By Steve Nielsen

The corner infielders saw some strong-bodied athletes that displayed aggressive swings at the plate. Here’s how we’ve rated the corner infielders from the October 14^th Unsigned Senior Showcase.

1. Brandon Edwards, Bloomington HS, 1B/LHP, Class of 2013
Edwards is an athletically built 5-foot-9, 180-pound two-way player who showed well in all facets of the game. Edwards displayed a long arm action producing carry and accuracy to his targets both from first base and the outfield. He showed extremely soft hands and fluid footwork around the bag and when attacking the baseball in the outfield. Edwards showed an aggressive approach at the plate; he showed quick hands, producing explosive bat speed. He hits with a pull side approach, showing good pop to that side.

2. Connor Hogan, Lincoln-Way West HS, INF, Class of 2013
Hogan is a 5-foot-10, 165-pound infielder who showed well from third base. Hogan’s arm plays well from the left side of the field, using a short over the top arm action that showed above average carry across the diamond. His exchange is clean and plays well from third base showing soft hands and the ability to play the bunt well on the run. Offensively, Hogan has a short quick swing that produces gap to gap line drives. He hits from an open, slightly crouched stance and takes an aggressive approach in the box. All around Hogan showed well as a gap to gap hitting third baseman at the next level.

3. Ethan Gasbarro, Glenbard South HS, INF/OF/RHP, Class of 2013
Gasbarro is a highly talented athlete who can play multiple positions on the field. The 6-foot, 155-pound Gasbarro showcased a live arm, throwing it 86 across the infield and 92 mph from the outfield. Gasbarro’s arm is long and produces carry; he showed athletic actions in every facet of his game, also running a 6.97 60. On the mound he throws from a ¾ arm slot that produced sink in the zone. He controlled that sink well at 85-86 mph. His breaking ball showed some sweeping actions at 70-71 mph. He showed the ability to throw his breaking ball for strikes with good arm speed. His change up exhibited sink and again threw it for strikes at 73-75 mph.

4. John Dreveny, Downers Grove South HS, 3B/OF, Class of 2013
Dreveny is a long 6-foot-3, 196-pound athlete who showed well in multiple facets of the game. Dreveny stays inside the baseball and gets good extension. Dreveny hits from an open stance and slightly dives back to the plate while using a good lower half to get the barrel to the baseball. Dreveny produced solid line drives to both gaps while staying balanced throughout his swing. Dreveny played through the baseball well, defensively showcasing fluid footwork and soft hands. His arm played well at 83 mph, showcasing a short quick release. Dreveny also showed exit speeds at 87 mph from the tee.

5. Wendell Ferguson, Brother Rice HS, LHP/1B, Class of 2013
Ferguson is a left-handed first baseman who showed soft hands and solid footwork around the bag. He showed a good arm from first base with accuracy at 82 mph across the diamond. At the plate Ferguson showed good extension with some pop from the left side. He uses a short stride, exhibiting good bat speed and balance throughout his swing. On the mound Ferguson projects well as a long armed lefty that throws from a ¾ arm slot with good arm speed.  He throws slightly across his body with solid rhythm. His fastball was recorded at 83-85 mph, showing some cut action. Ferguson threw a 69-72 mph breaking ball along with a change up at 76-80 mph, which also displayed some cut with sink. Ferguson showed that he could be tough on left-handed hitters with his cutting actions from a ¾ arm slot going across his body.

6. Paul O’Toole, Fenwick HS, 3B, Class of 2013
O’Toole showed solid attributes across the board. At 5-foot-11, 180-pounds, O’Toole displayed good athleticism, running a 6.91 60 and showing solid hands in the field. His arm played well at 79 mph across the diamond. O’Toole has a gap to gap approach, using a short bat path with solid extension. He featured solid balance throughout using a good lower half.

7. Ryne Blanton, Richmond Burton HS, 3B/RHP, Class of 2013
Blanton is a strong bodied two-way player who stands 6-foot-1, 190 pounds. Defensively, Blanton uses a long loose arm action showing good carry across the diamond at 82 mph. His exchange is clean and showed good hands at third base. Offensively, Blanton hits from an open stance using a good lower half and working mainly to his pull side. On the mound, Blanton showcased a fastball at 83-85 mph. Blanton’s fastball demonstrated some sink with a heavy feel to it as he consistently pounded the zone. His curveball showed 11/5 action late and in the strike zone, at 69-71 mph; he threw his breaking ball with good arm speed as well. Blanton’s changeup is a quality pitch showing sink and consistently keeping it down in the zone, he also showed deception throwing the pitch at good arm speed. Overall, Blanton showed good feel for three pitches.

