By Rob Allison
Minnesota Scouting Director

The Underclass Prospect Games brought over 40 underclass prospects to showcase themselves to colleges in attendance in the one day event held at the University of Minnesota. Today we analyze and rank the position players in attendance at this years event.

There were many 2 way players in this event; this list is based solely on each players ability as a position player. Tomorrow we will release our analysis of pitchers in this event and Thursday will be overall rankings of top players regardless of position.

Earning the top spot for position players in this event is Brett Schulze from Maple Grove HS.  Schulze showed athleticism, ability to field his position at a high level, and was skilled at the plate.  Overall was near or top in every statistical category. 

TOP position player PROSPECTS

1. Brett Schulze, RHP/SS, Maple Grove, 2016
6-foot, 170-pound 2 way player. 4.35 home to first time. Right handed hitter with easy load-stride-swing mechanics. Very good bat plane. Short to contact with good leverage and finish through contact. Middle to pull approach with ok power to pull side. 83 mph exit velocity. Shows easy actions in field with ability to slow the game down.  Uses athleticism to work through routine ground balls and make online accurate throws across.  Has above average feet and hands without a lot of flash. 78 mph velocity across infield.

2. Sam Baier, SS, Springfield, 2016
6-foot, 155-pound shortstop. 4.58 home to first time. Right handed hitter, has good rhythm in load and swing.  Strides in line.  Quiet head and stays down and through balls creating backspin.  Exit velocity of 85 mph. Defensively, shows very good first step and puts himself in quality position to field balls.  Plays shortstop with athleticism. Plays somewhat tall while fielding but shows sure hands. Throws from over the top slot. Follows throws and shows accuracy and carry.  Needs to improve footwork on body control plays. Infield velocity of 79 mph. Overall quality follow in 2016 class.

3. Matthew Grove, RHP/SS, Edina, 2016
6-foot-3, 180-pound 2 way player. 4.87 home to first time. Right handed hitter hit easy load and leg kick trigger.  Shows bat speed and is athletic.  Uphill inverted swing plane.  In the infield shows good feet and usable hands. Plays through the baseball; tends to play high in the position. Throws from over the top slot with 76 mph velocity across diamond.

4. Patrick Huisman, C/3B, Ely Memorial, 2016
5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher/ third baseman. 5.1 home to first time.  Right handed hitter with athletic setup. High hands and uses double tap stride. Showed good power to pull side of field. Creates bat speed using lower half and driving off backside. 85 mph exit velocity. As a catcher shows usable hands and good blocking mechanics.  Low exchange and inconsistent release point effecting throwing accuracy to second. Pop times ranged 2.28-2.45. Catching velocity of 73. In the field played outstanding at third base.  Has above average feet and hands.  Moves well to the ball. Fields everything out front. Plays through ball and uses lower half in throws. Plus fielding ability and accuracy. Over the top slot with 72 mph infield velocity.

5. Nick Kamnikar, OF, Park Senior, 2017
5-foot-9, 135-pound outfielder. 4.82 home to first time.  Easy gradual load with hands, load tends to get long. Spread stance with short stride into contact. Flat bat path producing solid ground balls and line drives. Exit velocity of 76 mph. Defensively, easy actions in outfield.  Glides to baseball and covers ground effectively.  Tends to throw with only upper half, minimal use of front side causes ¾ arm action.  Outfield velocity of 79 mph.  Projectable athletic 2017 grad.

6. Benjamin Zocher, LHP/1B, East Ridge, 2016
6-foot, 195-pound 2 way player. 4.67 home to first time. Left handed hitter with balanced athletic setup. Smooth load. Slightly open stance with front heel turn trigger. Short to contact with flat plane through zone. Tends to roll hands over early into contact. Short finish. Gap to gap approach with solid contact and bat speed. 78 mph exit velocity off tee. In the outfield shows easy actions and ability to track ball in air.  Fields ball cleanly and efficiently off ground. Throws flat footed with minimal momentum. Outfield velocity of 75 mph. Above average athlete at first base. Easy actions and ability to field routine. Above average footwork around bag receiving throws across.

