By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The PBR Kentucky Top Prospect Games took place June 16-17 at Western Kentucky University and afforded close to 120 players from around the state the opportunity to showcase their abilities to the PBR Kentucky staff and many college coaches in attendance. The following is a look at the position players from Team Black. This is position player analysis only. Those position players who also pitched at the event had that evaluation featured in a previous article.

Middle Infielders

Josiah Robbins, SS, R/R, Boyle County HS, 2016
6-foot-1, 180-pounds, athletic frame, right-handed hitter hits from an open stance, mid-length stride, maintains good balance, some length in swing, generates bat speed, 88 mph exit velocity, good round of BP with line drives to the gaps and occasional pull side power, good speed with 4.38 home to first time, went 2-for-4 in game play with an RBI. Soft hands with good lateral movement, shorter high-3/4 release, good arm strength at 82 mph across the infield with carry.

Andy Highbaugh, SS, L/R, Barren County HS, 2016
5-foot-11, 190-pounds, strong frame, left-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, loose hands with some quickness, stays quiet, good bat speed, 90 mph exit velocity, line drive type hitter with gap to gap power, went 0-for-1 in game play (had to leave early), 4.69 home to first time. Soft hands, works through the ball well, short ¾ release with 80 mph velocity, good body control and ability to throw from different arm slots on the move.

Evan Slone, SS, Ludlow HS, L/R, 2016
5-foot-9, 165-pounds, left-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, good balance, line drive type hitter with gap to gap approach, registered 79 mph exit velocity, showed significantly better speed with a 4.48 home to first time, went 0-for-5 in game play with a mid to opposite field approach. Soft hands with above average lateral movement, quick exchange and release with high-3/4 slot, increase in arm strength at 78 mph across the infield, accurate throws.

Corner Infielders

Trevor Howard, 3B, R/R, Southwestern HS, 2016
6-foot-3, 210-pounds, strong/athletic frame, right-handed hitter hits from an open stance and gets to square with a short stride, explosive lower half, plus bat speed that generates power to all fields, 98 mph exit velocity, ran 4.81 home to first, went 1-for-4 in game play with a triple to left-center. Shows soft hands and good athleticism for size, good arm strength that plays well across the diamond at 88 mph, the top uncommitted power bat in the 2016 class.

Seth Hagan, 1B, R/R, North Oldham HS, 2016
6-foot-3, 195-pounds, right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, loads back with a leg kick, showed flashes of pull-side power in good round of BP, generates easy bat speed, 92 mph exit velocity, ran 4.88 home to first time, went 1-for-4 in game play with a single. Defensively, moves well around the bag, soft hands, 70 mph arm strength across the infield, has potential to be a power threat at the next level.

Paul Haupt, 3B, R/R, Christian Academy of Louisville
6-foot, 185-pounds, right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, loads back with front foot, level swing path, line drive type hitter with pull tendencies, shows bat speed, 86 mph exit velocity, consistently squared the ball up in BP with a good round, ran 4.56 home to first time, went 1-for-3 in game play. Playable hands at third base, short high-3/4 release, 74 mph arm strength, bat is best current tool.

Michael Flynn, 1B/LHP, L/L, Bourbon County HS, 2016
6-foot-1, 198-pounds, left-handed hitter hits from a closed stance with a long stride, mid to opposite field approach, average bat speed, 79 mph exit velocity, ran 5.03 home to first time, went 1-for-4 in game play with a single up the middle. Defensively, shows adequate hands, short, low-3/4 release across the infield, 63 mph arm strength.

Outfielders

Tucker Greer, OF, L/R, West Jessamine HS, 2016
6-foot-4, 190-pounds, athletic frame with room to get stronger, left-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, level swing path, line drive type hitter who likes to go the opposite way, uses speed well in his game from the left side, 75 mph exit velocity, 4.23 home to first but saw even better times at state tournament, went 3-for-4 in game play with a bunt single and infield hit. Athletic actions in the outfield, plays through the ball, high-3/4 release with plus arm strength, 89 mph with carry and accurate throws, good combination of size, speed and arm strength.

Jack Ockerman, OF/LHP, L/L, West Jessamine HS, 2017
5-foot-9, 150-pounds, left-handed hitter hits from an open stance and gets to square with a short stride, short swing path with line drive production, uses all fields well, 79 mph exit velocity, showed some speed with 4.39 home to first time, went 1-for-5 in game play with a single to left field and two RBI. Solid outfielder who plays through the ball well with good athleticism, long high-3/4 release with 83 mph velocity, accurate throws with some on line carry, offensive game will continue to evolve with added physical strength.

Marcus Johnson, OF/LHP, L/L, Bryan Station HS, 2016
6-foot, 185-pounds, left-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, good use of strong lower half, maintains good balance through finish, line drive type hitter with good bat speed, 85 mph exit velocity off the tee, 4.60 down the line, good round of BP but went 0-for-4 in game play reaching base once on error. Defensively, plays through the ball on the ground, long high-3/4 release with 76 mph velocity, very accurate throws to the third base bag.

Kieffer Baxter, OF, R/L, South Warren HS, 2016
5-foot-8, 178-pounds, right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, line drive type hitter with ability to hit to all fields, loose/easy swing with minimal effort, hit well in game play going 3-for-4 with a double to center field, 84 mph exit velocity, 4.51 home to first time. Average arm strength from the outfield at 75 mph, slow/long exchange, some accurate throws. Bat is current best tool.

Thomas Larson, OF/3B, Families Faith of Christian, 2017
6-foot-1, 180-pounds, strong and athletic frame, right-handed hitter with an open stance, gets to square with short stride, slight arm bar, generates good bat speed, 91 mph exit velocity, potential power type hitter at next level, 4.70 home to first time, went 0-for-1 in game play (had to leave early). Better actions as an outfielder, 84 mph arm strength from OF, 77 across IF, long high-3/4 release with carry to throws, plays through the ball well.

Tyler Horsley, RHP/OF, R/R, Ballard HS, 2016
6-foot-1, 190-pounds, athletic frame, hits from a balanced stance, short stride, shows some power to the pull side, has made strides as a hitter, flashes bat speed, 91 mph exit velocity, shows some speed with 4.45 home to first base time, went 1-for-4 in game play with a single up the middle. Plays through the ball well in the outfield with athletic actions, long high-3/4 release, very good arm strength at 88 mph with carry, solid combination of speed and arm strength defensively.

Catchers

Tyler Cunningham, C, R/R, Greenwood HS, 2016
5-foot-10, 170-pounds, right-handed hitter hits from an open stance and gets to square with a short stride, tends to cut off finish through the baseball at times, line drive type hitter, occasional gap power, 79 mph exit velocity, 4.70 home to first time, went 0-for-4 in game play with a pull approach. Arm is best tool behind the plate, 76 mph arm strength with good release, 1.95-2.02 pop times with accurate throws to the bag, solid blocking ability.

Colton Cobb, C, R/R, Model HS, 2016
5-foot-9, 183-pounds, strong catcher’s frame, right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, uphill path, shows some gap power, showed increase in bat speed, 84 mph exit velocity, went 1-for-2 in game play with a double, 4.91 home to first time. Short high-3/4 release from behind the plate, showed increase in arm strength at 71 mph, 2.17-2.28 pop times with occasional accurate throws to the bag.