By Jeff Markle
Assistant State Director

The Prep Baseball Report’s Preseason All-State Invitational took place on February 28th at Highlands Ranch High School. 93 prospects showed up and strutted their stuff in a pro-style workout. Over the next several days the PBR Scouting staff will roll out position-by-position rankings of the event. We continue our look with the middle infield positions.

Best of the Best:

Tommy Gillman, Columbine High School (2016)
A  5-foot-10, 170-pound switch hitting short stop who ran a 7.20 60.  Balanced from the left side with a short stride and soft load of the hands.  Swing path is level with good extension out front and good gap power.  He had an 89 MPH exit velocity.  From the right side he stands balanced with a short stride for timing.  Good weight transfer and hits off a firm front side.  In the field he shows quick feet and rounds the ball well.  Transfer is quick to the throwing window and he delivers from an over the top slot.  Arm velocity was 85 MPH with good accuracy.  Identified as the best switch hitter 2016 and best defensive player at this event.

Billy Morleand, Heritage High School (2016)
A 6-foot-0, 175-pound right hand hitting SS/RHP who ran a 7.18 60.  Balanced at the plate with a short stride and quick hand load on the pitch.  Hands drop slightly and swing path is uphill.  Shows good power to the pull side.  Good lower half rotation creates a 91 MPH exit velocity.  He is smooth in the field with good feet and shoulders.  He stays square through the ball and has a quick transfer.  Throws from an over the top slot at 85 MPH with good accuracy.  

Jack Winkler, Chatfield High School (2017)
A 6-foot-1, 177-pound right hand hitting SS/2B who ran a 7.06 60.  Balanced at the plate with a slow load back and long stride on the pitch.  Swing path is level with good extension out front at contact.  Good lower leg drive and rotation created a 93 MPH exit velocity and showed good power during the live round.  In the field he has quick feet and covers good ground left and right.  Fielding is smooth with soft hands and a quick transfer on the throw.  Delivery comes from a high ¾ arm angle and he showcased an 81 MPH accurate arm.  Identified with the best swing 2017 at this event.

Best of the Rest: (Listed Alphabetically)

Dalton Bishop, Mesa Ridge High School (2017)
A 6-foot-2, 190-pound right hand hitting SS/C who ran a 7.32 60.  Tall and balanced at the plate with an early stride for timing.  Hands come through the zone level and produced several line drives to the gaps.  Lower have rotates through the zone and he had an 88 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he is smooth and ground balls at him and to his glove side.  Throwing motion is short and from a ¾ arm slot.  He showcased a 74 MPH arm velocity. 

Luke Davis, Regis Jesuit High School (2017)
A 5-foot-11, 150-pound right hand hitting SS who ran a 7.34 60.  Balanced at the plate with a short stride and long load back.  Hands wrap behind his head to start the swing.  Swing path is level to the ball and good extension out front.  He had an 86 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he has good feet and positioning from short.  He moves well on balls to the glove side.  Throws from a high ¾ arm slot with a bit of a double tap out of his glove.  Arm velocity was 76 MPH. 

Jacob DeMers, Brighton High School (2017)
A 5-foot-11, 155-pound right hand hitting 2B/3B who ran a 7.53 60.  Balanced at the plate with a slight leg kick and load back for timing.  Hands and weight come through the zone together.  Swing path is slightly uphill.  Good contact to all fields.  He had an 83 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he shows quick feet and smooth action on ground balls.  He is quick to balls left and right and throws well on the run.  He is over the top on his delivery and showcased a 74 MPH accurate ball from shortstop.  Identified as the best fundamental player 2016 at this event.

Kalen Hammer, Rocky Mountain High School (2017)
A 5-foot-9, 170-pound, right hand hitting SS/2B who ran a 7.11 60.  Balanced at the plate with a slow load back and long stride on the swing.  Weight shifts forward at contact.  Swing path is level, can get more extension out front.  Exit velocity was 90 MPH.  Solid in the field with good instincts and quick feet to the ball.  Does a nice job of squaring up and delivering an accurate ball from a high ¾ arm slot across the diamond.  Arm velocity was 82 MPH.  Identified as the best fundamental player 2017 at this event.

John Hayes, Cherry Creek High School (2017)
A 6-foot-2, 160-pound right hand hitting SS/RHP who ran a 7.90 60.  Balanced at the plate with a high lift and place leg kick.  Slight tilt of the upper body on the swing creates an uphill swing path.  Good weight transfer and extension out front produced a 75 MPH exit velocity.  Athletic in the field, he closes on the ball quickly.  He has soft hands and a good transfer to the throwing window.  Delivers from a ¾ arm slot with a 75 MPH arm.  On the mound he stands tall and gets just short of balanced.  Motion falls to the plate.  He lands in-line with the plate and then falls off slightly on the follow through.  He showcased a 76 MPH fastball with good command away and a 66 MPH curve with sweeping break.  He finished his showcase with a 70 MPH change down in the zone.

