2018 Top Prospect Games: Corner Infielder Analysis
August 20, 2018
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On Monday August 6th, at Campbell’s Jim Perry Stadium PBR held one of the must-see events of the year in North Carolina. In its second year, the Top Prospect Games have become a marked event for college coaches and pro scouts. This year’s event saw 66 players perform in front of over 25 evaluators from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia.
Divided into four teams, position players were able to go through a complete pro-style workout, followed by an 8 inning controlled scrimmage. Pitchers threw two controlled innings. This format allowed coaches and scouts to see players take BP, run a 60, workout at their defensive position, and still evaluate them in game situations.
Over the coming week, we will take a deep dive into the players that took part in the PBR Top Prospect Games. Next up are the corner infielders that attended. Several 1B and 3B showed advanced strength with exit velocities topping 93 mph. A couple of the prospects also look to project to be dual guys at the next level. The full evaluations include a look at each player's statistics from the day as well as a link to their profile and PBR video.
CLICK HERE for the complete roster from the 2018 PBR Top Prospect Games
CLICK HERE for the complete statistical look at the 2018 PBR Top Prospect Games
PBR Top Prospect Games: By The Numbers
+ 66 of the Top Players in NC attended the 2018 Top Prospect Games
+ PBR received over 120 request for invite to the event, working with the state’s high school coaches, area scouts, and PBR’s staff to limit it to players that received a recommendation
+ 27 players ran a sub-7.25 sixty… 16 sub-7.10… 9 sub-7.00
+ The top infield velocity was 88 mph across the diamond… 12 players were 80 mph or better
+ The top outfield velocity was 89 mph… 13 players were 80 mph or better
+ All 10 catchers posted a workout pop time under 2.10
+ 21 hitters had an exit velocity of 90 mph or better with the high getting to 99 mph
+ 20 arms threw with 1 above 90mph… 9 above 85 mph… 16 above 81 mph.
2018 Top Prospect Games: Corner Infielders
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Landon Frye 3B / 2B / Northwest Guilford , NC / 2020
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Allden Horne 3B / 2B / East Lincoln , NC / 2019Rankings StateRank: 277 / POS: 24
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Matthew Hancock 3B / 2B / St. Stephen's, NC / 2020Rankings StateRank: 96 / POS: 3
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Jacob Shafer 1B / RHP / Southwest Guilford, NC / 2020
6 feet 6, 190-pound lanky build. Room to continue to add strength. Hits from the right side with an athletic setup and short stride during his load. Balanced swing with above average bat speed. Gets out of his legs at times causing his barrel to work long and uphill through the zone. Shows pull power during batting practice that will only improve with added leverage to his swing. Exit velocity recorded at 87 mph. Plays athletic at first base with fluid feet and average hands. Short arm action with his arm topping at 76 mph across the diamond. Showed power in game driving a ball to left center field. Projectable 2-way player with plus power potential. Recorded a 7.32 in the 60-yard dash. |
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Dominick D'Ercole 3B / RHP / Middle Creek, NC / 2019Rankings StateRank: 91 / POS: 8
Strong body with tools at 6-foot-1, 185 pounds. Potential dual player at the next level. Athletic in the box. Balanced stance from the right side. Lagged bat position. Leg kick loads the body back. Short stride. Direct bat path working for extension with above average bat speed. Lower half explodes through contact. Good balance throughout. Hands finish high. Exit velocity of 92 mph off the barrel. Defensively, fluid feet can get heavy at times, but works to move through the ball. Soft hands and easy transitions at the mid-section. Medium arm swing to a high-¾ slot. Carry and accuracy are present at 86 mph across the diamond. On the mound the fastball bumped 87, sitting 82-85. Feel for three pitches in the zone with the change-up and slider creating discomfort and swing and miss. Strong lower half with an average leg kick working level with a slight coil at balance. Long arm action, bottoms out slightly as it works to a high-¾ release. Breaking ball ranged 70-73 with 11/5 tilt. Slight hump out of the hand. Change-up mimics the fastball hand speed. Straight, it sat 77-79. |
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Nick Leonard 1B / OF / Ronald Reagan, NC / 2019Rankings StateRank: 206 / POS: 13
Big bodied and strong at 6-foot-1, 200 pounds. Strength over quickness with better than average bat speed produced an exit velocity of 98 mph off the barrel. Nimble feet for a big guy, ran a 7.21 sixty. Right handed hitter sits balanced and tall with a vertical bat. Quiet setup. Weight shift back to load the weight. Short stride. Lower half works to get through each swing. Wants extension. Worked gap to gap, driving the baseball to the pull side. Cautious to the ball in the outfield with clean transitions to a short arm swing. Over-the-top release created carry and accuracy. Positional velocity touched 82 mph from the outfield. Working through an illness, did not workout at 1B or play in the game action. |
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Ronald Evans II 3B / 1B / Crossroads Flex / Pro5 Academy, NC / 2019Rankings StateRank: 21 / POS: 1