8. Brandon Vamarasi, Evanston HS, 3B/1B, Class of 2013
Vamarasi is a strong bodied 6-foot, 210-pound corner infielder who features a strong lower half. Vamarasi showed well at the plate, where he hit with an open stance and showed good balance throughout his swing. He hits with a short stride and an active lower half, producing above average bat speed with a short and level path. Vamarasi lets the ball travel well and creates some whip through the zone. Defensively, he uses a long over the top arm action to deliver accurate throws to his target. Vamarasi showed good hands and ran a 7.20 in the 60.

9. Adam Bauer, 1B/3B, Belleville West HS, Class of 2013
Bauer is a projectable 6-foot-4, 160-pound left-handed hitting corner infielder. Bauer, who ran a 7.02 60, impressed with his athletic feet around first base and soft hands. Bauer, who has long legs and arms, exhibited some bat speed and athletic hands from the left-side of the plate.  As Bauer continues to develop physically, he should develop more power in the coming years. 

10. Colten Meador, 1B/RHP, Mt. Vernon HS, Class of 2013
Meador is an athletically built 6-foot-2, 210-pound two-player who showed well in all facets. Tools-wise, he ran a 7.28 60 and was clocked at 81 mph from the infield. Offensively, he showcased fast hands and had an aggressive plate approach. The ball jumped off his bat with pull side power potential. On the mound, the right-hander’s fastball sat at 80-81 mph. He also showed feel with his changeup and curveball.

Best of the rest (Alphabetical Order)

Luke Barajaz, Walther Lutheran HS, 3B, Class of 2013
Barajaz is a 5-foot-10, 200-pound third baseman that threw it 76 mph across the infield and running a 7.89 60. At the plate Barajaz showed occasional strength to his pull side and posted exit speeds at 79 mph from the tee.

Charkael Eggleston, Morgan Park HS, LHP/1B, Class of 2013
Eggleston is an athletically built 6-foot-2, 180-pound two-way player. On the mound, Eggleston comes from a high-3/4 arm slot and showcased a fastball that topped at 80 mph. He also showed a curveball, in the 63-66 range, in addition to a changeup. Positionally, Eggleston ran a 7.25 60 and was clocked at 75 from his position. He showed some swing looseness from the left side of the plate as well.

Emmitt Harrington, 1B/RHP, Loyola Academy HS, Class of 2013
Harrington features a sturdy 6-foot-2, 210-pound frame. On the mound, the right-hander operates from a high-3/4 slot with a fastball that topped at 76 mph. He also threw a 68-69 mph curveball and a 71 mph changeup.  Defensively, Harrington showed solid footwork around first base and glove control.

Ryan Hickman, Sacred Heart Griffin HS, 1B/OF, Class of 2013
Hickman is a 6-foot, 195-pound first baseman that displayed a 68 mph arm across the infield and ran an 8.20 60. Hickman’s exit speed was 73 mph from the tee where he hit with a balanced set up and a short stride.

Mario Gargano, De La Salle HS, 3B, Class of 2013
Gargano is a 5-foot-10, 165-pound third baseman who showed a playable arm from the left side of the infield. Clocking in at 75 mph across the diamond, Gargano uses a shorter, quick arm action which showed accuracy and some carry to its target. He also showed fluid footwork and athleticism displayed by his ability to field the slow roller with good body control.

Luke Horton, 3B/RHP, Batavia HS, Class of 2013
The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Horton is a two-way player who features a projectable, athletic frame. Offensively, he showcased barrel whip through the zone and the ability to drive the ball with some backspin carry. Defensively, Horton moves well laterally and plays through the ball. He was clocked at 69 mph across the infield. On the mound, his fastball topped at 72 mph.

Wesley Jones, St. Francis HS, 3B/RHP, Class of 2013
Jones is a 5-foot-8, 165-pound two-way player that possesses an athletic frame. Defensively he threw it 73 mph across the infield. Offensively Jones hits with a short stride and showed exits speed of 77 mph off of the tee.

Ethan McGrew, 1B, Vernon Hills HS, Class of 2013
The 6-foot-2, 215-pound McGrew has a strong lower half and demonstrated pull-side power potential. He hits from a slightly open setup, and showed barrel whip through the zone with excellent extension after contact. Mechanically, McGrew is short and simple to the baseball. He also ran a 7.50 60 and was clocked at 74 mph from first base.

Ryan Moritz, LHP/1B, St. Joseph HS, Class of 2013
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound is a strong-bodied two-way player. On the mound, he operates from an over-the-top arm slot and is short on the backside. His fastball sat in the 76-77 mph range, and he also flashed a 64-65 mph curveball. Offensively, demonstrated some pull-side power potential from the left side.

