By Chris Valentine
PBR Michigan 

Below, we have recapped the participants from the classes of 2014 and 2015 at the PBR Michigan Kickoff Showcase on January 4th. In the coming days, we will breakdown the top participants from the event. To view the complete statistical results from the event, please click here. 

Alexander Dixon, C/OF/IF, Brighton HS, 2015 
5-foot-10, 175-pound prospect with athletic frame. Ran an impressive 6.61 60. Projects best as a catcher at this stage. Shows compact actions. Hands and transfer are quick. Pop times between 1.93 to 2.04 with 78 mph arm strength from the crouch. Needs to continue improving footwork and direction to help accuracy. From the outfield, he reached a top velocity of 82 mph. Aggressive to the ball. Will be aided by improved transfer.  In the future, his athleticism may play best in the outfield. In the infield, he shows short arm action. Reached a top velocity of 80 mph. Footwork tends to get a bit wide and flat. Needs to develop angles and play through the ball to utilize his athleticism. At the plate, the right-handed hitter starts in athletic stance. Creates momentum towards the pitcher in his load. Takes level path to the ball. Creates some power with his strength and athleticism. Overall, a bit raw, but plenty to work with for the future. 

Andrew Dalrymple, RHP/SS, Clarkston HS, 2015
6-foot-1, 155-pound prospect with average, thin frame. In the field, he displayed long arm action through a low ¾ to ¾ arm slot. Reached a top velocity of 75 mph. Showed average hands and feet. Will improve as he plays through the baseball. At the plate, he starts in a balanced stance. Uses a short stride. Develops momentum towards the pitcher in his load. Flat, level path to the ball. Registered top exit velocity of 83 mph. On the mound, he throws through a ¾ arm slot with average arm speed. Fastball is straight at 74-77 mph. Breaking ball showed some depth at 65 mph with 11/5 action. Changeup is still developing at 70-72 mph.

Andrew Williamson, 1B/3B, Bishop Foley HS, 2015
6-foot-3, 195-pound prospect with big, tall frame. Uses short arm action through high ¾ arm slot. Shows some softness in his hands. Plays on the toes of his feet. Short arm action. Registered top exit velocity of 72 mph on his throws. Likely projects best as a first baseman. At the plate, the big left-handed hitter uses a toe tap. Creates momentum in his swing. Takes slight uphill path to the ball. Showed some pop in his swing.

Anthony Woodard, IF, Muskegon Catholic Central HS, 2015
5-foot-10, 150-pound infield prospect with athletic frame. Registered a 7.19 60. In the infield, he uses short arm action through a high ¾ arm slot. Reached a top velocity of 71 mph across the infield. Athletic actions. Tends to tap his glove. Shows some quickness to his transfer. At the plate, the left-handed hitter starts with a narrow, open stance. Simple upper half load with level to slight uphill path.

Brady Sarkon, C/3B, Linden HS, 2015
6-foot, 200-pound prospect with strong, solid frame. Shows the potential to play behind the plate or a corner infield spot. From behind the plate, he shows a compact transfer and exchange. Short arm action to his throws. Reached a top velocity of 71 mph from the crouch with 2.07 to 2.19 pop times. In the field, he shows good range. Throws well from different angles. Top velocity of 76 mph. Needs to improve speed of transfer. Footwork is fluid and shows some softness in his hands. At the plate, the right-handed hitter has a compact swing. Utilizes strong lower half. Head stays still with good overall balance. Line drive production with pull power in his swing. Top exit velocity of 85 mph off the tee.

Brandon Phee, RHP, Southgate Anderson HS, 2015 
6-foot-3, 210-pound righty with a tall, solid frame. Throws through high ¾ arm slot. Uses short arm action. Throws down hill. Loads his hips well. Delivery stays online. Fastball sat at 74-78 mph with some sink to it. Breaking ball showed 12/6 action at 60-61 mph. Demonstrated command. Also showed a 68 mph changeup with arm side sink. 

