BEAUMONT, TX - On Saturday, January 13 The Prep Baseball Report hosted The I-10 Border Battle at Lamar University. The event featured some of the top players from PBR Louisiana and PBR Texas’ coverage area. Here is the infield analysis from that event.

INFIELDERS

Keagan Vance, SS/RHP, Clear Lake HS, 2019
Vance has an athletic frame at 6-foot, 172-pounds. This was our first look at the uncommitted junior, who had an impressive all-around day. The right-handed hitter starts from an open stance with good flex in his lower half and his bat laying flat on his back shoulder. Simple rocker load back as he lifts his hands, engaging the barrel, then taking a short stride forward to land square. Short path, quick hands, loose finish, strong line drive contact with a loose finish as he whips the barrel through the zone. Good balance with a leveraged swing and an exit velocity of 83 mph. On the infield, Vance has a quick first step with smooth footwork and rhythm through the ball. Soft hands with easy glove actions, clean transfer into a smooth arm stroke with carry across the infield at 84 mph. Can make the one handed play, can catch and throw on the run, and has the arm strength to stay on the left side of the infield.

Michael Cervantes, SS/3B, Clear Springs HS, 2019  
Cervantes has an athletic frame at 5-foot-11, 172-pounds. The right-handed hitter had a strong showing at the event, putting together a solid round of batting practice and then going 2-for-3 during the game with 3 QAB’s. He hammered a fly ball to deep centerfield, singled sharply to left, and doubled to right field. He starts from a tall, open stance, then pushes back with a reverse leg lift as he triggers his hands. Short stride, lands balanced with energy before he rotates his lower half. Short, fluid path with loose-quick hands. Strong contact, barrel awareness, gap approach with a loose finish and an exit velocity of 84 mph. At shortstop, Cervantes moves easy with smooth actions, soft hands, quick exchange into an short, hgh-¾ arm stroke at 78 mph across the diamond. Can throw from different slots, including throwing on the run. Has a good sense of timing and takes efficient routes.

Nicolas Gullo, RHP/SS, Dripping Springs HS, 2019
Lamar commit. Gullo had himself a solid all-around day. After running a 7.18 60-yard dash, Gullo showed gap power from the left side. He starts from a neutral stance, then uses a reverse leg lift to push back as he triggers his hands, landing closed. Quick hands through the zone with a short path and strong top hand. Drove the ball well to the pull side as he finishes the barrel, and has an exit velocity of 84 mph. During the game, Gullo roped a double to right-centerfield. At shortstop, Gullo plays through the ball with quick footwork and good rhythm. Throws with a quick, loose arm stroke from a ¾ slot at 86 mph with good carry. On the mound, the right-hander pitched at 85-88 mph with tons of arm side run from a high-¾ slot with a loose, quick arm stroke. His curveball has really good depth and bite at 71-73 mph with 11/5 shape. Mixes in a 74-75 mph changeup with arm side run.

Jorge Figueroa, SS/2B, Carroll HS, 2020
Miami commit. 6-foot, 180-pound, athletic, quick twitch frame. Figueroa is a confident player and communicates at a high level, he ran a 7.04 60, showed quick footwork and smooth actions on the infield. Natural tempo and feel for picking the right hops. Can play on the run, and throw from different slots with a top velocity of 77 mph. Can start and finish the pivot from both shortstop and second base. He has a fluid swing at the plate with loose hands, and flashes pop to the pull side with an exit velocity of 85 mph. He collected two knocks during the game, a double to left-centerfield where he ran a 4.5 on the turn, a single through the left side, and he beat out a ground ball to third base with 4.33 down the line.

Hunter Cramer, SS/RHP, Oak Ridge HS, 2020
Arkansas recruit. Cramer has a projectable, high-waisted, athletic frame at 6-foot-1, 165-pounds. An all-around athlete with long strides, Cramer ran a 7.2 60-yard dash, but it’s easy to dream that he will post lower times as he continues to fill out his frame. The right-handed hitter starts from a neutral stance before using a smooth load back to get started. Triggers his hands down and back, strides forward, landing balanced with good separation. Easy weight transfer, uphill path, loose-quick hands, good feel for the barrel, strong contact with leverage from the middle to pull side with an exit velocity of 86 mph. On the infield, Cramer moves with fluid footwork and a quick first step. Soft hands as he ranges to both his right and left. Moves easy through the catch. Quick exchange into throws with carry across the infield with some effort at 82 mph.