Christian Niewinski, Morris HS, 3B/RHP, Class of 2013
Niewinski is a 5-foot-8, 175-pound two-way player. Niewinski showed some good accuracy across the diamond at 73 mph. He showed to be a line drive type hitter posting exit speeds of 75 mph from the tee.

Ryan Nikolich, RHP/3B, Niles Notre Dame HS, Class of 2013
The 6-foot-2, 205-pound Nikolich comes from an over-the-top arm slot and demonstrated some rhythm and tempo on the mound. His fastball topped at 81 mph while his curveball checked in at 64-65. He also commanded his 73-76 mph changeup down in the zone for strikes.

Isaac Nimick, St. Charles East HS, 3B/MIF, Class of 2013
Nimick is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound infielder that owns a strong built athletic frame. Nimick threw it 74 mph across the infield. Offensively, the left handed hitter recorded exit speeds up to 80 mph from the tee, while producing some line drives to his pull side.

Daniel Patterson, RHP/3B, Whitney Young HS, Class of 2013
The 6-foot-2, 190-pound Patterson topped at 84 mph, sitting in the 81-83 range, coming from a high-3/4 arm slot. Patterson has a short arm action and comes across his body. He also showcased a 69-72 mph curveball and a 75-77 mph changeup. Positionally, Patterson ran a 7.20 60 and was clocked at 78 mph from his position.

Thomas Prescott, Lyons Township HS, LHP/1B, Class of 2013
Prescott is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound two-way player who showed well on the mound. Prescott is a lefty that has a very deceptive delivery. His arm action is short and quick while hard to pick up when coming out of his hand. His fastball was clocked at 80-83 mph with arm side run and showed the ability to command the zone with it. Prescott’s curveball produces a sweeping action that he throws with comparable arm speed to his fastball. He showed the ability to be able to keep this pitch down in the zone with regularity. Prescott also featured a change up at 71-72 mph with sink that was also thrown with good arm speed and deception. Offensively, Prescott showed the ability to make hard contact using a level bat path and a good approach. Prescott also ran a 7.10 60.

Logan Spangler, Midwest Central HS, RHP/3B, Class of 2013
Spangler is a lanky 6-foot-2, 170-pound two-way player. On the mound Spangler throws from a ¾ arm slot with easy effort. His fastball showed slight sink at 76-77 mph and threw it consistently down in the zone. His breaking ball showed some sweeping action at 68-67 mph, while his change up was 71-72 mph also down in the zone. Spangler showed a 78 mph arm across the infield while running a 7.13 60. At the plate Spangler showed a balanced set up while displaying the ability to find the barrel using a level path to the baseball.

Brendt Spohr, Grant HS, 1B/3B, Class of 2013
Spohr is a 6-foot-1, 215-pound corner infielder. Spohr showed accuracy to his target with some carry at 79 mph from first base. His hands work well around the bag and plays through the ball well. Offensively, Spohr hits from a balanced set up using a short stride and displaying some gap to gap tendencies. He showed some pop while recording exit speeds up to 85 mph from the tee.

Chans Sugden, RHP/1B, Galesburg HS, Class of 2013
Sugden has an athletic 6-foot-2, 187-pound frame, one that should continue develop in the coming years. On the mound, Sugden's athleticism is apparent. His arm is quick and loose, coming from an over-the-top slot. The ball is easy out of his hand, with a fastball that sat at 82-83 mph. His 75 mph slider showed as his best pitch, as it has sharp two-plane break. He also threw a firm changeup and a splitter, in the 74-75 range. Offensively, he hits from an open setup and showcased some bat speed. He also ran a 7.27 60 and was clocked at 78 mph from first base.

Jordan Tharp, RHP/3B, Tri-Point HS, Class of 2013
Tharp is an athletically built 6-foot-4, 190-pound two-way player who ran a 7.19 60. On the mound, the right-hander’s fastball topped at 82 mph, coming from an over-the-top arm slot with some sink. He also threw a 63-64 mph curveball and a 73-75 mph changeup; the change also demonstrated some sinking action.

Erik Zepeda, Notre Dame College Prep HS, 1B/3B, Class of 2013
Zepeda is a strong 6-foot-1, 210-pound corner infielder. Zepeda uses a short arm action across the diamond at 76 mph. He also ran the 60 in 7.31. Offensively, Zepeda hits from an open stance with high hands. He showed the ability to occasionally find the barrel and produce line drives.

More positional breakdowns are soon to follow, so keep checking back for more updates and scouting reports from last Sunday’s Unsigned Senior Showcase.