Between The Lines Scout Day: Corner Infield Analysis

On January 15, Prep Baseball Report - Kansas held the the Between The Lines Baseball Academy Scout Day.  Over forty players attended the event in the 2021 to 2018 classes.  

Players can now updated their profiles with a ProspectPlus subscription, while scouts and recruiters can add players on the ScoutPlus dashboard.

Player profiles have been updated with profile picture, running times, velocities, and videos.  Today will take a closer look at the corner infielders from the event. Players are listed in alphabetical order below.

Corner Infielders

Logan Anderson 1B / RHP / Gardner Edgerton , KS / 2019 Anderson is a durable 5-foot-10 195-pound right-handed hitting first baseman in Kansas’ 2019 class.  He ran a 5.00 home to first and has an 81 mph exit velocity. At the plate, balanced set up, smooth rhythm, controlled leg lift, short stride, simple load against back side, loose hands, gap to gap line drives flashing pull side power.  On the infield, 72 mph positional velocity, high three quarters arm slot, reverse pivot to second base, active feet, clean exchange.

Derek Blackmore 1B / OF / Rockhurst , MO / 2021 Blackmore is a 5-foot-9 190-pound left-handed hitting first baseman in Kansas’ 2021 class. At the plate, starts in a crouched position, slight shift into back side to load, minimal stride, natural lift to swing swing path, pull to middle of the field contact.  On the infield, 66 mph positional velocity, aggressive to the ball, high three quarters release, clean exchange, gains ground after the catch.

Zachary Brink 1B / LHP / Olathe Northwest, KS / 2021 Brink is a 5-foot-7 145-pound left-handed first baseman in Kansas’ 2021 class.  He ran a 5.13 home to first and has a 68 mph exit velocity. At the plate, balanced stance, hands separate from stride, simple and repeatable mechanics, loose hands with feel for the barrel, gap to gap approach.  On the infield, 68 mph positional velocity, smooth actions, clean exchange, high three quarters release, works through the ball, soft hands.

Hayden Dyer C / RHP / Gardner Edgerton, KS / 2021 4.53 home to first and has an exit velocity of 81 mph. At the plate, starts slightly open, smooth and controlled load into back leg, to tap, short stride, accelerates to contact, gap to gap approach.  On the infield, 73 mph positional velocity, short high three quarters release, quick catch and throw, works through the ball, mostly accurate throws.

Michael Infranca LHP / 1B / Blue Springs , MO / 2021 Infranca is a 5-foot-8 150-pound left-handed hitting first baseman in Kansas’ 2021 class.  He ran a 4.90 home to first and has a 77 mph exit velocity. At the plate, balanced set up, smooth load into back side, minimal hand load, level path, swing creates line drives gap to gap.  On the infield, 67 mph positional velocity, high three quarters arm slot, feet create momentum to throw, clean glove to hand transfer, plays though the ball.

Ethan Keopke RHP / 1B / Mill Valley , KS / 2019 Keopke is a strong 6-foot-1 200-pound right-handed hitting first baseman in Kansas’ 2019 class.  He ran a 4.90 home to first and has a 90 mph exit velocity. At the plate, aggressive swing, doesn’t get cheated, no wasted movement in load, short stride, repeatable swing, loose hands with fast bat speed, solid hard contact with power to pull gap.  On the infield, 81 mph positional velocity, athletic actions, high three quarters arm slot, works around the ball, gains ground with feet throw, throws are accurate with carry.

Justin Mitchell OF / RHP / Shawnee Mission Northwest, KS / 2021 Mitchell is a 5-foot-7 150-pound right-handed hitting infielder in Kansas’ 2021 class.  He ran a 4.70 home to first and has an 83 mph exit velocity. At the plate, balanced stance, controlled leg lift, slight rotation in hips to load, level path, swing produced line drives to both gaps.  On the infield, 72 mph positional velocity, three quarters arm slot, quick to the ball with feet, fluid exchange, accurate throws with carry.

Drew Powers OF / LHP / Mill Valley, KS / 2021 Powers is a 5-foot-8 163-pound left-handed hitting infielder in Kansas’ 2021 class.  He ran a 4.34 home to first and has an 83 mph exit velocity. At the plate, starts slightly open, minimal hand load with leg lift, has power to pull side and has the ability to drive ball in opposite gap, slight natural lift on swing, consistent hard contact.  On the infield, 69 mph positional velo, clean exchange with high three quarters release, athletic footwork.

Connor Sherman LHP / 1B / Blue Valley West, KS / 2020 Sherman is a 5-foot-9 145-pound right-handed hitting first baseman in Kansas’ 2020 class.  He ran a 4.60 4.60 home to first and has a 66 mph exit velocity. At the plate, balanced stance, slightly closed stride, some load in hands, level bat path, swing produced mostly middle of the field contact.  On the infield, throws left, over the top release, fields ball in athletic position, feet create momentum to throw, clean exchange, 69 mph positional velo.

Drew Thompson 3B / 1B / Olathe Northwest, KS / 2021 Thompson is a 5-foot-10 170-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Kansas’ 2021 class.  He ran a 4.60 home to first and has a 76 mph exit velocity. At the plate, starts loaded in back leg, slightly open, smooth and controlled leg lift, aggressive, quick bat speed, showed power to pull gap, slight lift in bat path.  On the infield, 60 mph positional velocity, high three quarters release, field ball out front, quick exchange, fluid footwork.

Denton Whiteside LHP / 1B / Rockhurst, MO / 2021 Whiteside is a 5-foot-11 120-pound left-handed hitting first baseman in Kansas’ 2021 class.  He ran a 4.90 home to first and has a 71 mph exit velocity. At the plate, balanced stance, hands walk away from stride, reverse to tap, body stays under control, swing produced mostly pull and middle of the field contact.  On the infield, 67 mph positional velocity, high three quarters release, loose arm action, fields ball out front, quick catch and throw, active feet, soft hands.

Christopher Wilson 3B / SS / Blue Valley Southwest, KS / 2018 Wilson is a 6-foot 180-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Kansas’ 2018 class.  He ran a 4.63 home to first and has an 86 mph exit velocity. At the plate, balanced stance, controlled leg kick, aggressive hands, loose, level path, showed power to pull side, gap to gap approach.  On the infield, three quarters arm slot, quick to the ball with feet, quick transfer, mostly accurate throws, 70 mph positional velocity.

Jayden Zimmerman C / 1B / Shawnee Heights, KS / 2020 Zimmerman is a strong 6-foot-3 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Kansas’ 2020 class.  He ran a 4.68 home to first and has an 86 mph exit velocity. At the plate, starts slightly open, controlled leg lift, short stride, stays slightly open, middle to pull side pop. On the infield, 68 mph positional velocity, quick catch and throw, reverse pivot to second base, clean transfer on time with fluid footwork, works through the catch.

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