DFW Preseason ID: Middle Infield Analysis

Dylan Mach, SS, Aledo HS, 2020
Mach has a high-waisted, lean, athletic frame at 6-foot-3, 173-pounds.  The right-handed hitter started the day with a 6.73 60-yard dash. Really like the hack during BP, simple, strong, short path produced a top exit velocity of 90 mph. Ball comes off the barrel crisp with a gap approach and more power likely to come as he gets stronger. The actions on the infield are solid and he has the present arm strength that should allow him to stay on the left side of the infield. Really liked the way he picked the ball at second base during the catcher workout. Shows good feel for tempo and staying under control, funnels the ball to the mid-line has has an elbow-dominant arm swing that allows him to make accurate throws from different slots and on the run.

Chase Pendley, SS, Prosper HS, 2021  
Pendley has a wiry, long-limbed frame at 6-foot, 165-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide base with his weight stacked evenly, then loads back and triggers his hands, engaging the barrel as he strides forward. His hands are quick and loose through the zone with snap to finish the barrel. Aggressive hack, Gap approach with good pop for his class (89 exit velo), the ball makes a different sound off his bat. On the infield, he has the footwork and actions that should allow him to stay on the left side moving forward. Plays over his feet, gets his hands out front, shows feel for tempo with smooth footwork and has plenty of arm strength across the diamond at 89 mph. 

Braden McGary, 2B/OF, Denver City HS, 2019
McGary has added strength to his 6-foot, 160-pound frame since the we saw him a year ago, and still has room to fill out once he gets to Weatherford JC. The left-handed hitter has loose hands with natural lift through the middle of the field and flashed some pop to the pull side. Simple load as he pushes back and triggers his hands, landing with separation. Positive initial move with his lower half as he fires his hips and slots the barrel in the zone, then works slightly uphill through contact with a quick hands and a loose finish, posting a top exit velocity of 90 mph. On the infield, he has staggered footwork and throws from a ¾ slot with a top velocity of 79 mph across the diamond.

Reece Parrott, SS, Newman Smith HS, 2021
Parrott has an athletic frame at 6-foot, 170-pounds, with plenty of room to add strength as he continues to develop. The right-handed hitter has quality feel for the barrel and does a nice job of repeating his hack with smooth rhythm and timing creating by a reverse leg lift. Maintains posture and balance throughout, delivering the barrel with a clean path to contact and loose hands that work on an uphill plane, showing lag throughout the zone and easy whip to finish. On the infield, he has a quick first step, smooth footwork, and plays light on his feet, allowing his hands to work soft out front with a quick exchange. Can play on the run, starts the double play with ease, and has an accurate arm stroke across the diamond with a top velocity of 76 mph.

Ryan Pehrson, RHP/SS, Southlake Carroll HS, 2021
Pehrson has a long-limbed frame at 5-foot-11, 163-pound frame. The right-handed hitter starts from an open, narrow stance, then uses a low-hanging leg kick to stride forward, creating separation. Leveraged hack with good energy and rhythm, took a solid round of BP, barreled it up around the yard with strong contact, posting a top exit velocity of 84 mph. On the infield, he does a nice job of playing low for a long-limbed guy, flat back with soft hands out front, funneling the ball through the middle of his body. Threw 76 mph across the diamond from a short, high-¾ slot.

Weston Duncan, SS/C, Guyer HS, 2022  
Duncan is going to be a lot of fun to watch over the coming years. Standing 6-foot-1, 176-pounds, he has an athletic frame and ran a 7.3 60-yard dash to start the day. A switch-hitter, Duncan took his best cuts from the right side, where he posted a top exit velocity of 90 mph and showed quick hands through the zone with a clean path and the ability to finish the barrel, driving the ball to the right-center gap. From the left side, he has an inside out hack with line drive power. On the infield, he has quick footwork, soft hands, midline exchange and does a nice job of playing the ball left-of-center. He threw with a top velocity across the diamond of 76 mph. Behind the plate, he also shows soft hands and posted a top velocity from the crouch of 72 mph with pop times ranging from 2.25-2.40.

