Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Class of 2016 Games: Corner Infielders Analysis

September 1, 2015

Shon Plack
Kansas Scouting Director

On Wednesday, August 5, Prep Baseball Report-Kansas held the Class of 2016 Games at Trusler Sports Complex in Emporia.  Nearly 100 uncommitted players in the 2016 class from Kansas and Missouri attended. 

Player profiles have been update with times, velocities and videos.  Below is a look at the corner infielders from the event.  In the days to come, we will break down the outfielders, middle infielders and pitchers. Corner infielders are listed in alphabetical order.  Players rankings will be updated in weeks to come. 

CLICK HERE, to see the Instant Analysis for the Class of 2016 Games
CLICK HERE, to see the PDF spreadsheet from the event.
CLICK HERE, for game footage from STL Sports Productions

Corner Infielders

McCae Allen, 1B, Bishop Carroll, 2016
Allen is a 6-foot-4 205-pound right-handed hitting first baseman.  Allen runs a 7.78 60 and has an exit velo of 87 mph.  During batting practice, Allen was squared up balls gap-to-gap, power to the pull side, short stride, some hand load, quick bat speed, level bat path, strong/loose hands.  On the infield, athletic actions, fluid footwork, mostly high three quarters release, plays through the ball, mostly accurate throws, 80 mph positional velo, athletic footwork, clean transfer, mostly high-three quarters release, arm works from different angels, accurate throws.

Daniel Baker, 3B, Olathe North, 2016
Baker is a 6-foot-2 195-pound right-handed hitting third baseman.  He ran a 7.88 60 and had an exit velo of 86 mph.  At the plate, athletic set-up, loads against back leg, aggressive short path to contact, level to extension, hit line drive to middle of cage in batting practice, swing path creates back spin.  On the infield, posted one of the top infield velos of the event at 83 mph, athletic infield actions, soft hands, quick three-quarters throwing motion

Christian Chalabi, 1B, St. Thomas Aquinas, 2016
Chalabi is a 6-foot 195-pound right handed hitting first baseman.  Chalabi runs a 7.00 60 and one of the top exit velos of event at 90 mph.  At the plate, Chalabi is physical at the plate, starting from a balanced position, controlled leg lift, short to contact, level extension, uses middle of field in batting practice, quick hands.  At first base, fielded the ball cleanly, accurate throws, three-quarters arm slot, fluid footwork, 77 mph positional velo.

Sam Derks, 1B/3B, Lee’s Summit (MO), 2016
Derks is a 6-foot-3 210-pound switch-hitting corner infielder.  Derks had an exit velo of 91 mph, one of the top for the event, and runs a 8.47 60.  Derks was impressive during batting practice, taking an aggressive swing and driving balls to the pull side.  Slightly open stance, quick bat, level path.  From the left side, used the middle of the field and pull gap, slightly open stance, power potential.  On the infield, 78 mph positional velo, high three quarters release, fielded the ball cleanly with mostly accurate throws. 

Tony Dougan, 3B, Wellsville, 2016
Dougan is a 5-foot-11 185-pound right-handed hitting third baseman. Recently committed to Allen County. Dougan runs a 7.28 60 and has an 81 mph exit velo.  At the plate, slightly open, line drive approach gap-to-gap, maintains barrel.  During defensive evaluations, 81 mph positional velo, high three quarters release, plays through ball, fluid footwork, clean transfer, mostly accurate throws.

Hunter Giffin, 3B, Sedwick, 2016
Giffin is a 6-foot-1 200-pound right-handed hitting third baseman.  He ran a 7.50 and has an 81 mph exit velo.  At the plate, balanced stance, small stride separating from hands, maintains barrel, gap-to-gap approach, high percentage of line drives during batting practice, singled to center during game action.  On the infield, 71 mph positional velo, high three quarters release, fielded the ball cleanly, accurate throws. 

Sam Grant, 1B, Rose Hill, 2016
Grant is a 6-foot 200-pound left-handed hitting first baseman.  Grant ran a 8.12 60 and hand an 87 mph exit velo, one of the top among left-handed hitters.  During batting practice, starts with a wide stance, minimal load and stride, compact swing, middle of the field approach, balanced throughout swing.  On the infield,  over the top release, athletic footwork, plays through the ball, clean transfer, 78 mph positional velo, somewhat accurate throws.

Jared Haynes, 1B, Haysville Campus, 2016
Haynes is a 6-foot-2 185-pound right-handed hitting first baseman. Haynes ran a 7.34 60 and has an exit velo of 87 mph.  Offensively, tall/balanced set up, open stance, short stride, level to extension, showed power to pull side, gap-to-gap approach.  On the infield, over the top release, fluid footwork, clean exchange, 74 mph positional velo.