7. Riley Simonetti, C/1B, Benilde St. Margarets, 2016
6-foot-1, 215-pound catcher- first baseman. 4.83 home to first time.  Big bodied left handed hitter who uses a crouched spread out stance.  Inverted C hand load. Low hands and toe tap trigger. Stays on balls well and shows some pop to oppo gap. Very physical. With mechanical adjustments could develop quickly offensively. Has good hand eye coordination at plate. Average hands and feet at first base. Ability to start double play.  62 mph velocity across infield.  Also catches.  Value right now is in the development of bat.

8. Travis Conoryea, 2B, Simley, 2016
5-foot-6, 160-pound second baseman. 4.5 home to first time. Left handed hitter, simple load and stride. Load at times is long causing arm bar and limiting bat speed. Shows balance in swing with quiet head and stays on balls through contact. Level swing plane producing hard ground balls and line drives. Looks to make solid contact and get out of the box. Exit velocity of 78 mph. Defensively, short quick strides to ball. Natural position is second base. Shows better angles to balls at that position. Made couple above average plays in game portion of event. Throws from ¾ arm slot with throwing velocity of 67 mph. Overall top/bottom of order hitter who looks to get on base and score runs while making routine plays on right side of infield.

9. Liam Owens, LHP/1B, Magic City(ND), 2016
5-foot-eleven, 170-pound 2 way player. 5.01 home to first time. Left handed hitter with physical build.  Shows good rhythm and aggressive approach in box. Easy load with front heel turn stride and trigger. Good extension and some power from uphill swing plane and pull approach. 84 mph exit velocity. Shows good feet and solid glove at first base.  Ability to make routine plays.  Follows throws well with ability to start double plays. Infield velocity of 72 mph.

10. Luke Wallner, RHP/OF, Forest Lake, 2017
5-foot-10, 180-pound 2 way player. 4.87 home to first time. Right handed hitter with easy load in tall athletic setup. High hands with front heel turn trigger into swing. Short to contact with barrel whip and ability to stay on ball through contact. Ok pop to pull side of field. 79 mph exit velocity. Defensively moves well in the outfield. Shows ability to track balls and fields routine cleanly. Long extended arm action and uses front side to throw. High ¾ slot with outfield velocity of 78 mph.

11. Chris Larson, OF, La Crescent, 2016
6-foot, 170-pound outfielder. 4.76 home to first time. Right handed hitter with tall athletic setup. Small easy stride into contact. Short bat path. Works to stay inside baseball at contact with short finish. Exit velocity of 73 mph. In the outfield shows easy actions and good reads on baseball.  Moves with fluidity.  Above average throwing mechanics with plus accuracy. Uses front side and lower half well in throws. 76 mph velocity from outfield.  Projectable body and a player to follow.

12. Bryce Norby, OF/RHP, Mora, 2017
6-foot-1, 170-pound 2 way player. 4.59 home to first time. Left handed hitter with easy hands and loads weight to the back and delivers forward to contact. Linear movements. Swing can be somewhat long at times but consistently hits balls hard to middle and pull side. Flat line drive swing plane. Exit velocity of 71 mph. Shows average to ok actions in outfield.  Low front side contributes to ¾ arm slot average accuracy on throws. Tends to throw flat footed from OF. Outfield velocity of 74 mph.

13. Kaylan Legred, C/OF, Blue Earth, 2017
5-foot-6, 130-pound catcher- outfielder. 4.47 home to first time. Left handed hitter with preset load and flat bat path to ball. Double toe tap stride effects timing.  Line drive/groundball hitter. Right handed uses crouched setup with easy load and stride. Tends to lift up while swinging effecting contact.  Flat bat path and uses whole field.  Defensively, shows above average feet and hands.  Blocking mechanics are very solid.  Has flexibility and quick twitch actions behind the plate.  Lacks physical maturity. Interesting follow over next 2 years defensively.  Catching velocity of 70 mph with pop times of 2.25-2.4.

