By Chris Fuller
PBR Kentucky

The annual Preseason All-State Showcase at Champions Baseball Academy in Nicholasville included more than 120 players from all parts of the state looking to showcase their abilities prior to the high school season. In what is the premier preseason scouting event in the state, there were many standout performances which we will feature over the next week.

Complete stats for all players were posted a few days following the event.

CLICK HERE to view the stats from the event.

The following is a look at the Class of 2017 Corner infielders who particpated in the event. This is position player analysis only. Those players who also pitched at the event will have that performance featured in a subsequent article.

Trent Shelby, 3B, McCracken County, 2017
60 Time: 7.38, Position Velocity:  IF-76, Exit Velocity: 86
5-foot-10, 170-pound LHH hits from an open stance and uses a short stride to get to square, compact swing with good extension through contact, advanced plate approach allows him to use all fields well, makes consistent hard contact and flashes good gap to gap power. Good athleitcism at the hot corner, soft hands, moves well, high-3/4 release produced accurate throws, didn’t show as much arm strength as in the past (80 mph). Shelby continues to impress with his left-handed bat.

Hunter Shiarella, 3B, Grayson County, 2017
60 Time: 7.46, Position Velocity:  IF-76, Exit Velocity: 91
6-foot-2, 205-pound RHH hits from a balanced stance, short stride, stays quiet, uses strong lower half well, hand-quickness and strength generate good bat speed, compact swing, displays good power, ball jumps of the barrel, ran best 60 time to date. Average corner actions and hands, long high-3/4 release, average arm strength for the left side of the infield. Best tool is his bat and also has the size to play first base at the next level.

Reece Ison, 3B/RHP, Prestonburg, 2017
60 Time: 7.27, Position Velocity:  IF-78, Exit Velocity: 90
6-foot, 180-pound RHH improved ever measurable from his previous event. Hits from a narrow/slightly open stance, squares up with a short stride, has strength in swing that translates into power, ball jumps off the barrel to the pull side. Average corner actions with solid hands, showed some body control on slow roller, long high-3/4 release produced accurate throws, good jump in arm strength from previous event. Ison has showed consistent improvement in his game.

Luke Price, 1B/RHP, Christian Academy of Louisville, 2017
60 Time: 7.75, Position Velocity:  IF-76, Exit Velocity: 87
6-foot-5, 225-pound LHH hits from an open/narrow stance and squares up with an aggressive stride, significant pre-pitch hand movement, deep hand load, line drive contact with flashes of gap to gap power, above average bat speed, continues to develop power side of offensive game. Soft hands defensively with decent movement around the bag, accurate throws from a high-3/4 release, solid arm strength.

Parker Thomas, RHP/1B, Woodford County, 2017
60 Time: 7.79, Position Velocity:  IF-79, Exit Velocity: 92
6-foot-1, 186-pound RHH hits from a balanced stance, short stride, uses strong lower half well, strength-generated bat speed, steep swing path at times, flashes occasional power. Moves well around the first base bag with solid footwork, shows some athleticism, average hands, long high-3/4 release with mostly accurate throws, good arm strength across the infield. Thomas could develop into a power-type bat at the next level.

Mason Hazelwood, LHP/1B, Mercer County, 2017
60 Time: 7.17, Position Velocity: IF-83, Exit Velocity: 91
6-foot-6, 205-pound LHH hits from a narrow stance, long stride, raw strength in swing with pull side power, creates some lift at contact. Has some athleticism defensively, soft hands, good lateral movement, long high-3/4 release, accurate throws with very good arm strength. Hazelwood is still raw at the plate but has a high ceiling.

Ryder Litten, 3B, South Warren, 2017
60 Time: 6.98, Position Velocity:  IF-76, Exit Velocity: 81
5-foot-11, 175-pound RHH hits from an open stance, uses a leg kick and aggressive stride to get to square, uses some pre-pitch hand movement as a timing mechanism, can get foot down late at times, shows good power when everything is in sync. Shows good defensive athleticism and actions, good body contol and ability to throw on the move, quick exchange and release makes up for average arm strength, short ¾ release with most throws accurate across the infield.

Adam Fusco, RHP/3B, South Oldham, 2017
60 Time: 7.71, Position Velocity:  IF-83, Exit Velocity: 81
6-foot-1, 170-pound RHH hits from an open stance, uses a leg kick trigger and long stride to get square, failry flat swing path through the zone, average bat speed, gap to gap approach, line drive contact. Shows solid corner actions and hands, moves well in both directions, shorter over the top release produced accurate throws, loose/athletic arm, arm strength plays well on the left side of the infield.

Adren Thompson, 1B/RHP, Henry Clay, 2017
60 Time: 8.84, Position Velocity:  IF-68, Exit Velocity: 95
6-foot, 280-pound RHH hits from a slightly open stance, short stride, uses strong lower half and raw strength to generate bat speed, creates significant lift at contact, shows power to all fields, occasional upper-half stiffness. Average hands, can work on defensive foot speed and agility, below average arm strength. Thompson’s best tool is his bat.

Nathan Lemieux, 3B, Model Laboratory, 2017
60 Time: 7.77, Position Velocity:  IF-82, Exit Velocity: 95
6-foot, 255-pound RHH this from an open stance and gets square with a mid-length stride, uses strength to generate bat speed, creates occasional lift, shows some power, gap to gap approach. Shows average corner actions and hands, can work on improving, slower exchange and release, arm strength is best defensive attribute from a long high-3/4 release, accurate throws with carry across the infield.

Adam Cody Wooton, 1B, Leslie County, 2017
60 Time: 8.06, Position Velocity:  IF-71, Exit Velocity: 84
6-foot-1, 175-pound RHH hits from an open stance, gets to square with a mid-length stride, short swing path, above average bat speed with flashes of some pull side power, occasionally gets to front side early. Defensively, showed average hands and feet around the bag, long high-3/4 release with below average arm strength, accurate throws.