Prep Baseball Report

Nebraska Fall Review- Infielder Analysis



By Brian Feekin
Prep Baseball Report Nebraska

Prep Baseball Report's NE Fall Review took place on Sunday, October 30, 2016. The event was held at Ultimate Baseball Academy in Omaha, NE. The event featured prospects from Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota from the 2017, 2018, 2019 and 2020 classes who showcased their talents in front of our scouting staff. 

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Below we have highlighted the prospects at their respective positions with evaluations; listed alphabetically.

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infield Prospects

Joel Benes, 1B/LHP, Norris, 2020
5-foot-11, 180-pound first basemen ran a 5.5 40 yard sprint. Solid build with present strength in his lower half. Square stance at the plate, some lean in chest over the plate. Leg kick triggers uphill swing path. Solid contact to pull side. Posted an exit velocity 76 mph off a tee. Active feet at first base. Plays through the ball, presents early, threw accurately across at 64 mph.

Cooper Beving, LHP/1B, Norwalk, 2018
6-foot-1, 200-pound two-way player ran a 5.56 40 yard sprint. On the mound, topped out at 78 mph with his fastball. Average command, funky arm action and mechanics, head jerk, varying run and cut on FB. Early break on curveball, some shape, loose spin to plate. Pushes changeup, flat action, firm velocity. At the plate, tall open stance, toe tap trigger, compact line drive swing plane. Ground Ball/line drive contact during round of BP. Posted an exit velocity of 80 mph off a tee. Average feet and playable hands for first base. Topped out at 72 mph across the infield.

Grant Deisley, SS/C, Lincoln East, 2019
6-foot, 170-pound right-handed hitting infielder/catcher ran a 5.22 40 yard sprint. Square stance, short leg kick triggers a compact line drive swing. Hard contact to pull side, all fields approach. Posted an exit velocity of 82 mph off a tee. Playable actions in the infield. Hands work out front and has a clean transfer through the ball. Threw across at 69 mph to 1st. Behind the plate threw to 2nd in the 2.31-2.47 range. Offset stance, narrow feet, will slide side to side vs. swaying with pitch, receives off speed pitches deep. Glove hand gets high while blocking.

Zach Devine, 3B/RHP, Gretna, 2019
5-foot-8, 160-pound two-way player ran a 5.53 40 yard sprint. Small athletic compact build, at the plate, square stance, high hands, long line drive swing plane. Posted an exit velocity of 71 mph off a tee. Ground ball, line drive approach to the pull side. In the infield, presents early, receives on heals and deep in stance, heavy feet, threw accurately across topping out at 68 mph. On the mound, repeats mechanics well, drops and drives off backside, front side stays closed and online to home. Breaking ball and changeup were consistently down in the zone. Breaking ball should continue to develop depth with velocity increases and slider shape.

Dalton Hews, SS/RHP, Adel Desoto Minburn, 2018
5-foot-10, 145-pound left-handed hitting two-way player ran a 5.09 40 yard sprint. #32 ranked player in Iowa 2018 class. Athletic compact build. Tall square stance, quiet approach, quick hands through the zone, slightly uphill swing path. Hard contact to pull side repeatedly during round of BP. Posted an exit velocity of 80 mph off a tee. Athletic actions in the outfield. Plays the ball out front, and threw accurately from a mid ¾ arm action with clean transfers. Topped out at 81 mph from the outfield. On the mound, topped out at 82 mph with his fastball. Repeated mechanics well with a clean hand break on the backside. Stays online to home plate. 65-68 mph breaking ball had tight spin and good depth, consistently down in the zone. Changeup runs to his arm side with a fastball arm action.

Braydan Hlavac, RHP/1B, Louisville, 2018
5-foot-10 240-pound two-way player topped out at 73 mph on the mound, Physical compact build. Pie arm action. Fastball has a heavy cut action, effort on release. 63-65 mph curveball has 11/5 shape, early break, average break. 64-66 mph slider has similar shape as curveball with slighter better depth. At the plate, square stance, high leg kick, compact uphill swing plane, ability to drive through the ball with and all fields approach. Posted an exit velocity of 78 mph off a tee. Shows athleticism at first base, feet and hands work, threw accurately across at 70 mph.