14. Conor Taney, RHP/OF, Minot(ND), 2016
6-foot-1, 170-pound 2 way player. 4.86 home to first time. Shows good rhythm in right handed swing. Uses hand well in swing.  Short to contact with long finish. Bat stays in zone for extended period of time.  Has good gap to gap approach. Exit velocity of 79 mph. Average actions but shows good feet and glove fielding.  Excellent footwork and mechanics on throws. Uses front side well and creates power with lower half. Over the top slot with accuracy and carry. 77 mph throws from outfield.

15. Karl Jackson, 1B, DeLaSalle, 2017
6-foot-2, 170-pound first baseman. 4.8 home to first time. Left handed hitter with tall stance, good rhythm in load and stride. Stays online with short path to baseball.  Does very good job of staying on and through baseball. Quiet head with clean crisp swing. Exit velocity of 72 mph.  Interesting follow offensively with continued physical development. Defensively shows average actions in outfield.  Works to get behind baseball. Tends to stop momentum transitioning from field to throw using all arm.  High ¾ slot with OF velocity of 73 mph.

16. Jevan Richert, C/RHP, Springfield, 2017
5-foot-eleven, 165-pound 2 way player. 5.08 home to first time. Right handed hitter with easy load and short stride. Minimal weight shift through contact. Short to ball with short finish. Pull approach. Exit velocity of 79 mph. Defensively shows good flexibility behind the dish. Has usable hands and excellent blocking mechanics on balls in dirt. Shows proper footwork and exchanges. Inconsistent release point and rushes throws.  Velocity of 67 mph and pop times of 2.12-2.34.

 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Andrew Allen, C, St. Thomas Academy, 2016
6-foot-2, 165-pound catcher. 4.8 home to first. Right handed hitter, 2 piece swing with minimal rhythm. Flat swing plane.  Uses mostly upper body in swing producing exit velocity of 71 mph. Defensively, good set-up behind the plate and shows flexibility and sure hands receiving.  Needs improvement in overall blocking mechanics. Throws with open front side to second base effecting accuracy and carry. Long exchange. Gets to proper arm slot throwing. Pop time of 2.4-2.6 with velocity of 71 mph.

Nathaniel Allen, C, St. Thomas Academy, 2018
5-foot-9, 125-pound catcher. 5.33 home to first time. Right handed hitter, overall solid hitting mechanics, in line stride to ball, lands on front heel which effects weight shift through contact.  Tends to drop hands before initiating swing. Exit velocity of 60 mph.  Defensively, low setup behind plate.  Shows good flexibility and works to hold pitches in zone.  Moves well blocking the baseball.  Simple catch and turn mechanics in throwing. Glove to arm exchange is low; causing long arm action.  Throws with open front side to second base.  Pop times of 2.72-2.75 with 62 mph arm strength.

Chad Benham, 3B, Deer River, 2017
5-foot-11, 175-pound third baseman. 5.19 home to first time. Right handed hitter, narrow stance,  low hand set with rapid load before swing.  Front heel turn stride with minimal weight shift in swing. Swings uphill through balls.  Exit velocity of 78 mph. Defensively, waits for baseballs. Lacks pre- pitch movement and rhythm.  Plays better defensively when on the run allowing him to use athleticism.  Over the top throwing slot with infield velocity of 69 mph.

TJ Carlson, C, Orono, 2018
5-foot-8, 145-pound catcher/ shortstop.  5.44 home to first time. Right handed hitter, long deep load with upper half.  Double tap stride with minimal weight shift through swing.  Tends to drop hands and swing uphill. Exit velocity of 72 mph. Balanced proper setup behind plate. Works to frame pitches and keep balls in zone.  Quality footwork and body position while blocking.  Low exchange with long arm action to second base. Lacks arm strength and accuracy producing velocity of 61 mph with pop times of 2.37-2.87. In the infield, sure hands but lacks fluidity.  Plays somewhat mechanical.  Lack of front side while throwing limits arm strength.

