The Joliet Open took place on Sunday, March 28th at the brand-new Rhino Baseball Academy in Shorewood, Ill. The event was open to all high school classes (2021-2024). Shortly after the event we took a look at the event with a Quick Hits article as well as a Statistical Analysis. 

Today we continue the positional breakdown from the event with a look at the infielders in attendance. Left-handed hitting infielder, Kerim Orusevic (Maine South, 2023) stood out with a loose, quick, highly-athletic swing with sneaky pop. He also showed steady hands and actions on the infield, along with running a 6.88 60, to take home the top spot.

Read on below for more.

TOP INFIELD PROSPECTS

1. Kerim Orucevic, Maine South (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: SS/3B
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, smooth back hip load, toe tap stride, barrel tip trigger. Loose, short, uphill swing, line drive gap to gap approach, stays inside the ball, quick twitch.
Power: 91.06 max exit velocity, averaged 84.11 mph. 348’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 84 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, strong arm, accurate with carry, throws well from multiple angles.
Defense: Soft hands, quick fluid feet,  quick hands, athletic movements, plays through the ball upon receiving out front.
Run: 6.88 runner in the 60. 

2. Haden Kriston, Loyola Academy (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 6-2, 200-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride, simple approach. Flashed bat speed and pull side power, short and direct barrel bath to contact, line drive approach, swing is fluid and repeatable.
Power: 95.47 max exit velocity, averaged 88.92 mph. 357’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 83 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, strong arm, accurate with carry.
Defense: Soft hands, quick fluid feet, quick clean exchange, athletic for size.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60. 

3. Peyton Burgh, Prospect (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/3B
Body: 5-11, 185-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balance athletic setup, smooth load, minimal hand movement, slight barrel tip, leg kick to short stride. Strong, easy bat speed, line drive approach, flashed pull side power, good balanced swing, barrell direct to contact.
Power: 90.1 max exit velocity, averaged 81.98 mph. 302’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 85 mph. Short arm action, over the top slot, showed life and carry.
Defense: Soft hands, quick fluid footwork, quick clean exchange, athletic, plays through the ball, fields the ball out front.
Run: 6.72 runner in the 60. 

4. Gavin Dobbels, Yorkville (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-10, 168-pounds.
Hit: SH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride, good lower half. Repeatable swing, uphill, generates line drives with gap to gap approach, fluid balanced twitchy swing.
Power: 93.58 max exit velocity, averaged 75.48 mph. 348’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 84 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, strong arm.
Defense: Soft hands, fast and fluid footwork, quick and clean exchange, fields out in front, plays through the ball, athletic actions.
Run: 7.54 runner in the 60. 

5. Joe Jefferson, Normal West (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-11, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, tall setup, smooth load, short stride. Short compact fluid swing, direct barrel path produced line drives, flashed pull side power, simple repeatable swing.
Power: 95.08 max exit velocity, averaged 81.42 mph. 324’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. INF - 78 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate throws with carry.
Defense: 2.01-2.09 pop times. Soft hands, quick footwork, quick exchange, athletic actions.
Run: 7.58 runner in the 60. 

6. Jackson Bayer, Benet (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride, good lower half. Good line drive approach, short path, line drive approach.
Power: 88.76 max exit velocity, averaged 75.21 mph. 301’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 86 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, strong arm.
Defense: Soft hands, fast and fluid footwork, quick and clean exchange, athletic actions.
Run: 7.70 runner in the 60. 

7. Carter Storti, Lemont (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: SS/3B
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balance tall setup, toe tap timing, smooth load. Short, level swing, barrel is direct to contact, line drive gap to gap approach
Power: 88.74 max exit velocity, averaged 80.44 mph. 252’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. Short, quick arm action, high 3/4 slot, threw well from multiple angles, accurate.
Defense: Soft hands, quick fluid footwork, quick clean exchange, plays through the ball well.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60. 

