By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The Fall Prospect Games event took place on October 11 at St. Catharine College and afforded players from around the state the opportunity to showcase their abilities in a combination showcase/game play event. The event saw some returning performers looking to build on previous events but also included many young players being seen for the first time who left good impressions with our staff.

The following is a look at the position players from Team White from the event. This is position player analysis only. Those position players who also pitched at the event will have their pitching evaluation featured in a subsequent article.

Middle Infielders

Josh Graves, SS, Nelson County HS, 2018
6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed hitter with athletic frame, hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, slight wrap in load, gets the barrel through the zone with good use of lower half and loose hands, flashes power as ball jumps off barrel, 84 mph exit velocity, ran a 8.10 60 (7.91 at previous event), went 0-for-3 in game play with two strikeouts. Has adequate hands defensively, works through the ball, high-3/4 release with 77 mph velocity across the infield with some accurate throws.

Tyler Wagner, SS/RHP, Beechwood HS, 2019
6 foot, 150-pound left handed hitter, hits from a balanced stance, uses a big leg kick, foot gets down late on occasion, flat bat path, gets barrel on plane and keeps it in the zone, line drive type hitter shows ability to use all fields, ran a 7.60 60, 79 mph exit velocity, went 0-for-3 in game play. Defensively, shows soft hands and athletic actions, above average lateral movement, loose and athletic arm with 72 mph velocity across the infield and ability to throw accurately from multiple arm angles, young player with solid foundation who should continue to see game evolve with physical maturity and strength gains.

Keaton Renfro, RHP/2B, Rockcastle County HS, 2019
5-foot-9, 160 pound right-handed hitter, hits from a balanced stance, short stride, good balance, level swing path with below average bat speed, 68 mph exit velocity, ran a 8.44 60, went 0-for-3 in game play with two strikeouts, offensive game will benefit from physical strength gains. Shows average hands, fields ball deep, short high-3/4 release with developing arm strength at 50 mph across the infield.

Corner Infielders

Neal Hancock, RHP/1B, Male HS, 2016
5-foot-11, 184-pound right-handed hitter hits from an open stance and squares up with a long/aggressive stride, has significant pre-pitch movement, gets the most out of lower half, has some length in swing, creates some lift and shows flashes of power to the gaps, made hard contact in game play going 1-for-3 with a double to center field, ran a 7.53 60, 83 mph exit velocity. Shows good athleticism at first base, moves fluidly around the bag, shows solid hands, gets rid of the ball with short arm action, 75 mph velocity across the infield.

Aaron Blake, RHP/3B, Christian Academy of Louisville, 2017
5-foot-11, 175 pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, maintains good balance through contact, stays quiet with a simple approach that produced consistent line drives in BP, good feel for the barrel, ran a 7.80 60, 72 mph exit velocity (74 previous event) went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to left field. Shows soft defensive hands, high-3/4 release with accurate throws, demonstrates good body control, 78 mph velocity across the infield.

Devon Hart, RHP/3B, Lafayette HS, 2018
6-foot-1, 135 pound right-handed hitter starts in a balanced stance, loads back with front foot with a mid-length stride, arm bar in load creates some length in swing, shows some quickness in hands, average bat speed, 71 mph exit velocity, ran a 7.95 60, went 0-for-4 in game play with two strikeouts. Shows soft hands, does a good job of fielding the ball out front and funneling to body, accurate arm with high-3/4 release, 71 mph velocity across the infield, has plenty of room to add to young/lanky frame that will benefit overall game.

Kameron Conley, RHP/3B, Perry County Central HS, 2017
6-foot-1, 221 pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, stays quiet, short and compact swing, shows gap to gap power with strength in swing, 84 mph exit velocity, went 0-for-1 in game play (had to leave early), ran a 8.10 60. Defensively, showed good arm strength from the left side of the infield at 81 mph with a short high-3/4 release, average hands, good body control with ability to throw accurately on the move.

Gordon Lovensheimer, 1B, Holy Cross HS (Covington), 2016
6-foot-3, 200 pound right-handed hitter with strong/physical frame, hits from a balanced stance, short stride, hands start high and drop to trigger swing, long swing path, shows some feel for the barrel with flashes of pull-side power, 72 mph exit velocity, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to left field, ran a 7.75 60. Defensively, shows adequate hands at first base, average footowork and movement around the bag, 63 mph velocity across the infield.