Brendan Schmitz, RHP, Dakota HS, 2015 
6-foot-4, 180-pound prospect with tall, lanky frame. Displays long arm action through high ¾ to over the top arm slot. Creates momentum to the plate. Fastball sat at 78-81 mph (previously up to 86 mph) with straight action. Tended to be up in the zone. Best off-speed pitch is a 62-65 mph breaking ball with gradual 11/5 action. Also displayed a developing 65-66 mph changeup with some sink to it. 

Brennan Williams, OF/1B, Walled Lake Northern HS, 2014
6-foot-4, 210-pound prospect with a strong, athletic frame. Committed to Eastern Michigan shortly after the event. Projects as a corner outfielder. Uses short arm action through high ¾ arm slot. Showed carry on his throws with top velocity of 83 mph. Plays through the baseball. The left-handed hitter starts with a slightly open stance. Uses a short stride with good use of his lower half. Maintains balance in his swing. Pull power in his swing. Overall fluid rhythm. Top exit velocity of 86 mph off the tee.

Brett Dziura, RHP, Dakota HS, 2015
5-foot-10, 155-pound prospect with average frame. Throws from high ¾ to over the top arm slot with long arm action. Tends to wrap a bit his in back arm action. Uses slow tempo. Delivery requires some effort. Fastball is straight at 74-77 mph. Changeup shows good fade to the arm side at 63-64 mph. Breaking ball has gradual 11/5 action at 59-62 mph.

Cam Horwath, 2B, Bishop Foley Catholic HS, 2015 
5-foot-8, 165-pound prospect with small, athletic frame. Registered a 7.7 60. In the field, he uses short arm action through a low ¾ to ¾ arm slot. Reached a top velocity of 68 mph. Projects as a second base type. Hands are playable in the field and he showed some range in both directions. At the plate, the left-handed hitter showed off his best tool. Starts in an athletic stance. Uses a short stride. Good bat control. Slight uphill path to the ball with line drive production. 

Christopher Houle, 3B/2B, University of Detroit Jesuit HS, 2015 
5-foot-11, 190-pound infield prospect with strong, athletic frame. In the field, he uses short arm action through ¾ arm slot. Top velocity of 74 mph across the infield. Receives the ball well with softness in his hands. Good instincts. At the plate, the right-handed hitter starts with a slightly open stance and in a bit of a crouch. Uses a short stride with good use of his lower half. Small upper half load. Hands work quickly through the zone with slight uphill path. Fluid rhythm to his swing. Drove the ball well to all fields. Registered top exit velocity of 84 mph. Ran a 7.6 60.

Collin Moran, C/3B, Woodhaven HS, 2015
6-foot, 175-pound prospect with strong, athletic frame. Showed short arm action through high ¾ arm slot. Reached top velocity of 76 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.15 to 2.24. Footwork gets a tad long. Accuracy will only improve as front side squares up. At the plate, he starts in a balanced stance. Uses a medium stride. Minimal upper half load. Incorporates lower half into swing. Takes slight uphill path. Ball jumps off the bat. Still a bit raw, but good overall power. Registered 86 mph exit velocity off the tee. Ran a 7.66 60.

Daniel Michalak, LHP/OF, De La Salle College HS, 2015
6-foot-2, 190-pound prospect with tall, lanky frame. From the outfield, he uses long arm action through over the top arm slot. Showed good carry to his throws with top velocity of 82 mph. Plays through the ball. Exchange has some length, but can easily improve. At the plate, he starts from a balanced stance. Rises a bit in his swing, which creates some head movement. Short stride to his swing. Short swing path in and out of the zone. Registered top exit velocity of 85 mph. On the mound, he uses long arm action through high ¾ arm slot. Front side tends to open a bit early. Fastball sat at 79-81 mph with straight action. Breaking ball showed gradual break down in the zone at 60-61 mph.  Changeup is thrown near fastball arm speed at 71-72 mph.