8. Blake Binkowski, Lincoln Way East (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: 1B/OF
Body: 6-2, 225-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced tall setup, barrel load, short stride. Short, level swing, pull line drive approach, fluid movements.
Power: 97.65 max exit velocity, averaged 86.69 mph. 348’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. OF - 76 mph. Long arm action, low 3/4 slot, some accuracy,
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange
Run: 7.80 runner in the 60. 

9. Brock Bacus, Normal Community (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-5, 130-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride, good tempo. Short repeatable swing, barrell path is direct to contact, line drive gap to gap approach, fluid rhythm.
Power: 79.23 max exit velocity, averaged 68.33 mph. 219’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. Short, high 3/4, accurate, with some carry.
Defense: Steady hands, quick footwork, quick and clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 6.99 runner in the 60. 

10. Will Pavlick, Oswego (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced tall setup, smooth load, short stride. Fluid, short, repeatable,  level swing, line drive gap to gap approach.
Power: 83.15 max exit velocity, averaged 75.92 mph. 288’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate from multiple angles.
Defense: Soft hands, quick feet, quick hands, athletic plays through the ball well.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Bryce Atkin, Plainfield East (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 1B/3B
Body: 6-2, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced open stance, short load, short stride. Short level rotational swing, in/out of the zone, pull hitter.
Power: 93.88 max exit velocity, averaged 83.02 mph. 334’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid foot work, clean exchange.
Run: 7.62 runner in the 60. 

Matthew Bivens, Yorkville (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 1B/OF
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced crouched setup, short quick load and stride. Long swing, level, line drive approach
Power: 86.9 max exit velocity, averaged 76.72 mph. 317’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Agile around the first base bag. Steady hands and clean release at times.
Run: 7.37 runner in the 60. 

Andrew Bollman, Lincoln Way East (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride. Advanced bat speed, short path, line drive approach
Power: 100.71 max exit velocity, averaged 82.59 mph. 376’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. 3/4 slot, accurate, with carry.
Defense: Fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through.
Run: 7.50 runner in the 60. 

Justin Bradley, De La Salle (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: INF/P
Body: 5-6, 128-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced tall stance, smooth load, short stride. Short uphill swing, line drive gap to gap approach,
Power: 80.26 max exit velocity, averaged 70.08 mph. 248’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 71 mph. Long arm action, low 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 8.12 runner in the 60. 

Jayden Clark, Thornton Fractional South (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 6-3, 253-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced tall stance, smooth load, leg kick trigger, get foot down early. Repeatable, level swing, flashed pull side power, strong hands, gets extension.
Power: 96.07 max exit velocity, averaged 82.07 mph. 333’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 71 mph. Long arm action, High 3/4 slot, accurate.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork and clean exchange.
Run: 7.95 runner in the 60. 

Rylan Dorsey, Ottawa (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-0, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced crouched stance, no load, toe tap stride. Long swing, level through the zone, line drive pull approach.
Power: 90.82 max exit velocity, averaged 71.21 mph. 224’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 73 mph. Short arm action, over the top slot, accurate.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 8.33 runner in the 60. 

Ryan Dunagan, Lockport (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: 3B
Body: 6-0, 168-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balance open stance, smooth load, slight leg kick, dives. Long, level swing, line drive gap to gap approach.
Power: 87.66 max exit velocity, averaged 76.43 mph. 330’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 73 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid actions, clean exchange.
Run: 7.92 runner in the 60. 

Nathan Edders, Oswego East (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balance setup, smooth load, leg kick with long stride, initiates lower half, excellent balance, bat speed, advanced approach, short path to contact, pull side power
Power: 92.19 max exit velocity, averaged 77.95 mph. 304’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 80 mph. Short arm actions, high 3/4 slot, accurate arm, with carry.
Defense: Soft hands, quick feet , quick exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.43 runner in the 60. 

