 180-pound third baseman. Right handed hitter, balanced stance, slightly open setup, short stride, lower half works well, maintains strong balance. Pull side approach, bat speed present, strong hitter, flashed hard contact. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Corner infield type, plays with a long high ¾ arm action at third base, showed the ability to play on the move. Strong arm played at 82 mph across the diamond. 7.55 runner in the 60.

2. Marco Melgoza, 3B, Plainfield South, 2015
6-foot, 203-pound right-handed hitting third baseman currently ranked No. 240 in Illinois’ 2015 class.  Hits from an open setup, coiling front foot to load lower half.  Foot gets down early, hit several line drives from gap-to-gap during batting practice.  Moves hands back smoothly creating some loft in his swing with 86 mph exit velocity.  Exit velo has been up to 92 mph at past events. Impressed at third base with arm across the diamond at 80 mph.  Fields through the baseball with soft hands getting rid of it quick from short arm action with good carry.

3. Ranko Stevanovic, RHP/1B, Notre Dame, 2016
Solid build with strength, 6-foot-2, 205-pound two-way player. On the mound delivery works with some direction, some effort, recoil finish. Long arm action, over the top slot, slight glove pat separation. Fastball has slight sinking action, pitched at 82-83 mph, touched 84 mph. Breaking ball worked at 60-64 mph. Changeup revealed slightly slower arm action, 67-69 mph. Right handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, partial lower half involvement, maintained balance. Pull side hitter, showed strength, 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm played at 71 mph across the infield from first base, good feet around the bag, fluid actions. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Nicholas Bafundo, 1B, Joliet Catholic, 2017
5-foot-8, 185-pound left-handed hitting first baseman hits from a wide, balanced setup, short stride, with 80 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, threw 73 mph across the diamond from long, high ¾ arm slot.  Ran a 7.99 60, 5.26 seconds from home to first.

Matt Ganser, 3B, Brother Rice, 2016    
6-foot-2, 170-pound right-handed hitting third baseman hits from a balanced setup, short stride, lifts front knee backwards during stride, producing long, uphill bat path with pull tendencies.  Line drive type hitter with 69 mph exit velocity.  Threw 75 mph across the diamond from short, high ¾ arm slot with accuracy.  Showed good body control on run through ball, showcasing soft hands fielding playing through the baseball.  Ran a 7.97 60, 5.36 seconds from home to first.

Erick Hall, RHP/1B, Hononegah, 2015
6-foot-2, 210-pound right-handed hitting RHP/1B hit from a tall, open setup, hands load back smoothly, short leg kick stride, with pull tendencies during batting practice.  81 mph exit velocity off the tee.  Defensively, impressed at first base with average hands, fluid footwork, clean exchanges, and threw 79 mph across the diamond from long, over the top arm slot with accuracy.  Ran a 7.61 60 and 4.79 from home to first.  On the mound, worked at 72-75 mph from short, over the top arm slot, with uphill shoulders, lower half stride direction stays in line with home plate, lands square.  64-66 mph breaking ball backed up occasional slider shape.  Also threw a 66-68 mph changeup.

Zachary Johnson, 1B/RHP, Huntley, 2016
6-foot-2, 270-pound large-framed and strong right-handed hitting first baseman hits from an open setup, short balanced stride, slightly uphill bat path, barrel whips through the zone, slightly uphill bat path, with several line drives during batting practice and power to his pull side.  87 mph exit velocity off the tee.  Defensively, threw 70 mph across the diamond from first base from long, high ¾ arm slot.  Plays through the baseball when fielding.  Ran an 8.34 60, 5.09 from home to first.  On the mound, threw 74-76 mph, touching 78 from over the top arm slot.  70-72 mph curveball flashed 12/6 shape.  Showed feel for 69-71 mph sinking changeup.

Bryan Martinez, 3B, St. Joseph, 2016
6-foot, 180-pound right-handed hitting third baseman hits from a balanced, open setup, short stride, with a long, level bat path producing 76 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, threw 76 mph across the diamond from long, high ¾ arm slot.  Showcased average hands when fielding.  Ran an 8.62 60 and 5.54 seconds from home to first.

Ian McCormick, RHP/3B, Lincoln-Way East, 2017
6-foot-2, 160-pound right-handed hitting RHP/3B worked from a long, high ¾ arm slot on the mound from a tall-and-fall type delivery. Level shoulders throughout delivery, lower half stride direction stays in line with home plate, lands square, delivering fastballs in the 74-78 mph range topping at 79 mph on his final pitch.  Curveball was inconsistent with velocity and shape, 61-66 mph from the windup, 58-63 mph from the stretch with gradual, sweeping action.  Also threw 61-64 mph changeup.  Hit from an open setup, short stride, slightly uphill bat path with 76 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, threw 75 mph across the diamond from third base from long, high ¾ arm slot with accuracy.  Ran a 7.75 60, and 4.79 seconds from home to first.

Dylan Niedzwiecki, 1B, Lake Zurich, 2017
6-foot-1, 160-pound lanky left-handed hitting first baseman hits from a wide setup, leg kick stride, barrel whips through the zone, slightly uphill bat path with 69 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, threw 68 mph across the diamond from a short, high ¾ arm slot, with fluid footwork, clean exchanges and average hands fielding the baseball.  Ran a 7.55 60, 4.94 seconds from home to first.

Aaron Szczepanski, 1B/RHP, Naperville Central, 2017
6-foot-3, 160-pound two-way player, long lanky frame, body projects. Left handed hitter, slight open stance, arm bar load. Pull side approach, path works around the baseball, 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 72 mph across the diamond. 7.59 runner in the 60. On the mound arm played from a long over the top slot. Fastball is mostly straight, 74-76 mph, touched 77 mph. Breaking ball has 11/5 action, gradual bend, 65-68 mph. Changeup has arm side action, 67-69 mph.

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