Eastern Wisconsin Open: Infield Analysis

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor - Wisconsin/Illinois

The Eastern Wisconsin Open continues its analysis with infielders, led by Minnesota commit Noah Berghammer. Berghammer clearly got stronger since the last time we saw him, sporting a larger physical build, its translated to hard contact in BP as the ball jumped off his bat. Here’s a look at the top infield prospects.

Top Infield Prospects

1. Noah Berghammer, SS, Janesville Craig, 2019
Minnesota commit. 6-foot, 180-pound infielder, strong physical makeup, wide shouldered. Advanced defender, hands are soft, shows mobility and athleticism to play on the move, natural defender with body control. Arm action is short and over the top, carries across the diamond with accuracy, 84 mph. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, good balance through contact. Present bat strength and bat speed, good approach, hard contact off the bat. Gap to gap type approach, 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ran the 60 at 7.11.

2. Kaden Lehman, INF, Portage, 2019
6-foot, 174-pound infielder, athletic frame. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, leg kick stride. Made hard contact, came off the bat well at times. Pull side approach, uphill path, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played over the top, showed carry, 86 mph across the diamond, advanced arm strength for age. Longer exchange at times, hands played, long release. 7.01 runner in the 60. On the mound arm action is short and loose from a high ¾ slot. Fastball showed slight action, control of the zone, 79-82 mph. Curveball showed feel, 63-65 mph, 12/6 action with depth. Changeup is 67-72 mph.

3. Saxton Shore, INF/RHP, Stoughton, 2018
6-foot-2, 160-pound two-way player lanky frame with projection. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot, accurate across the infield, occasional carry, 80 mph across. Fields out in front, showed body control and rangy actions, ability to play through the baseball. 7.16 runner in the 60. Right-handed hitter, open stance, tall setup, leg lift trigger, loads hands back. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee, inside out path, uphill at finish. On the mound delivery worked with easy effort, short quick arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball showed feel for the zone, worked down, 77-79 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 69-70 mph. Changeup thrown with arm speed, mostly straight, showed feel, 72-75 mph.

4. Ethan Habetler, INF, West De Pere, 2020
5-foot-10, 170-pound infielder, athletic build. Right-handed hitter, tall open stance, leg kick trigger. Loose hands, pull side pop, showed present bat speed. 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played short and over the top, average arm strength, 71 mph across the diamond, showed accuracy. Hands played, footwork still progressing. 7.52 runner in the 60.

5. Carson Tomony, INF, Madison East, 2019
5-foot-9, 155-pound infielder, lean lanky frame. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, leg kick trigger, average balance, showed pre pitch rhythm. Middle of the field approach, occasionally backspun the baseball. Short path, line drive type hitter. 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short, works from a high ¾ slot, played accurate across the diamond, flashed carry, 75 mph across the diamond. 7.66 runner in the 60. Feet played through the baseball.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Zachary Brewer, INF, Hartford Union, 2020
5-foot-11, 155-pound infielder, thin build, lanky frame. Right-handed hitter, tall open setup, long stride to even. Path has length, level throughout. 74 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed range up the middle, fields deep at times. Arm action is long, high ¾ slot, 65 mph across the diamond. 7.71 runner in the 60.

Max Bruff, OF/INF, Indian Trail, 2019
5-foot-9, 185-pound outfielder, strong stocky build. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride to even. Showed bat speed on uphill path, strong hands, ball jumped off bat at times, flashed hard contact. 95 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action plays over the top, 78 mph from the outfield, 72 mph across the infield. Profiles as a corner outfielder, showed ability to play through the baseball, more natural action in the outfield. 7.03 runner in the 60.

Issiah Butler, OF/1B/LHP, Oak Creek, 2020
5-foot-11, 160-pound two-way player, lean athletic build. Left-handed hitter, tall open setup, leg kick stride, maintains balance. Athletic and aggressive swing, showed present bat speed, controls the barrel with pull side approach. 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 72 mph from the outfield, 68 mph across the infield, high ¾ slot and played accurate. Plays through the baseball with more natural actions in the outfield. 7.52 runner in the 60. On the mound fastball showed control at 70-73 mph. Curveball has 2/8 shape at 56-59 mph, feel for the zone. Changeup is straight, fastball similar arm speed with feel, 63-66 mph.

