CORNER INFIELDERS

 

Top Performers

Malikai Wickley, 3B/1B, Reagan HS, 2020
6-foot-3, 190-pound projectable athletic frame with strength throughout the body.  Wickley pounded a 91 mph exit velo off the tee, and the power translated into batting practice where he hammered balls the other way with backspin carrying over the right fielder’s head consistently.  He has an athletic stance with a simple load in his hands, and he gets torque in his hips/core within his load. He stays behind the ball with his body, and is in a strong position with his head down through contact to keep his barrel in the zone a long time.  At shortstop, he had 82 mph arm strength and showed athleticism in his quick footwork and his ability to change arm angles effectively. At first base, he showed agility and plus footwork around the bag and grades out as a plus defender at first. Wickley ran a 7.32 laser-timed 60.

Hunter Reid, 1B/RHP, Plano Senior HS, 2020
6-foot-2, 220 pound frame with loads of strength.  Reid hammered balls to the opposite field gap in BP, and posted an exit velocity of 92 mph off the tee.  Reid was a staple in the middle of the order at Plano this year for a reason, he has serious juice in his bat.  He showed power to all fields, especially right field in the event. He has an athletic base with a tall upper body posture in his stance, utilizes a big load back with his body over his backside and then uses his quick hands to deliver the barrel with a strong body behind the ball at the point of contact.  Reid was 72 mph throwing across the infield and ran a 7.67 laser-timed 60. Off the bump, Reid has a whippy arm action, throwing from a low ¾ slot. His arm slot and whippy arm action give heavy run to his fastball at 82-84 mph. He throws two breaking balls, a big 10/4 shape curveball at 64-66, and a tighter breaking slider that breaks later, and is likely a better put-away pitch against right handers.  His changeup had sink at 71-72 mph.

Jackson Tims, 1B/OF, Bridge City HS, 2020
Tims has a strong, athletic 6-foot, 185-pound build. From the left side, he flashed power to the gaps in batting practice with backspin and lift; recording an exit velocity of 85 mph. Starts from a neutral, stacked stance with his hands set in a high position. Simple load, making his initial move by gliding forward, walking away from his hands, landing balance with good separation. Transfers his weight with ease as his back leg fires efficiently to get off his backside as he delivers the barrel. Solid strength in his hands, hard contact, uses the barrel efficiently and effectively with gap power and more to come in the future. In the outfield, Tims made accurate throws to the dish with a top velocity of 82 mph from a short, high-¾ slot with a max effort arm stroke. At first base, Tims has quick footwork and moves well around the bag, and can throw from different slots with accuracy to start the double play at second base.

Philip Crotts, 1B/3B, Allen HS, 2020
Crotts has broad shoulders and long levers in his 6-foot, 175-pound frame. Pounded a 90 mph exit velo. He is strong in his legs in his stance, has a big and smooth load with his hands to create separation with a long stride.  He creates natural lift, and his strong hands and wrists help him drive balls. In batting practice, he pounded balls off of the wall in center field. Crotts threw 78 mph from the first base position. Ran a 7.25 laser-timed 60.  

Foster Engelhardt, 3B/C, Keller HS, 2020
5-foot-11, 190-pound frame with a strong lower half.  Engelhardt pounded a 92 mph exit velo, and that bat speed and power translated into batting practice where he drove balls with backspin carry to the pull-side.  He has a smooth load with a low leg kick, and creates lift by working behind the ball with his body with intent and aggression in his swing. In the infield he had quiet and smooth glove actions, a clean exchange, and threw from a ¾ arm slot at 78 mph.

Harrison Hess, 1B/OF, Midlothian Heritage, 2020
Athletic, long-limbed 6-foot-3, 195-pound projectable frame with tons of strength.  At the plate, Hess showed offensive tools by first pounding a 91 mph exit velo off the tee, and then making loud contact throughout batting practice.  Hess hits from the right side and works from a tall stance, he has a short stride with a smooth controlled load back into a strong back leg. Hess drove balls to left field with a tight barrel turn and was able to get to inside pitches with ease.  Hess ran a 7.04 laser-timed 60. From the outfield he made low accurate throws through the cutoff man, and he topped out at 85 mph with carry. He showed athletic footwork around the bag at first base, and was smooth picking the ball from infielders.  From first base, Hess threw 82 mph across the infield.

Will McGuire, 1B/3B, Marcus HS, 2020
6-foot, 195-pound frame with a very strong lower half.  McGuire pounded a 90 mph exit velo off the tee, and this power translated on the field during batting practice.  McGuire drove balls with carry to the gaps, and the ball jumped off his barrel. He controlled the barrel well, and had a fluid leg kick to stay behind the ball with his body.  He uses his body efficiently in his swing, making his effort level look easy. In the infield he showed soft hands with a clean exchange, and worked through the ball with his glove; 79 mph across the infield with some carry from a high ¾ arm slot.  McGuire ran a 7.54 laser-timed 60.

