January 18 Preseason All State Positional Scout Analysis: Corner Infielders

Eli Bolden (2021, 3B, James Clemens) Bolden showed a very physical frame in the box with an even stance and a toe tap approach. He does a nice job incorporating his lower half into the swing. There is some tilt in the swing path and he showed power to the middle of the field to the pull side. He was 89 mph off the tee and also showed well during defensive drill work. He showed plenty of arm strength across the infield at 85 mph and looks natural moving laterally. Very aggressive fielder and worked well on the slow roller in front. 

Noah Toney (2022, 3B/RHP, Florence) An athletic delivery from a high ¾ slot from the versatile player that showed nice actions. The fastball seemed to take off late and was 82-83 mph throughout his pen while the breaking ball was firm and hard to pick up with tight spin at 72-73 mph. The change up showed movement toward the glove side in the upper 70’s. Had one of the better rounds of BP, starting from a slightly open stance and a simple approach with the front side. There is major bat speed and violence in the swing with definite tilt in the swing path. Showed that power middle to pull side and was 90 mph off the tee while also throwing 82 mph to 1B. Very athletic at 3B and has versatility to play all over the field. A ‘22 that impressed. 

Brant Stringer (2023, 3B/RHP, Hartselle) The young 2023 grad showed nice movements in the delivery and showed a fastball that was up to 80 mph with some late sink. The breaking ball was upper 60’s with tight spin and nice depth to the pitch while the change up was located well and showed as a very nice pitch. Has some nice potential and shows pitchability right now. Stringer was impressive as a player as well. Started with the feet even in the stance and a simple approach on the front side. The hands are set high in the stance and he shows a definite tilted swing path with some violence in the swing. The BP was loud with a heavy pull side approach. Tall, slender frame with plenty of room to grow. Athletic at 3B with nice arm strength (81 mph) and nice flexibility in the hips. Light on the feet. A good looking ‘23 prospect.

Andrew Hunt (2022, 3B/OF, Oak Mountain) Showed added strength since the last time we saw him. Much more physical in the box as shown by his 90 mph exit velocity off the tee. The feet are even in the slightly crouched stance and the hands were set high. Showed a toe tap approach that allowed him to use the strong lower half of the body in the swing. Does a nice job getting the barrel through the hitting zone and finishes well. There is some tilt in the bat path, helping create backspin off the barrel. The ‘22 grad was 81 mph from 3B and looked very natural with the glove. Showed a quick transfer and moved well laterally.  

Brodie Morrow (2022, 1B/3B, Hartselle) Physical corner infielder that went through the workout as a 3B and 1B. Showed nice actions around the bag at 1B, coming off the bag well to start a 3-6-3 DP. At 3B he showed nice arm strength (80 mph) to the 1B bag and played fairly low to the ground. Open stance at the plate and a very simple front side as the foot gets down quickly which allows the barrel to be on time. Very compact, simple yet powerful approach at the plate. Did a nice job keeping the hands and barrel inside the ball and showed a middle to pull approach with backspin. Present strength in the hands and some tilt in the bat path. 

Jackson Lindsey (2021, 1B/OF, Russellville) Really like the offensive approach of this ‘21. Very balanced and quiet in the box and the hands work with ease. No wasted action in the approach and swing but there is strength in the swing. Very balanced, well synced swing with nice extension through contact. The middle of the field approach has gap to gap power from a tilted swing plan and the swing looks easy. Showed advanced defensive ability at 1B, moving well around the bag. Did a nice job coming off the bag to start a 3-6 and also worked well through the throw across the diamond. Really like the bat of this ‘21 grad.  

Cole Loftis (2022, RHP/3B, Hayden) Nice arm action that showed some cross fire action on the fastball that was 80-81 mph with late life. The breaking ball shows very tight spin and has slider action. It also moves very late. Was very deceptive in the delivery and consistently commanded both sides of the plate. Nice ‘22 arm. Tall stance at the plate with the toes pointed in to start. The hands are set high in the stance with a toe tap approach used to set his timing. The approach was mostly pull from a flat barrel path, showing mostly hard ground balls and line drives. At 3B, the arm strength to 1B is nice with accurate throws and he looked very natural moving to his glove side.

