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2.17 Preseason All-State: Kansas HS Infielders Analysis

March 10, 2014

By Sean McCann and Rob Fleeup
Prep Baseball Report Kansas

We will continue rolling out our analysis of the Kansas high school players that participated in our 2.17.14 Preseason All-State event at 68’s Inside Sports in Overland Park, Kansas, moving on to the position players this week - today we cover the infield group. 

1. Brock Mason, IF, Blue Valley HS, Class of 2015
Mason is an athletic 6-foot-1, 170-pound right-hand hitting infielder.  At the plate he has a balanced set-up and inline stance, he has a simple, smooth hand load and mini-leg kick as he strides in place.  He has an easy swing but delivers the barrel on a level plane with bat speed working the gaps well.  He showed balance throughout his swing.  He recorded an exit velocity of 89 mph and ran a 4.31 home to 1B from the right side.  In the infield he is very fundamentally sound showing soft hands, quick feet and clean exchanges.  His infield throws were mostly accurate with a throwing velocity high of 82 mph with quick ¾ arm action. 

2.  Jordan Dingman, IF, Wichita Northwest HS, Class of 2015
Dingman is a tall, rangy and athletic 6-foot-4, 185-pound switch-hitting infielder.  From the right side of the plate he starts with an athletic, balanced set-up and uses no hand load and a short leg-kick stride.  He has a level-bat path producing middle of the field line drives with an exit velocity high of 82 mph and ran a 4.34 home to 1B.  From the left side he starts with a slightly open stance and balanced, athletic set-up.  He has a short, easy hand load and used a leg-kick stride and also mixed in a few swings with a toe-tap, simple stride – both sides he strides inline.  His left-handed swing had balance throughout and produced hard middle of the field line drives – his top exit velocity was 87 mph and ran a 4.29 home to 1B.  In the infield he showed fluid footwork, making clean exchanges and accurate throws with good carry and a throwing velocity as high as 79 mph. 

3. Brylie Ware, IF, Sedgewick HS, Class of 2015
Ware is a strong, athletic 6-foot, 195-pound infielder.  At the plate he starts with a balanced set up and wide stance.  He has a fluid load and short inline stride.  He has a very short, compact swing with bat speed.  His exit velocity high was 87 mph and ran a 4.28 home to 1B.  In the infield his hands and feet work well as he plays through the ball and he throws with a short ¾ motion.  Ware’s infield throwing velocity was 83 mph and made all accurate throws with carry to them. 

4. Colt Rusnak, IF, Olathe South HS, Class of 2015
Rusnak is an athletic 5-foot-8, 150-pound switch-hitting infielder.  From the left side of the plate he has a balanced set up and open stance, using smooth load and short inline stride.  He showed a very simple line drive approach with fluid rhythm.  His best exit velocity from the left side was clocked at 81 mph.  Hitting right-handed Rusnak uses a very similar approach, but strides more closed.  From the right side his top exit velocity was 82 mph.  He ran a 4.32 from both sides of the plate.  In the infield he has very quick actions – hands, feet and exchanges.  Rusnak was the most accurate thrower of the infield group with a throwing velocity as high as 80 mph from a short over-the-top motion.

5. Drake Bliss, IF, Maize South HS, Class of 2015
Bliss is an athletic 5-foot-10, 170-pound right-hand hitting infielder.  At the plate he starts with a balanced set up and slightly open stance.  He uses a simple, smooth hand load and short, controllable inline stride.  His bat path is level producing middle of the field line drives.  Bliss’ exit velocity was clocked at 79 mph.  In the infield he showed quick footwork, soft hands while making all strong, accurate throws.  His top throwing velocity was 81 mph.  He ran a 4.40 home to 1B from the right side. 

