On back-to-back days in August, PBR hosted the Top Prospect Games and the Top Underclass Games at Campbell’s Jim Perry Stadium.  The Top Underclass Games featured players from the 2021, 2022, and 2023 classes, working out for PBR scouts and close to 20 college programs in attendance.  Position players participated in a full pro-style workout followed by a live scrimmage with pitchers throwing in a controlled environment to the hitters.

The Top Underclass Games saw plenty of high end talent.  Today we look at the primary middle infielders.  The 11 shortstops saw 5 run under 7.20 while 5 also recorded an exit velocity of 85 mph or better.  Four second basemen included a dual that touched 85 on the bump.

CLICK HERE to see the full statistical results from the Top Underclass Games.

 

Top Underclass Games - Middle Infielders

 

SHORTSTOPS

Hayden Brandon SS / 2B / Charlotte Christian , NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 85 / POS: 18   5 foot 10, 155-pound athletic frame with room to add strength.  Hits from the right side with a relaxed, slightly open setup.  Smooth load creating bat angle with his hands and a short stride. Fluid stroke with quick hands.  Put together solid rounds of batting practice lining balls gap to gap.  Average to above average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 83 mph.  Fluid feet on the infield with softness to his hands.  Has rhythm through catch with feel to get the ball out quick.  Some accuracy across the diamond with his arm topping at 77 mph.  Has projection left both offensively and defensively.  Recorded a 6.82 in the 60.

Cameron Cabe SS / RHP / Lee County, NC / 2023 5 foot 10, 160-pound frame with room for growth ahead.  Balanced setup from the right side.  Weight works back during his load with his shoulders getting some down hill angle and an average stride.  Hands stay inside the ball working mostly in the middle of the field.  Average barrel awareness.  Exit velocity recorded at 73 mph and should improve with added strength. Feet work around the ball on the infield with average hands.  Clean exchanges with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Some accuracy across the diamond with his throws topping at 78 mph.  Recorded a 7.41 in the 60. Slow tempo over the rubber working to balance.  Works on-line, landing square.  Long arm swing with average arm speed at a high-3/4 slot.  Fastball attacked the zone at 75-77.  Curveball works with early, gradual 10/4 arc, ranging 61-66.  Good feel for the breaking ball.  Attacked hitters with a 2-pitch mix that will continue to get better with strength and quickness added to the frame.

Chase Caristo SS / 2B / Apex, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 139 / POS: 30   5 foot 8, 150-pound average frame.  Hits from the right side with balanced setup with his bat flat above his back shoulder.  Quick load with a short stride and the hands working slightly back.  Some quickness to his hands working mostly middle to his pull side.  Barrel works uphill at times with some length in the swing.  Exit velocity recorded at 80 mph and should improve with added strength.  Plays through balls on the infield with average hands.  Deeper catch point funneling to the belt after catch.  Clean exchanges, throwing from a ¾ slot.  Arm topped at 74 mph across the diamond.  Recorded a 7.30 in the 60.

Chase Gribble SS / 2B / Smoky Mountain , NC / 2022   6 foot, 150-pound frame with room for growth ahead.  Hits from the right side with a narrower base.  Hands work back during the load with a short stride.  Flat stroke using the whole field during batting practice.  Swing can get long at times, but flashes feel for his barrel.  Exit velocity recorded at 81 mph and should improve as he adds strength.  Average hands on the infield, funneling to the midsection after catch.  Longer exchange with an accurate arm across the diamond topping at 68 mph.  Recorded a 7.81 in the 60.

Will Marcy SS / 3B / PRO5 Academy , NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 31 / POS: 6   Long, lanky frame at 6 foot 2, 165-pounds.  Hits from the right side with a balanced setup with his hands starting above his back shoulder.  Weight and hands work back in his load with an average stride.  Barrel stays in the zone working mostly middle to his pull side.  Feel for his barrel with average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 87 mph.  Relaxed and confident on the infield.  Hands and feet work in rhythm.  Soft hands that funnel to the belt after catch with easy transfers.  Long arm action throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Arm topped at 87 mph across the diamond.  Recorded a 6.92 in the 60.

Jaxon Masterson SS / 2B / Sanderson, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 60 / POS: 13   5 foot 10, 155-pound lanky build with room for growth ahead.  Hits from the right side with a balanced setup.  Hands go down and back during his load, working in sync with his lower half with an average stride.  Has lift in his swing finding his barrel often in batting practice.  Barreled two balls to left during game action.  Above average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 83 mph.  Smooth defender with softness to his hands.  Hands and feet work in sync with feel for a quick release from different arm angles.  Arm topped at 78 mph across the diamond.  Recorded a 7.68 in the 60.

Clay Minor SS / OF / Northern Guilford , NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 51 / POS: 10   Athletic frame at 6 foot 1, 160-pounds.  Hits from the right side with a balanced, relaxed setup.  Hands cock during the load with a leg kick.  Quick hands with an uphill bat path and average barrel awareness.  Gap to gap approach with better than average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 91 mph.  Plays through balls in the outfield with average hands.  Clean transfers with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm with some carry topping at 86 mph.  Quick feet on the infield.  Fight to get his hands and feet in sync at times.  Some accuracy to his throws that topped at 81 mph to first base.  Recorded a 6.94 in the 60. Simple delivery on the mound with good rhythm.  Works level and on-line, landing in-line and square.  Some effort as the long arm swing works to an over-the-top slot.  Fastball was around the zone at 76-80.  Sharp, late breaking ball with 11/5 tilt at 68-69.  Good arm speed on the breaking ball, showing some feel for the pitch as the outing progressed.