Oscar Zepeda, RHP/1B, Incarnate Word Academy, 2020
6-foot, 160-pound frame.  Zepeda pounded an 86 mph exit velo off the tee, and that translated into his batting practice round where he drove balls to the gaps with backspin.  He has a compact swing with a smooth load and fluid rhythm throughout the swing, and he has quick twitch movements in his lower half that deliver the barrel. On the infield he showed arm strength from the first base position, throwing 79 mph across the diamond with accuracy and carry.  He flashed quick footwork around the bag and made numerous picks during the shortstop workout. Zepeda ran a 7.10 laser-timed 60.

Best of the Rest (Alphabetical)

Landry Fee, 3B/RHP, Argyle HS, 2022
6-foot, 180-pound projectable frame with wide shoulders.  Fee posted an 81 mph exit velo off the tee. At the plate he has a wide stance with a small controlled leg kick, good balance, and is strong at the point of contact.  Fee creates lift in his swing, and has extension through the baseball with a strong top hand. Fee had pop times ranging from 2.11-2.31 with clean transfers; 70 mph. Across the infield he flashed 80 mph arm strength from a low ¾ release point, and showed soft hands.  Fee ran a 7.51 laser-timed 60. One of the youngest participants in the event, and is a guy who will continue to develop his tools as he matures into his projectable frame. High offensive ceiling.

Aidan Gebhart, C/3B, Frisco Heritage HS, 2020
5-foot-10, 175-pound frame with impressive strength. Gebhart pounded a 92 mph exit velo off the tee, and made loud contact throughout batting practice, leaving the yard to left field.  He has an athletic set up in the box from the right side, utilizes a leg kick with a smooth load to work behind the baseball with his body to create space for the barrel to work. He has explosive bat speed and some swagger in his actions at the plate. Started the day off running a 7.07 laser-timed 60. A primary catcher, Gebhart has deliberate footwork on the infield and threw with a top velocity of 80 mph from an over the top slot. From behind the plate, he showed athletic actions and good arm strength (76 mph) with pop times of 2.08-2.25.

Jackson Hall, C/3B, Wakeland HS, 2021
6-foot, 145-pound frame. At the plate, he posted an 80 mph exit velocity. Hits out of a crouched stance, has long levers at the plate, and utilizes a leg kick. He has an uphill plane in his swing, and barreled up balls into the outfield with carry. Behind the plate, he posted pop times ranging from 2.18-2.32 with a clean transfer and a top velocity from the crouch of 63 mph. Whippy arm stroke that should prove to add strength as he continues to develop into his frame. On the infield, Hall has a quick exchange that allows his arm to work well from a ¾ slot with solid accuracy. Plays low with soft hands and threw with a top velocity across the diamond at 67 mph.

Jaxon Hansen, 3B/RHP, Abilene Wylie HS, 2021
6-foot, 170-pound projectable frame with a strong lower half.  At the plate, Hansen hits from the right side out of a low crouch, has a low smooth leg kick, and is strong at the point of contact driving balls with carry to the gaps; 87 mph exit velo off the tee.  Hansen has a fluid rhythm with his body, with intent in his swing, and his barrel is in the zone for a long time. He ran a 6.95 laser-timed 60. Across the diamond he was 79 mph with accuracy and carry with a clean exchange and an over-the-top arm action.  

Nathan Harmon, 3B/RHP, Marcus HS, 2022
Five-foot-9, 155-pound frame with a strong lower half.  Offensively Harmon posted a 79 mph exit velo with really strong lower half actions.  His athletic stance at the plate allowed for fluid rhythm, and he had a level swing path with the barrel in the zone for a long time with good extension.  Hit consistent line drives to left field in batting practice. Flashed soft hands with a quick release and short ¾ arm action. He was very accurate changing arm angles effectively while throwing on the move, 67 mph across the infield.  He ran a 7.75 laser-timed 60. Off the mound, he showed smooth rhythm in his delivery working in-line towards the plate with his legs and shoulders. His fastball was 73-74 consistently in the zone, curveball was 57-59 with a 10/4 shape, and the changeup was 65-67 and he showed great feel for this pitch consistently throwing it in the bottom of the strike zone.

Colby Higley, 3B/1B, Birdville HS, 2020
6-foot, 165-pound frame with a high waist.  Higley recorded an 86 mph exit velo off the tee.  He hits from the left side of the plate, with a loud rhythm in his hands and barrel in his stance and through his load.  Higley utilizes a leg kick into a long stride, and has a level barrel path through the hitting zone with some extension. At first base, he has fluid actions and was accurate with his throws to complete plays.  His footwork was smooth around the bag, and he flashed the ability to pick the ball during the infield portion of the event. Higley ran a 7.42 laser-timed 60.