Best of the rest (alphabetical order)

Jacob Carpenter, 1B, Humboldt HS, Class of 2015
Carpenter is a physical, athletic 6-foot-2, 210-pound right-hand hitting first-baseman.  He has a balanced set-up with slightly open stance at the plate.  He has a simple, smooth hand load and strides inline with the pitcher.  His bat path is short and slightly uphill; he’s strong and somewhat upper half dominant.  He has good balance throughout his swing.  Carpenter’s top exit velocity was clocked at 80 mph and he ran a 4.22 home to 1B from the right side, a very good time especially considering how physical he is.  At 1B he showed average hands, fluid footwork making several accurate throws with a top velocity of 73 mph. 

Matthew Fischer, IF, Heritage Christian Academy, Class of 2015
Fischer is a 5-foot-9, 145-pound right-hand hitting infielder.  At the plate he starts with a balanced set up and slightly open stance, has a simple, smooth hand load and controlled inline stride.  His bat path is short to the ball, a very simple line drive approach.  His top exit velocity was 73 mph and he ran a 4.47 home-to-1B. In the infield he showed quick feet with average hands and played through the ball well.  He made accurate throws from a high ¾ slot with a top throwing velocity of 79 mph. 

Grant Hoppock, IF, Olathe East HS, Class of 2015
Hoppock is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-hand hitting infielder.  During batting practice Hoppock showed an athletic, balanced set-up with a slightly open stance.  He uses minimal hand load and has a controlled inline stride.  Hoppock has a short bat path, good extension and stays balanced throughout his swing – a very simple, repeatable gap-to-gap swing.  He produced an exit velocity as high as 84 mph and ran a 4.43 home to 1B from the right side.  In the infield he showed quick feet, soft hands and made clean exchanges while throwing with an easy low ¾ slot.  His throwing velocity was clocked as high as 78 and he made all accurate throws.  Hoppock has an impressive, tall athletic frame and is solid fundamentally in all areas (including on the mound), he’s going to be a very interesting prospect to follow as he gets stronger and his numbers improve (velocities, times, etc.). 

Isaac Leon, IF, Manhattan HS, Class of 2015
Leon is a 5-foot-9, 195-pound right-hand hitting infielder.  He hits from an open stance with a slight crouch, he swings his stride foot closed very early and has minimal hand load.  His bat path is very short producing mostly line drives. His exit velocity high was 79 mph and he ran a 5.00 home to 1B.  During infield work Leon showed average hands, fluid footwork and threw with an easy ¾ motion.  His top throwing velocity was clocked at 72 mph making mostly accurate throws.

Sean Reardon, IF, Blue Valley HS, Class of 2015
Reardon is a 6-foot, 190-pound right-hand hitting infielder.  He starts with a tall, slightly open stance then uses a double toe-tap stride while slightly lowered his hands during his load.  His swing is short and compact – a line drive approach. He produced an exit velocity as high as 76 mph and ran a 4.60 home to 1B from the right side.  In the infield Reardon showed average hands and feet while throwing with a very short, snap type of motion.  His top infield throw was clocked at 73 mph. 

Sherwin Salim, IF, Wichita East HS, Class of 2015
Salim is a 5-foot-8, 160-pound right-hand hitting infielder.  In batting practice he showed a balanced set up, slightly closed stance and strides closed with a short, quick hand load.  He has a short bat path and works the middle of the field.  His top exit velocity was 79 mph and he ran a 4.43 home to 1B from the right side.  During infield drills he showed average hands, fluid footwork and clean exchanges. He made all accurate throws and dialed in a top throwing velocity of 80 mph with a short ¾ motion.

Trent Smith, IF, Wellsville HS, Class of 2015
Smith is a thin, athletic 5-foot-8, 135-pound right-hand hitting infielder.  At the plate he has a balanced set up and open stance.  He has a fluid backward hand load and strides inline using a small leg kick.  He delivers the barrel on a level path and is a line drive type of hitter with good rhythm.  His top exit velocity was 72 mph and ran a 4.35 home to 1B from the right side.  In the infield he showed quick feet and hands and throws with a loose high ¾ motion.  He was one of the most accurate throwers of the infield group with a throwing velocity up to 74 mph.

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