Top Prospect - Chicago: Infielder Analysis

By Illinois Scouting Staff

The top infield prospects were led by Ryan Howe (Prospect) who committed to Purdue shortly after the event. Howe is a plus runner at 6.65 and shows a big arm across the diamond that along with his reliable hands and actions will keep him on the left side of the infield. D’Eric Shenault (Kenwood) followed closely behind, a wiry athletic defender up the middle Shenault showcases some of the more confident hands around.

Top Infield Prospects

1. Ryan Howe, SS/RHP, Prospect, 2018
Purdue commit. 6-foot-1, 165-pound right-handed hitting SS/RHP with an athletic frame. Shows an advanced tool set. 6.65 runner in the 60 yard dash. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short stride and good balance. Gap to gap hitter with a level swing path and fluid rhythm. Showed strength thru contact with 94 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively has a long, loose arm action, can throw from multiple arm slots. Plays low, thru the ball with athletic actions and fluid footwork. Throws showed carry across the infield at 87 mph. On the mound works form a ¾ arm angle with a quick, loose arm action. Tall and fall delivery with an upright finish. Fastball has running action at 83-84 topping out at 86 mph. Curveball has 10-4 shape at 72-75 mph. Showed feel for his changeup maintaining fastball arm speed at 78-80 mph. Committed to Purdue shortly following the event.

2. D’Eric Shenault, SS, Kenwood, 2018
6-foot, 160-pound right-handed hitting shortstop with a lanky frame. Stands out for his glove. Defensively has a short, loose arm action from an over the top slot. Accurate throws with carry throwing 82 mph across the infield. Fluid defensive actions with soft, sure hands. Clean exchange with plus body control. At the plate hits from a tall, slightly open setup. Short stride with good balance and a long, uphill swing path. 78 mph exit velocity from a tee. Plus runner running a 6.73 60-yard dash.

3. Christian Lucio, SS/OF, Mount Carmel, 2018
6-foot, 165-pound left-handed hitting SS/OF with an athletic frame. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a heel lift stride and good balance. Short, uphill swing path with fluid rhythm. 89 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 6.88. Defensively in the outfield has fluid, athletic actions, takes good routes. Loose arm action from an over the top slot. Accurate throws with carry throwing 86 mph from the outfield. On the infield plays thru the ball with good body control. Threw 81 mph across the infield.

4. Gavin Doyle, RHP/SS, Plainfield North, 2018
6-foot-2, 170-pound right-handed hitting RHP/SS with a lanky frame. On the mound works from an over the top arm angle with a long, loose arm action. Tall and fall delivery with smooth rhythm. Works in line with home plate with a square landing and easy effort. Fastball was straight at 83-85 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape and flashes occasional depth at 69-72 mph. Showed feel for his changeup at 76-77 mph with occasional late sinking action. At the plate hits from a tall, open setup with a short stride and good balance. Pull hitter with an uphill swing path. 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.09. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Long exchange with fluid footwork.

5. Kyle Schmack, 3B, South Central (IN), 2019
6-foot-1, 220-pound right-handed hitting third baseman with a strong frame. At the plate hits from a balanced, slightly open setup with a short leg lift stride and good balance. Power approach with an uphill swing path and explosive bat speed. 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.27. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Threw 71 mph across the infield.

6. Andrew Wilhite, SS, Stillman Valley, 2018
6-foot-1, 175-pound left-handed hitting shortstop. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a smooth load and short stride. Short, uphill swing path with a fast bat and fluid rhythm. Showed strength thru contact with 93 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 6.88. Defensively has a loose arm action from a high ¾ slot. Threw 84 mph across the infield.

7. Donovan Nanfeldt, 1B, Andrew, 2018
6-foot-1, 198-pound right-handed hitting first baseman with a strong frame. Offensively hits from a slightly open setup with a short, heel lift stride and good balance. Pull, power hitter with a long, uphill swing path. Showed strength thru contact with an event best 100 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.27. Defensively has a loose arm action from a high ¾ slot. Clean exchange with average footwork. Threw 77 mph across the infield.

