Prep Baseball Report

Preseason All-State Session I: Infield Analysis


Jason Burton & Jerry Shank
PBR Virginia/DC

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The Preseason All State Session I was held on February 10, 2019 at the Virginia Sports complex. over 75 players from around the commonwealth attended in our first session of what ended up being well over 160 total participants of our top event of the winter. We continue our player analysis from the event with the infield position.

VIRGINIA/DC UPCOMING EVENTS

Preseason All State Session I  

STATS
SUPERLATIVES
PODCAST REACTION
RAPID REACTION I
RAPID REACTION II

ANALYSIS: Infielders

Top Performers

2019

Julian Cumba SS Potomac 2019
5-foot-11, 160-pound athletic frame. Ran a quick 4.07 Home-1st. Upright relaxed stance showing some rhythm in the swing. Hands load back fluid to a slight arm bar. Short to the ball with a flat path and a high finish. Lower half finishes completely and head stays behind the ball on contact. Exit velocity was 73 mph. Feet are active on approach and work through the ball. Showed some rhythm pre and post catch and some feel for the position. Soft hands on reception to a low three-quarter arm slot with positional velocity of 80 mph.

2020

Grayson Bush SS/2B Monticello 2020
Solid athletic frame at 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Hits from an athletic setup that was slightly open. Small pickup to stride landing slightly closed. Showed some rhythm and looseness in the swing. Hands loaded back to a strong hitting position. Short to the ball with some uphill tilt to the swing and a high finish. Had nice balance and a quiet head throughout the swing. Gap to gap potential with an exit velocity of 86 mph. Showed well defensively. Active feet on approach and nice actions pre and post catch. Got outside the ball and allowed feet and glove to work through it with soft hands. Clean quick exchange to a short quick arm action throwing from a high three-quarter arm slot. Was comfortable making a variety of plays in the infield with ease. Positional velocity was 76 mph. Ran Home-1st in 4.51.

Jacob Farrar SS/3B Prince George 2020 (VMI)
Solid frame at 5-foot-11, 190 pounds. Slightly upright stance hitting from the right side. Starts slightly open and lands on line after a small pick up and put down striding forward. Hands load back with rhythm and a vertical bat. Swing is low effort and head stays quiet on contact with solid balance in the swing. Lower half finishes completely and exit velo was 90 mph with some gap to gap power potential. Shows well defensively presenting nice actions that are translatable to game play. Feet are active and work outside the ball early working through at catch. Hands present well and are soft with quick gather to center. Clean exchange with a small arm circle and quick arm throwing from a low three-quarter arm slot at 83 mph from the infield. Home-1st time was 4.82

Jackson Foreman 2B/SS Brooke Point 2020
Athletic frame at 5-foot-11, 165-pounds. Open narrow stance with hand load back and small stride forward remaining slightly open. Bat path was flat and showed ability to match the plane of the pitch and use the whole field hitting from the left side. Showed bat speed and an aggressive lower half finishing the swing. Exit velo was 83 mph. Feet were active on approach and worked low under the ball with hands presenting and catching out front. Clean exchange to a short arm action and displayed ability to throw from different angles on different plays. Infield velocity was 72 mph. Home-1st time was 4.33.

Julian Franks-Pollock 2B/OF Norfolk Academy 2020
5-foot-11, 175-pound athletic projectable frame. Ran a quick 4.19 Home-1st. Hits from the right side with an athletic slightly open stance with hands back. Loads the front shoulder closed and has a slight arm bar. Simple pick up and put down to stride landing balanced. Displayed some bat speed getting through the zone and has ability to pull hands in when necessary. Has some gap to gap power potential with an exit velo of 90 mph. Active feet on approach with solid glove presentation. Clean exchange to a longer arm action throwing from a three-quarter arm slot at 80 mph across the infield.

Carter Trice SS Lee-Davis 2020 (Old Dominion)
6-foot, 185-pound strong athletic frame. Had an impressive day as he showed big time progression across the board, as he has added strength to a projectable frame. Starts with a narrow upright stance with a low leg lift, strides towards the pitcher landing square with hands back in a strong position and a slight arm bar. Hands showed quickness and strength through the zone with an uphill path and uphill finish. Lower half finishes with some aggression and the exit velo was 97 mph. Feet were active on approach approaching outside and presenting glove out front with soft hands and a clean exchange. Average arm circle with elite arm speed and velocity at 94 mph. Home-1st was 4.12.