Cole Posey, SS/2B, Georgetown HS, 2019 
Posey has an athletic frame at 5-foot-10, 175-pounds. The right-handed hitter start from an open stance, then turns inward as he triggers his hands back with a simple load, landing square with a front arm bar into a short stride. Slots the barrel early, working on an uphill plane, driving the ball from gap to gap during batting practice. Strong contact, good leverage, flashes pull side power with an exit velocity of 84 mph and high finish. On the infield, Posey is light on his feet with quick footwork, smooth actions, soft hands, clean mid-line exchange into a high-¾ arm stroke. Accurate arm with a top velocity of 79 mph. Can catch and throw on the run.

Ommar Jackson, SS/2B, Mansfield HS, 2019
Jackson has a fast-twitch frame at 5-foot-8, 160-pounds. The switch hitter started the day by posting an event best 6.70 60-yard dash time. From the right side, Jackson starts from a balanced, neutral stance before striding forward, creating separation as he walks away from his hands. Barrel stays in the zone a long time and he finishes the barrel with strength in his top hand with an exit velocity of 89 mph. From the left side, he starts from a taller stance, with tilted shoulders. Loads back before lifting his front foot and gliding forward, lands balanced. More of an opposite field approach from the left side, quick hands with line drive power and an uphill path. In the outfield, Jackson plays through the ball with rhythm, throws from a long, loose arm stroke at 88 mph. Accurate throws with low effort and easy arm swing. On the infield, Jackson has quick footwork and has good range to both sides. Soft hands, quick exchange, quick release, accurate arm with good carry at 80 mph across the diamond.

Fabian Bernal, SS/OF, John Paul Stevens HS, 2019 
Bernal has a lean, athletic, projectable frame at 5-foot-9, 155-pounds. Coming off having the flu a week earlier, the left-handed hitter was on the barrel during batting practice with a line drive approach, loose-quick hands and a simple, repeatable swing with leverage and an exit velocity of 80 mph. Although not done maturing physically, Bernal makes hard contact and has a feel for hitting spin. In the outfield, he plays through the ball with quick feet and a clean exchange. Loose, quick arm swing works well from back to front with a max velocity of 77 mph. On the infield, Bernal has quick footwork that should serve him well as he continues to develop physically. Soft hands play well out front. Funnels the ball back to his midline before making accurate throws from a loose arm swing that works well from back to front with a max velocity of 71 mph.

Garrett Arrendondo, 3B/RHP, George Ranch HS, 2019
At 6-foot, 210-pounds, Arredondo moves well for his size, and his soft hands, smooth footwork, and ability to play low and throw on the run should allow for him to stay at third base. He moves well for his size at third base, has a strong arm across the infield (88 mph), and is a projectable right-handed hitter. Starts from a tall stance, then loads back smooth as he pushes back with a short leg kick. Lands square and balanced, strong lower half transfer, short, inside-out path to contact. Strong hands, makes hard contact with gap power and an exit velocity of 91 mph.

Josh Phillips, 3B/SS, Bridgeland HS, 2021
Arkansas commit. Phillips has a long-limbed, strong frame at 6-foot-2, 205-pounds. The left-handed hitter generates significant bat speed and leverage. He starts from a tall, slightly open stance with good flex in his lower half. Smooth load back before he strides forward with a low-hanging leg lift, and his hands trigger down and back. Aggressive hack, loose hands, quick bat through the zone on an uphill path. Uses the whole field, high-loose finish with an exit velocity of 90 mph and more to come in the future. On the infield, Phillips plays through the ball with fundamental footwork and soft hands out front. Accurate arm across the infield with a top velocity of 78 mph.  

Mitchell Andrews, OF/2B, Cy-Fair HS, 2020
Andrews has an athletic, high-waisted frame at 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Andrews has projectable athleticism and fluid actions in both the outfield and infield. Throws with carry from the outfield at 82 mph, and threw 75 mph across the infield. Ran a 7.26 60-yard dash. The right-handed hitter has a tall, slightly open set-up, smooth load, a good weight transfer in his lower half. Andrews uses the middle of the field during batting practice, with a line drive path, quick hands, and flashes power to the pull side. His exit velocity was 84 mph, and he ran a 7.26 60-yard dash. With his projectable frame and all-around athleticism, look for big things from this two-way player in the future. High academic student.

Tyler Justice, 3B/RHP, Lexington HS, 2020
Justice has a ton of strength in his 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame. The right-handed hitter uses a simple toe-tap to load back smooth as he walks away from his hands with good separation. Simple strength, explosive lower half weight shift. Barrel gets on plane early, working on an uphill plane with strength and extension through contact. Shows pull side power during batting practice with hard contact and an exit velocity of 91 mph. On the infield, Justice has soft hands and an accurate arm at 73 mph across the infield.

