OK Summer Underclass Games: Shortstop Analysis

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PBR OK hosted the third annual Summer Underclass Prospect Games at Oklahoma State University. Nearly 80 players showcased their skill in front of the PBR OK staff and the entire staff from Oklahoma State.  

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Today, we take a look at the 16 shortstops basemen from the event.

Bobby Byers SS / 2B / Cascia Hall, OK / 2021 Quality defender who exhibits smooth actions, plays with a little bounce and trusts his glove hand. 79-mph arm strength has very good carry due to quality incorporation of his lower half into the throw. 5-foot-8, 135-pound right-handed hitter lacks current strength to drive the baseball (73-mph exit velocity), but shows a feel for repeating his swing in BP. Starts from an open stance and takes a controlled, leg-lift stride to square. Hands get to a good launch point, take a direct path to the ball and work through contact. Rising junior is an intriguing prospect, especially if he can add strength to his frame and lower his 7.28 60-yard dash time a few tenths.

Ezra Gustafson SS / RHP / Carl Albert, OK / 2021 A 5-foot-10, 163-pound rising junior. Right-handed hitter incorporates short stride, keeping head and midline movement to a minimum. Creates an armbar in his load and muscles the bat through the zone with a rotational top half that generates 88-mph exit velocity and gap power potential. Defensively, movements aren’t the most fluid, which could lead to a move to a corner at some point, but he gets himself in good position to field the baseball and incorporate a one-shuffle release. Solid 81-mph arm strength with comfort throwing from multiple slots and was accurate across the diamond. Ran a 7.09 60-yard dash.

Jakob Hall SS / RHP / Bartlesville, OK / 2021 A very lean and projectable 6-foot-1, 150-pound frame with plenty of room to add size and strength. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from an open, upright, and narrow set-up with rhythm in his hands. Uses two strides, one to close his stride then another long stride before launching his hands on a flat and efficient path through extension. In BP, shows a middle to pull and mostly flat approach, mostly barrels, 83 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.47 60. Defensively, shows light and smooth footwork, putting him in good positions to field the ball along with consistently soft hands, makes the slow roller play with athleticism and quickness. Throws with a moderate arm stroke coming through a high-¾ slot with accuracy at 83 mph and some carry.

Jackson Holliday SS / 2B / Stillwater, OK / 2022 A lean and projectable 6-foot, 165-pound frame with some present wiry strength. Offensively, the left-handed hitter shows an elite swing batting from a slightly knock-kneed and back leg heavy set up with rhythm throughout. Uses a moderate and controlled leg kick with a soft stride and slight arm-bar load before launching his hands on a slightly uphill path with hands speed and barrel control. In BP, shows an all field approach with occasional lift, all barrels, 91 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.13 60. Defensively, shows elite hands and advanced feet, makes the slow roller play with athleticism. Throws from a short arm stroke through a ¾ slot with accuracy at 78 mph across the diamond.

Grady James SS / 2B / Rejoice Christian, OK / 2021 A proportional and athletic 5-foot-8, 150-pound frame. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from an open, athletic, and slightly back leg heavy set up with rhythm in his hands. Uses a moderate and controlled leg kick and arm bar load before launching his hands on a flat path through extension. In BP, shows a middle to opposite field and flat approach, nearly all barrels, 83 mph exit velo. Runs a 6.97 60. Defensively, shows light, athletic, and quick feet to go along with above average hands. Arm action shows fluid length in the back before coming through a high-¾ slot showing accuracy at 78 mph.

Noah Kang SS / RHP / Edmond Memorial, OK / 2022 A long, lean, athletic, and projectable 6-foot-1, 157-pound frame. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from an even, athletic, and quiet set up. Uses a smooth load with a controlled leg kick before getting his foot down slightly early and launching his hands on a flat and efficient path to contact with a high finish. In BP, shows a pull gap approach with some lift, nearly all barrels, 87 mph exit velo. Runs a 6.91 60. Defensively, shows quick feet with above average hands fielding from a very wide. Throws from a short and quick arm stroke through multiple slots with a quick release an accuracy at 86 mph across the diamond.

Hunter Lenochan SS / RHP / Edmond Memorial, OK / 2021 A lean 6-foot, 165-pound frame with room to add size and strength. The right-handed hitter bats from an even, upright, and balanced set-up with some rhythm in his hands. Uses a small leg lift and smooth load before taking a long stride and launching his hands on a flat path through extension. In BP, shows a middle of the field and flat approach finding mostly barrels, 77 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.58 60. Defensively, shows above average hands and deliberate feet with clean footwork. Arm action is typically long and loose in the back coming through a near over the top slot, shows the ability to shorten up and drop slot when necessary, some accuracy at 77 mph.

Garrett Long SS / OF / Adair, OK / 2021 A long and lean 6-foot, 170-pound athlete. Offensively, the left-handed hitter bats from a back leg heavy and even set-up with some rhythm in his hands. Uses a moderate and athletic knee-knock leg kick with a moderate stride before launching his hands on a flat path through extension. In BP, shows a flat and pull approach with some bat speed, mostly barrels 81 mph. Runs a 6.68 60. Defensively, shows advanced hands and clean footwork with confident action, making the slow roller play with excellent athleticism. Arm action is short and quick in the back coming through a high-¾ slot with accuracy at 78 mph.

