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Unsigned Senior Showcase: Middle Infield Analysis

October 22, 2014

By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

The Prep Baseball Report Unsigned Senior Showcase took place on Sunday October 12th at the MAX in McCook, IL in front of over forty collegiate programs and featured 98 prospects in the class of 2015 that are still uncommitted. Last year’s same event saw over 35 collegiate commitments reported to PBR, and we expect more of the same after witnessing this year’s impressive crop.

Over the next few days we will roll out position-by-position rankings of the showcase culminating with the Top Overall Prospects from the event.

CLICK HERE to see complete statistics from the event in PDF format.

After highlighting catchers and corner infielders, today we’ll take a look at the top middle infielders at this year’s Unsigned Senior Showcase. St. Laurence’s Frank Greco takes the top spot. He may not stick at shortstop at the next level, but his excellent frame, and physical tools make him the top prospect of this group. With his arm strength third base or an offensive minded second baseman may be his future.

St. Rita’s Matt Murawski, like his teammate Esteban Martinez, has been a victim of St. Rita’s depth and success, but should see an increased role in 2015 for the Mustangs thanks to his athletic infield actions, speed, and hitting ability.

Hinsdale Central’s Ben Chapman, Seton Academy’s Ta’Shawn Grubbs, and Riverside-Brookfield’s Kevin Fitzgerald round out our top five.

Let’s take a look at the top middle infielder’s at this October’s Unsigned Senior Showcase.

Top Middle Infielders

1.Frank Greco, MIF/RHP, St. Laurence, 2015
6-foot-2, 185-pound two-way player, excellent frame, athletic build with strength. Offensively hits from the right side, balanced stance, short stride, excellent balance through contact, athletic setup. Showed the ability to impact the baseball, efficient bat path, well above average bat speed, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Line drive gap to gap approach. Defensively uses a short over the top arm action, accurate across the diamond, some carry, 83 mph across. Athletic defender, hands played, could have the ability to play multiple positions. On the mound arm played from a high ¾ slot. Fastball is mostly straight, 78-80 mph. Breaking ball has 11/5 shape, 62-63 mph, gradual action, showed feel. Changeup has slight sink action, 64-66 mph, decelerated arm action. Ran a 7.13 60.

2. Matt Murawski, SS, St. Rita, 2015
5-foot-9, 155-pound small, athletic, quick twitch middle infielder impressed running a 6.88 60 yard dash. Hits from a narrow, open setup, short stride, hands load back smoothly, above average bat speed with 84 mph exit velocity off the tee. Hits off back side with right-center field approach. Defensively, profiles at second base throwing 78 mph across the diamond from short, loose, high ¾ arm slot with carry. Soft hands fielding the baseball, quick and fluid footwork, plays through the baseball with quick exchanges. One of the top middle infielders in attendance at the Unsigned Senior Showcase.

3. Ben Chapman, SS/RHP, Hinsdale Central, 2015
6-foot, 150-pound two-way player, thin build, average frame, some projection. Defensively uses a short arm action across the diamond, high ¾ sot, 82 mph, arm plays athletically. Feet play through the baseball quick clean transfer, hands play well. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride. Works the middle of the field, level path, 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound delivery is compact, tall and fall with little effort, high ¾ arm slot. Fastball flashed sink with standard feel of the zone from 80-83 mph. Slider has short action, occasionally looked more like a cutter, 72-74 mph. Changeup has arm side action, showed feel, 71-74 mph. Ran a 7.33 60.

4. Ta’Shawn Grubbs, MIF, Seton Academy, 2015
5-foot-9, 167-pound middle infielder hits from a closed, wide setup, short bat path, downhill path, producing line drives and ground ball contact during batting practice with 79 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 81 mph across the infield from long, high ¾ arm slot with carry and some accuracy. Showcased soft hands fielding the baseball, quick footwork and exchanges, fielding position athletically. Ran a 7.1 60.

5. Kevin Fitzgerald, MIF, Riverside-Brookfield, 2015
6-foot, 170-pound middle infielder, athletic build, projects well. Left-handed hitter, open stance, short stride, collapses lower half, soft front side. Bat speed present, pull side approach, slight lift. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed an athletic arm action, played well on the move, fluid footwork and hands played well. Arm was accurate with short action, 80 mph across the diamond. 7.74 runner in the 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically

Mark Albrecht, MIF, Shepard, 2015
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder hits from a wide base, balanced setup, short stride, solid up the middle approach with short, level bat path. Several line drives during batting practice up the middle and to right center field producing 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, threw 79 mph across the diamond from short, high ¾ arm slot. Fields the baseball out front, with fluid footwork, and clean exchanges, profiles at second base. Ran a 7.35 60.

Xavier Avalos, MIF, Brooks College Prep, 2015
5-foot-11, 160-pound left-handed hitting middle infielder. Hits from an open stance, slightly crouched, short stride, smooth loading action and maintains balance. Line drive opposite field approach, slap hitter, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.90 runner in the 60. Defensively plays deeper on the baseball. Arm action is loose, ¾ slot, 74 mph arm strength across the diamond.

