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Southern Wisconsin Open: Infield Analysis

November 5, 2014

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois

Infielders from the Southern Wisconsin Open were led by two big left-handed bats. Anthony Schlass (West Bend West, 2017), already committed to Oklahoma may have one of the more explosive bats in the class. 3B Alex Binelas (Oak Creek, 2018) could easily be the best of this group when everything is said and done.  Binelas’ best days are clearly ahead of him, he has the ability to stick at third base at the next level and hit for power from the left side.

Top Infield Prospects

1. Anthony Schlass, INF, West Bend West, 2017
Oklahoma commit, first 2017 prospect in Wisconsin to make college commitment. 5-foot-11, 180-pound left-handed hitting infielder, strong build, broad physical shape, still projects. Offensively hits from a balanced setup, short toe tap stride, smooth loading action, aggressive lower half, excellent balance through contact. Explosive bat speed, strong swing slightly right hand dominant, short to the baseball with slight uphill finish, can lift the baseball with pop. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a short high ¾ arm action, showed carry. Ran a 7.05 in the 60. Physicality could move him to a corner position down the road.

2. Alex Binelas, 3B, Oak Creek, 2018
6-foot-1, 175-pound third baseman, advanced frame with projectability, athletic build, projects for additional strength. Offensively looks to be an early favorite for the top left handed bat in the 2018 class. Balanced stance, short stride, lower half works well, maintains strong balance, good presence in the box, hitterish. Gap to gap approach with power, explosive bat speed, hits with rhythm, excellent timing. 98 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively projects at a corner infield spot, third baseman, hands are soft, footwork is fluid and plays through the baseball, takes good routes/angles to the baseball. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot, showed carry, arm plays at 76 mph across the diamond. 7.26 runner in the 60. High follow prospect in the 2018 class.

3. Alec Marsh, RHP/3B, Reagan College Prep, 2016
Highly athletic frame, 6-foot-1, 190-pound two-way player, projects really well, long legs, slightly barrel chested. Excellent upside on the mound. Tall and fall delivery, easy effort, stays on line with repeatable rhythm and tempo, squared landing and athletic finish. Arm action is free and clean, loose arm action from a high ¾ slot, comes out easy. Fastball has sink and showed the ability to command it, sat 87 mph, one 85 mph from the stretch and finished touching 88 mph from the windup. Curveball has 11/5 shape, ranged 68-74 mph, occasionally gets around it, showed the ability to spin it well. Changeup has fastball arm action, excellent sinking action, kept at the bottom of the zone, 76-78 mph with advanced action and feel. Marsh is a high follow in the 2016 class.

4. Nathan Grzybowski, MIF, Hale, 2015
Verbally committed to UW-Whitewater. 5-foot-10, 155-pound left-handed hitting infielder, athletic frame with some projection and length. Offensively hits from an open stance, smooth loading action, short stride that slightly dives, excellent balance at contact; overall loose athletic setup. Short path to the baseball, showed excellent bat speed, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Line drive gap to gap type approach, fluid hitter, slight pull tendencies, hard pull contact. Defensively showed arm strength across the diamond, 81 mph, ball carried and accurate, short loose action gets rid of it quickly. Hands play soft, funnels to middle, feet stay active and play through the baseball, natural infield defender. 7.57 laser timed 60.

5. Connor Bagnieski, MIF, Bay Port, 2016
5-foot-7, 145-pound left-handed hitting middle infielder, athletic shape. Offensively hits from an open stance, tall/narrow setup, smooth loading action with short leg lift trigger. Chokes up on the bat, simple/compact approach, looks to work the middle of the field. Line drive type hitter, athletic in the box, fluid with bat speed. 73 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays through the baseball and makes clean transfers, footwork is fluid and shows playable hands. Arm action is short, high ¾ slot, athletic arm action can play on the move, 71 mph across the diamond. 7.8 runner in the 60.

6. Connor Goodman, MIF, Pewaukee, 2017
5-foot-9, 160-pound left-handed hitting infielder. Offensively hits from an open stance, short toe tap stride, lower half works, showed good balance. Bat speed present, path works slightly uphill, lifts the baseball to pull side, slight lunge, some pop. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a short over the top arm action, 81 mph across the diamond. Showed some athleticism fielding through the baseball. 7.56 runner for the 60.

7. Jason Abatto, INF, Kettle Moraine, 2017
Strong build, 5-foot-7, 170-pound left-handed hitting infielder. Handles the bat aggressively, hits from a balanced stance, slightly closed, short heel lift stride and active lower half. Compact hitter, worked the middle of the field, line drive gap to gap guy, slightly favors pull side. Path is short and shows good bat speed, 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively projects as a third base type on the infield, short footwork, played through the baseball. Arm action is short and loose, high ¾ slot, 71 mph arm across the infield. 7.79 runner in the 60.

8. Nathan Santos, RHP/3B/OF, Altoona, 2016
6-foot-1, 200-pound two-way player, large frame, solid build. Projects well on the mound, tall and fall type delivery, works on line, athletic finish. Arm action is long and loose, ¾ slot. Fastball has running action, showed feel for the zone and stayed around it, 80-82 mph, topped out at 83 mph. Threw two breaking balls. Curveball has slurve type feel, fastball arm action, good control, 71-73 mph. Slider showed similar action, 69-72 mph. Changeup has arm side action with sink, flashed excellent action, 74-76 mph. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short toe tap stride, good balance. Opposite field approach, slight uphill path, 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed some athleticism in the field, corner type defender. In the outfield arm played at 85 mph, on the infield played at 83 mph. 7.37 runner in the 60.

