By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota-Iowa-Nebraska

 The Prep Baseball Report Future Games was Thursday through Saturday, Aug. 4-6, with a loaded roster of uncommitted 2018 and 2019 prospects. This year, 16 hand-picked teams, which spans 27 states, competed at Grand Park, a state-of-the-art 22-field complex located in Westfield, IN.

Powered by Under Armour, the PBR Future Games kicked off with a workout day on Thursday, where all the position players performed in front of college coaches. Each team played three games on Friday and Saturday. 

In its sixth year, the PBR Future Games started from humble beginnings, with only four teams. The first year, in 2011, Team Illinois dominated the event, headlined by OF Corey Ray, who was recently picked No. 5 overall in last June’s MLB Draft. Now the Future Games has become one of the most heavily scouted events of the summer. Last year, more than 110 colleges from all over the country were in attendance; with this year's event attracting well over 200 college coaches into the event.

The teams participating this year were: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa/Minnesota, Connecticut, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, New York/New Jersey, Ohio, Ontario, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Wisconsin and Mid-Atlantic (Maryland, Virginia and Delaware). There is also Team Select, which is comprised of players from Louisiana, Florida, Arkansas, Texas and Kansas.

Below are the evaluations for the players who attended and participated with Team Minnesota-Iowa-Nebraska. Players are listed in alphabetical order in each category.

POSITION PLAYERS

Tony Barreca, C/OF, North Scott, 2018
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Athletic compact frame. Athletic player with versatility; ran a 7.21 60, was 86 mph from the outfield, showed a 76 mph arm from behind the plate, posted a 2.01 pop time, and recorded a 87 mph exit velocity. Square stance, front heel turn trigger, no stride, lower hand slot, quick hands, slight uphill path, occasionally short through zone, consistent solid contact. Good reads in OF, has direction on throws, short arm action, accurate to bag, solid carry. Efficient mechanics behind dish, athletic at position, clean exchanges, quick release, accurate to bag, short on throws.

Brady Bunten, UTL, Cedar Rapids Washington, 2018
5-foot-11, 180-pound right-handed hitting utility player. Athletic utility guy who played all four positions in the infield during event. Bunten ran a 6.84 60, was 84 mph across the infield, and had an 87 mph exit velocity. Square stance with slight crouch, front heel turn trigger, quiet head to contact, consistently squares baseball, line drive path, works middle of field well. Solid rhythm defensively, fields on right side of body occasionally, clean exchanges, solid arm strength, elevated throws occasionally, has carry and accuracy. 

Casey Burnham, OF, Grand Island, 2018
5-foot-9, 160-pound left-handed hitting outfielder. Athletic compact frame with present strength. The proto lead-off hitter ran a 6.60 60, was 77 mph from the outfield, and had an 88 mph exit velocity. Square stance, small leg kick trigger, flat path through contact, shows pop to gaps, choppy rhythm occasionally upsets timing, short to baseball, flashes of hard contact. Good reads in OF, avg. arm, accurate to bag, lower arm slot effects carry, arm playable for centerfield.

Brayden Frazier, SS, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 2018
5-foot-11, 180-pound right-handed hitting infielder. #176 ranked 2018 in PBR Overall. Solid build, present strength, will continue to fill out frame. Frazier, showing versatility at SS, 2B & 3B, ran a 7.47 60, was 89 mph across the infield, and posted an 89 mph exit velocity. Strong simple set-up, leg kick trigger, repeats swing well, stays through zone, mid/pull approach, loud contact. Shows solid feet and hands with above avg. arm across diamond, accurate to bag with carry, quick first step, above avg. reactions, played extremely well defensively in game action.

Benji Hidalgo, OF, Chaska, 2018
5-foot-4, 150-pound left-handed hitting outfielder. Small compact frame. High OBP% guy who ran a 7.48 60, was 70 mph from the outfield, and recorded a 71 mph exit velocity. Square stance, controlled double tap trigger, works top half of baseball, consistent solid contact, works counts offensively, mid/pull approach with line drives and ground balls. Fields and track fly balls well in OF. Lacks arm strength and carry; arm is playable with accuracy to bag.

Nick Juaire, C, Lakeville North, 2018
5-foot-9, 185-pound switch-hitting catcher. #197 ranked 2018 in PBR Overall. Compact frame with present strength. Juaire ran a 7.3 60, showed an 82 mph arm from behind the plate, posted a 1.94 pop time, and had a 91 mph exit velocity. Repeats swing well from both sides of plate, square stance, knee to knee trigger, works top half of baseball, solid line drive contact, stays in middle of field. Above avg. arm strength, quick release, open front foot on throws effects accuracy, throws have carry to bag. Solid receiver and blocker. Active around plate.

