Upperclass Games: Infield Analysis

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PLANO, TX - On Saturday, October 7, some of the top talent from the 2018 and 2019 classes met at Prestonwood Christian Academy in Plano, TX. Here is the infield analysis from that event.

INFIELDERS

+ Tyler Wade, SS, Midland HS, 2019
Wade is a confident, quick-twitch athlete, with high-ceiling tools and a lean-muscular frame at 5-foot-11, 165-pounds. He was a top performer at both the North Texas Underclass Games and the Fall Upperclass Games. The switch-hitter has a chance to develop into a high-level hitter. From the right-side, he has projectable power and good leverage for his size. He uses an athletic leg kick to get started, coiling his hips as he triggers his hands from a high position, slotting them down and back. Lands balanced, explosive lower half, compact swing with a short path to contact, accelerates the barrel through contact with a high finish and great extension creating lift and power to the pull side. From the left-side, Wade uses a similar setup and load mechanism that mirrors his swing from the right side. Shows strength at contact with a more bottom-hand dominant finish. On the infield, Wade has a quick first step and moves with long strides to show solid range. Aggressive mentality with rhythm through his fielding position, soft hands and quick transfer. Can throw from different slots and plays on the run with athleticism. Threw 87 mph across the diamond, ran a 6.85 60, and has an exit velocity of 91 mph.

+ Nate White, SS, Arlington HS, 2019
White had an outstanding day at the Upperclass Games, showcasing athleticism and projectable tools. He recorded two extra-base hits during the game, a triple to right-center, a double to left field, and a well struck deep fly ball to center. The right-handed hitter stands 5-foot-11, 170-pounds with a lean-muscular frame. He starts from a wide stance, triggers his hands back with a smooth load, short stride, lands balanced. Slight front arm bar, clean path through the zone, good feel for the barrel, quick hips, balanced transfer, flashes power to the pull side. Defensively, White has smooth footwork and rhythm through the ball. Soft hands out front as he funnels the ball to the midline of his body. Clean exchange, accurate arm works well out front on release from a low-¾ slot. Recently ran a 6.78 at PBR All-State Games. White also plays football in the fall for Arlington High.

+ Michael Bernhardt, SS, L.D. Bell HS, 2018
Bernhardt has a lean-athletic frame at 5-foot-8, 150-pounds, with plenty of room to add strength in the coming years. He can really defend with fast-twitch actions, a great first step, quick footwork, soft hands and quick exchange. Gets rid of the ball quickly and his arm works well from different slots with a clean release and a max velocity of 80 mph across the diamond. Made a spectacular play in the game, ranging up the middle and diving to snag a hard ground ball, popped up and made a strong throw to first base. A right-handed hitter, Bernhardt has a balanced, simple setup with smooth rhythm and a clean path to the ball with a line drive approach. is a solid defender with quick rhythm, smooth footwork, and a quick exchange on the infield. He made several play where he showed plus range and soft hands.

+ Dylan Strater, C/3B, Liberty HS, 2018
Strater is a versatile, gritty player at 5-foot-8, 170-pounds, and would be a great addition to a college recruiting class. The uncommitted senior has solid defensive skills behind the plate, and also plays third base. A right-handed hitter, Strater showed good power during batting practice with easy leverage and lift, launching balls deep to the outfield, including a homerun. Strater has a stacked, relaxed setup with quiet rhythm, short stride as his hands load back, lands balanced. Hands get slotted early getting the barrel on plane with a fluid path and loose finish. On the infield, Strater has fundamental footwork and plays through the ball with soft hands. Strong arm across the diamond at 86 mph with accurate throws. He has a quick arm stroke from back to front with a clean release and quick footwork. Threw 76 mph from the crouch with accurate pop times ranging from 2.08-2.19. Blocked and received well during the game, showed solid hip mobility and soft hands. Made a great play when he gunned down a runner after blocking a dirtball.

+ Tristan Williams, 3B/C, Grapevine Faith HS, 2018
Williams is a projectable hitter with a strong, sturdy frame at 5-foot-10, 205-pounds. The right-handed hitter showed bat speed and power to the pull side during batting practice, making hard contact and driving the ball deep to the gaps. He starts from a tall, upright, narrow stance, then loads back with relaxed rhythm, using a low, short leg kick to engage his lower half. Lands into a strong launch position with his hands back, explosive hips transfer his weight through the ball. Short path to contact, barrel stays in the zone a long time, loose finish. Makes hard, loud contact, good feel for barrel with an exit velocity of 87 mph. On the infield, Williams shows solid glove tools that translate to playing corner infield, including being able to make the one-handed play. He has quickish footwork and throws from a high slot with a short arm stroke at 84 mph across the diamond.

+ Adam Davis, RHP/1B, Melissa HS, 2018
Davis has a strong, projectable frame and a young face at 6-foot-3, 220-pounds, and has a chance to hit for power at the collegiate level. He put on a show in batting practice, driving the ball deep to the pull side gap, including launching two home runs. Davis starts from an open stance, then turns his front side in as he loads back with a smooth leg kick. Lands balanced into a strong launch position with his hands back, strong, repeatable lower half transfer through contact as he gets the barrel into the zone with strong posture, producing good leverage and power to the pull side. Barrel works well from back to front with simple strength and a loose finish (exit velocity 88 mph). At first base, Davis has soft hands and good glove action on short-hop picks. Shows good feel for the game and is an accurate thrower to both second and third base at 79 mph.

