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2016 Top Prospect Games: Corner Infield Analysis

August 11, 2013

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director – Illinois and Wisconsin

The Class of 2016 Top Prospect Games on July 23-24 featured many of the top rising sophomores from Illinois and Wisconsin at the University of Illinois-Chicago’s pristine Les Miller Field. Over the course of the two-day, invitation-only event, many players emerged as high-interest prospects.

Left-handed hitting Bradley Harrison (O’Fallon HS, IL) heads the list of corner infielders. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound Harrison has a polished left-handed swing with relatively easy pop; he hit a home run during batting practice and showed excellent hands at first base. 3B Joe Dittmar (Richmond-Burton HS) has a strong arm (81 mph) across the infield and a polished right-handed swing.

Complete analysis of the corner infielders at the Class of 2016 Top Prospect Game:

Cameron Allen, 1B, Hamilton (WI), 2016
5-foot-10, 200-pound right-handed hitting and throwing first-baseman. Gap-to-gap hitter showing pop in BP with bat speed, natural lift, and balance throughout the swing. Sets up in a balanced stance loading onto his back side using a short stride. Arm plays at 68 mph across the infield. Allen showed some of the best raw pop at the showcase in BP, translating that to the game will be Allen’s biggest task and if he does could be a force in the middle of anybody’s lineup.

Joe Dittmar, 3B/RHP, Richmond Burton (IL), 2016
Strong build, 6-foot, 178-pound two way player, athletic frame. Hits from an open stance, smooth load with short stride, solid balance throughout. Pull side approach, hits with rhythm, showed extension. Posted three hits over the two day event. Defensively showed advanced arm strength across the diamond (81 mph), showed carry from a high ¾ arm slot. Hands work softly, clean exchange, showed body control. Showed the ability to make plays to his forehand side at a high level. On the mound Dittmar showed an athletic delivery with a tall and fall approach. Arm action is short with quickness, high ¾ slot. Fastball was mostly straight, 80-83 mph, showed control. Flashed a curveball at 65 mph.

Drake Durham, LHP/OF/1B, New Richmond (WI), 2016
6-foot2, 175-pound two-way player projectable particularly on the mound. Lanky left-handed pitcher has long high ¾ arm action with moderate effort in his delivery. His fastball featured some sink at 76-79 mph and curveball had sweeping action at 61-62 mph. Durham threw is changeup with some arm speed ranging 62-66 mph with fading action. Offensively hits from an open setup using a long stride, registering a 75 mph exit velocity. Threw 69 mph from the outfield and 71 mph across the diamond.

Jake Gilhaus, 1B/RHP, Normal Community, 2016
6-foot-1, 210-pound two-way player recorded three hits and three RBI through two Top Prospect Games. Gilhaus showed strength at the plate and stays through the ball well. His exit velocity registered 82 mph from the tee. Defensively he displayed athletic footwork at first-base and threw 76 mph across the diamond. On the mound he showed some rhythm and balance in his tall-and-fall delivery. His arm action is short and loose from over the top. Downhill fastball showed some run from 75-80 mph. 12/6 curveball ranged 60-65 mph with control.

Bradley Harrison, 1B/LHP, O’Fallon (IL), 2016
Harrison is one of the more projectable prospects in Illinois’ 2016 class. The 6-foot-3, 175-pound left handed two-way player shows athleticism and a rangy frame. At the plate the left handed hitter showed excellent rhythm, barrel awareness and a high rate of contact. Balanced stance, slightly taller approach, short stride, good balance throughout. Bat path is short to the baseball showed excellent extension, fluid rhythm with occasional pull side approach, 80 mph exit velocity. Harrison has the potential to be one of the best left handed hitters in the class. Defensively showed soft hands with natural actions around the bag, arm played well and showed the ability to start the double play at first base. On the mound the lefty worked at 75-77 mph with occasional cut action. His curveball worked on an 11/5 plane flashing sharp action and control, 64-67 mph. Harrison is a high follow in the 2016 class and will be interesting to watch develop over the next few years.

Pete Koscinski, 1B/RHP, Catholic Memorial (WI), 2016
Advanced frame, 6-foot-4, 195-pound two way player. Projects well at the plate. Hits from an open stance, short stride, excellent balance throughout. Showed pop to both gaps, ball jumps off his bat. Made hard contact against live pitching. Defensively showed some natural footwork around the bag, hands worked, 71 mph arm across the diamond. On the mound arm worked from a ¾ arm slot, long action. Fastball featured cut action, 74-76 mph, showed control. Curveball had control, 65-68 mph, thrown with fastball similar arm action, more slider action.

Michael Oh, RHP/CIF, Glenbrook North, 2016
6-foot-3, 265-pound two-way player recorded three hits (one double) through two of the Top Prospect Games. Oh has an approach at the plate and swings on a short path with bat speed maintaining balance throughout. Showed juice in his bat with a 92 mph exit speed off the tee that translated to live at-bats. His arm plays at 76 mph across the infield. Oh showed some rhythm in his delivery on the mound. Keeps his shoulders level releasing from a high ¾ slot. His fastball flashed sink at 77-80 mph. Curveball has slight 12/6 break sitting 64-67 mph and his changeup was at 66-70 mph.

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