JW Hopkins (2022, 1B/3B, Bob Jones) Hopkins continues to show his big time power as he showed an event best 98 mph exit velocity off the tee. Slightly open stance with a fairly high leg kick approach allows him to create some torque in the lower half. There is definite tit in the swing plane and he showed a mostly pull side approach. The hands show some quickness and there is plus bat speed with nice extension through the finish. Actions at 1B are clean and he showed nice feet around the bag. Big corner infielder in the ‘22 class with a loud bat. 

Clay Slagle (2021, 3B/RHP, Macon East Academy) Nice clean delivery and arm action with a fastball up to 78 mph but showed late arm side action. The breaking ball was his best pitch on the day as it took nice shape and he showed consistency and confidence with the pitch at 66-67 mph, painting the outer half. The change up showed tumble and showed to be an effective pitch as he continues to get the “feel” for the pitch. Slagle did a nice job of working through ground balls at 3B and moved very well to both sides and also looked natural on the slow roller in front of him and threw from a different arm slot with ease. Nice rhythm in the swing from an even set up with the feet and a very short approach with the hands to contact. The barrel stayed through the hitting zone very well and he showed a mostly middle to pull side approach. 

Sean Smith (2021, 1B/RHP, Piedmont) Very loud bat that had an impressive round of BP. Showed lots of pre swing movement and rhythm and showed big pull side juice with generating backspin off the bat from a tilted swing plane. The feet are set even and there is major violence in the swing. He was 96 mph exit velocity off the tee. Showed a very strong arm across the diamond and moved very well around the bag at 1B and consistently picked some throws from across the diamond in the dirt. Big time bat with major juice in the ‘21 class.

John Rice (2020, 3B/2B, UMS Wright) Athletic uncommitted ‘20 prospect that showed solid footwork at 3B and is athletic enough to also play in the dirt in the middle of the field. Solid glove presentation and showed a quick transfer to the throw. At the plate, he showed a solid line drive approach and made it look easy. Showed nice separation in the swing which allowed him to get to a nice powered launch position in the swing. Fairly wide stance with the feet even and a toe tap timing mechanism. The hands showed some quick twitch and the barrel was in the zone for a long time. Versatile uncommitted ‘20 grad with some skills. 

Slade Brown (2020, C/3B, Lauderdale County) We have seen Brown showcase his skills behind the plate but this was the first time we have seen him at 3B. The physical ‘20 grad is very athletic at the hot corner and presents the glove well and has nice carry on throws to 1B. Very solid defender at both places. Stands tall at the plate with an open stance and shows a very simple approach to getting the barrel to the hitting zone as there is no wasted movement. Does a nice job incorporating his strong lower half and shows nice power off the bat middle to pull side. Generates carry off the barrel with some tilt in the swing creating backspin. Very nice athlete as well. 

Connor Wilson (2023, 1B/3B, Cherokee County) Young ‘23 power bat that took a very loud round of BP. Makes a definite move to get his weight over his backside before the swing happens. Very balanced stance with a leg kick approach allows him to create nice torque in the swing. Does a nice job using his lower half in the swing and has some tilt in the swing path with a mostly pull side approach. He was 88 mph off the tee. Solid fundamentals around the bag at 1B and presents the glove well out in front. No doubt the bat is the big skill here.  

McCollum Mansfield (2022, RHP/3B, Oak Mountain) High ¾ slot from the ‘22 grad that gets downhill well with all of his pitches. The fastball was 77-78 with some sink to the pitch. The breaking ball was 63- 66 mph and showed as a two plane pitch with late depth. The change up was very effective as the pitch showed nice deception and late tumble into RH hitters. Shows some pitchability on the mound. Even, crouched stance at the plate with a very short approach with the hands and the bat path is fairly flat throughout. Showed solid control of the barrel and the ability to hit to all fields. The actions at 3B are solid and he showed well moving through the throw to 1B. Quick transfer and a short arm action the throws.  

