By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The Fall Prospect Games event took place on October 11 at St. Catharine College and afforded players from around the state the opportunity to showcase their abilities in a combination showcase/game play event. The event saw some returning performers looking to build on previous events but also included many young players being seen for the first time who left good impressions with our staff.

The following is a look at the position players from Team Black from the event. This is position player analysis only. Those position players who also pitched at the event will have their pitching evaluation featured in a subsequent article.

Middle Infielders

Tristin Garcia, SS, Male HS, 2018
5-foot-2, 140 pound left-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance and squares up with a long stride, flat bat path, contact oriented swing, creates above average bat speed for size with quickness in hands, line drive type hitter with gap-to-gap approach, made consistent contact in game play, went 1-for-4 with a single up the middle and lined out hard to first base, 80 mph exit velocity, ran 7.85 60. Impressed with athletic actions and soft/quick hands defensively, good footwork, average arm strength with mostly accurate throws from a high-3/4 release, can attack slow roller more aggressively, high-energy type player.

Bailey Martin, SS/OF, Simon Kenton HS, 2018
5-foot-6, 120 pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, mid-length stride, maintains good balance, short swing path, loose hands, line drive type hitter, showed better bat speed than 65 mph exit velocity indicates, went 0-for-4 in game play showing a pull approach, ran a 7.55 60-yard dash.  Shows good lateral movement defensively with soft hands and athletic actions, make very accurate throws from both the infield and outfield from a ¾ release, attacks the ball aggressively in the outfield, 76 mph infield velocity, 74 mph outfield velocity. Has solid foundation of baseball skills which should continue to develop with physical maturity and strength gains.

Austin Spada, SS/RHP, Gallatin County HS, 2018
5-foot-8, 135-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, hands start close to body and load back, involves lower half, line drive type hitter with average bat speed, 71 mph exit velocity off the tee, ran a 7.97 60-yard dash, went 0-for-4 in game play with two strikeouts. Defensively, hands work, has a long exchange with an occasional crow hop, short high-3/4 release, shows developing arm strength at 69 mph across the infield, should continue to see game evolve with physical maturity and strength gains.

Tyler Elkins, 2B, Pikeville HS, 2017
5-foot-8, 170 pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, mid-length stride, good use of lower half, hands start away from body and load back with slight arm bar, gap to gap approach, ran a 7.44 60-yard dash, 77 mph exit velocity, went 1-for-4 in game play with a triple to deep center field and two strikeouts. Defensively, shows average hands, average lateral movement, short high-3/4 release, accurate throws, can attack slow roller more aggressively, average arm strength, 72 mph velocity across the infield.

Corner Infielders

AJ Hacker, 1B/RHP, Rowan County HS, 2019
6-foot-1, 165 pound left-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, loads back with front foot, short stride and maintains balance, short swing path with good extension through contact, line drive type hitter, solid approach and uses all fields well, ran a 8.51 60-yard dash, 72 mph exit velocity off the tee, went 2-for-4 in game play with singles to RF and LF. Has soft hands defensively, average movement around the bag, 75 mph velocity across the infield. Hacker is a promising, young left-handed hitter.

Justin Doyle, 3B/RHP, North Oldham HS, 2019
6-foot-1, 175 pound left-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, long stride but maintains balance, loose hands generates barrel whip through the zone, showed above average bat speed in BP, line drive type hitter with gap to gap approach, has projectable power, ran 8.41 60, 76 mph exit velocity, went 2-for-4 in game play with two singles to right field. Defensively, has adequate hands with solid actions, good body control, long ¾ to high-3/4 release, above average arm strength for age, 76 mph velocity across the infield, a young left-handed hitter to keep a close eye on.

Jake Newby, 1B, Mercer County HS, 2017
6-foot-1, 210-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, strong frame generates bat speed, ball jumps off barrel when squared up, shows power potential, good hand strength, 83 mph exit velocity (87 at previous event), ran a 7.95 60, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to center field.  Shows adequate hands defensively with above average footwork around the bag, 73 mph velocity across the infield.

Brennan LaBarbera, RHP/1B, South Oldham HS, 2018
6-foot-3, 165-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, mid-length stride, involves lower half and shows flashes of gap power, ran a 7.20 60-yard dash, 76 mph exit velocity, went 0-for-4 in game play with one strikeout. Shows soft hands, average footwork around the bag, 72 mph velocity across the infield, accurate throws.

Trevor Allen, 3B/RHP, Mercer County HS, 2017
6-foot-2, 175-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with minimal stride, drops hands to trigger swing, long level to uphill swing path, average bat speed, 76mph exit velocity, ran a 7.70 60-yard dash, went 1-for-4 in game play with an infield single and two strikeouts. Defensively, show average hands, solid corner actions, good body control on slow roller, shorter ¾ release with average arm strength, 74 mph velocity across the infield.

Catchers

Carson Plessinger, C, Campbell County HS, 2016
5-foot-11, 203 pound, strong-framed right-handed hitter, hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, uses strong lower half well while maintaining balance, short swing path, good extension, shows flashes of power to all fields, ran a 7.43 60, 81 mph exit velocity, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to right field and two ground outs. Defensively, hard-nosed approach behind the plate with good blocking skills, short high-3/4 release, 2.03-2.10 pop times with 74 mph velocity on throws to the bag.

Matheo Lynn, C/OF, Larue County HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 195-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced/wide stance with minimal stride, uses strong lower half well, short swing path with flashes of bat speed during BP, ball jumps when squared up, has present gap power, ran 7.51 60 (7.28 previous event), 75 mph exit velocity (79 previous best), went 2-for-4 in game play with a double to left-center. Defensively, participated as both a catcher and outfielder, quick glove to hand transfer and release, solid footwork, pop times ranged from 2.07-2.10 with accurate throws and 70 mph velocity. Plays though the ball well on the ground in the outfield, short over the top release with 72 mph arm strength.

Outfielders

Seth Johnson, OF/RHP, Franklin Simpson HS, 2016
6-foot-1, 160-pound right-handed hitter impressed with overall ability. Hits from a wide base with a short stride, good balance, wraps slightly in load, flashes hand-generated bat speed, shows gap power, 82 mph exit velocity (87 previous best), hit well in game play going 2-for-4 with two doubles to left field, ran a 7.26 60 (7.16 previous best). Defensively, has athletic actions and moves well, plays through the ball, clean exchange, 87 mph arm strength with carry an online accuracy from a long high-3/4 release, solid overall ability with good upside.

Sam Sutton, OF/LHP, Scott County HS, 2018
5-foot-9, 165 pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, loads back with front foot and uses a mid-length stride, maintains balance through finish, can get more out of backside, line drive type hitter with gap to gap approach, flat bat path, 74 mph exit velocity, ran a 7.20 60, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to right field. Moves well in the outfield with good athleticism, plays through the ball well, good set up on fly balls, long over the top release with good arm strength, 83 mph with carry, very accurate throws, solid defender in the outfield.

Brandon West, OF, Spencer County HS, 2016
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with minimal stride, can incorporate more consistent lower half use in swing, flat swing path, average bat speed, ran a 7.26 60, 75 mph exit velocity, went 1-for-4 in game play with a single to left field. Defensively, plays through the ball well on the ground, long high-3/4 release, 64 mph arm strength (68 at previous event).