Shooter's Spotlight: Super 60 Position Players
February 9, 2022
The 20th annual Prep Baseball Report, Super 60, once again brought together some of the top draft-eligible talent in the country serving as a kick-off event for the MLB Draft’s calendar year. With more than 100 scouts in attendance, the players were treated to an intimate setting on the biggest of stages. Pen met paper as notes were feverishly scribbled down with circles and stars denoting future follows as spring travel plans quickly came into view. Beyond the timeless note taking tradition, PBR’s commitment to keep pace with MLB’s technological revolution held an equally impressive prominence. Trackman, Blast Motion, Vizual Edge, PitchAI, and SWIFT Technology all provided a more complete description of the talented players to aid in what the eyes could see.
But more than the technology and the fraternal “first day of school” feel within the scouting community, the event was, is, and always will be about the players…and they did not disappoint.
In the first of a series of aftermath articles from the Super 60, a look at 10 position players who made an impact on MY look at the event. Every single player who put on the fresh Mizuno uniforms performed at a high level and is a draft prospect. Each of them put on a show in their own rights, and is destined for a stellar spring (and beyond). This is not a top prospect list, as that is covered on PBR’s 2022 Overall Rankings, but rather a gut reaction and immediate feel at and leaving the event.
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Gavin Kilen SS / 2B / Milton, WI / 2022Kilen, a Louisville recruit, more than solidified himself as one of the premier shortstops in the class, and reassured all that the Wisconsin shortstop pipeline is still alive and well. A consummate in-game performer, this was my first look at Kilen in a workout setting, and he did not disappoint. Athletic with some lean, compact strength on a 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame, the left-handed hitter posted a 6.71 60-yard dash time to start the day before posting exit velocities up to 100.2 mph (93.2 avg.) including a 379 ft. max distance during a second round that provided a glimpse at what could be much more power on the way in coming years. The left-handed hitter looked even more fluid throughout the load, and seemed to move easier through impact, as his quick hands and strong wrists provided firm contact to the middle of the field with minimal effort. Equally as impressive in the defensive portion, the ball found the perfect spot on the glove with each ground ball no matter the hop, and the glove-to-hand ability showed as the best at the event with accurate throws from all angles. Much more than his straight away speed (and much more important), Kilen’s first step on the infield is both quick and crisp, and the side to side agility allows him to look even quicker on the infield. Already highly regarded in the class, Kilen’s strong performance left me an even bigger believer.
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Gage Harrelson OF / LHP / Houston County, GA / 2022Harrelson, a Texas Tech recruit, was a summer favorite, and only affirmed his position as one of the top outfielders in the class with a flawless showing at the Super 60. The wiry-athletic, 6-foot-3, 175-pounder glided through a 6.5 60-yard dash time before finding the barrel with every swing he took (100% barrel percentage per Trackman) as the it appeared to stay in the zone forever with firm (98.7 mph max) contact spraying from gap-to-gap. With what can best be described as some “funk” to the hands throughout the load, Harrelson works back fluidly with a short stride, but pulls the hands to the ear prior to the approach. The look is certainly unique, but also appears to be innate, and his barrel awareness and accuracy stood out as elite at the event. Harrelson carried himself well, and even in the smallest of actions during the outfield portion, his confidence as a future center fielder pervades. Georgia’s historically good 2022 class should have important eyes venturing to the Peach State regularly, and a strong spring from Harrelson could climb him even higher on draft boards looking towards July.
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Maximus Martin SS / 3B / Moorestown , NJ / 2022Martin, a Rutgers recruit, was one of my “picks to click” coming into the event, and more than backed up that statement with a loud performance in Chicago. The athletic, 6-foot, 180-pound shortstop exhibited an impressive frame with some defined, lean strength that helped provide for a 6.63 60-yard dash time that was overshadowed by a couple stellar BP rounds and a smooth defensive showing. The right-handed hitter utilized a reverse toe-tap to freely flow the hands down and back into a power position before working quickly to the ball with strength through the zone all while creating momentum through impact. Producing hard contact with nearly every swing (94.7 mph avg, 100.8 max), Martin worked gap-to-gap while also showcasing a glimpse at some pull side power. On the infield, he was relaxed with the ability to slow the game down while playing fast. A quiet confidence surrounded Martin throughout the event, and he appeared to be on a mission to establish himself as one of the top shortstops in the class…And he did.
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Chris Maldonado SS / RHP / Seton Hall Prep, NJ / 2022Maldonado, a Clemson recruit, opened up the 2022 MLB Draft year with a great first impression for all those in attendance. With what appeared to be 10 added pounds of muscle on an athletic 6-foot, 190-pound frame, the New Jersey native still posted a 6.66 60-yard dash time to go along with a quality showing on the infield that should keep him on the left side of the diamond in the long run. However, the bat is what will decide Maldonado’s draft status, and if the Super 60 was a glimpse at things to come, it could be a big spring in the Garden State. With some scoop to the hands through a load down and back, a knee-knock stride provides crisp movement through impact. Strong wrists provided for exit velocities as high as 104.5 mph (95.2 avg.) with distances up to 387 ft. as he worked gap-to-gap with minimal effort while displaying a poised intensity to perform. Maintaining the barrel in the zone with a strong top hand, there was an ability to cover the plate with firm contact also showing up to the back side gap. Overall, Maldonado looked the part of one of the elite position players coming out of the northeast, and will have the family fielding the double the phone calls and questionnaires this spring as his brother, Nick (RHP, Vanderbilt), is also positioning himself as one of the top collegiate arms.
