IA Preseason All-State: First Base Evaluations

April 14, 2016

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Iowa

Prep Baseball Report's IA Preseason All-State event took place on Sunday, March 13, 2016. The event was held at the SportsPlex West Facility in Waukee, IA. The event featured prospects from the 2017 and 2018 classes from Iowa, Minnesota and Nebraska who showcased their talents in front of our scouting staff. Thank you to the players, parents, my staff and SportsPlex West and the Iowa Sticks for such a great event.

There were a number of great individual performances this year at the IA Preseason All-State. Also of note is the fact that official high school practices don't start in Minnesota for another week; and Iowa players aren't near their peak performance with their season beginning in May. Look for many of these player's numbers to continue to improve as they get closer to actually playing.

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Below we have highlighted the top prospects at their respective positions with evaluations.

top 1b Prospects

1. Trent McMullen, 1B/RHP, Omaha Montessori (NE), 2017
6-foot-2, 215-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.5 runner. Physical build with strength. Has rhythm in swing. Uses lower half. Good separation after contact. Consistent solid contact with above avg. pop in bat. Uses field to hit. 92 mph exit velocity. Above avg. actions and athleticism for first base. Works down to up with good footwork. Solid glove. Loose arm action with 82 mph throws across infield. Strong follow in Nebraska 2017 class.

2. Jared Thompson, LHP/1B, Vinton-Shellsburg, 2017
6-foot-4, 180-pound left-handed hitting pitcher/first baseman. 7.21 runner. Athletic projectable frame for junior in high school. Quiet actions in box. Some length to swing with solid pop in bat. Mid/pull approach. Bat exits zone early after contact. Has projectable hitting tools with clean path to contact. 88 mph exit velocity. Above avg. athleticism for position. Sure hands with long release and clean arm action. 83 mph arm strength.

3. Jake Gilbert, 1B, Ankeny Centennial, 2017
6-foot-4, 210-pound right-handed hitting first baseman. 7.4 runner. Big physical player. Has above avg. power. Tends to lean over plate at contact. Fights back elbow initiating swing. When everything is in sync; shows ability to drive baseball well. 87 mph exit velocity. Above avg. actions at first base. Shows good hands and solid footwork. Low ¾ arm slot with looseness. 80 mph arm strength at first base.

4. Devin Porter, 1B, Saydel, 2017
6-foot, 245-pound left-handed hitting first baseman. 7.07 runner. Big physical build and runs very well for size. Looks raw on video but has above avg. hitting ability. Consistently finds barrel with consistent hard contact from mid/pull approach. Short finish- will benefit from greater extension through contact. 84 mph exit velocity off tee. Quick feet and active around first base. Above avg. fielder with quick release. Arm action needs improvement. 71 mph arm strength.

5. Tony Comellas, RHP/1B, Iowa City West, 2018
6-foot-2, 185-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 8.13 runner. Athletic set-up in box with good use of lower half in swing. Good extension through baseball at contact. Follow bat in 2018 class. 85 mph exit velocity. Good hands and solid feet in field. Shows athleticism at position. Hands are sure with solid range. Long arm action with 77 mph arm strength.

1b follow Prospects

Luke DeGrammont, LHP/1B, Lakeville North (MN), 2017
5-foot-10, 180-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.41 runner. Open stance and strides to square. Shoulder load creates some length in swing. Flat clean swing plane. Middle/pull approach and uses hands well to go to opposite field. 85 mph exit velocity. Light on his feet with good footwork and soft glove. Above avg. defender at position. Long release with accuracy at 74 mph.

Ross Hingst, LHP/1B, Waukee, 2017
5-foot-10, 185-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.56 runner. Deep load creating length to contact. Aggressive swinger with mid/pull approach. Hit several hard line drives middle/away with above avg. pop in bat. 89 mph exit velocity. Plays first base with good energy and quickness. Above avg. hands for position with good footwork. Good accuracy across diamond with 74 mph arm strength.