Keanu Maldonado, C/SS, Estacado HS, 2020
Maldonado has a quick-twitch frame at 5-foot-8, 150-pounds, and can really play catch at two premium positions. The left-handed hitter has a balanced setup and loads back with simple rhythm as he triggers his hands, allowing him to repeat his hack. Line drive approach through the middle of the field with a direct path, loose finish and top exit velocity of 86 mph. On the infield, he plays low through the ball with good tempo and soft hands. Stays on line to make accurate throws with a top velocity of 71 mph across the diamond. Can start the double play with a quick exchange, can make the play on the run and throw from lower slots. His catch play transitions over well behind the plate where he has a quick exchange into an easy arm swing, throwing with a top velocity from the crouch of 76 mph, and pop times ranging from 1.92-2.15.

Travis Hurn, SS/2B, Round Rock HS, 2020
Hurn is a right-handed hitting infielder that stands 5-foot-11, 180-pounds, with a strong lower half. Showed effortless pop during BP, squaring it up with hard contact around the yard, including a home run to left field and top exit velocity of 88 mph off the tee. Starting from a tall open stance, he uses a big leg kick that he holds with balance as he triggers his hands down and cocks the barrel, engaging the knob and creating separation as he lands under control. Creates lift through the zone with an efficient path and snap in the barrel extending through contact with a loose-high finish. Plays under control on the infield with tempo in his footwork and threw with a top velocity across the diamond of 75 mph.

Peyton Sutherland,SS/RHP, Allen HS, 2021  
Sutherland has an lean, athletic frame at 6-foot, 168-pounds, and does a little bit of everything on the field well, from playing both infield and outfield, to pitching. The right-handed hitter posted a top exit velocity of 85 mph off the tee, and showed a line drive approach during BP. Loads back as he triggers his hands into a front arm bar, short stride, lands balanced as his hands work through the zone on a flat path. In the outfield, he plays through the ball with the type of footwork and glove action that most infielders posses, and threw with with a top velocity to the dish of 77 mph. On the infield, he has a quick first step and shows lateral range. Able to make glove play to his left with a clean exchange to the midline. Has a feel for throwing from different slots and on the run. Accurate arm across the diamond with a top velocity of 75 mph.

Best of the Rest (Alphabetical)

Connor Carson, SS/RHP, The Brook Hill HS, 2021
6-foot, 175-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, slightly open stance with level shoulders. Tips at the waist, sitting into his legs as he strides forward, landing square and balanced. Hard contact in the middle of the field during BP, inside out path as he transfers his weight and rotates his upper body, finishing slightly uphill, producing a top exit velocity of 86 mph. Showed solid arm strength across the infield (83 mph) with accurate throws. Plays low with soft hands out front. On the mound, the right-hander’s arm strength translates well, topping out at 84 mp, sitting mostly 80-82. He works from a high slot with a medium arm swing, drop and drive delivery, and exaggerated finish. Spun his curveball at 72-74 mph with short, lateral movement. Changeup has some downer fade at 72-74 mph.

Nolan Chasak, SS/2B, Plano West HS, 2020
5-foot-9, 140-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide base with relaxed hands in a lower position, then loads smooth as he takes a short stride. Sprayed the ball around the yard with loose hands work inside the ball with a line drive approach and top exit velocity of 86 mph off the tee. Defensively, Chasak moves with smooth footwork and a quick first step, staying stacked over his feet and playing low through the ball with solid glove actions and soft hands. Stays on his throws with directional shuffles and he has a loose arm with a clean release and top velocity across the diamond of 78 mph.

