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2.16 KC Preseason All-State: Middle Infield Analysis

March 13, 2015

By Sean McCann
Prep Baseball Report Kansas

The 2015 Prep Baseball Report Preseason All-State Showcase took place Monday, February 16th at 68’s Inside Sports in Overland Park, KS. Several of the top class of 2016 prospects from Kansas an Missouri gathered to display the fruits of their hard winter labor in front of the PBR scouting staff and area college coaches.

Click here to view the Instant Analysis article reviewing the top performers from the event in the various stat areas. 

Over the last few days we’ve been releasing position-by-position analysis articles with scouting reports on each player and identifying the top prospects. Two-way players will appear in a position article as well as the pitching analysis feature. We will also be updating the Kansas and Missouri class of 2016 player rankings over the next few weeks.

Today we take a look at the middle infielders that participated in the event.

Top middle infield prospects

1. Avery Jennings, RHP/SS, Rock Bridge HS, MO (2016)
Jennings is a strong, athletic 5-foot-11, 180-pound right-hand hitting shortstop and right-handed pitcher that attends Rock Bridge HS in Columbia, Missouri. Class of 2016. Open set-up at the plate, minimal load, short path to the ball, loose hands, fast bat, extension through the baseball, balanced. Middle to slight pull hard contact in batting practice. Advanced approach. Exit velocity 92 mph, ran a 4.38 home-to-first. During defensive drills showed athletic actions. Quick exchanges and release. High three-quarters slot. Strong throws with carry, 86 mph throwing velocity. On the mound showed a simple, up-tempo delivery, repeats. Three-quarters slot, quick arm. Fastball with arm side run, pounded the strike zone, 85-86 mph, touched an 89. Breaking ball with 11/5 shape, late break, 75-79 mph. Sinking change-up, 79-82 mph. Talented class of 2016 two-way player.

2. Harrison Schnurbusch, SS, Lee’s Summit West HS, MO (2016)
Schnurbusch is a class of 2016 shortstop from Lee’s Summit HS in Lee’s Summit, MO. Thin, athletic 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame. Right-hand hitter. Balanced set-up, strides inline, no load, short bat path, bat speed, hands work, line drive approach. Worked middle to slight pull in batting practice round. Exit velocity high of 90, ran a 4.34 home-to-first. Athletic footwork in the infield, soft hands, clean exchanges, quick high three-quarters arm action, throws had carry, 79 mph throwing velocity.

3. Dusty Stroup, SS, Lee’s Summit West HS, MO (2016)
Stroup is a projectable 6-foot-2, 175-pound shortstop that attends Lee’s Summit West HS in Lee’s Summit Missouri. Class of 2016. Bats right, tall set-up, minimal hand load, level path out front, bat speed, line drive approach, maintains balance. Line drives to the pull side during batting practice. Exit velocity of 87 mph, ran a 4.50 home-to-first. Athletic actions at shortstop. Quick, clean exchanges, quick high three quarters arm action, 80 mph throwing velocity, accurate arm.

4. Cole Smith, 2B/SS, Ozark HS, MO (2016)
Smith is a right-hand hitting middle infielder that attends Ozark HS in Southwest Missouri. 5-foot-11, 160-pound frame. Class of 2016. Tall, open set-up at the plate. Smooth load, hands inside ball, hands work, backside fires with hands, aggressive swing, maintains balance. Hit the ball flat in the middle of the field in batting practice round. Exit velocity 85 mph, ran a 4.12 home-to-first. Light feet in the infield, athletic actions, short high three-quarters arm action, quick arm, 80 mph throwing velocity, very accurate arm. Athletic middle infield prospect with a frame built to pack weight onto.

5. Bobby Connor, Parkway West HS, MO (2016)
Connor is a 5-foot-9 160-pound right-hand hitting shortstop. Attends Parkway West HS in St. Louis, MO. Class of 2016. At the plate starts with a wide base, reverse toe tap stride, minimal load, level path out front, bat speed, hand strength, finishes with extension. Line drive, middle-of-the field approach. Exit velocity 82 mph, ran a 4.45 home-to-first. Hands and feet work well in the infield. Clean exchanges, quick arm, high three-quarters slot, throws had carry, accurate arm. Skilled defender with a very aggressive swing at the plate.

6. Micah McCulley, RHP/SS, McPherson HS, KS (2016)
McCulley is a strong 6-foot-1, 190-pound right-handed pitcher and shortstop in the class of 2016. Attends McPherson HS in McPherson, KS. Bats right, tall set-up, strides in place, minimal hand load, level path, bat speed, balanced finish. Simple swing with some pull side juice. Recorded a 94 mph exit velocity, ran a 4.30 home-to-first. Moved well in the infield for his size, fielded the ball cleanly, short high three-quarters arm action, 81 mph throwing velocity, accurate arm. Starts with a deliberate pace on the mound, little wasted movement. Vertical hands and knee lift for rhythm, three-quarters arm slot. Simple delivery. Fastball mostly with arm side run, also worked glove side and down, 80-81 mph, 82 tops. Showed a 12/6 breaking ball, also shortened one up with 11/5 shape as well, both late breaking pitches, 70-72 mph. Change-up with fastball arm speed 72-73 mph.

