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6.9.14 Southeast KS Prospect ID - Position Player Analysis

June 26, 2014

By Sean McCann and Rob Fleeup
Prep Baseball Report Kansas

On Monday, June 9, 2014 Prep Baseball Report Kansas hosted the first ever Southeast Kansas Prospect Identification Showcase, an open event for area high school baseball prospects.

Below are the scouting reports on the 20 position players that participated in the event.  We had several two-way players (pitcher + position player) at this event, but keep in mind that the evaluations below are based on the position player side only.

Earlier this week we posted an analysis of the pitchers in this event, a group that also includes the two-way players.  When we do our state player rankings we take the overall player into account. 

Click on the player's headline link to be directed to their profile with video from their performance.

top prospects

1. 1B/OF Jacob Carpenter, Humboldt HS, Class of 2015
Carpenter is a physical, athletic 6-foot-2, 215-pound right-hand hitting class of 2015 first baseman/outfielder from Humboldt HS with an impressive combination of speed and strength.  At the plate Carpenter recorded the top exit velocity on the day at 86 mph.  He has a tall, athletic set-up and slightly open stance.  He showed a fluid backward hand load and simple inline stride.  Carpenter has a slightly uphill bat path, extension and balance while generating bat speed.  He showed relaxed hands and rhythm – overall he has a gap-to-gap approach with power.   At first base, the right-hand throwing Carpenter had a top throw of 75 mph.  His home-to-1B time was 4.36 from the right side and also ran a 6.90 60-yard dash.

2. OF Jared Robbins, Rockhurst HS (MO), Class of 2015
Robbins is an athletic 6-foot, 170-pound class of 2015 right-hand hitting outfielder from Rockhurst HS in Missouri.  During hitting evaluations he showed a tall, athletic set-up.  He uses a short pre-set stride and no hand load and gap-to-gap line drive approach with some bat speed.  Robbins maintains balance throughout and repeats his swing well.  He recorded a top exit velocity of 83 mph.  From the outfield he showed quick feet and hands, made clean exchanges and threw with quick over-the-top arm-action with some effort.  His top throw was clocked at 85 mph – the best mark in camp, all positions.  He ran a 4.38 home-to-1B and camp best 60-yard dash at 6.88.

3. OF Jake Bradbury, Fort Scott HS, Class of 2015
Bradbury is a 5-foot-9, 150-pound left-hand hitting class of 2015 outfielder from Fort Scott HS.  At the plate he has an athletic inline set-up and uses a slight crouch timing mechanism to start.  He has a short fluid load and strides slightly closed.  Bradbury’s hands work well and he has an advanced approach built to deliver line drives in the middle of the field – our staff graded him out as the top hitter at the event.  In the outfield the right-handed throwing Bradbury showed sure hands and an easy three-quarter to over the top throwing motion.  His throwing velocity was clocked as high as 70 mph.  He ran a 4.53 home-to-1B from the left side and also clocked a 7.26 60-yard dash time.  Bradbury was named to the KABC 4A-I All-State team earlier this June.

Best of the rest (Alphabetical order)

IF Chance Carney, Gardner-Edgerton, Class of 2014
Carney is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound class of 2014 right-hand hitting infielder from Gardner-Edgerton HS.  During the hitting evaluations he started from a wide, open set up with relaxed hands.  He has a long, fluid backward hand load while striding inline.  Carney’s bat path is slightly uphill and he finishes with good extension.  He showed balance throughout and recorded an exit velocity of 75 mph.  Working out in the infield he showed average footwork and actions, clean exchanges and made several strong, accurate throws from a long, loose low three-quarters arms slot.  He registered a throwing velocity high of 76 mph.  Carney ran a 4.79 home-to-1B and 7.46 60-yard dash.

IF Jace Christopher, Westmoore HS (OK), Class of 2016
Christopher is a 5-foot-9, 155-pound class of 2016 infielder that hails from Westmoore HS in Oklahoma.  At the plate he hits from a crouch, slightly closed stance with his bat laid back.  He has a long stride, short hand load and a circular, pull approach.  Christopher’s exit velocity was clocked as high as 73 mph.  During infield workouts at shortstop Christopher made accurate throws with a throwing velocity high of 78 mph – the top mark of the infield group.  He ran a 4.65 home-to-1B and 7.81 60-yard dash.

