Prep Baseball Report

Spring Forward: Middle Infielders to Watch in 2020


Kyle Campbell
Maryland Scouting Director

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Earlier this week we began a series of stories entitled "Spring Forward" where we highlight some of the top players, programs, and conferences across a variety of categories for the upcoming 2020 season. 

Today our Spring Forward series takes a look at some of the top middle infielders you won't want to miss watch flash the leather and make things happen at the plate in 2020. 

 

MIDDLE INFIELDERS TO WATCH IN 2020

 

Brett Ahalt 2B / SS / Walkersville, MD / 2020

Ahalt was off to a hot start last season hitting .389 through the first five games before an injury sidelined him for the remainder of his junior campaign. Coming off a big summer and recent commitment to Clemson, the senior shortstop looks poised to have a monster year for Walkersville as they hope to contend in the CMC and MPSSAA 2A State playoffs.


Casey Bishop SS / 2B / Gilman, MD / 2021

Bishop is as steady as they come at shortstop and really did a nice job for the Greyhounds in their run to the MIAA “A” Conference championship in 2019. This summer Bishop chose to stay in-state committing to Towson University. Gilman will look for Bishop to get on base at the top of the lineup again in 2020 coming off a sophomore season in which he hit .261 with 24 hits and scored 21 runs. 


Luke Cheng SS / RHP / Sherwood, MD / 2020

The slick fielding shortstop helped lead Sherwood to the 4A State Championship in 2019 where they came up just short in an extra innings loss to Old Mill. Cheng hit .456 and scored 37 runs collecting 31 hits on the year including 7 doubles. The Warriors will look to Cheng as a leader in 2020 with the loss of a couple key players if they hope to make a run back to the championship game.


Dominic Dinoto SS / Loyola Blakefield, MD / 2020

Dinoto was a spark plug once again last season for the Dons. The quick, athletic, rangy shortstop and Army-West Point commit hit .345 with 30 hits, 19 RBI’s and scored 35 runs. Dinoto also swiped 25 bags. Loyola will lean on his leadership in 2020 with a couple key pieces gone from last year but still have a nucleus with the talent to compete in the MIAA “A” Conference.


Sean Fasano SS / 2B / John Carroll, MD / 2020

John Carroll’s switch-hitting shortstop burst onto the MIAA scene in his first year with the program last season. The recent Delgado CC (LA) commit hit .333 for the Patriots in 2019 scoring 23 runs, swiped 13 bases, and drove in 16 runs. He plays with great actions in the middle of the field and will once again be asked to set the table in the lineup as John Carroll looks to compete for the “A’ Conference title in 2020.


Ethan McCormick SS / RHP / Archbishop Spalding , MD / 2020

Archbishop Spalding will need to replace UMBC commit Justin Caesar at shortstop this season and one of the front-runners for the job will be former PBR Future Games Team Mid-Atlantic shortstop Ethan McCormick. McCormick plays with smooth, clean actions in the field and demonstrated both bat control and some power at the plate last season. The Liberty University commit will be asked to get on base in front of some of the big boppers they have returning to their lineup if they hope to bounce back from a rather disappointing season in 2019 and contend for the MIAA “A” Conference title in 2020.


Jackson Merrill SS / 3B / Severna Park, MD / 2021

Merrill had a breakout season in 2019 for Severna Park generating a ton of interest from colleges across the country. The left handed-hitting shortstop uses the whole field at the plate and saw a jump in his power numbers. Merrill hit .475 and slugged .644 with 7 doubles and a home run last year for the Falcons. Following a trip to the PBR Future Games this summer, Merrill recently committed to Army-West Point.


Jacob Orr SS / 2B / Thomas Johnson, MD / 2021

Orr was a part of the 2018 Governors team that won the 3A State Championship in 2018 and showed even more growth last season as a sophomore. While Thomas Johnson came up short in their bid to repeat in 2019, they return several key players this season and expect to be contenders for a third straight trip to the state semifinals. The University of Maryland commit hit .403 last season scoring 20 runs while driving in 20 and swiped 14 bags. 


Kameron Walters SS / 2B / Urbana, MD / 2020

Walters hit .356 with 25 hits and scored 18 runs for Urbana last season as a junior. The Hawks senior shortstop recently committed to Shepherd University and will need to have another big season if the Hawks hope to contend in the tough Central Maryland Conference and make a deep run in the 4A state playoffs. 


Ryan Williamson SS / Gilman, MD / 2020

Gilman possesses one of the best double play combinations in the state with Williamson and junior Towson University commit Casey Bishop. Williamson, a St. Bonaventure commit hit .276 and had an OBP of .461 for the Greyhounds last season scoring 28 runs. Watch out for the Greyhounds this season with the likes of these two returning in the lineup and middle of the diamond.

 

SPRING FORWARD SERIES