By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The Class of 2017/2018 Fall Prospect Games took place at the University of Louisville on October 4 and included close to 60 players looking to establish themselves as some of the top young players in the state.  The following is a look at the position players from team Navy.  This is position player analysis only.  Those players who also pitched at the event will have their pitching analysis in a subsequent article.

middle infielders

Blake Benz, 2B, L/R, North Bullitt HS, 2017
5-foot-8, 150-pound left-handed hitter, hits from an open stance and squares front side with a long stride, shows some hand quickness and generates good  bat speed, good lower half torque in swing, shows gap-to-gap line drive ability with occasional pull-side power, showed good speed with a 4.38 home to first time, 76 mph exit velocity (83 at previous event), went 2-for-3 in game play with a single to center and triple to left.  Defensively, shows soft hands with athletic actions, good lateral movement in both directions, good body control with the ability to throw on the move from multiple arm angles, accurate throws across the infield, 73 mph arm strength, potential high-level 2017 prospect.

Jonathan Powell, SS, R/R, Daviess County HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 150-pound right-handed hitter, hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, high back elbow, wraps bat in load, line drive type hitter showed the ability spray line drives to all fields in batting practice, showed good speed with a 4.45 home to first base time, 79 mph exit velocity off the tee, went 1-for-3 in game play with an infield single.  Defensively, shows solid glove work, good lateral movement and body control, has the ability to throw from multiple arm angles on the move, short high-3/4 release, some throws accurate to the first base bag, 73 mph arm strength, current arm strength projects best as second baseman, athletic player with upside.

Reece Puckett, SS/OF, R/R, Bardstown HS, 2018
5-foot-9, 145-pound right-handed hitter, hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, short swing path, line drive type hitter, generates good bat speed for young prospect, 79 mph exit velocity off the tee, good speed for age with 4.52 home to first time, went 1-for-3 in game play with a bunt single showing ability to use speed in his offensive game.  Defensively, shows soft hands and good lateral movement in the infield, good body control, gets rid of the ball with a quick exchange, throws from a low ¾ slot across the infield, accurate throws with 67 mph arm strength, two-handed approach in the outfield with 74 mph arm strength on accurate throws to the third base bag, 2018 prospect to follow.

Thomas Spiritoso, RHP/SS, R/R, Ryle HS, 2017
5-foot-8, 140-pound right-handed hitter, hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, shows good balance, hands drop late, long swing path with opposite field tendencies, posted a 4.82 home to first base time, 64 mph exit velocity off the tee, went 0-for-3 in game play.  Defensively, showed average hands, can work through the baseball better, accurate throws across the infield, developing 67 mph arm strength from short high-3/4 release.

corner infielders

Will Moriarty, RHP/1B, R/R, South Oldham HS, 2017
6-foot-4, 175-pound prospect with long/lanky build, right-handed hitter starts with a balanced stance, short stride, hands start high, has made some adjustments in shortening swing, took a good round of batting practice showing the ability to hit line drives to all fields, showed much improved foot speed running 4.57 down the line, big increase in exit velocity at 84 mph, went 0-for-3 in game play. Shows good glove work defensively, ideal size for the first base position, 78 mph arm strength across the infield.

Luke Price, 1B/RHP, L/R, Christian Academy of Louisville, 2017
6-foot-3, 205-pound left-handed hitter, hits from a slightly open stance, gets to square with a short stride, shows the ability to use all fields, has some projectable power, posted a 5.03 home to first base time, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to left field.  Defensively, shows soft hands, feet work around the bag, 72 mph arm across the infield.  Price has begun to grow into his body some and showed improved athleticism since last winter, left handed bat to keep an eye on in the 2017 class.

Jameson Hinkebein, 3B, R/R, Bethlehem HS, 2017
6-foot-1, 170-pound prospect, right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, slight wrap in load, level swing path with line drive production, took a solid round of batting practice showing the ability to barrel the baseball, posted a 4.95 hone to first time, 70 mph exit velocity, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to right field and reached base once on an error. Defensively, showed capable glove work, tends to field ball on heels, accurate throws across the infield, short high-3/4 release, showed 67 mph arm strength across the infield that will need continued development.

Ryle Bridley, 3B, R/R, Cooper HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 175-pound prospect, right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, level swing path, line drive type hitter, collapses backside at times, showed some speed for age running 4.52 down the first base line, 76 mph exit velocity, went 0-for-3 in game play reaching base on an error.  Defensively, made all plays in pregame workout with solid glove work, moves well laterally to both sides, quick exchange with short high-3/4 release, 69 mph arm strength across the infield will need to continue to improve moving forward.