Austin Henderson, 1B, Louisburg, 2016
Henderson is a 6-foot-1 215-pound right-handed hitting first baseman.  Henderson ran a 7.88 60 and has an exit velo of 87 mph.  During batting practice, he starts in an athletic position, short stride with leg lift, level path, aggressive swing, quick bat speed, some lift with power to pull side, middle-to-pull in batting practice.  On the infield, 75 mph positional velo, loose thee quarters arm slot, athletic footwork, clean exchange, mostly accurate throws. 

Jack Knutson, 3B, Blue Valley Northwest, 2016
Knutson is a 6-foot 200-pound right-handed hitting third baseman.  He ran a 6.88 60 and has an exit velo of 85 mph.  Showed a quick bat during batting practice, uses the whole field, power to pull gap, maintains barrel, loose hands, level to extension, during game action, had good reads as base runner with ball in dirt, doubled during game action, aggressive swing.  On the infield, 82 mph positional velo, long three-quarters release, clean exchange, accurate throws, made athletic plays during game action, one back-handing a ball to get runner from knees. 

Alec Koehn, 3B, Dodge City, 2016
Koehn is a 6-foot-2 180-pound right-handed hitting third baseman.  Koehn ran a 7.28 60 and had a 73 mph exit velo.  During batting practice, showed a balanced stance, short stride and some hand load.  Repeatable swing mechanics with gap-to-gap approach. Doubled in game action.  On the infield, long over the top release, quick footwork, plays through ball, accurate throws, 78 mph positional velo.

Blake Manuel, 3B/1B, Campus, 2016
Manuel is a 6-foot-2 190-pound right-handed hitting corner infielder. Manuel runs a 7.30 60 and had an 83 mph exit velo.  Showed a tall/balanced stance during batting practice, minimal load and stride, hands work inside ball, used middle of field.  On the infield, 74 mph positional velo from third base, three quarters release, made all plays cleanly, momentum towards first to throw, accurate throws.

Adam North, OF, Shawnee Mission South, 2016
North is a 6-foot 171-pound right-handed hitting third baseman. North runs a  7.52 60 and has an 83 mph exit velo.  Offensively, North sits in back leg to load, slightly open, short stride, level path, gap-to-gap approach, consistent solid contact during batting practice, singled to left field in game action. In the infield, 80 mph throws, fluid footwork, quick catch and release, over-the-top release, accurate throws.

Zackary Stater, 1B/3B, Andover, 2016
Stater is a 5-foot-11 265-pound right-handed hitting corner infielder.  He ran a 8.69 60 and has an 86 mph exit velo. Smooth linear load at the plate, gap-to-gap approach, upper half dominate, maintains barrel, extended.  At first base, 70 mph positional velo, over the top release, clean exchange, fluid footwork, mostly accurate throws.

Bryce Unruh, 3B, Dodge City, 2016
Unruh is a 6-foot-3 195-pound switch-hitting third baseman.  He ran a 7.63 60 and had an 89 mph exit velo from the left side, one of the top for the event.  Balanced set up, no stride, loads hands, line drive approach with bat speed, loose hands, from right side, smooth load, short stride, line drives to middle of the field.  At third base, long over the top release, quick exchange, fluid footwork, 79 mph throwing velocity.

Grant Warford, 3B, Mill Valley, 2016
Warford is a 6-foot-1 200-pound right-handed hitting third baseman. Warford ran a 7.34 60 and had an 85 mph exit velo.  At the plate, athletic stance, controlled load with stride foot, quick bat speed, aggressive, pull power, line drives to middle and pull side.  On the infield, 79 mph across diamond, quick footwork, quick release, made all plays cleanly, accurate throws from a high-three quarters arm slot.

Austin Weiler, 1B, Olathe East, 2016
Weiler is a 6-foot-2 210-pound right-handed first baseman. Weiler runs a 7.28 60 and has an exit velo of 91 mph, one of the top for the event.  During batting practice, high percentage of line drives to middle pull side, smooth load, level to extension, quick bat speed, pull power.  On the infield, 72 mph positional velo, athletic footwork, loose three-quarters arm action, accurate throws, clean exchange.

Eric Williams, 1B, Haven, 2016
Williams is a 6-foot-1 185-pound right-handed hitting first baseman. Williams ran a 7.33 60 and had an exit velo of  83 mph.  Starts with an open stance at the plate, minimal load, hands are in sync with lower half, gap-to-gap approach.  At first base, 70 mph positional velo, over the top release, quick footwork, clean exchange, mostly accurate throws.

Ryder Yakel, 3B, Lakin, 2016
Yakel is a 6-foot-3 180-pound right-right handed hitting third baseman.  He runs a 7.27 60 and has an exit velo of 87 mph.  Starts with a closed stance at the plate, uses opposite gap, line drive approach, sacrifice fly in game action.  On the infield, 81 mph from third base, loose high three quarters release, clean exchange, fluid footwork, accurate throws. 

For More Kansas News