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Unsigned Senior Showcase: Position Player Analysis

October 21, 2014

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois

The fall Unsigned Senior Showcase is in the books, we’ve recently updated our 2015 class rankings and today we look at the top performers from the Unsigned Senior Showcase in Appleton. After breaking down the position players we found several prospects that have the ability to play at the next level and J.T. Athy (Cudahy) took the top spot. Athy’s left handed bat and ability to play the middle of the infield won him the top spot. His bat control should play well in the two-hole at the next level.

Here’s a look at the top position players of the Unsigned Senior Showcase.

Top Position Players

1. J.T. Athy, SS, Cudahy
Athletically built, 5-foot-10, 160-pound left-handed hitting shortstop. Offensively hits from an open stance, smooth loading action, short stride, lower half works well, maintains strong balance throughout. Short bat path, hands work well, quick hands, line drive gap to gap hitter, occasional opposite field tendencies. Athletic hitter, loose hands, bat speed present, top of the lineup hitter. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed advanced actions on the infield, soft hands, fluid footwork, quick clean exchange, plays through the baseball well. Athletic arm action, showed excellent body control when on the move, short loose arm action from high ¾ slot, 76 mph across the diamond. 7.25 runner in the 60.

2. Chad Herbst, SS, McFarland
Lean athletic shape, 6-foot, 170-pound middle infielder, highly projectable frame. Ran the 60 at 7.04. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, smooth loading action, short stride, excellent balance through contact. Quiet setup, keeps head level, sees ball well. Quick twitch hands, lets the ball travel well, above average bat speed for his class. Line drive type hitter, gap to gap approach. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed athleticism, clean actions, hands showed some feel. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot, carried across the diamond, 82 mph.

3. Nikola Vasic, SS, New Berlin Eisenhower, WI
5-foot-9, 145-pound middle infielder. Advanced foot speed, ran an event best 6.75 60 at Wisconsin’s Unsigned Senior Showcase. Defensively plays though the baseball well, clean exchange, soft hands, back hand plays well. Well above average actions, quick feet shows athleticism and range. Arm plays from a high ¾ slot, short loose arm action, accurate with carry, 78 mph across the diamond. Right handed hitter, balanced stance, slightly open, short stride, lower half works. Balanced approach, quiet and compact at the plate, hands work well. Contact type hitter with bat control, line drive gap to gap approach, spray hitter. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.

4. Alex Kermendy, SS/RHP, Waukesha West
5-foot-8, 170-pound two-way player, stocky build with strength. Right-handed hitter, slight open stance, smooth loading action, short stride. Strong balance through contact, repeats swing well, showed the ability to impact the baseball, line drive type hitter, gap to gap. Bat speed present, level path, barrel aware. Defensively plays with an athletic arm action on the infield, short high ¾ slot, strong arm, 82 mp across the diamond. On the mound delivery has a slower tempo, slight pause at top of balance point. Arm plays from a high ¾ slot. Fastball showed slight action, 80-81 mph, touched 82 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, gradual action, 60-62 mph. Changeup sat 62-64 mph.

5. Kyle Brahm, C, Nicolet
6-foot-1, 170-pound catcher, lanky build, projectable frame can carry additional strength. Defensively displayed excellent catch and throw skills, gets out of the crouch quickly, mechanically sound blocking the baseball. Typical catchers arm action, short loose and over the top, occasionally showed carry to target, 73 mph. Footwork is quick out of the crouch and moving laterally, athletic catcher. Posted pop times at 2.00-2.11. Offensively hits from the right side, tall setup, balanced stance, reverse toe tap stride, long stride. Maintains balance through contact, uphill path, opposite field tendencies, 77 mph exit velocity from the tee.

6. Dan Malak, OF/RHP, Muskego
Large frame, strong build, advanced physical make up, 6-foot-1, 190-pound two-way player. Defensively showed athleticism in the outfield, plays through the baseball, fluid footwork, clean exchange, uses crow hop. Strong arm from the outfield, high ¾ slot, 86 mph arm strength. Right handed hitter, high elbow setup, open stance, short stride, slight leg lift, good balance. Gap to gap approach, strong contact. 7.45 runner in the 60. On the mound delivery works on line, high hands separation, slightly open, squared toe landing, level shoulders, slide step stretch. Fastball is mostly straight, ranged 77-82 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, throws aggressively, 72-73 mph, sharp break, controls the pitch well. Changeup has sink at 74-75 mph.

7. Dane Lamont, INF, Marquette University
6-foot, 185-pound infielder, carries some strength, athletic build. Offensively hits from the right side, balanced stance, arm bar load, short stride, good balance throughout. Showed some ability to impact the baseball, occasionally lifts the baseball, gap to gap approach. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively feet played mechanically sound, clean exchange, plays through the baseball. High ¾ slot, above average arm strength for his age, 81 mph across the diamond.

