By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Illinois/Wisconsin

Our corner infield review is highlighted by one of the bigger risers in Illinois’ 2016 class this summer, Alec Trela (Normal Community). Trela has showcase advanced power and the ability to stick at third base making him one of the best available prospects in the state.

Here’s a look at the rest of the top corner infielders.

Top Corner Infielders

1. Alec Trela, 3B, Normal Community, 2016
Physical, 6-foot-3, 205-pound third baseman, strong build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, lower half works, good balance at contact. Fast, strong bat, repeatedly made hard contact. Path works slightly uphill, natural power swing, pullside/power type hitter. 96 mph exit velocity from the tee. Solid third baseman, strong arm with carry across (81 mph). Showed soft hands and agile feet for his size, plays athletically with body control. Ran a 7.37 in the 60, laser timed.

2. Patrick Loeffler, 3B, Stevenson, 2016
Solid build with strength, 6-foot-1, 200-pound left-handed hitting third baseman. Hits from a balanced stance, smooth loading action, stride slightly dives, uses lower half and maintains good balance through contact. Barrel aware, showed bat strength and made hard contact. Path is short to the baseball, has a middle to opposite field approach. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played well from third, short high ¾ arm action, showed occasional carry, 78 mph across the diamond, longer release. Should have the ability to improve footwork at third, runs well, 6.98 runner in the 60.

3. Mitch Owens, 3B, Moline, 2016
Long athletic frame, sloped shoulders, 6-foot-4, 200-pound corner infielder. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, stays balanced. Strong hitter, showed easy bat speed, pull pop type approach. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively hands played soft, feet move well and plays through the baseball. Arm plays from a high ¾ slot, 76 mph across the diamond. Attributes can play at either corner infield spot. 7.42 runner.

4. Tyler Strzelczyk, 1B/RHP, Lincoln-Way North, 2016
Lon lanky frame, slender build, 6-foot-4, 170-pound two-way player. Athletic and showed feel around the bag, easy athleticism, hands played soft, showed infield actions. Arm action is short and loose across, high ¾ slot, 83 mph. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride back to even, good balance. Loose hands at the plate, creates some whip, showed bat speed. Level path with gap to gap approach. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound works with little effort. Fastball showed slight arm side run, 83-85 mph. Changeup thrown with feel, 74-76 mph, control of the zone.

5. Jackson Dvorak, 1B, Providence, 2016
6-foot-1, 200-pound first baseman, overall strong build. Hits from an open stance, short stride, strong lower half with good balance. Showed strong hands at the plate, fast bat with strength, slight pull side approach with power. Made hard contact with ball jumping off bat, 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively proved to be a well above average first baseman, hands played soft, showed body control and feel for the bag. Short arm action with ample carry across the diamond for his position. 7.54 runner in the 60.

5. Aaron Goecks, OF/3B, Brookfield Academy, 2016
6-foot-0, 195-pound, strong, athletic build, left-handed hitter.  Hits from a balanced setup, loads hands back and up, slight leg-kick. Fast bat speed, long, uphill bat path, line drive approach, 95 mph exit velocity. Defensively fields ball deep, long, loose arm action, over-the-top slot, 89 mph from the OF, 79 mph from 3B. Ran a 7.17 60-time.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Casey Dennison, RHP/1B, Jacobs, 2016
6-foot-2, 210-pound two-way player, large frame, shows strength. On the mound arm works from a high ¾ slot, short arm action. Fastball has slight run, 79-81 mph. Breaking ball landed for strikes, 10/4 plane, gradual action, 67 mph. Changeup sat 74-76 mph. Hits from a balanced stance,, short stride, lower half collapses. Showed bat strength, flat path some uphill pull approach. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. At first base arm played at 83 mph across the diamond. Hands showed playability, 7.71 runner in the 60.

Joe Gahm, RHP/3B, Germantown, 2016
Loose lean frame, has athleticism, two-way player, 6-foot-1, 185-pounds. Projects best on the mound. Delivery is directional and athletic, shows slight effort, tall and fall approach, athletic finish. Arm action is quick and loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 85-86 mph, touched 87 mph, comes out easy with slight run to arm side. Curveball has plus potential, sharp hard action, thrown aggressively with fastball arm speed, 11/5 plane, 72-74 mph. Changeup thrown with fastball arm action, showed arm side run, aggressive and occasionally chokes, 79-82 mph. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, loose athletic swing. 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed arm strength across the diamond, ball carries, athletic defender with softer hands. 80 mph across the infield. 7.66 runner in the 60.