Dylan Clark, 2B/SS, Lone Star HS, 2019
Clark has a lean, muscular frame at 6-foot-1, 170-pounds. On the infield, he plays through the ball with smooth footwork and an aggressive first step that allows his to cover ground with relative ease. Does a nice job of playing the ball left-of-center on routine and glove side balls, allowing him to play through the ball with rhythm. Midline exchange into a high-¾ arm swing with a top velocity of 81 mph across the diamond. At the plate, the right-handed hitter starts from a tall stance and uses a subtle load before he takes a short stride, landing balanced. Short, inside out, direct path with a top exit velocity of 91 mph off the tee.

Caleb Clines, 2B/SS, Magnolia HS, 2020  
Standing 5-foot-6, 150-pounds, Clines has good strength for his size with twitchy actions and a smooth swing that generates solid bat speed and leverage. The left-handed hitter has loose hands that work in sequence with a leg kick load and smooth rhythm that allowed him to barrel up line drives during BP and post a top exit velocity of 87 mph. At shortstop, he has a quick first step and moves lateral with good tempo as he plays through the ball with soft hands and clean exchange. Accurate arm that works well from different slots, starts the pivot with confidence and feel, getting rid of the ball quickly with touch and fundamental actions.

Ryan Davenport, OF/SS, Dripping Springs HS, 2019
Wiry, quick twitch frame at 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. The left-handed hitter starts from a wide, slightly open stance, then loads back smooth and lifts his hands as he cocks the barrel forward then strides forward, walking away from his hands, landing with separation and stacked shoulders. Quick hands deliver the barrel with good whip in the barrel as he stays in the zone a long time. Hard contact from the middle to pull side during BP, athletic hack with a loose finish. In the outfield, he plays through the ball with confidence, rhythm, and a clean exchange into his crow hop with a top velocity of 84 mph. On the infield, a quick first step and good footwork plays for a good sense of timing, and he gets rid of the ball with a quick exchange and a top velocity of 81 across the diamond.

CJ Difiglia, SS/2B Plano West HS, 2020
5-foot-10, 165-pound frame. The left-handed hitter starts from a slightly wide stance, loading back as he triggers his hand back into a slight wrap, then strides forward. Barrel stays in the zone a long time and he does a nice job of staying behind his front foot as he rotates to contanct. Made square contact during BP, showing some lift from the middle to pull side of the field. Palm up palm down at contact with good extension through and top exit velocity of 81 mph off the tee. On the infield, Difiglia has quick footwork and throws from a high-¾ slot with a top velocity across the diamond of 76 mph.

Zach Hudson, 2B/SS, Marcus HS, 2020
Hudson has a still developing frame at 5-foot-11, 145-pounds, and has plenty of room to add strength in the next year. Long stride runner, he started the day with a 7.07 60-yard dash. The right-handed hitter starts from a bent, slightly open stance, then loads back smooth as he triggers his hands back into a front arm bar with slight wrap in the barrel. Lands into an athletic launch position before he fires his back knee and shifts his weight forward, working with an inside out path to produced line drive power with a top exit velocity of 85 mph. Solid fundamentals on the infield as he plays the glove low with soft hands, good tempo through the catch, and throws from a longer arm swing with a top velocity of 72 mph across the diamond.

Bryce Jewell, SS/2B, Bullard HS, 2021  
Jewell has a quick-twitch frame at 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. The right-handed hitter started the day with a 7.04 60-yard dash, then posted an 88 mph exit velocity off the tee, using a leg kick to generate leverage along with quick hands and an efficient, inside-out path through the zone, driving the ball through the gaps during BP. On the infield, his arm works well from a ¾ slot to produce accurate throws with a top velocity across the diamond of 81 mph. Changes direction well with a quick first step crossover. Gets rid of the ball quickly with an easy exchange.