Cole Peterson, 1B, WDM Valley, 2017
5-foot-11, 180-pound right-handed hitting first baseman. 7.18 runner at this event. Body load with whippy bat speed. Short to contact and generates good pop. Tends to stand up in swing changing eye levels. Mid/pull approach with consistent hard contact. 81 mph exit velocity. Active feet in field and shows athleticism at position. Hands are sure and shows fielding ability. Accurate throws to target with 71 mph arm strength.

Mitchell Wiese, 1B, Marion, 2017
6-foot-7, 215-pound right-handed hitting first baseman. 7.56 runner. Some length to swing with above avg. pop. Loose hands in swing. Solid extension through contact. Stiff lower half with straight legs. 88 mph exit velocity. Moves well and has good coordination for size. Sure hands. Tends to field deep at times. Solid accuracy on throws with short arm action at 73 mph arm strength.

Jarred Wood, RHP/1B, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 2017
6-foot-3, 187-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.66 runner. Deeper load with good pop in bat. Uses lower half in swing. Stays down and through with lift in swing plane. Front hip opens early occasionally losing outer half of plate. 86 mph exit velocity. Glove is sure. Tends to field on heels and deep. Good footwork around bag. Well above avg. arm strength for position at 86 mph.

1b Prospects

Jared Beck, LHP/1B, Davenport North, 2018
6-foot-9, 180-pound left-handed pitcher/first baseman. 7.35 runner. Slight crouch with simple stride. Tends to stand up in swing. Arm bar in load causes length in swing. Solid contact with pull approach. 82 mph exit velocity. Shows good hands with quick release in field. Shows fielding ability with avg. range and solid footwork around bag. Good body coordination for size/age. 72 mph arm strength across infield.

Cooper Beving, LHP/1B, Norwalk, 2018
6-foot, 185-pound left-handed pitcher/first baseman. 7.84 runner. Open stance and strides to square. Stiff lower half in swing. Spray contact with occasional flashes of pop in bat from mid/pull approach. 80 mph exit velocity. Soft hands with good glove. Quick release to target with solid athleticism for position. 71 mph arm strength across infield.

Beau Bosley, 1B, Sioux City East, 2017
6-foot-1, 215-pound switch-hitting first baseman. 8.12 runner at this event. Pull approach from left-side. Flat slashy swing plane. Tends to hook balls at contact. More aggressive from right-side. Off time at this event causing sporadic ground ball contact. 86 mph exit velocity. Avg. defender at first base. Sure hands with heavier feet and avg. range for position. 66 mph arm strength across.

Bryce Dean, 1B, Madrid, 2018
5-foot-10, 175-pound right-handed hitting first baseman. 7.93 runner. Narrow stance. Tends to drop hands in swing. Short uphill plane with minimal extension. 73 mph exit velocity. Solid athlete with soft hands for position. Needs to continue to work on footwork. Quick release with varying accuracy at 66 mph arm strength.

Blake Rowedder, 1B/LHP, Harlan, 2018
5-foot-10, 150-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. 8.25 runner. Leg kick trigger. Mid/pull approach. Strides across body in swing cutting off lower half. 79 mph exit velocity. Sure hands in field. Tends to field deep into body. Needs to improve footwork around bag. Long arm action with 66 mph arm strength.

Colton Shipman, RHP/1B, Forest City, 2017
6-foot-2, 210-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 8.47 runner. Strong build. Raw offensively but has chance to improve. Spray contact with occasionally hard pull pop in bat. Loses body posture at contact. 82 mph exit velocity. Avg. feet with sure hands on ground balls. Fields routine and is solid as a first baseman. Accurate throws to target with 72 mph arm strength.

Andrew Zimmerman, RHP/1B, Johnston, 2017
5-foot-11, 170-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.56 runner. Leg lift trigger effects timing occasionally. Front shoulder tilt creates uphill plane with lift through contact with gap to gap approach. Flashes strength in bat with solid pop. 82 mph exit velocity off tee. Active feet with solid athleticism for position. Shows good glove; tends to field deep at times. Shows ability to make tougher plays at first base. Good footwork around bag. 82 mph arm strength with accuracy to target.

IA Preseason All-State: First Base Evaluations

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