Prep Baseball Report

Kansas Underclass Games: Middle Infielders


Shon Plack
Kansas/Missouri Scouting Director

Prep Baseball Report - Kansas held the Kansas Underclass Games at Kansas State University in Manhattan, Kansas on Tuesday, June 5.  Over seventy players attended in the 2020-2021 class. 

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 middle infielders from the event. Players are listed in alphabetical order below.

The middle infielders one of the most talented groups in any of the previous Kansas Underclass Games.  This group was loaded with athletic players with high ceilings.  Four players ran a sub-seven 60 and six players had an 87 mph or better exit velocity with three players over 90 mph. Eight players had 80 mph or better positional velocity, one player was above 85 mph. 

Here is a closer look at the middle infielders from the Kansas Underclass Games.

Middle Infielders

Nyle Banks SS / RHP / Olathe North , KS / 2021

Banks is an athletic 5-foot-7 137-pound switch hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2021 class.  He ran a 7.37 60 and a 4.52 home to first. He has an 83 mph exit velocity. At the plate, simple and repeatable swing, similar from both side, no wasted movement, loose hands with feels or the barrel, slight toe tap before stride on the left side, controlled leg lift from right side, level swing path, gap to gap approach, more pull line drives from right side, more middle/opposite field from left side.  On the infield, 86 mph positional velocity, over the top release, long arm circle with loose arm action, works through the ball with quick and athletic footwork, clean transfer with soft hands, projectable frame, player to watch in the 2021 class.

Caden Bressler SS / RHP / Pittsburg, KS / 2020

Bressler is a 5-foot-11 190-pound left-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2020 class.  He has an 87 mph exit velocity. At the plate, open stance, some hand load, quick tempo in leg lift and stride, consistent and hard middle to pull side line drives during hitting evals, aggressive swing, some lift to swing path at finish.  On the infield, 81 mph positional velocity, high three quarters arm slot, fluid footwork to the ball, creates momentum after the catch with feet, clean transfer with clean arm action, strong build.

Ryan Callahan SS / RHP / Blue Valley Northwest, KS / 2020

Callahan is a long and lean 6-foot-3 175-pound left-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2020 class.  He ran a 7.13 60 and a 4.40 home to first.  He has a 90 mph exit velocity. At the plate, starts with open stance, fluid pre swing rhythm in hands, hands load with leg kick and in line stride, loose hand with quick bat speed, swing produced consistent hard line drives to the middle and pull side of the field during hitting evals.  On the infield, 80 mph positional velocity, over the top arm slot, long arm circle, arm works, fluid and controlled movement to the ball, field ball in athletic position with clean transfer, mostly accurate throws. 

Kendall Diggs 3B / SS / Saint Thomas Aquinas, KS / 2021

Diggs is a 5-foot-11 155-pound left-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2021 class. He ran a 6.78 60 and a 4.53 home to first.  He has a 91 mph exit velocity. At the plate, balanced set up, smooth and controlled load, in line stride, accelerated swing with loose hand and quick bat speed, feel for the barrel, showed ability to drive the ball to both gap in hitting evals, repeats swing.  On the infield, 81 mph positional velocity, short over the top arm slot, athletic and controlled footwork to the ball, soft hands with clean exchange, quick release, accurate throws, player with high ceiling in the 2021 class.

Griffin Edds SS / RHP / Bishop Miege, KS / 2021

Edds is a lean 6-foot-3 155-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2021 class.  He ran a 7.56 60 and a 4.66 home to first.  He has a 79 mph exit velocity. At the plate, balanced stance, soft and controlled leg lift, controlled swing with in line stride, hands control the bat head, swing produced mostly gap to gap line drives. On the infield, 72 mph positional velocity, short over the top arm slot, fluid and controlled action, glove to hand transfer works on time with footwork, plays though the ball, mostly accurate throws, room to fill out physically on tall and lean frame.

Chase Jans SS / 2B / Blue Valley, KS / 2021

Jans is a 5-foot-11 175-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2021 class.  He ran a 6.60 60 and a 4.34 home to first. He had a 93 mph exit velocity. At the plate, starts with a square stance in base, smooth load in hands and weight, short stride, quick bat speed, level though the zone, gap to gap line drives with power to pull gap. On the infield, 81 mph positional velocity, athletic actions, quick feet to the ball, aggressive, short high three quarters arm slot, strong build with quick twitch movements, player to follow in the 2021 class.

