On Tuesday, June 23rd, PBR Arizona had the chance to run its Class of 2021- Top Prospect Games, its first event of the summer for uncommitted 2021 graduates. The class has been itching to showcase their skills in front of scouts during the recruiting dead period began. The event proved that there is still plenty of quality 2021 uncommitted prospects out there still looking for a home at the next level. The Top Prospects games is an annual invite only event that features some of the top players across the state of Arizona. This years event took place at Shadow Ridge High School in Surprise, AZ . There were many players in attendance that one will want to follow in the near future. This event featured over 50 players  that took part in a pro style workout followed by live game action. This annual sold out event has become a must attend event for future college prospects looking to play at the next level. 

We began our post-event analysis with our Statistical Analysis, taking a look at the top statistical performers in each category. We also posted a Quick Hits article of our first impressions from the event. This event gave us some good knowledge into some players that we haven't seen before. We also had the chance to see players we haven't seen in a while due to seasons being shut down. 

Today, we keep our post event coverage going by continuing our positional analysis, highlighting the infielders that competed at this 2021 event. There are many uncommitted infielders with some upside left in the 2021 class with a few on this list. Be sure to stay tuned over the next couple weeks for more post-event coverage. 

CLICK HERE to view all event statistics. 

Infield Analysis

 + 2021 SS/RHP James Benbrook (Ironwood)- 5-foot-10 160-pounds, large build, average body & strength. Sets up in an average squared base, using a small forward move while hands work slightly back. Reaches into front foot strike at times. Gets connected early. GB/ LD contact with 82 mph exit velocity. Slower hands & bat speed that should improve with strength. Stiff footwork in the infield. Ran a 7.66 60-yard dash. Rounded the baseball right at him.. Takes some time to change directions. Worked hard to keep the ball in the infield. Throws from lower slot at 76mph arm strength. Also worked out on the mound. Tall delivery with high leg swing, having trouble transferring energy. Threw with long arm action from a lower slot. Minimal separation & explosiveness. FB worked 75-77mph with slight sinking action. Paired with a SL thrown at 66-67.

+ 2021 SS/2B Matthew Carter (Willow Canyon)- 5-foot-7 135-pounds, small balanced  frame, young body, limited strength, athletic actions. Left-handed hitter. Sets up in an athletic squared stance, using a leg lift with hands working slightly back. Showed some feel & rhythm at the plate. Excellent on plane efficiency. Longer swing with slower hand & bat speed that should improve with strength. Showed some feel for the barrel with a middle line drive approach. 77 mph exit velocity off a tee. Hits some LD up the middle up to 86mph in live BP. Showed some athletic actions in the infield. Good pre-pitch movement. Went and got the baseball. Soft twitchy hands, playing through the baseball. Carry on throws with short arm. Showed some overall feel for position with a two-handed slow roller. Development should be followed.

+ 2021 SS/3B Cole Caruso (Cactus Shadows)- 6-foot-2 185-pounds, big body with long limbs, present strength & athleticism. Multi-sport athlete who also plays basketball. Sets up in an open stance with slightly gathered leg lift, lands square. Loads hands into a slight barrel tilt. Long aggressive swing with pull approach, looking to drive baseball in the air with some power potential. 86mph exit velocity off a tee. Hit some balls up to 94mph in live BP. Usable feet in the infield, showing some quickness with stop and go approach at times. Ran a 7.37 60-yard dash. Fields ball out in front. Some natural arm strength across the diamond at 83mph with more in the tank. Solid follow as an infield prospect.

+ 2021 SS/3B Paul Cruz (Empire)- 6-foot 190-pounds, broad shoulders, big limbs, some strength & durability in frame. Starts in a square stance in a relaxed upright position. Uses a big leg kick with open front side to create leverage, landing with front toe open. Hands work down & back into a vertical barrel, getting connected early as he starts his swing. Above average bat speed, showing some ability to transfer energy to barrel at contact. Aggressive pull approach, looking to hit ball in the air, 91mph exit velocity. Loud heavy feet in the infield. Best suited as a corner infielder. With usable hands. Ran a 7.68 60-yard dash. Some arm strength across the diamond at 82mph.

+ 2021 SS Brayan Espinzona (Nogales)- 5-foot-11 175-pounds, large athletic build, proportional compact frame, present athleticism & strength. Ran 7.26 60-yard dash that plays a bit faster in game. Looks the part of middle infielder with soft quick hands. Good arm strength across the diamond at 87mph. Hits from a spread out base with a raw athletic approach, showing an above average ability to hit. Uses a gather step to transfer energy, getting to a strong launch position at front foot strike. Good barrel consistency from level swing with 89mph exit velocity. Plays the game with grit. Should be one of the top uncommitted 2021 INF prospects to follow in AZ.