Andrew Huff, 3B/RHP, R/R, Ryle HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter, hits from a balanced stance with short stride, level swing path with line drive production, consistently barreled the baseball in batting practice with a middle of the field approach, posted a 5.02 home to first base time, 65 mph exit velocity off the tee, went 0-for-3 in game play.  Defensively, shows average corner actions, long arm action, high-3/4 release, 68 mph arm strength across the infield needs further development, accurate throws.

catchers

Dalton Cornett, C/OF, L/R, Knott County Central HS, 2017
5-foot-11, 140-pound left-handed hitter, hits from a balanced stance, uses a leg kick trigger with a short stride, displays good balance, good rhythm, some looseness in hands, line drive producing stroke with ability to hit to all fields, posted a 4.62 home to first base time, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to right field.  Defensively, showed 68 mph arm strength from behind the plate, pop times ranged from 2.10-2.20, most throws accurate to the second base bag, sound defensive catcher with solid footwork, plays through the ball on the ground in the outfield with athletic actions, 70 mph arm strength with shorter high-3/4 release.

Max Rafferty, C, R/R, Daviess County HS, 2018
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter, hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, maintains good balance, gets close to arm bar creating some length in swing, shows opposite field tendencies, posted a 4.88 home to first time, 75 mph exit velocity off the tee, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to right field.  Defensively, shows good direction with footwork, very accurate throws to the second base bag, 71 mph arm strength, pop times ranged from 2.12-2.20, solid young defensive catcher.

Tyler Haynes, C, R/R, Meade County HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 190-pound right-handed hitter, hits from a spread stance with minimal stride, creates some bat speed with strong frame, has potential to develop some power, posted a 4.94 home to first time, 69 mph exit velocity off the tee (75 at previous event), went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to left field.  Defensively, showed slightly improved pop times from previous event at 2.22-2.38, 68 mph arm strength, release gets long, ¾ slot, showed improved footwork.

outfielders

Cam Hill, OF, L/R, Scott County HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 160-pound left-handed hitter, hits from a slightly open stance with a short stride, good balance, quick hands generates good bat speed through the zone, short path with good extension, shows some gap power, posted 4.33 home to first time, 83 mph exit velocity (88 at previous event), went 1-for-3 in game play with a double to left-center.  Defensively, very aggressive outfielder, attacks the ball on the ground, 88 mph arm strength on this occasion with online carry (best has been 93 mph), high-energy player, high-level 2017 prospect.

Will McClurg, OF, R/R, Lexington Catholic HS, 2018
5-foot-9, 160-pound right-handed hitter, hits from an open stance, squares front side with a short stride, shows some quickness in hands, shorter swing path with line drive production, gap to gap approach, showed good bat speed in round of batting practice consistently squaring the baseball, posted a 4.79 home to first time, 73 mph exit velocity off the tee, went 2-for-3 with two singles to left field in game play.  Defensively, can be more aggressive playing through the baseball, shows an accurate arm, short ¾ to high-3/4 release, threw out a runner at the plate in game play, developing arm strength at 71 mph, 2018 prospect to follow.

Jordan Powell, OF, R/R, Daviess County HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 145-pound right-handed hitter, hits from a balanced/crouched stance with a short stride, minimal load, significant pre-pitch movement, short swing path, line drive type hitter, showcased speed posting a 4.44 home to first time, 71 mph exit velocity off the tee, went 0-for-3 in game play.  Defensively, shows athletic  outfield actions, plays through the ball with a clean exchange, short 3/4 release, inconsistent accuracy on throws to third base, 70 mph arm strength needs to continue to develop.

Matheo Lynn, OF, R/R, Larue County HS, 2017
5-foot-9, 180-pound prospect, compact build with strong lower half, right-handed hitter hits from a wide base with minimal stride, cuts off lower half at times but consistently squared up the baseball in batting practice, shows some gap power, continued to hit well in game play going 2-for-3 with a single to left and double to left-center, posted 4.72 home to first time, 71 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, plays through the ball on the ground, long high ¾ release, showed developing arm strength at 68 mph on mostly accurate throws to the third base bag.

Anthony Schneider, OF/RHP, R/R, North Bullitt HS, 2018
5-foot-7, 120-pound prospect, right-handed hitter starts from a tall and balanced stance, front foot comes back in load, long stride, hands tend to drop, long and level swing path, line drive type hitter, posted a 4.88 home to first time, 72 mph exit velocity, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single up the middle.  Defensively, plays through the ball on the ground with some athleticism, showed developing outfield arm strength at 68 mph from a long ¾ release, should continue to make strides in game with physical strength gains.