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Midwest Future Games Tryout: Position Player Analysis

July 17, 2013

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director

The Midwest Future Games Tryout featured 2015 and 2016 graduates from both Wisconsin and Illinois. The field was competitive as everyone was hoping to land a spot on a Midwest Future Games roster. In the end Jesse Forestell took the top spot for position players as well as earning a spot on Team Illinois in the 2013 Midwest Future Games.

Here’s a look at the top position players from the event.

Top Position Players

Scouting Reports by Dan Duran

1. Jesse Forestell, C, Homewood-Flossmorr (IL), 2015
Left-handed hitting catcher who displayed high-level potential at the showcase. Forestell has a strong, athletic build at 6-foot, 180 pounds. His advanced defensive abilities and left handed swing make him a high prospect. He has good feel for the position showing athletic receiving skills and body control on balls in the dirt. Utilizing efficient athletic actions, his 1.97 pop-time was the best at the event – ranging 1.97-2.05 at 75 mph from the crouch with accuracy. Forestell is a high-level prospect offensively with an advanced approach at the plate. He displayed a controlled, repeatable swing from a slightly open stance, using a smooth load against his back side and a short stride. He makes hard contact showing gap-to-gap power – hits off a firm front side, getting full extension, and maintaining balance throughout the swing. His athleticism also showed by running one of the better home-to-first times at 4.36. Forestell was selected to represent Illinois at the Midwest Future Games.

2. Mitch Pfeiffer, OF/IF, Barrington (IL), 2015
5-foot-11, 170-pound high-level prospect who displayed athleticism throughout the showcase. Has an athletic build and showed ability in all facets of the game. His 4.02 home-to-first was the best at the event. He played the outfield athletically, playing through the ball with quick, fluid footwork. Has an above average arm at 86 mph from the outfield with carry. Also is capable of playing the infield where he made throws at 78 mph. At the plate, Pfeiffer hits from a balanced setup and has an explosive swing with bat speed through the zone. He gets full extension and showed some pop – recording an 83 mph exit velocity off the tee, maintaining balance throughout the swing. Pfeiffer has a high motor, showing constant effort throughout the event and is a dynamic athlete to keep an eye on.

3. Jared Nelson, C, Jefferson, 2015
Nelson has an athletic frame with potential to mature. He uses quick, athletic actions defensively behind the plate recording pop times between 2.01-2.1 at 77 mph from the crouch. Displayed receiving and blocking abilities as well making him a high-level catching prospect. At the plate, Nelson hits from an athletic, balanced stance using a short stride. Showed some whip and recorded a 75 mph exit velocity off the tee, maintaining balance throughout the swing.

4. Alex Marro, C, Janesville-Craig, 2015
Alex Marro is a lanky, athletic catcher who showed ability in all facets. He legged out one of the top home-to-first times at 4.22. Marro’s transfer on throws to second were long but threw 80 mph from the crouch recording pop-times ranging 2.1-2.18. He’s a gap-to-gap hitter with bat speed, hitting from a balanced setup and short stride. He utilizes his lower half and maintains balance throughout his swing. Marro’s 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame has a high ceiling and his athleticism and arm strength could easily translate to multiple positions.

5. Dane Helnore, 3B, Burlington, 2015
Strong frame, 5-foot-8, 182-pound third-baseman who showed some offensive abilities. Line-drive hitter, hits from a balanced setup with athletic rhythm using a toe-tap trigger. Gets some leverage from his lower half and maintains balance throughout the swing.  Helnore displayed strong hands flashing bat speed, recording a 77 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, he fielded with fluid actions throwing 70 mph across the infield.

6. Matt McCarty, RHP/SS, South Milwaukee, 2016
Highly projectable tall, lanky, and athletic two-way player. McCarty displayed athletic actions defensively, fielding cleanly with fluid feet and a loose arm at 75 mph across the infield. His athleticism could project to multiple positions on the diamond.  He showed an approach at the plate with occasional gap power. McCarty hits from an open stance, rocking back in his load using a short stride. Makes use of his lower half and swings on a long uphill plane flashing some bat speed. McCarty has a smooth delivery off the mound, working with direction and a balanced finish. He has long arm action from a ¾ slot, fully extending out in front of his body. He has run on his fastball sitting 78-80 mph topping at 81 mph.  He had some feel for his 11/5 curveball, at 65-66 mph, and his changeup was thrown for strikes at 68-70 mph with arm-side run.  The 2016 grad is a two-way prospect to follow. McCarty also received an invitation to the Top Prospect Games at UIC.

