Midlands Open ID: Quick Hitters

The Midlands Open ID with Advanced Analytics took place on Wednesday Oct. 13th at Lexington County BallPark in Lexington South Carolina. Prospects from the event came from around the Palmetto state on a beautiful fall evening.

The event began with a defensive evaluation for catchers, pitcher bullpens with each pitch tracked by Trackman, along with Pitch AI.  A pro-style workout for all the position players followed that included the 60 yard dash, BP with TrackMan ball flight analysis, and a defensive evaluation. 

Below we will look at some quick hitters, offensively and defensively for the event.

CLICK HERE to see full stats and roster

QUICK HITTERS 

Xavier Cuevas - 2023 (Blythewood (HS) • SC)

A smooth fielding infielder with good actions and good arm strength across the diamond.  Moves feet well and attacks the ball.  Good momentum though the ball while fielding the ball out front.  Simple setup in the box with a balanced stance, showing good bat speed and a line drive approach.  

Ryder Kellis - 2024 (P27 Academy (HS) • SC)

Athletic stance with good rhythm and load.  Gets into a really good hitting position with a good load.  Loads with a medium leg lift.  Really good bat path with a high finish keeping the bat in the zone. Resulting in a line drive approach.  Defensively shows good range laterally.  Attacks the ball by coming to get it and handling out in front with good hands.  Shows a good arm that has the ability to throw from multiple angles.

Jack Painter - 2024 (Dreher (HS) • SC)

Big strong body with room to grow.  Defensively, shows a good short arm action with a quick release and great carry on the ball.  Shows the ability to throw from different arm angles depending on the ball.  Funnels the ball in with good hands.  Good athletic balanced base in the batter's box.  Does a good job of staying in legs during the swing.  Shows a good bat path, producing line drives with a gap to gap approach.  

Landon Penfield - 2024 (Blythewood (HS) • SC)

Strong body athlete with more projection left.  Good athletic stance with good barrel life in stance.  Uses a leg lift to start swing, has a good path with a high finish producing nature loft in his swing.  Defensively, has good feet and hands in the infield.  Really uses his feet to put him in a great position to handle all balls.  Fields the ball put in front has good momentum with body helping his throws across the field.  

Tyler Rosario - 2024 (Legion Collegiate (HS) • SC)

Smooth field defender with good actions.  Glides around the infield making it look easy as he fields the ball.  Uses good hands to field the ball out in front and good footwork though the ball getting good carry on the ball.  Open stance in the batter's box with a good load getting into good hitting positions.  Has a flat path though the zone with a big finish out front.  Shows the ability to drive the ball to all fields.

Reed McLain - 2023 (Aiken (HS) • SC)

Simple setup with a balanced stance.  Has a good finish out front helping stay through the ball.  Good flat swing staying behind the ball.  Smooth defensive actions in the infield.  Moves feet well to get the right hop.  Good short arm path with good carry on throws.  Shows the ability to make throws from different arm angles.

Jake Knepp - 2022 (P27 Academy (HS) • SC)

Strong physical body with present strength.  Balanced stance with quiet hands and good bat path.  Shows the ability to drive the ball from gap to gap.  Shows good hands in the infield with good arm strength that allows him to stay on the left side of the infield.