Colin Huspen, RHP/3B, Allen HS, 2022
Huspen has a long-limbed frame at 6-foot, 150-pounds, with plenty of room to add strength as he continues to develop. A two-way player and right-handed hitter, the ball jumps off of Huspen’s bat during batting practice as he possesses raw-wiry strength for his class. Starts from an open stance before loading back smooth, using a low hanging, hovering leg kick before he strides forward. Twitchy-loose hands, working on an uphill path through contact, gap power with an exit velocity of 85 mph. Explosive lower half weight transfer as he gains ground with his back foot. On the infield, Huspen has quick footwork and throws from a ¾ slot across the diamond with a top velocity of 76 mph.

Carter Mach, 3B/C, Aledo HS, 2020
6-foot, 215-pound frame with strength throughout.  Mach showed off his power by hammering a 93 mph exit velo off the tee, and the power translated onto the field where he consistently found the barrel and drove rising line drives to the gaps.  Mach has low hands and a flat barrel once his front foot comes to the ground, and he works on a very level plane through the zone with good extension in a compact swing with strength at the point of contact.  Behind the plate, his strong legs helped him explode from out of his stance to make plays. His pop times ranged from 2.07-2.17, and he had 77 mph arm strength. In the infield, he made a nice play on the run and his top velo was 75 mph.  Mach ran a 7.33 laser-timed 60. Off the mound, he commanded his fastball well from a high ¾ arm slot at 81-82 with some arm side run. His curveball was 70-71 with an 11/5 shape, and his changeup was 74-75 mph.

John Roland, RHP/1B, McKinney Boyd HS, 2021
6-foot-2, 205-pound frame.  At the dish, Roland pounded out an 85 mph exit velo off the tee.  He has strong hands, and drove balls with lift and carry during batting practice.  He has a smooth load back with his body and hands creating separation, and has an aggressive approach to hit the ball with authority to the pull side.  He keeps his head down on the ball through contact, giving him good extension through the hitting zone. At first base, he showed arm accuracy and was 79 mph across the infield.  Roland ran a 7.65 laser-timed 60.

Canyon Rollins, 1B/OF, Grapevine HS, 2020
Athletic 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame.  Rollins hits from the right side and made some hard contact in batting practice.  He had an 86 mph exit velo off the tee. Rollins has a wide stance, with a smooth load into his back leg and a small stride and has a fluid weight-shift. He ran a 7.19 laser-timed 60. At first base, Rollins has deliberate footwork with rhythm, soft hands, and threw across the diamond with a top velocity of 78 mph.

Ben Price, 3B/RHP, Lake Dallas HS, 2020
6-foot-2, 170-pound frame. On the infield he has soft hands with fluid footwork working through the baseball and creating momentum to first base. He has a quick release with good direction and carry; 76 mph. At the plate, Price pounded an 81 mph exit velocity off the tee. The right-handed hitter has an athletic stance with rhythm and quiet and fluid body actions working behind the ball to create lift.

Brandon Scriber, 1B/RHP, Marcus HS, 2020
6-foot-3, 205-pound frame with a strong lower half.  Scriber pounded a 91 mph exit velo, and showed his strength at the plate hitting some hard line drives in batting practice.  Scriber has an athletic stance and loads his weight back and pushes his hands past his back foot in the load to get separation.  He uses his strength to drive the baseball at the plate. In the infield he threw 81 mph across the diamond from first base. Scriber ran a 7.45 laser-timed 60.  Off the mound, he has a high ¾ delivery and hides the ball from the hitter well with his body. He worked down with his fastball at 75-78 mph, threw a near 12/6 breaking ball at 65-69, and has feel for a changeup at 70-71 with late sink.  He consistently worked the bottom half of the strike zone with all three of his pitches.

Trey Smith, 1B/C, Southlake Carroll, 2020
Smith has a strong, broad shouldered frame at 6-foot-1, 200-pounds. At the plate, Smith stays behind the ball well with his body, and utilizes a leg kick to get his weight loaded back. He has quick hands/wrists in his swing, and has a high finish with his barrel working to left field, creating natural lift to that side. He has a strong top hand punch in his swing, and it helped him drive balls hard off the barrel to the pull side. He had an 82 mph exit velo off the tee. Smith ran a 7.41 laser-timed 60 and threw 67 mph across the infield from first base.

Tate Van Poppel, RHP/1B, Argyle HS, 2020
6-0, 195-pound filled out frame with a strong lower half.  A primary pitcher and first baseman, Van Poppel threw 79 mph from first base, and he also showed fundamental footwork around the bag with compact and clean actions while making plays to second and third base. At the plate, he posted an 83 mph exit velocity.  He has an athletic set up with a short stride and an uphill plane to his swing that creates lift. He has a compact barrel path, and is strong at the point of contact. Van Poppel ran a 7.27 laser-timed 60.

UP NEXT: Top Prospects

 

 

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