Tavian Josenberger SS / 2B / Park Hill, MO / 2020

Josenberger is a 6-foot-155-pound switch hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2020 class.  He ran a 4.20 home to first and a 6.84 60.  He has an 84 mph exit velocity. At the plate, similar set up from both sides, smooth pre-swing rhythm in hands, open stance, slightly closed stride, middle to pull side line drives with accelerated hands from both sides, balanced swing with occasional pop.  On the infield, 81 mph positional velocity, smooth actions, solid defender with athletic footwork and clean exchange, momentum through the catch, short over the top arm action quick catch and throw, mostly accurate throws with carry.

Jackson Mehlin 2B / SS / Blue Valley Northwest, KS / 2020

Mehlin is a 6-foot 160-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2020 class.  He ran a 7.26 60 and a 4.66 home to first.  He has an 87 mph exit velocity. At the plate, balanced stance, controlled load with weight shift against back side, minimal hand movement, in line stride, aggressive swing, quick and level bat plane, loose hands, consistent hard contact during hitting evals to pull gap, shows power potential. On the infield, 72 mph positional velocity, high three quarters arm slot, quick catch and throw, quick to the ball with footwork, has momentum through the catch, clean exchange, mostly accurate throws.

Ayden Mertz RHP / 2B / Park hill, MO / 2020

Mertz is a lean 5-foot-11 160-pound right-handed hitting second baseman in Missouri’s 2020 class.  He ran a 7.40 60 and a 4.78 home to first.  He has an 87 mph exit velocity. At the plate, starts slightly open, aggressive bat speed with in line stride, quick hands, flashes pull side power, mostly middle to pull side line drives.  On the infield, 82 mph positional velocity, over the top arm slot, works around ball and through the catch, athletic actions with some quick twitch movements, arm works, mostly accurate throws with carry, still room to fill out physically.

Jackson Nicklaus 3B / C / Andover, KS / 2021

Nicklaus is a 5-foot-10 150-pound left-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2021 class.  He ran a 7.32 60 and a 4.53 home to first.  He has an 82 mph exit velocity.  At the plate, consistently squared up balls gap to gap during hitting evals, balanced set up with smooth pre-pitch rhythm, in line stride, quick bat speed, feel for the barrel, repeats simple and short swing.  On the infield, 80 mph positional velocity, athletic footwork, quick to the ball with feet, works through the catch, clean transfer on time with feet, soft hands, over the top arm slot, mostly accurate throws. 

 

Jace Peters 2B / RHP / Blue Valley, KS / 2021

Peters is a 5-foot-11 162-pound right-handed hitting second baseman in Kansas’ 2021 class.  He ran a 7.44 60 and a 4.75 home to first.  He has an 80 mph exit velocity. At the plate, balanced set up, no wasted movement with minimal load, loose and quick hands, level though the zone, gap to gap line drives, repeats swing, ball found the barrel several times during hitting evals.  On the infield, 72 mph positional velocity, controlled action, smooth footwork to the ball, clean exchange with short over the top arm slot, gains ground though the catch and towards first base, mostly accurate throws.

Triston Speaker SS / 2B / Topeka West , KS / 2021

Speaker is a 5-foot-5 135-pound left-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2021 class.  He ran a 7.71 60 and a 4.75 home to first.  He had a 76 mph exit velocity. At the plate, open set up, in line stride, body stays under control with loose hands and quick bat speed, leg kick, level path with consistent line drives gap to gap.  On the infield, 65 mph positional velocity, quick to the ball with footwork, athletic actions, quick transfer and throw, catches ball out front in athletic position, high three quarters arm slot, mostly accurate throw

Mason Turney SS / 2B / Eisenhower, KS / 2021

Turney is a 5-foot-8 145-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2021 class.  He ran a 6.94 60 and a 4.37 home to first.  He has a 77 mph exit velocity. At the plate, starts slightly open, no wasted movement in load, in line stride, hands control the bat with level path, body stays under control, quick hands, middle to pull side contact.  On the infield, 71 mph positional velocity, aggressive to the ball, maintains momentum through the catch, clean exchange, quick feet, high three quarters arm slot, mostly accurate throws.

Grayson Walden SS / RHP / Columbus , KS / 2020

Walden is a strong 5-foot-10 175-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2020 class.  He ran a 7.02 60 and 4.41 home to first.  He has a 79 mph exit velocity. At the plate, balanced set up, short in line stride, simple and repeatable with no wasted movement, hands control with bat, slight lift to bat path, gap to gap approach.  On the infield, 77 mph positional velocity, over the top release, works behind the ball and through the catch with momentum in feet, clean exchange on time with footwork, field ball in athletic position, mostly accurate throws.

For Related Content



For More Kansas News