MN Preseason All-State: Middle Infield Evaluations

May 3, 2016

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

Prep Baseball Report's MN Preseason All-State event took place on Sunday, March 20, 2016. The event was held at the Vadnais Sports Center in Vadnais Heights, MN. The event featured prospects from the 2017 class from Minnesota and North Dakota who showcased their talents in front of our scouting staff. Thank you to the players, parents, my staff and the Vadnais Sports Center for such a great event.

There were a number of great individual performances this year at the MN Preseason All-State. Also of note is the fact that official high school practices don't start in Minnesota until the Monday after the event. Look for many of these player's numbers to continue to improve as they start playing and working into mid-season form.

As we drill down into the statistics:

+ 21 players ran sub-7.2 60's.
+ 33 players recorded 85+ mph exit velocities
+ 18 players recorded 80+ mph infield throws
+ 13 players recorded 80+ mph outfield throws
+ 15 catchers recorded 70+ mph throws to second base
+ 8 catchers recorded sub-2.1 pop times
+ 40 pitchers were 80+ mph on the mound

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Today we highlight the middle infielders who were in attendance at the MN Preseason All-State event.

top middle infield Prospects

Jordan Barth, SS, Rocori, 2017
6-foot, 175-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.68 runner. Tall set-up, generates easy bat speed, balance in swing and quiet to contact, uses whole field with consistent hard contact, 89 mph exit velocity. Moves well in field, covers ground, hands are solid, quick release, 81 mph arm strength. Follow in MN 2017 class.

Danny Deis, SS/RHP, Wayzata, 2017
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 6.99 runner. Early stride, inverted C load, line drive swing plane, avg. pop in bat, mid/pull approach, 81 mph exit velocity. Works from ground up, fields out front, soft hands, good tempo, quick release, good carry with solid accuracy to bag, 82 mph arm strength across infield. Follow in 2017 class.

Andrew Feist, SS, Bismarck (ND), 2017
5-foot-9, 155-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. Strong compact athletic frame. 7.28 runner. Athletic set-up in box, good weight transfer and extension through contact, uses hands well in swing, mid/away approach with line drive swing plane, 83 mph exit velocity. Shows good footwork, light on his feet, glove is soft, clean exchanges, short arm action with solid carry and accuracy. 81 mph arm strength. Strong follow in 2017 class.

Max Gamm, SS, East Ridge, 2017
5-foot-11, 147-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. #29 ranked player in MN 2017 class. 7.35 runner at this event. Gap to gap approach, solid barrel control, line-drive swing plane, 2-hole type hitter, should continue to improve offensively with strength. 84 mph exit velocity. Easy actions, long strides, plays with tempo, sure hands in field, above avg. carry and accuracy to bag, 83 mph arm strength. Strong follow in 2017 MN class, has good skills, interesting prospect with physical development and maturity.

Conner Hammerback, SS, Alexandria, 2017
6-foot-2, 165-pound left-handed hitting shortstop. 7.85 runner. Tall stance, strides to square, some looseness in hands, loses posture at contact, gap to gap approach, solid pop in bat, 78 mph exit velocity. Lean build, solid actions, late glove presentation occasionally, sure hands, clean arm action, 79 mph arm strength.

Andrew Hanson, SS/RHP, Burnsville, 2017
6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. #50 ranked player in MN 2017 class. 7.22 runner. Closed stance, easy load, solid bat speed, gap to gap approach, consistent solid/hard contact, 87 mph exit velocity. 76 mph arm strength with carry to bag, sure hands, quick release, accurate arm, profiles as third baseman.

Connor Kehl, 2B, Eden Prairie, 2017
5-foot-11, 160-pound right-handed hitting infielder. 7.01 runner. Line drive swing plane, quiet head to contact, gap to gap approach, creates bat speed with simple swing, 87 mph exit velocity. Clean arm action with above avg. carry, 87 mph arm strength. Sure hands, plays through baseball, solid range and actions.

