DFW Fall I.D.: Infield Analysis
December 7, 2018
PLANO, TX - It never fails, the talent in Texas is always impressive, and the DFW Fall I.D. revealed more quality depth in both the 2020 and 2021 class, along with several 2019 standouts. Statistics and video have already been uploaded into players profiles. This week we are rolling out player reports, today we bring you the infield analysis.
Middle Guys
2020 SS Cason Gregory (Cleburne HS) stands 5-foot-11, 165-pounds and started the day with a 7.11 60-yard dash. He has smooth, polished actions at shortstop with quick footwork, and a loose arm swing at 81 mph across the diamond. Plays through the with tempo and rhythm, can play on the run, and make all the throws from short. The right-handed hitter has a fluid swing with quick hands, and made hard contact during BP. Starting from a tall, slightly open stance he cocks the barrel over his head as he triggers his hands and stride forward. Easy weight transfer as he throws the barrel through contact with an exit velocity of 84 mph.
2020 SS Gage West (Plano West HS) has an aggressive hack with strength and snap in his hands. At 5-foot-10, 150-pounds, the right-handed hitter took a solid round of BP, driving the ball with gap power and loose-quick hands. On the infield, he plays faster than his 60-time. Quick first step, soft hands, quality glove actions, can make the one handed play up the middle, plays through the ball with a midline exchange to throw 71 mph across the infield.
2021 SS Chase Pendley (Prosper HS) has an athletic frame at 6-foot, 165-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide base then uses a leg kick load as he triggers the knob down, cocking the barrel over his head. Aggressive hack, loose-twitchy hands, leveraged weight transfer. Hard contact, barrel awareness and an 85 mph exit velocity. On the infield, Pendley moves with easy strides and plays low with soft hands out front. Clean transition into a smooth arm swing that provides carry with a top velocity of 87 mph across the diamond.
2021 SS Reece Parrott (Newman Smith HS) stands 6-foot, 165-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a crouched stance then loads back smooth as he triggers his hands back and takes a short stride, landing in a leveraged position. Hands work easy through the zone on an uphill plane. Quality lower half transfer as he delivers the barrel with extension and a loose finish. Good feel for the barrel with a top exit velocityh of 84 mph. On the infield, Parrott’s hands work really well as he plays through the ball with smooth footwork and midline exchange. Natural feel for the position with solid arm strength across the diamond of 82 mph.
2020 2B Braxton Boyle (Dallas Jesuit HS) stands 5-foot-10, 165-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance then loads back smooth as he creates separation with a gliding stride forward as he walks away from his hands. Balanced weight transfer with quick hands through the zone, efficient path on a slightly up hill plane with a loose finish and 86 mph exit velocity. Solid round of BP, hammered line drives around the zard. On the infield, Boyle has confident actions with quick footwork and clean exhange into loose arm swing with regular effort and a top velocity of 82 mph across the diamond.
2020 SS Luke McBride (Forney HS) stands 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open, stacked stance. Easy load back before he strides forward, landing balanced with his hands back. Rotates his lower half as his hands work on an inside out path on a slightly uphill plane with a line drive approach and exit velocity of 82 mph. On the infield, McBride has soft hands and a clean exchange as he funnels the ball to the midline. Elbow dominant arm stroke, arm works easy with a quick release to make accurate throws across the diamond at 80 mph.
2020 SS Cade McBride (Forney HS) stands 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. The right-handed hitter loads back with a leg kick as he pinches his knees together as he triggers his hands back, then down as strides into his launch position. Efficient lower half transfer, twitchy hands throw the barrel through the zone with an aggressive hack working on an uphill plane with a top exit velocity of 78 mph. At shortstop, McBride has quick footwork and clean exchange as he plays through the ball with soft hands out front. Quick release when starting the double play, and accurate throws across the diamond to first base with a top velocity of 77 mph.
