Colorado Underclass Invitational: Middle Infield Analysis

March 1, 2019
John Cackowski
Director of Scouting

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The 5th Annual Underclass Invitational brought together a collection of some of the top talent in the 2021 & 2022 classes. Over 90 players participated in the event. With the spring season quickly approaching, the players were able to impress with the advancements made throughout the off-season.

Best of the Best: Middle Infielders

Dylan Carey SS / RHP / Regis Jesuit, CO / 2022

Uncommitted. 6-foot-1, 175 pounds. Bats and throws right. Carey has a tall, balanced stance, load is slow and straight back gaining good separation and extension.Swing is slightly uphill through the zone, but barreled everything gap to gap with good bat control having the ability to cover both sides of the plate. Generated an 89 mph exit velocity off a tee. Contact hitter with a feel to hit, and future power potential as he fills out. Projects as a future 3-hole hitter type of hitter. In the field showcase good lateral movement to both sides, soft hands, and quick feet. Arm was strong an accurate across the diamond at 82 mph. Ran a simulated dry swing home to first at 4.30

Dallas Macias SS / RHP / Regis Jesuit, CO / 2022

Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 160 pounds. Switch hitter. Macias has chance to really be an offensive force. Swing mirrors itself from the right and left side. Hands are high in the zone and he uses a quick stride to trigger the swing. Shows good weight transfer and drives the baseball. Strong, athletic build. Macias has good arm speed coming forward, as evident with his 85 mph fastball that touched 86, and their is not much effort to gain velocity. Still growing, Macias swings a little to balance point, but lands inline towards mound squared to the plate. Had good fastball command, and was down in the zone with all three pitches. Better command to the glove side part of the plate. Curveball still developing at 62-63 mph which is a lot of deviance from fastball. Had better feel with his change up at 70-73 mph. He will learn to command secondary pitches, and has a lot of room to grow. Can't ignore 86 mph fastball at his age. In the field fields the ball out front with soft quick hands. Good lateral movement to both sides. Strong arm across the diamond at 81 mph. Ran a simulated dry-swing home to first at 4.38. Very good athlete.

Gavin Schmeh SS / 2B / Brighton, CO / 2021

Rankings StateRank: 48 / POS: 7

Uncommitted. 5-foot-9, 150 pounds. Switch hitter, throws right. Swing from the right side is smooth and slightly open. During live round every swing produced solid contact from both sides of the plate. He doesn't get cheated. He uses a high leg kick to trigger the swing and lower half drives through the ball. Left side swing start open is a long stride to come square. Stays on the back side during the swing. Swing path is uphill and hits to the ball to all fields. Produced an exit velo of 87 mph from both sides of the plate. In the field pre-positions well, and had good range to both sides. Good hands and above average arm throwing 84 mph across the diamond with accuracy. Ran a simulated dry swing home to first at 4.38.

Ty Kennedy SS / C / Legend, CO / 2022

Uncommitted. 6-foot, 155 pounds. Bats and throws right. Lanky built with more power to come. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, short stride, solid balance. Consistent hard contact during live round, worked on a line to both gaps, in rhythm. Exit velo was 82 mph off a tee, and we have had at 84 in past events, but swing played faster then that in live round. Showed versatility today by going to short, and caught. At shortstop displayed quick feet and very good range to both sides. Arm was strong across the diamond at 82 mph. Behind the dish has good lateral mobility and is efficient in blocking balls. On throw downs shows the ability to stay in the catching position, then displays quick feet in throw-down that is accurate to 2B. Pop-times had a quick release off a coach were 1.94 to 2.04 with arm velo of 74 mph.

Kyle Barkley SS / 3B / Cherry Creek, CO / 2022

Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 170 pounds. Bats and throws right. Strong for his age and still growing into body. Starts with balanced, tall open stance. Slow load back, and soft stride. Quiet head. Swing path is level through zone, good extension through the baseball with high, bottom hand finish. Very good live round with hard line drives gap to gap. Ball jumps off bat. Does a good job hitting where ball is pitched. Produced a 84 mph exit velocity. In the field showed good range to both sides, especially glove hand side. Fields ball out front with good glove to hand exchange. Was 74 mph across the diamond.

Best of the Rest: Listed Alphabetically

Jovonnie Bautista SS / 3B / Regis Jesuit, CO / 2021

Uncommitted. 5-foot-6, 135 pounds. Bats and throws right. At the plate leans back in stance, load is short, long stride. Swings down to ball with high finish. Really aggressive at plate. Had a good live round. Produced a 81 mph exit velocity off the tee. At SS I liked his actions. Smooth in the field. Good range to both sides. Quick feet and quick release from 3/4 arm slot at 69 mph. Carries himself with confidence defensively. Ran a simulated dry swing 4.48 home to first time.

Taylor Dooley SS / RHP / Eaglecrest, CO / 2022

Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 135 pounds. Bats and throws right. Tall, balanced stance, short stride and load. Bat is level through hitting zone, and stays through ball on extension. Pull side tendencies. Produced a 68 mph exit velocity off a tee. In the field showed good range to both sides. Quick feet and soft hands. Comes from 3/4 arm slot across diamond at 70 mph. Ran a simulated dry swing home to first time of 4.68. On the mound has simple delivery. Wraps with long arm action from high 3/4 arm slot. Lines inline to plate with good extension. Strike thrower on all three pitches. Fastball lived 71-72 mph touching 74. Curve had gradual break with 11/5 shape. Change had late fade at 68-69 mph thrown for strikes.