Physically imposing 6-foot-2, 215 pound frame. Moves well for his size and the strength translates to several parts of his game. Ran a 7.23 sixty. Explosive strength from the right side with an exit velocity of 99 mph off the barrel. Balanced and athletic the bat head remains flat through the launch position. Short stride with good head discipline. Works for extension with an ability to drive the baseball to all fields. Defensively confident with good rhythm between his feet and hands. Balanced setup at the catch with the left foot slightly dropped and the hands working off the inside left hip. Transitions to the belt with a funnel. Clean exchanges. Medium arm swing with easy carry from an over-the-top slot. Positional velocity peaked at 79 mph across the diamond. Will manipulate the release slightly when on the move, maintaining accuracy. |
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Alex Sniffen 3B / RHP / New Hanover, NC / 2019Rankings StateRank: 58 / POS: 4
Physical presence at 6-foot-4, 220-pounds. Good athlete with feel for his body, especially at his size. Hits from the right side using a balanced, athletic setup. Smooth load using a small leg kick and getting his lower half through the ball. Fluid swing with good balance and looks to get extension. Line drive, gap to gap approach, looking to drive the ball. Strength over bat speed with his exit velocity peaking at 98 mph. Average hands on the infield, occasionally catching from the inside right hip. Transfers to the midsection after catch with a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Accurate arm that peaked at 88 mph across the diamond. Looks to drive the ball in game. Swing got a little longer at times cutting off some of his strength in game action. Recorded a 7.75 60-yard dash. |
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Alex D'Agostino 1B / OF / Middle Creek, NC / 2019Physical 6-foot-2, 225-pound build. Hits from the right side using a tall, balanced setup. Small leg kick in his load with a short stride. Works mostly middle to pull side during batting practice. Looks to drive the ball, with his swing getting long at times causing him to work around the ball. Strength over bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 96 mph. Shows feel for playing first base, athletically playing through the ball with fluid feet and average hands. Clean exchanges, with a short arm action throwing from a high ¾ slot. Some accuracy to his throws topping at 75 mph across the infield. Showed strength at the plate with a home run to left field during the coach pitch part of the game. Recorded a 7.56 in 60-yard dash. |
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Dominic Ciccone 1B / RHP / Piedmont, NC / 2019Rankings StateRank: 190 / POS: 11
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Javier Martinez 3B / RHP / Cresset Christian Academy , NC / 2019Rankings StateRank: 179 / POS: 15
Winston-Salem State commit made his pledge shortly after the Top Prospect Games. Large frame with strength at 6-foot, 230 pounds. Good athlete for the size, with good bend and nimble feet. Ran a 7.28 sixty. Right handed hitter is tall with waggle and rhythm in his setup. Uses a leg kick to load while the hands drop slightly. Glides to his front side on an average stride. Direct path with barrel awareness and good bat speed. Lower half gets through the ball. Wants extension with a pull emphasis. Swing translated into games as well where he homered to left. Defensively, trusts his hands. Works to set the left foot slightly behind the right, catching with a funnel to the midsection and strong arm swing to a high-¾ release. Some effort through the release. Good carry at 77 mph across the diamond. Accuracy waned when on the move. Has a feel for slot manipulation when needed. On the mound the righty peaked at 85, sitting 81-84. Occasionally cut the fastball to the glove side. Occasional arm side run to the arm side. Breaking ball has a slight hump out of the hand with 12/6 tilt. Flashes feel for spin and an ability to throw it for a strike and to expand with it later in counts. Average leg kick and easy transition with head discipline to his foot strike. Works level and on-line. Long arm swing with average hand speed and a high-¾ release. Rotational finish at times, falling toward 1B as he works to get extra at times. |
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Bryson Smith OF / 3B / Apex Friendship, NC / 2019Rankings StateRank: 99 / POS: 10
Lenoir Rhyne commit. 6 feet 1, 180-pound strong, athletic build. Hits from the right side using a tall, slightly open setup. Dives in to the plate, keeping his lower half from fully getting through the ball. Works gap to gap during batting practice with his barrel getting extension through the zone. Barrel awareness is present. Above average bat speed with exit velocity recorded at 92 mph. Plays through the ball in the outfield with average hands and fluid feet. Clean exchanges, with a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Accurate arm that peaked at 83 mph. Fluid feet, playing through the ball on the infield, with average hands and quick release, throwing from different slots. Arm topped at 76 mph across the diamond. Lacked some of his workout rhythm on the infield in games situations, affecting his accuracy slightly. Looks to drive the ball in game, with an uphill swing and showed the ability to drive the ball to all fields. Recorded a 7.21 in the 60-yard dash. |
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