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Ross Highfill C / 3B / Madison central, MS / 2022The Mississippi State recruit came into the event as the highest profile position player at the event (#44 in the class), and did nothing to dissuade that moniker. Listed at 6-foot, 212-pounds, the present defined strength stands out especially for the ease with which his athletic frame carries it. He blazed a 6.59 60-yard dash time to get the day going, and never stopped showing off his loose athleticism the rest of the day. At the plate, the right-handed hitter turned the barrel with effortless authority, taking two mature rounds with exit velocities up to 99 mph. So relaxed in the box, it could have been easy to mistake his rounds for lacking effort were it not for the consistent loud contact to all fields. His loose wrists and quick hands stood out equally as much as the fluid movement through impact, and his ability to get on-plane early while swinging a heavy barrel was noticeable, even in a showcase setting. The defensive portion was much of the same as he showcased a strong (85 mph from crouch) arm without being rushed exhibiting a controlled transfer before delivering pop times around 2.05 throughout, and likely is lower in-game. The receiving stood out amongst his peers at the event as loose hips combined with soft hands to provide an advanced look. Above all else, the natural athleticism was astounding, and though his highest value is likely as a backstop, the versatility that it presents (positionally) should not be ignored.
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Easton Carmichael C / 1B / Prosper, TX / 2022Carmichael’s BP rounds were loud in person, and in combing through my notes, the idea of plus-power is clearly within his potential. There is defined strength attached to an athletic, 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame, and Carmichael carries it well as he proved in running an eye-opening 6.62 60-yard dash. That athleticism showed up at the plate as the right-handed hitter blasted balls (100.2 mph exit velo, 93.8 avg.). The hand/bat speed stood out in person as did the ability to turn the barrel while maintaining lag through the zone. There is obvious power projection, and Carmichael flashed the ability to get the ball in the air. The physical backstop delivered multiple pop-times below 2.0, and should have a chance to continue behind the plate, although his athleticism will likely provide an important versatility at higher levels. That athleticism also lends well to future advancements at the plate, and should the swing keep ticking up, Carmichael will also have a chance to rise.
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Cameron Decker 3B / SS / Evansville North, IN / 2022Decker, a UCF recruit, took my favorite swings at the event. Listed as a switch-hitter, the 6-foot-1, 206-pounder swung exclusively from the right side in this look, but moved exceptionally well through impact, maintaining his balance and control while still getting off aggressive hacks that promised both hit and power potential. Between the bat/hand speed, which were some of the best per Blast Motion as the event, and the fluid connection of the upper and lower-half, Decker presented himself as a potential elite hitter moving forward. A 6.9-runner, Decker’s athleticism carried over at the plate where he impacted the ball with upwards of 99.7 mph exit velocities across two strong rounds. An adequate defender, he holds a corner profile that may include some outfield play in coming years as the bat is sure to drive his value moving forward.
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Tommy Specht OF / Wahlert Catholic, IA / 2022The Kentucky recruit looked thicker than the summer at a lean, yet impressive, 6-foot-3, 200-pound, but still showcased the same athleticism that he has shown for years. A graceful 6.61 run time started the day before the left-handed hitter stepped to the plate and delivered exit velocities up to 100 mph with a propensity to lift the ball in the air. Starting from an upright position, Specht utilizes a more direct path with some heaviness to the barrel at impact with a more pronounced intent to lift. The arm played easy as a plus tool in the defensive portion with throws coming in at a registered 98 mph with multiple others in the mid to upper 90s. All around it was a strong showing for Specht, who must now wait several months for the latest state high school season to begin (Iowa), and given the upward trend that the frame appears to be set on, look for Specht to be followed closely once that season does open up.
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Luke Hanson SS / RHP / Lafayette, VA / 2022Hanson’s long blonde hair immediately gave off a “California surf vibe”, but it was his all-around play with polished actions at shortstop that actually held the closest relation with what we have come to expect from Golden State prospects. Sporting a pristine, 6-foot-2, 185-pound frame with square shoulders and lean strength, Hanson began the day with a 6.91 60-yard dash time before needing minimal effort to showcase one of the better bats at the event. The right-handed hitter belted balls up to 100.8 mph (94.9 mph avg.) while maintaining a calm and collected look. Working uphill while hitting into the front side, the hands quickly turned the barrel while presenting the ability to lift the ball with even more power likely to be developed in coming years. The shortstop was able to slow the game down, moving easy side to side with a strong arm that delivered throws from all angles. There is still considerable room to add strength in coming years, and while he may ultimately move off of shortstop (he might not), he profiles as an elite defender at any other infield position, and the power/hit combination that has a chance to develop will likely be coveted by MLB clubs.
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Cade Climie 3B / OF / Seven Lakes, TX / 2022Climie, a Texas A&M recruit, produced some of my favorite swings at the event while providing a glimpse at future run-producing potential. A thick, 6-foot-2, 207-pounder, he impacted baseballs from the right side with upwards of 101.8 mph exit velocities (92.4 mph avg.) and 376 ft. max distance. Getting into his strong lower-half with a crouch, the hands separate deeper down and back with a knee-knock load that provides momentum through impact. And that impact stands out. The hands and wrists are strong, and provide quickness to the barrel in working flat through the zone with some controlled violence. An adequate defender at third base with the chance to stick long term (91 mph across), Climie carried a confident aura throughout the event, and there was balance to his fluid movement patterns at the plate. While his right/right corner profile tends to lean toward a future stay in College Station, there is still a chance that he picks up interest this spring. Either way, his hit/power combination is what will carry the profile in the future.
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