Prep Baseball Report

Midwest Future Games Recap Part 2: Power, power, and more power



Team Missouri went an impressive 2-0-1 this past weekend at the Midwest Future Games powered by Under Armour. The second annual event, which featured the best Class of 2014 prospects from six states, drew D1 schools from all over the country.

Talent from Missouri was all the buzz from the coaches in attendance, with power at the plate and dominate pitching performances over the two-day event. Missouri defeated Indiana (12-8), tied Pennsylvania (3-3) and defeated Ohio (10-5). The twenty-five runs were the most scored of the six states.

Missouri hitters came out on a mission, and that mission was to punish the baseball; mission accomplished. Every hitter on Team Missouri recorded at least one hit in the three games, led by Future Games MVP Colby Fitch (C/OF, Hickman) and his four hits. Fitch blasted three no doubt homeruns and drove in six on the weekend. His stock was already high among college coaches, and now is off the charts.

Shane Benes (SS, Westminster) also flexed his muscles with two home runs in game one, and driving in four over the course of the weekend, finishing with three hits and four RBIs. Defensively Benes is a smooth fielding shortstop with good footwork, who is versatile enough to play second or third. Nic Perkins (C, Francis Howell) also chipped in with a long homerun to left center in game one, and just missed another in game three, settling for a long two RBI double instead. Perkins threw out two runners on the weekend, and excelled at first base as well.

Dalton Horstmeier (OF/SS, Fulton HS), jumped onto the radar with an impressive round of batting practice and a three for seven weekend at the plate; including two singles and a triple off the top of the left center field wall. Storm Rynard (RHP/SS) showed to be a legit two-way player, going two for eight with a double, RBI, and three runs scored.  Rynard also showed good hands and a strong arm at SS and 3B, recording a new Future Games record with his 91-mph throw across the diamond. 

Stu Mills (INF/Mayfield HS (KY) and Trey Turner (OF/C, Neosho) each collected three hits apiece. Mills showed the ability to hit for power and also come through in situational hitting opportunities.  Mills also showed versatility in the field, making plays at second, short, and third with a strong accurate arm (86-mph) Treu Turner knows how to put the ball in play and was one of the most aggressive base runners that we saw, stretching a single into a double and running hard from second to home. Turner showed some arm strength from right field (85-mph), gunning a runner at home in game one, the start of a 9-2-6-2 double play

While Eli Dilday (OF/SS Christian HS) only came away with one hit, he showed the ability to barrel up the ball and hit it hard. In game one he was robbed of extra bases when the Indiana centerfielder made what could have been the play of the weekend with a leaping catch of Dilday’s hard line drive to the warning track. Dilday has extremely quick hands and fast bat speed. The athletic Dilday showed one of the strongest arms of the weekend in the outfield (91-mph). Dilday’s high school teammate, Cory Canterbury (OF, Christian HS), put some good swings on the ball, and had the clutch hit of the weekend; an RBI single with two outs in the top of the seventh that tied the game at 3-3. Canterbury also performed well in the outfield, taking good angles to the ball and accurate throws (88-mph).

OF Jack Benninghoff (OF, Rockhurst) showed that he only know how to play the game one way, maximum effort at the plate and in the field. Benninghoff set a new Future Games record with a 92-mph throw from the outfield while showing athleticism to the ball; making difficult plays look easy. At the plate, Benninghoff collected three hits, using the middle part of the field and the right side. 

C/OF Brett Bond (Westminster) has tremendous upside. The switch hitter showed he can handle the bat from both sides of the plate, barreling up the ball a few times over the weekend while hitting hard line drives right at opposing players. He managed only one hit, but that doesn’t tell the whole story on is performance at the plate. Bond also has surprising speed for a catcher. Behind the plate, he manages the game and pitchers well and has a strong, accurate arm from the crouch (1.98, 78-mph), throwing out three baserunners. He also showed ability at first base and in the outfield.

Keith Greishaber (MIF, Marquette) took a good approach every at bat of the weekend, reaching base four times. Greishaber has explosive speed and is an aggressive and smart baserunner. In the field, Greishaber has good instincts and range from both MIF positions with a plus arm (86 mph), his tools and projectability translate well at the next level.


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