LAS VEGAS, NV - Sunday, February 10th the Southern Nevada Preseason ID had a great turnout for their first PBR Nevada event held at Diamondback Field.  The event was representative of the talent rich Vegas Valley and the middle infield group shoed well. Below we take a look at some state middle infielders and their skills sets both defensively as well as offensively.

2020 Jareyn Yamaguchi, 2B (SLAM Academy)

Small frame, 5-foot-4, 125, Yamaguchi is a short levered reliable infielder with the actions and arm strength for second base. He has explosive lateral quickness which doesn’t always show up in a 60-yard dash. He utilizes an added shuffle from the left side of the diamond to add carry to his throws that he doesn’t need at second base.  He showed a quick exchange on double plays preferring most often to stay on the backside of the bag. As a hitter, Yamaguchi maintains a short, quick stroke with a line drive approach. He loads with a “tap back” lower half and a rocking of his hands, leading to a handsy swing with some bat speed.  He made consistent contact using the whole field.

2021 Brandon Escobar, SS, (Green Valley)

Developing, 5-foot-8, 150, Escobar has an athletic build with room for weight and strength gains.  He displayed solid infield actions with capable arm strength and good carry on his on-target throws.  He showed a feel for multiple angle throws feeding double play turns and on slow rollers. At the plate, Escobar maintains balance throughout a fluid swing. He made consistent quality contact, utilizing a simple approach while striding slightly closed.  Not much too go wrong with the approach or swing. Look for this guy to be an offensive second baseman down the road. 

2019 Nathan Bartlett, 2B, (Palo Verde)

Stocky, 5-foot-9, 170, Bartlett has a compact frame with present strength. He showed well on the left side of the diamond with reliable actions and an awareness of how to use his arm to propel carry over to first base.  He is suited well to second base his natural position, showing good feel for double play turns with a quick exchange and short arm release.  He displayed a feel for utilizing different footwork for various feeds on turns. In the box, Bartlett’s bat plays.  He has a compact swing, short and flat through the zone with loud contact. He can use the whole field, with a noticeable middle of the field approach.  His short levers allow him to crowd the plate a bit and still get to the ball in.  He is an offensive second baseman at the next level and remains uncommitted.

2022, Kyle Kiernan, SS (Coronado)

Lean, 5-foot-10, 145, Kiernan is a projectable middle infielder with developing actions and arm strength. He will likely lend himself to second base early in his high school career but it is easy to see him at shortstop with maturation accompanied by weight and strength gains. He has solid hands and footwork rhythm.  He has a feel for multiple angle throws both on double play feeds and slow rollers. He has a bit of a longer draw on his arm but time and reps will shorten his actions.  As a hitter, he employs a two-touch lower half load with a slight cocking of the hands, tipping the barrel a touch toward the pitcher. He maintains a backside approach with an uphill plane which limits weight transfer, resulting in fly ball contact. Presently, he lacks the strength to drive the ball out of the park but has some looseness to his hands and barrel which will bode well for him down the line. It is easy to some sneaky power in his future.

2022, Demitri Diamant, SS (Bishop Gorman)

Stocky, 5-foot-10 175, Diamant is a strong bodied infielder with a good arm. He has good infield actions and the ability to play all three infield spots.  He is polished above his years and makes the difficult throws with relative ease. Diamant can change arm angels when plays dictate with a feel for touch throws. Pure speed and agility may lend better to second or third based down the road but for now he can profile at shortstop.  He maintains a solid combination of strength and bat speed with a power approach.  He hits from his backside with a degree of loft to a swing plane that projects power. Diamant is an athlete that could likely play anywhere on the field and won’t be on the market long. 

2021, Elie Kligman, SS (Cimarron Memorial)

Well proportioned, 5-foot-11, 160, Kligman is a sturdy bodied player with room for weight and strength gains.  His arm is true with solid carry and enough strength to make plays in the six holes as well as up the middle.  He has a feel for footwork and rhythm with various feeds and groundballs. Kligman is athletic enough to play just about any position on the field.  He is a switch hitter with a stronger top hand from the right side, but a little more loose quickness from the left side. He maintains a nice rhythm and connection in his leg kick and “cocking” of his hands from both sides of the plate with a solid swing plane.  Pure foot speed may lend better to second or third base down the line, but I wouldn’t rule out a move behind the dish for long term success. 

2021, Garrett Cutting, SS (Arbor View)

Stanford commit. Athletic, 5-foot-11, 165, Cutting has an athletic build with wiry strength. He has good infield actions and rhythm on ground balls with a live arm. He maintains the speed, agility and range to stay at the position long term, posting a 6.9 60 time. He changes his arm angles as plays dictate and shows some feel for touch throws.  He showed a high level of athleticism turning double plays and making plays on the move.  Cutting showed the ability to turn double plays from the right side of the bag as well. At the plate, Cutting maintains good balance throughout his swing. He utilizes mostly an up and down stride with a quick, whippy bat and good barrel release.  He made consistent loud contact with some projectable power in a mostly pull side approach.  Cutting is a legit two way player 

2020 Jacob Peters, 2B (Las Vegas)

Sturdy, 6-foot 185, Peters is a physical infielder with present strength. He has confident and capable infield actions throwing comfortably from a low ¾ slot.  He will get on top to throw from the six hole and has the feel to drop down while making double play feeds.  He fields high accompanied by foot speed and range would lend better to a corner infield position.  The arm plays up in the outfield.  In the box, Peters stands tall and hits off of a balanced base, starting slightly open in stance and striding closed. He rides his front leg for timing, swinging hard with a tight two-handed finish. He has a power orientation with the swing plane to match.  He made frequent loud contact.  The bat needs to carry Peters, who may fit more comfortably in the outfield with some low end value as a depth corner infielder.

2020 John-Howard Bobo 2B (Basic)

Athletic, 6-foot-1 160. Bobo is lean with a tapered look and wiry strength. If he realizes the room for weight and strength gains, he can be a “beast”.  He has reliable infield actions and has spent noticeable time developing the confidence to make all the plays with the appropriate actions. He has enough arm strength to stay on the left side with proper rhythm and footwork.  There is an unpolished appeal to his infield game which provides optimism but I think his best days are in the outfield, where he can roam. Continued growth and length will likely require a move to the corners of the field. As a hitter, Bobo uses a leg kick trigger with a solid combination of strength and bat speed.  There is whip in his barrel which will be enhanced by staying on plane longer, but there is an explosiveness to his offense that lends to a middle of the order bat in the future.