Prep Baseball Report

Preseason All-State: Infielder Analysis


Phil Kerber
Georgia Scouting Director



PBR Georgia hosted its second annual Preseason All-State event at LakePoint Sports this Saturday, January 9th. The event brought together just over 30 of the top prospects in the state's class of 2021 and 2022. Despite frigid temps, with the real feel temperature hovering around 28-30 degree, prospects competed in a pro-style workout.

We began the event analysis with our initial thoughts and a statistical analysis. Today, we will dive into the player reports. We continue on with a look at an extremely strong group of infielders.

Leading the way once again was the youngest prospect in attendance, Oklahoma SS/OF Bryce Clavon (Dutchtown, 2024). As we have said before, Clavon is an elite athlete who can slot in at center or short. At the plate, he has advanced feel for the barrel and consistently drove the ball gap-to-gap with serious force, posting a 97 mph max exit velocity.

Behind Clavon is his Dutchtown teammate SS/RHP Christian Jackson (2022), and SS Omari Daniel (The Walker School, 2022). Both Jackson and Daniel have big tools with plenty of arm strength and range to stick on the left-side. There is plenty of pop at the plate too.

Keep reading to view reports on the rest of the top infield prospects at the event plus reports on the rest of the infielders, listed alphabetically.

Top Infielder Prospects

Bryce Clavon, Dutchtown (GA), 2024 Oklahoma
Positional Profile: SS/OF One of the top prospects in the 2024 class, advanced tool set.
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Advanced athlete with quick twitch, strength throughout especially in his lower half.
Hit: RHH. Keeps it simple, balanced setup, hands start back and remain as he loads weight back, short stride, explosive lower half, great balance through finish. Swing path is short and quick to the zone, mostly level through, aggressive intent, quick hands (25.90 hand speed) coupled with whippy bat speed (79.70 bat speed), drives the ball gap-to-gap with ease.
Power: 97.00 max exit velocity, Gap-to-gap power, power to all fields as he continues to develop.
Arm: RH.  INF - 86.00 mph. OF - 89 mph. Short, clean arm action, explosive arm speed, throws carry across the infield and from the outfield.
Defense: Plays through the ball with athleticism, quick, fluid footwork, carries momentum toward target, fields out front with a soft glove, quick on transfers.
Run: 6.88 runner in the 60. Clean gait, extremely quick feet.

Christian Jackson, Dutchtown (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-1, 180-pounds. Lanky, athletic build, wiry strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, hands load back with smooth rhythm, leg kick timing trigger, lands narrow in his stance, finishes balanced. Hit path is long to the zone, level through, uses the entire field with a line drive approach, creates quick bat speed.
Power: 92.00 max exit velocity,
Arm: RH.  INF - 83.00 mph. OF - 86 mph. Long, loose arm action to a 3/4 slot, throws carry.
Defense: Plays through the ball in the outfield with confidence, soft glove, smooth footwork, clean exchanges. On the infield, athletic defender, clean footwork, soft glove, good body control.
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60. Easy runner, long strides.

Omari Daniel, The Walker School (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 6-1, 165-pounds. Lean, athletic build, lanky, high waist.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, hands load back quickly, short reverse toe tap stride, good balance. Swing path is long and quick to the zone, level through, aggression, creates hard line drive contact middle/pull, pull-side pop when gets extended.
Power: 95.00 max exit velocity, Easy power with more to come, 27.40 hand speed, 78.40 bat speed.
Arm: RH.  INF - 89.00 mph.  Loose, athletic arm action, ultra quick arm speed, capable of using multiple slots with accuracy and carry.
Defense: Plays through the ball with athleticism, attiacks, clean footwork, quick on exchanges, great range and body control, made a number of difficult plays on the move.
Run: 7.20 runner in the 60. Clean gait.

Jabari Daniely, Parkview (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/1B
Body: 6-2, 210-pounds. Physical build with strength throughout, room for more.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, athletic bend in knees, high hands drop on load, short stride, good balance. Swing path is short and compact, gets hands extended and stays on plane (76% plane efficiency), gap-to-gap type hitter, creates hard contact consistently.
Power: 94.00 max exit velocity, Big power potential.
Arm: RH.  INF - 85.00 mph.  Short, quick arm action to a high 3/4 slot, throws carry with accuracy across the diamond.
Defense: Plays through the ball, smooth, clean footwork, quick on exchanges, soft glove hand, good range and body control.
Run: 7.49 runner in the 60.

Luke Starling, Hebron Christian (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds. Athletic, lean, muscular build.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, smooth rhythm, barrel wraps as hands load back, has shortened load from an arm bar, short stride, good balance through finish. Swing path is short and quick to the zone, uphilling through, gap-to-gap type hitter, pull-side pop.
Power: 87.00 max exit velocity, Power potential.
Arm: RH.  INF - 82.00 mph.  Short, athletic arm action, low 3/4 to side arm slot, accurate with carry.
Defense: Aggressive, confident fielder, moves well with good body control, clean footwork, soft glove, quick on exchanges.
Run: 7.34 runner in the 60. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Alex Bestermann, Peachtree Ridge (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 6-1, 175-pounds. Proportional build, lean strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, hands load back into an arm bar, short stride, good balance throughout. Hit path is long to the zone, mostly level through, takes a pull approach, when he gets extended he can drive the ball to left field.
Power: 85.00 max exit velocity,
Arm: RH.  INF - 74.00 mph.  Arm action is long to a high 3/4 slot, accurate across the diamond and to second.
Defense: Creates a wide base when fielding, gets chest over the ball, deliberate footwork, good feel around the bag.
Run: 8.04 runner in the 60. 

