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Class of 2015 Games: Middle Infield Analysis

September 5, 2014

By Sean McCann
Prep Baseball Report Kansas

The Kansas Class of 2015 Games took place on Wednesday, August 6th at Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia, Kansas.  This first-ever event featured a number of the top uncommitted seniors from across the state.

There were several two-way players (pitcher + position player) at this event, but keep in mind that the evaluations below are based on the position player side only.  

Many of the middle infielders improved their stock with their performance at this event which will be reflected when we publish our next updated and expanded class of 2015 rankings later this month. 

Below are the scouting reports on the middle infielders that participated in the event. Click on the player's headline link to be directed to their profile with video from their performance.

Top Prospects

1. Josh Norlin, SS/2B, Andover, 2015
Norlin is a very athletic 5-foot-9, 160-pound left-hand hitting middle infielder.  Balanced set-up, inline stance at the plate.  Simple, inline stride.  Smooth hand load, loose hands, lower half works, gets barrel out front, bat speed, maintains balance throughout, finishes with extension.  Easy, athletic line drive swing.  Squared the ball up in the middle of the field in batting practice.  2-for-3 in game with a stolen base.  84 exit velocity, 4.28 home to first base.  Fluid footwork at shortstop, quick hands, athletic actions, high three-quarters arm action, arm works, 80 mph throwing velocity.  Talented left-hand hitting infield prospect that does everything on the field with athleticism and ease.

2. Michael Sinks, SS/2B, Lawrence, 2015
Sinks is a strong 5-foot-10, 185-pound right-hand hitting infielder.  At the plate showed a balanced set-up, inline stance, strides inline, fluid hand load, level bat path, bat speed, lower half works, maintains balance, finishes with extension.  Simple, easy, repeatable swing, middle-oppo approach.  89 exit velocity – top mark of middle infield group. 4.56 home to first base from the right side.  1-for-3 with a double in the game.  Moved well in the infield, quick feet, clean exchanges, three quarters throwing motion, arm works, 82 throwing velocity, all accurate throws.  Grades out well across the board. 

Best of the rest (listed alphabetically)

Matthew Baca, SS/C, Goddard, 2015
Baca is a thin, athletic 5-foot-10, 165-pound right-hand hitting shortstop.  At the plate starts with a tall set-up, open stance.  Long, inline stride and smooth hand load.  Short bat path, lower half works, loose hands, squared the ball up.  76 exit velocity, 4.59 home to first base from the right side.  Simple, line-drive approach.  Defensively showed athletic actions, clean exchanges, easy three-quarters throwing motion, all accurate throws, 79 mph throwing velocity.  Athletic player with plenty of room to fill out physically.

Paul Bachelor, SS, Shawnee Mission Northwest, 2015
Paul Bachelor is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound right-hand hitting shortstop/third baseman.  Hits from a slight crouch, open stance, strides inline, no hand load, loose hands, middle of the field line drive approach.  77 exit velocity, 4.38 home to first base from the right side.  Defensively showed quick, athletic footwork.  Attacked the ball, clean exchanges.  Short, quick high three-quarters arm action, very accurate throws.  82 throwing velocity – top mark among infielders at the event.  4.38 home to first base from the right side.  Stood out defensively, needs to add strength.

Cooper Karlin, SS/2B, Lawrence Free State, 2015
Karlin is an athletic 5-foot-7, 155-pound left-hand hitting middle infielder.  Balanced set-up at the plate.  Wide, inline stance.  Short, slightly closed stride.  Minimal, smooth hand load.  Short bat path.  Line drive, oppo approach with fluid rhythm.  81 exit velocity, 4.31 home to first base.  Plus athletic actions in the infield, quick hands and feet.  Short high three-quarters arm action.  75 mph throwing velocity, all accurate throws.  Potential plus defender at second base and top of the order hitter at next level.