Grant Hubka, 3B/RHP, Gretna, 2020
6-foot, 150-pound two-way player ran a 5.41 40 yard sprint.  Slightly open stance at the plate, leg kick triggers a quick barrel through the strike zone, showed the ability to adjust hands with the pitch. All fields approach. Posted an exit velocity of 74 mph off a tee. In the infield, has active feet, funnels through the ball, ball has a tendency to get deep in fielding stance. Low ¾ arm action that topped out at 66 mph across the infield. On the mound, topped out at 76 mph with his fastball. Mechanically repeats well, weight gets stuck on backside, front side stays closed, low ¾ arm action gets sweeping action on 60-62 mph breaking ball. Changeup should continue to improve and was consistently up in the strike zone. 

Tanner Hurt, SS/RHP, Gretna, 2018
5-foot-8, 165-pound two-way player ran a 5.01 40 yard sprint. Square stance at the plate, leg kick trigger, slight uphill swing plane, consistently squared balls up during his round of BP. Posted an exit velocity of 76 mph off a tee. In the infield, has active hands and feet, works through the balls, presents out front, threw accurately across topping out at 71 mph across. On the mound, max effort stiff mechanics, falls off to his glove side, throws slightly across his body, good shape on breaking ball with tight spin and sharp break with depth (11/5), Flashed solid fade on CH with run and sink- spiked most of them though short of plate.

Andrew Irvine, SS/RHP, Waukee, 2018
6-foot-2, 155-pound switch-hitter ran a 5.09 40 yard sprint. #39 ranked player in the 2018 class for Iowa. Tall open stance at the plate, high leg kick to close, elevated swing plane on the left side, from the right more compact swing and less movement. All fields approach, solid contact during round of BP. Posted an exit velocity of 78 mph off a tee. In the infielder, has actions of a 3B, strong arm, fields with a flat back, working up through the ball, topped out at 83 mph across the infield. On the mound, athletic actions, with repeatable delivery, stays online to home plate, with an aggressive front side that stays closed. Fastball is on a downhill plane from his high ¾ arm slot. 70-71 mph breaking ball has tight spin and depth down in the strike zone.

Colin Kasperbauer, 2B/SS, Sioux City Heelan, 2018
6-foot, 172-pound left-handed hitting infielder ran a 5.12 40 yard sprint. #26 ranked prospect in Iowa for the 2018 class. Tall open stance at the plate, short leg kick to square, slightly uphill swing plane, hard line drive contact to pull side. Posted an exit velocity of 79 mph off a tee. High energy infielder, active hands and feet, works down and up through the ball, low ¾ arm action that topped out at 77 mph.

Samuel Kennedy, SS, Omaha Skutt, 2019
5-foot-10, 160-pound infielder ran a 4.9 60 yard sprint. Compact frame with present strength in lower half. Tall square stance and the plate, high leg kick triggers quick uphill swing plane. Posted an exit velocity of 73 mph off a tee. In the infield, presents early, reads hops well off the bat, clean transfer to high ¾ arm action, tendency to not follow throws through the base. Threw across on target at 60 mph.

Jacob Legleiter, 2B/RHP, Omaha Skutt, 2019
6-foot, 170-pound two-way player ran a 5.22 40 yard sprint. Athletic build, wiry, should continue to fill out. Square stance at the plate, toe tap trigger, line drive swing path. Strong contact to pull side. Posted an exit velocity of 71 mph off a tee. In the infield, works through the ball with hands out front and active feet. Topped out at 72 mph across the infield. On the mound, repeatable delivery with some effort. Stays online to home and closed with his front side. Topped out at 78 mph with his fast. Breaking ball has 11/5 shape with loose spin, changeup was runs to arm side with good arm speed.