2020 SS/3B Tino Ramirez (Dallas Jesuit HS) has a quick-twitch, wiry frame at 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. Started the day with a 7.13 60-yard dash. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide, stance stance then triggers his hands down and backas he cocks the barrel forward. Quick hands through the zone on a flat path, line drive approach with an exit velocity of 85 mph. On the infield, Ramirez has quick footwork and threw 75 mph across the diamond, and starts the double play efficiently.
2021 2B/SS Aidan Legner (Marcus HS) stands 5-foot-5, 120-pounds. On the infield, Legner has smooth footwork as he plays through the ball with tempo and rhythm. Solid glove actions with soft hands, the ball sticks in his glove. Plays through the ball with confident actions and can throw from different slots with a top velocity of 71 mph. Offensivley, the right-handed hitter starts from a slightly open stance and then triggers his hands back and down into a front arm bar as he loads back and strides forward. Smooth movement pattern with an aggressive approach, quick hands and top exit velocity of 77 mph.
2020 SS JP Rathbun (W.T. White HS) 6-foot-1, 170-pounds. The right-handed hitter pidgeon toe setup with flex in his lower half. Simple load before he takes a short stride, then rotates his lower half and keeps his weight back. Inside out path with a line drive approach, mostly opposite firld contact during BP with a top exit velocity of 82 mph. On the infield, Rathbun has soft hands with a clean exchange into his arm swing with a top velocity of 74 mph across the infield.
2019 Fabian Bernal (John Paul Stevens HS) is still not done filling out his 5-foot-11, 160-pound frame and started the day with a 7.02 60-yard dash. The left-handed hitter took a quality round of BP, lacing balls through from the middle to pull side of the field, and launched a home run. He has quick-strong hands with good lag in the zone that creates easy whip and a loose finish and posted a top exit velocity of 87. On the infield, Bernal plays low with quick footwork and threw with a top velocity of 75 mph. On numerous occassions, we have seen him be on time and on the barrel. Moving forward, Bernal’s athleticism left-handed bat should make him a highly sought after recruit with upside.
2020 2B/OF Jalen Jones (Katy HS) has a wiry, quick-twitch frame at 5-foot-8, 130-pounds. The left-handed hitter has a simple, repeatable, efficient swing. Balanced setup with relaxed hands, smooth load, short stride, inside out path with a middle of the field, contact approach with a loose finish and top exit velocity of 75 mph. On the infield, Jones has smooth footwork, soft hands, quick exchange, clean release and threw 70 mph across the diamond.
2020 OF/2B Jacob Morales (Frisco HS) has a quick-twitch frame at 5-foot-5, 140-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a crouched stance with a wide base, then loads back smooth as he lifts his hands and takes a short stride forward. Quick hands through the zone with an inside out path produced line drive power with a top exit velocity of 78 mph. In the outfield, he covers ground with athletic strides as he plays through the ball with soft hands, and throws from an over the top slot with a top velocity of 74 mph. On the infield, Morales has a quick first step and moves easy to his left and right as he plays low through the ball and throws with a top velocity of 70 mph across the diamond.
2021 SS/RHP Jake Jennings (Plano East HS) has an athletic frame at 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. A two-way player and right-handed hitter, Jennings starts from a wide base with his hands set close to ear. Triggers his hands to his back shoulder as he shifts his weight back, then takes a short stride forward. Flat path with quick hands produced a top exit velocity of 84 mph with line drive power through the middle of the field. On the infield, his arm strength translates well as he threw 82 mph across the diamond with carry from a loose, quick, long arm swing.
2021 RHP/2B Jeremy Slate (Hebron HS) stands 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. A two-way player and right-handed hitter, Slate has an aggressive hack with a balanced, low-hanging leg kick that allows him to square the ball up during BP with a top exit velocity of 78 mph. Loose hands on a flat path create hard contact through the middle of the field as the barrel stays in the zone a long time. On the infield, Slate has a quick first step as he plays light on his feet ranging to his left and right. Soft hands out front as he exchanges the ball near his back hip. Accurate arm across the diamond with a top velocity of 78 mph.
