GPA Games: Infielder Analysis

The third annual GPA Games was held at Lee Pfund Stadium at Wheaton College on Sunday, Aug. 12. Over 50 prospects from five different states made it out to Carol Stream to partake in this one-of-a-kind showcase, targeted for 2019 and 2020 prospects looking to leverage their skills on the diamond and in the classroom into opportunities to play ball beyond high school. Since, three of the attending prospects have already committed to play at the next level.

Today, we’ll continue our showcase analysis with a deeper look into the infielders who attended GPA Games.

A prospect representing Wisconsin – in fact, the lone prospect to earn a top-five ranking from outside Illinois – comes away from the Wheaton College event with the top spot among this group of infielders: INF Micah Overley (Janesville Craig, 2019). Overley flashed some bat strength from the left-handed batter’s box at the showcase and it showed in-game, too, where he barreled a couple balls. Defensively, he’s fit for the hot corner with enough arm for the position.

Huntley’s Jackson Broom (2020) was the top-ranked infielder from Illinois in the top five below. Broom is a savvy defender who has the glovework and body control to maintain his status as a reliable infielder. He also recorded the hardest velocity across the infield in the day’s workout.

We previously published our Statistical Analysis from the showcase, as well as a look at the day’s catchers. Keep an eye out tomorrow for a look at the event’s infielders. For now, keep on reading for full reports on all 13 outfielders from the GPA Games below.

TOP PROSPECTS

1. Micah Overley, INF/RHP, Janesville Craig (WI), 2019
6-foot-1, 185-pound two-way player, proportional frame. Left-handed hitter, open stance, slight leg kick trigger, smooth load of hands back, average balance. Flashed bat strength, path has some length, balanced approach, hits in rhythm. Made occasional hard contact, found barrels in game play with a triple and a single. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.71 runner in the 60. Profiles at third base defensively, arm played with slight carry, 82 mph across and accurate. Hands and actions are clean, plays through the baseball. On the mound arm action is long and over the top, repeats delivery and ability to pound the zone. Fastball is mostly straight, worked down, 79-80 mph, touched 81 mph. Breaking ball played 68-69 mph. Changeup fades to arm side, 72 mph.

2. Jackson Broom, INF/RHP, Huntley (IL), 2020
5-foot-11, 185-pound two-way player, solid strong athletic build. Athletic infield defender, plays through the baseball, reliable hands, plays with body control. Arm is short and over the top, showed carry, 85 mph across the diamond, athletic arm action that can play accurate on the move. 7.45 runner in the 60. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, arm bar load, lifted stride. Middle of the field approach, line drive contact, worked gap to gap, fluid rhythm. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound, fastball runs to arm side, control of the zone, 77-79 mph, touched 80 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, late action, depth and feel, 66-70 mph. Changeup is straight, near fastball arm speed, 74-75 mph.

3. Zachary Fell, INF, Stevenson (IL), 2020
5-foot-7, 145-pound infielder, smaller athletic build. Above average defensive actions, showed body control and plays through the baseball, soft hands, clean exchange. Athletic arm action, short over the top slot, accurate across the diamond, plays on the move, 79 mph across. 7.45 runner in the 60. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short stride, good balance. Compact swing, singles type hitter, hands played loose and showed feel for the barrel. 75 mph exit velocity from the tee.

4. Riley Morris, INF, Plainfield East (IL), 2020
5-foot-11, 175-pound infielder, lanky athletic frame, poised to fill out. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, loads hands back, short stride, maintains balance. Path has some length and gets extension through contact, slight uphill path, made line drive gap to gap contact. 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed athletic actions, played through the baseball with above average hands at his age. Clean exchange, arm is loose, over the top slot, carried across the diamond, some accuracy, 78 mph across the diamond. 7.52 runner in the 60.

5. Justin Blazek, INF, Neuqua Valley (IL), 2019
6-foot-4, 220-pound infielder, large athletic frame. Right-handed hitter, pre pitch bat waggle to get in rhythm, loads hands back with higher back elbow, short stride, foot down on time. Bat strength present, made hard contact off the barrel, slight pull side approach. 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.59 runner in the 60. Flashed confident hands on the infield, worked out in front and through the baseball. Arm action is short out of a high ¾ slot, 73 mph across the diamond.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Steven Arrambide, INF, St. Charles East (IL), 2020
5-foot-7, 145-pound infielder. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, average balance. Path is short and flashed line drive contact, occasional uphill through contact. 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is short and works from a high ¾ slot, played accurate across the diamond, 70 mph across. Second base type profile, hands played reliable. 7.54 runner in the 60.

