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Fall Underclass Games: Middle Infielder's Analysis

December 4, 2015

Shon Plack
Missouri/Kansas Scouting Director

On Sunday, November 1, Prep Baseball Report Kansas and Missouri held the Fall Underclass Games in Manhattan, Kansas.  Over 65 players in the 2018 and 2019 classes participated.

Player's profiles have been updated with video, times and velocities.  We will break down each position, today we will break down the middle infielders.  In days to come we take a closer look at corner infielders, and pitchers.  The middle infielders are listed below in alphabetical order.

CLICK HERE, to see the instant analysis from the Fall Underclass Games.
CLICK HERE, to see the catcher's analysis.
CLICK HERE, to see the outfielder's analysis.

MIDDLE INFIELDERS

Chase Burgess, SS, Blue Valley West (KS), 2019
Burgess is a 5-foot-3 145-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2019 class.  He ran a 7.40 60 and a 4.56 home-to-first. Burgess has a gap-to-gap approach, with a short and compact swing, smooth load, quick hands, balanced finish, 76 mph exit velo. On the infield, 75 mph positional velo, made all the plays cleanly, quick catch and release, fluid work.  Will continue to trend upwards and he develops physically.

Connor Cahill, SS, Blue Valley Northwest (KS), 2018
Cahill is a 6-foot 190-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas 2018 class.  He ran a 7.35 60 and a 4.69 home-to-first. Cahill had one of the top exit velos on the day at 86 mph, balanced set up, in-line stride, used the middle of the field during batting practice, gap-to-gap, approach, showed pop to both gaps, loose hands.  On the infield, 74 mph positional velo, quick catch and throw, momentum through the catch, fluid footwork, short over the top release.

Jackson Caley, 2B, Pleasant Hill (MO), 2018
Caley is a 5-foot-10 165-pound right-handed hitting second baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 7.19 60 and a 4.30 home-to-first. At the plate, Caley has an athletic stance with fluid rhythm during his load, strides in line, hands work inside of the ball, used middle of the field during batting practice, gap-to-gap approach, body controlled throughout swing, 84 mph exit velo. On the infield, 76 mph positional velo, athletic footwork, clean hand-to-glove exchange, quick release, high three quarters arm slot.

Grant Chandler, 2B, Olathe Northwest (KS), 2019
Chandler is a 5-foot-8 115-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2019 class. He ran a 8.25 60 and a 5.12 home-to-first. At the plate, tall and balanced set up, hands separate from stride, hands load, level path to extension, quick hands, gap-to-gap approach, 68 mph exit velo.  On the infield, 66 mph positional velo, clean exchange and release, fluid footwork.  Projectable frame that has room to add strength with already athletic actions. 

Taylor Foss, SS, Shawnee Mission West (KS), 2018
Foss is a 5-foot-11 170-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2018 class.  He ran a 7.41 60 and a 4.84 home-to-first. At the plate, up-tempo rhythm during pre-swing,  short stride, quick hands, consistent line drives to middle of the field, stays on ball after contact, 74 mph exit velo. Foss has a 78 mph positional velo, one of the top for the event among middle infielders, fluid footwork, creates momentum through the catch, clean transfer, over the top release. Singled to left during game action.

Brett Hammit, SS, Nixa (MO), 2018
Hammit is a 6-foot-2 right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 7.28 60 and a 4.57 home-to-first. Hammit posted the top infield velo on the day at 84 mph, and the top RHH exit velo at 94 mph.  At the plate, Hammit takes an aggressive swing with power, loose hands, controlled lift of front leg, hits with leverage in lower half, consistent solid contact during hitting evaluations.  On the infield, loose and short over the top release, plays through the ball, clean catch and release, accurate throws. One of the top athletes at the event and showed improvements from last event.

Branden Harder, SS, Nevada (MO), 2018
Harder is a 5-foot-9 150-pound switch-hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2018 class. Harder ran a 7.16 60 and 4.34 home to first. He posted a 76 mph exit velo from the left side and an 80 mph exit velo from the right side.  During batting practice, similar tall and balanced stance from both sides, short stride, gap-to-gap approach, line drives to middle of the field, showed more power from right side.  On the infeidl, has a 78 mph positional velo, one of the top for the event, short over-the-top arm slot, quick catch and throw, fluid footwork, mostly accurate throws. Improvements to running times and positional velo from last event.

Gage Miller, SS, Mill Valley (KS), 2018
Miller is a 5-foot-10 145-pound switch-hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2018 class.  He ran a 7.31 60, a 4.48 home to first from the left side and a 4.53 home to first from the right side. At the plate, on the left side, hands walk away from stride, gap-to-gap approach, level path, more consistent contact than right side, used toe touch on right side for timing, in line stride, 74 mph exit velo from both sides.  On the infield, 70 mph positional velo, clean exchange, over the top release, accurate throws, fluid footwork.

