Top Prospect Games: Middle Infielder Analysis

On Tuesday, June 2nd, PBR Georgia hosted the second annual Top Prospect Games for uncommitted rising seniors. Approximately 50 prospects from all over the state of Georgia made their way to LakePoint Sports in Emerson, GA.

We continue out event analysis with a look at the middle infielders in attendance. SS/RHP Hudson Mimbs (First Presbyterian Day; Kennesaw State) used this event to start his summer off with a bang and make himself one of the most highly sought after uncommitted prospects in the state, eventually landing at Kennesaw State. Mimbs shows athleticism through his frame and plays the game with smooth actions and easy effort.

The top catcher in attendance also lands himself as one of the top middle infielder, C/SS Matthew Strand (North Gwinnett). Strand has a strong, athletic frame, with a developed lower half, he carries it extremely well, running a 6.81 60. Offensively, he drove the ball gap-to-gap with considerable force, posting a 97 exit velocity.

Three recent commits round out our top-5. SS/RHP Ryder Wagenknecht (Starrs Mill; Flagler) displayed some of the biggest tools at the event, going 92 across the infield and showing a powerful left-handed swing. SS Parker Ingram (First Presbyterian Day; North Georgia) is a high end athlete who showed feel for the barrel and aggression in his swing, posting a 96 exit velocity. Defensively he has quick, agile actions and arm strength, 86 across the diamond, to stick on the left-side. SS/RHP Benjamin Norton (Lassiter; Wabash Valley JC) showed a quick, gap-to-gap type swing and athletic, attacking approach on defense.

Top Middle Infield Prospects

Hudson Mimbs, SS/RHP, First Presbyterian Day, 2021
Kennesaw State commit. 6-foot, 165-pound right-handed shortstop and pitcher, lean, athletic frame, wiry strength, quick twitch, ran a 7.08 laser-timed 60. Offensively, slightly open setup, short hand load back, short stride, great balance through contact. Easy effort swing, worked middle/pull with a slightly uphill barrel path, quick, smooth hands, drives the ball, 92 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, quick, loose arm to a low ¾ slot, equipped with a big arm, throws carry at 89 across the diamond. Athletic fielder, agile to both sides, soft glove, fields out front with quick hands, funnels to midsection, quick and clean on transfers. On the mound, short, clean arm on the back-side, quick arm speed, ¾ slot. Athletic tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes with some recoil. Fastball sat 87-88, touched 89, some late life. Curveball, 71-72, 11/5 shape, depth, some bite. Changeup, 72, sinking action.

Matthew Strand, C/INF, North Gwinnett, 2021
6-foot, 200-pound right-handed hitting catcher and third baseman, athletically built with a strong lower half, displayed smooth actions in everything he did, ran a 6.81 laser-timed 60. High level defender behind the dish, short, quick arm, throws are true and accurate, 79 from the crouch. Quick and clean on transfers and footwork, works on line out of the chute, event best 1.91-1.95 pop times. On the infield, arm works short and loose with quick arm speed, 82 across the infield. Fluid footwork and soft glove, good body control. Defensively is capable to handle either catcher or third base. Offensively, wide setup with weight displaced on back-side, short stride, hands load back smoothly, good balance through finish. Gap-to-gap type hitter, drives the ball with force, mostly level barrel path, 97 exit velocity off a tee

Ryder Wagenknecht, SS/RHP, Starrs Mill, 2021
Flagler commit. 5-foot-11, 178-pound left-handed hitting middle infielder and right-handed pitcher, athletically built, lean strength throughout, ran a 7.05 laser-timed 60. Offensively, narrow, open setup, long stride to a balanced position short hand load back, one handed finish with momentum carrying him towards first base side of the diamond. Takes a middle/pull side approach, looks to elevate the ball and do damage, quick hands, can drive the ball with some ease, 88 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short, quick arm action, ¾ slot, throws carry, 92 across the infield. Fields position athletically, fluid footwork, fields out front, clean on transfers, has the arm and athleticism to stick on the left-side of the infield. On the mound, full arm swing on the back-side, clean ation to a ¾ slot. Drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes upright. Fastball sat 85-86, touched 87, running action. Curveball, 70-71, 12/6 shape, depth, some bite.