Catchers

Jackson Millhollan, C/OF, Ballard HS, 2017
5-foot-8, 140 pound switch-hitter has a similar approach from both sides of the plate, balanced stance with short stride, weight starts forward and loads back with smooth transfer into swing, flat bat path and keeps the barrel in the zone, uses all fields well, swing looks more natural from the right side, 72 mph exit velocity from the right side, 68 mph from the left side, ran a 7.08 60, went  2-for-3 in game play a single from each side of the plate. Has made strides in arm strength behind the plate, 70 mph velocity from a short over the top release, solid footwork that stays online, 2.09-2.20 pop times with most throws accurate. Attacks and plays through the ball well in the outfield with quick feet, long over the top release with 74 mph velocity.

Matthew Reaves, C/3B, South Oldham HS, 2019
5-foot-8, 195-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, maintains good balance throughout swing, shows frame-generated bat speed for age, 82 mph exit velocity, went 0-for-3 in game play with one strikeout, ran a 8.01 60. Defensively, shows a quick transfer and release behind the plate, solid footwork that stays online, short high-3/4 release with 70 mph velocity on throws to the bag, accurate throws with 2.10-2.15 pop times, solid receiver. At third base shows average hands, short arm action with 71 mph velocity across the infield.

Cameron MCCabe, C/OF, Ryle HS, 2018
5-foot-9, 177 pound right-handed hitter hits from a wide/balanced stance, short stride, short swing path, line drive type hitter with gap to gap approach, solid approach and shows some pop to the right-center gap, made consistent hard contact in game play, went 1-for-3 with a double and lined out hard to SS, ran a 7.70 60. Defensively, McCabe participated as a catcher and outfielder at the event. Behind the plate he has a short over the top release with footwork that stays online, he showed 69 mph velocity on throws to the bag with 2.25-2.38 pop times. Attacks the ball and plays through in the outfield, 74 mph arm strength from an over the top release.

Kevin Flaherty, C, St, Henry HS, 2016
6-foot-1, 170 pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, wraps bat in load, swing path works uphill at times, line drive type hitter with gap to gap approach, registered an 80 mph exit velocity, went 0-for-3 in game play with one strikeout, ran a 7.50 60. Defensively, showed good blocking ability in game play, throws open to target, 69 mph velocity on throws to the bag from a short high-3/4 release, 2.16-2.19 pop times.

Outfielders

Reece Puckett, OF, Bardstown HS, 2018
5-foot-9, 155 pound prospect flashed his speed running a 6.72 60. Right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, generates easy bat speed with a short swing path, line drive type hitter works all fields, 84 mph exit velocity, went 1-for-3 in game play with a double to center field. From the outfield, showed a big jump in arm strength, 79 mph velocity from a ¾ release, plays through the ball well, good set up on fly balls with momentum coming forward on the catch, athletic defender with solid all-around game, high energy player has potential to be a top class of 2018 prospect.

Bryce Barber, OF, North Oldham HS, 2017
5-foot-9, 165 pound right-handed hitter hits from a slightly open stance and squares with a mid-length stride, uses lower half well, level swing path with average bat speed, 77 mph exit velocity (79 at previous event), ran a 7.62 60, went 1-for-3 in game  play with a single to left field. Showed improvements in playing through the baseball from previous event, good set up on fly balls with momentum coming forward on the catch, long high-3/4 release with 80 mph arm strength with some carry, showed ability to make accurate, online throws.

Chase Robinson, OF/RHP, Madison Southern HS, 2017
6-foot-1, 165-pound right-handed hitter hits from a slightly open stance with a mid-length stride, shows good balance through swing, average bat speed, line drive type hitter with gap to gap approach, shows decent feel for the barrel, 74 mph exit velocity, went 0-for-3 in game play with one strikeout, ran 7.47 60. Attacks the ball aggressively in the outfield, shows athleticism, long high-3/4 release, accurate throws to the third base bag, 80 mph arm strength.