Darrell Gotz, Jr, RHP/3B, Britton-Deerfield HS, 2014
6-foot-3, 225-pound prospect with tall, solid frame. In the field, he showed short arm action through over the top arm slot with some quickness. Reached a top velocity of 79 mph. Hands work. Needs to continue improving footwork. At the plate, the right-handed hitter starts in a crouch. Doesn’t stride. Hands tend to drop in his load.  Takes slight uphill path to the ball. Generates some carry off the bat. Registered top exit velocity of 79 mph. On the mound, the righty shows some quickness through an over the top arm slot. Regular effort to his delivery. Fastball sat at 83-85 mph. Breaking ball shows late 11/5 action at 69 mph with good depth. Changeup has a bit of arm side sink at 74 mph. Knuckle sat at 71 mph and splitfinger had some downward movement at 63 mph.

Gerrit Eding, C/OF, Hamilton HS, 2015 
6-foot, 185-pound catching prospect with athletic frame.  Uses short arm action. Throws from ¾ arm slot. Reached a top velocity of 73 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.11 to 2.25. Will only improve with better glove to hand transfer and exchange. At the plate, he starts with a heavy load on the backside. Uses a short stride. Slight uphill path to the ball. Registered a top exit velocity of 71 mph off the tee. 

Grant Anschuetz, C/1B, Tecumseh HS, 2015
6-foot-2, 160-pound prospect with tall, lanky frame. Uses short arm action through high ¾ arm slot. Reached a top velocity of 71 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.44 to 2.51. At the plate, the right-handed hitter starts from a tall, upright stance. Uses a leg kick in his load. Gets his lower half into the swing. Slight uphill path to the ball. Line drive production. Top exit velocity of 77 mph off the tee.

Harrison Milen, IF, North Farmington HS, 2015
5-foot-7, 142-pound prospect with small, athletic frame. Registered an 8.04 60. In the field, he uses short arm action through high ¾ arm slot. Reached a top velocity of 74 mph. Showed some quickness in his footwork and exchange. Athletic actions. May project as a second base type at the next level. The right-handed hitter starts in a balanced stance. Uses a short stride. Big upper-half load with tendency to wrap. Shows some quickness in his hands though with slight uphill path through the zone. Uses his lower half well in the swing. Registered top exit velocity of 83 mph.

Jack Hufnagle, IF, Huron HS, 2015
5-foot-10, 155-pound prospect with average frame. Registered a 7.76 60. In the field, he uses short arm action through a high ¾ to over the top slot. Reached a top velocity of 73 mph. Some quickness in his transfer. Hands and feet are playable. The left-handed hitter starts in a closed, athletic stance. Uses a leg kick. Miminal upper half load. Takes uphill path to the ball. Line drive production with some carry.

Jake Velisek, RHP, Clarkston HS, 2015 
6-foot-5, 215-pound righty with good body and frame. Throws through high ¾ arm slot with some quickness. Regular effort to his delivery. Gets downhill. Fastball is heavy at 80-82 mph with a bit of arm side sink. Breaking ball shows spin at 70-72 mph. Changeup is his best off-speed pitch. Good arm side run at 73-76 mph. Tough to pick up out of the hand. 

Jimmy Smith, 1B, Traverse City St. Francis HS, 2015 
5-foot-10, 185-pound infield prospect with strong, athletic frame. Registered a 7.75 60. Shows ability to move around the bag at first. Uses short arm action. Average speed to his transfer. Registered a top velocity of 74 mph on his throws. At the plate, he starts in an athletic stance. Uses a short stride. Incorporates his lower half. Slight uphill path to the ball. Pull power in his swing. Registered top exit velocity of 79 mph off the tee.

John Driskell, RHP, Maumee HS, 2015 
5-foot-11, 165-pound with average, athletic frame. Uses a big leg kick in his delivery. Throws with short arm action through a high ¾ arm slot. Back leg tends to collapse in his delivery. Fastball sat at 77-80 mph. Breaking ball showed late 11/5 break at 66-69 mph. Throws his changeup near fastball arm speed at 74-77 mph. Good arm side sink to the pitch.