Best of the rest (listed alphabetically)

Joe Baker, RHP/SS, Wichita Trinity HS, KS (2016)
Baker is a class of 2016 shortstop and right-handed pitcher that attends Wichita Trinity HS in Kansas. 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame. Bats right, balanced set-up, strides slightly closed, some length in load, keeps hands inside ball, works gap-to-gap, line drives, finishes with extension. Recorded an 86 mph exit velocity, ran a 4.59 home-to-first. Fielded the ball cleanly at short, throws from high three-quarters slot. Quick, clean arm action, all accurate throws, 77 mph throwing velocity. On the mound works under control early, tucks knee at balance, hides ball, picks up tempo. Loose, natural three-quarters arm action. Arm works. Simple delivery. Fastball runs arm side, finished pen with two glove side fastballs with cutting action, 78-79 mph, 80 tops. Breaking ball with early action, 12/6 spin, 62-64 mph. Change-up 70-71. Athletic frame with projection, more in the tank velocity-wise.

Tyson Cushman, SS/2B, Blue Springs South HS, MO (2016)
Cushman is 6-foot-2, 173-pound shortstop from Blue Springs South HS in Blue Springs, MO. Class of 2016. Left-hand hitter, Balanced set-up at the plate, quiet stride, smooth load, loose hands, back side works, finishes balanced. Middle of the field line drives. Exit velocity 81 mph, ran a 4.31 home-to-first. During infield drills showed fluid footwork. Quick, clean exchanges, loose three-quarters arm action, 77 mph throwing velocity, showed a very accurate arm. Projectable class of 2016 left-hand hitting middle infielder.

Gavin Hutson, 2B/3B, El Dorado HS, KS (2016)
Hutson is a thin, athletic 5-foot-11, 165-pound infielder that attends El Dorado HS in El Dorado, KS. Class of 2016. Right-hand hitter, tall set-up, no load, light stride, hands work, line drive approach, fluid rhythm. Simple swing with some bat speed. Recorded an 86 mph exit velocity, ran a 4.42 home-to-first. At shortstop fielded the ball cleanly, three-quarters arm action, 74 mph throwing velocity, accurate throws.

Hunter McMahon, 2B/RHP, Staley HS, MO (2016)
McMahon is a thin, athletic 6-foot-1, 155-pound right-hand hitting second baseman and right-handed pitcher. Attends Staley HS in Staley, MO. Class of 2016. Hits from a slight crouch, some rhythm in load, strides in place, level path, line drive approach. Exit velocity of 86 mph, ran a 4.57 home-to-first. Light feet in the infield, soft hands, loose high three-quarters throwing motion, accurate arm, top throwing velocity clocked at 76 mph. On the mound slow and simple early in delivery, picks up tempo during knee lift, tall balance point, aggressive move to the plate, three-quarters slot, quick arm, tall finish. Worked both sides with fastball, some arm side run, 82-84 mph, 85 tops. Breaking ball with 12/6 shape, gradual action, 63-64 mph. Change-up runs arm side 72-74 mph. Solid 2016 prospect that has a frame with plenty of room to fill out.

Justin Reiss, RHP/2B, Rock Creek HS, KS (2016)
Reiss is a 5-foot-11, 155-pound right-handed pitcher and second baseman. Class of 2016, attends Rock Creek HS in KS. Right-hand hitter, slight crouch to start, strides closed, spray hitter. Exit velocity 75 mph, ran a 4.37 home-to-first. Fielded the ball cleanly in the infield, high three-quarters to over-the-top throwing motion, top throw clocked at 65 mph, accurate throws. On the mound works to a tall balance point, tall knee lift, slight turn. Over-the-top slot, tall finish. Fastball with early arm side run, 68-70 mph. 12/6 curveball, 61-63 mph. Also showed a 64-67 mph change-up.

Kenton Richards, SS/2B, Chanute HS, KS (2016)
Richards is a class of 2016 middle infielder from Chanute HS in Southeast, KS. Athletic 5-foot-10, 165-pound frame. Bats right, slight crouch to start, strides inline, smooth load, slightly uphill path, some bat speed, back side fires with hands, worked middle of the field during batting practice round. Recorded an 88 mph exit velocity, ran a 4.27 home to first. During infield work fielded the ball cleanly, high three-quarters arm action, 72 mph throwing velocity, mostly accurate throws.

Cole Schumacher, 2B/RHP, Hays HS, KS (2016)
Schumacher is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound second baseman and right-handed pitcher. Attends Hays HS in Hays, KS. Class of 2016. Bats right, tall set-up gets foot down early, smooth load, short path, some lift to swing, worked middle of the field. 83 mph exit velocity, ran a 4.35 home-to-first. In the infield showed soft hands, quick exchanges, high three-quarters arm action, and 73 mph throwing velocity, accurate throws. On the mound simple and under control delivery, tall balance point, short arm action, high three-quarters slot, athletic finish. Fastball 76-78 mph touched 80. Controllable 12/6 breaking ball, 67-69 mph, strikes. Change-up sinks and dies at plate, 71-73 mph. Solid all around player.

Ryan Simons, 2B, Shawnee Mission Northwest HS, KS (2016)
Simons is a 6-foot, 145-pound second baseman and outfielder that attends Shawnee Mission Northwest HS in Shawnee, KS. Class of 2016. Bats right, balanced set-up, minimal load, strides in place, level path, loose hands, maintains balance. Middle, line drive approach. 75 exit velocity, ran a 4.38 home-to-first. Sure-handed in the infield, clean exchanges, high three quarters arm action, arm works, 72 mph throwing velocity, accurate throws. Thin, athletic frame with plenty of room to add strength and fill out.

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