Dylan Carrington, INF, Middleton, 2019
5-foot-10, 160-pound infielder, lean frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride with slight lift. Showed occasional strength, pull side approach, long path, slight uphill plane. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.46 runner in the 60. Arm played at 78 mph across the diamond, ¾ slot. Clean exchange, showed occasional athleticism.

Caleb Dammen, OF/INF, Milton, 2019
5-foot-10, 180-pound outfield and infielder. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride gets squared, average balance. Path is long, works uphill, 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, 74 mph from the outfield, 73 mph across the infield. Second base type defender, clean exchange and can play through the baseball. 7.71 runner in the 60.

Jacoby Endreas, INF, Sheboygan Falls, 2019
6-foot-2, 195-pound infielder, large strong build. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance. Shows bat strength, long path, uphill with gap to gap pop. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and over the top, easy arm at 75 mph across the diamond. Corner infield profile , clean hands and played through the baseball. 7.91 runner in the 60.

Lucas Girard, OF/INF, Elkhorn, 2019
5-foot-8, 138-pound outfielder. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, minimal stride. Mechanical approach, keeps head down, static approach. 76 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 67 mph from the outfield, 61 mph across the infield, over the top arm action. Deliberate actions through the baseball. 7.55 runner in the 60.

Brayden Gorecki, OF/INF, Sussex Hamilton, 2020
5-foot-11, 150-pound outfielder and infielder. Left-handed hitter, tall setup, open stance. Easy middle of the field approach, average bat speed, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.26 runner in the 60. Arm action is short, high ¾ slot, 74 mph from the outfield, 71 mph across the infield. Clean actions field off to the side in outfield and through the baseball, occasional quick actions, more natural on the infield.

Keenan Kling, RHP/INF, Arrowhead, 2020
6-foot-1, 175-pound two-way player, large athletically built frame. Tall and fall delivery, high front side, regular effort, heel to toe landing. Arm action is long, high ¾ slot. Fastball has slight run, 74-76 mph, touched 78 mph. Curveball played with 12/6 shape, 53-57 mph, loose action. Straight changeup showed feel for zone with some sink, 62-65 mph. Right-handed hitter, open stance, leg lift stride. Occasional hard contact, uphill path, 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played loose from a high ¾ slot, 71 mph across the diamond. 7.42 runner in the 60.

Caden Krug, INF, Fond du Lac, 2019
6-foot, 140-pound infielder, slender frame. Right-handed hitter, closed setup, short stride, loads hands back. Path is long, pull side approach, 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.48 runner in the 60. Defensively arm played long from a ¾ slot, 69 mph. Showed actions through the baseball. 7.48 runner in the 60.

Brady Marget, INF, Whitefish Bay, 2021
5-foot-11, 135-pound infielder, long lanky frame with high projection. Left-handed hitter, slightly open stance, arm bar load, short stride, good balance. Gap to gap approach, line drive contact, 69 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed some athleticism, gangly actions, above average hands. Arm plays from high ¾ slot, 68 mph across the diamond. 8.06 runner in the 60.

Griffin McIlwee, OF/INF, Waterford Union, 2018
5-foot-9, 145-pound multi-positional player. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance. Middle of the field approach, long path, 71 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played long from a high ¾ slot, with effort, 71 mph from the outfield, 72 mph across the infield.

Peyton Mellenthin, INF/RHP, Neenah, 2019
5-foot-10, 155-pound two-way player, lean strong frame. 7.12 runner in the 60. Defensively showed actions, hands played, fluid footwork. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot, 74 mph arm across the diamond. Right-handed hitter, slightly open, crouched stance. Path has length, showed bat speed. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound, arm action is long, submarine slot, regular effort. Fastball topped at 73 mph, 70-71 mph, showed control. Slider had sweeping action, 63-66 mph.

