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2.21 Winter ID Showcase: Infield Analysis

March 25, 2015

Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

On Saturday, February 21, Prep Baseball Report-Missouri held the Winter ID Showcase at Prodigy Baseball Academy in Parkville, Missouri.  Over 60 players from the 2018 to 2015 classes participated in the event from Missouri and Kansas.  Over the next several days, we will break down each position, breaking down the infielders today.

CLICK HERE, to see in the Instant Analysis for the Winter ID Showcase. 

We will be updating the Missouri and Kansas player rankings in all classes over the next few weeks. Here is a look at the infield prospects for each class in alphabetical order.

2015 Infield Prospects

Tyson Banowetz, 1B/RHP, Andover (KS), 2015
Banowetz is a 6-foot-1 175-pound first-baseman.  At the plate, starts with high hands, balanced stance, minimal stride, level path with line-drive approach, 75 mph exit velo, 4.41 home-to-first. Defensively, fluid footwork, clean exchange high-three quarters arm slot, accurate throws, 78 mph positional velo.

Joseph Stovall, C/1B, Halstead (KS), 2015
Stovall is an athletically built 6-foot-2 210-pound C/1B in the 2015 class.  Offensively, open stance, short stride, quick bat speed, mostly pull-side line drives during BP, 76 mph exit velo, 4.40 home-to-first. At first base, positional velo of 67 mph, high three-quarters arm slot, accurate throws, quick footwork, clean exchange.

2016 Infield Prospects

Branden Bennett, OF/RHP/ 3B, Troy Buchanon (MO), 2016
Bennett is a 6-foot 170-pound OF/RHP/RHP. Bennett has a slightly open stance, short stride, smooth load, quick bat, middle approach, 84 mph exit velo, 4.56 home-to-first.  On the infield, high-three quarters release, soft hands, clean exchange, accurate throws, 74 mph infield velo. Lean/athletic frame.

Chris Bolte, 3B/RHP, Park Hill (MO), 2016
Bolte is a 6-foot-2 185-pound 3B/RHP in the 2016 class.  Bolte starts with an open stance at the plate, uses a toe touch for timing, square stride to the ball, level path through the ball, uses middle of the field, 80 mph exit velo, 4.72 home-to-first.  On the infield, fields the ball in athletic position, hands out front, high three-quarters release, mostly accurate throws, 75 mph positional velo. Strong build with wide shoulders.

Reid Browning, 1B/RHP, Washburn Rural, (KS), 2016
Browning is a 6-foot-7 180-pound 1B/RHP in the 2016 class.  Browning starts in a crouched/open position at the plate, uses toe touch and lands square.  Smooth rhythm, gap-to-gap approach, 78 mph exit velo, 4.37 home-to-first.  Defensively, quick footwork, clean exchange, high-three quarters release, accurate throws, 73 mph positional velo.  Slender/long-legged build.

Robbie Collier, Kearney (MO), 2016
Collier is a strong  5-foot-11 205-pound C/3B in the 2016 class.  Offensively, balanced set-up, stride is slightly closed, slightly uphill bat path, gap-to-gap approach, power potential, 90 mph exit velo, 4.40 home-to-first. On the infield, smooth footwork, clean exchange, high three-quarters release, plays through the ball, 74 mph positional velo.

Sam Derks, 1B/RHP, Lee’s Summit (MO), 2016
Derks is a strong 6-foot-3 230-pound first-baseman switch-hitting 1B/RHP in Missouri’s 2016 class.  From the right side, opens stance, lands square, smooth load, fluid rhythm, middle-to-pull approach, consistent quality contact during batting practice, 89 mph exit velo, one of the top for the event, from the left side, open stance, dives with front foot, smooth load, pull approach, 82 mph exit velo, 5.03 home-to-first.  At first base, fluid footwork, soft hands, clean exchange, momentum towards target to throw, 76 mph positional velo.

Zack Ehlen, SS, Grain Valley (MO), 2016
Ehlen is an athletic, quick twitch 5-foot-10 170-pound SS in the 2016 class. Ehlen has an athletic stance at the plate, minimal load, smooth rhythm, level path to extension, balanced finish, middle-approach.  75 mph exit velocity, 4.29 home-to-first, top among infielders.  Defensively, quick footwork and quick exchange, ball gets out of glove in a hurry, over-the-top release, 73 mph positional velo. 

Jacob Flores, 2B/SS, Sumner Academy (MO), 2016
Flores is a 5-foot-8 179-pound 2B/SS.  Flores starts in an athletic stance, little movement in load, short stride, short path to contact, gap-to-gap approach, 81 mph exit velo, runs a 4.82 home-to-first.  Defensively, soft hands, fields ball in athletic position out front, clean footwork and exchange, pats glove, plays through ball, 62 mph positional velo, accurate throws. 

