2018 Top Prospect Games: Middle Infielder Analysis
August 19, 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. Today we will take a look at the middle infielders in attendance. One player came in committed while two committed shortly after the Top Prospect Games. 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.
Top Prospect Games: Middle Infielders
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Tanner Craft SS / 2B / Watagua, NC / 2020
Small frame with room to build at 5-foot-8, 125 lbs. Quickness exists, running a 7.24 sixty with a good burst off the line. Right handed hitter is balanced and athletic in his setup. Slightly open working back to even. Flat bat, working off the shoulder. Quick, smooth load with a short stride. Quick bat and level bat path that produces consistent line drive contact. Compact lower half, with balance. Works gap-to-gap with an exit velocity peaking at 78 mph. Defensively, works with soft hands that project well up the middle. Good bend in the hips and active feet. Picks through exchanging above the belt. Average arm swing to a high-¾ slot that can adjust based on the play. Accurate arm across the diamond with average carry at 80 mph out of the hand. . Should continue to develop as he adds strength to the frame. |
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Jackson Finger SS / 2B / North Gaston, NC / 2020Rankings StateRank: 53 / POS: 16
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Jackson Bowman SS / 2B / Wesleyan Christian , NC / 2020
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Malik Dixon 2B / SS / North Lenoir , NC / 2019Rankings StateRank: 125 / POS: 3
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Brett Young 2B / SS / Richmond, NC / 2019
5 feet 9, 155-pound average build. Some quickness exists, running a 7.25 sixty yard dash. Offensively he works from the right side using a crouched, athletic setup. Has some barrel wrap as he dives in to the plate during his load. Looks to stay gap to gap with a line drive approach. Barrel works uphill at times but does show feel for his barrel. Strength can continue to improve. Quickness over strength with an exit velocity recorded at 86 mph. Good actions on the infield with above average hands and fluid feet. Funnels to the midsection after catch with quick exchanges leading to a short arm action, throwing from a high-¾ slot. Accurate arm with carry to his throws topping at 74 mph. Looks to drive the ball in game, working to be aggressive to fastballs in positive counts. Swing lengthened at times. Recorded a 7.25 in the 60-yard dash. |
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Joey Berini SS / 2B / Orange, NC / 2020Rankings StateRank: 37 / POS: 13
5-foot-10, 165-pound, athletic build. Left handed hitter works from an open, balanced setup. Smooth load with a short stride and gets his barrel through the ball. Fluid swing with above average bat speed. Looks to stay gap to gap with a line drive approach. Good barrel awareness and keeps the barrel in the zone. Exit velocity recorded at 84 mph. Impressed on the diamond with soft hands and fluid feet, athletically playing through the ball. Clean exchanges with a short arm action, with the ability to throw from different slots. Accurate arm with carry to his throws peaking at 81 mph across the diamond. Good approach in game, with feel for his barrel and showing the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field. Advanced approach offensively. Defensively he projects to stay in the middle of the field with plenty of arm to stay on the left side as well. Plays with pace and confidence. Presence draws other players to follow his lead. Plays faster than the 60 time recorded at 7.09 on the laser timer. |
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AJ Jones SS / 2B / Southern Nash, NC / 2020Rankings StateRank: 33 / POS: 12
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Gavin Mortenson SS / 2B / Northwest Guilford, NC / 2020Rankings StateRank: 31 / POS: 11
Lanky body with athletic tendencies at 6-foot-1, 165 pounds. Still maturing with room to add strength. Ran a 7.36 sixty and should see this time improve with added strength to the frame. Advanced defender with good rhythm in the feet and hands. First step puts him in position to work the ball off his inside left hip. Athletic and quick transition from the belt to a quick arm and high-¾ release. Has the ability to be accurate from multiple slots. Great carry across the diamond at 81 mph out of the hand. Fluid swing at the plate with a gap-to-gap approach from the right side. Tall and balanced, uses a slight leg kick to load the body back. Bat head loads from a flat position to a slight lag. Working to produce some lift in the swing, creating backspin off the barrel with a good lower half. Can hit to all fields, will benefit from added strength. Exit velocity of 79 mph off the barrel. |