+ Judson Arrington, 3B, Allen HS, 2019
Arrington has a young face and a still developing, projectable frame at 5-foot-10, 155-pounds, with plenty of room to add strength in the coming year. The right-handed starts from a slightly open stance, using a smooth leg kick to load as he triggers his hands back. Lands balanced, slots his hands down into the zone, getting the barrel on plane early. Rotational swing as he turns his hips to transfer weight, uphill path creates lift to the pull side. Has life in his hands and shows strength at contact with an exit velocity of 82 mph. On the infield, Arrington has smooth footwork as he plays through the ball with soft hands and quick exchange. Shows ability to throw from different slots at 74 mph across the diamond, including making the play on the run.

+ Wyatt Bell, 2B, Denton Ryan HS, 2018
Bell is a tough, gritty player with a strong frame at 5-foot-8, 160-pounds. The right-handed hitter made hard-loud contact during batting practice with a line drive approach and gap power. He has starts from balanced stance, loads with a smooth leg kick as he triggers his hands back and down. Lands balanced, quick hips with easy lower half transfer. Hands work well through the zone with a fluid, slightly uphill path and a loose finish through contact. Hard-loud contact with strength in his hands and an exit velocity of 82 mph. Barreled up two balls during the game with hard shot ground ball to shortstop and a fly ball to left field for a sac fly. On the infield, Bell shows solid fundamental with good rhythm and timing through the ball, soft hands out front, and easy exchange to the midline of his body. Quick footwork through his throws across the diamond with a short, compact arm swing at 79 mph. Ran a 7.0 60-yard dash.

+ Payton Dahl, SS/3B, Cedar Ridge HS, 2019
Dahl has a lean-muscular, long-limbed frame at 5-foot-11, 170-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide, balanced stance, smooth load back as he lifts his front foot with a knee-to-knee leg kick. Replaces his front foot into a short stride, athletic lower half with life in his hack. Uses his back leg to transfer weight through contact. Short path, quick hands, loose finish and line drive approach produce an exit velocity of 83 mph. On the infield, Dahl shows quick footwork and good glove action, does a nice job of playing low, using soft hands out front as he plays through the ball. Accurate arm across the infield from a ¾ slot at 84 mph.

+ Jordan Wilson, SS/2B, Parkway HS (LA), 2018
6-foot-1, 165-pound, wiry, lean-strong frame. The right-handed hitter starts from a balanced, slightly open stance as his hands waggle the barrel toward the pitcher with rhythm. Smooth load with as he triggers his hands back, lands balance, short stride. Wilson has loose hands with a quick bat through the zone, slightly uphill path, strength to the pull side with an exit velocity of 72 mph. At shortstop, Wilson made a nice play during the game, ranging up the middle with quick feet and a quicker release to get the runner at first base. He has smooth footwork and soft hands. Quick exchange in the midline with a quick release into a low-¾ arm stroke at 75 mph across the infield.

+ Dylan Hugley, 3B/1B, Rowlett HS, 2018
Hugley has a strong frame at 6-foot, 210 pound frame. The left-handed hitter starts from a narrow, open stance with good forward tilt in his shoulders. Loads with a quick up-and-down leg kick to land square as his hands trigger back and up. Lands balanced, quick hips, smooth transfer, quick bat with an aggressive hack and loose finish of the barrel. Solid round of batting practice, showed bat speed and strength at contact with lift and power to the pull side, and an exit velocity of 86 mph. Hard contact during the game with a single to right field and a hard ground ball back through the middle. On the infield, Hugley threw the ball 81 mph across the diamond.

+ Braeton Matthews, 2B/OF, Hebron HS, 2019
Matthews is a quick-twitch defender with a projectable, wiry-strong frame at 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. He has athletic footwork and shows good range to both his glove and back-hand side. Soft hands as he plays through the ball, quick exchange with good feel for throwing from different slots and a max velocity across the infield at 77 mph. The right-handed hitter starts from a balanced, slightly open stance with a flat bat. Triggers his hands up - and then back as he loads back with a leg kick. Hands continue back and down as he strides forward. Quick hips rotate to contact as he transfers his weight, slightly uphill path with a line drive approach, strength at contact with an exit velocity of 80 mph.

+ Hayden Archer, LHP/1B, Liberty HS, 2019
Archer has a sturdy frame with broad shoulders at 6-foot, 175-pound frame. The left-handed hitter starts from a tall, open stance with loose rhythm as he triggers his hands down and back. Short stride, lands balanced as he rotates his hip with the barrel getting on plane early. Quick hands through the zone with a short path, strength at contact, flashing power to the pull side with lift and an exit velocity of 78 mph. At first base, he can throw from different slots and starts the double play with a quick release and threw 71 mph across the infield.

+ Caden Walton, 3B/RHP, Vista Ridge HS, 2019
5-foot-10, 165-pound frame with a strong lower half. Walton has an athletic setup with relaxed hands from the right side of the plate. Loads back as he triggers his hands down and back, striding out toward the pitcher. Downward initial move as he slots his hands into the zone. Line drive approach creates back spin in the middle of the field with an exit velocity of 82 mph. During the game, he singled up the middle and walked. On the infield, Walton does a nice job of funneling the ball to the midline of his body with soft hands. Throws with accuracy across the infield from a ¾ slot with a clean arm stroke at 78 mph.