Max Meyer, 2B/RHP, Woodbury, 2017
5-foot-11, 165-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. #23 ranked player in MN 2017 class. 7.46 runner at this event. Tall stance, easy load, good weight transfer, line drive swing plane, drives ball well with gap to gap approach, 87 mph exit velocity. Light on his feet, solid actions, sure hands, above avg. arm with accuracy, 88 mph arm strength across infield.

Ryan Nickel, 2B, Mounds View, 2017
5-foot-9, 165-pound left-handed hitting infielder. 7.44 runner. Simple swing, quiet mechanics, stays on and through at contact, shows ability to use whole field, 88 mph exit velocity. First step quickness, plays with tempo, works through baseball, above avg. hands, solid carry and accuracy to target, 77 mph arm strength. Follow in 2017 class; will make jump into rankings.

Zach Parks, SS/RHP, Apple Valley, 2017
6-foot-3, 180-pound left-handed hitting shortstop. #14 ranked player in MN 2017 class. Verbal commit to U. Texas-Rio Grande Valley. Lean projectable build; has added quality strength. 7.25 runner. Aggressive swings, whippy bat speed, gap to gap approach, wants to hit, 89 mph exit velocity. Confident fielder. Good athleticism, sure hands, solid action, above avg. carry and accuracy to bag with 85 mph arm strength.

Brodie Smith, 2B, Red Wing, 2017
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting infielder. 7.25 runner. Athletic set-up, low hand slot, short to to contact, weight out front, hard line drive contact to pull side, 80 mph exit velocity. Shows potential in middle infield, light on feet, solid actions, quick release, soft glove, solid carry with accuracy to bag with 77 mph arm strength. Follow in MN 2017 class.

Gus Steiger, SS, Minnetonka, 2017
5-foot-11, 170-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 6.87 runner. Tall set-up, some extra movement in load and stride, loose hands, shows solid hitting ability, mid/pull approach, 86 mph exit velocity. Active feet, plays with energy and tempo, quick release with above avg. carry and accuracy, 82 mph arm strength. Follow in MN 2017 class; will make jump into rankings.

middle infield Prospects

Jack Carlson, RHP/SS, Minneapolis Washburn, 2017
5-foot-11, 180-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.66 runner. Taller stance, leg kick trigger, spray contact, short finish, 82 mph exit velocity. Above avg. arm with 87 mph arm strength. Long release on throws, avg. feet and hands, makes routine plays.

Ignacio Charles, C/IF, Henry Sibley, 2017
6-foot, 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 7.41 runner. Lean build. Deep load with long stride to contact. Spray to all fields. 73 mph exit velocity. Flexible lower half, solid athlete, raw mechanics, blocks ball well, short arm path, solid accuracy. 71 mph arm strength with 2.38 pop time. Projects better as infielder. Solid angles to field, glove is soft, longer arm action, allows athleticism to play more. 76 mph arm strength across.

Connor Cornell, SS, St. Louis Park, 2017
6-foot-3, 165-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.01 runner. Lean frame. Gap to gap approach, tall stance, leg kick trigger, long stride, avg./ok pop in bat, 77 mph exit velocity. Solid footwork, tends to funnel baseballs in, glove is soft, 2-piece arm action with avg. accuracy, 74 mph arm strength.

Reece English, SS, Lakeville South, 2017
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.22 runner. Athletic set-up in box, Aggressive swings, slight uphill plane, slight lean back at contact, avg. power, mid/pull approach, 82 mph exit velocity. Avg/solid hands and feet, makes routine, stiff arm action, 74 mph arm strength.

Benjamin Friebel, SS/C, Jamestown (ND), 2017
5-foot-10, 135-pound switch-hitting infielder. 7.56 runner. Open stance, body load, good direction, longer stride, stays inside baseball at contact, gap to gap approach. 77 mph exit velocity. Light on his feet with good actions in field. Glove is soft, throws from multiple angles, quick release, with solid accuracy to bag. 75 mph arm strength across infield. Wide base, great flexibility, low target, soft glove hand, light on feet with quickness, clean exchange with fluid arm path. 72 mph arm strength with 2.15 pop time. Good present ability that should continue to improve with added strength and maturity.

