Prep Baseball Report

2019 Southern Academic Games: Infielder Analysis


Matt Payne
Associate Scout, PBR North Carolina

The 2nd annual Southern Academic Games was held at Wilson Field on the campus of Davidson College on Tuesday June 18th.  Close to 40 players, representing four states participated.  Each player was vetted academically and athletically before being invited.  With close to 10 colleges in attendance throughout the day, players went through a full workout and played in an eleven inning controlled scrimmage.

During the workout phase of the day, players were able to showcase themselves offensively and defensively.  Position players had their exit velocity measured in the cage area, prior to taking multiple rounds of BP in front of evaluators.  During the defensive portion, players were able to workout from their defensive position, fielding live ground balls, allowing evaluators to get a feel for athleticism and projection.  Pitchers were evaluated in live situations, throwing against hitters.

Our final group to evaluate are the infielders.  The infield group includes 8 players that posted an exit velocity of 90 mph or higher.  Below are complete evaluations with stats, as well as links to player video, by clicking on the player's name.

To see the full statistical breakdown from the Southern Academic Games, CLICK HERE.

 

2019 Southern Academic Games: Infielder Analysis

 

 

Michael Boyian 3B / RHP / Salisbury, CT / 2020

 

5 foot 11, 165-pound athletic, projectable build.  Relaxed, athletic setup from the right side of the plate. Smooth load with the hands getting ready to attack. Fluid stroke, with a short path to the ball, keeping his barrel in the zone.  Drove balls gap to gap during batting practice with above average bat speed. Exit velocity recorded at 90 mph. Plays with rhythm on the dirt. Above average hands with fluid, athletic actions,  Funnels to the midsection after catch using different arm slots. Accurate arm across the diamond with some carry

Slow tempo to his delivery on the mound starting with a small side step going into his leg lift that works up to his chest.  In line to the plate with a closed toe landing. Loose, clean arm stroke, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Gets some down angle on his fastball with arm side run working mostly at 82-84 mph, topping at 85 mph.  Breaking ball is tight with sharp break at times, with 11/5 tilt at 71-72 mph. Lands his breaking ball for a strike and expands the zone with it. Overall, a strike thrower who should see his velocity jump in the future. 


Koby Dunn RHP / C / George Walton, GA / 2020


6 foot, 165-pound lanky frame.  Starts on the mound with a rocker step going into his leg kick that works up to the top of his chest.  Starts with his hands around his head and keeps them there until he breaks from the glove. Reaches down out of the glove, slightly across his body to the plate, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Fastball ranged from 79-82 mph, sitting mostly at 81-82 mph. Keeps his fastball down in the zone with arm side run. Feel for his breaking ball with 12/6 action and gradual break at 66-67 mph.  Flashed a changeup down in the zone with sink at 73 mph.
Hits from the right side using a relaxed, balanced setup.  Weight and hands work back during his load with a short stride.  Barrel works level through the zone getting long and around at times.  Looks to use the whole field during batting practice. Fluid feet on the infield with average hands.  Some rhythm through catch funneling to the midsection after catch. Accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 77 mph.

 

 

Oliver Zohn 2B / SS / South Garner, NC / 2021

 

5 foot 5, 130-pound build with room for maturation.  Hits from the left side with an upright, slightly open setup.  Fluid load with a small leg kick. Uses the whole field with a gap to gap approach.  Barrel works level through the zone with average bat speed. Showed advanced barrel awareness during game action making hard contact to both sides of the field.  Exit velocity recorded at 84 mph. Stood out defensively on the infield. Hands and feet work in sync. Above average hands with an accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 78 mph.  Recorded a 7.42 in the 60,


 

 

Bailey Faircloth SS / RHP / Mooresville, NC / 2022

 

5 foot 9, 135-pound young frame with room for maturation ahead.  Sets up balanced from the right side of the plate. Hands work slightly back during his load creating some bat angle above his head with a short stride.  Barrel works level through the zone, with the swing getting long at times. Looks to use the whole field with a gap to gap approach. Inconsistent timing affects his feel for the barrel.  Exit velocity recorded at 74 mph. Plays through balls on the infield with fluid feet and better than average hands. Funnels to the midsection after catch and gets the ball in the air quickly to first base using different slots.  Accurate arm that topped at 73 mph to first base. Recorded a 7.98 in the 60.  

Starts on the mound with a small side step going into a tucked leg lift that works up to the top of his chest. Some hip and shoulder turn at the balance point.  Works slightly across his body to the plate with an open toe landing. Long arm action, throwing from a ¾ slot. Fastball ranged from 69-74 mph, sitting mostly at 70-72 mph.  Gets some fun on the fastball that stayed around the zone. Curveball has depth with 11/5 shape and gradual break at 56-59 mph Landed his curveball for strikes and stayed around the plate throughout his outing.


