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Preseason All-State Middle Infield Analysis

March 10, 2015




By Jeff Markle
Assistant State Director

The Preseason All-State Showcase took place Sunday March 1st at Slammers South.  90 players from the 2015 and 2016 classes were on display at this event.  Prep Baseball Report Colorado will bring you analysis by position of the players who participated in the showcase.   Continuing our showcase analysis are the middle infielders and middle infielders/pitchers, where we saw athletic position players and quick bats on display.  
To see the overall stats of the event click here. 

Top Middle Infield Prospects:

Marc Mumper, Mountain Vista, 2015, SS/2B
5-foot-10, 155-pound shortstop, medium build, shows good athleticism. Defensively displayed soft hands, feet work quickly and athletically, played through the baseball showing body control. Arm action is short, high ¾ slot, 85 MPH across the diamond, tops for his position at this event.   Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, good weight transfer and lower body drive through the ball. Flashed quick twitch in swing, above average bat speed, line drive approach with some extension, worked both gaps with line drive power, 85 MPH exit velocity from the tee. Off a tee-indoors ran a 3.78 home to first time which was tops at event. Mumper also ran a 6.60 60 last summer.

Tommy Gillman, Columbine, 2016, SS/2B
5-foot-10, 170-pound switch-hitting shortstop.  Hits from a wide base with a short stride and simple approach from both side.  Right-handed swing may be a bit stiffer and more uphill, but still short and to the ball.  Left-handed swing is fluid, short to the baseball, with several line drives to the opposite field gap during batting practice.  Hands load smoothly, minimal/quiet pre-pitch movement from both sides of the plate.  89 MPH exit velocity from left and 86 MPH from the right.  Defensively, threw 83 MPH across the diamond from short, loose, ¾ arm slot with accuracy and more in the tank arm strength wise.  Possesses plus fielding actions for the middle infield, with a good feel for when to use full arm.  Hands are soft, quick footwork, ranges well both up the middle and in the hole, solid body control on run through ball.  Ran a 3.97 home to first.

 

Conner Reynolds, Brighton, 2015, SS/2B
6-foot-2, 200-pound shortstop, strong build, shows good athleticism. Right-handed hitter, Tall, open balanced stance, short stride with leg kick, good weight transfer and lower body drive through the ball. Flashed quick twitch in swing, above average bat speed, line drive approach with some extension, worked both gaps, pull power. Shows some swagger with fluidity. 88 MPH exit velocity from the tee. Defensively displayed soft hands, feet work quickly and athletically, played through the baseball showing body control. Arm action is short, high ¾ slot, 82 MPH across the diamond.

Grant Schroeder, Grandview, 2016, RHP/SS
6-foot-2, 175-pound two-way player, long thin frame. Hits from a tall open stance, short stride with a leg kick, lower half, works, good balance throughout. Path is short and level, gap to gap approach. 86 MPH exit velocity from the tee. Defensively uses a short arm action, high ¾ slot, accurate arm, 84 MPH across the diamond. Ran a 4.2 home to first.  On the mound uses tall and fall delivery, works on line, easy effort, high ¾ arm slot. Fastball sat 84-86 MPH, flashed sink. Curve showed short action, 66 MPH. Change up 71-73 MPH. Secondary pitches thrown with good arm speed.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Andres Acuna, Pueblo East, 2015, MIF
5-foot-11, 190-pound switch hitting middle infielder hits from a balanced setup,smooth load, and short stride. Explosive bat speed with short path to the ball with good extension producing 90 MPH exit velocity, this was in the top 5 for this event.  Impressed taking a solid round of batting practice with several line drives from gap-to-gap.  Defensively, threw 80 MPH across the diamond from short, over the top arm action.  Ran a 4.34 seconds from home to first.

Johnie Becerra, Pueblo Centennial, 2016, SS/OF
5-foot-11, 167-pound, right-handed hitting SS/OF, showcased athletic actions in the field with soft hands and a quick, clean exchange.  Fluid feet and plays through the baseball well.  Across the diamond was 76 MPH.  Ran a 4.4 home to first.  At the plate hits from an open balanced setup.  Minimal load, with a short stride.  Possesses average bat speed. Slight uphill path to the ball.  Hard contact, consistently hits line drives.  Registered an exit velocity of 84 MPH.  

Jeremy Champlin, Grand Junction Central, 2015, MIF/OF
5-foot-11, 168-pound right-handed hitting MIF/OF.  Possesses above average hands with fluid feet.  Clean exchange and plays through the baseball.  From a short arm action was 76 across the diamond with some carry. Ran a 4.54 home to first.  Offensively, starts from a tall balanced stance, loads back and uses small stride. Has a level swing that gets to extension.  Line drive hitter. Registered an exit velocity of 78 MPH.   

