By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The PBR Kentucky Top Prospect Games took place June 16-17 at Western Kentucky University and afforded close to 120 players from around the state the opportunity to showcase their abilities to the PBR Kentucky staff and many college coaches in attendance. The following is a look at the position players from Team Navy. This is position player analysis only. Those position players who also pitched at the event had their pitching evaluation featured in a previous article.

middle infielders

Jeffrey Purnell, RHP/SS, R/R, Boone County HS, 2016
6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, short swing path produced an exit velocity of 88 mph, uses all fields well in BP, line drive type hitter, ran 4.82 down the line, went 0-for-3 in game play. Showed well defensively, soft hands, works through the baseball well with athletic actions, high-3/4 release with 80 mph velocity across the infield, accurate throws, good body control with the ability to throw on the move from multiple arm slots.

Cameron Dukes, SS, R/R, Bullitt Central HS, 2016
6-foot, 180-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, mid-length stride, explodes with lower half to create some barrel whip through the zone, line drive type hitter with some gap power, 84 mph exit velocity, ran 4.78 down the line, went 0-for-3 in game play. Shows soft hands, has a long exchange, long high-3/4 release, accurate throws with carry, good arm strength with 85 mph velocity across the infield.

Matthew Gammon, SS, L/R, Shelby County HS, 2016
6-foot-1, 195-pound left-handed hitter impressed in BP, hits from a balanced stance, short stride, shows gap to gap power, generates loft in swing, uses lower half well, recorded an 87 mph exit velocity, ran 4.50 down the line, went 0-for-3 in game play. Shows soft hands defensively, gets rid of the ball quickly with a short high-3/4 release, good body control, 77 mph velocity across the infield, most throws accurate.

Andrew Dugger, 2B, R/R, Eastern HS, 2017
5-foot-8, 170-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, good balance, can get more lower half involvement in swing, average bat speed, produced an exit velocity of 74 mph, ran 4.82 down the line, went 0-for-3 in game play. Below average arm strength at 65 mph across the infield with high-3/4 release.

corner infielders

Trent Shelby, 3B, L/R, McCracken County HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 160-pound left-handed hitter hits from a slightly open stance, squares front side with a toe tap and short stride, hands are quick and loose, line drive type hitter with present gap power, 80 mph exit velocity, ran 4.45 down the line, went 1-for-4 with a single to left and hard line out to SS. Showed well defensively, soft hands, good footwork, athletic corner actions, loose arm with 77 mph velocity across the infield, good body control with ability to throw on the move from different arm angles, should continue to develop power side of offensive game with added physical strength.

Jake Ziegelmeyer, RHP/1B, R/R, Ryle HS, 2016
6-foot-3, 210-pound right-handed hitter with strength in swing, hits from an open stance, long stride, explodes with lower half and showed power to all fields in BP, ball jumps off bat with some lift, ran 4.60 down the line, 88 mph exit velocity, went 0-for-3 in game play. Athletic first baseman, moves well around the bag with athletic footwork, good arm strength at 83 mph across the infield.

Alexander Goodridge, RHP/1B, R/R, Ryle HS, 2016
6-foot-1, 195-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, can get more lower half involved in swing, short/compact swing produced an exit velocity of 80 mph, gap to gap approach, ran 4.78 down the line, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to left field.  Has adequate hands, decent movement around the bag, short high-3/4 release with 71 mph velocity, accurate throws.

Payton Hobby, 3B, R/R, Breckinridge County HS, 2016
5-foot-8, 150-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, long swing path, has some pre-pitch foot movement, 75 mph exit velocity, ran 4.83 down the line, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to right field. Shows soft hands, gets rid of the ball with short arm action and ¾ release, average arm strength, 73 mph velocity across the infield, mostly accurate throws.

outfielders

Brett Slusher, OF, R/R, Beechwood HS, 2016
6-foot-2, 185-pound, athletic right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, good balance, line drive hitter with pull-side power, impressive round of BP, generates bat speed, 88 mph exit velocity,has good speed, 4.25 down the line, went 1-for-3 with an infield single and line out hard to left field. Athletic outfielder with quick feet, plays through the ball well, showed 75 mph velocity from a long high-3/4 release, most throws accurate to the bag.

John Millay, OF, R/R, Meade County HS, 2016
6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, hands start close to body and load back, shows some bat speed, produced an exit velocity of 84 mph, line drive type hitter with gap to gap approach, showed speed running 4.40 down the line, went 1-for-3 in game play with an infield single. Athletic outfielder with quick feet, plays through the ball well, long high-3/4 release, 78 mph velocity was down (has shown up to 86 at previous event), very accurate throws with all on the third base bag.

Langston Watkins, OF, L/L, Male HS, 2016
5-foot-10, 167-pound left-handed hitter hits from an open stance, squares front side with a mid-length stride, short swing path produced an exit velocity of 77 mph, line drive type hitter who incorporates speed into offensive game, ran 4.29 down the line, went 0-for-3 in game play. Athletic outfielder who moves well, plays through the baseball, below average arm strength, 69 mph velocity.

Noah Thornberry, OF, L/L, Warren Central HS, 2017
5-foot-9, 160-pound left-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, good balance through swing, line drive type hitter with gap to gap approach, produced exit velocity of 77 mph, ran 4.65 down the line, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to right field and a solid approach at the plate. Shows athletic defensive actions in the outfield, plays through the baseball well, quick exchange, over the top release with average arm strength, 75 mph velocity with accurate throws to the bag.

Andrew Louden, OF/LHP, L/L, Ryle HS, 2016
6-foot, 145-pound let-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, short/level swing path produced 74 mph exit velocity, line drive type hitter uses all fields well, ran 4.59 down the line, went 0-for-3 in game play. Moves well in the outfield with athletic actions and plays through the ball well, has a long exchange, long high-3/4 release with 69 mph velocity, accurate throws.

catchers

Seth Hojnacki, C, R/R, Lexington Catholic HS, 2017
5-foot-11, 180-pound right-handed hitter hits from an open stance and squares front side with a short stride, has significant pre-pitch hand movement, line drive type hitter with gap to gap approach, showed some bat speed with 84 mph exit velocity, ran 4.77 down the line, hitless in game play. Has a quick glove to hand transfer behind the plate, footwork stays online, showed solid blocking ability, 70 mph velocity with 2.08-2.22 pop times.

Austin Greer, C, R/R, Lincoln County HS, 2016
5-foot-8, 175-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a leg kick trigger, has an arm bar in load creating some length in swing, produced an exit velocity of 78 mph, ran 4.93 down the line, went 0-for-3 in game play. Has a quick transfer behind the plate, athletic feet, showed some arm strength at 75 mph from the crouch, pop times ranged from 2.00-2.10, threw a runner out stealing second base in game play.