Florida ProCase: Infield Analysis

May 29, 2016

By Justin Burgess
Florida Scouting Director

This year’s Florida ProCase at IMG Academy included dozens of the top prospects in the 2017 class in Florida. Last week, the Pitcher Analysis and Outfield Analysis were released and broke down the quality arms and many of the top bats that were on display at this event. Today’s analysis will be of the infielders and will examine some of the pro-level tools that were on display. Like the outfielders, many of the infielders were two-way players and a couple of the players who had a good showing are still uncommitted. Uncommitted 2017 SS/OF Willy Escala displayed advanced actions in both the infield and outfield and 2017 OF/3B Joshua Crouch—another uncommitted prospect—showed that he had the hands and arm strength to play a legitimate third base.

Here is an in-depth look at the infielders, listed alphabetically:

Joshua Crouch, OF/3B, Sebring HS (2017)
Uncommitted junior who stands at 6-foot, 185 pounds with a strong, stalky, physical, and athletic body. He is ranked 91st in Florida and is one of the top uncommitted players in the class. Upright and open stance at the plate and his hands come down with his load but he does not get much separation. Strong hands and wrists with very good bat speed. He has a leg kick and uses his lower half well. Short, quick swing that is flat through the zone and the ball jumps off his bat. Strong arm from both the infield and outfield and he gets great backspin and carry on his throws. He had the top outfield velocity at 90 mph. In the infield he has soft hands and light feet but he has a longer arm action and slightly stands up to throw. He has the hands and arm strength to play 3B. He made hard contact at the plate in all three at-bats in the game and really drove the ball with authority.

Tim Elko, 3B/1B, Hillsborough HS (2017)
Mississippi commit who stands at 6-foot-4, 220 pounds with a tall, strong, physical, and projectable body on a large frame. He is ranked 43rd in Florida and 142nd overall. He runs well for his size (7.14) and can really pick it at 1B. He has the hands and arm strength to play third but his size and footwork will likely solidify him at 1B. Fortunately, Elko possesses the bat and power to stick at 1B. He is relaxed at the plate with an upright stance. He has an easy swing with a nice plane through the zone and he drives the ball to all fields. He stays inside the ball well, gets good leverage, and the ball really jumps off his bat. He had the second highest exit velocity (off the tee) at 96 mph.

Willy Escala, SS/OF, South Dade HS (2017)
Uncommitted junior who stands at 5-foot-11, 165 pounds with a lean and athletic body with visible strength and natural actions all over the field. Ranked 54th in Florida and is one of the top uncommitted players in the state. He ran a 6.65 in the 60 and covers a lot of ground in center field. He has a loose, quick, and strong arm from the OF that produces online throws with good carry at 88 mph. From the infield he throws 86 mph with ease and he has soft hands and quick, light feet. He stands up slightly to throw but that can be fixed. At the plate he has an upright stance, gets a strong separation for his load as his hands slightly drop and he gets a good hand trigger. Smooth swing with a nice plane through the zone and the ball jumps off his bat for his size. He also doubled in the game off an 89 mph fastball.

Graham Hoffman, SS/RHP, Calvary Christian (2017)
South Florida recruit, currently ranked No. 32 in Florida’s 2017 class, No. 97 overall. 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame, athletic build with proportional strength. Showed legitimate two-way abilities, though he is primarily a position player. Has all the requisite tools to stick on the left side of the infield, likely at third base at the next level. Wherever he plays, his bat plays. Hits from a slightly crouched, spread setup; mechanically quiet, short stride, rhythm in load, consistently repeats swing. Flat path, loose, athletic hands, above-average bat speed, stays strong through the ball, aggressive lower half; ball jumps with backspin carry. Registered 95 mph exit velocity with wood. Defensively, shows soft, reliable hands, fields the ball with rhythm, above-average range. Athletic arm from high-¾ slot, ability to throw accurately from multiple angles, solid carry across the infield at 84 mph. Runs well for size, 6.85 laser-timed 60.

Brandon Howlett, 3B/SS, George Jenkins HS (2018)
Florida State commit who was one of two sophomores at the ProCase. He stands at 6-foot-1, 190 pounds with a strong and projectable body with athleticism and loose, easy actions. He is ranked 14th in Florida and 25th overall. Advanced approach at the plate with an upright and open stance, good rhythm, a strong separation for his load, and a leg kick. Very good bat speed with a nice swing plane through the zone and he uses his lower half well. The ball really jumps off his bat. In the field he has soft hands, light feet, and a loose, easy arm with plenty of arm strength to stay on the left side of the infield. He also lined a single up the middle in the game off a 91 mph fastball.

Greg Lewandoski, SS/2B, Spruce Creek HS (2017)
Kent State commit who stands at 6-foot, 160 pounds with a lean, compact, and athletic body with quick twitch actions. He is ranked 57th in Florida and 195th overall. At the plate he has a simple approach and he is quiet in the box. He gets a subtle separation for his load and a small leg kick that gives him some rhythm. He has a short, quick swing that is flat through the zone and he hits consistent hard line drives to all fields. In the field he has soft, quick hands and quick, light feet that allow him to get in an ideal position when fielding any ground ball. He has a short, over the top arm action and a quick release which makes his average arm appear to be above average. He is a gamer with advanced instincts and he makes all the routine plays.

Jason Swan, SS/2B, Atlantic Coast HS (2017)
Florida International commit who stands at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds with a long, lean, athletic, and projectable frame with wiry strength. He is ranked 42nd in Florida and 137th overall. He ran a 6.63 at the ProCase which was the fastest time. At the plate he has a good base, low hands, and a short, quick swing. He can be in and out of the zone but when he stays through the ball he hits hard line drives to all fields. At shortstop he has soft hands, quick, light feet, and great range. He has plenty of arm to stay at SS and has shown improvement in his defense over the last year.

Cooper Swanson, SS/RHP, Canterbury HS (2017)
Vanderbilt recruit, currently ranked No. 30 in Florida’s 2017 class, No. 95 overall. 6-foot-1, 200-pound frame, athletic build, proportional strength. Primary position player but shows upside on the mound as well. Offensively, was one of the top hitters at the ProCase, showing an overall advanced plate approach. Hits from a balanced setup, advanced rhythm and timing in stride/load, aggressive yet maintains balance throughout. Relaxed, athletic hands, generates bat speed and barrel whip through the zone, strength in swing, flat path with extension after contact. Registered 93 mph exit velocity with wood. In game, smoked a line-drive single up the middle on an 88-mph fastball. Athletically, ran a 6.74 laser-timed 60. Defensively, shows soft, reliable hands, fields the ball in rhythm; athletic arm with plenty of carry across the infield at 86 mph. Also was clocked at 87 mph from the outfield.

Freddy Tarnok, SS/RHP, Riverview HS (2017)
South Florida recruit, currently ranked No. 49 in Florida’s 2017 class, No. 170 overall. 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame, wiry build with sneaky strength, long limbs, plenty of room for continued physical development. Raw athlete, high-ceiling two-way prospect. Positionally, moves well for size, evidenced by his 6.99 laser-timed 60. At shortstop, shows reliable hands, fields the ball deep, solid carry across the infield at 85 mph. Offensively raw, took inconsistent rounds of BP but showed pull-side pop. Fast fands, rotational approach, arm-bar load, length in swing.