7. Greg Kuhfuss, C, Westosha Central, 2015
5-foot-11, 185-pound catcher who showed quick defensive actions. Kuhfuss had athletic footwork with short, loose arm action from an over the top slot at 75 mph with accuracy.  His pop times ranged between 2.01 and 2.12. Also showed offensive abilities, setting up in a slightly open, narrow stance. Gap-to-gap hitter who makes hard contact, recording an 83 mph exit velocity. Keeps the bat on a level plane, cocks his wrist generating above average bat speed and creating some lift.

8. Griffin Nicksic, C/3B, Baraboo, 2015
Right-handed hitting and throwing catcher and third-baseman with a projectable lanky frame. Nicksic utilizes his long arms in his swing showing pop off the bat and some power with an 80 mph exit velocity off the tee. He hits from a slightly open setup using a long stride – swings with bat speed staying level through the zone with full extension. Defensively, Nicksic throws with short, over-the-top arm action at 74 mph across the infield and from the crouch – recording pop-times between 2.15-2.2.

9. Matt Brown, 3B, Champaign Central (IL), 2016
The 5-foot-11, 195-pound third-baseman showed solid offensive capabilities. Brown displayed bat speed at the plate, making consistent contact hitting line drives with occasional gap power. His exit velocity was 75 mph off the tee. Defensively, he showed an athletic glove fielding cleanly, making throws at 73 mph across the infield. Brown’s offensive abilities project well and make him a prospect to follow.  

10. Zach Bailey, MIF/3B, Janesville-Parker, 2015
5-foot-11, 155-pound infielder. Bailey threw across the infield at 78 mph with some carry, fielding the position cleanly with athletic footwork. Offensively he has a solid approach at the plate, setting up in a wide stance flashing some bat speed. Displayed some whip and hard contact (77 mph exit off the tee) but could afford to let the ball travel.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Billy Becker, SS, Pardeeville, 2015
Right-handed hitting and throwing shortstop with a 6-foot-2, 175-pound lanky frame. Offensively hits from a balanced setup using a leg-kick trigger. Becker swings violently on an uphill plane getting extension through the ball – recorded an event best 86 mph exit speed off the tee. His hands work well defensively and stays low, throwing 75 mph across the infield.

Hunter Brush, 1B, Holmen, 2015
Big 6-foot-3, 255-pound left-handed hitting first-baseman. Brush showed pop at the plate recording an 85 mph exit velocity off the tee. Sets up in a tall athletic stance, displayed bat speed through the zone with aggressive hacks. Generates lift on the ball swinging on a slightly uphill plane. Displayed soft hands defensively around the bag. Threw 76 mph across the infield but lacks some discipline in his footwork. Brush could be a player to watch with his size, power, and left-handed bat.

Sam Carlson, MIF, Craig, 2016
5-foot-10, 140-pound middle-infielder.  Uses no stride at the plate and his swing works on an uphill plane, recording a 71 mph exit velocity off the tee.  Defensively, showed long arm action at 64 mph across the infield from a ¾ slot. 

Rock Cates, MIF, Madison West, 2015
Lanky 6-foot-3, 160-pound middle-infielder. Offensively hits from a tall setup using a leg-kick trigger recording an 80 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively his throws across the infield were 73 mph.

Alexander Dages, LHP/OF, Bradford, 2016
Dages is a 5-foot-11, 170-pound left-handed hitting and throwing two-way player. He hits from a balanced setup using a short stride. Flashed bat speed, swinging on an uphill path with extension maintaining balance throughout. He has pull tendencies recording a 79 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, displayed quick actions in the outfield, throwing with long, over-the-top arm action at 79 mph with some accuracy. He also showed some athleticism running a 4.15 home-to-first. On the mound, Dages delivers with some rhythm and direction from a high ¾ arm slot. His fastball sat 74-76 mph, topping at 77 mph with slight run and sink. His slider is thrown with arm speed and slight 11/5 action at  63-66 mph, and changeup ranged 53-56 mph. 

Hunter Garsky, 3B, Johnson Creek, 2015
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitting and throwing third-baseman. Throws from a high ¾ slot defensively at 68 mph across the infield with some accuracy. Offensively hits from an open stance rocking back in his load, swinging on an uphill plane – recorded a 70 mph exit velocity off the tee.

Noah Herried, MIF, Necedah, 2016
5-foot-6, 130-pound middle-infielder hits from a balanced setup with a short stride.  Line-drive hitter, staying level through the zone maintaining balance throughout the swing – recording a 68 mph exit speed off the tee.  Defensively throws 70 mph across the infield. 