+ 2021 2B/SS Gabe Faust (Flagstaff)- 5-foot-8 150-pounds, medium build, still maturing, limited strength & explosiveness. Ran a 7.96 60-yard dash with upright posture. Switch-hitting middle infielder. Sets up in a narrow open stance, landing slightly close with a leg lift. Some extra movement. Average bat speed. High positive attack angles. Gap to gap approach with varied contact. 83mph exit velocity. Short choppy feet in the infield. Fields balls on the right side of his body in a staggered stance, sitting back on heels. Quick transfers with short arm action at 72mph across the diamond.

+ 2021 SS Patrick Herrera (Skyline)- 6-foot-2 165-pounds, recently committed to Northwestern, lean body with long limbs, present athleticism, good projectability, room to hold more strength. Multi-sport athlete, plays basketball in the winter.  Offensively, hits from a semi spread out base with a slightly open stance. Uses a subtle toe tap that is barely noticeable to transfer energy with little forward movement. Minimal separation of the hands in load. Turns barrel early, creating a pull approach. Average contact at 85mph exit velocity. Sound, not flashy defensive actions in the infield. Good hands. Arm strength will determine if he can stick to shortstop position in the future, 74mph arm strength across the diamond. Athleticism & projectability should make for a follow at the next level.

+ 2021 3B Spencer Horwath (Sunrise Mountain)- 5-foot-11 175-pounds, broad shoulders, balanced frame, some strength & athleticism. Sets up in an average squared base, using a leg kick trigger to create leverage. Open front knee through pick up, landing open. Showed some bat & hand speed with a tight turn. Mid/pull approach with some hard LD contact at 88mph exit velocity. Stop & go approach to fielding. Fields the ball with flat feet. Late glove flip, fielding the ball underneath the body. Short arm action, falling off the glove side. 80mph arm strength across the diamond.

+ 2022 SS/2B Jaydan Israel (Desert Ridge)- 5-foot-10 140-pounds, thin athletic frame, medium build, athletic, plenty of room to add strength. Switch-hitting middle infielder. Some differences in approach. From the left side, starts in a slightly upright open stance, using a toe tap to land square. Wraps his bat around his head with flat entry into the zone. Mid/pull approach, 78mph exit velocity. From the right side, starts in a squared stance, using a leg kick trigger with mid/oppo approach. More pop & bat speed from the right side, 82mph exit velocity. Varied path from both sides. Clean athletic footwork in the infield. Ran a 7.37 60-yard dash. Took good angles. Fields the ball deep at times with quick hands. Quick short arm with 79mph arm strength across the diamond.

+ 2021 3B Brok Liu (Chandler)- 5-foot-11 165-pounds, lean body, above average strength & athleticism. Some rawness to approach at the plate, setting up in an open hunched over stance. Uses a toe tap trigger with some forward head movement. Above average bat & hand speed. Gap to gap approach, showing some power potential to the opposite field, 92mph exit velocity. Hit a double down the LF line in live game action on a change-up. Fields balls in the infield with some energy with raw hoppy footwork. Ran a 7.30 60-yard dash. Stiff hands, bringing ball to belt buckle. 82mph arm strength across the diamond.

+ 2021 1B Brandon Loo (Desert Mountain)- 6-foot-2 195-pounds, strong build, large frame, strength in legs. Sets up in an athletic base with knees inside feet, slightly more weight on the back leg. Uses a leg kick trigger, turning knee in with tight hips to create leverage. Slightly above average bat speed for a high schooler. Makes contact out in front of the plate. Pull approach with some hard contact at 86mph exit velocity. Above average athleticism for first base position. Usable hands & footwork. 70mph arm strength across the diamond with short arm action.

+ 2021 SS/RHP Anthony Loth (Florence)- 6-foot-1 160-pounds, thin frame, long torso & limbs, room to add more weight. Two-way player. Starts relaxed, lowering self into legs. Reaches into front foot strike with linear forward movement. Opens up front side early with bent front knee. Above average bat & hand speed. Accelerates onto the swing plane late at times. Inconsistent path to baseball. Showed some pop up to 92mph off the bat to the LCF gap in live BP. Showed flat footwork in the infield with a stiff body. Soft hands, fielding the ball cleanly. 83mph arm strength across the diamond. Also worked out on the mound. Slow twitch delivery. Throws from OT arm slot. Lands across the body. Hard time rotating at times. Threw lots of strikes. FB sat 76-79mph with some sinking action. Developing more feel for off-speed. Threw a splitter at 67-68mph and CV at 65-67mph.