Caden Queck, OF/RHP, The Woodlands Christian Academy, 2020
6-foot, 168-pounds. A two-way player and right-handed hitter, Queck has good energy in his hack. He starts from a slightly open, wide stance, then pushes back with a big leg kick as he triggers hands down and back into a front arm bar. Gets the barrel on plane early, working into an uphill path. Good leverage with his lower half weight transfer and extension through contact. High finish, strong hands and an exit velocity of 88 mph. On the infield, Queck moves with long strides when ranging to both sides, soft hands and quick footwork. Threw 77 mph across the diamond.

Braden McGary, RHP/3B, Denver City HS, 2019
McGary has a long-limbed, wiry-strong frame at 6-foot, 155-pounds. A two-way player and left-handed hitter, McGary has quick hands and good barrel awareness at the plate. He starts from a neutral stance, then loads back smooth. Short stride, loose hands, uphill path. Uses the whole field during batting practice and is on the barrel with an exit velocity of 85 mph. On the infield, McGary has quick footwork and soft hands. Accurate arm across the infield with a long, loose arm swing at 75 mph.

Matthew Burke, 2B/SS, Kingwood Park HS, 2019
5-foot-11, 155-pound frame. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall stance with relaxed hand. Smooth load as he triggers his hands back and lifts his front leg into a short stride. Flat path, short stroke, line drive approach, quick hands, barrel stays in the zone a long time with an exit velocity of 84 mph. On the infield, Burke has quick twitch footwork with soft hands, smooth exchange, and quick transitions. His arm works well from different slots, accurate thrower with a top velocity of 73 mph.

Chase Blackwell, 3B/2B, Cuero HS, 2020
5-foot-11, 150-pound frame. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide, crouched stance. Shifts his weight down and back as his triggers his hands into a front arm bar. Short stride, lands balanced, flat path, line drive power and a loose finish with an exit velocity of 77 mph. On the infield, Blackwell has quickish footwork and soft hands. Throws from an over the top slot with a short arm stroke at 72 mph.

Andrew Carter, 2B/OF, Montgomery HS, 2020
5-foot-8, 160-pound frame. The left-handed hitter starts from a tall, open stance. Uses a knee to knee load as he triggers his hands down and back before striding out, walking away from his hands, creating good separation at footstrike. Loose hands, uphill path, quick bat with natural lift, middle of the field approach and an exit velocity of 80 mph.  On the infield, Blackwell has a quick first step and long strides as he ranges to his glove side. Soft hands out front on routine plays. Throws from a ¾ slot 78 mph across the diamond.

Juan Chavez, 2B/SS, Austin HS, 2018
5-foot-6, 170-pound frame. The right-handed hitter starts from a balanced stance, then strides early, loading his hands back. Short stride, quick hands, line drive power with an exit velocity of 77 mph. On the infield, Chavez plays through the ball with rhythm, has soft hands out front, quick transition into a long, high-¾ arm swing at 74 mph across the infield.

Dylan McDonald, RHP/1B, The Woodlands College Park HS, 2019
McDonald has a strong, long-limbed, projectable frame at 6-foot-3, 190-pounds. A two-way player and right-handed hitter, McDonald starts from a tall stance, then uses a short stride forward as he triggers his hands back then rotates to contact. Uphill path with line drive power, hard contact to the pull side with an exit velocity of 83 mph. At first base, he plays through the ball with quickish footwork and soft hands. Accurate arm to second and third with a top velocity of 81 mph.

Dylan Ivey, SS/3B, Atascocita HS, 2020
6-foot-1, 160-pound frame. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall stance, then loads down into his legs as he triggers his hands down and back, creating forward tilt in his shoulders before taking a short stride. Barrel gets on plane early, working on an uphill plane. Strong hands, finishes the barrel, drove the ball to the pull side with an exit velocity of 85 mph. On the infield, Ivey has quick footwork, soft hands, and an accurate arm from a ¾ slot. Threw with a top velocity of 77 mph across the diamond.

Parker Last, 1B/3B, Billy Ryan HS, 2019  
5-foot-10, 230-pound, strong, thick frame. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall stance, then loads back with a toe-tap before striding forward. Flat, inside-out path, balanced weight transfer, loose finish, line drive power with an exit velocity of 79 mph. At first base, Last does a nice job of playing low through the ball with soft hands and rhythm. Clean transition into a short, high ¾ arm swing with a top velocity of 72 mph.