Prep Baseball Report

2.16 Underclass Invitational East: Corner Infield Analysis



Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

On Monday, February 16, Prep Baseball Report-Missouri held the Underclass Invitational East showcase for players in the 2017 and 2018 class.  Over 60 players from around the state participated to show their skills in front of the PBR staff.

CLICK HERE to view the Instant Analysis article reviewing the top performers from the event in the various stat areas.

Over the next week we will be releasing position-by-position analysis articles with scouting reports on each player and identifying the top prospects. We will also be updating the Missouri class of 2017 and 2018 player rankings over the next few weeks.

Today we take a look at the corner infielders that participated in the event. The talent level was high and included many of the top class of 2017 and 2018 catching prospects from Missouri. Many players have a high ceiling and project well at the next level.

Top Corner Infield Prospects

Jack Riney, 1B, Lafayette, 2017
Riney is a 6-foot-3 195-pound first baseman, hits right, throws left, with the bat, 88 mph exit velo, starts balanced lands square, level path, line drive approach to pull gap, runs 4.18 home-to-first, defensively, quick feet, attacks ball, high three-quarters release, clean exchange, accurate throws at 80 mph, top velo among first basemen.

Dennis Yingling, 1B, Lindbergh, 2017
Yingling is a well built 6-foot-1 195-pound first-baseman from Lindbergh, bats right, throws left, at the plate, open stance, uses leg kick, quick hands, pull power, 91 mph exit velo, one of the top for the event, 4.34 home-to-first, at first-base, athletic, quick feet, clean exchange, 78 mph positional velo, accurate throws, with carry.

Hunter Becker, 3B, Chaminade, 2017
Becker is a 6-foot 165-pound third baseman from Chaminade, easy/repeatable swing, consistent quality contact during BP, fluid rhythm, level path to extension, uses all fields, 91 mph exit velo, one of the top exit velos for the event, runs 4.18 home-to-first, defensively, fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through ball, 81 mph across infield, top velo among third basemen, accurate throws with carry.

Kyle Howe, 1B, Fort Zumwalt West, 2017
Howe is a 6-foot 3 185-pound left-handed hitting first baseman from Ft. Zumwalt West, at the plate, starts open with a bit of a dive, middle approach, consistent quality contact during BP, loose hands, 84 mph exit velo, 4.59 home-to-first, at first base, quick feet, quick exchange, accurate throws at 79 mph, athletic actions.

William Hantack, 3B/SS, Francis Howell Central, 2017
Hantack is an athletic 6-foot-1 160-pound third-baseman that attends Francis Howell Central, infield velo at 77 mph, accurate throws, quick feet, clean exchange, plays thru the ball, at the plate, starts loaded, smooth rhythm, quick bat speed, middle approach, 84 mph exit velo, 4.19 home-to-first


Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Weston Baker, 1B, SLUH, 2017
Baker is a 6-foot-3 210-pound 3B that attends St. Louis University High, at the plate, open stance, uses small leg kick, lands square, smooth rhythm, works in opposite gap, 90 mph exit velo, at first base, clean exchange, and fluid footwork, high three-quarters release, 79 mph velo.

Hayden Bender, 3B, Waterloo (IL), 2017
Bender is a 6-foot 195-pound third baseman at Waterloo (IL), offensively, starts in athletic position, uses toe touch, lands closed, middle-to-oppo approach, quick bat speed, 88 mph exit velo, 4.06 home-to-first, defensively, fluid footwork, clean exchange, soft hands, works thru ball, over-the-top release, all accurate throws at 80 mph.

