Prep Baseball Report

2016 Top Performers: Corner Infield



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By Jerry Shank
Maryland / Virginia Scouting Director

With 2016 coming to a close we will spend the final week of the year highlighting top performances from events over the course of our second year in the Old Line State. We will have positional breakdowns throughout the week, recapping the year for PBR Maryland.

Top Corner Infield

Matthew Gibbs 3B Mount St. Joseph 2017
Event: Maryland Preseason ID
2.21.16 - Athletic frame at 5-foot-10, 175-pounds. Ran a 6.82 60-yard dash. Hits from a square athletic set up. Short path to the baseball with extension through contact.  Creates fast bat speed. Good rhythm and balance throughout swing.  Nice lower half usage with gap-to-gap hitting style and power potential at plate. Exit velocity of 86 mph. Sound footwork in the infield. Clean hands and exchange, throwing from a ¾ arm angle with a short and quick arm action. Throws across the infield at 75 mph.

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Paul Nixon 1B Archbishop Curley 2018
Event: Top Prospect Games
6.21.16 - Physically advanced at 6-foot-2, 230-pounds. Hits fro an athletic slightly open set up. Smooth load to hitting position. Level swing path and shows nice ability to elevate the baseball and use his strength and generates fast bat speed at the plate. Barreled up plenty of baseballs during his BP. 98 mph exit velocity. Nice extension through contact. Already a power threat and should continue to get even stronger. Sound footwork at the bag, with solid hands. Longer arm action throwing from a high 3/4 slot. Moves well at the bag and shows arm strength.

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Tyler Locklear 3B Archbishop Curley 2019
Event: Fall Underclass Invitational
11.5.16 - Locklear has made a big jump over the past six months as was evident with his performance at PBR Maryland’s Fall Underclass Invitational. The physical, 6-foot-2, 210-pounder put up an impressive 96 mph exit velocity off the tee, and mashed balls all over the park in batting practice with a short, powerful stroke. Locklear sets up tall before rocking back his weight with a slight knee-knock that triggers his hands down. Then, he drives through the ball, finishing high, with an explosive lower half. Locklear has clean actions at third base, an accurate arm, and works through the ball well. He projects well at either corner infield position. Locklear’s major power potential should peak recruiter’s attentions, and if his recent jump is any indication of what to expect next spring and summer, watch out.

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Nate Thomas 3B St. Elizabeth 2018
Event: 2016 Elite Prospect Showcase(PA)
10/29/16 Thomas immediately passes the eye test, standing at 6-foot-5, 200-pounds and running a 6.73 60-yard dash. The left-handed hitter starts from an open stance and takes a slow, controlled, knee-to-knee stride to square. Load includes a hand hitch and significant amount of barrel waggle, but the ball jumps off his bat (92 mph exit velocity) when he is on time. Swing has a bit of length, but he creates good leverage and attacks the baseball with an intent to elevate it. Defensively, he showed solid feet, an ability to complete the slow roller play, and 78 mph arm strength from a short arm action with low elbow. Appears to have a shot to stick at the hot corner, although is athletic enough to man a corner outfield spot as well.

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Marcus Brown 1B DeMatha 2018
Event: Fall Underclass Invitational
11.5.16 - Strong frame at 6-foot-1, 200-pounds. Ran a 7.37 60. Hits from balanced, athletic set up. Short, simple load to hitting position. Nice rhythm throughout. Level swing path at the plate with nice extension through contact. Creates fast bat speed with some barrel whip through zone. Balance and nice lower half.  Strength to pull side, but used whole field well. Sounds hands and exchange at first. Decent feet around the bag, gets slightly flat footed at times when fielding. Throws from lower three-quarter slot. Infield velo of 79 mph. 1.83 10 yard split.

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John Dempsey 3B Geogetown Prep 2018
Event: PBR Future Games

8.4.16 - John Dempsey plays the game the right way. Soft, quick hands in the infield and quick exchange to release with accurate, consistent throws across the diamond. Great reads from the infield. Velocity of 76 mph across the diamond. Slightly open set up, direct path to the ball. can get out of balance at times, but like his approach at the plate. Exit velocity of 81 and ran a 7.11 60-yard dash.

2016 Recap