Prep Baseball Report

Top Prospect Games: Corner Infielders Analysis



Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

On Sunday, August 9, Prep Baseball Report-Missouri held the Top Prospect Games at the University of Central Missouri in Warrensburg.  Nearly 100 uncommitted players in the 2016 class from Kansas and Missouri attended. 

Player profiles have been update with times, velocities and videos.  Below is a look at the corner infielders from the event, and overall physical group of players.  In the days to come, we will break down the outfielders, middle infielders, and pitchers. The corner infielders are listed in alphabetical order.  Players rankings will be updated in weeks to come.

CLICK HERE, to see the Instant Analysis from the Top Prospect Games
CLICK HERE, to see the PDF spreadsheet for the Top Prospect Games
CLICK HERE, to see game footage from the Top Prospect Games

Corner Infielders

Jacob Benson, 1B, Belton, 2016
Benson is a 6-foot-2 165-pound left-handed hitting first baseman.  Benson runs a 7.32 60 and has an exit velocity of 82 mph.  Balanced in set-up at the plate, separates hands and stride foot during load, mostly pull gap line drives during batting practice, high finish in hands. On the infield, quick and athletic footwork, clean exchange, short high three quarters release, accurate throws at 80 mph.

Michael Brown, 1B, Camdenton, 2016
Brown is a 6-foot-3 195-pound right-right handed hitting first baseman.  Brown ran a 7.70 60 and had an exit velo of 71 mph.  Starts from a wide base in stance, short stride, arm bar, used middle to pull side of field in batting practice.  At first base, has a 69 mph positional velo, high three-quarters release, clean exchange, mostly accurate throws. 

James Brownell, 1B, Adair, 2016
Brownell is a 6-foot-3 185-pound right-handed hitting first baseman. Brownell runs a 7.94 60 and has an exit velo of 78 mph.  Starts in an open stance, smooth load in back leg, minimal hand movement, loose hands, maintains barrel, middle approach. On the infield, 77 mph positional velo, loose arm action, high three-quarters release, fluid footwork, mostly accurate throws. 

Tyler Clark, 3B, Blue Springs South, 2016
Clark is a 6-foo3 185-pound right-handed hitting third baseman.  He ran a 7.50 60 and had an exit velo of 84 mph.  Athletic stance, loads into back leg, controlled leg kick, path level through zone, gap-to-gap approach, power to pull side, physical player.  On the infield, 77 mph positional velo, short over the top release, arm works from lower angle as well, athletic movements, somewhat accurate throws during infield.

Robbie Collier, 3B, Kearney, 2016
Collier is a 5-foot-11 205-pound right-handed third baseman.  He ran a 7.68 60 and had an exit velo of 87 mph, one of the top exit velos of the event.  Athletic set-up at the plate, slightly open, controlled leg lift, short path to contact, power to pull side, line drive approach.  On the infield, 74 mph positional velo, three-quarters release, momentum through the ball, fluid action, accurate throws. 

Matt Gastner, 3B, Liberty, 2016
Gastner is a 6-foot-3 195-pound right-handed hitting third baseman.  Gastner runs a 7.37 60 and has an 84 mph exit velo.  Smooth load from an athletic stance at the plate, toe taps, level path, mostly pull to middle during batting practice, power to pull side. During defensive evaluations, high three-quarters arm slot, 79 mph positional velo, clean exchange, hands and feet in sync, somewhat accurate throws. 

Conner Gibson, 1B, Lee’s Summit, 2016
Gibson is a 6-foot-1 180-pound right-handed hitting first baseman.  He ran a 7.00 60 and had an 87 mph exit velo, one of the top left-handed exit velos of the event, At the plate, minimal load, pre-swing rhythm in hands, level path to extension, consistent solid contact during batting practice, hands work inside ball, middle-to-pull approach. On the infield, 76 mph positional velo, made all plays cleanly, quick exchange and release, fluid footwork, over-the-top release, accurate.

Connor Jonas, 3B, Fort Osage, 2016
Jonas is a 5-foot-10 170-pound right-handed hitting third baseman.  He ran a 7.65 60 and has an 80 mph exit velo.  Went 1-for-3 in game action with a single.  Tall open stance, toe tap, loose hands, level path, line drives to middle-to-pull during batting practice. On the infield, 81 mph positional velo, one of the top infield velos of the event, long over-the-top release, plays through the ball, quick feet and exchange, somewhat accurate throws.

Dalton Lanpher, 3B, Rockhurst, 2016
Lanpher is a 6-foot-1 180-pound right-handed hitting third baseman.  Lanpher ran a 7.44 60 with an 86 mph exit velo. Athletic stance at the plate, smooth load, level path to extension, hit balls with back spin, strong hands, power to pull gap.  During defensive evals, 75 mph positional velo, short over the top release, plays through the ball, clean exchange, hands and feet work together, accurate to first base.

Channing Mickey, 1B, Webb City, 2017
Mickey is a 6-foot-2 210-pound right-handed hitting outfielder in the 2017 class.  Mickey ran a 7.38 60 and has a 90 mph exit velo. At the plate, Mickey is a strong, physical and aggressive. Athletic stance, leg kick, bat path has some lift, middle to pull approach.  On the infield, 82 mph positional velo, fluid footwork, clean exchange, high three quarters arm slot.

Jason Needham, 1B, Staley, 2016
Needham is a 5-foot-8 190-pound right-handed hitting first baseman. Needham ran an 8.26 60 and has an exit velo of 76 mph.  At the plate, open stance, controlled leg lift, quick hands, aggressive swing flat through zone.  On the infield, 71 mph positional velo, short high three-quarters release, clean transfer, fluid footwork, accurate throws. 

Alex Schram, 3B, Smithville, 2016
Schram is a 5-foot-10 230-pound right-handed hitting third baseman.  He ran a 8.07 60 and had an exit velo of 83 mph.  Balanced set-up at the plate, controlled front leg lift, arm bar, middle-to-pull approach.  During defensive evaluations, 71mph positional velo, three-quarters release, quick transfer and release, one accurate throw after another.

John Shecut, 1B, Bishop Miege (KS), 2016
Shecut is a 6-foot-1 177-pound left-handed hitting first baseman.  Shecut ran a 7.38 60 and has exit velo of 75 mph.  Athletic set-up at the plate, no stride, upper body dominate, smooth hand load, quick hands, level path to extension,  line drive gap-to-gap during batting practice. Singled to opposite field during game action.  On the infield, 73 mph positional velo, over-the-top release, clean exchange, quick transfer and release, mostly accurate throws. 

Jacob Thigpen, 3B, Park Hill South, 2016
Thigpen is a 6-foot-1 190-pound right-handed hitting third baseman.  Thigpen ran a 7.38 60 and 87 mph exit velo, one of the top exit velos of the event.  At the plate, balanced stance, loads lower half, fast bat speed, level through zone, middle approach.  On the infield, 76 mph positiona velo, short over-the-top release, quick transfer and release, accurate throws.

Matt Westphal, 1B, Lutheran St. Charles, 2016
Westphal is a 6-foot-3 198-pound right-handed hitting catcher in the 2016 class.  Westphal runs a 7.52 60 and has a 75 exit velo. At the plate, physical hitter, simple load, minimal stride, aggressive hands, quick bat speed, level to extension, consistent solid contact using both gaps during batting practice. During defensive evaluations, 80 mph positional velo, quick footwork, clean exchange, over-the-top release, accurate throws.

 

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