Jake Garella, 3B/RHP, Edwardsville, 2016
6-foot-1, 185-pound two-way player, average athletic shape. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, good balance through impact. Compact approach with athletic hands. Showed bat speed on a short path, 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played short and loose, high ¾ slot with accuracy across the infield, 80 mph across the diamond. 7.42 runner in the 60. Looked athletic on the mound, delivery is clean. Long arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 81-83 mph. Has feel for the curveball, 68-69 mph, 11/5 shape. Changeup sat 74-76 mph.

Josh Gonzales, LHP/1B, Appleton North, 2016
Large, big bodied left-handed pitcher, 6-foot-2, 205-pounds. Worked out as a two-way player, projects best on the mound. Tall and fall delivery with rhythm, heel strike landing, slightly open toe, front side stays closed, slight coil at balance point. Arm works from a high ¾ slot, slight stab on back side. Fastball showed sinking action, heavier feel, showed control of the zone, pitched at 80-83 mph. Curveball has 1/7 shape, gradual action, 66-68 mph. Showed feel for a sinking changeup, 71-73 mph. At first base showed general feel and awareness around the bag. Arm played well above average at first (80 mph). Hits from the left-side, balanced stance, stride is short, quick and late. Path works uphill, lift type hitter with occasional pop. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.57 runner.

Stephen Hill, 3B, Lockport, 2016
6-foot-1, 190-pound third-baseman, advanced shape, lean strong build. Defensively arm showed some carry across the diamond, 81 mph, short over the top slot, firm arm action. Hands played, showed body control on the move. Right-handed hitter, can get more out of lower half, balanced stance, short stride. Strong look in the box, uphill path, generates bat speed with strength, pull side approach, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.55 runner in the 60.

Cody Link, 1B/RHP, Edgewood, 2016
6-foot-5, 215-pound two-way player, long athletic frame. Right-handed hitter, tall open stance, stride gets back to square. Pull side approach with the ability to go the other way, flashed bat speed. Defensively plays with a long arm action, showed some carry across the infield. Showed the ability to play around the bag. On the mound arm worked similarly, long high draw, high ¾ slot. Fastball flashed cut, 80-81 mph. Curveball sat 70-72 mph. Straight change was firm, 75-78 mph.

Drew Mullarkey, 1B, Hinsdale Central, 2016
6-foot, 190-pound, switch-hitting first baseman. Offensively hits from a balanced setup. Long load to backside, short stride with average balance. Short level swing path. 78 mph exit velocity form a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.06. In the field has a short arm action with average hands and slower actions. Threw 69 mph across the infield.

Aaron Mutter, RHP/1B, Burlington, 2016
Extra-large body, 6-foot-4, 230-pound two-way player. On the mound, front side gets slightly open, lands square with regular effort. Arm action is short, high ¾ slot. Fastball flashed running action, 82-84 mph. Curveball played at 69-73 mph. Throws changeup with good arm action, has sink 76-79 mph. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride gets back to even. Pull power approach, showed pop in bat, looks to lift, advanced bat strength. Defensively showed footwork around the bag at first, hands play and shows feel for the position.

Jake Pomykalski, 1B/RHP, Lincoln-Way East, 2017
6-foot-5, 210-pound, strong, athletic build, two-way player. Hits from a tall, balanced set up, loads back, short stride, above-average balance. Above-average bat speed, short bat path, 91 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed soft hands, quick footwork, long arm action, high ¾ slot, 79 mph from 1B. Ran a 7.29 60-time. On the mound displayed a tall-and-fall delivery, high ¾ arm slot, loose arm action, landing square. Fastball showed arm-side-run, sat 83-84 mph. Curveball sat 64-68 mph. Changeup showed sink and cut, sat 69-73 mph. Knuckleball 70-71 mph.

Kobe Shutter, 3B, Bishop McNamara Catholic, 2016
6-foot-5, 200-pound, lanky, athletic build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a tall, open stance, drops hands on load, average balance. Long, uphill bat path, 85 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed average hands, short arm action, over-the-top slot, some accuracy, 75 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.31 60-time.

Morgan Youngquist, 1B, Hamilton Sussex, 2016
Long lanky frame, projectable type body, 6-foot-4, 200-pound L/L first-baseman. Offensively hits from an open stance, stride dives to hit. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 76 mph across the diamond, over the top slot. Ran a 7.45 in the 60.

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