By Jeff Markle
Assistant State Director

The Prep Baseball Report’s Preseason All-State Invitational took place on February 28th at Highlands Ranch High School. 93 prospects showed up and strutted their stuff in a pro-style workout. Over the next several days the PBR Scouting staff will roll out position-by-position rankings of the event. We continue our look with the corner infield positions.

Best of the Best:

Carter Akerfelds, Dakota Ridge High School (2017)
A 6-foot-2, 185-pound right hand hitting 3B/ RHP, who ran a 7.34 60.  Balanced at the plate with a high leg kick for timing.  Good arm extension through the zone and strong lower leg drive.  Had an 89 MPH exit velocity.  Shows good range in the field with a quick release.  Throws from a high ¾ arm slot with accuracy.  Arm velocity was 81 MPH.  On the mound he stand tall and shows good balance.  Delivery is in-line with the plate and arm is at a high ¾ slot.  Fastball touched 84 MPH with good command away.  He added a 65 MPH curve with sweeping break and a 70 MPH change.  Identified as the best two-way talent 2017 at this event.

Jake Eissler, ThunderRidge High School (2016)
A 6-foot-2, 210-pound right hand hitting RHP/3B.  Balanced at the plate with little wasted movement.  Swing path is slightly uphill creating a ball with good carry.  Good extension out front at contact and strong lower leg drive creates an exit velocity of 93 MPH.  In the field he is athletic and moves well to the ball.  He shows good actions and transfer and delivers from along over the top arm slot.  He showcased a 93 MPH arm with accuracy.  Identified as the best prospect 2016 at this event.

Conner Nantkes, Cherokee Trail High School (2017)
A 6-foot-2, 180-pound left hand hitting 1B/LHP who ran a 7.30 60.  Balanced at the plate with a quick stride and load.  Weight transfers forward on the swing and he shows good extension out front.  Swing stays level and he lives in the gaps.  Showcased a 92 MPH exit velocity.  Athletic in the field at first base with good feet and instincts.  He moves well on balls to his glove side and delivers from a high ¾ arm angle.  He showcased an accurate 82 MPH arm across the diamond.  On the mound he starts slightly closed and gets good balance and drive to the plate.  He lands in-line with the plate and falls off to the third base side on his finish.  He throws from a high ¾ arm slot and features an 85 MPH fastball with slight tail and a 70 MPH curve with sharp break.  He finished his showcase with a 74 MPH change that moves into the right hand hitter.  Identified as the best two way talent 2017 at this event.

Ryan Sullivan, Cherokee Trail High School (2016)
A 6-foot-6, 220-pound right hand hitting 1B/RHP who ran a 7.56 60.  Tall and athletic at the plate.  Hits from a balanced stance with a short stride and quick hand load.  Gets good extension through the zone and shows good pull power.  Lower half drives through the zone and he hits off a firm front side.  He showcased a 100 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he shows good range in the hole and a quick transfer when turning a double play.  He throws from a high ¾ arm slot and delivered a 77 MPH ball across the diamond.  Identified with the most raw power 2016 at this event.

Best of the Rest: (Listed Alphabetically)

Austin Chouinard, Regis Jesuit High School (2017)
A 6-foot-0, 190-pound right hand hitting 3B/SS who ran a 7.88 60.  Narrow set up at the plate with a long stride and load back on the pitch.  Gets his lower half working through the pitch with good extension out front at contact.  Showcased a 93 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he shows good range and above average hands.  Throws well on the run. He has a quick exchange and delivers an 85 MPH accurate ball across the diamond. He shows good actions. Needs to increase speed if he can.

Russell Cruz, Columbine High School (2017)
A 6-foot-0, 190-pound right hand hitting 3B/C who ran a 7.38 60.  Balanced at the plate with a load back on the pitch.  Short stride gets weight moving forward and hands come level through the zone.  Good extension at contact creates a 91 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he gets to balls quickly in the hole.  Has a long over the top arm motion and was accurate across the diamond with a 76 MPH ball.  Behind the plate he is quiet with soft hands while receiving.  He had pop-times of 2.00-2.02 with some accuracy to the bag. 

Jimmy Guckenberger, Cherry Creek High School (2017)
A 6-foot-1, 190-pound right hand hitting 3B/Of/RHP who ran a 7.43 60.  Balanced at the plate with hands high at set up.  Swing path is slightly uphill with good gap-to-gap power.  Strong lower half with good drive and rotation at contact.  He showcased an 86 MPH exit velocity.  In the field we saw him in the outfield and at third base.  He shows good actions on defense and gets himself into good throwing position.  He delivers from a high ¾ arm slot and had an arm velocity of 82 MPH.  On the mound he starts tall and gets to balance.  He lands in-line with the plate but gets stuck on his backside.  He delivers from a high ¾ arm slot and showcased a 77 MPH fastball and added a 65 MPH curve with sweeping break and a 68 MPH change. 

Cody Kohl, ThunderRidge High School (2017)
A 5-foot-11, 167-pound right hand hitting 3B/RHP who ran a 7.46 60.  Tall and balanced stance at the plate with a short stride and hands that drop slightly on the load.  Swing path is uphill creating a ball with good carry.  Shows good power to the pull side and showcased an 81 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he shows good movement and soft hands, he delivers from a high ¾ arm slot and has an accurate 79 MPH arm.  On the mound he is balanced and compact in the wind up.  He lands in-line with the plate and gets good extension on his release.  Follow through is straight to the plate.  Fastball touches 85 MPH with good command inside and out.  He also features a 66 MPH curve with sharp 11/5 break and a 73 MPH change down in the zone. 

