Southern Colorado Prospect Games: Utility Analysis
September 17, 2014
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By John Cackowski
Director of Scouting
The Southern Colorado Prospect Games took place on Saturday September 13th and Sunday September 14th, at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, CO. This year’s event featured several talented, uncommitted players in Colorado’s 2015 through 2018 classes. Our first positional analysis of the event we took a look at the top outfielders. At the event we had a lot of players who play multiple positions. In our next positional analysis we are going to talk about a couple of players who showed well having the ability to play multiple positions. Two 2016 prospects we left impressed with and both come from the same high school. Mike Vessa and Ben Schechter of Lakewood High School.
Top Utility Prospects
Mike Vessa, MIF/OF, Lakewod, 2016
5-foot-7 145 athletic second baseman gets the most out of his size and frame. He has good range on balls both left and right and does a great job using his 6.90 60 yard dash speed to track down flyballs in the shallow outfield. He posses a a very accurate arm from second base and has quick, soft hands when turning a double play. Vessa threw 72 mph across the diamond with a quick release. At the plate he looks athletic and balanced with an open stance, his short stride allows him to generate great hip drive though his swing which produces exit velocities of 80 mph. He is very comfortable hitting the ball the opposite way and posses good power to the right center ally. He uses his 4.23 home to first speed to put pressure on the defense while on base. We have seen Vessa make some very hard plays look easy at third and second. Has shown well in both the Colorado Top Prospect Games and the Southern Prospect Games.
Ben Schecter, MIF/OF, Lakewood, 2016
5-foot-10, 140-pound is an athletic outfielder/shortstop. Throws from a long slinging arm slot with some accuracy. In the infield, threw 77 mph across the diamond from a short arm action, impressing with average hands and clean exchanges playing through the baseball. From the outfield with same arm action he also threw 77. Hits from an slightly open setup, loading hands back smoothly with a good approach up the middle of the field. Level bat path produced several line drives from gap-to-gap with 78 mph exit velocity. During the games he hit a double and had a 11.24 time to 2nd. Also ran a 7.20 60 yard dash and 4.24 from home to first. Versatile baseball player that we have seen have a lot of quality at-bats during the Colorado Top Prospect Games, and The Southern Prospect Games.
Player to Follow
Jake Starkey, MIF/OF, Dakota Ridge, 2017
5-foot-6, 125-pound second baseman with above average range on balls up the middle, posses a very accurate arm to first base. Throws over the top with a short quick are, infield velocity was 73 mph. He possesses soft hands on ground balls and has a great field presence. He also shows versatility being able to play left or right field. At the plate his 74 mph exit velocity produces good pop off the bat. He is a balanced hitter with a short stride which allows his hands to be quick to the ball, he has good bat control and hits well to both gaps. Starkey keeps it simple at the plate, and he has shown ability to handle low to mid 80's velocity with gap to gap line drive potential. He ran a 7.65 60 yard dash.
Related Content
CO: Southern Colorado Prospect Games: Outfield Analysis 9.16.14
CO: Colorado Top Prospect Games: 1B Analysis 8.21.14
CO: Colorado Top Prospect Games: 3B Analysis 8.20.14
CO: Colorado Top Prospect Games: Catching Analysis 8.19.14
CO: Colorado Top Prospect Games a Big Hit 8.16.14
CO: Colorado Prospect Games 2nd Day Highlights 8.17.14
CO: Colorado Fall Prospect Program>>Story
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