By John Cackowski
State Director

Follow @pbr_co

Interested in attending a PBR Colorado event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

The Prep Baseball Report’s Top Prospect Games took place on August 6th and 7th at the historical Cherry Creek High School Baseball Field.  70 prospects showed up and strutted their stuff in a pro-style workout. Over the next several days the PBR Scouting staff will roll out position-by-position rankings of the event, culminating with the Top Ten Overall Prospects from the showcase. We first started with the catchers, corners, and outfielders. Today we cover the middle infielders.

We posted the Statistical Breakdown from the Top Prospect Games, which you can view HERE.

Middle infield Analysis: Best of the Best

Nick Merone, SS/3B, Rock Canyon High School (2018)
5-foot-11, 175-pounds. Bats and throws right.  At the plate he hits from an open slightly crouched stance with a slight leg kick. Good lower half rotation and rhythm. Hands and body rock back then jumps out at ball a tad, produced a 87 MPH exit velocity off the tee. However shows plus power in games. Drove a ball deep over left field scoreboard. Bat stays in hitting zone a long time.  In the field shows good actions.  He has smooth glove glove to hand transaction and gets rid of the ball quickly.  He showcased an 82 MPH arm with accuracy. Ran a 7.3 laser timed 60, and we had him at a 4.13 home to first in game.

Blake Mackintosh, SS/RHP, Cherokee Trail High School (2018)
5-foot-11, 155-pounds. Bats and throws right.  At the plate he hits from a wide stance with a slight short leg kick on the pitch.  Wrists are quick through the zone. Starts hands a  little load then gets to proper hitting position and had a nice level swing through the zone with good lower half rotation. Produced an 83 mph exit velo off the tee.  In the field is aggressive and shows good glove to hand transfer, and gains good ground towards first.  He featured an 85 MPH arm but we have had at 87 mph before.  On the mound is tall and balanced and lines inline to the plate. Hides the ball well and comes from a short high 3/4 arm slot. He showcased an 84 MPH fastball along with a 69 MPH curve with sharp 11/5 break and a 75 MPH change with good downward movement. Ran a 7.5 laser timed 60.

Zach Paschke, 2B/SS, Mountain Vista High School (2018)
5-foot-8, 145 pounds. Bats and throws right. At the plate stands tall. Nice and loose with good rhythm at the plate. Dives a little towards ball but but has very good hands through the zone with good extension and finish. Lower half has good rotation. Produced a 80 mph exit velocity off the tee. Impressed with how he plays the game. On a triple he hit ran a 11.2 home to third, and was a 4.2 home to first. Also ran the 3rd fastest laser timed 60 at 6.8 seconds. At short has good actions and range. Good glove to hand transfer, gains ground on throws from a 3/4 arm slot. Threw 77 across the diamond.

Best of the Rest Listed Alphabetically

 Cullen Glosson, 2B/RHP, Otis High School (2019)
5-foot-11, 145 pounds. Bats left throws right. At the plate stands tall and balanced at first, hands load slightly back, short stride, then weight shifts back and down in swing. Lower half rotates good. Has pull side tendencies, and is bottom hand dominant. Attacks the ball. Produced a 75 mph exit velo off the tee. In the infield does a good job of getting in front of baseball and fielding out in front. Throws from a 3/4 arm slot with accuracy at 69 mph. On the mound is square and in line to plate. Wraps back and comes from same arm slot producing a 76 mph fastball. Strike thrower. Sweeping curve registered at 60 mph with 10/4 break. Ran a 7.6 laser timed 60.

Tyler Hamill, SS/C, Loveland High School (2019)
5-foot-10, 142 pounds. Bats and throws right. At the plate has a wide base and short stride. Hands load slightly back. Swing is uphill. At times finishes with good two hand extension, other times gives up and finishes with bottom hand. Has pull tendencies. Made solid contact in hitting round. Registered a 78 mph exit velo off the tee. In the field is in a good ready position and has good glove to hand transfer. Accurate across diamond at 77 mph from high 3/4 arm slot. Behind the plate receives with soft hands. Throwing motion a little long but an easy fix. Registered a 2.2 pop-time. Ran a 8.1 laser timed 60.

Victor Lara, MIF, Columbine 2018
5-foot-6, 159-pound switch-hitting middle infielder. The switch hitting Lara is a hitting machine. At the plate he went 5 for 5 on the weekend. Lara's bat stays in the hitting zone a long time. Sprays the ball both directions but showed power as well with double in gap. Had a 83 mph exit velo off the tee from right side, and 77 mph from left side. Has solid fundamentals at 2B putting himself in good throwing position, a short arm action from a ¾ slot. Threw 77 mph across the diamond. Ran a 8 flat laser timed 60. If he could gain some speed will be an interesting prospect going forward.