Jimmy Holinger, Regis Jesuit High School (2017)
a 5-foot-11, 152-pound right hand hitting SS who ran a 7.42 60.  Balanced at the plate with a long stride and slow load back of the hands.  More of a rotational hitter with his lower half.  Good extension at contact with a slight uphill sing path.  He had an 83 MPH exit velocity.  Good athletic movement in the field.  He is fluid right and left.  Good transfer from the glove to a high ¾ arm slot.  He showcased an accurate 82 MPH arm .

Tyler Lederhos, Cherokee Trail High School (2017)
A 6-foot-0, 150-pound right hand hitting SS/RHP who ran a 7.53 60.  Stands tall at the plate with good balance.  Double toe tap and short load of the hands on the pitch, hands come through on a slight uphill path.  Lower half rotates through the zone and creates an 82 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he covers good ground and displays soft hands and a good transfer.  He throws from a high ¾ arm slot and delivers an accurate 74 MPH ball.  He stands tall on the mound with a high leg kick, he lands in-line with the plate and falls off to the first base side on his finish.  Fastball comes from an over the top slot and touched 82 MPH.  He added a 70 MPH curve with 11/5 break and a 74 MPH change.

Tanner Mayberry, Coronado High School (2017)
A 5-foot-10, 175-pound right hand hitting SS/3B who ran a 7.65 60.  Starts tall and stays tall through the swing.  He is balanced with a leg kick and long stride, hands drop slightly on the swing and path is uphill.  Good weight transfer with the lower half creates an exit velocity of 84 MPH.  He shows good feet and instincts in the field, squares up on the ball and has a good transfer on the throw.  Delivery is from a high ¾ arm slot and was 72 MPH with accuracy.

Michael Morris, Cherokee Trail High School (2017)
A 6-foot-0, 170-pound right hand hitting SS/3B who ran a 7.01 60.  Starts balanced and square at the plate, stride closes him off slightly.  Good weight transfer has him hitting against a firm front side.  Hands load quickly on the pitch and swing path is uphill.  Good left center power.  He had a 91 MPH exit velocity.  Athletic in the field with good feet and coverage left and right.  Showed good hands and transfer and gets rid of the ball quickly.  Arm showcased at 74MPH with accuracy.  Identified with the most raw power 2017 at this event.

Brandon Schoengarth, Bear Creek High School (2017)
A 5-foot-9, 165-pound right hand hitting 2B/SS who ran 7.20 60.  Balanced at the plate with a long stride and quick load.  Hands travel level through the zone with good extension out front.  Weight transfers on the swing and rotation stays on the back foot.  He had an 80 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he showed good feet and lateral movement.  Hands are smooth and transfer is quick.  He throws from a high ¾ arm slot and delivers a 70 MPH ball across the diamond. 

Jake Starkey, Dakota Ridge High School (2016)
A 5-foot-7, 150-pound right hand hitting 2B/SS who ran a 7.75 60.  Balanced at the plate with a short stride and slight hand load.  Swing path is slightly uphill with good extension out front at contact.  He had an 84 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he attacks the ball well and shows good feet on balls left and right.  Soft hands and a good transfer get the ball out of his glove quickly.  He showcased a 76 MPH accurate arm. 

Jack Stone, Mullen High School (2017)
A 5-foot-8, 165-pound right hand hitting 2B/SS who ran a 7.97 60.  Stands slightly crouched at the plate with a high lift and place leg kick.  Weight moves forward and transfers to the front foot at contact.  Swing path is slightly uphill with good extension out front.  He had an 84 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he shows good anticipation and movement to the ball.  Soft hands and good transfer deliver a 75 MPH ball across the diamond.  

Jose Treto, Brighton High School (2017)
A 5-foot-11, 160-pound right hand hitting SS/RHP who ran a 7.19 60.  Balanced at the plate with a high leg kick and load onto the back leg.  Good weight transfer and hip rotation creates an 86 MPH exit velocity.  Swing path is uphill and ball had good carry to the gaps.  In the field he has good feet and quick actions on ground balls.  Soft hands funnel the ball to a high ¾ arm slot.  He showcased an 82 MPH accurate arm.  On the mound he stands tall and gets to balance.  Delivery is in-line with the plate and he falls off to the first base side on his follow through.  The pitch comes from a high ¾ arm slot.  Fastball was touched 81 MPH with good command down and in.  He showcased a 68 MPH with 11/5 break and a 70 MPH curve.

Judah Wilbur, Denver North High School (2017)
A 5-foot-11, 145-pound right hand hitting 2B/SS who ran a 7.37 60.  Balanced at the plate with a high leg kick and long stride on the pitch.  He shows good lower leg drive and good extension out front on contact.  He had an 87 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he is athletic with smooth actions on balls left and right.  He has a quick transfer and accurate arm.  His arm velocity was 74 MPH.  

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