Anthony Mitta SS / OF / Leesville Road, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 76 / POS: 14   5 foot 10, 164-pound build with a strong lower half.  Athletic, balanced setup from the left side of the plate. Hands go back during the load with an average stride.  Quick hands with a fat barrel path through the zone.  Lined balls gap to gap during batting practice.  Drove balls to left and center field against live arms.  Average to above average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 87 mph.  Plays athletic through balls in the outfield with average hands.  Accurate arm with some carry topping at 84 mph.  Quick feet on the infield with solid actions.  Average hands with clean transfers.  Accurate arm to first base that topped at 81 mph.  Recorded a 7.35 in the 60.

Jackson Niedel RHP / OF / Durham Academy, NC / 2022   Lanky frame with room for growth at 5 foot 10, 150-pounds.  Tall setup from the right side with his barrel starting flat above his back shoulder.  Slow leg kick during his load with his barrel going to an upright position.  Looks to lift the ball with an uphill bat path.  Swing can get long at times.  Exit velocity recorded at 77 mph.  Works through balls in the outfield with average hands.  Clean exchanges with a long arm action, throwing form a high ¾ slot.  Some accuracy to his throws that topped at 71 mph.  Recorded a 7.77 in the 60.

Gavin Sentell SS / 2B / Ledford , NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 58 / POS: 12   5 foot 9, 145-pound build with room to add strength.  Hits from the left side with an open setup.  Smooth load, gliding into the ball with his lower half.  Fluid stroke and keeps his barrel in the zone.  Works mostly middle to his pull side.  Smooth swing against live arms with feel for his barrel.  Exit velocity recorded at 86 mph.  Loose and relaxed on the infield with better than average hands.  Smooth through his catch and release with his arm topping at 84 mph to first base.  Recorded a 7.78 in the 60.

Jay Stanicek SS / 2B / Wakefield, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 136 / POS: 28   5 foot 8, 152-pound build.  Hits from the right side with a balanced setup.  Hands go back during the load with a short stride.  Short barrel path to the ball, looking to stay in the middle of the field.  Flashes feel for his barrel with his exit velocity recorded at 82 mph.  Fluid, quick feet on the infield with above average hands.  Funnels to the belt after catch with a quick release.  Accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 72 mph.  Recorded a 7.15 in the 60.

SECOND BASEMEN

Zackery Middleton 2B / RHP / Walkertown, NC / 2021 Rankings  StateRank: 61 / POS: 1   Lanky frame at 5 foot 10, 160-pounds with room to add strength.  Slightly open setup from the right side of the plate.  Average stride getting back to even with quiet hands during the load.  Hands get through the zone, getting extension out front.  Gap to gap approach with feel for his barrel.  Doubled to right center during game action.  Average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 82 mph.  Quick feet on the infield with average hands.  Funnels to the belt after catch with clean exchanges and an accurate arm across the infield.  Arm topped at 82 mph.  Recorded a 7.13 in the 60. Around the zone with a 3-pitch mix on the mound.  Smooth rhythm, working level and slightly closed to balance.  Lands on-line and square.  Long arm swing works through slight stiffness to a high-3/4 slot.  Fastball ranged 83-85, dipping to 81-83 in the stretch.  Gradual 12/6 tilt with a slight hump out of the hand on the breaking ball at 73-74.  Good feel for spin, landing it and expanding late in counts.  Change-up at 74 with solid hand speed.

Tyler Shytle 2B / SS / Oak Grove, NC / 2022   5 foot 10, 135-pound build with room to add strength.  Balanced, relaxed setup from the right side.  Uses a small leg kick during his load, gliding into the ball.  Barrel works short to the ball with a gap to gap approach.  Flashes feel for his barrel.  Exit velocity recorded at 77 mph and should improve with added strength.  Solid actions on the infield with quick feet and better than average hands.  Sweeps to his right hip after catch with clean transfers.  Some accuracy to his throws that topped at 78 mph to first base.  Recorded a 7.89 in the 60.

Ty Torti 2B / SS / Cardinal Gibbons , NC / 2022   Athletic build at 5 foot 10, 162-pounds.  Switch hitter.  Balanced setup from the right side.  Smooth load with a short stride.  Slightly uphill path with average feel for his barrel.  Balanced from the left side with a flatter stroke and more bat speed.  Exit velocity peaked at 82 mph.  Athletic on the infield, playing with rhythm to the feet and hands.  Funnels to the belt with clean exchanges and a long arm action, throwing form a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm with some carry that topped at 80 mph across the diamond.  Recorded a 7.48 in the 60.

Zachary Wernoski 2B / OF / East Chapel Hill , NC / 2023   Young frame at 5 foot 8, 140-pounds.  Hits from the right side with a narrow base and some barrel waggle.  Uses a toe tap during his load with a short stride.  Uses the whole field during batting practice with flashes of feel for his barrel.  Jumps forward at times creating some length in the swing.  Barreled a ball to shortstop during game action.  Exit velocity recorded at 76 mph and should improve with added strength.  Fluid feet on the infield with average hands.  Sweeps the ball to his right shoulder after catch.  Accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 67 mph.  Recorded a 7.62 in the 60.