Winter Watchlist: Uncommitted 2022 Corner Infielders
February 4, 2021
The PBR Wisconsin winter showcase circuit is set to kick off on Feb. 14 in Kenosha on a tour that will take us across the state, leading up to the spring. Today, we’re going to spend some time previewing the upcoming showcases by shaking off the rust from the offseason to outline a handful of names we’re excited to see at events this winter and in high school action this spring.
This week, we’re going to highlight the state’s uncommitted Class of 2022 prospects who are preparing for an important year in their recruiting process, beginning this winter following the offseason. We’ve already shed some light on some of the state’s top uncommitted junior catchers and outfielders. Today, we’ll dive into a talented crop of corner infielders still on the market.
2022 CORNER INFIELDERS
Kyle Schupmann SS / 3B / Luther Prep, WI / 2022Scouting report from the 12/9/20 edition of The Hotlist: Schupmann has both been Wisconsin's biggest newcomer and riser since the late summer and fall. Listed at a strong and athletic 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, he first stood out at the Midwest Fall Championships, where he collected six hits, including a home run, while featuring a loud, gap-to-gap right-handed bat. We were eager for our up-close look at Schupmann's game at an Illinois event in the fall where, amidst a crowded field, he produced what was very possibly the day's top round of batting practice. That notion is supported by both TrackMan and Blast alike. At that October event, Schupmann squared up each and every ball he swung at for a loud liner into the left-center gap on repeat, constantly on the barrel. He averaged the day's third highest exit speed (91.6 mph), farthest average batted distance (316 feet), and second farthest max distance (366). Per Blast, Schupmann's bat and hand speed marks were both well above-average, and his athleticism seamlessly translated to the left side of the infield. On defense, he projects to fit at third base long term. He can become an asset there, with athletic overall actions attached to a big arm, one that topped out at 89.
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Nick West 3B / RHP / Verona Area, WI / 2022Represented Team Wisconsin at the PBR Future Games; scouting report from All-State Games (6/30/20): Positional Profile: 3B/RHP Delivery: Tall start from the center of the rubber; down tempo side step to athletic balance point, high knee. Tall/fall to closed landing, creating crossfire.
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Davis Hamilton 3B / Sun Prairie, WI / 2022Represented Team Midwest Select at the PBR Future Games (8/2/20); scouting report from that event’s scout blog: A sturdy, strong 5-foot-11, 195-pound third baseman. Left-handed hitter with a simple, mature approach that produced some quality at-bats on repeat Monday. Short, easy bat path with bat speed helps him fend off some pitcher’s pitches, allowing him to battle in deep counts until he finds his pitch to square. Reliable hands and actions at third base; made an athletic play on the move on a slow roller his way.
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Ragan Pinnow 3B / River Falls, WI / 2022Scouting report from All-State Games (6/30/20): Positional Profile: 3B
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Jalen Gellings SS / 3B / Campbellsport, WI / 2022Scouting report from the PBR at The Rock Fall Championships (9/30/20): 5-foot-10, 188 pound right-handed hitting infielder with a strong build on an athletic frame. Coming off a strong summer where he saw his prospect stock rise. Defensively, saw time at both shortstop and third base. Smooth actions on the left side of the infield, showed off his athleticism on a couple of slow rollers. At the dish, Gellings sets up in a balance stance with a toe-tap trigger. He showed off his present bat strength and feel for the barrel by hitting an 84 mph fastball over the centerfield wall with a wood bat. Follow 2022 prospect.
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Gabriel Richardson 3B / 1B / Eau Claire North, WI / 2022Represented Team Wisconsin at the PBR Future Games this past August. Showed some of the loudest raw power in the entire state there with impressive TrackMan metrics to support: max exit speed of 96.58 mph with a max fly ball distance of 364 feet. Scouting report from the Badger State Battle (7/2/20): 6-foot, 180-pound right-handed hitting third baseman. Strong, physical frame with proportional strength throughout. Manned the hot corner for Turn 2 Athletics and hit towards the middle of their order in each game. Simple setup at the plate, smooth load that puts his hands in a strong position to hit, slight leg lift trigger. Quiet hands, elevated bat path, premium bat strength for age, consistent loud contact when he finds the barrel. Slugged a couple just-foul home runs left of the left field foul pole on Thursday. One of the top power-hitting prospects in his class; a high-follow name to know.
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MORE UNCOMMITTED NAMES-TO-KNOW
+ Matthew Miller (Ozaukee): A sturdy/strong 5-foot-11, 190 pounds, Miller is capable of earning some early attention this winter with his right-handed bat. He’s been something of a late-bloomer in this 2022 class, but coming into his own at just the right time. At last summer’s All-State Games, Miller registered noteworthy bat speed marks (70.1 mph on average), while striking the ball with above-average strength, recording a 93.1 mph max exit speed. He projects at one of the corner infield spots, defensively.
+ Sam Meidenbauer (Waukesha West): Scouting report from a Creekside Tournament this past fall (9/13/20): 6-foot-2, 200-pound, physically-advanced, wide-shouldered, right-handed hitter. Was one of the top statistical performers for Hitters throughout the weekend and delivered the game-winning RBI single in the 17U championship game. Presence in the box, stays short to contact, strong hands, stays balanced throughout. His physicality from the righty box projects, and we’ll see how he looks following an important offseason.
+ Cade Honkamp (Brookfield East): Scouting report from the Badger State Battle (7/2/20): 6-foot, 180 pounds; physical, athletic look. Right-handed bat is the carrying tool here, as he possesses both a feel to hit as well as power potential. He went 6-for-7 on Sunday with three doubles. He has big strength in his levers that he uses well in the box, and it’s a matter of time and development until we see him turn those doubles into home runs.
Cade Honkamp (6/24/20)
Honkamp was, frankly, one of the most productive bats we saw in-person last summer. He generates some of this class’ best bat strength, recording a 97.5 mph max exit speed last June on a ball that travelled an estimated 360 feet.
+ Kase Reierson (DeForest): Scouting report from the Badger State Battle (7/2/20): 5-foot-10, 160 pounds; strong/durable body right-handed hitter. Aggressive approach, takes convicted hacks with intent to do damage. Pull- to middle-of-the-field approach, ball jumps off the bat at times. Finished 3-for-9 with a double on the weekend. Demonstrated an overall feel and knack for hitting.
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