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Underclass Showcase 10.27.13: Corner Infield Analysis

November 10, 2013

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director – Illinois/Wisconsin

Mitch Owens (Moline, 2016) stood head and shoulders above his peers at the Underclass Showcase. Owens plays the game with a sense of ease that cannot be taught. His advanced frame and athleticism project him as a possible power hitting corner infielder. His athleticism and arm strength clearly shows that he can stick at third base at the next level.

Here’s a look at the top corner infielders from the Underclass Showcase.

Top Corner Infielders

1. Mitch Owens, 3B/RHP, Moline, 2016
Advanced frame, highly projectable, athletic, 6-foot-3, 180-pound two-way prospect. Plays with an easy athleticism, one of the more highly touted prospects in the Class of 2016, high level prospect, high follow. Offensively hits from a slightly open stance, smooth loading action, short stride. Athletic swing, consistent hard contact, ball jumps off his bat, power potential. Advanced bat speed, 85 mph exit velocity from the tee, fluid rhythm, gap to gap approach, high level hitter. Defensively plays through the baseball, advanced infield actions, quick clean exchange, athletic body control, plays with ease. Arm action is short and loose, over the top, with accuracy and carry, 78 mph across the diamond. Projects well on the mound, delivery is easy, full windup, tall and fall. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball has slight sink, 84-85 mph touched 86 mph, showed the ability to command the zone. Curveball has advanced action and feel, 11/5 plane, 70-72 mph. Changeup has feel, slight fading action, 73-77 mph.

2. Trevon Sutton, 3B/RHP, Harlan, 2017
Strong 6-foot-1, 185-pound third baseman. Sutton shows potential as a power hitting corner infielder. Offensively hits from an open stance, short stride. Strong athletic hands, well above average bat speed for his age, creates whip, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Short path with extension, pull side power approach. Defensively showed athletic feet, played through the baseball with above average infield actions, showed soft hands. Arm plays loose, high ¾ slot, accurate with occasional carry, 75 mph across the diamond. On the mound fastball was mostly straight, 74-75 mph touched 77 mph. Curveball showed some action, steep plane, 62-68 mph. also showed a straight changeup at 70-72 mph.

3. John Rugen, 3B/RHP, La Salle Peru, 2016
Solid frame, 6-foot, 200-pound two way player. Tall and fall style, effortless delivery, works online, athletic finish, mechanically sound. Arm action is long and loose, easy arm action, ¾ slot. Fastball has sink, heavy feel, showed the ability for command, 77-78 mph. Curveball showed well above average action for his age, 11/5 plane, slurve feel, 65-67 mph. Changeup has sink, fastball arm speed, showed control, 70-71 mph.  Defensively showed the ability to play through the baseball, body control, clean exchange, above average hands. Arm action is long, high ¾ slot, accurate arm with carry at 75 mph across the diamond. Offensively hits from a wide stance, minimal stride, heel lift load. Advanced bat speed, showed occasional pop, erratic contact, 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ran an 8.55 60.

4. Jack Szafranski, 3B, Glenbrook South, 2016
6-foot, 200-pound third baseman with strength and projectability. At the plate he has a balanced stance, short stride. Swing works uphill, pull side approach, power to the pull side. Exit velocity was 80 mph off a tee. Defensively he moves well for his size, clean hands, showed the ability to play through the ball with athletic footwork. Arm works long, ¾ slot, solid carry, 74 mph. Ran a 7.6 60.

5. Joseph Curci, 1B, Chicago Lab, 2016
6-foot-2, 175-pound athletically framed first baseman, above average body projects well. At the plate hits from a balanced stance, short stride, balanced through contact, quality lower half involvement. Swing is easy and quiet, repeats, gets solid extension with high quality bat speed. Above average exit velocity for age, 82 mph off a tee. Defensively showed he knows his way around the bag, nimble footwork, solid glove, above average actions. Arm works from over-the-top, 68 mph across the diamond. Ran a 7.8 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Anthony Ackerley, LHP/1B, Lake Park, 2016
6-foot-1, 180-pound left handed hitting two way player with a strong body. Offensively hits from a balanced setup, backward loading action, short stride, quality balance through contact. Has rotational swing, pull side approach, consistent contact with lift, solid bat speed. Exit velocity was 79 mph off a tee. Defensively showed clean actions, soft hands, fluid footwork, quality exchanges, plays through the ball. Arm works loose, ¾ slot, accurate, good carry, 69 mph. Ran an 8.05 60. On the mound has tall and fall delivery, some rhythm, repeats. Arm works from a ¾ slot, long, loose arm action. Fastball was straight, sitting 70-72 mph, flashing 73 mph, for strikes. Breaking ball was 58-60 mph, 10/4 shape, gradual sweeping action. Changeup was 57 mph with flashes of sink.

Ryan Anderson, 3B/RHP, Palatine, 2016
Long fame, slender build, 6-foot, 170-pound two-way player. On the mound delivery shows regular effort. Arm operates from a high ¾ slot, quick loose action. Fastball is mostly straight, 73-75 mph, touched 77 mph. Breaking ball worked on 11/5 plane, 57-62 mph, showed some feel. Changeup flashed sink, 64-67 mph, showed control. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride. 76 mph exit velocity from the tee, long path. Defensively plays with a loose arm action from a high ¾ slot, 71 mph across the diamond.