Jared Hoerter, OF, Indian Trail, 2015
Hoerter is a lanky 6-foot outfielder. He fields the position cleanly with some athleticism – making throws at 80 mph with long ¾ arm action, his exchange is clean and uses a crow hop to release the baseball. Offensively uses a short stride and has a short path to the ball. Hands are highly involved in swing, recorded a 73 mph exit velocity off the tee.

Hayden Houts, C, Owen-Withee, 2015
5-foot-11, 183-pound left-handed hitting catcher. Recorded pop-times between 2.12 and 2.2 at 72 mph from the crouch. Offensively hits from an open setup with some rhythm. Uses a short stride and swings on an uphill plane – recording a 74 mph exit velocity off the tee.

Aaron Jaeck, OF/RHP, Case, 2016
5-foot-9, 165-pound outfielder and right-handed pitcher.  Throws with long high ¾ action from the outfield at 75 mph with some accuracy.  Offensively hits from a balanced, slightly closed setup, using a short stride maintaining balance throughout the swing – recorded an 80 mph exit velocity.  From the mound, Jaeck delivers from a high ¾ slot.  Fastball sits 69-70 mph, curveball at 58-60 mph; and changeup sitting 61-62 mph. 

Matthew Mason, MIF, Grant (IL), 2016
Small-body middle-infielder who sprays the ball to all fields at the plate.  Sets up from a balanced, slightly open stance, using a leg-kick trigger and maintaining balance throughout the swing.  Recorded a 74 mph exit velocity off the tee.  Flashed defensive abilities and threw 73 mph across the infield with accuracy. 

Jimmy Olear, RHP/MIF, St. Joseph Catholic, 2015
5-foot-11, 165-pound two-way player who projects well on the mound. Tall-and-fall delivery, Olear works with some rhythm and direction towards the plate with a balanced finish. His shoulders stay level and has long arm action from a ¾ slot. He has feel for all three pitches: fastball sits 74-76 mph thrown for strikes and topping at 77 mph; slurve-like 11/5 curveball ranges 61-64 mph; and changeup stays 71-72 mph with arm-side run and sink. Defensively his infield was clean and showed an athletic arm, throwing 71 mph across the infield. Offensively hits from a slightly open stance using a short stride, recording an 82 mph exit velocity off the tee.

J.J. Rosado, SS/3B, Cudahy, 2015
Left-handed hitting infielder who possesses the projectable lanky build. Rosado displayed solid offensive skills, showing bat speed on an uphill plane with full extension – recorded a 77 mph exit speed off the tee. Defensively throws from a ¾ arm slot at 71 mph across the infield.

Chase Scharnek, RHP/OF, Waukesha West, 2015
Projectable lanky left-handed hitting outfielder and right-handed pitcher stands 6-foot-3, 175 pounds. Scharnek displayed some rhythm and drop-and-drive type delivery on the mound. Throws with shorter arm action from an over-the-top slot. His fastball is mostly straight, sits 79-81 mph topping at 82 mph, showed control. Throws a 71-73 mph slider with some late 11/5 action, and his curveball ranges 64-67 mph. Scharnek showed foot-speed running a 4.14 home-to-first. Offensively hits from a wide setup using a short stride. Showed an approach at the plate and maintains balance through his swing. His bat path was long, slightly uphill, and recorded an 81 mph exit speed off the tee. Definitely a player to watch as he physically matures and develops added feel.

Kyle Scoville, SS/RHP, Bradford, 2016
Scoville is a 5-foot-9, 140-pound two-way player.  At the plate, he sets up in a balanced stance using a short stride.  Makes use of his lower half and maintains balance throughout, hitting line-drives in the gaps consistently with hard contact (78 mph exit speed off the tee).  Long arm action defensively, throwing 68 mph across the infield.  On the mound, Scoville delivers with some rhythm working with direction, throwing from a high ¾ arm slot.  Fastball sits 68-71 mph; 11/5 curve thrown at 59-61 mph with early break; straight change ranging 58-63 mph. 

Jonathan Stiever, SS/RHP, Cedarburg, 2015
Tall and lanky two-way player with projectability on the mound. His tall-and-fall delivery works well with his frame – shows athletic rhythm and works with direction towards the plate, landing squared and finishing balanced. He throws with long ¾ arm action and has feel for all three pitches. Stiever’s fastball was thrown for strikes at 79-82 mph with occasional run and sink, topping at 83 mph. He had command for his big sweeping 11/5 curveball sitting 66-68 mph flashing some sharp break. His changeup showed slight cutting action ranging 67-71 mph. Offensively Stiever hits from a wide setup using minimal load and short stride. He maintains balance throughout the swing – recorded a 79 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively he throws across the infield with long arm action at 78 mph.

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