Austin Howell, SS/2B, Valor Christian High School (2019)
5-foot-9, 150 pounds. Bats and throws right. At the plate has a slight crouch and is slightly open. Hands load down then up, uses a leg kick, and generates an uphill bat whip through the hitting zone with good extension. Has pull tendencies. Wants to lift. Has soft hands at short, and is aggressive attacking ball. Throws from a short high 3/4 arm slot at 80 mph with accuracy. Has swag and confidence at the position. Ran a 7.8 laser timed 60. Has some tools.

Jon Martinez, 2B/C, Poudre High School, (2019)
5-foot-9, 135 pounds. Bats and throws right. At the plate slightly crouches with a wide balanced stance. Hands load straight back with an uphill swing through the zone. No stride, slight toe tap. Good extension and lower half rotation. Produced a 78 mph exit velocity off the tee. In the field has quick actions to the ball and good glove to hand transfer. Throws from a 3/4 arm slot with accuracy at 75 mph. Ran a 7.4 laser timed 60

Zack Medina, SS/RHP, Highlands Ranch High School (2019)
5-foot-9, 180-pounds. Bats and throws right.  At the plate has a tall, narrow stance, slightly open. Strides out towards ball. Can bar-out at times and  has an uphill swing path with good extension at contact with pull tendencies.  He had an 85 MPH exit velocity off the tee.  In the field has good actions. From shortstop threw from a high ¾ arm slot at 81 mph. Might project as a 3B.  On the mound he is square and effortless to the plate.  Lands in-line with the plate.  He finishes in good square position.  He throws from a high ¾ arm slot and featured a 78 MPH fastball with good command in and out.  He added a 69 MPH curve with sweeping 11/5 break and a 67 MPH change. On fastball sometimes stops arm in front of body, so if he comes through more could add more velo. Ran a 7.9 laser timed 60.

Tyler Meguire, 2B, Highlands Ranch High School (2018)
5-foot-6, 140 pounds. Bats and throws right. At the plate has a tall balanced stance. Swing is short and simple to the ball. Loads hands back, level through the zone. Line drive up the middle hitter. Lower half gets good rotation. Maybe could get a little more rotation on back side. Hits on a firm front side. Produced a 79 mph exit velocity off the tee. Solid actions and fundamentals at short. Good range both directions. Threw 70 mph with accuracy to first. Ran a 7.8 laser timed 60.

Blake Mosenteen, SS/OF, Holyoke High School (2020)
5-foot-11, 155 pounds. Bats and throws right. Starts in a crouch then loads hands and weight back. Very short stride. Slightly uphill swing. Up the middle line drive hitter. Can get a little too mechanical sometimes. Just needs to loosen up a bit. Produced a 74 mph exit velo off the tee. In the field attacks the ball and gets his feet underneath him when he throws. Comes from a high 3/4 arm slot. Threw 71 mph across the diamond. Ran a 7.3 laser timed 60.

Tyler Shelley, SS/RHP/OF, Ponderosa High School (2019)
5-foot-6, 140 pounds. Bats left throws right. Shelley is a do-it-all baseball player. At the plate hits from a crouch, toe-tap stride, hands load back with uphill swing. Gets full rotation in lower half. Off the tee produced a 79 mph exit velocity. Shelley has plus arm strength with body size in the outfield had top arm velo of 89 mph, and in the infield was 85 across the diamond from a high 3/4 arm slot. Looks fundamentally solid from both positions. On the mound throws from same arm slot, was inline towards plate, comes through then recoils back after pitch. Fastball lived at 80-82 touching 83 mph. Has high hips so you can see he's going to grow a lot more. Curveball had tight spin with 11/5 shape living at 66-67 mph. Ran a 7.3 laser timed 60. When he grows into body could easily project into upper 80's arm..possibly 90.

Amari Smith, SS/OF, Grandview, 2019
5-foot-7, 135 pounds. Bats and throws right. Saw Smith a year ago and he improved on every single physical measurement. At the plate starts with a slightly open athletic stance and closes down. With slight leg kick gets good lower half rotation. Swing is uphill, and has a tendency to want to lift the ball. Has good wrists through the zone. Exit velo up from 75 to 80. Defensively had a very good weekend making some tough plays at short. Plays defense with a lot of confidence. Throws from a 3/4 arm slot and accurate at 71 mph up from 64 last year. Ran a 7.3 laser timed 60 up from 7.6 a year ago. Has a lot of tools.

Drew Stahl, 2B/SS, Mountain Vista High School, (2019)
5-foot-9, 145 pounds. Bats and throws right. At the plate stands tall, slightly opened minimal load, and uses high leg kick. Good extension through the zone. Has good bat speed with slight uphill swing. Gap to gap power and produced a 81 mph exit velo off the tee. Sometimes gets off balanced after swing. Impressed in the field all weekend. Listed as a 2B, but got some time at 3rd and made a few impressive back hand stops down the line. Has soft hands. Throws from a high 3/4 arm slot at 79 mph. Good fundamentals. Ran a 7.7 laser timed 60.