James Leitch, SS, Bishop Carroll, 2015
Leitch is a strong 6-foot-2, 180-pound right-hand hitting shortstop.  Tall set-up, open stance at the plate.  Knee-to-knee leg kick, slightly closed stride, no hand load.  Simple, repeatable line drive swing.  Middle of the field approach.  83 exit velocity, 4.65 home to first base.  2-for-3 with a single and double in the game.  Moves around well at shortstop, clean exchanges, low three-quarters throwing motion, all accurate throws.  74 mph throwing velocity. 

Jesse Perez, 2B/OF, Shawnee Heights, 2015
Perez is an athletic-framed 5-foot-10, 165-pound right-hand hitting second baseman/outfielder.  Hits from slight crouch, open stance, strides inline, long hand load, slightly uphill bat path, lower half works, easy swing, gap-to-gap approach.  80 exit velocity, 4.37 home to first base.  1-for-3 in the game.  In the outfield showed athletic footwork, clean exchanges, played through the ball, loose high three-quarters throwing motion, arm works, 79 mph throwing velocity.  Fielded everything cleanly in the infield, clean exchanges, loose high-three quarters throwing motion, every throw on the money, 75 mph throwing velocity.

Brock Randels, SS/3B, Baldwin, 2015
Randels is a 5-foot-10, 180-pound right-hand hitting infielder.  Tall set-up, inline stance at the plate.  Minimal stride and hand load.  Short bat path, short finish.  Simple line drive swing, slight pull approach.  76 exit velocity, 4.25 home to first base from the right side – one of the top times in camp.  In the infield showed soft hands, athletic footwork.  Short three-quarters arm action, 76 mph throwing velocity, all accurate throws.

Trent Smith, 2B/OF, Wellsville, 2015
Smith is an athletic 5-foot-8, 145-pound right-hand hitting second baseman/outfielder.  At the plate showed an athletic set-up, open stance, reverse toe-tap, strides inline, smooth hand load, short bat path, slight pull approach.  4.13 home to first base from the right side – the top time in camp.  78 exit velocity.  Collected one hit in the game.  Long competitive at bats, tough to strike out.  Very quick feet in the infield, clean exchanges.  Short three-quarters throwing motion, accurate throws.  74 mph throwing velocity.  High-energy, aggressive player that can pick it in the infield and run.

Jace Snodgrass, 2B/OF, Derby, 2015
Snodgrass is a thin, athletic 6-foot-1, 168-pound right-hand hitting second baseman/outfielder.  Tall set-up at the plate, inline stance.  Simple, inline stride.  Hands drop during load, slight uphill bat path, short swing, short finish, middle of the field line drive approach. 79 exit velocity, 4.28 home to first base from the right side – one of the top times in camp.  1-for-3 in the game with a stolen base.  Fielded everything cleanly at shortstop.  Long, high three-quarters throwing motion.  67 mph throwing velocity.

Brendan Welch, 2B/SS, Goddard Eisenhower, 2015
Welch is a thin, athletic-framed 6-foot, 155-pound switch-hitting middle infielder.  From the right side of the plate showed an athletic set-up, open stance, strides slightly closed, long backward hand load, level bat path, loose hands, line drives, slight pull approach, 82 mph exit velocity, 4.56 home to first base.  Hitting left-handed has a slight crouch, wide stance, no stride, length in hand load, loose hands, slight uphill bat path, 77 mph exit velocity, 4.47 home to first base.  Collected one hit in the game.  At shortstop showed easy, athletic actions, soft hands, three-quarters throwing motion, 75 mph throwing velocity, mostly accurate throws.

Shade Wondra, SS, Great Bend, 2015
Wondra is a 5-foot-11, 180-pound switch-hitting shortstop.  From the right side of the plate, tall set-up, open stance, smooth hand load, short bat path.  Line drive, gap-to-gap approach, 82 exit velocity, 4.55 home to first base.  Hitting left-handed showed a tall set-up, open stance, strides slightly open, smooth hand load, level bat path, middle of the field approach, 77 exit velocity, 4.47 home to first base.  In the infield fielded everything cleanly, throws with short, low three quarters arm action, 77 mph throwing velocity, accurate throws.

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