Dylan Hagen, 2B, Centennial, 2017
5-foot-8, 160-pound right-handed hitting infielder. 7.29 runner. Wide base, simple swing, short to contact, gap to gap approach, contact hitter, 74 mph exit velocity. Easy actions, solid athletically, moves with long strides, light on his feet, avg. tempo, solid accuracy to bag with 73 mph arm strength.

Kyle Hayden, SS/RHP, St. Michael-Albertville, 2017
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.84 runner. Square stance, in-line stride, active load, spray contact, mid/pull approach. 77 mph exit velocity. Solid range in field, makes routine plays, sure hands, elevated throws to bag, 68 mph arm strength.

Zack Henderson, 2B/RHP, Shakopee, 2017
5-foot-9, 165-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.87 runner. Open stance, big leg kick trigger, stationary weight, rotational bat path, pull approach, 79 mph exit velocity. Active feet, sure hands, solid arm across infield with accuracy and carry to bag, 80 mph arm strength.

Joe Ihrke, SS/RHP, Henry Sibley, 2017
5-foot-9, 170-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.81 runner. Body load, aggressive swinger, loses posture at contact, falls back into swing, consistent solid contact, gap to gap approach, 83 mph exit velocity. Active feet, good footwork and angles, very accurate to bag, solid glove, 76 mph arm strength.

Jack Koch, SS, Cretin-Derham Hall, 2017
5-foot-10, 168-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.15 runner. Crouched stance, wide base, inverted swing plane, lift at contact, ability to drive oppo, 77 mph exit velocity. Sure hands, second base actions, works ground up, long release on throws, good carry and accuracy to bag, 78 mph arm strength.

Justin Reinkall, RHP/SS, Superior (WI), 2017
6-foot-2, 175-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. #34 ranked player in WI 2017 class. 7.14 runner. Leg kick trigger, solid bat speed, line drive swing plane, mid/pull approach, top-half contact at this event, 82 mph exit velocity. Fields out front, sure hands, accurate throws with carry, long release, 83 mph arm strength.

Sam Riola, SS, Blaine, 2017
5-foot-9, 153-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.4 runner. Slightly closed stance, front heel turn trigger, mid/away approach, flat bat path, 78 mph exit velocity. Clean arm action with accuracy to bag, 76 mph arm strength, sure hands, avg. tempo, adequate range, decent feet.

Dante Selke, SS/RHP, St. Charles, 2017
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.72 runner. Coiled set-up, solid strength, minimal use of lower half, pull hitter, hard pull contact, 76 mph exit velocity. Tall fielding position, fields deep occasionally, solid glove, shows accurate arm across with 72 mph arm strength.

Mitchell Waletzki, 2B/RHP, Robbinsdale Armstrong, 2017
6-foot, 190-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.28 runner. Drops hands in load creating uphill swing plane. Minimal use of lower half. Spray contact across field. 81 mph exit velocity. Good arm strength. 85 mph arm strength across diamond. Accurate throws, soft hands, avg. feet, solid range.

Drake Weisman, SS, Chanhassen, 2017
6-foot-1, 165-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.22 runner. Leg kick trigger, leans back at contact, gap to gap approach, top spin contact, short path through zone, 76 mph exit velocity. Extra glove pat, makes routine plays, loses direction to target. 73 mph arm strength.

Tom Yokiel, SS, Mankato West, 2017
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.47 runner. Solid frame with strength. Slightly crouched set-up, square stance, balanced swing, short to contact, short finish through zone, 79 mph exit velocity. Active feet, solid tempo, body control, short arm action with accuracy to bag, 73 mph arm strength.