Prep Baseball Report

GPA Games: Infielder Analysis


By Illinois Staff

On Aug. 9, PBR Illinois hosted this annual showcase for academically-minded prospects seeking opportunities to play at the next level: GPA Games. We previously published a post in the days after the event, highlighting the top statistical performers. Our position-by-position analysis for this showcase started this week with the event’s catchers and outfielders, and we continue that today by rolling out the infielder reports.

One of the biggest winners of the entire event was left-handed-hitting infielder Kyle Gibson (Niles West, 2021), who was making his PBR debut. Gibson, an athletically-built, unsigned senior, has a direct swing with strong wrists and present bat strength. He was on the barrel during BP, spraying line-drives to both gaps. He carried it over to the game with a number of quality at-bats. Gibson also made all the routine plays on the left side of the diamond during game play and is currently ranked No. 159 overall in Illinois’ senior class.

Outside of Gibson, keep an eye on 2024 Jalen Williams (Marian Catholic) moving forward. Williams has a wiry, upside frame and showed advanced athleticism and footwork on the infield for his age. He plays with pace, on the balls of his feet, showing easy range and body control on the move. His game should only continue to tick up as he gains strength to his frame. 

Read on below for reports on every infielder from the event, listed alphabetically.

ALL PROSPECTS (Listed Alphabetically)

Jason Adix, University School of Milwaukee (WI), 2023
Positional Profile: 3B/1B
Body: 6-2, 190-pounds. Lanky, projectable frame.
Hit: RH. Balanced setup, closed off front foot, quick toe-tap timing trigger.  Loose hands with bat speed, long and uphill bat path, gap-to-gap approach. Strong bat, hard contact on the barrel, repeats some.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 70 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Fields low to the ground, hands work out front of body, quick feet on double play turn.
Run: 7.28 runner in the 60. 

Michael Benavente, Whitney Young (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-0, 235-pounds.
Hit: RH. Balanced setup, front toe starts closed, bat wraps, short stride.  Strong hands, short and uphill bat path, elevates, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 68 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Glove plays low to the ground, hands work out front, long to release.
Run: 7.69 runner in the 60. 

Jonathan Boyles, Plainfield East (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 5-11, 135-pounds. Lean, high-waisted frame.
Hit: RH. Balanced setup, wide base, closed front foot, bat wraps, minimal stride.  Bat travels on a long and level plane, simple line drive approach.
Power: 77 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 74 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Attacks, feet field in rhythm at times, fluid movement up the middle. Two-hand gather, plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.47 runner in the 60. 

Micah Fishel, Southport (IN), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-9, 145-pounds. Lean, slender build.
Hit: RH. Balanced setup, hands load back, toe-tap timing trigger.  Short and level bat path.
Power: 76 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 59 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Hands work under center of body, two-hand gather.
Run: 8.38 runner in the 60. 

Brody Geary, Marmion Academy (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: 2B/C
Body: 5-9, 145-pounds. Athletic frame with some twitch.
Hit: RH. Tall setup, some bend in the lower half, open base. Bat tips at load, strides to even.  Loose hands with bat speed, short stroke travels on a level path, steady line drive contact, all-fields approach.
Power: 74 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 74 mph. Compact arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active feet move well up the middle, two-hand gather, packs to release.
Run: 7.37 runner in the 60. 

Kyle Gibson, Niles West (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds. Athletic frame with lean strength; projects.
Hit: LH. Athletic in the box, balanced setup, narrow base, rhythmic hand movement, short stride to even.  Athletic hands with bat speed, short and uphill path, natural loft through contact, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. Short and loose arm action, over-the-top slot. 
Defense: Athletic infield actions, quick first step, fluid feet that work around the baseball. Steady hands, ball gets deep at times, clean funnel, length to release.
Run: 7.05 runner in the 60. 

Eyan Idohl, Marian Catholic (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 6-2, 182-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned build.
Hit: RH. Balanced setup, bat rests over back shoulder at load, minimal stride.  Uphill bat path, works underneath the baseball, hits off front side.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 69 mph. OF - 75 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. 
Defense: Worked out both in the infield and outfield.  Attacks the baseball on the diamond, two-hand gather. Feet work around the baseball in the outfield, plays through at times.
Run: 7.40 runner in the 60.

Connor Janik, Peotone (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/C
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds. Strong, athletic frame.
Hit: RH. Tall slightly open setup, smooth load with a slight bat wrap, strides to even.  Short and simple stroke, bat travels on a level plane with elevation at times, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. INF - 75 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Worked out behind the plate and in the field. Comfortable setup behind the dish, loose actions with feet that work in line to target, clean to release. Plays with active feet on the dirt.
Run: 7.47 runner in the 60.  