Keaton Feil, C, Belleville HS, 2015
6-foot-1, 160-pound prospect with athletic frame. Short arm action through high ¾ arm slot. Top velocity of 71 mph from the crouch. Pop times between 2.14 to 2.23. Will only improve with better glove to hand exchange and direction in his footwork. At the plate, the right-handed hitter starts with high hands and a tall, upright stance. Lots of movement in his load. Linear type swing. Slight uphill path. Reached a top velocity of 79 mph off the tee.

Kevin Anthony, RHP/3B/1B, Plymouth HS, 2015 
6-foot-3, 200-pound prospect with tall, solid frame. In the infield, he projects as a first base type. Moves well around the bag. Good reach and feel for the position. Top velocity of 74 mph. At the plate, the right-handed hitter uses a toe tap in his stride. Will only get better with more use of his lower half. Slight uphill path to the ball. Top exit velocity of 70 mph off the tee. His future may be on the mound. Throws through high ¾ arm slot. Uses short arm action with slight inward turn to his delivery. Fastball is straight at 78-80 mph. Breaking ball showed some bite at 62-64 mph. Changeup had some arm side sink at 65-66 mph. 

Klye Wilkie, RHP/OF, Walled Lake HS, 2014 
5-foot-11, 165-pound prospect with average frame. Throws through high ¾ arm slot with long arm action. Delivery requires regular effort. Incorporates lower half. Fastball sat at 78-81 mph with straight action. Breaking ball shows spin and fluctuates between 70-74 mph. Changeup is developing at 71-76 mph.

Kyle Valden, OF, Milford HS, 2015
6-foot-3, 200-pound prospect with tall, lanky frame. From the outfield, he uses long arm action through a high ¾ arm slot with average arm speed. Reached a top velocity of 76 mph. Will continue to improve with advancements to his footwork. At the plate, he starts in a tall, upright stance. Minimal upper half load. Small leg kick. Short, level path to the ball. Registered top exit velocity of 84 mph off the tee. Ran a 7.52 60.

Luke Schaefer, RHP, Portage Central, 2015 
6-foot-3, 193-pound righty with tall, athletic frame. Throws through high ¾ to over the top arm slot. Uses short arm action. Slight inward turn with small leg kick to his delivery .Fastball sat at 81-82 mph with some arm side sink. Breaking ball showed 11/5 action at 72-73 mph while changeup was thrown near fastball arm speed at 75-77 mph. 

Matt Bur, OF/IF, Notre Dame Prep HS, 2015
6-foot-2, 175-pound prospect with lanky, athletic frame. From the outfield, he uses short arm action through high ¾ arm slot. Average hands and feet. Reached top velocity of 79 mph on his throws. Will only get better as he plays through the ball. In the infield, he does a good job of creating angles. Similar arm action with top velocity of 74 mph across the infield. At the plate, he starts in a balanced stance. Will improve power as he better incorporates his lower half. Tendency to bar in his load. Uphill path to the ball. Creates lift off the bath.  Registered a top exit velocity of 81 mph off the tee. Ran a 7.65 60.

Michael Kirschbaum, LHP, Walled Lake Northern HS, 2014
6-foot-3, 194-pound southpaw with tall, athletic frame. Throws with quick arm speed through a high ¾ arm slot. Fastball sat at 83-84 mph with good arm side run. Showed good command of the pitch on both sides of the plate. Breaking ball showed 1/7 action at 68-69 mph while changeup was straight at 73-74 mph.

Michael Peplinski, OF, Howell HS, 2015
6-foot-4,  185-pound outfielder with tall, lean frame. Uses long arm action through low ¾ arm slot from the outfield. Reached a top velocity of 74 mph. Tends to windup in his exchange. Corner outfield type. May eventually be a fit at first base. At the plate, the big right-handed hitter uses a small stride. Hands start high but gets them into loaded position. Takes level path to the ball. Line drive production with occasional pop. Top exit velocity of 87 mph off the tee. Ran a 7.32. 