8. Ryan Patel, SS/RHP, Mundelein, 2018
6-foot-2, 160-pound right-handed hitting SS/RHP with a lanky, thin frame. At the plate hits from a balanced, slightly open setup. Smooth load with a short stride and a long, level swing path. Loose hands with fluid rhythm. 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.13. Defensively ha a loose arm action, can throw form multiple arm angles. Plays thru the ball with athletic actions and fluid footwork. Threw 81 mph across the infield. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a loose, quick arm action. Tall and fall delivery with good tempo. Square landing with an athletic finish. Fastball sat 81-83 mph. Curveball has 10-4 shape at 66-68 mph. Showed feel for his changeup at 74-76 mph with swing and miss potential.

9. Matthew Rozsypal, SS, Lake Forest, 2018
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Athletic actions, plays thru the ball with fluid footwork. Throws showed carry across the infield at 86 mph. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a toe tap stride and a short, uphill swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 94 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 6.93.

10. Cole Hampton, 3B, Edwardsville, 2018
6-foot-2, 180-pound right-handed hitting third baseman with a lanky, athletic frame. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a leg kick stride and average balance. Gap to gap hitter with a long, level swing path. 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.32. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Athletic actions with fluid footwork. Threw 80 mph across the infield.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Brandon Bannon, C/2B, Richmond Burton, 2018
5-foot-11, 160-pound right-handed hitting C/2B with a wiry frame. Offensively hits from a balanced setup with a short leg lift stride. Line drive hitter with a long, uphill swing path and fast bat. 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 6.95. Defensively behind the plate has a short, loose arm action from an over the top slot. Quick, clean exchange. Throws showed carry. Popped 2.00-2.07 and threw 73 mph from the crouch. Also took drills in the infield throwing 77 mph across the diamond.

Frankie Cistaro, SS, Muskego (WI), 2018
6-foot, 175-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a drop load and heel lift stride. Line drive hitter with a long, level swing path. 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.07. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Threw 79 mph across the infield.

Brendan Collins, SS, St. Laurence, 2018
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. At the plate hits from a balanced, slightly open setup. Toe tap stride with a short, uphill swing path. 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.06. Defensively has a short arm action from a ¾ arm slot. Threw 79 mph across the infield.

Matt Kocinski, 2B, Sandburg, 2018
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed hitting second baseman. At the plate hits from a slightly open setup with a short leg lift stride and good balance. Short, uphill swing path. 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.47. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball with fluid footwork. Threw 77 mph across the infield.  

Brandon Mahoney, 1B, Brother Rice, 2018
6-foot-4, 210-pound right-handed hitting first baseman. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a long stride and average balance. Pull hitter with an uphill swing path and fluid rhythm. 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.80. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Threw 71 mph across the infield.  

Brandon Petkoff, SS, Lincoln-Way East, 2018
6-foot-1, 180-pound left-handed hitting shortstop. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short stride and average balance. Pull, power approach with a long swing path. 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. Plus runner running the 60 at 6.74. Defensively has a stiff arm action from a ¾ slot. Threw 67 mph across the infield.

Jack Small, 1B, Lemont, 2018
6-foot-3, 200-pound right-handed hitting first baseman with a lanky, athletic frame. At the plate this from a tall, slightly open setup. Short stride with average balance. Long, uphill swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 94 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.40. Defensively has a stiff arm action from a high ¾ slot. Threw 75 mph across the infield.

Wes Sommers, RHP/SS, Appleton North, 2018
6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed hitting RHP/SS. On the mound works from an over the top arm angle with a short arm action. Tall and fall delivery with a closed landing. Fastball sat 82-84 topping out at 85 mph. Curveball has 12-6 shape at 67-60 mph. Changeup was straight at 78-80 mph. At the plate hits from an open setup with a wrap load and average balance. Pull hitter with a short, level swing path. 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.38. Defensively has a loose arm action from multiple angles. Threw 84 mph across the infield.