VA/DC Freshman Free Showcase: IF Analysis

March 14, 2019
John Nolan
Virginia Scouting Director & Managing Editor

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The Virginia/DC freshmen free showcase was held on Saturday, January 26 at the Virginia Sports Complex. Over 40 players from around the Commonwealth were in attendance to perform in front of the PBR Scouting staff. Today we conclude our analysis from the event with a look at the infielders.

Top Performers

Clark Driscoll SS / RHP / Clover Hill , VA / 2022

Driscoll is 5-8 strong athletic frame very strong lower half. Hits from the right side from an upright open athletic stance, strides online smooth load back, good rhythm to set up, hips rotate violently and explosively, complete rotation of lower body, maintains some balance during swing. Very short to the ball, hands quick and stay inside very well, bat has some whip to it,strength at contact point, uphill with extension through the ball. Shows pull preference and ability to generate some power already with more to come in the future, exit velocity on the day 83. At short, quick clean feet rounds ball aggressively, fields with a good wide base, soft hands, plays through the ball to a quick clean exchange. Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot infield velocity was 82. Home to first 4.17.

Payton Faulkner SS / OF / Prince George, VA / 2022

Faulkner is 6-0 lanky athletic frame with a lot of projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a slightly open balanced athletic stance, short stride online, smooth load down and back, relaxed set up, hips rotate violently and completely, good lower half balance. Short to the ball, hands stay inside, quick level line drive swing, can get a little uphill to pull side, showed good approach working primarily gap to gap, has power potential in the future, exit velocity was 85 already. At short, quick active feet rounds the ball well, fields with a good wide base and above average hands. Works through the ball to a clean exchange, throws from a three-quarters arm slot, short arm action, infield velocity 77. Home to 1st 4.00.

Ryan Gimbel SS / RHP / Highland School, VA / 2023

Gimbel is 6-0 with a very lanky frame, plenty of projection left to it. He hits from it a slightly open upright athletic stance, short stride on line, slight load back, very simple swing. Hips rotate completely, maintains good balance. Hands straight to the ball, stays inside, short to contact, slightly uphill swing, line drive hitter works gap to gap, exit velocity was 79. At short, gets body behind ball, fields with soft hands. Clean exchange, throws from a low three-quarters arm slot, infield velocity 66. Ran 4.20 home to first.

Blake Pesante SS / RHP / St. Mary's Ryken, MD / 2022

Pesante is 5-9 with an athletic frame the has projection to it. He hits from the right side from a slightly open, wide athletic stance, short stride online, short smooth load back good rhythm. Hips are violent and rotate completely, shifts weight a little forward during hip rotation. Quick to the ball, keeps hands inside, barrel has a bit of whip through contact, good extension, slightly uphill path, strength at contact, showed good approach working gap to gap with power potential, exit velocity 86. At short rounds ball and fields with a good wide base and soft hands. Works through the ball to a quick clean exchange throws from a lower 3/4 arm slot with a short arm action infield velocity 78. Ran a 4.0 home to first.

Benjamin P. Santiago SS / RHP / Douglas Freeman, VA / 2022

Santiago Is 5-9 with an athletic frame and strength in his lower half. He hits from the left side from an upright balanced, slightly open stance, leg kick stride online, short smooth load back. Hips rotate completely with violence, maintains some balance. Short quick to the ball, level to contact with extension uphill through the ball and strength at contact, showed good approach working gap to gap, swing has loft built in, exit velocity was 88. On the infield, rounds ball, fields with above average hands and a wide base, works through to a clean exchange, throws from a low 3/4 arm slot infield velocity 79. Ran a 4.02 home to 1st.

Brayden Simpson SS / RHP / Cosby, VA / 2022

Simpson is 6-0 with a lanky athletic frame with a lot of projection left to it. He hits from the right side from an open athletic stance, short stride on line, minimal load, hips rotate with some violence and completely, has some balance to his swing. Simple swing, short to ball, keeps hands inside, has some batspeed, slightly uphill line drive swing, showed good approach working gap to gap, exit velocity was 86. At short, rounds ball aggressively and fields with above average hands and a good wide base. Works through the ball to a clean exchange, throws from a three-quarters arm slot, position velocity was 75. Ran a 4.13 home to first.

Best of the Rest (Alphabetically)

Noah Burtner 3B / RHP / Spotswood, VA / 2022

Burtner is 5-9, has an athletic frame with some strength in the lower half. He hits from the right side, slightly open upright stance, leg kick stride online, loads hands down and back, hips rotate with some violence. Level to contact, some quickness to the ball, keeps hands inside, extension through the ball, high finish generates carry, preference to pull the ball, exit velocity on the day 84. At short, gets body behind ball, fields with wider base and average hands. Clean exchange, throws from a three-quarters arm slot, infield velocity 71. Home to 1st 4.41.

