TPG West: Primary CINF Analysis

August 21, 2019
John Nolan
Virginia Scouting Director & Managing Editor

In late-June, PBR VA/DC hosted the Top Prospect Games West at Liberty University. Over 50 players from multiple classes and all corners of Virginia took part in the event, and we continue our analysis of those players today with the primary corner infielders.

Matthew Arnold 3B / RHP / Chatham, VA / 2021

Arnold is 5-11 with an athletic frame that has some projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a balanced athletic stance, low leg kick stride on line, short load back. Hips rotate completely with some violence and he maintains good lower half balance. Keeps hands inside, quick to ball with strength at contact. Slightly uphill swing path, line drive swing with some carry in gaps, showed good approach working primarily gap to gap, exit velocity was 86. In the infield, rounds ball and fields with a good wide base and above average hands. Works through ball to a clean exchange, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, infield velocity was 81. Showed versatility throwing from behind the plate as well, where his position velocity was 75 and pop times were 2.11-2.19. Ran a 7.40 60 yard dash.

Noah Burtner 1B / RHP / Spotswood, VA / 2022

Burtner is 5-10 with an athletic frame that has some projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a slightly open athletic stance, short leg kick stride on line, short load down. Hips rotate completely and he maintains good lower half balance. Keeps hands inside with strength at contact point. Uphill swing path, showed a pull approach with some extra base potential, exit velocity was 81. In the infield, gets body behind the ball and fields with average hands. Throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, infield velocity was 75.

Bryce Cooper 3B / 1B / Cave Spring, VA / 2022

Cooper is 6-3 with a lankier athletic frame that has plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the right side from an upright slightly open stance, leg kick stride on line, short load back. Hips rotate completely with some violence and he maintains some lower half balance. Keeps hands inside the ball with a strong contact point, very long levers and gets extension through the ball. Slightly uphill swing path, showed ability to work gap to gap but swing sets up best to pull side, exit velocity was 81. In the infield, rounds ball and fields a wider base and above average hands. Works through the ball to a clean exchange, throws from a lower three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, infield velocity was 77.

Garret Huffman 3B / SS / Rockbridge County, VA / 2021

Huffman is 6-0 with a lankier athletic frame that has plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the right side from an athletic stance, strides on line, short load down. Hips rotate completely with some violence and he maintains good lower half balance. Keeps hands inside the ball and is short the ball. Level line drive swing, showed good approach working gap to gap, exit velocity was 82. In the infield, gets body behind ball and fields average hands. Works through the ball to a clean exchange, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, infield velocity was 68. Ran a 7.41 60 yard dash.

Thomas Huitema 3B / OF / Oakton, VA / 2023

Huitema is 5-9 with an athletic frame that has plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a wide athletic stance, strides on line, short load back. Hips rotate completely with some violence and he maintains good lower half balance. Keeps hands inside the ball and gets hands to contact point. Slightly uphill line drive swing, showed good approach working gap to gap, exit velocity was 77. In the infield, gets body behind ball and fields with a good wide base and average hands. Works through the ball to a clean exchange, throws from a low three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, infield velocity was 66. Showed versatility, taking balls in the outfield where his position velocity was 64.

Thomas Ketcham LHP / 1B / Culpeper County, VA / 2020

Ketcham is 6-3 with a lanky frame that has a lot of projection left to it. He hits from the left side from a slightly open athletic stance, short stride on line, slight load back. Hips rotate completely and he maintains good lower half balance. Keeps hands inside, has a strong contact point. Level line drive swing path that can get uphill to pull side, showed good approach working primarily gap to gap, exit velocity was 74. In the infield, gets body behind ball and fields with a good wide base and average hands. Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, infield velocity was 73.

Jack Marshall 1B / OF / Miller School, VA / 2020

Marshall is a Roanoke commit and is 5-11 with a strong lower half to an athletic frame that has some projection left to it. He hits from the left side from a slightly open balanced athletic stance, short stride on line, slight load back, good rhythm. Hips rotate completely with violence and he maintains some lower half balance. Keeps hands inside, short to ball and is strong at contact with some batspeed and extension through the ball. Slightly uphill line drive swing path that has loft built into it, showed a pull approach with some extra base power that way, exit velocity was 84. In the infield, gets body behind ball and fields with a wider base and average hands. Throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, infield velocity was 73.