Jared Chick, Roosevelt, 2016, MIF
5-foot-11, 165-pound right-handed hitting MIF, showcased above average hands defensively with fluid feet.  Quick, clean exchange.  Across the diamond was 76 MPH.  Ran a 4.22 home to first.  At the plate starts with a tall balanced stance.  Average use of the lower half.  Displayed an overall good approach with a level long path to the baseball. Shows some hand speed.  Registered an exit velocity of 77 MPH.  Line drive type hitter with gap potential.   

Aaron Dammel, Highlands Ranch, 2016, MIF/OF
6-foot-0, 170-pound two-way player. Left-handed hitter, athletic balanced stance, tall setup. Short load back with short stride. Has a good approach 88 MPH exit velocity from the tee. Quick swing, compact, handsy swing, line drive hitter with opposite field gap tendencies Defensively showed an athletic arm action, played through the baseball with above average actions, quick exchange, athletic hands. Arm played at 80 MPH across the infield. Ran a 4.3 home to first. Has gained a lot more strength since last time we saw him. 

Thomas DeBonville, Summit, 2015, MIF
6-foot-0, 165-pound middle infielder. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, slightly open, small leg kick trigger. Good leg drive, with level swing linear lower half. Gap to gap power producing 84 MPH exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played with some accuracy, 77 MPH across the infield, with good feet and playing through the ball.  Ran a 3.94 home to first, one of the top times in the event.

Jacob DeMers, Brighton, 2016, MIF/3B
5-foot-11, 155-pound right-handed hitting MIF/3B, shows soft hands with a quick, clean exchange.  Fluid footwork and plays through the baseball.  Across the diamond was 79 and accurate.  Ran a 7.50-60. At the plate the LHH starts in an opened balanced setup with a high back elbow.  Short stride and smooth load.  Quick hands with a level path to the ball.  Line drive hitter who consistently squared up the ball.  Registered an exit velocity of 75 MPH.   

Ayden Eberhardt, Loveland, 2016, SS/RHP
6-foot-1, 170-pound shortstop/RHP, slender build, long lanky frame. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride. Longer bat path, slight bat wrap behind head in load, 86 MPH exit velocity from the tee. Defensively works from a shorter arm action, arm plays at 77 MPH across the diamond. Ran a4.47 home to first.  On the mound, same arm action as the field produced a FB at 80 MPH with good run away from right-handed hitters.  64 MPH CB and 72 MPH CH with descent location round out his pitches.

Philip Ferguson, ThunderRidge, 2016, MIF
6-foot-0, 165-pound middle infielder, lanky frame, thin build, room to fill out. Offensively hits from the right side, slight open stance, with slight crouch and short stride, good extension through finish producing line drive power. Bat path works slightly uphill, 85 MPH exit velocity from the tee. Defensively hands show the ability to play on the infield. Arm action is long, over the top slot, long release. 72 MPH across the infield. Ran a 4.3 home to first.

Landen Gomez, Roosevelt, 2016, MIF/RHP
6-foot-1, 165-pound, two-way player, Offensively hits from a right handed, balanced stance, not much of a load and heel lift stride. Line drive approach, 81 MPH exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed athleticism, hands worked well, good feet put him in good throwing position. Position velocity was 77 MPH.  Arm action is loose, works similarly to that on the mound where he was 80 MPH with his fastball, good location, but little movement.  CB was 64 MPH and CH was 67 MPH. 

Keaton Jones, Regis Jesuit, 2016, MIF/OF
5-foot-10, 148-pound right-handed hitting MIF/OF, possesses average hands defensively.  Exchange is clean with the ability to get rid of it.  Feet are fluid, but lacks elite foot speed.  Plays through the ball well.  Ran a 4.62 home to first.  Across the diamond was 72 MPH.  Offensively, starts slightly open and balanced .  Slight arm bar during the load.  Top tap, short stride.  Level path, long swing.  Good balance throughout.  Registered an exit velocity of 78 MPH.   

Kian Kagan, Ponderosa, 2015, SS/MIF
5-foot-10, 150-pound right-handed hitting MIF, possesses above average hands in the field.  Clean exchange with fluid feet.  Plays through the baseball with some athleticism.  Across the diamond was 77 with accuracy.  Ran a 4.34 home to first.  At the plate starts with a slight crouch in stance slight load with a short level path to the ball.  Showed the ability to hit to all fields.  Fluid rhythm throughout the swing with good balance.  Line drive hitter.  Registered an exit velocity of 78 MPH.  

Eathan League, Grandview, 2016, MIF
6-foot-0, 174-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder hits from a balanced setup, short toe tap stride, hands load back smoothly, producing 74 MPH exit velocity off the tee. Has a good approach at the plate with extension through the swing.  Defensively, threw 76 MPH across the diamond from short, loose, high ¾ arm slot with accuracy.  Soft hands and good feet showed well at this event.  Ran a 4.5 home to first.

