By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The 2016 Top Prospect Games took place on June 14-15 and afforded more than 150 players from around the state the opportunity to showcase their abilities to the PBR Kentucky staff and numerous college coaches in a combination showcase/game play event.

CLICK HERE to view the top statistical performers and statistics for all players in attendance.

The following is an in-depth look at the position players from Team 7 (Black). Please note that this is position analysis only. Those position players who also participated as a pitcher at the event had their pitching performance featured in a previous article.

middle infielders

Nolan Tackett, SS, Owen County, 2017
60 Time: 7.41, Position Velocity:  IF-82, Exit Velocity: 91
6-foot-2, 175-pound RHH hits from a very balanced setup and stays quiet with no wasted movement, short stride, minimal load, maintains very good balance, shows occasional hand quickness on inner half pitches, took a good round of BP with line drive contact to all fields, went 1-for-3 in game play with a sharp single to LF. Solid defender at SS with good hands and actions, works through the ball well, solid arm strength across the infield with accurate throws. Tackett is a solid prospect with offensive and defensive ability, would like to see foot speed improve some.

Brandon Pingleton, RHP/2B, Garrard County, 2017
60 Time: 7.39, Position Velocity:  IF-78, Exit Velocity: 84
6-foot, 170-pound RHH hits from an open stance and squares up with a mid-length stride, swing path can work uphill at times a product of occasionally collapsing backside, shows decent hands that get the barrel though the zone, line drive type hitter, middle to opposite field contact, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to RF. Shows good hands defensively with fluid footwork, has a fairly quick release from a short ¾ arm angle, throws were accurate across the infield with little effort.

Jace Wilson, SS, North Bullitt, 2018
60 Time: 7.58, Position Velocity:  IF-79, Exit Velocity: 82
5-foot-8, 165-pound RHH hits from a balanced stance, long stride, hands load slightly back an d trigger from shoulder level, gets to front side early at times, engages lower half well with good backside finish, went 0-for-3 in game play with an RBI ground out. Shows soft defensive hands, has room to improve working through the baseball which will lead to quicker release, loose and athletic arm showed well on the left side of the infield, accurate throws from a high-3/4 release, has solid potential with a few refinements.

catchers

Landon Moberly, C, Lexington Catholic, 2017
60 Time: 7.28, Pop Time: 1.96-2.01, Position Velocity:  C-75, Exit Velocity: 98
5-foot-11, 185-pound RHH impresses each time we see him. Hits from a balanced stance with minimal stride, maintains good balance while generating easy power, registered the second highest exit velocity of the event, went 1-for-3 in game play with a double to LF. Has solid catch and throw ability and made extremely accurate throws to the bag, showcase pop times continue to work in the sub-2 range, athletic and moves well behind the plate. Moberly has proven he is one of the top few uncommitted catchers in the 2017 class.

Matthew Ellis, C, Shelby County, 2018
60 Time: 7.43, Pop Time: 1.99-2.03, Position Velocity:  C-78, Exit Velocity: 87
6-foot-3, 205-pound LHH hits from a slightly open stance and squares with short stride, good rhythm in swing with loose hands that produce easy power, consistently squared the baseball in BP, showed his power in game play going 2-for-3 with a HR to RF. Showed improvements in both arm strength and pop times behind the plate, gets rid of the ball efficiently with solid footwork that stays online, produced mostly accurate throws to the bag. Ellis has shown his power from the left side and is a top prospect in the 2018 class.

corner infielders

Nicolas Nelson, RHP/1B, Mason County, 2017
60 Time: 7.21, Position Velocity:  IF-91, Exit Velocity: 84
6-foot-2, 185-pound RHH hits from a balanced stance, short stride, short swing, lacks full involvement of lower half at times, showed opposite field approach in BP, went 0-for-3 in game play. Shows solid hands and average footwork around the first base bag, big arm strength with accurate throws, registered the top infield velocity of the event. Nelson committed to Xavier University following the event.

Spencer Blancet, 3B/2B, West Jessamine, 2017
60 Time: 7.15, Position Velocity:  IF-75, Exit Velocity: 84
5-foot-10, 162-pound RHH hits from a balanced stance, short stride, hands start high and load slightly back and down to trigger swing, has a fairly direct swing path that produced mid-field contact in BP, gets good use out of lower half, went 1-for-3 in game play with a double to LF. Shows average defensive hands, works through the ball well with good athleticism, average arm strength with accurate throws from a shorter high-3/4 release.

Noah Irvin, 1B/3B, Mercer Senior, 2018
60 Time: 8.64, Position Velocity:  IF-76, Exit Velocity: 82
5-foot-8, 200-pound RHH hits from a balanced stance, short stride, good balance, flashes occasional pop, compact swing, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to CF, needs to improve foot speed. Showed soft hands and above average footwork around the bag, accurate throws both across the diamond and starting the double play.

outfielders

Braxton Cottongame, LHP/OF/1B, Perry County Central, 2018
60 Time: 6.98, Position Velocity:  OF-87, IF-79, Exit Velocity: 94
6-foot-4, 188-pound LHH hits from a balanced stance and uses an inward turn of the knee and slight hand load, shows some quickness in hands that generate good bat speed, loose swing with line drive contact and occasional gap power, registered one of the top exit velocities of the event, went 0-for-3 in game play showing more of an opposite field approach. Athletic defender moves well in the outfield with good footwork at first base, good arm strength with accurate throws and carry. Cottongame committed to Kentucky as a pitcher following the event.

Jack Ockerman, LHP/OF, Woodford County, 2017
60 Time: 6.93, Position Velocity:  OF-88, Exit Velocity: 85
5-foot-10, 160-pound LHH showed improved measurables across the board, hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, good rhythm in swing with a short line drive producing swing path, works the middle of the field well, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to left field. Athletic defender who plays through the ball well, gets behind the ball well on fly balls, gets the most out of good arm strength with very accurate throws from a long over the top release. Overall game and athleticism has developed nicely for this solid prospect.

Jaxson Smith, OF, South Warren, 2017
60 Time: 7.08, Position Velocity:  OF-84, Exit Velocity: 87
6-foot-4, 210-pound LHH improved all measurables from previous event. Has a strong frame and hits from a wide base with a short stride, generates good bat speed and the ball jumps off his barrel to the gaps when squared, can get a little long from time to time, went 0-for-3 in game play. Attacks the ball on the ground and sets up well on fly balls, showed solid arm strength and accurate throws from a long high-3/4 release. Smith’s combination of size and athletic ability make him an intriguing left-handed bat with power potential at the next level.

Damion Ingguls, OF, Grant County, 2019
60 Time: 7.53, Position Velocity:  OF-76, Exit Velocity: 84
5-foot-10, 200-pound RHH hits from a balanced stance, short stride, has strength and shows good power for age, fairly flat path through the zone works uphill at times, hit well in game play going 2-for-3 with a double to RF. Shows some athleticism defensively and plays through the ball, current arm strength is average from a high-3/4 release, showed ability to make accurate throws. Ingguls is one to watch as he works on foot speed and sees improvement arm strength. Bat is best current tool.