Trey Compton, MIF, Prospect, 2015
5-foot-9, 155-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder hits from an open setup, short stride, hands load back smoothly; short, level bat path getting extension and barrel whip through the zone. Produced 79 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 72 mph across the diamond from a short, high ¾ arm slot with accuracy. Profiles at second base with average hands, plays through the baseball. Ran a 7.27 60.

Cedric Garrett, MIF, Rich Central, 2015
5-foot-6, 155-pound small and athletic right-handed hitting middle infielder hits from a balanced, crouch setup, short stride, average bat speed, short, level bat path spraying to all fields with 77 mph exit velocity. Second base type actions; soft hands, quick clean exchanges, plays through the baseball with athletic actions. Threw 71 mph across the diamond from short, high ¾ arm slot. Ran a 7.39 60.

Ivan Georgelos, MIF, Oak Lawn, 2015
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder hits from a tall, open setup, leg kick trigger, with slightly uphill bat path and gap-to-gap tendencies. Produced 80 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 75 mph across the diamond from short, high ¾ arm slot with average carry. Profiles at second base with soft hands fielding the baseball out front. Ran a 7.20 60-yard dash.

Jonathan Hodo, MIF, Morgan Park, 2015
5-foot-9, 155-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder hits from a wide base, crouched setup, short stride, utilizes a slight leg kick/lift, hands drop to load, creating short, level bat path with 72 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 73 mph across the diamond from short, high ¾ arm slot with some accuracy. Showed average hands fielding the baseball, with quick exchanges when fielding. Ran a 7.28 60.

Andrew Hrgich, MIF, Wheaton North, 2015
6-foot, 165-pound middle infielder, athletic shape. 7.30 runner in the 60. Defensively played with a short high ¾ arm action across the diamond, 76 mph. Footwork showed the ability to play through the baseball. Right handed hitter, balanced stance, slightly open, high back elbow, short stride. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Austin Konagel, MIF, Lincoln-Way North, 2015
5-foot-11, 155-pound left-handed hitting middle infielder, athletic build. Offensively hits from a tall open setup, narrow stance, smooth loading action. Compact approach, good barrel control, line drive middle of the field approach. 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively played through the baseball, clean exchange, hands work. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot, 75 mph across the diamond. 7.20 runner in the 60.

Mike Leonard, MIF, Lincoln-Way North, 2015
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed hitting outfielder hits from a balanced setup, hands drop during load, very little stride, producing level bat path producing line drives during batting practice with 78 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 77 mph across the diamond from long, high ¾ arm slot. Profiles at second base, also displayed average hands fielding the baseball. Ran a 7.96 60.

Enrique Manzano, MIF/RHP, Solorio Academy, 2015
5-foot-10, 165-pound left-handed hitting middle infielder/right-handed pitcher hits from a wide, balanced setup, hands start high, back elbow raised, short stride, above average bat speed, barrel whips through the zone, slightly uphill bat path with pull tendencies during batting practice. 76 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 78 mph across the diamond from short, high ¾ arm slot with carry and accuracy. Showed athletic actions, soft hands, fields through the baseball with clean exchanges. On the mound, fastball sat 76-78 mph with sinking action from long, high ¾ arm slot, toe down at balance point, coils lower half during load over the rubber, tall-and-fall delivery, some effort in delivery with head snap at finish, shoulders level throughout delivery, lands in line with home plate. 64-67 mph 11/5 breaking ball was erratic, threw more strikes with 71-72 mph split-change, thrown with fastball arm speed. Split showed occasional downward action.

Billy Morris, SS, Lakes Community, IL
6-foot-2, 165-pound athletic, right-handed hitting shortstop hits from a tall, open setup, hands load back, bat wraps slightly, creating long bat path, above average bat speed hitting line drives from gap-to-gap during batting practice. 80 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 74 mph across the diamond from high ¾ arm slot with some accuracy. Profiles at second base, soft hands fielding the baseball. Ran a 7.77 60.

Justin Newton, MIF, Hillcrest, 2015
5-foot-9, 150-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder hits from balanced setup, hands load back smoothly, short stride, with average bat speed producing 72 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 72 mph across the diamond from a long, ¾ arm slot with some accuracy. Showed average hands fielding, runs a 7.54 60.

CJ Norman, MIF, Ottawa Marquette, 2015
5-foot-7, 145-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder hits from an open, narrow setup, up the middle approach, barrel whips through the zone producing 76 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 76 mph across the diamond from a short, high ¾ arm slot. Soft hands, fluid footwork, plays through the baseball, profiles at second base. Ran a 7.44 60.

Jack O’Neill, MIF, Rolling Meadows, 2015
5-foot-8, 162-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder hits from a balanced setup, no stride approach, producing line drives with an opposite field approach and 75 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 66 mph across the diamond from short, ¾ arm slot showcasing soft hands playing through the baseball. Ran a 7.13 60.

Sam Warady, MIF, Lake Zurich, 2015
6-foot, 170-pound middle infielder. Right handed hitter, wide stance, open setup, slightly crouched, arm bar load, lower half works. Longer path, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively fields the baseball out in front, plays through the baseball, hands play. Arm action is short, high ¾ slot, 76 mph across the diamond. 7.42 runner in the 60.

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