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Top Prospect Showcase: Corner Infield Analysis

July 6, 2013

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director - Illinois

 With a number of talented corner infielders, Willie Bourbon came away with the top spot. The physically advanced 2015 graduate showed strong hands with big bat speed from the left side. The corner infield group showed some high level talent, coming in at No. 2 Joe Boyle recently committed to Northern Illinois after this event.

Here's a look at how the corner infielders break down.

Top Corner Infielders

1. Willie Bourbon, 3B, Stevenson, 2015
Strong build, advanced physicality and athleticism, 6-foot, 185-pound left handed hitting third baseman. On the infield he showed soft hands, fields the baseball out in front, left of center, plays through the baseball well. Stays low when transferring the baseball, advanced lower half. Arm plays across the diamond, showed some accuracy, lowered arm slot, 76 mph across the diamond. Offensively hits from the left side, balanced stance, short stride slightly dives. Consistent hard contact, path creates some lift, left handed power potential. Bourbon is one of the strongest hitters in the Class of 2015 and shows soft defensive hands. High follow.

2. Joe Boyle, 3B, Benet Academy, 2014
Sturdy frame, shows strength, 6-foot, 180-pound infielder. Defensively Boyle showed athletic actions, hands are soft, shows fluid footwork, exchange is quick, plays through the baseball well. Arm action is athletic, shows the ability to release the baseball on the move, 80 mph across the diamond. Offensively hits from an open stance, short stride trigger. Has a presence in the box, confident hitter, short bat path, hands work well and stay inside the ball. Line drive approach with some gap to gap tendencies. Committed to Northern Illinois.

3. Micah Coffey, 3B, Batavia, 2014
Coffey is an athletically built left-handed hitting third-baseman, 6-foot-2, 185-pounds. Showed athletic abilities in all areas of his game.  He has a solid approach at the plate, setting up with a slightly open stance and short stride.  He showed an advanced bat path, short and quick to the ball with extension through contact, maintaining balance throughout the swing.  Flashed some pull-side power, recorded an 81 mph exit velocity.  Coffey displayed solid defensive actions showing natural third-base instincts.  He plays through the ball well and showed a 78 mph arm across the diamond with accuracy and some carry.  Also, he ran a 7.28 60 at the event.

4. Zach Serna, 3B, Palatine HS, 2014
Solidly built 5-foot-10, 180-pound third baseman. Shows natural third base defensive actions. Possesses strong, athletic arm (85 mph across infield); ball stays online with carry. Moves well laterally, hands and feet work fluidly together. Offensively, hits from an open setup and showed some gap-to-gap pop. Recorded 87 mph exit velocity and ran a 7.29 60. Overall, one of the better defensive third basemen we’ve seen in the 2014 class.

5. Kevin Biondic, 3B, Brother Rice, 2014
Strong build, 6-foot-1, 175-pound corner infielder. Defensively showed  highly athletic arm action, arm works loosely, high ¾ slot, showed accuracy and carry, 79 mph across the diamond. Showed athletic actions, slight hesitations with hands, exchange showed quick and clean capabilities. Offensively hit from an open stance, smooth load, short stride. Efficient bat path, front foot hitter, solid balance through contact.

5. Roger Wilson, 1B, St. Laurence, 2014
Physical frame, 6-foot-4, 190-pound right handed first baseman. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, smooth load, short stride. Showed rhythm at the plate, path is level with extension, flat through contact, creates backspin. Bat speed present, 81 mph exit velocity, gap to gap type hitter. Defensively arm played at 75 mph across the diamond, ¾ arm slot. 7.19 runner in the 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Adam Abdallah, RHP/1B, Lincoln-Way East, 2014
6-foot-4, 190-pound two way player. Delivery showed effort, long arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball flashed sink, erratic, 85-86 mph, touched 87. Curveball works on 11/5 plane, 73-75 mph, decelerated arm action. Change up flashed sink, 78-79 mph. Defensively showed advanced arm strength across the diamond, 87 mph, carried well, long transfer. 7.69 runner in the 60. Offensively hits from a balanced setup, short stride. Bat speed present, 85 mph exit velocity, uphill path, occasional extension through contact, pull side approach.

Austin Blazevic, 3B/RHP, Plainfield Central HS, 2015
6-foot-1, 178-pound two-way player. On the mound, works from 3/4 arm slot, shorter arm action, drop-and-drive delivery. Fastball ranged between 78-79 mph with slight arm-side sink. Curveball had 12/6 shape in the 66-70 range, commanded pitch for strikes. Changeup looks to be go-to pitch, showing sink down in zone with good arm action. Positionally, throws from same 3/4 arm slot from third base, registering at 78 mph. Makes accurate throws to bag. Offensively, his level line-drive approach and showed the ability to consistently square up the baseball. Also ran a 7.40 60.

Dan Brokop, 1B, Lincoln-Way West HS, 2014
6-foot-3, 215-pound right-handed hitting first baseman. Hits from a tall, open setup with a leg-kick stride. Shows pullside power potential at the plate, generating some torque and lift in swing. Registered an 89-mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran an 8.13 60 and was clocked at 67 mph from first base.

