By Steve Nielsen
Illinois Scouting Director

The Class of 2014 Prospect Showcase on Oct. 21 at The Max featured a lot of talent across the board. Today, we examine the infielders. There were plenty of athletic infielders, some of whom have potential to be legitimate two-way guys.

A look at all the infielders at the Class of 2014 Showcase

1. Luke Morgan, Lincoln-Way West HS, RHP/3B, Class of 2014
Morgan was one of the biggest revelations at the Class of 2014 Showcase, as the 6-foot-1, 165-pounder proved to be a legitimate two-way prospect. On the mound, the right-hander comes from a high-3/4 angle, using a short and quick arm action. He’s clean, loose, balanced and repeats. Morgan’s fastball topped at 87 mph, sitting around 85, and demonstrated sink down in the zone. He also commanded a sharp 73-77 mph curveball with late 11/5 action. His changeup, too, was a solid pitch, as he pounded the zone with excellent arm action, in the 75-77 mph range. All three pitches Morgan locates with confidence. Positionally, Morgan continued to impress at third base. He moves well laterally, and showed soft hands and solid arm strength (79 mph) across the infield. Offensively, he has a simple, balanced approach. He demonstrated quick, quiet hands to the baseball as he barreled balls to both power alleys. Morgan showed a repeatable swing with excellent balance throughout. He also ran a 7.09 60. Overall, Morgan showed himself to be a higher-end prospect in the Class of 2014.

2. Brad Wood, St. Laurence HS, SS/RHP, Class of 2014
Wood showcased a well-rounded game. Wood showed solid actions in the field, exhibiting fluid body control and the ability to release the baseball freely while on the move. A strongly built 5-foot-8, 160-pound athlete, Wood used a balanced setup with a slight leg kick to get into his hitting position. He showed a short bat path producing line drives and showing good balance throughout. On the mound, Wood operates from a ¾ arm slot with a quick loose arm that works well. He showed solid athleticism in his delivery with direction to the plate. Wood’s fastball showed control down in the zone with late sinking action at 82-85 mph. He throws his curveball hard at 72-75 mph on an 11/5 plane thrown with solid arm speed. His changeup showed feel at 73-74 mph that was thrown for strikes with arm side run.

3. Mario Tursi, Glenbrook South HS, SS, Class of 2014
Tursi has established himself as one of the top middle infield prospects in the Class of 2014. He’s an athletically built 6-foot-1, 160 pounder who has natural middle infield actions. He features soft, reliable hands and fields the ball with rhythm and purpose. He plays through the ball well and showed plenty of arm across the infield (82 mph). Offensively, he has a short and quick approach to the baseball who could acquire more power in the future. He did not run the 60.

4. Alex Troop, Marmion HS, 1B/LHP, Class of 2014
Troop is a very projectable athlete at 6-foot-4, 178-pounds - he has the frame to add significant growth. Troop is a talented athlete that could project as a legitimate two-way player. On the mound, Troop worked out of a balanced delivery throwing from a high ¾ arm slot, with long loose action. His fastball registered at 80-83 mph featuring some run with a solid feel for the pitch. His changeup also showed above average feel thrown with deceptive arm action producing hard arm side run in the zone at 72-75 mph. Defensively, Troop showed solid footwork around the bag coupled with soft hands. At the plate, he hits from a tall open stance, showing bat speed while working gap to gap.

5. Reed Rogers, Normal West HS, 1B/RHP, Class of 2014
Rogers is a physical 6-foot-4, 225-pound two-way player who showed a well-rounded game. Offensively, Rogers showed power to his pull side, displaying an aggressive swing. He showed excellent bat speed and hit with a short stride which should project well the further he progresses. On the mound, Rogers threw from an over the top slot delivering strikes with his fastball at 77-80 mph. His curveball showed sharp action with some 12/6 tendencies while also commanding the strike zone. Rogers also threw a change up at 72-76 mph that showed control.

6. Tommy Bordignon, Loyola HS, INF/RHP, Class of 2014
Bordignon is a lanky 5-foot-11, 155-pound two-way player. Bordignon showed a well-rounded game. Defensively, he displayed athletic infield actions using soft hands and fluid footwork. His arm played well at 81 mph across the infield using a loose arm action out of a high ¾ arm slot showing carry and accuracy to his target. Offensively, Bordignon’s approach is quiet; his head stays still throughout his swing resulting in consistent contact. His stance is slightly open and produces strong bat speed on a level path, showing the ability to work to both gaps. On the mound, Bordignon showed hard run and sink when down in the zone on an 83-85 mph fastball. His ¾ arm slot produced a sweeping curveball throw for strikes at 68-70 mph. He also showed excellent feel of a change up that exhibited sharp arm side run thrown with fastball arm speed sitting at 76-77 mph. Bordignon showed excellent splits between all his pitches on the mound.