+ 2021 SS/2B Luke Odden (Brophy College Prep)- 5-foot-11 160-pounds, sloped shoulders, lean body, some definition in arms and legs. Switch-hitting middle infielder. Similar approach from both sides of the plate. Sets up in a wide spread out stance, using a small leg kick. Loads barrel vertically, getting bat onto swing plane late at times. Faster hands & slightly more power potential from right side. Some rhythm in swing. Opposite field approach, 85mph exit velocity. Easy footwork in the infield with a good pre-pitch routine. Ran a 7.52 60-yard dash. Soft hands with rhythm. Low intent throws with short arm action. Quick exchanges with glove tap at times. 77mph arm strength across the diamond.

+ 2021 SS/2B Maguire Peterson (Notre Dame Prep)- 6-foot-3 170-pounds, athletic body, long legs, high waisted, above average athleticism, some projectability. Athletic squared setup, leaning slightly on back leg. Hands start shoulder height with slight load. Uses a pick up with some forward movement. Good bat & hand speed for age with some power potential. Accelerates barrel onto swing plane slower due to slot.  91mph exit velocity with pop to CF. Opposite field approach. Long athletic footwork, showed quickness when he needed to. Usable hands with rawness to glove action. Short quick arm action across the diamond with 82mph arm strength.

+ 2021 2B/3B Christian Ramirez (Agua Fria)- 5-foot-9 175-pounds, stocky frame, some present strength, durable lower half, average athleticism. Starts in a relaxed squared base with handsy pre-pitch movement. Uses slight forward leg lift, stuck on the backside with some tightness in the body. Minimal transfer of weight. Gets connected early with average bat & hand speed. Downhill swing plane. Middle approach with LD contact at 84mph exit velocity. Heavy footwork with average athleticism. Ran a 8.10 60-yard dash. Firm hands. 74mph arm strength across the diamond.

+ 2021 SS Luke Thiele (Hamilton)- 6-foot 160-pounds, athletic build, long frame, some fast twitch movement, projectable. Breakout performance with significant improvement since the last time we saw him. Hits from a raw spread out stance with bent knees. Quick knee to knee trigger. Minimal separation of the hands from the body. Shows some feel for the barrel with quick time to contact. Opposite field approach. Showed some pop to RCF in upper 80’s. Middle infield play stood out on the day with easy fast footwork. Ran the top 60-yard dash of the day at 6.68. Showed twitchy hands, making a nice play going to his forehand up the middle in live action. Displays a strong arm across the diamond at 88mph. If his offense can catch up a bit, Thiele has a chance to be a big pickup for a college program.

+ 2021 SS/RHP Jeff Tuten (Evangel Christian)- 6-foot-1 180-pounds, large build, long legs, some definition. Starts in a squared balanced base. Uses a small leg kick to transfer energy. Hands load down & deep with vertical barrel. Slots barrel as he makes his first move, accelerating onto the swing plane quickly. Good time to contact. Pull approach with 88mph exit velocity. Slower footwork in the infield letting the ball get to him. Fields the ball deep with little rhythm. Short arm action at 74mph across the diamond. Also worked out on the mound. Simple repeatable delivery. Throws from a H3/4 arm slot with short stiff arm action. Moves slow down the mound. Varied spin axis on pitches. FB sat 71-76mph. Developing feel for the off-speed.

+ 2021 SS/C Marshall Williams (Sunnyslope)- 5-foot-9 170-pounds, large, lean build, some defined strength throughout frame, durable lower half. Switch hitter, versatile player that worked out at C and in the MINF. Similar set up from both sides of the plate. Starting in a relaxed base, using a small leg kick trigger. Shows good hand speed from both sides of the plate. Significant more bat speed from the left-handed side. Gets on plane from both sides with quick time to contact. Shows some feel for the barrel with a gap to gap approach. Hard contact at 92mph exit velocity. Above average athlete behind the plate, running a 7.20 60-yard dash. Would be surprised if he caught more in his future, athleticism plays well behind the plate. Shows above average flexibility and mobility. Quick transfer & release with natural arm strength at 79mph, 1.98-2.01 pop times. Shows quick feet with athletic foot work & twitchy hands in the infield. Quick arm with 81mph arm strength.

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