Austin Frye (2020, 3B/RHP, Chelsea) Athletic ‘20 player has solid skills all across the diamond. Tall stance at the plate with the feet slightly open on the set up. Shows a leg kick in the box that allows him to incorporate the lower half in the swing. There is some tilt in the swing path as he shows a middle of the field approach off the barrel. There is present strength in the hands and the barrel has some “whip” through the hitting zone. Very athletic on the infield with nice arm strength as the ball seems to carry out of the hand. Versatile enough to possibly play in the middle of the field as well. Shows the ability to throw from different arm slots. 

William Penley (2021, 1B/LHP, Decatur) Tall LHP that shows some pitchability and future potential. From a mid ¾ slot, the fastball showed typical arm side action out of the left hand and also showed some late sink in the mid 70’s. The breaking ball takes on 12/6 shape with late depth at 61-64 mph and the change up works very well off of the fastball and also shows late sink at 66-67 mph. One of the loudest rounds of BP on the day! Fairly wide stance with the lower half and the feet are event. Shows a toe tap approach to get the barrel to the hitting zone on time. He just smashed baseballs to the middle of the field with nice carry and backspin. Was almost exclusively in the middle of the field the entire round. There is tilt in the swing path as well. Natural at 1B and moves around very well. Obviously at 6’5 he gives a tall target. Seemed to just glide to ground balls and was light on his feet around the bag. The bat plays as he was 92 mph off the tee. 

Kevin Freshcorn (2022, 1B/RHP, Hoover) A nice looking ‘22 corner infielder that showed well at both corner positions. A physical looking ‘23 grad that is pretty athletic with the feet. Works through ground balls very well and stays through the throw across the diamond. The glove work was easy for him. Fairly wide lower half in the set up of the swing with nice rhythm in getting the hands to the launch position so that the barrel can follow. Does a nice job with the top hand s the barrel stays on contact through the hitting zone with slight tilt in the swing plane. The juice off the bat seems easy and relaxed. 

Preston Junkin (2021, LHP/1B, Brooks) Showed a low ¾ arm slot with big time arm side run on the fastball. Hides the ball well and the delivery creates some deception. The fastball was 75-76 mph but should miss a lot of barrels with the plus ASR on the pitch. The breaking ball showed “over the top” action with very late depth and the change really disappeared away from RH hitters. The “crafty” lefty shows some very nice present pitchability. Very short with the hands at the plate and a level swing plans consistently produced line drives to the middle of the field. The swing looks very simple with no wasted actions. Finishes through contact very well and stays on the baseball. Plays low to the ground at 1B and showed a quick transfer getting the ball out of the glove coming off the bag to start the 3-6-3 DP. Nice footwork around the bag.  

Chase Cartron (2024, 1B/LHP, Huntsville) The young (2024) LHP shows a very nice, easy delivery. The fastball has very nice arm side action at 69-70 mph and the breaking ball shows late depth at 59-60 mph s he shows the ability to bury this pitch down in the zone. The change up presently solid and shows late tumble to the arm side. The potential is there on the mound in this ‘24 grad and will be interesting to see him grow into his body in the future. Slightly open in the stance at the plate with a small leg kick approach. The hands work well and he keeps the barrel on plane to contact and does a nice job staying on the ball. The swing plane has slight tilt and there will be added juice off the barrel as he continues to physically mature. Like the actions with the glove at 1B and shows some “feel” with the actions around the bag. 

JD Chase (2022, 1B/3B, East Cobb Academy) Switch hitting 1B that looked a little more natural swinging from the right side. From the left side of the plate the feet were even and he used a toe tap approach to contact the ball and showed a mostly pull side approach. From the right side the feet were slightly open and he used a small leg to generate juice off the bat and was more middle of the field with this approach. Liked the glove actions at 1B and moved laterally very well. Was very natural moving to the backhand side and the glove worked well on the backhand ball.