7. Roger Wilson, St. Laurence HS, 1B/RHP, Class of 2014
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Wilson impressed with his offensive prowess. The right-handed hitter demonstrated excellent bat speed and the ability to drive the ball with authority. He showed his athleticism by running a 7.26 60 and exhibited nimble feet and glovework around first base. On the mound, the right-hander topped at 82 mph.

8. Nicholas Rodenbeck, Boylan Catholic, SS/3B, Class of 2014
Rodenbeck is a 5-foot-9, 145-pound infielder who showed a solid arm across the diamond. Rodenbeck display arm strength of 82 mph, while showcasing solid hands in the field. Offensively, Rodenbeck uses a short stride and works the middle of the field well. Rodenbeck showcased a level bat path with some extension producing line drives. He also showed some foot speed running a 6.94 60.

9. Kevin Sullivan, Brother Rice HS, MIF, Class of 2014
Sullivan is a 5-foot-11, 160-pound middle infielder. Sullivan showed solid foot speed in the 60 running a 7.00. Defensively he showed the ability to get rid of the baseball cleanly while on the run. Sullivan’s arm works from a high ¾ arm slot showing carry at 80 mph. He also displayed soft hands in the field. Offensively, Sullivan hits from a balanced setup using a slight leg kick. He exhibited some bat speed showing the ability to make hard contact.

10. Ryan Hutchinson, Mattoon HS, SS/3B, Class of 2014
Hutchinson is a lanky, athletic 6-foot-2, 175-pound infielder. Hutchinson uses a long arm action, producing accurate 72 mph throws. Offensively, he hits from a slightly open stance, using a leg kick producing solid bat speed. Hutchinson showed barrel awareness, making consistent contact on a level bat path. Hutchinson showcased a line drive, gap to gap approach. He also ran a 7.22 60.

11. Sam Cybulski, Lyons Township HS, SS/RHP, Class of 2014
Cybulski is an athletically built 6-foot-3, 175-pound two-way player who ran a 6.94 60. Offensively, he has a balanced setup, and demonstrated some bat speed through the zone and a short line-drive approach. He showed athletic feet in the field, while being clocked at 75 mph across the diamond. On the mound, the right-hander topped at 80 mph. His changeup, in the 65-66 mph range, had arm-side run down in the zone. He also threw a 60 mph curveball.

12. Elias DeJesus, Taft HS, MIF, Class of 2014
DeJesus is a 5-foot-7, 130-pound middle infielder. He demonstrated soft hands defensively, while showcasing athletic infield actions, including a quick exchange and fluid footwork. His arm showed accuracy at 73 mph. Offensively, DeJesus sets up in a slightly open and crouched stance. He uses a smooth load with a slight leg lift demonstrating solid balance throughout. His bat path worked on a short and level path showing fluid rhythm and opposite field approach. DeJesus also ran a 7.23 60.

Best of the rest (Listed alphabetically)

Jacob Aguilar, Reavis HS, MIF, Class of 2014
Aguilar is a 5-foot-11, 145-pound multi-positional player with a lanky frame. Aguilar uses a loose arm action in the field. Aguilar showed solid foot speed running a 7.08 60. Offensively, Aguilar recorded exit speeds of 72 mph from the tee.

Travis Auer, University High, RHP/MIF, Class of 2014
Auer is a 5-foot-10, 165-pound two-way player who showed a well-rounded game. On the mound Auer throws with a short arm action from an over the top slot. He showed solid feel for three pitches. His fastball sat at 82-84 mph in the strike zone, while his breaking ball was 66-69 mph. His changeup also showed control at 73-75 mph. Offensively, Auer hits from a tall, open stance showing solid bat speed and a line drive approach. Auer also ran a 7.03 60.

Robert Berdecia, Roberto Clemente HS, 3B, Class of 2014
Berdecia is a 5-foot-9, 200-pound third baseman. Berdecia exhibited soft and reliable hands at third base showing fluid footwork and a clean exchange. His arm plays well across the diamond at 79 mph showing carry and accuracy. Overall, Berdecia showed a solid defensive presence at third base. At the plate he demonstrated loose hands, hitting from an open stance showing excellent bat speed with a short path to the baseball. He showed a line drive, gap to gap approach with a solid presence in the box.

Mitchell Coughlin, Plainfield East HS, LHP/1B, Class of 2014
Coughlin is a 6-foot, 175-pound two-way player. On the mound, the left-hander showcased a 74-76 mph fastball, working slightly across his body. His changeup, in the 68-69 range, exhibited some arm-side run. He also threw a 63-64 mph curveball. Coughlin showed his athleticism by running a 7.07 60 and also demonstrated fluid footwork and reliable hands around first base.