OF Austin Crawford, Blue Valley HS, Class of 2016
Crawford is a wiry, athletic 6-foot-1, 155-pound right-hand hitting class of 2015 outfielder from Blue Valley HS.  During hitting evaluations he showed an athletic set-up and open stance.  He has a minimal, fluid hand load and controlled inline stride.  Overall he has a simple, line drive approach.  Crawford’s top exit velocity was clocked at 76 mph.  In the outfield, Crawford showed quick hands and feet, clean exchanges and his top throw was clocked at 77 mph using a loose high three-quarters throwing motion.  He ran a 4.49 home-to-1B and 7.31 60-yard dash.  Crawford is an interesting prospect to follow going forward as everything he does on the field is easy and athletic yet is nowhere close to filling out his 6-foot-1 frame.

IF Easton Fortuna, Park Hill South HS (MO), Class of 2015
Fortuna is an athletic 5-foot-8, 150-pound class of 2015 right-hand hitting middle infielder from Park Hill South HS in Missouri.  At the plate he starts with a wide, inline stance and high hands.  He has no stride, a simple hand load and balance throughout.  Fortuna’s swing is upper half-dominant relying on his hands to produce middle of the field line drives.  His top exit velocity was 74 mph.  During infield evaluations he showed quick hands and feet, made clean exchanges and threw with easy three-quarters arm action.  Fortuna recorded a top throw of 77 mph while making all accurate throws.  Fortuna ran a camp-best right side home-to-1B of 4.26 and in the 60-yard dash recorded a 7.15.  He's a good athlete that is trending up.

OF Casey Garner, Bluestem HS, Class of 2015
Garner is a thin, athletic 5-foot-11, 155-pound left-hand hitting class of 2015 outfielder from Bluestem HS that also catches.  During hitting evaluations he showed a tall set-up, slightly closed stance with high hands.  Garner uses a mini-leg kick inline stride and minimal hand load.  He showed some bat speed and a short bat path.  He has a middle-oppo, line-drive approach ideal for a top of the order hitter with speed.  Garner recorded an 81 mph exit velocity high.  In the outfield defensive evaluations he showed quick feet, clean exchanges and a long, slinging three-quarters throwing motion.  His top throw was clocked at 81 mph.  Garner ran a 4.16 home-to-1B from the left side (the top mark in camp) and also ran a 7.03 60-yard dash time. 

C/1B Seth Gerardy, Battle HS (MO), Class of 2015
Gerardy is a physical 6-foot-2, 200-pound class of 2015 right-hand hitting catcher/first baseman from Battle HS in Columbia, Missouri.  At the plate he has a tall set-up and slightly closed stance.  He has a slight backward toe-tap before taking a short inline stride and has a minimal hand load.  Garardy delivers the barrel with bat speed and has slight lift to his swing.  He recorded an exit velocity of 85 mph, one of the top marks in camp.  Behind the plate his top home-to-2B pop time was 2.17 with a 70 mph throwing velocity making mostly accurate throws.  He ran a 4.67 home-to-1B and a 7.67 60-yard-dash.

IF Aaron Haviland, Chanute HS, Class of 2016
Haviland is a 5-foot-10, 150-pound class of 2016 right-hand hitting infielder from Chanute HS.  During hitting evaluations Haviland showed a tall set-up and slightly closed stance.  He drops his hands some and strides slightly open.  He has an upper half dominant swing and recorded an exit velocity high of 68 mph.  During infield defensive drills his top throw was 73 mph and showed an accurate arm using an easy three-quarters throwing motion.  He ran a 4.81 home-to-1B and 7.68 60-yard dash.

IF Jake Haviland, Humboldt HS, Class of 2016
Haviland is a 5-foot-10, 155-pound class of 2016 right-hand hitting infielder from Humboldt HS.  At the plate he has an athletic set-up, slightly closed stance with his bat laid back. He drops his hands some and takes an inline stride.  His swing is upper half dominant relying on his strong hands to do the work.  He recorded an exit velocity of 73 mph.  Working out at shortstop during defensive evaluations he showed quick hands, clean exchanges and recorded a top velocity of 76 mph making mostly accurate throws from a three quarters slot.  He ran a 4.29 home-to-1B and 6.95 60-yard dash – among the fastest players in camp in both areas.

1B/3B Benjamin Labbe, Fort Scott HS, Class of 2015
Labbe is a physical 6-foot-, 205-pound class of 2015 right-hand hitting first baseman/third baseman from Fort Scott HS.  At the plate he hits from a wide stance and slight crouch.  He has a fluid hand load and short, inline stride.  He is very strong and takes an aggressive hack- the ball jumped off Labbe’s bat as well as anyone in camp.  During infield workouts he showed soft hands, clean exchanges and made all accurate throws with a top velocity of 76 mph using a quick, three quarters throwing motion.  He ran a 4.67 home-to-1B from the right side and 7.25 60-yard dash.