Jon McCullough RHP / 3B / Seneca Valley, PA / 2020

McCullough is 6-2 with a lankier athletic frame that has plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the right side from an upright balanced athletic stance, short leg kick stride on line, short load back. Hips rotate completely and he maintains some lower half balance. Keeps hands inside, short and quick to ball with strength at contact and extension through the ball. Uphill swing path, line drive swing with loft built in, ball carries, showed a pull approach, exit velocity was 88. In the infield, rounds ball and fields with a wider base and average hands. Works through ball to a quick clean exchange, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a short fast arm action, infield velocity was 90.

Cole McLain 3B / RHP / Northside , VA / 2021

McLain is 5-10 with a strong athletic frame that has some projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a slightly open athletic stance, short stride on line, short load back. Hips rotate completely with some violence and he maintains some lower half balance. Keeps hands inside ball and has strength at contact point. Slightly uphill swing path, line drive swing with loft built in, showed a pull approach, exit velocity was 83. In the infield, gets body behind ball and fields with average hands. Works through ball to a clean exchange, throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, infield velocity was 77.

Hudson Rowe 1B / 3B / Magna Vista, VA / 2020

Rowe is 6-2 with a strong athletic frame that has some projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a slightly open athletic stance, short leg kick stride on line, short load back and wraps. Hips rotate completely and he maintains some lower half balance. Keeps hands inside ball and has strength at contact point with some extension through the ball. Slightly uphill swing path, line drive swing with some loft built in, showed a good approach working gap-to-gap, exit velocity was 84. In the infield, gets body behind ball and fields with a wider base and average hands. Works through ball to a clean exchange, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, infield velocity was 76.

John Simmons 3B / 2B / Liberty Christian Academy, VA / 2023

Simmons is 5-10 with an athletic frame that has plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the left side from an athletic stance, short stride on line, short load back. Hips rotate completely with violence and he maintains good lower half balance. Keeps hands inside ball, short and quick to contact with strength at contact point and some extension through the ball. Slightly uphill swing path, line drive swing with some loft built in, showed ability to use the middle of the field but prefers to pull, exit velocity was 79. In the infield, rounds ball and fields with soft hands. Works through ball to a quick clean exchange, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, infield velocity was 80. Ran a 7.42 60 yard dash.

Hunter Sipe LHP / 1B / William Byrd, VA / 2022

Sipe is 5-11 with an athletic frame that has plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the left side from a slightly open leaned back athletic stance, short stride on line, short load back into a wrap. Hips rotate completely and he maintains good lower half balance. Keeps hands inside ball, short to contact. Slightly uphill line drive swing, showed a pull approach, exit velocity was 74. In the infield, gets body behind ball and fields with average hands. Works through ball to a clean exchange, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, infield velocity was 63.

Juwan Thornton 3B / SS / Gloucester, VA / 2020

Thornton is 6-2 with an athletic frame that has plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the right side from an open athletic stance, short stride on line, short load back to a wrap. Hips rotate completely and he maintains good lower half balance. Keeps hands inside ball, short to contact. Level line drive swing, showed good approach working gap to gap. In the infield, good feet, rounds ball and fields with a good wide base and above average hands. Works through ball to a clean exchange, throws from a low three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, infield velocity was 80.

Colin Troilo 3B / 1B / Heritage (Leesburg), VA / 2020

Trolio is 5-11 with an athletic frame that has plenty of projection left to it. He hits from the left side from a balanced athletic stance, short leg kick stride on line, short load back. Hips rotate completely with violence and he maintains some lower half balance. Keeps hands inside ball, short to contact with some bat speed and extension. Slightly uphill line drive swing with some loft built in and carry in the gaps, showed a pull preference, exit velocity was 83. In the infield, good feet, rounds ball and fields with a good wide base and above average hands. Works through ball to a quick clean exchange, throws from a three-quarters arm slot with a short arm action, infield velocity was 77.

More Top Prospect Games