Stevie Dunlap, Plainfield East HS, SS, Class of 2014
Dunlap is a 5-foot-11, 160-pound infielder. Dunlap showcased himself as a lanky middle infielder with reliable hands and a clean exchange. He displayed a playable arm at 76 mph across the infield showing carry and accuracy to his target. Offensively, Dunlap hits from a balanced setup using a short stride and displaying gap to gap abilities.

Sean Edgar, Buffalo Grove HS, INF, Class of 2014
Edgar is a 6-foot, 180-pound infielder from Buffalo Grove HS. Edgar ran a 7.47 60 and was clocked at 65 mph from the infield.

Austin Johnson, Champaign Central HS, MIF/OF, Class of 2014
Johnson is a 6-foot-1, 160-pound multi-positional player. Johnson hits out of a wide stance using a flat bat path and displaying aggressive swings. Defensively, he recorded arm strength of 78 mph from the outfield. He also ran a 7.48 60.

James Macklin, T.F. South HS, INF, Class of 2014
Macklin is a 5-foot-9, 165-pound infielder. Macklin showed soft hands in the infield fielding out of an athletic position. He also showed some foot speed running a 7.01 60. Macklin has a quiet approach at the plate and showed a solid level swing working gap to gap.

William McGarrigle, Cary-Grove HS, 1B/OF, Class of 2014
McGarrigle is a left-handed hitting 6-foot, 170-pound first baseman. Offensively, he has an uphill bat path and showed the ability to make hard contact from the left side. He maintains balance through contact. McGarrigle, who ran a 7.57 60, also showed reliable hands around first base.

John Megles, Normal Community HS, MIF, Class of 2014
Megles is a 5-foot-10, 145-pound middle infielder. Megles showed solid range in the field exhibiting a quick exchange. Offensively, Megles produced 75 mph exit speeds.

Marcus Middlebrook, Fremd HS, MIF, Class of 2014
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound middle infielder was clocked at 76 mph from his position and ran a 7.59.

Erik Nelson, Marquette HS (WI), MIF, Class of 2014
Nelson displayed himself as a middle infielder with some quick footwork. Defensively, Nelson showed off a long arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. His arm strength registered at 78 mph across the diamond. His hands showed solid actions to make the routine play, and make a clean exchange across the diamond, showing some accuracy. Offensively, Nelson hits from a balanced setup using a slight leg kick to get into his hitting position. He showed some bat speed on a level path producing line drives. He also showed solid balance throughout his swing.

Chris Pedrak, Downers Grove South HS, 1B/RHP, Class of 2014
Pedrak is a 5-foot-11, 180-pound two-way player. As a pitcher Pedrak showed command of a 76-79 mph fastball, operating from a high ¾ arm slot. His curveball showed 11/5 action at 65-67 mph while his change up showed control with arm side run at 66-67 mph. Offensively, Pedrak hit out of a wide, balanced setup. Showing some barrel awareness, he uses a level bat path working with a gap to gap approach.

Alvin Perez, Providence Catholic HS, SS/3B, Class of 2014
Perez is a 6-foot, 185-pound infielder. Perez uses a short arm action across the diamond at 73 mph. Offensively, he hits from an open stance using a level bat path slowing some gap to gap tendencies. He recorded exit speeds of 76 mph from the tee.

Matthew Ryan, Plainfield Central HS, MIF, Class of 2014
Ryan is a 6-foot-2, 185-pound middle infielder. Offensively, Ryan hits with an inside out bat path that produced line drives to the opposite field. Ryan displayed a balanced approach throughout his swing. Defensively, Ryan showed a very aggressive approach to the baseball, while recording arm strength of 77 mph from a high ¾ arm slot.

Nate Tholl, St. Lawrence HS, MIF, Class of 2014
Tholl is a 5-foot-11, 160-pound middle infielder. Tholl exhibits a quick clean exchange in the infield showing solid hands and arm strength at 79 mph. Offensively, he hits from an open setup using a short stride recording exit speeds of 78 mph from the tee.

Justin Vogel, Marengo HS, LHP/1B, Class of 2014
The 6-foot-2, 195-pound Vogel topped at 74 mph with his fastball. The left-hander also threw his curveball in the 56-58 mph range, and a 63-66 mph changeup. Offensively, Vogel ran a 7.97 60 and flashed occasional pop from the left side.

Tyler Zunkel, York HS, SS/RHP, Class of 2014
Zunkel is a 5-foot-10, 155-pound two-way player. Zunkel operates out of a full windup throwing from a high ¾ arm slot. His fastball showed command at 77-80 mph with hard sinking action. He showed feel of a change up at 68-69 mph throwing it with arm speed and exhibiting sink. He also showed a curveball at 62-64 mph. Zunkel also ran a 7.06 60. Hitting from a slightly open stance, Zunkel uses a short stride producing 70 mph exit speeds.

Keep checking back daily for more positional analysis from the Class of 2014 Showcase.