Conner Cress, RHP/SS, Eagan, 2017
5-foot-9, 150-pound 2 way player. 4.76 home to first time. Athletic setup with inline stride.  Uphill swing plane with limited weight shift. Pull only approach. Exit velocity of 65 mph. Defensively, uses choppy steps to baseball, tends to field deep in stance. Average hands and exchanges from glove to throwing hand.  Throws from over the top slot producing 70 mph velocity across the infield. 

Thomas Deters, OF, Orono, 2018
5-foot-10, 145-pound outfielder. 4.76 home to first time. Right handed hitter, good setup in box with an in line stride.  Lands hard on front foot.  Stays on baseball with appropriate weight shift.  Overall quality swings; lacks strength.  Is forced to over swing right now. Exit velocity of 75 mph. Defensively, works hard to get into proper fielding position and behind fly balls. Very active.  Throws from low ¾ arm slot with limited use of lower half and front side. 69 mph outfield velocity. Follow player who needs to add strength and mature physically.

Aaron Drotts, 2B, Deer River, 2016
6-foot, 150-pound second baseman. 4.82 home to first time. Right handed hitter, no load swing with pull approach.  Lands open with front foot causing him to swing out and around balls.  Stays behind front leg with minimal weight shift through ball at contact. Exit velocity of 76 mph. Defensively, works down to up with sure hands.  Tends to field ball deep in stance.  Uses lower half in throws with an over the top slot.  Infield velocity of 61 mph.

Noah Foster, OF, Mora, 2018
5-foot-8, 150-pound outfielder. 4.94 home to first time. Right handed hitter who has rhythm in hands for load, small leg kick trigger, and pull approach at plate.  Swings with barrel to ball. Tends to get out and around to contact. Exit velocity of 75 mph. Defensively, shows proper footwork in the outfield, works to get behind flyballs and makes catches at eye level. Has good momentum through throws with lower half and threw 71 mph from outfield from high ¾ arm slot.

Griffin Fussy, SS/RHP, Blaine, 2016
5-foot-10, 170-pound 2 way player. 4.45 home to first time. Left handed hitter with minimal load.  Uses rhythm in his hands as trigger.  Inline stride into pitch.  Pull approach with flat swing plane. 78 mph exit velocity. Defensively shows average feet in infield, tends to field flat footed, shows usable hands and ability to cover ground to his left.  Over the top arm slot with accuracy.  Infield velocity of 66 mph. 

Kelby Johnson, OF, Lakeville South, 2016
5-foot-6, 150-pound outfielder. 4.72 home to first time. Right handed hitter with deep load and simple mechanics.  Weight shift back and stride into contact. Very linear in actions.  Flat bat path producing hard ground balls and line drives to middle of field. 72 mph exit velocity. Defensively, plays low to the ground. Tends to field balls deep in stance. Throws with short arm action with high ¾ slot. Infield velocity of 74 mph.

Dane Korsi, SS, Orono, 2018
5-foot-8, 145-pound shortstop. 4.45 home to first time. Right handed hitter with preset load and high leg kick trigger to contact. Short path to ball, collapses lower half at contact.  Exit velocity of 71 mph. Works from ground up with choppy steps to ball. Shows average feet and hands. Infield velocity of 69 mph.

Nathan Kuhn, 3B, Eagan, 2016
5-foot-10, 175-pound third baseman. 5.08 home to first time. Right handed hitter with tall stance. Loads with shoulders and front heel turn trigger. Rotational swing.  Showed pop to pull side.  Struggled with timing. Did stay on and through balls with long finish. Exit velocity of 76 mph. Defensively, good energy in infield, worked to get into good fielding position, showed usable hands and feet.  Throws with short arm action and ¾ slot. 71 mph across infield.

