By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Iowa

Prep Baseball Report's Future Prospects Showcase event took place on Wednesday, December 28, 2016. The event was held at Fielder's Choice in Milan, IL. The event featured prospects from the 2021, 2022 & 2023 classes from Iowa and Illinois who showcased their talents in front of our scouting staff.

CLICK HERE to view Complete Statistics in PDF Format.

The Future Prospect Showcase has a dual function. For most participants, this will be their first showcase event - an initial step toward achieving a player’s baseball goals. Part of this event is educational: there will be a lecture about what scouts look for, how to comport themselves, what to expect in the recruiting process, and the overall landscape of playing at the next level. The second function of the event is to identify young talent.

Today we roll out the scouting evaluations from the event.

Evaluations (listed alphabetically)

Nathan Beneke, C/OF/RHP, Geneseo, 2021
6-foot, 140-pound right-handed hitting utility player. At the plate hits from a tall setup with a long toe tap stride. Line drive hitter with loose hands and good balance. 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.5 runner down the line. Defensively behind the plate has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Popped 2.44-2.57 and threw 66 mph from the crouch. Showed flexibility in the lower half receiving. In the outfield arm action lengthens out, threw 70 mph. On the mound works from an over the top arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall, slow paced delivery working in line with home plate. Square landing with some rhythm. Fastball was straight at 65-68 mph for strikes. Hooks his curveball which has 11-5 shape at 52-54 mph. Changeup has slight running action at 55-57 mph for strikes.

Ryan Brucker, OF/2B/RHP, Princeton, 2023
4-foot-11, 88-pound left-handed hitting utility player. Defensively in the outfield has a long arm action from an over the top slot. Plays thru the ball with average hands. Threw 63 mph from the outfield. In the infield has solid defensive tools. Threw 61 mph across the infield. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short heel lift stride. Line drive, opposite field hitter. 64 mph exit velocity from a tee. 5.14 runner down the line. On the mound works from an over the top arm slot with a long arm action. Works exclusively out of the stretch, tall and fall online delivery with good balance throughout. Fastball sat 53-54 topping out at 56 mph for strikes. Changeup sat 53-56 mph. Will continue to improve with maturity.

Kannon Coakley, 3B/C, Maquoketa, 2021
5-foot-11, 170-pound right-handed hitting infielder. 4.64 home-to-first time. Tall open stance, good strength for age, leg kick trigger to hit, narrow base at contact, slight uphill bat path with solid bat speed, 83 mph exit velocity. Fields well with solid range to both sides, glove is usable, long clean arm action from OT slot, 74 mph arm strength across diamond. Mobile behind plate with flexibility, sticks pitches well in zone, solid blocking mechanics, quick feet with direction on throws, clean exchange, some length to release, accurate to bag, 72 mph arm strength from behind plate with 2.13-2.25 pop times.

Zach DeMarlie, SS/OF/RHP, Rock Island, 2022
5-foot-2, 95-pound left-handed hitting utility player. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a long leg lift stride. Opposite field hitter with a slightly uphill swing path. 75 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively in the outfield has a long arm action from a ¾ arm slot. Athletic actions, plays thru the ball with a full crow hop. Threw 70 mph from the outfield. In the infield has quick footwork with a long arm action. Threw 69 mph across the infield. On the mound Works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall delivery with easy effort. Works in line with home plate with smooth rhythm. Repeats well with good balance. Fastball showed slight running action at 62-63 topping out at 64 mph down in the zone for strikes. Changeup worked down in the zone at 61-64 mph. Will continue to improve with maturity.

Lou Gaddy, C/RHP/3B, Marian Central Catholic, 2021
5-foot-7, 157-pound right-handed hitting utility player. At the plate hits form a wide base with an open setup. Pull hitter with a line drive approach. 72 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.69 runner down the line. Defensively behind the plate has a short arm action from low ¾ slot. Popped 2.44-2.69 and threw 65 mph from the crouch. Showed soft hands receiving. In the infield has a short arm action, threw 61mph across the diamond. On the mound works from a low ¾ arm angle, occasionally drops to side arm with a long arm action. Works exclusively from the stretch with a tall and fall delivery. Works in line with home plate with some rhythm. Fastball sat 64-65 mph for strikes. Curveball has cutter action at 52-54 mph. Changeup sat 57-60 mph.

Carter Markham, 2B, North Scott, 2021
5-foot-9, 125-pound right-handed hitting infielder. 4.32 home-to-first time. Tall closed stance, leg kick load and stride, shows bat speed, loose hands with easy power to gaps, consistent hard contact, 75 mph exit velocity. Raw athlete on defense, shows quick feet laterally, stiffer glove presently, tends to throw flat-footed, long arm action with solid strength, avg. accuracy to target, 70 mph arm strength.

Jackson Marx, C/2B, Rock Island Alleman, 2021
5-foot-7, 126-pound right-handed hitting catcher/Second baseman. Defensively behind the plate has a long arm action from an over the top slot. Accurate throws with some carry. Popped 2.68-2.87 and threw 71 mph from the crouch. Blocks and receives well. In the infield threw 64 mph across the diamond. At the plate hits from a wide base with a long stride. 75 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.69 runner down the line.

Benjamin Hess, RHP/1B, Charleston, 2021
5-foot-9, 165-pound right-handed hitting RHP/1B. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short, quick arm action. Tall and fall delivery with regular effort. Smooth rhythm working in line with home plate. Fastball sat 71-72 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape with some depth at 57-58 mph for strikes. Changeup sat 62-63 mph. At the plate hits from a balanced, open setup with a long leg kicks stride and arm bar load. Uphill path with good balance and a fast bat. 78 mph exit velocity from a tee. 5.01 runner down the line. Defensively has a long arm action from an over the top slot. Fluid footwork with a clean exchange. Throws showed carry across the infield at 73 mph.

Jacob Lansaw, OF, Greenfield, 2021
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitting outfielder with a strong frame. At the plate hits from a wide, crouched base with a short heel lift stride. Short, uphill swing path with advanced bat. 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.15 runner down the line. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Accurate throws with carry throwing 73 mph from the outfield. Plays thru the ball with average hands.

Alex Milone, SS, Prairie Ridge, 2021
5-foot-5, 132-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. Defensively has a short arm action from a ¾ slot. Has advanced fielding actions with quick, fluid footwork and a clean exchange. Plays on the run well. Threw 75 mph across the infield. At the plate hits from a balanced, crouched setup with a smooth load to backside and a linear lower half. Line drive hitter with a level swing path. 77 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.1 runner down the line.

Brooks Reiter, 2B, Pleasant Valley, 2021
5-foot-5, 116-pound right-handed hitting infielder. 4.8 home-to-first time. Tall stance with good balance, drops hands to swing, minimal use of lower half, line drive contact, uses middle of field, 72 mph exit velocity. Active feet, works around and through baseball, soft glove, accurate throws, repeatable short arm action, 68 mph arm strength.

Kaleb Westmorland, C, Rock island Alleman, 2022
5-foot-2, 115-pound right-handed hitting catcher. At the plate hits from a tall, balanced setup. Leg lick stride with a collapse on the backside and an uphill swing path. 60 mph exit velocity from a tee. 5.38 runner down the line. Defensively has a Long arm action form an over the top slot. Popped 2.94-3.01 and threw 53 mph from the crouch.

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