Ty Lightley, Dakota Ridge, 2016, MIF
5-foot-9, 160 pound right-handed hitting MIF showcased athletic actions in the field with above average hands.  Fluid feet.  Clean exchange, quick release and plays through the baseball with athleticism.  Accurate arm across the field at 79 MPH.  Ran a 4.54 home to first.  At the plate starts athletic and balanced with high hands.  Toe tap for timing.  Hands drop during the load.  Long level path to the baseball, consistently drives the ball to the opposite field.  Registered an exit velocity of 81 MPH.

Jacob Lornezini, Eaglecrest, 2015, MIF
5-foot-11, 155-pound right-handed hitting MIF, was 78 across the diamond.  Arm action is long and throws from a high ¾ slot, average hands and feet.  Aggressive defender.  Ran a4.59 home to first.  Offensively, hits from an athletic setup.  Loads back smoothly and uses a short stride.  Short, level path to the baseball with good extension; line drive type hitter.  Registered an exit velocity of 78 MPH.  

Mike Lucero, Chatfield, 2016, SS/RHP
5-foot-7, 145-pound right-handed hitting SS/RHP, showcased athletic actions in the field.  Feet are fluid.  Clean exchange.  Plays through the ball with athleticism.  Average glove.  Good body control.  Across the diamond was 83 with carry.   Ran a 4.33 home to first.   Offensively, starts balanced with high hands.  Loads back.  Level path to the ball produces line drives. Registered an exit velocity of 82 MPH.  On the mound, Lucero gets max effort out of his frame.  FB was 80-81 with good run, CB 68-69 and CH 65-66 rounds out his pitches.   

Ryker McDaniel, Legacy, 2016, MIF/RHP  
5-foot-8, 160-pound right-handed hitting MIF/RHP, possesses average hands with fluid feet.  Exchange is slow.  Plays through the baseball.  Lacks elite foot speed.  Ran a 4.8 home to first.  Across the diamond was 68 MPH.  Offensively, starts in a balanced setup.  Minimal load with a short stride.  Bat drags through the zone.  Short, level path to the ball.  Contact hitter, registered an exit velocity of 78 MPH.  On the mound, a fluid motion and over the top arm slot produced FB of 70 MPH with little movement and 62 MPH CB and 64 MPH CH.   

Cole McKissock, Air Academy, 2016, SS/3B
6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed hitting SS/RHP hits from a tall slightly open balanced stance, short stride with leg kick, drops hands to load; short, uphill bat path, pull tendencies, fast bat speed with 89 MPH exit velocity.  Defensively, threw 83 MPH across the diamond from short, ¾ arm slot with accuracy.  Athletic and showed good feet during defensive portion of the event.  Ran a 4.03 home to first.  

Billy Moreland, Heritgage,2016, SS/RHP
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder/right-handed pitcher hits from a balanced setup, short stride with leg kick, short bat path with level swing with pull tendencies and 91 MPH exit velocity, top 3 from this event.  Defensively, threw 81 MPH from a long, high ¾ arm slot with some accuracy.  Ran a 4.5 home to first.  On the mound, fastball sat 83-85 MPH from same arm slot as in the infield, tall-and-fall delivery, toe down at balance point, shoulders stay level throughout, 69 MPH curveball was up in the zone, 72 MPH change. 

Carter Van Gytenbeek, Cherry Creek, 2016, RHP/SS
6-foot-1, 180-pound two-way player, medium frame. Offensively hits from the right side, balanced stance, short stride. Attacks the baseball, good lower leg drive, longer path, 82 MPH exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a short arm action on the infield, 79 MPH arm strength across the diamond, high ¾ slot. Ran a 4.53 home to first. Tall delivery on the mound, ¾ slot. Fastball sat 83-84 MPH in the zone with good run. Breaking ball has tight break, 78 MPH. Change up sat 76-77 MPH.

Michael Vessa, Lakewood, 2016, MIF
5-foot-7, 145-pound, right-handed hitting middle infielder hits from a athletic, slightly crouched, open setup, short stride; short level bat path with pull tendencies and 83 MPH exit velocity off the tee.  Defensively, threw 72 MPH across the diamond from a short, loose, high ¾ arm slot with accuracy and carry.  Also flashed soft hands, and fluid footwork playing through the baseball when fielding.  Ran a 4.5 from home to first.

Tino Vigil, Bishop Machebeuf, 2015, SS/RHP
5-foot-11, 165-pound right-handed hitting SS/RHP hits from an athletic balanced setup, hands start lower around letters, short stride with a toe-tap, producing slightly uphill bat path, good extension, with power to his pull side and good rhythm throughout.  Posted 80 MPH exit velocity.  Ran a 4.8 home to first.  Defensively, threw 74 MPH across the diamond from short, high ¾ arm slot; showcased average hands, and fluid, clean actions playing through the baseball.  On the mound, Vigil has good leg drive to the plate and throws from an over the top arm slot.  Fastball was 73-76 with little movement, CB 63-64 and CH 68-69 rounds out his pitches.

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