Gonzalo Luevano, Rangeview High School (2017)
A 6-foot-0, 230-pound 1B/RHP who ran a 8.12 60.  Balanced at the plate with a high leg kick for timing.  Hits against a firm front side with good lower leg drive on the swing.  Swing path is slightly uphill and long through the zone.  He showcased a 92 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he moves well and covers balls in the hole.  He showed good feet and a quick release turning a double play ball.  His arm velocity was 73 MPH across the diamond.  On the mound he stands closed and continues through balance.  He lands in-line with the plate and delivers from an over the top slot.  Falls off slightly to the first base side after delivery.  He featured a 72 MPH fast ball along with a 61 MPH curve with sweeping break and a 69 MPH change down in the zone. 

Ashton Mansur, Columbine High School (2017)
A 6-foot-2, 240-pound right hand hitting 1B/RHP who ran 8.07 60.  Balanced at the plate with a short stride for timing.  Hands load back slightly and swing path is level to the ball.  Good extension at contact and a strong lower body produced an 82 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he shows good movement and anticipation on ground balls.  He showed good feet and transfer on the double play ball and showcased a 79 MPH arm.  On the mound he stands tall and comes forward to start his motion.  Good balance and drive to the plate.  He lands in-line with the plate on his delivery and stays square through the pitch.  Fastball touched 80 MPH and he added a 67 MPH curve with 11/5 break and a 71 MPH change.

Mogan McIntosh, Highlands Ranch High School (2017)
A 5-foot-9, 190-pound left hand hitting 2B/3B who ran a 7,41 60.  Starts open at the plate with a slight leg kick to come square.  Hands load back and drop slightly.  Swing path is uphill with good power to the right center gap.  Good lower leg drive and rotation produced a 91 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he has soft hands and good feet.  He showed well at 3B and we have seen him up the middle.  He has a good transfer to the throwing window and delivers from a high ¾ arm slot.  Arm velocity was 85 MPH with accuracy.  Identified with the best hitting approach 2017 at this event. 

Nick Perez, Cherokee Trail High School (2017)
A 5-foot-10, 215-pound left hand hitting 3B who ran a 7.54 60.  Starts crouched at the plate with a double toe tap on the pitch.  Max effort swing with a good strong lower half coming through the zone.  He does a nice job of getting extension out front and finishes on his front side.  He showcased a 90 MPH exit velocity.  Solid at third base with good feet and quick hands when getting rid of the ball.  He showcased an accurate 75 MPH arm from a high ¾ arm slot. 

Zane Phelps, Bayfield High School (2016)
A 6-foot-3, 195-pound right hand hitting3B/RHP. Phelps who was fighting an ankle sprain still showed well at this showcase.  Balanced at the plate with a slight leg kick for timing.  Firm foundation and hits against a solid front side. Hands travel slightly upward through the zone creating a ball with good carry.  He had a 91 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he is smooth and comfortable at third base. He shows good instincts and soft hands.  He delivers an accurate 80 MPH ball from a high ¾ arm slot.  Identified with the best swing 2016 at this event.

Danny Prickett, Brighton High School (2016)
A 5-foot-8, 200-pound right hand hitting 3B/C who ran a 7.75 60.  Narrow and slightly open at the plate with a leg kick and log stride to come square.  Hands drop slightly on load and swing path is uphill.  He shows good power to the pull side.  He had an 85 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he moves well to the backhand side.  He had soft hands and gets to the throwing window quickly.  He shows good feet and delivers an accurate 85 MPH ball across the diamond.

Joey Rembisz, Legend High School (2017)
A 6-foot-3, 200-pound right hand hitting 1B/OF who ran a 7.90 60.  Stands tall and balanced at the plate with a short stride and slight load on the pitch.  Swing is long and uphill through the zone with a high finish.  Good lower half has him hitting on a firm front side.  He showcased a 90 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he is athletic and covers good ground.  Smooth actions and a fluid throwing motion from an over the top slot produced an accurate 79 MPH ball.  He showed good presence when turning two and covering the bag. 

Nate Semmler, Chatfield High School (2017)
A 6-foot-0, 165-pound right hand hitting 1B/3B who ran a 7.71 60.  Balanced at the plate with a long stride and quick load of his hands back.  Hands travel through the zone level and he showed good power to the left-center gap.  Good extension at contact and good lower leg drive on the swing produced an 82 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he shows good instincts and covers good ground.  He stays square through the ball and delivers from a high ¾ arm slot.  Arm Velocity was 76 MPH across the diamond.  He moves well off the bag and delivers an accurate ball to second base.

Jaime Tarango, Regis Jesuit High School (2017)
A 6-foot-2, 248-pound right hand hitting 1B/RHP who ran a 8.20 60.  Narrow set up at the plate with a long stride on the pitch.  Weight transfers to the front side on the swing and backside collapses at contact.  Good extension out front produced an 85 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he shows good hands and actions on balls hit at him.  He has a quick transfer on the double play ball and is accurate to the bag.  He throws from a ¾ arm slot and showcased a 75 MPH arm velocity.

Luke Vargas, Prairie View High School (2017)
A 5-foot-8, 180-pound right hand hitting 3B/2B who ran a 7.63 60.  Balanced and crouched at the plate, long stride and load back on the pitch.  Swing path is level through the zone and he shows good power to the pull side.  Lower half drives through the zone and produced an 88 MPH exit velocity.  In the field he showed good glove work on balls at him and in the hole.  He has a quick transfer and delivers a 72 MPH ball with accuracy across the diamond.

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