9. Patrick Foldy, 3B/RHP, Hamilton, 2018
6-foot, 135-pound two-way player, lanky frame, thin build, long legs. Defensively plays with a short loose arm action, high ¾ slot, 70 mph across the diamond. Loose easy actions, showed the ability to play through the baseball, projects as a third base type. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride, good balance throughout. Bat path works, short to the baseball, 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.96 runner in the 60. Athletic delivery on the mound, works online, high ¾ arm action, quick loose action. Fastball has arm side run, showed control of the zone, 72-74 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, showed feel with depth, big bender, 58-60 mph. Flashed a knuckleball at 63-64 mph.

10. Nick Hammel, RHP/1B, Muskego, 2016
6-foot-1, 225-pound two-way player, physically advanced strength, wide shouldered, strong lower half. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, longer stride. Strong hitter, bat speed present, longer path slightly uphill, power type hitter. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed footwork around the bag, long arm action, 74 mph across the diamond. On the mound works from a full windup, high ¾ slot. Fastball is mostly straight, four seam action, 74-77 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, gradual action, 61-66 mph. Straight change sits 66-68 mph. Forkball has downward action, 60-64 mph.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Steele Beatty, OF/MIF, Pewaukee, 2018
5-foot-8, 145-pound multi-positional player. Right-handed hitter, short lifted stride, good balance through contact. Showed some bat speed, level bat path, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ran the 60 in 8.06. Defensively showed better in the outfield, used a crowhop through the baseball, plays through with one hand. Arm action is long, over the top slot, played at 77 mph from the outfield, 67 mph from the infield.

Nick Busalacchi, INF, Waterford Union, 2016
6-foot, 165-pound infielder, thin build, room for added strength. Offensively hits from the right side, balanced stance, short stride, gets foot down early. Line drive approach, some rhythm, 72 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ran the 60 at 7.70. Defensively plays with a long arm action across the diamond, ¾ slot, 70 mph arm strength.

Harrison Collar, INF, Appleton West, 2016
6-foot-1, 190-pound infielder, lanky frame, thin build. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride. Pull tendency approach, level path with length, 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a short high ¾ arm action, 70 mph arm strength. Ran a 7.42 in the 60 yard dash.

Derek Crawley, RHP/SS, Arrowhead, 2017
5-foot-11, 160-pound two-way player, lean thin build, athletic shape. On the mound delivery has regular effort, open landing, works slightly on heels. Arm works from an over the top slot. Fastball is mostly straight, 78-79 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, gradual action, showed some feel for the zone, 66-68 mph. Straight change, slight fading action, near fastball arm speed. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, slightly closed, short stride with good balance. Line drive type approach, slight pull tendency, 69 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays the infield with a short arm action, high ¾ slot, 72 mph across the diamond.

Charlie Mead, INF, Appleton West, 2016
5-foot-10, 150-pound left-handed hitting infielder, thin/lanky frame. Offensively hits from a wide stance, short stride, weight shift load. Path gets uphill, pull side tendencies, arms stay tight to body, 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, footwork plays wide, arm works from a low ¾ slot, 65 mph arm across the diamond. 7.49 runner in the 60.

Jake Sandstrom, INF, Altoona, 2016
5-foot-10, 150-pound infielder, medium frame. Right-handed hitter, slightly closed, smooth loading action, short tap stride, hands set away from body. Opposite field approach, produced line drives, 74 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.57 runner in the 60. Defensively plays the ball deep on the infield, glove pat transfer. Short arm action, high ¾ slot, 72 mph across the diamond.

Jake Sperry, OF/MIF, Chippewa Falls, 2016
5-foot-10, 165-pound multi-positional player, showed quick aggressiveness in his game. Left-handed hitter, closed stance, slight leg kick trigger, lower half works, maintained balance. Aggressive pull type swing that attacks the baseball, slight lunge, showed current bat speed, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ran the 60 at 7.17, laser timed. Defensively projects better in the outfield, arm played loosely from a high ¾ slot, 82 mph from the outfield crowhop. On the infield arm action showed slightly less effort, 76 mph across the diamond.

Jake Thomas, 3B/RHP, Pacelli, 2017
6-foot-1, 195-pound two-way player. Offensively hits from the right side, balanced stance, short stride, low finish. Swing created occasional whip, level path, gap to gap approach, 73 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a short over the top arm action on the infield, 65 mph across the diamond. 8.26 runner in the 60. On the mound delivery works online, slightly open stride. Arm action is short high ¾ slot. Fastball has slight cut action, 72-74 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 56-59 mph. Changeup had cut action, 66-68 mph.

Austin Vazquez, RHP/SS, Tremper, 2016
5-foot-9, 145-pound two-way player, medium fame and build. Delivery works slightly across body, slightly closed landing, toe up balance position. Arm action is short over the top slot. Fastball sat 72-73 mph, showed the ability to throw a number of strikes. Curveball has 12/6 shape, gradual action, landed for strikes at 60-64 mph. Changeup sat 60-62 mph, slightly decelerated arm action. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short reverse toe tap stride. Pull side approach, some length, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively played the infield with short abrupt footwork, arm played at 75 mph, over the top slot. Ran the 60 yard dash at 7.52.

Nathan White, 1B/RHP, Union Grove, 2017
5-foot-6, 165-pound two-way player, solid lower half. Offensively hits from a tall open stance, short stride. Opposite field contact, level path, 71 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed some footwork around the bag. Arm action has length, high ¾ slot, 64 mph across the diamond. On the mound arm action is similar to that on the infield. Fastball has sink, 61-63 mph. Curveball has 11/5 action, sweeping, 55-59 mph. Changeup sat 55-58 mph.

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