Mitchell Weber, 1B/3B,  Rochester HS, 2015 
6-foot-1, 215-pound prospect with tall, solid frame. Bounces off the bag well at first base. Uses long arm action. Top velocity of 71 mph across the infield. At the plate, he starts in a wide stance. Uses short stride. Hands start from the shoulders. Minimal upper half load. Overall simple upper half actions. Takes slight uphill path to the ball. Pull tendencies in his swing. Top exit velocity of 71 mph off the tee. Ran a 7.68 60.

Sam Coury, 3B/2B, Birmingham Seaholm HS, 2015
6-foot, 180-pound infield prospect with athletic frame. Uses long arm action through ¾ arm slot. Reached a top velocity of 73 mph across the infield. Average hands and feet. Will improve accuracy as he closes up the front side and gets square. At the plat,e the right-handed hitter starts with a good base to his stance. Uses a small stride. Tendency to bar his front arm in his load. Takes level path to the ball. Top exit velocity of 78 mph off the tee. Ran a 7.24.

Tanner Kaplan, C, Traverse City St. Francis HS, 2015 
5-foot-9, 165-pound catching prospect with solid, athletic frame. Uses short arm action through high ¾ arm slot. Reached a top velocity of 74 mph from the crouch. Quick footwork and exchange.  Pop times between 2.12 to 2.20. At the plate, the right-handed hitter starts from an athletic stance. Uses a short stride. Good use of his lower half. Fluid rhythm to his swing. Line drive production. Hands are quick through the zone. Registered a top exit velocity of 83 mph off the tee. Ran a 8.06 60.

Troy Konwinski, RHP/3B, Allen Park HS, 2015
5-foot-11, 175-pound prospect with average frame. In the field, he uses long arm action through high ¾ arm slot. Reached a top velocity of 73 mph across the infield. Tends to wind up in his transfer.  Average hands and feet. His best tool is his bat. The left-handed hitter starts with good balance in his setup. Uses a short stride with good use of his lower half. Takes slight uphill path to the ball. Line drive production with signs of pull power. Overall fluid rhythm to his swing. Registered top exit velocity of 80 mph. Ran a 7.54 60. On the mound, he sat 76-79 mph with straight action to his fastball. Throws through high ¾ arm slot with long arm action. Breaking ball shows late 11/5 action at 64-66 mph. Changeup shows similar action to his fastball at 68-69 mph.

Tyler Whitehead, LHP, Novi HS, 2014
6-foot, 172-pound prospect with average, athletic frame. Throws through high ¾ arm slot. Demonstrated command of three pitches. Good rhythm to his delivery. Stays compact and online. Fastball had natural cut at 75-78 mph. Breaking ball had gradual 1/7 action with good depth at 58-60 mph while changeup showed similar movement to his fastball at 68-71 mph.  

Zach Gilbert, Walled Lake Northern HS, RHP/3B, 2015
6-foot, 185-pound prospect with average frame. In the field, he displays short arm action through high ¾ arm slot. Shows some quickness in his actions. Top velocity of 80 mph across the infield. Will continue to improve as footwork becomes more fluid. At the plate, the left-handed hitter starts in a balanced stance. Fluid rhythm to his swing. Short stride and good use of his lower half. Creates momentum in his swing. Drove the ball to all fields with pull power. On the mound, the righty sat 79-82 mph with arm side run. He throws through a high ¾ arm slot with long arm action. His breaking ball showed 11/5 shape at 69-70 mph while his changeup had some sink at 67-71 mph.  

Zachary Winzer, OF, Muskegon Catholic Central HS, 2015
5-foot-10, 175-pound prospect with athletic frame. Ran impressive 6.8 60. Left-handed hitting and throwing prospect. Good actions in the field. Plays through the ball. Uses short arm action through high ¾ arm slot. Showed some carry on his throws. Top velocity of 74 mph. Accuracy will improve as he closes up his front side. At the plate, the left-handed hitter starts with a closed stance. Uses short arm action with good use of his lower half. Slight uphill path to the ball with solid, line drive production. Pull tendencies in his swing. Registered top exit velocity of 79 mph.