Matt Gastner, 3B/1B, Liberty (MO), 2016
Gastner is a lean/projectable 6-foot-3 190-pound 3B/1B.  At the plate, simple/repeatable swing mechanics, short stride, fluid rhythm, hit the ball flat to middle-pull side during BP, 81 mph exit velo, runs a 4.63 home-to-first.  Defensively, quick footwork, fluid exchange, over-the-top release, mostly accurate throws, 79 mph positional velo.

Desmond Grayson, OF/1B, Olathe North (KS), 2016
Grayson is a strong/athletic 6-foot 195-pound left-handed hitting first-baseman in Kansas’ 2016 class. Grayson starts in a balanced position and loads with quite hands.  Smooth load, lands closed, fluid rhythm, middle-to-pull approach with pull power. Quick bat speed, 85 mph exit velo, gets down line in 4.20 seconds.  Defensively, soft hands, quick feet, momentum towards target to throw, plays through ball, 72 mph positional velo. 

Trenton Green, RHP/1B, Liberty (MO), 2016
Green is a strong 6-foot-3 195-pound RHP/1B.  Green has an open stance at the plate, lands slightly closed, no wasted movement in load, level path to contact, quick bat speed, gap-to-gap approach, pull power, 86 mph exit velo, runs 4.70 home-to-first.  At first base, over-the-top arm slot, quick feet, clean exchange, plays through ball, 70 mph positional velo, accurate throws.

Brandon Green, 2B/OF, Liberty (MO), 2016
Green is a 6-foot 166-pound 2B/OF in the 2016 class.  At the plate, Green has an athletic stance, smooth load, controlled leg kick, lands square, loose hands, short path to contact, level path, consistent line drives to middle-pull side, 86 mph exit velo, gets down in line 4.72-seconds. On the infield, fluid footwork, clean exchange, loose arm action, high three-quarters arm slot, accurate throws, 76 mph positional velo.

Brayden Jensen, 3B/RHP, Truman (MO), 2016
Jensen is a lean/athletic 6-foot2 170-pound 3B/RHP.  Jensen has a balanced stance, fluid rhythm, open stance, quick bat speed, consistent line drive to middle-pull gap, level path to extension, 83 mph exit velo, 4.71 home-to-first.  On the infield, loose arm action, arm works, clean exchange, fluid footwork, accurate throws, plays through ball, 84 mph positional velo, high for the event. Projectable build with athletic actions.  

Christopher Kaufman, RHP/2B, Park Hill (MO), 2016
Kaufman is a 5-foot-10 160-pound RHP/2B.  Kaufman has an athletic stance, smooth load, and small stride.  Short path to contact, produces consistent line drives to middle of cage during BP, 78 mph exit velo, 4.75 home-to-first.   On the infield, 76 mph positional velo, attacks ball, quick feet, fluid exchange, plays through ball, accurate throws.

Alec Koehn, 3B/RHP, Dodge City (KS), 2016
Koehn is a 6-foot-1 180-pound 3B/RHP.  Koehn starts with a wide set up at the plate and uses a short stride, smooth load, quick bat speed, and level extension.  Middle-to-oppo approach with repeatable swing mechanics, exit velo 75 mph, 4.63 home-to-first.  On defense, high three-quarters release, fluid footwork, clean exchange, 77 mph across the infield, accurate throws.

Ian McWilliams, 2B/SS, Clinton (MO), 2016
McWiliams is a 5-foot-8 160-pound 2B/SS in the 2016 class.  McWilliams has an athletic stance, with a short stride, and level path through the ball.  He has a middle-to-pull approach with an exit velo of 74 mph and gets down the line in 4.44-seconds.  On the infield, McWilliams has a positional velo of 74 mph, high three-quarters arm slot, plays through the ball with momentum towards target, pats glove, quick footwork. 

Anthony Mebruer, SS/2B, Linn (MO), 2016
Mebruer is an athletic/lean 6-foot-1 160-pound SS/2B in the 2016 class.  At the plate, Mebruer has an athletic set-up, no wasted movement in load, short stride, quick bat speed, gap-to-gap approach, consistent line drives during BP, repeatable swing mechanics, 81 mph exit velo, 4.56 home-to-first.  On the infield, quick footwork, fields ball out front in athletic position, short three-quarters arm slot, quick exchange and release, 73 mph positional velo. 

Ward Mershon, 2B/SS, Staley (MO), 2016
Mershon is a 5-foot-6 145-pound 2B/SS in the 2016 class.  Mershon is balanced in his stance, with a small load and short stride.  He has a short path to the ball and is balanced throughout his swing, 82 mph exit velo, 4.63 home-to-first.  On the infield, soft hands, fluid footwork, loose high three-quarters arm slot, accurate throws, 72 mph infield velocity.

Jason Needham, 1B/3B, Staley (MO), 2016
Needham is a 5-foot-8 190-pound 1B/3B in the 2016 class.  At the plate, Needham has an open stance, controlled leg kick, slight hand load, level path, quick bat, gap-to-gap approach, 79 mph exit velo, 5.19 home-to-first.  On the infield, fielded all balls cleanly, fluid footwork, clean hand-to-glove transfer, accurate throws, firstbase velo of 72 mph.