Peyton Williams, 1B, Johnston, 2019
6-foot-5, 205-pound left-handed hitting first baseman. Large young frame; will add considerable strength and size to frame as he continues to mature. Williams ran a 7.73 60, was 76 mph from first base, and recorded a 91 mph exit velocity. Narrow open stance, easy stride to square, some length in load, direct to contact, creates bat speed, quiet head, consistent hard contact, flashes well above avg. power to middle/pull side of field. Solid defender at first base. Accurate throws to target. Comfortable around bag with good footwork.

Ryan Wrobleski, C, Eden Prairie, 2018
6-foot, 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Solid frame, stronger lower half, with room for added strength. Wrobleski ran a 7.49 60, showed 77 mph arm strength from behind the plate, recorded a 2.01 pop time, and an 88 mph exit velocity. Tall upright stance, short load, minimal rhythm, quiet head, clean path, some stiffness with 2 hands on bat, works middle of field. Clean quick exchange, longer arm action, solid arm strength with carry, solid job handling pitchers, shows ability to block, solid performer at event.

Luke Yacinich, SS, Dowling Catholic, 2018
6-foot-5, 185-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. #270 ranked 2018 in PBR Overall. Tall lean athletic frame. Young look- will continue to add lean muscle to projectable frame. Yacinich ran a 7.32 60, was 83 mph across the infield, and recorded an 80 mph exit velocity at event. Square stance, strides slightly across body, hands drift down occasionally, good separation through contact, works middle of field. Athletic actions, avg. feet, funnels early occasionally, glove works, throws from multiple angles, loose clean arm action.

 

2-WAY PLAYERS

Brock Anderson, LHP/OF, Alexandria, 2018
6-foot, 190-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. #291 ranked 2018 in PBR Overall. Physical mature build with strong lower half. Anderson ran a 7.23 60, was 88 mph from the outfield, and posted an 84 mph exit velocity. Good balance in box with rhythm in hands, clean line drive path to contact, occasional short finish, works middle of field. Shows good feet and glove in outfield, creates good angles and direction to target, clean arm action from OT slot. Short turn into balance point, leaks early with hips occasionally, short arm action. Fastball was 82-84 mph, flashing downhill plane, with varying run and cut action. Showed ability to land 1/7 breaking ball, varying depth, with tight spin at 70-71 mph. Changeup was firm at 78 mph for strikes.

Seth Halvorsen, SS/RHP, Heritage Christian Academy, 2018
6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. #61 ranked 2018 in PBR Overall. Lean athletic frame with wiry strength. Wide shoulders and will continue to add size and strength. Halvorsen ran a 6.95 60, was 92 mph across the infield, and recorded an 97 mph exit velocity. Square stance, leg kick trigger, aggressive approach, short to contact, short through zone occasionally with 2 hands on bat through contact, loud contact to mid/pull side of field. Well above avg. arm strength with carry and accuracy, long strides and athletic actions, fields with firm flat glove occasionally, above avg. range. Compact clean arm action, has body control with direction to plate, upright finish on release, repeats well, consistent strike thrower. Fastball shows life, on downhill plane, and jumps on hitter at 88-91 mph. Flashes sharp 1/7 breaking ball, shows in zone and takes away, with tight spin at 77-78 mph.

Shay Schanaman, SS/RHP, Grand Island, 2018
5-foot-11, 185-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. #185 ranked 2018 in PBR Overall. Well built, athletic frame, with present strength. Schanaman ran a 6.9 60, was 86 mph across the infield, and recorded an 89 mph exit velocity at event. Leg kick trigger, loses posture in swing, slight uphill path, aggressive swinger, shows above avg. pop in bat, triple to oppo gap. Plays on balls of feet, light, moves athletically. Glove works; funnels early occasionally. Above avg. carry on throws with accuracy to bag. Easy actions on mound, repeats well, and shows ability to play catch with glove. Pie arm action with upright release. Fastball has solid life at 85-86 mph with varying cut and run. Above avg. curveball, with sharp break, thrown at 74-76 mph.

