Metro East Open: Middle Infield Analysis

August 4, 2014

By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

The Prep Baseball Report Metro East Open Showcase held on July 9^th at Blazier Field in O’Fallon, Illinois featured many top prospects in the Metro East Area of Southern Illinois outside of St. Louis. The open showcase included players from the 2015-2018 classes. Ty Buckner, a 2017 shortstop from Laude (Mo.), took home top honors for middle infielders, impressing with his fluid actions and above average arm throwing 79 mph across the diamond. South Central’s Dylan Smith was one of the most physically advanced players in attendance, and recorded the event’s highest exit velocity at 90 mph.

Here’s a look at the top middle infield prospects at this year’s Metro East Open.

Top Middle Infield Prospects

1. Ty Buckner, RHP/MIF, Ladue (Mo.), 2017
5-foot-11, 165-pound lean and athletic right-handed hitting RHP/MIF impressed both on the mound and with athletic shortstop actions as the top 2017 prospect in attendance at the Metro East Open. Hits from an open stance, with a short, balanced strides. Hands load smoothly producing a level bat path with line drives from gap-to-gap, one of the best live batting practice rounds at the event. Posted 80 mph exit velocity. Threw 79 mph across the infield from short, high ¾ arm action with accuracy. Showcased soft hands and smooth, clean infield actions playing through the baseball. Ran a 7.84 60. On the mound, utilizes classic over the head windup to delivery 77-79 mph fastballs from a long, loose, high ¾ arm action. Arm is a little longer on the mound than in the field, and hit 82 mph on his last pitch. Shoulders are slightly uphill, and throws slightly across his body. Showed a solid feel for three pitches, with 59-61 mph curveball with gradual 11/5 break and 68-71 mph changeup with fade.

2. Dylan Smith, MIF, South Central, 2015
6-foot-1, 190-pound muscularly built right-handed hitting middle infielder impressed with the Metro East Open’s top exit velocity at 90 mph. Hits from a wide, open setup, with some stiffness to swing, but definite power. Left the yard to deep left field during live batting practice, and showed power to his pull side. Threw 81 mph across the infield from long, stiff, ¾ arm action taking time to get rid of the baseball. Based on build and arm action may fit better at a corner infield position, or in the outfield, but athleticism and strength is evident. Ran a 7.25 60 yard dash, and 4.79 from home to first.

3. Jacob Hill, SS/RHP, Columbia, 2015
5-foot-9, 145-pound right-handed hitting shortstop/right-handed pitcher hit from a wide setup with smooth hand load, and short stride producing 78 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 74 mph across the infield from loose, high ¾ arm action, showing fluid footwork and clean exchanges, athletically playing through the baseball with soft hands. On the mound, threw 76-78 mph from long, loose, high ¾ slot. Utilizes tall and fall delivery, with smooth rhythm, level shoulders, with lower half staying in line towards home plate. Consistently threw strikes with fastball and 63-65 mph curveball with occasional 12/6 action. Also threw 70-74 mph changeup at fastball arm speed.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Derrick Allen, OF/MIF, Alton, 2016
5-foot-7, 155-pound right-handed hitting outfielder/middle infielder impressed more defensively in the outfield with aggressive actions, fielding through the baseball and showing good carry on throws from long, over the top arm action reaching 71 mph. In the infield, threw 68 mph across the diamond from outfield-type arm action. Offensively, this from an open setup with a short stride and leg kick. Finishes his level swing with two hands producing 72 mph exit velocity. Also ran a 7.58 60.

Casey Arnold, MIF, Althoff, 2015
5-foot-9, 145-pound right-handed hitting small, athletically built, middle infielder threw 66 mph across the diamond from a long, over the top arm action. Offensively, hits from a slightly open setup with a short stride, diving at times, and short bat path producing line drives mostly to the opposite field with 71 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.13 60.