Nikolai Brhely, 3B, Francis Howell Central, 2017
Brhely is a 6-foot-2 180 pound third baseman from Francis Howell Central,  simple swing mechanics, no wasted movement, starts balanced, lands square, quick bat speed, middle-to-oppo approach, good round of BP, runs a 4.51 home-to-first, on the infield, over-the-top release, momentum towards target, clean exchange, 68 mph across diamond, accurate throws

Alec Byous, 3B/1B, Lafayette, 2018
Byous is a 5-foot-11 160-pound third-baseman from Lafayette in St. Louis, quick release on the infield, smooth foot work, over-the-top release, accurate throws, 75 mph across diamond, with the bat, 80 mph exit velo, athletic set-up, square stride, line-drive approach, fast bat, 4.66 home-to-first

Daniel Flaiz, 3B, St. Charles West, 2017
Fliaz is a 6-foot-2 215-pound third baseman from St. Charles West, defensively 68 mph across diamond, accurate throws, over-the-top release, fluid hand-to-glove exchange, offensively, starts balanced, short stride, middle approach, 85 mph exit velo, 4.79 home-to-first.

Coltyn Kessler, 3B, Rockwood Summit, 2017
Kessler is a strong 6-foot-2 210-pound left-handed hitting third-baseman,, offensively, balanced set up, smooth rhythm, no wasted movement, level path to extension, uses middle of field, pull power, advanced approach, 84 mph exit velo, On the infield, 77 mph across diamond, clean exchange, arm works from different angles, mostly over-the-top release, plays thru ball, accurate throws.

Ben Maurer, 3B, Waterloo (IL), 2017
Maurer is a 6-foot-2 205-pound third baseman, offensively, slightly open balanced stance, short stride, power potential, gap-to-gap approach,  85 mph exit velo, 4.87 home-to-first, on the infield, fields ball in athletic position, long arm swing, clean exchange, 79 mph positional velo.  

Mason Mitchell, 1B, Marquette, 2017
Mason Mitchell is a 6-foot-2 192-pound left-handed hitting first baseman, at the plate, 84 mph exit velo, simple/repeatable swing mechanics, starts slightly open, no wasted movement, smooth rhythm, balanced finish, has pull power, at first base, soft hands, over-the-top release, fluid footwork, accurate throws at 72 mph

Carter Mize, 1B, Fort Zumwalt West, 2017
Mize is a slim 6-foot 150-pound left-handed hitting first baseman, offensively 79 mph exit velo, balanced stance, short stride, level path, line drive to mostly pull gap, quick hands, runs 4.37 home-to-first, at first base, quick feet, plays thru the ball, loose arm action, arm works, accurate throws, 71 mph positional velo. Overall, athletic actions with lean build able to add strength, showing improvement since fall.
 
Scot Roberts, Hannibal, 3B, 2017
Roberts is a 6-foot-4 212-pound third baseman from Hannibal, at the plate, starts with open stance, lands square, minimal body movement, gap-to-gap approach, quick hands, 79 mph exit velo, on the infield, quick catch and throw, fluid footwork, accurate throw with carry, 80 mph positional velo.

Weston Schad, 3B, Westminster, 2017
Schad is a 6-foot-4 205-pound at the plate, starts with open stance, lands square, smooth rhythm, gap-to-gap approach, level bat path to extension, fast bat, 88 mph exit velo, 5.01 home-to-first, on the infield, attacks ball, over-the-top release, throws with momentum towards target, 77 pm positional velo, accurate throws

Colin Schuetz, 3B, Mater Dei Catholic (IL), 2017
Schuetz is a 6-foot 195-pound third baseman from Mater Dei, with the bat, balanced stance, small stride, middle-to-oppo approach, 77 mph exit velo, runs 4.49 home-to-first, at third base, soft hands, clean exchange, fluid footwork, plays thru ball, 73 mph across diamond.

Tyler Shylanski, 3B, Waterloo (IL), 2017
Shylanski is a 6-foot-2 200-pound third baseman from Waterloo (IL), at the plate, narrow set up in feet, line drive approach, uses middle of field, 79 mph exit velo, 4.59 home-to-first, defensively, works thru the ball., over-the-top release, 68 mph positional velo

Tommy Williams, 3B, Lafayette, 2018
Williams is a strong 6-foot-1 230-pound third baseman and a player to follow in the 2018 class, at the plate, 86 mph exit velo, athletic stance, narrow base, quick bat, line drive hitter, gap-to-gap approach, runs 4.56 home-to-first, at third base, over-the-top release, clean exchange, plays thru ball, 78 mph positional velo, all throws accurate with carry.

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