North Texas Underclass Games: Corner Infield Analysis

Top Performers

Evan Johnson, RHP/3B, Frenship HS, 2021
Johnson is going to be fun to watch as he continues to develop as a two-way player. At 6-foot-3, 185-pounds, Johnson already has a strong, projectable frame. A right-handed hitter, Johnson starts from a wide, relaxed base with his hands wagging the bat in a low position before he triggers them back as he pushes his weight back to load, then strides forward. Mostly flat path through the zone with twitch in his hands and strength in the barrel. Posted an exit velocity of 89 mph and made hard contact during BP. On the infield, Johnson has smooth footwork and soft hands as he plays through the ball with rhythm and shows natural feel for playing third base. He plays with a bounce in his step, can throw on the run, and his arm works from different angle with a top velocity of 88 mph. Ranked No. 18 in the Texas 2021 Class, look for big things from Johnson in the near future.

Gage Goddard, 3B/RHP, Harmony HS, 2020
Goddard has an athletic frame at 6-foot, 160-pounds. The right-handed hitter has real feel for the barrel with an athletic hack that produces gap power, hard contact, and a top exit velocity of 88 mph. Starting from a tall stance, he pushes back using a low-hanging reverse leg lift as he triggers his hands back with rhythm, landing athletic with good separation. Generates easy power with loose hands and can drive the ball deep. During the game he launched a deep fly ball to left field. On the infield, Goddard plays through the ball with quick footwork, rhythm and soft hands. He can play on the run and his arm works from different slots.

Harrison Hess, 1B/OF, Midlothian Heritage, 2020
Hess has a high-waisted, lean-muscular frame at 6-foot-3, 200-pounds. After running a 7.04 60-yard dash, the right-handed hitter hammered the ball during batting practice, including sending a homerun over the left field fence. Starting from an open, narrow stance with a slight tilt in his upper body, he triggers his hands back smooth and early before he strides forward, landing square. Creates a ton of leverage as he slots the barrel in the zone early, then works uphill through contact with a compact stroke, creating carry to the deepest parts of the park with an exit velocity of 93 mph. At first base, Hess plays threw the ball with a low fielding position and threw with a top velocity of 84 mph from a long arm swing.

Dylan Russo, 1B/RHP, Keller HS, 2020
Russo has a strong, durable frame at 6-foot-3, 220-pounds. The right-handed hitter has natural feel to hit with loose hands, rhythm, and high end barrel awareness. Smooth hack that starts from a tall, open stance before he pushes back, cocks the barrel toward the pitcher as he engages his hands, then lands square as he transfers his weight with relative ease. Quick-strong hands whip the barrel through the zone on a clean path after the barrel gets slotted early in the zone, dropping the head, and working on a slightly uphill path, creating lift and leverage with a loose finish and a top exit velocity of 89 mph. To put it simply, it’s quality aggression with intent to do damage, the swing just works. Hammered balls all around the yard during BP, then scorched a single to centerfield during the game. At first base, Russo does a nice job of playing low with his hands out front and a wide base. Soft hands on picks during the infield workout, and the footwork around the bag is solid.

Hunter Reid, 1B/RHP, Plano Senior HS, 2020
Reid has a strong, durable frame at 6-foot-3, 225-pounds, and spent last spring hitting in the middle of a strong Plano Senior lineup. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide base with a crouched stance that allows him to generate leverage and power as he works on an upward plane through contact. Smooth load back as he triggers his hands, then lands square with a short stride with separation. Strong hands, good barrel awareness, and great extension produce hard contact with gap power and a top exit velocity of 96 mph. At first base, Reid plays through the ball with quickish footwork, soft hands, and a clean exchange into a long arm swing with a top velocity across the diamond of 82 mph. 

Thomas Wrehe, C/RHP, Southlake Carroll HS, 2020
Wrehe has a strong 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame with broad shoulders. A switch-hitter, Wrehe shows good snap in the barrel from the left side, working down into a crouched position as he loads into his legs and triggers his hands back, cocking the barrel forward with a front arm bar. Good energy in his lower half as his hips uncoil and he delivers the barrel with natural lift and an exit velocity of 82 mph. From the right side, he starts from a taller, open setup, then lifts his hands as he turns inward to load, lifting his front foot before landing slightly closed. Quick-strong hands, flat path, short finish, with an exit velocity of 85 mph. On the infield, Wrehe fields the ball with soft hands and staggered footwork before he throws across the infield with a top velocity of 75 mph.

Drew Durst, 3B/RHP, Frisco Memorial HS, 2020
Strong, athletic 6-foot-5, 205-pound frame. A two-way player and left-handed hitter, Durst starts from a tall, slightly open stance with relaxed hands. Athletic hack with a smooth load back as he triggers his hands, using a short leg kick, landing with leverage and separation. Great extension through contact with natural lift and an exit velocity of 96 mph. On the infield, he has quickish footwork and does a nice job of playing low with soft hands. Can throw from a lower slot when needed with feel, accuracy and a top velocity of 81 mph across the diamond.