Thomas Fitzgerald, Plainfield North (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-4, 195-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride. Repeatable swing, level through the zone, line drive gap to gap approach, pull side power.
Power: 84.46 max exit velocity, averaged 73.18 mph. 303’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid foot work, clean exchange.
Run: 7.80 runner in the 60. 

Jayden Gabrys, Lincoln Way East (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 2B/RHP
Body: 5-11, 145-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, long stride. Good approach, long bat path, pull side power.
Power: 87.28 max exit velocity, averaged 77.57 mph. 281’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. Long arm action, low 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 7.57 runner in the 60. 

Matthew Gaffney, Manteno (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 6-1, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Open tall stance, strides to crouch, short load. Long level swing, pull approach, minimal use of lower half.
Power: 92.29 max exit velocity, averaged 81.21 mph. 329’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 72 mph. Long arm action, low 3/4 slot, some accuracy, average arm strength.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 7.98 runner in the 60. 

Rafael Garza, Mattawan (MI), 2023
Positional Profile: 2B/OF
Body: 5-7, 160-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced tall setup, quick load, leg kick trigger. Short, quick swing, uphill, pull side approach, max effort.
Power: 90.75 max exit velocity, averaged 79.79 mph. 322’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. OF - 82 mph. Short arm action, over the top, accurate
Defense: Athletic, quick fluid footwork quick hands, clean exchange, twitchy
Run: 7.67 runner in the 60. 

Clint Goodman, Normal West (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 1B
Body: 6-3, 255-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, smooth load, short stride. Level swing, strong, flashed pull side power
Power: 90.67 max exit velocity, averaged 78.64 mph. 304’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 69 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate.
Defense: Soft hand, fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 8.66 runner in the 60. 

Will Hayes, New Trier (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced open setup, toe tap timing load, long stride. Fluid uphill approach, pull side power, long to contact.
Power: 86.12 max exit velocity, averaged 73.51 mph. 289’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. Long arm action, over the top release, accurate arm.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.71 runner in the 60. 

Bryant Henderson, Normal West (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/2B
Body: 6-1, 160-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, short stride, smooth load. Uphill line drive swing, pull hitter, good balance.
Power: 85.93 max exit velocity, averaged 81.45 mph. 313’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. Short arm action, low 3/4 slot, with some accuracy.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid feet, fluid exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.41 runner in the 60. 

Justin Hill, Hinsdale South (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 5-9, 175-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Closed tall stance, toe tap stride, short load. Short uphill swing, line drive gap to gap approach.
Power: 83.05 max exit velocity, averaged 70.77 mph. 275’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 72 mph. Long arm action, low 3/4 slot, some accuracy, average arm strength.
Defense: Hard hands, slow footwork, slow exchange, stiff fielding actions.
Run: 7.81 runner in the 60. 

Nikolas Hollis, Fenton (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: 1B/LHP
Body: 5-11, 210-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride. Short, level swing, barrel is direct to contact, line drive swing.
Power: 90.07 max exit velocity, averaged 73.37 mph. 216’ max distance.
Arm: LH. INF - 74 mph. Long arm action, low 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Defense: Fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 7.91 runner in the 60. 

Camden Kearney, Kankakee (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride. Repeatable swing, level through the zone, line drive gap to gap approach, pull side power.
Power: 92.16 max exit velocity, averaged 84.97 mph. 313’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid foot work, clean exchange.
Run: 7.65 runner in the 60. 

Will Lechner, Wheaton Academy (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 2B/3B
Body: 6-0, 160-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall open stance, narrow base, long stride. Fast hands, direct to contact, short swing, line drive pull hitter, hits on front leg.
Power: 82.74 max exit velocity, averaged 69.41 mph. 252’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 74 mph. Long arm action, low 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 7.70 runner in the 60. 

Hank Liss, Evanston (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP/2B
Body: 6-0, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride. Level, short swing, line drive gap to gap approach.
Power: 89.17 max exit velocity, averaged 80.04 mph. 301’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate.
Defense: Fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.87 runner in the 60. 