1B Grant McMillen, Chanute HS, Class of 2016
McMillen is a 5-foot-10, 140-pound class of 2016 left-hand hitting first baseman from Chanute HS.  During hitting evaluations he showed a tall set-up, high hands and a narrow, inline stance.  He uses a mini-leg kick inline stride, drops his hands some and has a circular, pull type swing.  McMillen recorded a top exit velocity of 73 mph.  At first base, he showed sure hands and made clean exchanges and threw with short three-quarters arm action.  His throwing velocity was clocked as high as 65 mph with and showed accuracy.  McMillen ran a 4.39 home-to-1B from the left side and a 7.40 60-yard dash.

IF Kenton Richards, Chanute HS, Class of 2016
Richards is a 5-foot-9, 165-pound class of 2016 right-hand hitting middle infielder from Chanute HS.  At the plate he starts with an open stance and high hands.  He uses a mini-leg kick stride and has no hand load.  He has a slight pull approach with some bat speed.  He recorded an 83 mph exit velocity.  During infield evaluations from shortstop he made clean exchanges and threw with easy three-quarters arm action making all accurate throws.  His top throw was clocked at 72 mph.   Richards ran a 4.47 home-to-1B from the right side and 7.00 60-yard dash.

IF Kason Siemens, Humboldt HS, Class of 2015
Siemens is a 5-foot-10, 140-pound class of 2015 right-hand hitting middle infielder from Humboldt HS.  At the plate Siemens starts with a tall, athletic inline stance.  He has uses a short, inline stride and has a quick backward hand load.  He has a simple line drive swing and recorded an exit velocity high of 76 mph.  During infield work he showed sure hands and made clean exchanges.  His top throw was 74 mph using short three-quarters arm action.  He ran a 4.58 home-to-1B and 7.28 60-yard dash.

C/3B Tate Swank, Burlington HS, Class of 2016
Swank is a 5-foot-9, 170-pound class of 2016 right-hand hitting catcher/third baseman from Burlington HS.  At the plate he starts with a tall set-up and wide stance.  He takes a short stride and a fluid hand load.  He Swank has a short, compact swing and recorded an exit velocity as high as 72 mph.  During catching evaluations he recorded a top pop time of 2.18 and put every throw on or near the bag.  His home-to-1B time was 4.88 and he ran a 7.70 60-yard dash.

IF Shane Van Steenberg, Halstead HS, Class of 2014
Van Steenberg is a strong, athletic 5-foot-7, 145-pound class of 2014 right-hand hitting infielder from Halstead HS.  During hitting evaluations he showed an athletic set-up and slightly open stance.  He takes a short inline stride and drops his hands some in his load.  He has a short, quick line drive swing.  His top exit velocity mark was 76 mph.  At shortstop, Van Steenberg showed quick hands and feet with throws clocked as high as 74 mph using short three-quarters arm action.  He ran a 4.48 home-to-1B from the right side and a 7.08 60-yard dash.

OF Zach Vanatta, Humboldt HS, Class of 2015
Vanatta is a 5-foot-9, 130-pound class of 2015 right-hand hitting outfielder from Humboldt HS.  At the plate he has a tall set-up with an open stance.  He uses a leg-kick, strides inline and has a fluid load, dropping his hands slightly.  His top exit velocity mark was 68 mph.  During the outfield defensive evaluations Vanatta showed clean exchanges and threw as high as 68 mph using short high three-quarters arm action.  He ran a right side 4.58 home-to-1B and 7.25 60-yard dash.

OF Corey Whitcomb, Humboldt HS, Class of 2016
Whitcomb is an athletic 5-foot-6, 145-pound class of 2016 right-hand hitting outfielder from Humboldt HS.  During hitting evaluations he showed an athletic set-up and open stance.  He uses strides in place using a mini-leg kick and has no hand load.  Whitcomb has short swing and slight pull approach.  His best exit velocity was clocked at 66 mph.  From the outfield he moved around well, made clean exchanges and threw as high as 72 mph from a high three-quarters slot.  He ran a 4.58 home-to-1B from the right side and a 7.02 60-yard dash.

OF Austin Yanez, Labette County HS, Class of 2015
Yanez is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound class of 2015 right-hand hitting outfielder from Labette County HS.  At the plate, Yanez has an athletic set-up with an open stance. He showed a smooth hand load and strides slightly open.  He has strength and generates bat speed as he worked mostly middle-oppo.  He recorded an 85 mph exit velocity, the second best mark in camp.  He showed quick hands and feet in the outfield and made clean exchanges.  His top outfield throw was clocked at 77 mph using clean, three-quarters arm action.  He ran a 4.70 home-to-1B from the right side and 7.25 60-yard dash.

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