Athletic 2020 Shortstops
April 13, 2018
After the release of the PBR rankings for the 2019 class last week, On the Hunt shifts gears to take a look at some 2020 prospects who have created some buzz coming out of the winter off-season and heading into the spring. This week, uncommitted shortstops in the 2020 class from Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia are featured. Each one features the tools necessary to pick it up the middle along with smooth strokes at the plate.
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Werner Blakely SS / 3B / Detroit Edison , MI / 2020Rankings StateRank: 5 / POS: 2
Blakely has shot up to 6-foot-3, 170-pounds and exhibits some twitchy-athleticism on his wiry frame. The left-handed hitting infielder performed very well at PBR Michigan’s Preseason All-State where he posted an 89 mph exit velocity off the tee, threw 85 mph across the diamond, and ran a 7.1 60-yard dash. Setting up balanced and square, Blakely rocks his weight back slightly before his hands separate back with a slight bat-wrap and a normal stride. His quick hands stand out as they work the barrel strongly through the zone on a level plane culminating in a high, loose finish. Blakely gets great drive from his lower-half including aggressive hips. He demonstrates the twitch and strength necessary to work line drives to both gaps, and should continue to add more power in the future as his frame continues filling out. On the infield, he showcases nimble footwork that allows him to let his clean hands play smoothly. His throws are accurate and feature carry with whippy arm action. Overall, Blakely is a player that schools will want to make sure they get out to see as he shows strong ability currently, and projects to get even better as he continues filling out. |