Filip Milatovic, Von Steuben (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-10, 200-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall stance with balanced setup, short stride, smooth load. Short swing, direct barrell path, good bat speed, pull side power.
Power: 93.76 max exit velocity, averaged 79.94 mph. 301’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. INF - 75 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, avg arm strength.
Defense: 2.09-2.17 pop times. Fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 7.60 runner in the 60. 

Jack Miller, Lakes Community (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 6-1, 200-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balance stance, smooth load, short stride. Short swing, level through the zone, pull approach.
Power: 90.91 max exit velocity, averaged 78.68 mph. 254’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 74 mph. Long arm action, low 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Defense: Soft hand, fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 7.78 runner in the 60. 

Triston Minor, Gwendolyn Brooks (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: 2B/SS
Body: 5-3, 110-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load and long stride. Loose, easy swing, long uphill path and uses the whole field.
Power: 73.55 max exit velocity, averaged 67.04 mph. 186’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 64 mph. Short, firm arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Smooth infield actions, plays low to ground, active feet, plays through the baseball and gains ground through exchange. Soft, confident hands.
Run: 7.78 runner in the 60. 

James Murphy, Marist (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-7, 130-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, smooth load, short stride, early foot down. Short swing, level throughout the zone, line drive gap to gap approach.
Power: 86.71 max exit velocity, averaged 79.5 mph. 273’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 74 mph. Long arm action, over the top slot, accourate, average arm strength.
Defense: Soft hands, quick fluid exchange, fluid footwork, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.24 runner in the 60. 

Cody Nicpon, Hartford (WI) (WI), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/2B
Body: 5-11, 195-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride. Short level rotational swing, in/out of the zone, pull hitter.
Power: 92.79 max exit velocity, averaged 81.95 mph. 289’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. Long arm action, 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid foot work, clean exchange.
Run: 7.72 runner in the 60. 

Chase Reid, Metamora (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride. Good approach, uphill bat path, pull side power.
Power: 89.73 max exit velocity, averaged 80.91 mph. 312’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, average accuracy.
Defense: Fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 7.65 runner in the 60. 

Danny Rollins, Lake Park (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall stance with balanced setup, short smooth stride, strong lower half. Short swing, gap to gap approach, direct barrel path, hit several line drives up the middle.
Power: 95.74 max exit velocity, averaged 89.73 mph. 355’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 72 mph. INF - 76 mph. High 3/4 exchange, short arm action, accurate with carry effortless arm strength.
Defense: 2.01-2.15 pop times. Soft hands, great feet allow hands to work, quick exchange, athletic actions.
Run: 7.57 runner in the 60. 

Matthew Ruttkay, Glenbrook North (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 6-2, 210-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, smooth load, slight leg kick. Uphill swing, lifts the ball, flashed pull strength.
Power: 91.38 max exit velocity, averaged 82.01 mph. 300’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 68 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 9.50 runner in the 60. 

Mitchel Stanton, Marian Catholic (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-2, 184-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced tall stance, smooth load, short stride, dives. Short, level swing, line drive gap to gap approach.
Power: 87.88 max exit velocity, averaged 74.68 mph. 266’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. Long arm action, low 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 7.72 runner in the 60. 

Taylor Voorhees, St. Joseph Ogden (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 5-11, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced tall setup, smooth load, short stride. Short, level swing, line drive gap to gap approach.
Power: 89.11 max exit velocity, averaged 81.2 mph. 335’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. Short arm action, low 3/4 slot, with some accuracy.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 7.78 runner in the 60. 

David Zaragoza, Lockport (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: 2B/RHP
Body: 5-9, 155-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride. Fast bat speed, good approach, short path to the ball, line drive swing.
Power: 84.09 max exit velocity, averaged 73.01 mph. 250’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 80 mph. Short arm action, low 3/4 slot, some accuracy, some carry.
Defense: Soft hand, fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.50 runner in the 60. 

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