Tyler Nelson, SS, Riley County (KS), 2018
Nelson is a 5-foot-10 170-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2018 class.  He ran a 7.02 60, one of the fastest times for the event, and got down the line in 4.60-seconds. At the plate, balanced stance, toe touch to in-line stride, hit flat line drives to the middle of the field during batting practice, 83 mph exit velo. Defensively, 67 mph postional velo, made all plays cleanly, over the top slot, quick release, fluid footwork, mostly accurate throws. 

Jacob Peterson, SS, Blue Valley Southwest (KS), 2018
Peterson is a 6-foot-1 160-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2018 class.  He ran a 7.59 60 and a 4.72 home-to-first. During batting practice, showed power to pull gap with gap-to-gap approach, athletic set up, reverse toe tap and stride, level path, body controlled throughout swing, 80 mph exit velo.  During defensive evals, 73 mph positional velo, momentum through the catch and towards target, short three quarters arm slot, quick catch and throw, mostly accurate throws. Singled down third base line during game action.

Kade Peterson, SS, Warrensburg (MO), 2018
Peterson is a 5-foot-10 150-pound left-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 7.85 60 and a 4.81 home-to-first. At the plate, Peterson had a 76 mph exit velo, smooth load, some hand load, showed ability to hit to all fields, slightly uphill through zone, consistent contact that produced line drives.  During defensive evaluations, 75 mph positional velo, three quarters release, long arm circle, quick release, feet and hands in sync, mostly accurate throws.

Kaden Rayman, SS, Fair Grove (MO), 2019
Rayman is a 6-foot-175-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 7.08 60 and a 4.60 home-to-first. At the plate, posted an 85 mph exit velo, wide set up with small stride, loose and free hands, used whole field during batting practice, stays on ball through contact.  On the infield, high three quarters arm slot, bit of a slinging action, fluid can clean actions, clean exchange and soft hands, 68 mph positional velo.  Increases in running times and exit velo since last event.

Bobby Rivera, SS, Blue Springs South (MO), 2018
Rivera is a 5-foot-8 130-pound switch-hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 7.26 60, ran a 4.11 home-to-first from the left side and a 4.47 from the right side. Offensively, similar swing from both sides, 73 mph exit velo from side and 68 mph exit velo as lefty, athletic set up, loads hands, level bat path with gap-to-gap approach from both sides.  Defensively, quick and athletic footwork, high three quarters release, hands in sync with feet, plays through catch, mostly accurate throws at 71 mph.

Brent Shinkle, SS, Blue Valley Southwest (KS), 2018
Shinkle is a 5-foot-9 145-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 7.28 60 and got down the line in 4.27-seconds. At the plate, 80 mph exit velo, simple load with no wasted movements, body stays under control with short compact swing, gap-to-gap approach, quick and loose hands, consistent line drives.  On the infield, over the top release with momentum through the catch, feet work with hands, soft quick transfer, 74 mph positonal velo, accurate throws. Improvements in arm strength and speed since last event.

Brady Slavens, SS, Olathe Northwest (KS), 2019
Slavens is a 6-foot 145-pound left-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2019 class.   Slavens ran a 7.59 60 and a 4.90 home-to-first. At the plate, wide set up, minimal load, aggressive bat speed, swing produced gap-to-gap line drives, 81 mph exit velo. On the infield, Slavens has a 78 mph positional velo, one of the top middle infield velos for the event, projectable build with loose arm action, arm works, over the top release, quick feet and quick catch and release, mostly accurate throws. Singled to right during game action.

Zach Todd, SS, Shawnee Mission West (KS), 2018
Todd is a 5-foot-10 180-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2018 class.  He ran a 7.69 60, ran a 4.56 home-to-first from the left side. At the plate, pushes hands back and walks away from front side to load, used whole field during batting practice, loose and free hands with level path through extension, 82 mph exit velo.  On the infield, 77 mph positional velo, high three quarters release, soft hands with fluid footwork and clean exchange, accurate throws.

Brett Westerman, SS, Derby (KS), 2018
Westerman is a 5-foot-7 140-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Kansas’ 2018 class.  He ran a 7.75 60 and a 4.52 home-to-first. At the plate, 78 mph exit velo, consistent middle of the field line drives, smooth load, some load in hands, minimal stride, level path.  On the infield, short over the top release, quick transfer, fluid footwork creating momentum through catch, accurate throws at 68 mph.

Jakob Woods, SS, Maryville (MO), 2018
Woods is a 6-foot-2 175-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 7.38 60 and a 4.84 home-to-first. Offensively, 81 mph exit velo, smooth pre-swing rhythm, toe tap for timing, loose and free hands create bat whip to extension, power to pull gap, used whole field during batting practice.  On the infield, Woods has a 78 mph positional velo, one of the best among middle infielders, athletic actions, with quick catch and throw, loose arm action, over the top arm action, arm works from different angles, accurate throws, athletic frame with more in the tank.

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