Andrew Bidochka, 3B/RHP, Lincoln-Way North, 2016
5-foot-6, 145-pound two-way player with athletic body, strong legs. Defensively, uses a long arm action from over-the-top slot, occasional carry across the infield at 71 mph. Showed solid feet, occasional deep fielding position. Ran a 7.62 60. At the plate hits with athletic, balanced stance, leg kick stride, solid balance through the swing. Has uphill bat path, opposite field approach, makes strong contact. Exit velocity was above average at 82 mph off a tee. On the mound uses a drop and drive delivery with slow rhythm. Arm action is short, from a high ¾ slot. Fastball was straight, sitting 72-75 mph, for strikes. Curveball has 11/5 shape, slight breaking action, 59-64 mph. Changeup was straight, flashing occasional sink, 63-66 mph.

Mark Brown, 1B/LHP, Harlan, 2017
Solid frame, strong, 6-foot-2, 215-pound two-way player. Offensively hits from the left side open stance, short stride. Pull side approach, lifts the baseball, power potential, creates some whip. 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a long arm action across the diamond, ¾ slot, some accuracy (72 mph). On the mound works across his body, high ¾ arm slot, long arm action. Fastball is mostly straight, 74-75 mph. Curveball has sweeping action, 62-65 mph.

Jacob Chapman, 1B, Barrington, 2016
6-foot-2, 215-pound right handed first baseman. Defensively showed above average hands, some awareness around the bag. Arm played at 70 mph across the diamond, long action, high ¾ slot. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride. Strong hands, above average bat speed, 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.82 runner.

Aidan Dolan, RHP/3B, Lakes, 2017
6-foot, 195-pound two way player. On the mound he uses a slow rhythm delivery, regular effort. Arm works long, over-the-top. Fastball was mostly straight, flashes of sink, sitting 62-65 mph. Changeup was 59-61 mph, straight. Curveball was 57-58 mph, rolling action. Cutter was 56-57 mph, soft action. On the infield he showed solid hands. Arm works long, from over-the-top, 61 mph across the diamond. Offensively, hits from a balanced stance, short stride. Swing is a sit and spin style, uphill path, pull side approach. Exit velocity was 68 mph off a tee. Ran an 8.26 60.

Chris Hoffmann, 3B/C, Lake Zurich, 2016
5-foot-9, 180-pound multi-positional player. On the infield showed soft hands, clean exchanges. Throws with a long, loose arm action, from over-the-top slot, solid carry, 69 mph. Behind the dish receives with quality hands. Throws from over-the-top slot, short arm action, 65 mph from the crouch. Pop times were 2.32-2.44. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride, balanced through contact. Swing is short with solid extension. Exit velocity was 74 mph off a tee. Ran an 8.83 60.

Ryan Miller, 3B/RHP, North Scott (IA), 2016
6-foot-3, 170-pound athletic frame, lanky limbs, two-way player who projects well on the mound. His delivery has steady rhythm, some effort, falls off to the first base side after release. Arm works long, quick, clean, from over-the-top, with explosive release. Showed real feel for the fastball, living at the knees, sitting 75-77 mph with two plane action. Curveball has 11/5 shape, sharp breaking action, sitting 65-66 mph for consistent strikes. Changeup was 68-69 mph, with late arm side run. Offensively he hits with a wide stance, balanced through contact. Swing is compact, flat path, solid extension, explosive bat whip. Exit velocity was above average for his age at 81 mph off a tee. On the infield showed solid hands. Arm works long, from ¾ slot, accurate, with carry, 65 mph. Ran an 8.0 60.

Drew Mullarkey, 1B, Hinsdale Central, 2016
5-foot-11, 170-pound switch hitting first baseman. Offensivley hits from both sides of the plate, balanced stance, leg kick trigger. More natural right handed, some quickness in his hands, occasional whip. Hands drop from the left side, creates uphill path. Pull hitter from the left side. Defensively uses a long ¾ arm action across the diamond (66 mph). Shows natural actions around the bag. 8.42 runner.

Kellen Sarver, C/3B, Centennial, 2017
Lean frame, 5-foot-10, 145-pound left handed hitting catcher/third baseman. Offensively hits from a slightly open stance, toe tap stride. Showed occasional bat speed, uphill path, slightly longer, 71 mph exit velocity from the tee. Behind the plate uses a short over the top arm action, quick transfer, 69 mph out of the crouch. Posted pop times of 2.26-2.33. On the infield arm played at 69 mph across the diamond. Ran an 8.17 60.

Zachary Spence, 3B, Marian, 2017
Long limbed, 5-foot-11, 155-pound third baseman. Offensively hits from the left side, balanced stance, short stride, toe tap trigger. Bat speed present, longer path, slightly uphill, smooth swinger, likes to lift. 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively uses a short over the top arm action, above average hands, shows range for the position. 67 mph across the diamond.  

Logan Tate, 3B, Sacred Heart-Griffin, 2017
6-foot-1, 210-pound left handed hitting, third baseman. At the plate he has a balanced stance, short stride to contact, maintains balance. Swing works uphill, short path, average bat speed. Exit velocity was 77 mph off a tee. On the infield he has firm hands, clean exchanges. Arm works long, over-the-top, accurate, 66 mph. Ran a 7.94 60.

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