Sam Pederson, RHP/3B, Verona, 2019
6-foot-1, 170-pound two-way player, long limbed projectable frame. Projects best on the mound, delivery is upright, and works across his body, timing varies. Arm action is short and loose, ¾ to low ¾ slot with arm speed. Fastball flashed lively action, lacked consistent action, 79-81 mph, topped at 82 mph. Breaking ball showed depth at times, 66-67 mph. Changeup sinks, deceptive arm speed, 73-76 mph. Right-handed hitter, tall setup, slightly open, short stride. Showed fast hands at the plate, pull side approach, uphill. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.66 runner in the 60. Defensively showed a quick clean exchange on the infield, played tall. Arm plays low, loose arm action, 78 mph across the diamond.

Tanner Schmidt, RHP/INF, Bay Port, 2021
Wiry upside frame, 6-foot, 155-pound two-way player. Projects best on the mound, delivery is balanced and directional. Arm action is clean, high ¾ slot. Fastball flashed sinking action, occasional heavy feel, topped at 75 mph, sat 71-73 mph. Curveball works with 11/5 shape, 58-61 mph. Changeup is firm, 66-70 mph. Right-handed hitter, open setup, leg kick trigger. Path is long, level plane, occasionally uphill. 70 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 68 mph across the diamond. 7.73 runner in the 60.

Hayden Smith, INF, Kiel, 2018
5-foot-10, 200-pound infielder, strong large build. Defensively profiles at third base, long arm action, ¾ slot, 71 mph across the infield. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, slightly open, short stride back to even. Path is long slightly uphill, pull side approach. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.79 runner in the 60.  

Colby Snell, OF/INF, Oshkosh North, 2020
5-foot-8, 160-pound multi-positional player. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, slightly crouched, long stride, big load. Path worked short, 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively Arm played from a high ¾ slot, long action, 65 mph across the infield, 74 mph from the outfield. Profiles best in the outfield, longer actions. 7.36 runner in the 60.

Bryce Staveness, OF/1B/RHP, Rio, 2018
6-foot-4, 180-pound two-way player, lean frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short leg lift stride. Path works outside the baseball with length, pull side contact. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 82 mph from the outfield, 80 mph across the infield. Above average arm strength and showed it on the mound. Long loose arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball touched 84 mph, sat 79-82 mph. Curveball played on 11/5 plane, 62-63 mph. Changeup occasionally cuts, 66-71 mph.

Liam Stumpf, RHP/INF, Mineral Point, 2021
6-foot, 155-pound right-handed pitcher, long slender frame, room to fill out. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, long leg lift stride, average balance through contact. Occasional hard line drives in BP, level path with some length, worked to pull side at times. 73 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ran the 60 at 7.26. Defensively arm action is loose, ¾ slot, 72 mph across the diamond. Played through the baseball with clean transfer. Projects well on the mound, delivery works in rhythm with regular effort, balanced finish. Arm action is long, ¾ slot. Fastball played with arm side run, 74-76 mph, topped at 78 mph. Curveball showed feel, 63-65 mph, 11/5 shape. Changeup worked in the zone, 67-68 mph, feel for the zone.

Alex Viglietti, INF, Elkhart Lake, 2019
5-foot-9, 170-pound infielder. Right-handed hitter, open stance, tall setup, leg kick stride. Path works uphill, pull side approach. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played long from a ¾ slot. Funnels to glove tap then release. Arm played at 75 mph across the diamond. 8.23 runner in the 60.

Jackson Wall, OF/INF/RHP, West De Pere, 2020
6-foot-2, 160-pound two-way player, thin lanky frame. Right-handed hitter, tall open stance, long stride. Pull side tendency, looks to lift, 76 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively worked out at multiple positions, arm action is long, high ¾ slot, firm arm action, 73 mph from the outfield, 66 mph across the diamond. Defensively can work more to the balls of his feet, ran the 60 at 7.62. On the mound fastball topped at 70 mph, sat 67-69 mph. Curveball showed some control, 50-56 mph. Changeup similar to fastball, firm at 64-67 mph.

Zach Ziesmer, INF, West De Pere, 2019
6-foot, 190-pound infielder, solid build. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride to even, solid balance. Pull side approach, level through contact, some lifted contact. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.96 runner in the 60. Arm played 72 mph across the diamond, long arm action, high ¾ slot. Showed feel around the bag.

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