PJ Loucks, RHP/1B, Creighton Prep, 2020
5-foot-10, 140-pound two-way player ran a 5.67 40 yard sprint. Athletic build, should continue to develop. At the plate, slightly open wide stance, short toe tab triggers quick hands with a long barrel through the strike zone. Ground ball, line drive contact. Posted an exit velocity of 71 mph off a tee. Playable hands and feet for 1st base, ¾ arm action that topped out at 69 mph. On the mound, topped out at 70 mph with his fastball that was consistently down in the strike zone. Breaking ball had loose spin with little break. Change up was down in the zone with heavy arm side run. Mechanically, low effort slow twitched and repeated consistently. Arm has a tendency to get long on the back side. Stays online to home plate with his finish.

Kasey Ohnoutka, SS, Lincoln Lutheran, 2018
5-foot-11, 135-pound middle infielder ran a 5.38 40 yard dash. Slender build, could carry another 20-30 pound on frame. At the plate, square stance, high leg kick, line drive swing plane. Pull side line drive and ground ball contact. Posted an exit velocity of 73 mph off a tee. In the field, has active feet, works through the ball, presents early and funnels through his body.  Short mid ¾ arm action that topped out at 70 mph across the infield.

Jerrad O’Malley, RHP/3B, Yutan, 2017
6-foot-1, 190-pound two-way player ran a 5.44 40 yard sprint. Strong build with wide hips, and present strength in lower half. At the plate, slightly open stance, short stride triggers quick line drive swing plane. Showed hard contact to pull side and middle during round of BP. Posted an exit velocity of 79 mph off a tee. Projects to corner spot of the infielder, feet are active and works through his throws, presents early and works down and up to a mid ¾ arm slot that topped at 67. Threw controlled and accurately across. On the mound, over the top arm slot, clean arm action, FB is straight on slight downhill plane. Varying action on CB. 11/5 shape, sweeping at times, flat at times, thrown with velo, early break out of hand, small shape. Heavy action on changeup with run and sink.

Matt Pleiss, C/SS, Millard West, 2020
6-foot, 150-pound two-way player ran a 5.59 40 yard sprint. Athletic wiry frame that should continue to fill out and add strength. Posted an exit velocity of 68 mph off a tee. Stands tall at the plate, high leg kick, triggers slightly uphill swing path, ability to elevate to pull side. Occasionally ran into hard contact. Behind the plate threw in the 2.32-2.56 range, topping out at 68 mph down to 2nd. Wide stance behind plate, hands have a tendency to get beat to the ball, blocks square & soft, moves well side to side, stance gets adjacent on off-speed pitches. On the mound, topped out at 75 mph with his fastball, front side opens early, athletic finish, long arm action on backside and out front. Showed above average feel for his changeup for his age, was consistently down in the zone. Showed progressive feel for his 11/7 shaped breaking ball.

Payton Schmalz, RHP/2B, Holdrege, 2017
5-foot-10, 159-pound two-way player ran a 5.01 60 yard sprint. At the plate, has a slightly open stance, short leg kick trigger, ground ball/line drive middle of the field approach. Posted an exit velocity of 74 mph off a tee. Playable hands and feet in the infield, feet have a tendency to get heavy when working up the middle. Plays the ball out front of his body, works down and up with his hands, Mid ¾ arm action at that topped out at 74 mph across. Topped out on the mound at 78 mph, repeats controlled mechanics well. Arm is really long on the backside and out front, 60-62 mph breaking ball has 11/5 shape with depth, loose spin.  Change up was consistently thrown with fastball arm speed down in the zone.

Brett Sheppard, SS, Lincoln Southeast, 2017
6-foot, 200-pound shortstop ran a 5.16 40 yard sprint. Strong developed build. At the plate, wide open stance, toe tap trigger to close, slight arm bar, good rhythm in timing, slight uphill swing plane. Posted an exit velocity of 83 mph off a tee. Struggled a little fielding ground balls on this day. Feet work and have a tendency to slow after transfer and throw. Threw across 76 mph, projects to move to 2nd at the college level.