Kaden Johnson, IMG Academy, SS/OF, 2020
Johnson has a lean, athletic frame at 5-foot-11, 155-pounds. The right-handed hitter made hard contact through the gaps during BP with strong, quick hands and top exit velocity of 86 mph off the tee. Simple load as he coils his hips inward, then takes a short stride. Shifts his weight forward as he extends the barrel through contact. Plays light on his feet at shortstop, fundamental fielding position with his hands out front, exchanging the ball into a long arm swing with a low-¾ release and top velocity of 75 mph.

Jackson Lentz, 2B/OF, Richland HS, 2020
Lentz has a long-limbed frame with broad shoulders at 6-foot, 165-pounds. Started the day with a 7.05 60-yard dash. The right-handed hitter was on time and on the barrel during BP, stroking line drives through the middle of the field. Starts from a stacked stance with relaxed rhythm and his hands waggling the barrel above his head. Smooth rhythm as he loads back and shifts his hands down and back, slightly tipping at the waist to create positive spine angle, landing in an athletic launch position. Hands work with strength at contact and posted a top exit velocity of 89 mph off the tee. Quick footwork on the infield into a quick exchange to throw from a low-¾ slot with a long arm swing and top infield velocity of 73 mph.

Blaze Manley, RHP/SS, Lewisville HS, 2020  
Manley has a high-waisted frame at 6-foot-1, 180-pounds. A right-handed hitter, he starts from a tall, slightly open stance, then triggers his hands back as he loads into his legs, coiling his hips, then takes a short stride. Quickish hands work a slightly uphill path as he transfers his weight. Line drive power with a top exit velocity of 75 mph. On the infield, he throws from the same lower slot with a top velocity across the diamond of 77 mph.

John McCutchen, SS/OF, Southwest Christian School, 2020  
6-foot-2, 185-pounds. The right-handed hitter start from a neutral stance with his weight evenly stacked and his hands set above his back shoulder and away from his body. Pushes back to load as he lifts his front foot, taking a short stride, shifting his weight forward. Flat path through the zone with contact approach and top exit velocity of 76 mph. On the infield he has staggered footwork and threw with a top velocity of 66 mph across the diamond.

JP Rathbun, SS/3B, WT White HS, 2020
6-foot-1, 185-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from an open stance, then loads back as he triggers his hands and reaches forward with his lead leg into a short stride. Hips rotate square through the middle as he slots the barrel into the zone, working with good lag as he drops the head on plane, working on a slightly uphill path with loose hands that whip the barrel through contact producing a top exit velocity of 86 mph. On the infield, he funnels the ball to his mid-line and throws from a low-¾ slot with a top velocity across the diamond of 77 mph.

Darren Rhodes, SS/2B, Midway HS, 2019  
Rhodes has a wiry, long-limbed frame at 6-foot-2, 166-pounds, with plenty of room to fill out at the next level. On the infield, he does a nice job of playing easy catch with accurate throws to both first and second base. Soft hands as he plays the glove low then transfers quickly into a low-¾ arm stroke across the infield. Arm plays well from lower slots on the pivot and on the run with accurate throws and a top velocity of 78 mph across the diamond. The right-handed hitter starts from an open, tall stance, then turns inward, loading back and using a slight toe-tap as he triggers his hands down then back before taking a linear stride. Aggressive lower half transfer allows him to land with separation. Downward hack with line drive power and a top exit velocity of 86 mph.

Colin Ruby, 2B/3B, LD Bell HS, 2020  
Ruby has a strong, broad shouldered frame at 5-foot-11, 195-pounds. Starting from a slightly open, tall stance with flex in his lower half, he cocks the barrel forward over the top of his head, then pushes back into a leg kick before striding forward with his shoulders tilted forward. Aggressive hack with strength in the barrel as he works on an upward plane, producing hard contact to the pull side, including a home run to left-centerfield, and a top exit velocity of 90 mph. On the infield, his glove actions are solid and allow him to have a quick release with a clean transition. Accurate arm swing from different slot with quality feel and top velocity of 80 mph across the diamond.