Future Games: Wisconsin's Day 1 Recap
July 31, 2014
By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois
WESTFIELD, IN - Day 1 of the Future Games is in the books. In front of a packed house of some of the premier college programs in the country, positional players strutted their stuff at Grand Park for the positional showcase.
The showcase day started with the corner infielders where Taylor Borchers (Appleton North) Jeff Steuck (Kenosha Tremper) and Ben Carew (Kimberly) led things off for Team Wisconsin. Ben Carew starting things off running the top 60 time of the three at 7.20. 1B Steuck took one of the strongest BP rounds for Wisconsin showing pop to both gaps and posting a 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Taylor Borchers showed why he was one of the better hitters in the FVA conference this spring with a barrel aware bat path that styed through the zone and peppered line drives to all fields. Borchers also showed feel and a solid arm at 84 mph from third base.
The middle infield group was one of the biggest of the day and Eau Claire North’s Adam LaRock may have open the most eyes in the group, heading into the Future Games as somewhat of an unknown, LaRock hammered baseballs from both sides of the plate leaving the yard several times and from both sides. While posting a 95 mph exit velocity, LaRock also ran a 6.81 and threw it 87 mph across the diamond, one of the best sets of numbers of any prospect at the event. Grant Frazer (Oconto) and Nate Brown (Arrowhead) both showed off advanced arm strength across the diamond at 83 mph and 85 mph respectively. Frazer showed the ability to play well on the move as well as a soft back hand. While most colleges are here to watch Brown pitch, the Arrowhead prospect showed off his arm across the diamond and an athletic ability in the field that is worth noting.
The outfield group started with speedster Zach Gilles (McDonnell Central) running a 6.86 (ran a 6.66 a week prior at Western Wisconsin Prospect I.D.) on track that continued to get slower as the headwinds picked up. Matt DeYoung (Xavier) and Joe Acker (Marquette University) showed the best arms from the outfield hitting 88 mph. Offensively Acker and Jackson Hoang (Pewaukee) took some of the more impressive BP of the Day. Hoang showed bat speed with his 93 mph exit velocity, showing the ability to get the head out and barreled balls all over the gaps in his second round. Joe Acker put on a display with a strong pull side approach launching several home runs to left including one of the more majestic blasts of the day.
Catchers finished the day and both Jack Kinzer (Port Washington) and Gannon Goldensoph (Oak Creek) flashed 2.00 pop times. Kinzer consistently stayed in the 2.0 range and delivered multiple strikes on the bag. Offensively the left handed Goldensoph worked a line drive opposite field approach from an open stance. Kinzer showed loose quick hands at the plate that stayed on top and through the baseball, he showed the ability to spray to all fields while flashing occasional pull side pop.
CLICK HERE for Nathan Rode’s statistical breakdown with complete spreadsheet of team stats.
Team Wisconsin will get Day 2 started as they play the first game of the day against Team Select at 10:00 AM with BP starting at 8:30 AM.
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