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Greyson LaSpaluto SS / RHP / Apex Friendship, NC / 2019Rankings StateRank: 104 / POS: 18
Gardner-Webb commit. 5 feet 10, 155-pound athletic build. Quickness exists, running a 6.92 sixty. Hits from the right side using a balanced setup. Smooth load with a small leg kick, getting his lower half through the ball. Fluid swing, with good rhythm and above average bat speed. Feel for his barrel working mostly middle to pull side with a line drive approach during batting practice. Wants extension out front with his exit velocity peaking at 85 mph. Athletically plays through balls on the infield with fluid feet and average hands. Clean exchanges with a longer arm action, throwing form a high-¾ slot. Accurate arm that topped at 84 mph across the diamond with carry. Athletic player with a good offensive approach in game that will continue to get better as his body fills out. On the mound, fastball reached 87, sitting 83-86 from a high-3/4 slot. Occasional arm side run to the arm side. Quick hand and clean, long arm swing. Some rhythm, working level and in line. Lands on-line and square at foot strike. Breaking ball as hard depth at 70-71 with downer 12/6 tilt. Late action created discomfort for hitters. Straight change-up at 75. All three pitches in the zone. |
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Chandler Riley SS / 2B / Cox Mill, NC / 2020
Charlotte commit, making his declaration shortly after the Top Prospect Games. 6 feet, 160-pound build. Hits form the left side using an athletic, open setup. Smooth load using a small leg kick. Fluid swing, getting his lower half through the ball. Impressed in batting practice, with loose hands and above average bat speed, driving balls to all fields. Exit velocity recorded at 87 mph. Athletically plays through balls on the infield, with fluid feet and soft hands. Funnels to the center of his body after catch, with quick, clean exchanges and short arm action, with the ability to throw from different slots. Accurate arm that topped at 80 mph across the diamond. Looks to get his swing off in game with an aggressive approach. Shows the ability to barrel the ball with power potential. Recorded a 7.3 in the 60-yard dash. |
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Will Austin 2B / RHP / Eastern Alamance, NC / 2020Rankings StateRank: 91 / POS: 2
Slight frame with athleticism at 5-foot-6, 155 pounds. Right handed hitter. Open setup with the weight loaded on the back side. Waggle in the bat through launch with the bat head getting to a vertical position. Small stride. Average bat speed with some barrel awareness. Line drive approach with a slight pull tendency as he works for extension. Fights for rhythm at times as waggle through load creates some different positions for bat head. Exit velocity at 81 mph off the barrel. Defensively, works to play through balls. Active feet. Average hands. Quick, clean transfer at the mid-section. Short arm action to a high-¾ release and quick hand producing average carry at 77 mph across the diamond. Ran a 7.85 sixty on the laser timer. |
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Marcus Sanchez SS / OF / Terry Sanford , NC / 2019Rankings StateRank: 208 / POS: 37
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Will Hood 2B / OF / Pro 5 Baseball Academy, NC / 2019
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Cameron Verrier SS / 2B / Cleveland, NC / 2020
5 feet 9, 145-pound athletic build. Lefthand hitter with an open, athletic setup. Smooth load and stays fluid throughout his swing. Quick hands with feel for his barrel working level through the zone and getting extension out front. Mature approach during batting practice, looking to line balls gap to gap. Exit velocity recorded at 84 mph. Athletically plays through balls on the infield with quick, fluid feet and above average hands. Funnels to the center of his body after catch, with a short arm action and the ability to throw from different slots. Accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 75 mph. Showed well in game, with solid defense and good feel for playing shortstop. Competes every pitch and showed the ability to get the barrel to the ball and drive it. Recorded a 7.29 in the 60-yard dash. |
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