Shawn Chiaramonte, 3B/C, Richards, 2014
6-foot, 170-pound catcher/third baseman. Out of the crouch posted 2.02-2.18 pop times, deliberate footwork, 73 mph arm behind the plate. On the infield arm played at 77 mph, firm arm action, third base type. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, slightly narrow, long strided. Bat path showed length, level plane, solid balance throughout.

AJ Diepholz, RHP/1B, Mattoon, 2014
Lanky frame, slender build, 6-foot-3, 175-pound two-way player. Drop and drive style delivery, regular effort. Arm action is loose, slightly short, quick arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball has run, 82-84 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape with depth, early action, 65-68 mph. Change up is erratic, flash arm side action, 75-76 mph, thrown with aggressive arm action. Offensively hits from a tall stance, balanced throughout. 75 mph exit velocity from the tee.

John Heilenbach, 3B, Lyons Township, 2014
Lanky build, 6-foot-3, 185-pound corner infielder. Arm shows carry across the infield, arm action shows athleticism, 82 mph arm across the diamond. Offensively hits from a wide stance, short stride. Showed occasional pop, bat speed present, uphill path, occasional lift. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Austin Johnson, 3B/RHP, Champaign Central HS, 2014
Solidly built 6-foot-1, 185-pound two-way player with athletic, projectable frame. Defensively, was clocked at 73 mph from third base, showing reliable hands and heavier feet. Offensively, hits from open setup, rotational hitter, 7.52 runner. On the mound, fastball topped at 79 mph, sitting at 76. Curveball ranged between 61-67 mph and changeup in 70-72 range. Has long arm action from high-3/4 slot, wraps on backside.

Storm Joop, 3B, St. Thomas More, 2014
6-foot, 185-pound middle infielder. Defensively showed a playable arm at 78 mph across the diamond, showed accuracy, deliberate exchange. Offensively hit from a balanced setup, smooth load and short stride. Lower half is active with in swing while showing balance throughout. Above average contact, found the barrel with regularity, strong opposite field contact, gap to gap type hitter. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.41 runner in the 60.

William Kincanon, RHP/1B, Riverside-Brookfield, 2014
Strong build, excellent physical frame, 6-foot-3, 185-pound right handed pitcher. Delivery shows effort, tall and fall approach, shows rhythm, open landing, athletic first base finish. Arm works from a high ¾ slot, advanced arm speed, long and loose arm action. Fastball has advanced arm side run, showed the ability to command the zone, 86-88 mph. Breaking ball had depth, flashed 12/6 action, 73-76 mph, showed above average feel. Change up showed plus action, thrown with near fastball arm speed, excellent arm side action, showed command, 76-77 mph. Kincanon shows swing and miss stuff in the strike zone. Offensively hits from the left side, slightly tall and open stance, short stride approach. Pull side hitter, line drive approach, slight lift. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Grant Klenovich, 1B, New Trier, 2014
Mature physical build, 6-foot-4, 220-pounds, advanced overall strength. At first base showed fluid footwork, natural instincts around the bag. 7.27 runner. Arm plays at 75 mph across the diamond, high ¾ arm slot, showed accuracy, 75 mph arm strength across the diamond. Offensively hits from the right side, balanced stance, short stride. Gap to gap hitter, level path, good balance throughout, high power potential, 84 mph exit velocity.

Elijiah McKinnis, RHP/3B, Morgan Park, 2014
Strong build, 6-foot, 180-pound two-way player. Delivery worked out of a drop and drive approach with some rhythm. Arm action is short, high ¾ arm slot. Fastball is mostly straight, showed control, 80-81 mph. Curveball flashed 12/6 action, 72-74 mph. Splitfinger thrown with fastball arm speed, 74-75 mph, mostly down. Defensively showed soft hands, deliberate footwork. Arm played at 82 mph across the diamond, occasional carry. Offensively hit from a balanced stance, loads hands, no stride approach. Lower half shows some involvement, bat speed present, strong build, bottom half works heavily.

Brian Musielak, RHP/1B, Brother Rice, 2014
6-foot-3, 180-pound two way player, athletic build. Drop and drive style delivery, some effort. Arm action is short, ¾ arm slot. Fastball is mostly straight, 77-78 mph, touched 80 mph. Breaking ball lacks depth, 64-66 mph, 10/4 plane, gradual action. Change up showed sink, 68-70 mph. Offensively hit from an open stance, leg kick trigger. Level path, stays flat, 79 mph exit velocity.

Chris Pedrak, 1B/RHP, Downers Grove South, 2014
6-foot, 180-pound right handed two way player. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, wide setup, short stride. Showed occasional bat speed, 77 mph exit velocity. On the mound controlled the baseball well. Loose arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball was mostly straight, 80-81 mph, touched 82 mph. Curveball showed control, 67-70 mph, flashed 12/6 shape. Change up showed sinking action, 67-69 mph, showed command, moderate arm speed.

Click here for Middle Infielder Analysis

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