Tommy Springer, RHP/OF, Eastview, 2018
6-foot, 190-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. #181 ranked 2018 in PBR Overall. Physical build, present strength, with muscular lower half. Has made large improvements on mound over last year. Good balance point, collects over rubber, and drives baseball downhill. Front should tilt adds deception and hides ball from hitter. Showed good command of 87-89 mph fastball with decent life and flashed above avg. breaking ball with 11/5 shape at 75-77 mph. Springer ran a 7.69 60, was 90 mph from the outfield, and recorded an 81 mph exit velocity. Open stance, active load, dives into contact, pull approach, strong swing with flashes of power. Proto right fielder. Usable hands and feet. Tracks fly balls well. Strong arm with online throws and accurate to bag.

 

PITCHERS

Will Eckland, RHP, Edina, 2018
6-foot-1, 150-pound right-handed pitcher. Lean loose build. Good rhythm and tempo to delivery. Above avg. extension to plate. Shows ability to work fastball in and out. Changeup is best secondary pitch with above avg. fade; thrown at fastball arm speed. Projects to add/hold velocity more as he continues to mature physically. Fastball was 80-82 mph. Curveball, with varying shape, was 60-61 mph. Changeup was 69-70 mph.

Nicholas Lommen, LHP, Minnetonka, 2018
6-foot-3, 180-pound left-handed pitcher. #277 ranked 2018 in PBR Overall. Lean projectable build. High front side delivery. Athletic to get up and over. Consistent strike thrower. Hides ball from hitter. Flashes steep downhill action on fastball at 83-85 mph. Varying action on breaking ball, best when 12/6, flashes tight spin and depth. Changeup flashes above avg. run and fade at 80-81 mph.

Aidan Maldonado, RHP, Rosemount, 2018
6-foot, 160-pound right-handed pitcher. #166 ranked 2018 in PBR Overall. Lean wiry frame. Controlled delivery, long stride, good extension to plate. Some pause on back-side of arm action; clean and fast out front. Showed ability to add/subtract on fastball with command to both sides of plate. Fastball was 86-89 mph; touching 90 mph. Above avg. breaking ball with depth and tight spin, 11/5 shape, at 74-75 mph. Changeup showed solid fade, slight flat action, at 73-74 mph.

Nic McCay, RHP, Carlisle, 2018
6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed pitcher. Avg. build with stronger lower half. Repeats mechanics well. Strike thrower, stays compact in delivery, clean short arm action, with solid extension and finish to plate. Breaking ball is separator with above avg. shape and depth; potential to be strike out pitch; thrown at 69-71 mph. Fastball showed varying run and sink, worked to both sides of plate, at 82-84 mph- touching 85 mph. Changeup was 72-73 mph.

Luke Patzner, RHP, Urbandale, 2018
6-foot-3, 205-pound right-handed pitcher. #198 ranked 2018 in PBR Overall. Projectable build that should continue to add strength. Higher leg kick, tuck and turn delivery, hides ball from hitter, and fastball comes out of hand well, exploding on hitter. Patzner sat predominantly 87-89 mph, touching 91 mph consistently, with one ghost reading up to 93 mph. Secondary offerings show promise, will need to continue to improve, but overall continues to make strides in overall pitching; and continues to receive substantial college interest.

Gustaf Radel, RHP, Sioux Falls Roosevelt, 2018
6-foot-2, 220-pound right-handed pitcher. Strong durable build. Large hands and feet. Relative unknown before event. Short tuck/turn in to balance point. Good explosion down mound. Long arm action, ¾ slot, and arm path works across body. Consistent cut on fastball at 85-88 mph with heavy action. Breaking ball was 72-73, thrown for strikes, with solid spin and shape. Changeup is currently an avg. offering; but usable vs. LHH.

Colby Seuntjens, LHP, Maple Valley-Anthon-Oto, 2018
6-foot-3, 175-pound left-handed pitcher. Lean projectable build. Loose arm action, athletic up tempo delivery, ball jumps on hitter. Varying action of fastball, with good command to both sides of plate, at 80-84 mph. Shows different looks to hitters with varying slots and release points creating downhill plane; along with flashes of flat plane with late run. Breaking ball shows tighter 1/7 spin occasionally to land in zone; along with sweeping 2/8 break. Changeup was 74-76 mph with flashes of above avg. fade.

Connor Van Scoyoc, RHP, Cedar Rapids Jefferson, 2018
6-foot-4, 200-pound right-handed pitcher. Exceptional frame on mound. Good athlete. #54 ranked 2018 in PBR Overall. Will continue to fill out frame with quality size and strength. Slightly out of sync in this outing, early hand break in delivery, and tended to rush to home. Mid ¾ arm slot producing heavy run into RHH. Breaking ball has improved with sweeping 2-plane break. Fastball was 83-86 mph; touching 88 mph.

 

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