Best of the Rest (Alphabetical)

Philip Crotts, 1B/3B, Allen HS, 2020
Solid 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame with present strength. The right-handed hitter starts in a balanced stance with a leaning top half and lowered hands. Works his bat straight back with subtle wiggle, as he strides forward in the slightest. Showcased power, bat speed in his barrel (94 mph exit velocity) with some lift to his swing, keeping his head still in its entirety. Quick hands through the zone with strong, fast hands. A corner infielder working at shortstop, Crotts flashed soft hands and good rhythm. On the mound, the right-handed pitcher works from a drop-and-drive, slight crossfire delivery at a ¾ arm slot and a short arm stroke. His fastball was 79-81 mph, locating the pitch well to his glove side. His 69-72 mph curveball flashed solid 11/5 shape, while also mixing in a 69-70 mph changeup.

Tyler Justice, 1B/RHP, Lexington HS, 2020
Justice has a sturdy, durable frame at 6-foot-2, 225-pounds. The right-handed hitter has real strength in his hands with the ability to bang the ball around the yard with a top exit velocity of 102. Starting from an open stance, he has easy rhythm and loose hands as he loads back, then strides square, before using a powerful lower half transfer with quick hands to produce line drives and deep fly balls to the gaps. At first base, Justice plays through the ball with soft hands that work low, into a clean exchange with a top velocity across the diamond of 75 mph. A two-way player and right-handed pitcher, Justice works from a ¾ slot with a clean arm swing, and repeats his drop-and-drive delivery with good hip turn down the mound, landing square with an athletic finish. Throws a heavy fastball at 80-82, and his changeup has good depth and fade at 72-74 mph. Also mixed in a 10/4 curveball with good rotation and depth at 70 mph.

Carter Mach, 3B/C, Aledo HS, 2020
Mach has a strong, sturdy frame at 6-foot, 215-pounds. The right-handed hitter has outstanding strength at the plate where he posted a 97 mph exit velocity. Starting from an open stance as he waggles the barrel over his shoulder, he triggers his hands back and down with a flat barrel as he turns in and takes a short stride. Lands balanced with good separation, works on a flat plane through the zone. Mostly pull side contact during BP with quick hands and strength at contact. On the infield, Mach threw 81 mph across the diamond.

Diego Martinez, C/3B, Midlothian Heritage HS, 2020
5-foot-9, 170-pound frame. A primary catcher, Martinez showed his versatility by competing as a third baseman. The right-handed showed a solid feel for hitting as he was on the barrel all day. Loose hands and rhythm at the plate with an easy transfer and gap approach, Martinez laced balls through the middle of the field. During the game, he hammered a deep fly ball to centerfield for a sac-fly. On the infield, he has soft hands with a quick, clean exchange and has the ability to throw from different slots with a short arm stroke. Plays under control and never gets sped up by the game. Made a nice glove play at third base during the game when he ranged to his glove side to pick an in between hop, then pulled the ball to his midline as he got his feet in line to make a strong throw to first base.

Will McGuire, 1B/3B, Marcus HS, 2020
McGuire has a strong frame at 6-foot, 195-pounds. The right-handed hitter had a great offensive day, showing bat speed, rhythm, and aggression at the plate. He posted a 92 mph exit velocity off the tee, then pounded deep fly balls to the middle of the field during BP. Starting from an open stance with flex in his lower half, McGuire loads back smooth with a leg kick as he triggers his hands and strides forward, landing with separation and energy. Powerful lower half weight transfer, works through the zone on a slightly uphill plane with a short path to contact and high finish, showing strength in his hands with the ability to throw the barrel. During the game he laced a deep fly ball to right field on a curveball. At first base, McGuire plays low with soft hands and rhythm through the catch, clean exchange, and natural arm swing with a top velocity of 79 mph across the diamond.

Colton Smith, 3B/RHP, Denton Guyer HS, 2020
Smith has a projectable, lean-muscular frame at 6-foot-3, 180-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a narrow, crouched stance with high hands. Lowers his weight into his legs as he triggers his hands back and strides forward. Aggressive swing as he rotates to contact with an inside-out path on a slightly uphill plane with a top exit velocity of 82 mph. On the infield, he played through the ball with quickish footwork and soft hands out front, throwing with a top velocity of 71 mph across the diamond. 

Nate Spivey, 1B/C, Ranchview HS, 2020
5-foot-11, 170-pound frame. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, wide open stance with high hands before he rotates inward, triggers his hands, then strides slightly closed. Flat path through the zone with an exit velocity of 75 mph. At first base, he plays low through ball and threw with a top velocity across the diamond of 70 mph.

Christian Teran, 1B/RHP, Heritage HS, 2020
6-foot, 258-pound frame. A two-way player and right-handed hitter, Teran showed some juice during batting practice, posting an exit velocity of 93 mph and lacing balls through the gaps. He starts from a tall, slightly open stance before loading back, using a leg kick to generate a quick bat through the zone. At first base, he threw with a top velocity across the diamond of 83 mph.