Brennan Foeckler, RHP/1B, Marquette University (WI), 2020
6-foot-5, 190-pound two-way player, long frame. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, leg lift trigger. Path works long and uphill, pull side approach, 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays long out of a high ¾ slot, 74 mph across the diamond. Large target around the bag at first base. On the mound arm works long out of a ¾ slot. Fastball played 74-77 mph. Curveball played 12/6 at 62 mph.

Will Franson, INF/RHP, Genoa-KIngston (IL), 2020
5-foot-11, 175-pound two-way player. Slight drop and drive type delivery, some effort, long firm arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball worked at 80-82 mph, flashed slight cut action. Curveball has 11/5 shape, gradual action, 65-69 mph. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, slightly wide base, short lift and replace stride. Showed occasional bat strength with hard gap to gap contact, path is uphill, 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm plays 80  mph across the diamond, high ¾ slot, occasional carry. Quick exchange, wide actions. 7.36 runner in the 60.

Alex Gasbarro, INF, St. Laurence (IL), 2020
5-foot-11, 170-pound infielder, lean athlete. 7.23 runner in the 60. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride varied between toe tap and lift. Path is short and level, line drive opposite field contact. 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is long and loose, high ¾ slot, 81 mph across, slight carry. Actions settle in to field, clean exchange.

Matt Harris, INF, Johnsburg (IL), 2019
6-foot, 140-pound infielder, slender build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short toe tap stride. Handsy swing, work loose, level path, in rhythm. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm showed ability to play from multiple slots, 75 mph across the infield. Actions played through the baseball, fields occasionally deep. 7.46 runner in the 60.

Matthew Hill, 1B, St. Joseph (WI), 2020
6-foot-4, 200-pound first baseman, large strong build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short toe tap stride. Simple swing, hands work direct to the baseball, flashed easy pop, loose hands. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is long from a high ¾ slot, 76 mph across the diamond. Showed natural feel around the bag, hands played. 7.48 runner in the 60.

Ben Hiller, INF, Attica (IN), 2019
6-foot, 170-pound infielder, lean frame. Right-handed hitter, open stance, loads hands back into short stride. Flashed hard contact at times, long level path, 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. First base defender, deep actions, arm played long from a high ¾ slot, 72 mph arm strength across the diamond. 7.63 runner in the 60.

Joe Koscinski, INF, Catholic Memorial (WI), 2019
6-foot-2, 203-pound infielder, strong, firm build. Right-handed hitter, open stance, arm bar load, leg kick stride. Path is long and uphill, pull side approach, above average bat speed, 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is long and firm, ¾ slot. 76 mph across the diamond. 7.55 runner in the 60.

Luis Salinas, INF/RHP, St. Ignatius (IL), 2020
6-foot, 160-pound two-way player, lanky frame. Projects best on the mound, works from a submarine slot, regular effort, ability to repeat and throw strikes form unconventional slot. Fastball showed feel for the zone, sinks to arm side, 71-73 mph. Slider played with sweeping action, feel and control of the zone, 61-62 mph. Changeup played 67-68 mph. Right-handed hitter, tall open setup, leg kick stride. Path is short, occasional line drive with top spin contact. Defensively arm played 70 mph across the diamond, comfortable actions around the bag. 7.95 runner in the 60.

Colton Sandefur, INF, Lane Tech (IL), 2020
5-foot-10, 175-pound infielder. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, leg kick trigger. Path works long and uphill, some bat strength present looks to lift he baseball, occasional front foot hitter. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.78 runner in the 60. Defensively profiles at third base, average hands with long exchange. Arm played with length from an over the top slot, 72 mph across the diamond.

Dayne Sebranek, INF/RHP, Fort Atkinson (WI), 2019
5-foot-11, 215-pound two-way player. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, arm bar load, short toe tap trigger. Path has length, occasional pop, hit in rhythm, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is long, high ¾ slot, 73 mph across the diamond. Third base profile, hands played, 8.93 runner in the 60. On the mound fastball played with slight run, 74-77 mph, feel for the zone. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 62-65 mph.

Alex Viglietti, INF, Elkhart Lake (WI), 2019
5-foot-11, 200-pound infielder. Arm plays loose and flashed carry across the infielder, 81 mph, over the top slot, played accurate. Actions play long and deliberate, hands played reliable. 7.87 runner in the 60. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, loads hands back.
Path worked long and uphill, 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.

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