Sam Hart SS / RHP / ThunderRidge HS, CO / 2021

Uncommitted. 6-foot, 150 pounds. Bats and throws right. Wiry frame with more to fill out. At plate has balanced stance, short load, leg kick drive. Line drive hitter up the middle. Bat path is down to ball and level through zone with bottom hand finish. Pull side tendencies. Produced a 77 mph exit velocity off a tee. Good actions at short, quick feet and release from 3/4 arm slot. Arm velo was 75 across the diamond. Ran a 4.30 simulated dry swing home to first time. On the mound has some projection as he fills out. Athletic delivery. Arm is short on back side, hidden and quick through the motion. Lands line towards plate with good leg drive. Fastball lived 75-77 but more to come. Curve had 11/5 shape with gradual break at 64-65. Change was 68-70 mph with late sink. Projectable.

Peyton Malecha SS / 2B / Legacy, CO / 2022

Uncommitted. 5-foot-6, 110 pounds. Bats and throws right. Has balanced stance, slow load back, back and forth stride. Swing is uphill through the hitting zone with extension through the ball. Produced a 61 mph exit velocity off the tee. Fly ball hitter with left center field power. At shortstop fields ball out in front, quick feet, and quick release from 3/4 arm slot. Arm velo was 60 mph across the diamond with accuracy. Ran a dry swing simulated 5.09 home to first time.

Nate McHugh SS / C / Regis Jesuit , CO / 2022

Uncommitted. 5-foot-7, 155 pounds. Bats and throws right. Wide, open, balanced stance at the plate. Load is straight back, with long swing through the hitting zone. Slightly uphill swing through the hitting zone, pull side tendencies. Produced a 77 mph exit velocity through the zone. At shortstop fields ball into body, and comes from long high 3/4 arm angle. Good lateral movement to both sides. Arm velo across the diamond was 72 mph. Ran a simulated dry swing 4.57 home to first time.

Noah Ruiz SS / RHP / Pine Creek, CO / 2022

Uncommitted. 5-foot-10, 180 pounds. Strong, athletic player. Advanced strength for age. Bats and throws right. At the plate has a tall, balanced stance. Keeps it simple. Loads back, short stride, keeps hands inside the ball, slightly uphill swing, and displays good bat speed through hitting zone. Good live round of hitting with gap to gap power. Produced a 85 mph exit velo off a tee. Ran a 4.57 simulated home to first time at 4.57. At SS moves well for size. Has soft hands and good feet. Good lateral movement to both sides. On the mound slightly stabs back, comes from a high 3/4 arm slot. Lands inline towards plate, then recoils back. Good leg drive. Fastball was thrown down in zone for strikes at living 74-75 mph touching 76. Curve had good spin with 12-6 shape. Change was good and drops out of zone thrown at 64-65 mph. Might project at 3rd. Player to follow.

Bryce Smith SS / RHP / Eaton, CO / 2022

Uncommitted. 5-foot-9, 145 pounds. Bats and throws right. At plate hands are high, minimal load with wide balanced stance. Line drive hitter, quick in and out swing through zone. Good live round. Produced a 72 mph exit velo off a tee. At short fields the ball into body, then comes from high 3/4 arm slot. Ok lateral movement. Arm velo was 61 mph across the diamond. Ran a simulated dry swing home to first time of 4.3. On the mound wraps back and comes from an over the top arm slot. Lands closed. There is more there in lower half to tap into. Fastball was 67-68 mph. Curve had gradual break thrown at 58-59 mph. Change thrown at same arm speed at 57-58 mph.

Thomas Schreffler SS / OF / Evergreen, CO / 2021

Uncommitted. 6-foot, 160 pounds. Bats and throws right. Tall, narrow stance. Toe tap stride, minimal load, and has smooth swing through hitting zone that is slightly uphill. Pulls off at times, but when he doesn't has good extension through the baseball. Ball jumped off bat at times during live round of hitting. Produced a 82 mph exit velocity off a tee. In the field solid fundamentally. Fields ball out front with good glove to hand exchange, comes from high 3/4 arm slot throwing 74 mph across the diamond. Good feet and range. Rand a simulated dry swing home to first time at 4.10. Intriguing player with a lot of upside.

Christian Thomas 2B / SS / Discovery Canyon , CO / 2021

Uncommitted. 5-foot-6, 135 pounds. Bats and throws right. At the plate has a simple quiet approach. Hands start low, balanced stance, soft stride. Lets his hands to the work. Level swing through zone with bottom hand finish, line drive hitter. Produced a 77 mph exit velo off a tee. On defense is smooth and confident. Quick lateral movement to both sides. Quick feet. Fields ball out in front, quick release from 3/4 arm slot at 70 mph across the diamond. Ran a 4.52 simulated dry swing home to first.

Jacob Weaver SS / 2B / Fruita Monument High School, CO / 2021

Uncommitted, 6-foot-0, 160-pound MIF who bats and throws right. Stands tall at the plate with a slow load to his backside. Long arms create whip through the zone with a slight uphill path to the ball. Strong lower leg drive creates an 80 MPH exit velocity with several hard ball s hit during the live round. Smooth actions in the field with good feet and balance. Showcased a quick glove to hand transfer and accuracy across the diamond. Arm played at 74 MPH. Projectable player and one to follow over the next few years.

Andrew Zamborelli 2B / SS / Lewis Palmer , CO / 2022

Uncommitted. 5-foot-5, 107 pounds. Bats and throws right. At the plate has tall, narrow stance. Load is back and up, short stride. Swing is down and up through hitting zone. Line drive hitter up the middle. Has good feet at the plate. Produced a 71 mph exit velo off the tee. At shortstop lets the ball get deep into body and threw at 61 mph across the diamond with accuracy. Projectable body as he is still growing. Ran a simulated dry swing home to first time at 4.41.