Grady Oliver SS / 2B / Broken Arrow , OK / 2024 A 5-foot-5, 105-pounder won’t set foot on a high school campus for over a year, but showed a solid glove hand, along with feel for getting behind the baseball and fielding it out front. 68-mph arm strength and 68-mph exit velocity will certainly improve as he grows and physically matures. Right-handed hitter starts from a balanced stance and takes a slow, controlled leg lift. Hands get to good launch point and barrel takes a direct path to the baseball. Simple, repeatable approach. Ran a 7.89 60-yard dash.

Jacob Roberts RHP / SS / Glenpool , OK / 2022 Right-handed hitting rising sophomore starts from a balanced stance with front foot cocked inward. Takes knee-to-knee stride with some rhythm in load and lands with front foot slightly open. Hands start at shoulder-level and creep down toward armpit-height for launch. Exhibited some feel for adjusting contact point to pitch location and used all fields during BP. Has a chance to be a physical presence in the box (80-mph exit velocity) as his body matures. Defensively, it all starts with his feet, which aren’t the quickest and will necessitate a move to a corner eventually. Showed an accurate arm with 72-mph arm strength. Ran a 8.28 60-yard dash.

Ethan Rone SS / RHP / Choctaw, OK / 2022 A durable 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame durable frame with some strength. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from a balanced, even, and athletic set up with some rhythm in his hands. Uses almost no body load with an arm bar before pulling his hands through an uphill path with bat speed. In BP, shows a pull approach with lift and consistent pop, some barrels, 86 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.61 60. Defensively shows deliberate footwork with some softness in his hands. Throws with a short arm stroke coming through a ¾ slot  with accuracy at 76 mph across the diamond.

Kade Shatwell RHP / SS / Tuttle , OK / 2022 A long, lean, and very projectable 6-foot-2, 155-pound frame. The recent Oklahoma State commit hits from an open and front foot heavy set up with some rhythm in his hands. Uses a moderate leg kick before launching his hands on a flat and rotational path to contact with a high finish. In BP, shows a middle to pull approach with occasional lift, mostly barrels, 81 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.28 60. Defensively, shows quick feet with long strides and average hands. Throws with a long, loose, and fluid arm action with advanced arm strength with some accuracy at 86 mph.

Noah Smallwood SS / RHP / Claremore, OK / 2022 A proportional 5-foot-9, 140-pound proportional frame. Offensively, the right-handed hitter bats from a very wide, front foot heavy, and relaxed set up with bat resting on his shoulder. Uses a big and aggressive leg kick with a long stride before launching his hands on a slightly uphill path with a high finish. In BP, shows an all fields approach with lift, some barrels, 83 mph exit velo. Runs a 7.11 60. Defensively, shows very confident actions with light footwork showing quickness when needing to cover ground, hands are above average. Arm action shows different length from different slots, slinging the ball across the diamond with accuracy at 80 mph.

Andrew Talburt SS / C / Bishop Kelley, OK / 2022 Rising sophomore with wiry 5-foot-11, 140-pound frame who ran a 7.27 60-yard dash. Right-handed hitter starts from square stance, rocks weight to backside and drifts forward into foot strike. Differing stride lengths can cause him to not always being on time and create inconsistent launch point for hands. Immature build leads to swinging bat with shoulders at present, but hands work through contact and should free up as he gains strength, which will also boost his 76-mph exit velocity. Defensively, feet show some quickness on initial first step and he looks comfortable making plays on the move. On routine ground balls, left foot will occasionally be late getting around, causing him to field the ball underneath him instead of out front. Accurate arm and uses feet well in throw, which helped 77-mph arm strength play up. Behind the dish, posted pop times of 2.01-2.27, the better of which came when he got his feet going early enough to sync with receipt of the baseball. Exhibited clean transfer and 70-mph arm strength from the crouch.

Freddie Utt II SS / RHP / Edmond Santa Fe, OK / 2022 Right-handed hitting rising sophomore showed simple approach in BP with abbreviated toe-tap and kept eyes fairly level throughout swing. Holds hands at solid launch point and gets some separation with his load. Uphill path with high finish leads to barrel not staying in zone as long as it could. Additional strength in his 5-foot-10, 155-pound frame will help boost 79-mph exit velocity. Defensively, he showed solid feet and a feel for playing below the baseball. Clean transfer and gets rid of it quick with comfort throwing from lower slot. Accurate arm, albeit with limited carry across the diamond from shortstop with 74-mph arm strength. Ran a 7.64 60-yard dash.

Landry Wilson SS / 2B / Edmond North, OK / 2022 Rising sophomore right-handed hitter with some strength in his 5-foot-9, 160-pound build. Minimal pre-swing movement allows him to keep head still and repeat swing, but also doesn’t allow him to fully tap into his power potential (80-mph exit velocity). Barrel leaks off shoulder toward catcher before hands trigger, which creates some length in his otherwise flat path. More explosion from lower half and a bit of pre-swing hand rhythm would help him maximize bat speed. Defensively, he field the baseball cleanly and posted 73-mph arm strength across the diamond. Some tendency to go straight at the baseball, which led to left foot staggered in front of body and a need to reset feet toward first base to make the throw. Ran a 7.19 60-yard dash.