Rand Bestermann, Peachtree Ridge (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 6-2, 200-pounds. Proportional build, lean strength throughout, plenty more to come as he continues to mature.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, hands load back smoothly, short stride, gets on front side early, finishes balanced. Hit path is short to the zone, mostly level through, drives the ball into left-center when he gets extension, flashed pull-side pop.
Power: 94.00 max exit velocity,
Arm: RH. C - 75.00 mph. INF - 76.00 mph.  Short arm action to a 3/4 slot on the infield, behind the plate arm plays short to an over-the-top/high 3/4 slot, throws showed carry, kept throws around the target at both positions.
Defense: On the infield, charges ball with short footwork, competent glove hand, good feel for back hand, clean transfers. Behind the plate, quick, clean footwork,good receiver, athletic hands, quick on transfers.
Run: 7.45 runner in the 60. Clean gait.

Joseph Glozier, Mcintosh  (GA), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-8, 155-pounds. Lean frame, athletic build.
Hit: LHH. Open setup, hands load back smoothly, short stride, incorporates lower half well, good balance. Showed more versatility in swing than previous look, working the gaps, swing path is short and quick to the zone, uphill through, flashed ability to drive.
Power: 89.00 max exit velocity.
Arm: RH.  INF - 79.00 mph.  Short, loose arm action, quick arm speed, 3/4 slot, accurate.
Defense: Moves well on the infield playing through the ball, soft glove, funnels to midsection, quick on exchanges, good body control.
Run: 7.10 runner in the 60. Clean gait.

Ryan Henry, Alexander (GA), 2021
Positional Profile: 1B/3B
Body: 6-2, 210-pounds. Big frame, strong, physical build, broad shoulders.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, barrel starts wrapped, short stride, good balance, good use of lower half. Smooth swing path works uphill through the zone, drives the ball gap-to-gap, consistently generates hard contact, 90+ EV on 64.6% of hits, quick, strong hands.
Power: 98.00 max exit velocity, Big power potential, 24.1 max hand speed, 76.00 max bat speed
Arm: RH.  INF - 74.00 mph.  Short arm action to an over-the-top slot, quick release to second, accurate.
Defense: Aggressive fielder, soft glove, smooth, clean footwork, good feel around the bag, clean on exchanges.
Run: 7.24 runner in the 60. 

Harper McLendon, Brookwood School (GA), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/SS
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds. Medium sized, muscular frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup with knees bent in, hands load back smoothly, short heel lift stride, good balance. Swing path is short to the zone, level through, quick hands coupled with fast bat speed, drives the pull to the pull-side.
Power: 95.00 max exit velocity, 26.00 hand speed, 77.20 bat speed.
Arm: RH.  INF - 88.00 mph. OF - 89 mph. Short, explosive arm action, whippy-like arm speed, to a high 3/4 slot, throws carry across the infield and from the outfield.
Defense: On the infield, fields out front with a good glove hand, most times plays through the ball, can get flat, clean on transfers. In the outfield, breaks down early and fields with two hands, clean on transfers.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60. 

Tristan Nguyen, Johnson (GA), 2022 Georgia State
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 230-pounds. Strong, sturdy frame.
Hit: LHH. Tall, open setup, hands coack with a barrel wrap on load, short stride, good balance. Swing path is short to the zone, uphill through, takes a power/pull approach, looks to elevate and do damage.
Power: 96.00 max exit velocity, Big power potential.
Arm: LH.  INF - 80.00 mph. OF - 84 mph. Arm action is long to a high 3/4 slot, accurate throws, some carry.
Defense: Has feel around the bag at first, good glove hand, clean on exchanges. Plays through in the outfield, fluid footwork, clean transfers.
Run: 7.19 runner in the 60. 

Mahkai Pelzer, Chapel Hill (GA), 2021
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds. Thick frame, strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, hands cock and load back, leg lift stride, good balance through finish. Swing path is mostly short to the zone, can get long at-times, uphill through, middle/pull hitter, able to drive the ball pull-side when he gets extension.
Power: 86.00 max exit velocity,
Arm: RH. C - 70.00 mph. INF - 76.00 mph.  Arm action is short to low 3/4 slot on the infield, short to a 3/4 slot behind the plate.
Defense: On the infield, plays through the back, smooth footwork, clean on transfers, confident glove hand. Behind the plate, box setup, short footwork, clean on transfers.
Run: 8.04 runner in the 60. 

Anthonie Rodriguez, Marietta (GA), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 6-2, 170-pounds. Lean, lanky frame, room to fill out.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, low hands, barrels wraps as hands load, low leg kick timing trigger. Swing path is long to the zone, short and level through, whips barrel with quick hands speed, keeps hands inside, hit under the ball, pull-side pop.
Power: 93.00 max exit velocity, 28.00 hand speed, 85.70 bat speed.
Arm: RH.  INF - 83.00 mph.  Long arm action to a low 3/4 slot, some carry across the diamond.
Defense: Relaxed fielder, fields deep and square, long on exchanges, moves well laterally.
Run: 7.26 runner in the 60. 

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