Preseason All State: Infield Analysis
March 7, 2018
The Preseason All State Showcase has come and gone, and it is time to highlight some of the top performers from the infield. Although there was a ton of talent at this event, these infielders stood out:
CLICK HERE to see a Stats Spreadsheet from the event
Top Infielders from the Preseason All State
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MICHAEL DECKER / 3B / CLEARVIEW, NJ / 2019Rankings StateRank: 107 / POS: 7
Decker has a lean, physical build at 6-foot-1 195-pounds. One of the top prospects to come out of the event. Offensively – LHH that starts in an opened stance with hands just below back shoulder. Uses a small foot lift and stride to start swing. Hands load down and back with some rhythm. Short compact swing with stiff front leg finish. Creates some lift. Ball jumps off his bat with backspin and carry. Defensively – took reps at 3B. Velocity topped at 80 MPH with throws on a line. Shows some lateral quickness with soft hands. Top prospect to watch for this spring. Could be a two-way guy at the next level.
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KENNETH LEVARI / SS / ST. AUGUSTINE PREP, NJ / 2020Old Dominion recruit. Levari has a lean, athletic build at 6-feet 150-pounds. LHH starts in a slightly opened stance with hands above back shoulder. Uses a small foot stride to start swing. Hands load up and back slightly. Creates extension in hands and arms at contact with an uphill finish. Line drive type hitter with some gap to gap potential as he gets stronger throughout his high school career. Exit Velocity topped at 84 MPH. Defensively – Throws across the infield topped at 88 MPH. Smooth, rangey lateral movements. Receives ball out in front of body. Clean glove exchange, gets ball out with swiftness. Throws jumped out of hand with back spin
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MICHAEL LAZZARO / 3B / TOMS RIVER SOUTH, NJ / 2019Lazzaro has a lean, athletic build at 6-feet 195-pounds. Exit velocity topped at 88 MPH. Hitting – Lazzaro sets up in a slighly opened stance and in a crouch with hands above back shoulder and bat parallel to the ground. As pitch comes in, uses a small foot lift and stride to start swing. Hands load up and back slightly. Short, compact swing with uphill finish through the zone. Ball seemed to jump of the bat during batting practice. Line drive hitter with gap to gap potential as he continues to fill out frame. Defensively – took reps at 3B. Throws topped at 80 MPHacross the infield with backspin and carry. Footwork is sound, able to play through throws with momentum toward first base. Interesting prospect to watch for this spring and summer.
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JERAMIAH DEANTA / SS / MEMORIAL WEST NEW YORK, NJ / 2019Deanta has a broad shouldered, athletic build at 6-foot-1 195-pounds. Recorded an exit velocity that topped at 86 MPH. Hitting – Deanta starts in an opened stance and a slight crouch with hands above back shoulder. As pitch comes in, uses a small foot stride to re-center body to homeplate. Hands load up and back as bat barrel wraps slightly around head. Creates his power in his extension of hand and arms to the baseball. Uphill finish on follow through. Defensively – took reps at SS. Throws topped at 79 MPH across the infield. Smooth baseball actions in the infield with an effortless glove exchange and quick release. Able to throw from multiple arm slots with accuracy across the infield.
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ANDREW LERARIO / 1B / KINGSWAY, NJ / 2019Rankings StateRank: 154 / POS: 49
Lerario has an athletic build at 6-foot-1 200-pounds. Lerario starts in a wide stance and slight crouch with hands above backs shoulder. Uses a leg kick and stride to start swing. Hands load down and back. Quick level bat path through the zone with a slight uphill motion in finish. Powerful swing projects as a gap to gap hitter. Exit velocity topped at 96 MPH, which was the top recorded exit velo from the event. Defensively – Lerario took reps at 1B. Throws topped at 81 MPH. Footwork is sound on double play feeds to 2B; replaces feet effectively on turns. Throws were on the bag and accurate.
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SHIL AMIN / 2B / LENAPE, NJ / 2018Recent Middlesex CC (NJ) commit. Amin has an athletic build at 5-foot-7 155-pounds. Recorded an exit velocity of 83 MPH. Hitting – starts in a wide, crouched stance with high hands and bat above ear. Starts swing with a leg kick and stride. Hands stay stagnant throughout load process. Quick hands through the zone with uphill finish. Line drive type hitter with room for added muscle. Defensively – Throws from 3B topped at 79 MPH. Shows a high motor in the field, always jumping around and ready for the baseball. Soft hands and a quick exchange, ball come out with backspin on the bag.
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ETHAN REISER / SS / BORDENTOWN, NJ / 2019Reiser has an athletic build at 5-foo-11 165-pounds. Hitting – recorded an exit velocity of 86 MPH. Reiser starts in an opened stance and a slight crouch with hands above back shoulder. As pitch comes in, uses a leg kick a big hand load to initiate swing process. Hands load down then back. Creates extension to the ball. Rises up in finish in lower half with stiff front leg. Defensively – took reps from SS with throws topping at 76 MPH across the infield. Short, quick arm action, throws had some arm side run and were on the bag. Fields ball in front of body and brings ball to chest as he gets ready to throw. Plays through throws with some momentum. Nice looking athlete with room to add muscle.
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HECTOR PEREZ / SS / VINELAND, NJ / 2019Perez has an athletic build at 5-foot-8 160-pounds. At the plate – recorded an exit velocity that topped at 87 MPH. Starts in a wide stance and in a crouch with hands above back shoulder. As pitch comes in, hands load down and back. Uses a leg kick to start swing. Short, quick hands and swing through the zone. Creates some elasticity in upper body and hips to create line drive pop. Finishes uphill with his swing. In the field – took reps at SS. Throws topped at 78 MPH across the infield with some carry and back spin. Short, quick arm action with a high-3/4 slot. Shows some quick-twitch movements as he moves laterally. Hands show some softness.
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JOHN IRADI / 2B / WALL, NJ / 2019Iradi has an athletic build at 5-foot-11 188-pounds. Recorded an exit velocity of 85 MPH. At the plate – Iradi starts in a neutral position with a slight crouch and hands just above back shoulder. Uses a small leg kick to start swing. Hands load up and back slightly. Compact swing through the zone with power from hips and an uphill finish. Line drive type hitter. In the field, took reps from SS. Throws topped at 70 MPH across the infield and were on target. Short arm action from a high-3/4 slot with some arm side run as the ball gets to the bag. Clean hands and sound exchange.
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DECLAN HOVERTER / 2B / CHRISTIAN BROTHERS ACADEMY, NJ / 2020Rankings StateRank: 50 / POS: 2
Hoverter has an athletic build at 5-foot-11 160-pounds. Recorded an exit velocity of 81 MPH. At the plate – Hoverter starts in a slightly opened stance with hands in line with back shoulder. Uses a leg kick to start swing, hands load straight back in the load process with the bat wrapping around his head slightly just before front foot touches the ground. Short stroke through the zone with uphill finish. Finishes on bat foot to creates some lift to swing. More power to come as he continues to improve strength. Defensively – Took reps with the middle INFs at SS. Throws topped at 77 MPH. Short, slingshot type arm action from a lower-3/4 slot. Throws had some armside run on but were on the bag.
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