Corner Guys
2019 3B/1B Kalen Clark (Coppell HS) hammered the ball around the yard during BP, including a home run, and recently committed to Midland Junior College. The right-handed hitter stands 6-feet, 200-pounds, and has pull side pop with natural lift. Starting from a tall, slightly open stance, he rocks back with a simple load then strides forward, landing square. Barrel stays in the zone a long time, strength at contact with an 84 mph exit velocity. On the infield, Clark throws with good feel from a lower slot when starting the double play at second base. Gets rid of the ball quickly with accurate throws and top velocity of 77 mph across the diamond.
2019 LHP/1B Jackson Braun (Grapevine Faith) has a strong, projectable frame at 6-foot-4, 204-pounds. A two-way player and left-handed hitter, Braun showed pull side power during BP and hit a home run foul to the pull side. He starts from a tall, open stance before he loads back easys and triggers his hands back, striding forward, landing with separation. Good leverage through the zone with strong hands produced a top exit velocity of 86 mph. He shows smooth footwork around the bag with soft hands as he plays through the ball.
2021 1B/RHP Joshua Barnhouse (Prosper HS) has a very projectable, long-limbed pitcher’s frame at 6-foot-5, 210-pounds. A two-way player and right-handed hitter, Barnhouse starts from a slightly open, stacked stance with his hands set in a low, relaxed position. Loads back smooth and early as he triggers his hands back and strides forward, landing open. Leverage swing on a flat path with strong hands produced an exit velocity of 86 mph with a balanced finish and gap power to the middle of the field. At first base, Barnhouse has a quick exchange when starting the double play and shows the ability to throw from a lower slot.
2020 1B/RHP Jackson Nielsen (Southlake Carroll HS) has a strong, projectable frame at 6-foot-3, 195-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from an athletic stance with with his feet turned inward. Loads with a quick toe-tap as he triggers his hands back, replacing his front foot with a short stride. Strong hands created hard contact during BP with a top exit velocity of 90 mph. Moves well at first base as he plays through the ball with soft hands and quick footwork. Easy exchange as he starts the double play, and his arm works well from a high-¾ slot with a clean release and 80 mph velocity across the diamond.
2021 1B/OF DJ Dell’Anno (Celina HS) has a long-limbed, lanky frame 6-foot-6, 180-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall stance and uses a simple load as he triggers his hands then strides foward. Inside-out approach, line drive power, good extension through contact, loose finish and exit velocity of 80 mph. At first base, Dell’Anno does a nice job of playing low with a flat back, allowing his hands to be soft out front. Moves with smooth actions coming off the bag and playing through the ball on double plays and shows good glove action on picks.
2020 3B/C Hudson Hefner (Highland Park HS) has a long-limbed frame at 6-foot-2, 170-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, open stance, then loads with a short leg kick as he triggers his hands and strides forward. Short, inside-out path to contact as his hands work relaxed through the zone. Lower half works well with a simple weight transfer. Posted a top exit velocity of 75 mph, loose finish and contact approach. Behind the plate, Hefner throws with an easy arm stroke, clean exchange, fundamental footwork, top velocity from the crouch of 69 mph and pop times ranging from 2.18-2.26. On the infield, Hefner does a nice job of playing low with soft hands out front, easy exchange into his throwing motion with an accurate arm swing and top velocity across the diamond of 70 mph. Shows feel for throwing from different slots, clean arm action with easy effort.
2020 3B/1B Josh Eichstadt (Lake Highlands HS) stands 6-foot-2, 165-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from an open, tall stance with relaxed hands set low. Lifts his front leg and triggers his hands up, using a leg kick to stride forward. Aggressive hack with quick hands, flat path with good extension through contact, line drive power and top exit velocity of 86 mph. On the infield, Eichstadt has quickish footwork and does a nice job of playing low with his hands out front. Short arm action with a top velocity of 73 mph across the infield.
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