Cole Litsey, SS/RHP, Esko, 2016
5-foot-10, 170-pound 2 way player. 4.76 home to first time. Right handed hitter with preset load. Short leg kick stride with minimal rhythm.  Has uphill swing plane with stiffness in swing. Exit velocity of 77 mph. Defensively shows ok hand and average feet. Fields ball deep in stance and on back heels.  Throws from ¾ arm angle flat footed.

Jeffrey Moore, C/RHP, Deer River, 2017
5-foot-7, 165-pound 2 way player. 5.32 home to first time. Right handed hitter with easy load and simple swing. Stays flat through zone producing solid contact. Quiet head through contact with short finish. Exit velocity of 69 mph. In the outfield shows average actions. Makes routine plays. Throws flat footed from high ¾ arm slot. Outfield velocity of 76 mph with ok accuracy.

Leo Schreiner, C/1B, Armstrong, 2017
6-foot-1, 170-pound catcher. 5.18 home to first time. Right handed hitter with inconsistent load with hands.  Toe tap stride into ball. Pull approach with minimal weight shift through ball. Uphill swing plane. 71 mph exit velocity. Defensively works from narrow base.  Usable hands receiving baseball.  Good blocking mechanics.  Ok feet with low exchange and ¾ arm slot and release point.  Consistently put the ball on bag. Velocity of 66 mph with pop times of 2.25-2.43.

Jared Sewall, 2B, Pequot Lakes, 2016
5-foot-10, 150-pound second baseman. 4.8 home to first time. Left handed hitter shows minimal hand load with short stride.  Uphill bat plane with an inside out swing. Exit velocity of 73 mph. Defensively fields up to down with average foot speed and range.  Shows usable hands.  Has very short arm action and limited use of front side and lower half from low ¾ slot.  58 mph across diamond.

Jason Traynor, 3B, Cannon Falls, 2016
5-foot-11, 165-pound third baseman. 4.87 home to first time. Minimal hand load in swing. Uses Knob to ball approach at plate with ultra short finish. Hits behind stiff front leg limiting weight shift and power into contact. Exit velocity of 73 mph. Shows average feet and hands on defense. Makes routine plays. Has ability to make throws from different arm angles. 74 mph velocity across infield.

Trevor Walderon, RHP, Hastings, 2016
6-foot-1, 195-pound right handed pitcher. 4.63 home to first time. Preset hands. Double stride into contact. Collapses back side in swing. Uphill swing plane with 79 mph exit velocity.

Nicholas Weber, OF, DeLasalle, 2016
6-foot-1, 185-pound outfielder. 4.84 home to first time. Left handed hitter with preset hands, spread stance, and short stride. Swing against stiff front leg and has uphill swing plane. Pull approach and solid barrel contact. Exit velocity of 74 mph. Average- Ok actions in outfield. Limited use of front side. ¾ arm slot. Long slingy arm action. 74 mph velocity from outfield.

Jaxson Willis, OF, Deer River, 2017
5-foot-11, 160-pound outfielder. 5.19 home to first time. Right handed hitter with unorthodox load. Double stride into contact. Short to ball with good swing plane. Over rotates on front foot. Exit velocity of 70 mph. Defensively average actions in outfield. Fields and throws flat footed with very little momentum through ball. Outfield velocity of 67 mph.

Riley Wilson, 2B, Virginia, 2016
5-foot-9, 155-pound second baseman. 4.86 home to first time. Right handed hitter with preset hands. No load in swing. Simple stride into contact. Flat bath path. Short to contact with short finish. Gap to gap approach with ok bat speed. Exit velocity of 73 mph. In the field shows good energy. Works through routine balls cleanly and follows throws to first base. Works down to up with usable hands and feet. Ability to throw accurately from various arm angles. 64 mph velocity across infield.

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