2021

Casey Cook SS Freedom (South Riding) 2021 (North Carolina)
Projectable frame at 6-foot, 170-pounds. Hits from the left side starting from a relaxed athletic open stance. Small pickup and put down at stride landing on line. Hands have minimal rhythmic load back with a slight wrap at stride. Bat is quick to contact with a flat bat path and stays through the ball at contact. Line drive tendencies with gap to gap potential. Lower half has some explosion to finish with an exit velo of 87 mph. Defensively Cook works around the outside of the ball with active feet to catch. Gets the left foot down late and fields out front with eyes behind the catch. Clean exchange throwing from a low three-quarter arm slot at 83 mph. Ran a quick time at 4.13 from Home-1st.

Jesus Del Valle SS Bishop Ireton 2021
Athletic frame with some projection left to it at 6-foot, 160-pounds. Ran a quick 4.08 Home-1st. Del Valle is a grinder and a kid with some athleticism and tools who is not afraid to outwork everyone around him. Defensively has really nice actions pre and post catch. Prep hop on contact getting the feet ready to move and react to the play. Active feet on approach fielding out front with solid glove presentation and a very quick clean exchange. Arm action is short and shows comfort throwing from multiple arm angles and slots on a variety of plays. Infield velocity is 76 mph. Hits from an athletic open stance striding closed with a toe tap. Del Valle uses his lower half well firing the hips with some aggression and allowing the hands and barrel to have some whip getting through the zone. Displayed ability to pull hands in when needed and finished with a slightly uphill bat path and a 85 mph exit velo. A must follow prospect this spring and summer as he continues to grow and mold into a really solid infielder.

Kevin Gunn SS Dinwiddie 2021
Upright stance starting slightly open with a small pickup to put down landing on line. Hands load back easy to separation and swing shows some strength and quickness getting to the zone. High finish with some explosion in the hips and uses the lower half well. Exit velocity was 86 mph and swing showed some gap to gap tendencies with power potential. Actions stand out defensively as Gunn works outside the ball well with active feet and gains ground on the ball with solid glove presentation. Soft hands to a clean centered exchange. Arm action is short and quick and throws from a low three quarter arm slot at 85 mph across the infield. Shows ability to make all necessary plays in the infield and throws from multiple angles with ease. Home-1st time was 4.31.

Michael Williams SS/OF Franklin Co. 2021
Athletic frame standing 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Athletic stance starting on line with a pronounced knee to knee leg kick landing on line with hands back. Maintains balance throughout the leg kick and swing. Hands showed some quickness getting through the zone with a flat bat path with line drive tendency and used the middle well. Exit velocity was 85 mph. Feet work around the ball to approach and works through the throw after catch. Hands are soft with a quick exchange at center. Arm action is short and quick and showed comfort throwing from multiple arm angles. Infield velocity was 78 mph. Home-1st was 4.22.

Connor Woodel 3B/SS Powhatan 2021
6-foot, 160-pound projectable athletic frame. Square athletic stance with hands back. Hands have small load back with a slight bat wrap and a simple pick up striding forward landing on line. Bat gets on plane early with line drive tendency and a high finish. Head stays quiet and behind the barrel on contact. Finishes the lower half completely with an exit velo of 86 mph. Active feet on approach with solid glove presentation and fields slightly right of center. Clean exchange with a short arm action throwing from a three-quarter arm slot at 72 mph across the infield.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphbetically)

Kody Abrisz SS/OF Menchville 2020
Stands 5-foot-9, 175-pounds with an athletic frame. Hits from the right side with a square stance with a small leg lift landing balanced and slightly closed. Hands load back to a slight arm bar and barrel stays through the zone at contact with a slight uphill path. Lower half finishes completely and maintains balance throughout. Exit velocity was 81 mph on the day. Defensively had one of the top outfield velocities at 88 mph. Feet are active on approach and gains ground on the ball working through the throw with a short arm circle and quick arm speed throwing from a high three-quarter arm slot. In the infield works around the ball well with quiet active feet. Hands are soft on catch to a clean exchange. Arm action is short and throws from a high three-quarter arm slot at 81 mph across. Home-1st time was 4.44 on the day.