Rece Snyder, LHP/1B, Lincoln East, 2018
6-foot, 200-pound left-handed two-way player ran a 5.72 40 yard sprint. On the mound, topped out at 78 mph with his fastball. Long arm action. Heavy action when down in zone, Fastball shows run, mostly elevated in zone during bullpen. 65-67 mph breaking ball has good 1/7 shape, tight spin, and shows feel for zone.  Has feel for 68-71 mph changeup, flashes sink, thrown with stiff wrist. At the plate, tall slight open stance, compact simple approach and line drive swing plane, all fields approach with solid contact, posted an exit velocity of 78 mph off a tee. Playable actions for first base, solid feet and soft hands.

Jonah Spencer, OF/SS, Omaha Central, 2018
5-foot-11, 165-pound right-handed hitting outfielder ran a 5.5 40 yard sprint. Square stance, leg kick trigger, line drive swing plane, pull side approach. Tendency to spin off pitches and not barrel balls up during round of BP. Posted an exit velocity of 75 mph off a tee. In the outfield, fields the ball out front, extra glove tap transfer to high ¾ arm slot. Threw accurately to home at 72 mph.

Andrew Staebell, 1B/LHP, Millard South, 2018
6-foot-1, 205-pound two-way player ran a 5.54 40 yard sprint. Physical frame with present strength in lower half. Tall stance at the plate, high leg kick, solid weight shift through contact. Pull side approach, line drive contact. Posted an exit velocity 83 mph off a tee. Active feet and actions at first base, quick hands and transfers to high ¾ arm slot. Throws were sporadic topping out at 68 mph across the infield. On the mound, clean hand out front, big wiggle in back, cut action on FB. 1/7 CB has tight spin and flashes sharp break. Above avg. action on breaking ball. Will leave arm-side occasionally. Avg. feel for changeup; thrown hard with avg. action and fade.

Jared Wegner, OF/3B, Kearney, 2018
6-foot, 175-pound outfielder ran a 5.02 40 yard sprint. Ranked #13 in the 2018 Nebraska rankings. Athletic build with present strength. At the plate, square stance with high leg kick, uphill swing path. Hard contact to all fields, showed power potential to pull side. In the infield, projects as a corner infielder. Has active feet and hands, works through the ball, threw accurately to first. Posted an exit velocity of 86 mph.

Asa Wilke, 1B/3B, Lincoln East, 2019
6-1, 165-pound right-handed hitting infielder ran a 5.54 40 yard sprint. Square tall stance at the plate, short leg kick weight shift and trigger. Majority of his swing comes from arms. Line drive/fly ball approach. Posted an exit velocity of 75 mph off a tee. At first base plays the ball out front, feet have a tendency to get heavy. Long high ¾ arm action that topped out at 65 mph across the infield.

Cameron Wynne, RHP/SS, Lincoln High, 2017
6-foot-4, 185-pound two-way player ran a 5.22 40 yard sprint. Tall lanky build with some present strength. Open stance at the plate, stride triggers hands to arm bar, sporadic contact during round of BP. Posted an exit velocity of 72 mph off a tee.  Feet are active in the infield, presents late and fields deep in his stance, clean transfers, mid ¾ arm slot that topped out at 76 mph across the infield. On the mound, topped out at 87 mph, sat in the 83-86 mph range. Repeats mechanics well, effort in delivery, throws slightly across his body on a downhill plane. 75-78 mph changeup was thrown for strikes down in the strike zone, arm has tendency to slow on this pitch.  64-66 mph breaking ball has loose spin, some horizontal movement across the zone, shape of a slider.

Henry Zipay, 2B, Omaha Westside, 2019
5-foot-11, 150-pound middle infielder ran a 5.1 40 yard sprint. Left-handed hitter, Open stance, hands drop below the ball, all fields approach. Posted an exit velocity of 66 mph off a tee. In the infield has active feet and soft hands. Works through the ball, mid ¾ arm slot that topped out at 67 mph off a tee.