Matthew Collier 3B / 1B / Hickory, VA / 2022

Collier is 6-2 has a lanky frame with plenty of projection and very long levers. Hits from the right side from a balanced athletic stance, short leg kick stride online, minimal load back slight wrap, hips rotate completely, maintains some balance to swing. Short path to ball, keeps hands inside, line drive hitter, level swing showed good approach working gap to gap, exit velocity on the day was 80. At third gets body behind ball, fields with average hands. Throws from low three-quarters arm slot infield velocity 67.

Aidan Cunningham RHP / 1B / Falls Church, VA / 2022

Cunningham is 6-4 has a big frame, room to add some strength. He hits from the right side from a leaned back open stance, short stride online loads back, hips rotate violently at times, body shifts forward during swing, has some balance at contact. Slightly uphill to contact point, very strong at contact with extension through the ball, high uphill finish, swing generates loft, shows a pull preference, exit velocity on the day was 84. At first, has feel for footwork around the bag, gets body behind ball fields with average hands, transfer is fine, throws from low three-quarters arm slot, infield velocity 73.

Tyler Gorbett SS / RHP / Menchville, VA / 2022

Gorbett is 5-10 with an athletic frame that has projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a slightly upright open athletic stance. Strides on line, loads back to a slight wrap, hips rotate completely, maintains some balance during swing. Hands stay inside ball, slightly uphill swing path, strength at contact with extension through the bal,l showed very good approach working gap to gap, potential for some power as he continues to get stronger, exit velocity was 78.

Charlie Knighton SS / RHP / St. Christopher's School, VA / 2023

Knighton is 5-10 with a lanky frame that has projection left to it. He hits from the right side from an open athletic stance, short stride online, smooth load back wraps his bat. Hips rotate completely with some violence, slightly uphill swing path with a little bit of extension through the ball, showed good approach working gap to gap line, drive swing exit velocity was 74. At short, fields ball was wider base and above average hands, some footwork and quick feet. Pushes through the ball to clean exchange, throws from a three-quarers arm slot, short arm action infield velocity was 66. Ran a 4.39 home to first.

Dylan Ryan SS / RHP / Battlefield, VA / 2022

Ryan is 5-9 with a lankier athletic frame that has plenty of projection to it. Hits from the right side, balanced athletic stance, lifts his stride foot straight up and puts it back down, drops hands on load, hips rotate completely, maintain some lower half balance to swing. Takes handle straight to ball, slightly uphill path, worked gap to gap, line drive hitter, exit velocity was 70. At short, gets body behind ball fields with average hands, throws from a low 3/4 arm slot infield velocity was 69. Home to 1st was 4.39.

Ryan Sellers 1B / RHP / Freeman , VA / 2022

Sellers is 5-9 with an athletic frame. He hits from the right side from an open athletic stance, short leg kick stride on line, loads back, hips rotate with some violence and completely, has some balance to his swing. Takes hands straight to ball, level line drive swing, slightly uphill through finish, showed good approach working gap to gap, exit velocity was 78. At first, gets body behind ball and fields with average hands. Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot, position velocity was 70.

James (Trey) Shelton SS / 2B / Freeman, VA / 2022

Shelton is 5-4 with a lankier athletic frame that has a lot projection left to it. He hits from the right side from an upright open stance, leg kick stride on line, loads back, hips rotate completely with some violence, and he maintains some balance during his swing, simple swing. Keeps hands in and is short to ball, showed good approach working gap to gap, level line drive swing, exit velocity was 76. At short, rounds ball and fields with above-average hands and a wide base. Works through ball, clean exchange. Throws from a low three-quarters arm slot, position velocity was 67. Ran a 4.46 home to first.

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

Sipe is 5-10 with a lanky frame with a lot of projection left to it. He hits from the left side from a leaned back athletic stance, short stride on line, minimal load, hips rotate with some violence and completely, has good balance to his swing. Simple swing, short to ball, some strength at contact, level line drive swing with some uphill extension, showed good approach working gap to gap, exit velocity was 75. At first, gets body behind ball and fields with average hands, low three-quarters arm slot, position velocity was 65.

Noah Vargas RHP / 2B / Landstown, VA / 2023

Vargas is 5-6 with a lanky frame with a lot of projection left to it. He hits from the right side from a slightly open athletic stance, strides on line, loads back, hips rotate completely, has some balance to his swing. Simple swing, short to ball, level line drive swing, showed good approach working gap to gap, exit velocity was 69. At short, rounds ball and fields with above average hands. Works through to a clean exchange, throws from a high three-quarters arm slot, position velocity was 67. Ran a 4.44 home to first.

Price Whitaker 1B / RHP / Lafayette, VA / 2022

Whitaker is 5-9 with an athletic frame. He hits from the right side from a slightly open athletic stance, leg kick stride on line, loads back with slight wrap, hips rotate completely, some balance to swing. Shorter to ball, slightly uphill line drive swing, showed slight pull approach, some strength at contact, exit velocity was 76. At short, rounds ball and fields with average hands. Works through to a clean exchange, throws from a three-quarters arm slot, position velocity was 69.