John Bastiaans 2B/SS Frank W. Cox 2021
Thin athletic frame at 5-foot-11, 145-pounds. Ran a 4.52 Home-1st on the day. Hits from an upright narrow stance from the left side. Hands are set high by the head and move back to a strong hitting position with a slight wrap. Strides forward on load and lands on line. Bat stays through the zone at contact with an uphill path. Lower half finishes completely and head stays behind the ball at contact. Defensively showed active feet on approach working around the ball to catch. Soft hands on reception with a clean exchange to a longer arm circle and throws from a low three-quarter arm slot. Positional velocity was 68 mph.

Kolby Birchett 3B/OF Prince George 2020
5-foot-11, 175-pound solid frame. Ran a 4.37 Home-1st. Athletic setup at the plate with a small toe tap back to stride landing on line. Hands have minimal movement pre-pitch and are short and quick to the ball. Showed some bat speed and the ability to pull the hands in when needed. Bat path was flat and has line drive tendencies. Exit velocity was 81 mph. Active feet on approach and works low through the ball with a wider base. Clean exchange away from the body to a short arm circle throwing from an over the top arm slot. Positional velocity was 76 mph.

Blake Cuddington 1B/RHP Highland 2021
Big strong frame at 5-foot-11, 230 pounds. On the mound pitched primarily from the stretch. Consistent balance point before moving down the mound with shoulders level and closed. Lands closed at foot strike with a longer arm circle throwing from a high three-quarter arm slot. Fastball sat at 79-81 mph and showed some arm side run at times. Curveball had a tight 12/6 shape and sat at 68-69 mph. Slider was hard at 70-73 with present arm speed and a late 11/5 break. Stance is open and upright hitting from the right side. Hands show some rhythm and load back with a slight bat wrap. Small pick up and put down to striding on line. Displayed ability to pull hands in and get through the zone quick with some uphill tilt with an exit velocity of 86 mph. Active feet on approach with solid glove presentation catching ball out front. Short arm action throwing from a three-quarter arm slot across the field at 77 mph. Home-1st time was 4.77.

Garrett Gartrell 1B/RHP Norfolk Christian 2020
Big strong frame at 6-foot-3, 198-pounds. Stance starts square with a slightly wider base. Small pickup to put down landing slightly closed. Loads the front shoulder closed and hands move back to a slight bat wrap before initiating the swing. Swing has an uphill path with a high upright finish. Lower half finishes completely and posted an exit velo of 86 mph. Fields from a somewhat upright position after attacking the ball vertically. Fields out front and brings to center for clean exchange to a longer arm action throwing from a three-quarter arm slot at 66 mph. Home-1st was 4.70.

Christopher Mitchell Jr. SS/OF Nansemond River 2020
Athletic projectable frame at 5-foot-11, 150-pounds. Ran a quick 4.07 Home-1st. Narrow athletic stance with a slight crouched hinge when making a knee to knee load to striding on line. Hands load back and setup low before a quick trigger through the zone with a flat bat path and high finish. Swing shows pull side tendency with an exit velo of 86 mph. In the outfield active feet to approach and eyes work behind the ball with a solid glove presentation. Exchange is clean and goes to a longer arm circle throwing from a low three-quarter arm slot at 80 mph. In the infield feet work around the ball and gets direction towards the target. Glove presents out front with soft hands to a clean high exchange. Arm circle is long, but showed some arm speed throwing from a low three-quarter slot at 74 mph. Showed comfort making plays on the move.

Jared Molnar SS/2B Loudon Valley 2020
Compact athletic frame at 5-foot-9, 160-pounds. Slightly open athletic stance striding in finishing on line. Hands load back and front arm locks to an arm bar. Swing has some strength and quickness getting through the zone and swing showed pull side tendency. Exit velocity was 82 mph. Worked hard with active feet to get in optimal position to field every groundball. Solid glove presentation out front to a clean exchange, short arm action, and showed comfort throwing from multiple arm angles. Infield velocity was 84 mph. Home-1st was 4.28.

Phaly Moravek SS/2B Tuscarora 2020
Solid athletic frame at 5-foot-7, 175-pounds. Switch hitter, when hitting from the left side shows a square athletic stance. Small pick up and put down landing on line. Hands load with rhythm and a slight bat wrap, showed strength and quickness to contact, and stayed on the ball through extension. Used all fields from the left side and looked much more comfortable and productive from the left side. From the right side has a square athletic stance hands set high and bat goes vertical on load. Small leg lift to striding slightly closed. Hands are quick through the zone and displayed ability to pull hands in when needed. Bat path is uphill with a high one handed finish. Exit velocity was 81 mph. Nice actions defensively with clean footwork on approach. Soft hands with a quick center and exchange, longer arm action, above average arm speed, and displayed ability to make a variety of plays throwing from multiple angles. Positional velocity was 75 mph. Ran a 4.14 Home-1st.