Bobby Jannusch, Cary-Grove (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-1, 180-pounds. Athletic, wide-shouldered frame that projects.
Hit: RH. Quiet in the box, balanced setup, simple load, short stride.  Simple swing, long bat path, pull-side tendency, hits off front side.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 84 mph. Long and loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic feet, moves well laterally, hands work under center, plays low to the ground, strong body control.
Run: 7.26 runner in the 60. 

Mason List, University of Chicago Laboratory School (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: SS
Body: 5-6, 140-pounds. Compact frame, some strength in the lower half.
Hit: SH. Balanced setup, fluid pre-pitch hand rhythm, bat drops at load, short stride.  Short bat path with elevation at times, some barrel feel, line drive approach.
Power: 74 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 70 mph. Long arm path works from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Stays back on the baseball, glove works out front, two-hand gather.
Run: 7.97 runner in the 60. 

Grant Marshall, Normal University (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds. Strong lower half.
Hit: RH. Tall stance, open base, slight bat wrap, short stride.  Long bat path, middle-in approach, line drive contact at times.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. INF - 67 mph. Short arm path works from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Comfortable fielding position, steady hands, clean transfer, some footwork feel around the bag.
Run: 8.07 runner in the 60. 

David Matuszak, Madison La Follette (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: 2B/SS
Body: 5-8, 150-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned build.
Hit: RH. Quiet in the box, balanced setup, smooth load, utilizes a toe-tap timing trigger.  Loose hands, bat travels on a level plane through the zone, consistent line drive contact. All fields approach, works in a comfortable rhythm throughout.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Hands play low to the ground and out front of body, clean transfer, quick to release.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60. 

Tyler Procajlo, York (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-11, 180-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame. Room for added physical maturity.
Hit: RH. Balanced setup, active pre-pitch hand movement, arm bars at load, short stride to even.  Quick hands with some bat speed, short and level path, pull-side approach, swings with intent.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. Compact arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Narrow fielding base, hands field out front of body, some length to release.
Run: 7.10 runner in the 60. 

Nathan Splitt, Cary-Grove (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: 2B/SS
Body: 5-8, 150-pounds. Athletic frame with compact strength.
Hit: RH. Balanced setup, active pre-pitch hand movement, bat loads straight back, strides to even.  Quick hands, short and level path, line drive approach, sprays to all fields. Head stays on the baseball through contact, repeats. 
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 72 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active feet, quick first step, attacks the baseball with confidence. Steady hands, clean hand transfer, swift to release.
Run: 7.33 runner in the 60. 

Cainan Squibb, Springfield (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: 3B/C
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds. Wiry, athletic frame.
Hit: LH. Open setup, two-part load, quick leg lift trigger.  Long and uphill bat path, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 77 mph. INF - 78 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Worked out behind the plate and in the infield. Active defender, two-hand gather on the dirt. Winds up to release from the crouch.
Run: 7.54 runner in the 60. 

Cameron Taylor, Waunakee (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: 1B
Body: 6-1, 192-pounds. Well-proportioned build.
Hit: RH. Balanced slightly open setup, bat wraps at load, steady leg lift timing trigger.  Quick hands, short and bat path, gap-to-gap approach, some barrel feel to the pull-side.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 74 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot. Showed multiple arm angle capability on the move.
Defense: Active defender, feet attack the baseball, hands work out front of body, secure two-hand gather, plays through at times.
Run: 7.89 runner in the 60. 

Brayden Thompson, Port Washington (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: 2B/SS
Body: 6-0, 153-pounds. Lean, wiry frame.
Hit: RH. Balanced setup, active pre-pitch hand movement, short stride to even, strong lead leg block at finish.  Short and level bat speed, some barrel feel, steady line drive hitter with a middle-in approach.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. Long arm action, worked from a 3/4 and low 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: Feet field in rhythm around the baseball, plays low to the ground, steady hands, clean and quick funnels.
Run: 7.73 runner in the 60. 

Jalen Williams, Marian Catholic (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: SS/C
Body: 5-6, 120-pounds. Athletic frame that projects.
Hit: RH. Open setup, active pre-pitch hand movement, strides to open.  Quick hands, short and level bat path, line drive approach, pull-side tendency. High contact profile, repeats well.
Power: 72 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 66 mph. Short arm path works from a 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic infield actions. Feet work in rhythm around the baseball, moves well up the middle, strong body control. Soft hands, smooth hand transfer, quick to release. Advanced up-the-middle defender for age.
Run: 7.18 runner in the 60. 

Joe Williams, Huntley (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 6-2, 185-pounds. Lanky, athletic frame with strength in the lower half. More room to mature and add muscle.
Hit: RH. Tall setup, hands rest high up by back ear, quick leg kick timing trigger.  Long and uphill bat path, pull-side approach.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 66 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Attacks the baseball, hands field out front, two-hand gather.
Run: 8.11 runner in the 60. 

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