Parker Ingram, SS, First Presbyterian Day, 2021
North Georgia commit. 6-foot-1, 175-pound right-handed hitting shortstop, athletically built, high-waisted, some quick twitch, ran a 6.81 laser-timed 60. At the plate, balanced setup, loads weight on to back-side, short stride, great balance through contact. Gap-to-gap type hitter, barrels works somewhat uphill through the zone, quick hands, aggression in swing, drives the ball, 96 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, quick, clean arm, some length on the back-side to a high ¾ slot, 86 across the diamond. Smooth, fluid action, plays through the ball with athleticism, quick, clean hands, soft glove work, clean on transfers.

Benjamin Norton, SS/RHP, Lassiter, 2021
Wabash Valley JC commit. 5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting two-way prospect, lean athlete, wiry strength, ran a 7.35 laser-timed 60. Offensively, open setup, hands load back, hanging leg kick to a balanced position, finishes on back side. Gap-to-gap type hitter, drives the ball with a mostly level barrel path, quick bat speed, aggression in swing, 84 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short, loose arm, ¾ slot, 87 across the diamond. Attacks the ball with an athletic approach, fields out front, quick on transfers, good range to both sides with quick footwork. On the mound, offers a different look with a low ¾ to side arm slot, quick, loose arm. Drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands toe-closed, finishes crossing over. Fastball sat 81-84, touched 85, lively running action. Curveball, 68-70, sweeping action, Changeup, 70-71, fade action.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Justin Brown, MIF, Newton, 2021
5-foot-9, 165-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder, athletically built with lean muscle throughout, ran a 7.55 laser-timed 60. At the plate, balanced setup, hands load back with a barrel wrap, reverse toe-tap stride, high, balanced finish. Gap-to-gap approach, smooth swing, some whip in barrel, works uphill through the zone, quick hands, 81 exit velocity, would benefit from added strength, increasing ability to drive the ball. Defensively, long arm action to a ¾ slot, some quickness, 75 across the diamond. Fields position athletically with quick feet and quick hands, clean on transfers, attacks ground balls, good body control.

Nicholas Duke, RHP/SS, South Effingham, 2021
6-foot-3, 155-pound right-handed two-way prospect, lean, lanky build, ran a 7.08 laser-timed 60. Offensively, wide base, slight open setup, reverse toe-tap stride, hands load back into an arm bar, good balance through finish. Takes a middle approach, generates line drive contact with a mostly level barrel path, 83 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, long arm action to a ¾ slot, some looseness, 80 across the infield. Fields position well with long, rangy strides, fields out front, pronounced funnel to midsection, clean on transfers. On the mound, short arm action to a ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes crossing over. Fastball sat 80-83, touched 84, run action. Curveball, 11/5 shape, 70-72.

Gerard Hudson, MIF, St. Pius X, 2021
5-foot-8, 155-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder, ran a 7.92 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced setup, hands load back, short stride, good balance through finish. Line drive type hitter, level barrel path through the zone, worked the middle of the field, 75 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short arm action to a low ¾ slot, 72 across the infield. Fields ball out front, clean footwork and transfers, gets rid of the ball quickly.

Isaak Mullanack, SS/RHP, Union County, 2021
6-foot-1, 165-pound right-handed hitting shortstop and right-handed pitcher, lean, athletic frame, ran a 7.30 laser-timed 60. Offensively, open setup, smooth rhythm in hands, reverse toe-tap stride, finishes on back-side. Quick, level barrel path through the zone, generates hard line drive contact to all fields, 89 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, fields deep, sits in his lower half, competent hands, fluid footwork, ranges well to both sides, clean back hand, good body control. On the mound, arm works long and quick to a high ¾ slot. Methodical delivery, drop and drive, works on-line, lands square, finishes square to the plate. Fastball sat 82-83, touched 84, heavy armside run action. Curveball, slurve-like, 64-66. .

Luke Reed, MIF, Coahulla Creek, 2021
5-foot-11, 178-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder, proportional build with developing strength throughout, ran a 7.97 laser-timed 60. At the plate, simple setup, balanced, short hand load coupled with a short stride, finishes on front leg. Line drive type hitter, barrel works level through the zone, uses the entire field, 86 exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short arm action to a high ¾ slot, 79 across the infield. Fields position deep, keeps hands separated from body on transfers, clean transfer, fluid footwork, competent back hand.

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