Sam Phelps 3B W.T. Woodson 2020
5-foot-10, 185-pound solid frame. Upright slightly open stance, strides in on line, hands are quick to the ball, and showed ability to pull hands in. High two handed finish and gets the lower half through completely. Exit velocity was 80 mph. Feet are active on approach, fields out front, showed a quick clean exchange. Arm action was average and throws from a lower three-quarter arm slot at 74 mph. Home-1st was 5.0. Quick pace to the delivery starting with a side step rocker. Quick balance point with shoulders level moving down the mound and landing on line. Fastball worked downhill at times at 75-79 mph. Curveball was more up and down closer to a 12/6 break at 67-69 mph. Changeup showed some arm side fade at 70-72 mph with fastball arm speed and intent.

JD (James) Robinson SS Woodgrove 2021
Athletic projectable frame at 6-foot-1, 168-pounds and shows room to add some strength. Hits from the right side with a slight crouch and a wider base. Square stance and makes a small stride in to finishing closed as hands make a small load back before firing through the zone. Bat path is flat and hips rotate completely. Exit velo was 68 mph. In the infield showed nice actions. Pre-contact prep hop, feet worked around the ball, fielded out front with solid glove presentation and soft hands. Clean exchange at center and threw with a quick short arm action and a high three-quarter arm slot. Infield velocity was 71 mph. Home-1st was 4.50.

Noah Roots 1B Smithfield 2020
6-foot-1, 180-pound athletic frame with some projection left to it. Slightly open and athletic stance with a small toe tap stride. Hands load back with a vertical bat and a slight wrap. Bat path is flat with an uphill finish and stayed on through extension. Exit velocity was 79 mph. Defensively Roots fields it out front, postures up on exchange, arm speed is average and throws from a high three-quarter arm slot. Infield velocity was 79 mph. Ran a 4.44 Home-1st.

Brian Sanders SS Westfield 2020
6-foot-1, 175-pound strong physical frame. Crouched square stance hitting from the right side. Hands load back to a slight arm bar and bat is wrapped. Showed strength in the swing with an uphill bat path, was able to pull the hands in, and really used the lower half well getting it going forward. Exit velocity was 82 mph. Feet were active through the catch, soft hands fielding out front, to a quick exchange, arm action was longer, and threw from a high three-quarter arm slot. Infield velocity was 75 mph. Home-1st time was 4.71.

Ethan Smith 2B Midlothian 2021
Compact athletic frame at 5-foot-9, 140-pounds. Home-1st time was 4.65. Athletic open stance with a simple stride landing slightly closed. Hands load back, bat gets on plane early with a slight uphill path, and hips rotate completely with some violence. Exit velocity was 76 mph. Feet work through the ball, glove presents out front, and quick clean exchange at center. Arm action is a bit longer, but showed some arm speed throwing from a three-quarter arm slot at 75 mph.

Joe Suarez 2B/SS Bishop O'Connell 2020
5-foot-8, 165-pound athletic frame. Athletic square stance striding in and finishing slightly closed. Hands load back with rhythm and a slight bat wrap. Bat path is short to the ball with an uphill one handed finish. Exit velo was 81 mph and swing showed pull side tendency. Clean footwork on approach and solid glove presentation out front. Gets the ball in the hand quick with a clean exchange. Shows comfort in throwing from multiple arm slots with a quick short arm action. Infield velocity was 74 mph. Home-1st time was 4.46.

Jonathan Wall 3B Ocean Lakes 2020
5-foot-11, 190-pound solid frame. Athletic slightly open stance with a small pick up to stride landing on line. Hands were strong through the zone with some whip in the bat. Lower half finishes with some explosion. Swing gets on plane early and shows uphill tilt with gap to gap power. Exit velo was 89 mph. Home-1st time was 4.81. Feet were quiet and approach was direct with soft hands catching it out front. Quick arm throwing from a three-quarter arm slot with an infield velocity of 75 mph.