8. Justin Reed, C, Neenah
6-foot, 195-pound catcher, strong build, large frame. Defensive catcher, quick exchange, posted pop times at 2.04-2.14, quality receiver, natural catching actions. Slightly longer arm action, over the top slot, arm played at 70 mph from the crouch. Offensively hits from a slightly open stance, short stride, lower half works, good balance through contact. Loose hands, slight inside out path, line drive type hitter, above average bat speed for age. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.92 runner in the 60-yard dash.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Jacob Budnik, OF, Lake Country Lutheran
6-foot-1, 170-pound outfielder, lanky frame, athletic build. Excellent arm strength from the outfield, 85 mph, high ¾ slot, loose arm action with accuracy, showed carry. Hans played softly in the outfield, fluid footwork, plays through the baseball. 7.74 runner in the 60. Closed stance hitting from the right side, loopy loading action, slightly dives. Line drive pull hitter, some uphill path. 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Bradley Calkins, RHP/3B, Sun Prairie
6-foot-4, 195-pound two-way player, lanky frame, long legs, projectable. On the mound delivery is a tall and fall approach, works directionally with a closed soft landing. High ¾ arm slot, short arm action. Fastball is mostly straight 80-82 mph. Shows excellent feel of curveball, 12/6 shape, 67 mph. Changeup is 70-73 mph. Projectable RHP has good upside with present control of curveball. Right handed hitter, balanced setup, slightly open, short stride, hands load back. Pull side approach, level stroke, line drive hitter. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a high ¾ arm slot at 76 mph across the diamond.

Luke Eide, RHP/1B, Osseo-Fairchild
6-foot, 215-pound two-way player, large strong build. On the mound works slightly across the body, regular effort, closed landing. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball worked 79-82 mph, showed control. Curveball played at 57-64 mph, showed a tendency to decal arm action, looked better from the stretch. Changeup sat 69-70 mph. Right-handed hitter, open stance, tall setup, lower half works. Strong swing with the ability to impact the baseball on the inner half. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively played with a short arm action, high ¾ slot across the diamond, 70 mph. Ran a 7.86 60.

Kayin Moudy, OF/RHP, Wilmot
Lanky frame, 6-foot-3, 175-pound two-way player, room to fill out. In the outfield played through the baseball with fluid footwork, 7.30 runner in the 60. Arm action is short , high ¾ slot, accurate arm at 81 mph from the outfield. Right-handed hitter, open stance, loads hands back, short stride. Loose whippy swing, level path, line drive tendencies. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound arm played from a high ¾ slot, loose arm action, two piece back swing. Drop and drive style delivery, closed landing that works slightly across his body. Fastball sat 74-76 mph. Curveball ranged 63-65 mph. Changeup showed fading action, 68-71 mph.

Brandon Schroeder, SS, Oshkosh North
5-foot-10, 180-pound left-handed hitting middle infielder. Hits from an open stance, pre pitch waggle, leg kick trigger that dives over the plate. Showed the ability to impact the baseball, hard contact, found the barrel, line drive type hitter. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm action is long, over the top slot, 78 mph across the diamond. Displayed body control on the slow roller. Could project as an offensive left handed hitting third baseman. 7.64 runner in the 60.

Jacob Schwall, 1B, Wisconsin Lutheran
Strong build, 6-foot, 175-pound first baseman. 7.05 runner in the 60-yard dash. Hits from the right side, open stance, double toe tap trigger, average balance. Path has length, pull side path. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed mechanically sound footwork around the bag, long loose arm action works from a high ¾ slot, 74 mph across the diamond.

Justin Scoville, OF/RHP, Freedom
5-foot-9, 180-pound outfielder, medium build. Right-handed hitter, wide setup, smooth minimal loading action, short stride. Showed the ability to backspin the baseball, pull side approach, longer path showed some extension. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively played through the baseball, fluid footwork. 7.20 runner in the 60. Arm action is long, over the top slot, showed accuracy and occasional carry. On the mound, arm plays from an over the top slot. Fastball sat 75-77 mph, occasional sink. Curveball has steeper shape, 58-60 mph. Changeup flashed cut action, 67-69 mph.

Austin Sustachek, C, Oak Creek
5-foot-10, 165-pound catcher, carries present strength, athletic frame. Right handed hitter, tall setup, narrow stance, slightly open, short stride, hands load backwards. Path shows length, moderate bat speed, 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively posted pop times at 2.11-2.26, arm action is short, tendency to work uphill, athletic setup. Arm played at 70 mph out of the crouch. 7.56 runner in the 60-yard dash.

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