Van Oswald, 3B/RHP, Truman (MO), 2016
Oswald is a strong5-foot-10 180-pound 3B/RHP in Missouri’s 2016 class.  Oswald starts with open stance and uses a leg kick. He uses a gap-to-gap approach with quick bat speed.  82 mph exit velo and 4.64 home-to-first.  On the infield, 82 mph positional velo, on of the events best velos, attacks ball, quick footwork, momentum towards target, clean exchange, over-the-top release, mostly accurate throws.

Landis Rowden, SS/2B, Wamego (KS), 2016
Rowden is a 5-foot-11 165-pound SS/2B in Kansas’ 2016 class.  At the plate, tall/balanced set up, efficient load, short stride, short path to contact, level extension, 75 mph exit velo, 4.59 home-to-first.  On the infield, loose high three-quarters arm slot, fluid footwork, clean exchange, 78 mph positional velo, mostly accurate throws.

Jerod Thomas, 1B/OF, Platte County (MO), 2016
Thomas is a 6-foot-1 175-pound 1B/OF in the 2016. At the plate, Thomas has a tall/balanced stance, leg kick, quit hands, gap-to-gap approach, pull power, squared up balls during BP, 77 mph exit velo, 4.47 home-to-first.  At first base, 70 mph positional velo, high three-quarters arm slot, made all plays cleanly, soft hands, clean exchange.

John Thompson, 2B/3B, Raymore-Peculiar (MO), 2016
Thompson is a strong 5-foot-10 177-pound left-handed hitting 2B/3B in the 2016 class.  Thompson starts with an open stance, smooth load, short stride, loose hands, quick bat speed, squared ball up consistently in BP, gap-to-gap approach, 83 mph exit velo, runs 4.27 home-to-first, one of the top times for the event. On the infield, fielded all balls cleanly, fluid exchange, quick footwork, mostly accurate throws, high-three quarters release.

Logan Vicin, OF/RHP/2B, Maize South (KS), 2016
Vicin is a 5-foot-5 155-pound  OF/RHP/2B in the 2016 class.  At the plate, starts open, lands slightly closed, level path with extension, middle-to-oppo approach, balanced finish, 82 mph exit velo, 4.63 home-to-first.  On the infield,  72 mph positional velo, clean exchange, fluid footwork, quick release, loose arm action, high three-quarters release.

2017 Infield Prospects

Logan Bexten, RHP/SS, Fatima (MO), 2017
Bexten is a 5-foot-8 165-pound RHP/SS.  Offensively, athletic stance, short stride, smooth/simple load, level path, consistent contact up the middle, balanced finish, 78 mph exit velo, 4.91 home-to-first.  Defensively, clean footwork and glove-to-hand exchange, high three-quarters release, plays through the ball, accurate throws, 67 mph positional velo.

Brett Ingram, 3B/2B, Blue Valley (KS), 2017
Ingram is a 5-foot-9 170-pound 3B/2B.  At the plate, balanced set-up, smooth/controlled load, short stride, slightly closed, short path to contact, quick bat speed, balanced finish, 77 mph exit velo, 4.90 home-to-first. Defensively, 72 mph positional velo, fluid footwork, soft hands, clean exchange, plays through the ball, over-the-top release, accurate throws

Vincent Vega, SS/2B, Shawnee Mission North (MO), 2017
Vega is a 5-foot-8 160-pound SS/2B in the 2017 class.  Vega has balanced set up with leg kick, level path and gap-to-gap approach.  78 mph exit velo, 4.82 home-to-first.  Defensively, Vega has 70 mph infield velo, plays through the ball with momentum towards target, quick feet, clean exchange, accurate throws.

2018 Infield Prospects

William Dennis, 1B/LHP/OF, Blue Valley Northwest (KS), 2018
Dennis is a projectable 6-foot-3 188-pound left-handed hitting 1B/LHP.  At the plate, athletic set-up, smooth load with no waisted movements, worked the middle of the cage, balanced finish, level bat path to extension, 81 mph exit velo, 4.63 home-to-first.  At first base, fluid footwork, clean exchange, momentum towards target, plays through ball, high three-quarters release, 69 mph infield velo, accurate throws.  Dennis will be a player to follow in the Kansas 2018 class. 

Max Hunter, 3B/C, Platte County (MO), 2018
Hunter is a physical 6-foot 175-pound 3B/C. At the plate, starts with open stance, slight hand load, smooth rhythm, line-drives to mostly pull side during BP, power potential, 82 mph exit velo, 4.53 home-to-first. On the infield,  quick footwork, clean exchange, long arm swing, attacks ball, momentum towards target, 78 mph positional velo. Physical player to follow in the 2018 class.

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