Logan Boente, MIF, O’Fallon, 2018
5-foot-6, 120-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder hits from a balanced, slightly crouched setup, toe tap stride, with hands moving back smoothly in load producing 62 mph exit velocity. Hit most balls to the opposite field in live BP Defensively, threw 62 mph across the infield and ran an 8.79 60.

Ty Dill, MIF/3B, Freeburg, 2016
5-foot-8, 165-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder/third basemen hit from an open stance with a short stride producing a fast, uphill bat path, with opposite field tendencies and 75 mph exit velocity. Defensively, throws from a short, over the top arm action with accuracy 74 mph across the diamond. Showcased average hands fielding and also ran a 7.55 60.

Jacob Hartline, MIF, Herrin, 2017
5-foot-11, 160-pound athletic right-handed hitting middle infielder hit from a wide setup with hands held high initially, dropping down and back to load. Lower half stride gets long, lunging at times, but showed bat speed and level bat path producing line drives with exit velocity up to 75 mph. Defensively, showed the ability to play on the move with fluid rhythm when fielding the baseball. Threw 72 mph across the diamond from short, floppy, over the top arm action with accuracy. Ran a 7.39 60.

Jake Holan, MIF, O’Fallon, 2018
5-foot-8, 115-pound middle infielder hit from a tall, narrow setup, with no stride, dropping hands to load, producing long, uphill bat path and 67 mph exit velocity. Defensively, showed good hands fielding the baseball, threw from a short, high ¾ arm slot 59 mph across the diamond. Ran an 8.36 60.

Seth Luitjohan, MIF, Highland, 2016
5-foot-8, 150-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder hit from a wide stance with no stride in lower half, with slightly uphill bat path, cutting off swing early producing 69 mph exit velocity. Defensively, showcased average hands fielding, throwing from a slinging, low ¾ arm action 65 mph across the diamond. Ran a 7.5 60.

Jake Maxey, MIF, O’Fallon, 2017
5-foot-11, 165-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder hits from a wide setup with a short stride, occasionally diving at the plate. Uphill bat path showed the ability to hit line drives, mostly to the opposite field, with 77 mph exit velocity. Plays tall in the infield, throwing from a short, high ¾ arm slot, up to 74 mph across the diamond. Hands are soft and work out front fielding the baseball. Ran a 7.55 60.

Steven Nguyen, SS, Alton, 2017
5-foot-9, 165-pound left-handed hitting shortstop hit from a wide, slightly open setup moving hands back to load creating long, uphill, aggressive bat path with some line drives to his pull side and 83 mph exit velocity. Defensively, showed average hands throwing from a long, over the top arm action with some carry across the diamond at 75 mph. Ran a 7.06 60.

Collin Prather, MIF/3B, Anna-Jonesboro, 2016
5-foot-8, 170-pound third baseman/middle infielder hit from a tall, narrow setup, with a long stride and level bat path producing several line drives in live batting practice with exit velocity up to 76 mph. Defensively, showed average hands fielding the baseball, and threw from a short, over the top arm action 68 mph across the diamond. Ran a 7.77 60.

Hayden Schaefer, SS/RHP, O’Fallon, 2017
5-foot-11, 165-pound shortstop/right-handed pitcher hits from an open stance with a short stride, high back elbow, and long, uphill bat path hitting several line drives in live batting practice with 72 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw from a short, high ¾ arm action up to 72 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.18 60. On the mound threw strikes with 68-73 mph with fastball from short, high ¾ arm slot. Shoulders close off and lands closed, throwing across his body and picking up the target late with is eyes. 55-58 mph curveball was erratic missing out and up with gradual break. Threw strikes with 63-65 mph changeup.

Dominic Smiley, MIF, O’Fallon, 2017
5-foot-9, 135-pound lanky right-handed hitting middle infielder hit from a tall, narrow stance with a short, level bat path producing line drives during live batting practice and 67 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 71 mph across the infield from short, high ¾ arm slot with accuracy. Showcased average hands fielding the baseball out front with clean exchanges. Ran a 7.44 60.