 

 

Nathan Samii 3B / RHP / Charlotte Latin , NC / 2021


5 foot 9, 160-pound athletic build.  Hits from the right side using a slightly open setup with his hands starting in front of his chest.  Works back during his load getting his feet back in line. Hands work up and back with his barrel cocking, creating bat angle.  Line drive approach, with his barrel working short to the ball, working gap to gap. Drove some balls to left center field during batting practice with strength in his swing.  Average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 94 mph. Fluid feet on the infield with average hands. Sweeps to the right hip after catch with a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 73 mph. Recorded a 7.49 in the 60 and 4.63 home to first during game action.

 

 

Cade Miller SS / RHP / Alexander Central / Alexander Early College, NC / 2022

 

5 foot 10, 165-pound average build with room to add strength.  Hits from the right side with a balanced setup with his hands starting by his back shoulder with a higher back elbow.  Short stride during his load. Barrel works down to the ball with a short swing path and some quickness to his hands. Works mostly middle to his pull side, squaring some balls up to left center field.  Average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 81 mph. Plays through balls in the outfield, using a two hand catch, with a longer exchange, getting momentum into his throws. Long arm action, throwing from an over the top slot with carry to his throws.  Some accuracy to the plate with his arm topping at 87 mph. Active feet on the dirt, fighting to get the hands and feet in sync. Carry to his throws across the diamond, topping at 81 mph with some feel for the bag. Recorded an 8.01 in the 60.

Starts on the mound with a small side step with a tucked leg kick working up to the bottom of his chest.  Kicks out to the plate, working slightly across his body with a square toe landing. Higher lead arm after break with some jump to the plate in the lower half, throwing from an over the top slot.  Stayed around the zone with his fastball ranging from 78-82 mph. Breaking ball is tight with 11/5 shape at 64-65 mph. Threw last during game action after playing in the field so the velocity should tick up when fresh. 


 

 

Jack Fortin LHP / 1B / South Iredell, NC / 2020


5 foot 10, 197-pound strong build.  Offensively he works from the left side with a balanced setup with some barrel waggle.  Weight and hands work back during the load with some inconsistency in where the barrel gets at foot plant.  Looks to get his swing off with better than average bat speed and strength in the swing. Gets extension through the zone driving the ball gap to gap, with some lift in the swing.  Exit velocity recorded at 93 mph. Above average hands at first base, playing with rhythm off the bag. Fluid feet with quick transfers and some accuracy to the arm, topping at 73 mph.  Recorded a 7.60 in the 60.

 

 

Clay Minor SS / OF / Northern Guilford , NC / 2021

 

6 foot 1, 160-pound athletic build.  Balanced setup from the right side of the plate.  Small leg kick during his load with his hands working back.  Fluid swing with loose hands. Some uphill leverage in the bat path, getting long at times.  Gets extension out front with strength to his pull side when on the barrel. Above average bat speed with his exit velocity recorded at 91 mph.  Works through the ball in the outfield with fluid feet and average hands. Longer exchange, with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Some accuracy to his throws that topped at 83 mph.  Average hands on the infield with fluid feet and some rhythm through catch. Gets the ball out quick to first base with some carry on his throws to first base that topped at 77 mph. Recorded a 6.96 in the 60 and a 4.56 home to first in game action.


 

 

 

Jackson Bowman 2B / SS / Wesleyan Christian , NC / 2020


5 foot 9, 168-pound strong build.  Hits from the right side with a relaxed, athletic setup.  Small leg kick during his load with his hands getting back, ready to attack the ball.  Looks to get his swing off with aggression. Fluid swing and gets his legs through the ball.  Works gap to gap with his barrel working level through the zone, getting extension out front. Drives balls with better than average barrel awareness and bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 94 mph. Average hands, working through balls in the outfield, slowing some through catch. Some carry to his throws from an over the top slot that topped at 83 mph.  Average hands on the infield with flashes of rhythm at times. Funnels to the midsection after catch, with clean exchanges and an accurate arm across the diamond that topped at 79 mph. Recorded a 7.23 in the 60.

 

 

 


Kyle Keller 1B / LHP / Marvin Ridge, NC / 2020

 

6 foot 2, 173-pound lanky build.  Right hand hitter uses a tall, open setup.  Medium length stride into the ball with quiet hands.  Stays mostly short to the ball with a line drive approach, working gap to gap.  Some feel for the barrel with average bat speed. Exit velocity recorded at 88 mph.  Some feel around the first base bag with some stiffness at the catch point. Accurate arm on the infield that topped at 65 mph.  Recorded a 7.70 in the 60.  

Stands slanted on the rubber, starting with a small side step going into his leg lift that works up to the top of his chest.  Drops and drives to the plate with some funk in the delivery. In line to the plate with a closed toe landing. Long arm action, throwing from a ¾ slot.  Threw all fastballs during his outing. Fastball ranged from 71-74 mph with run and sink. Keeps his fastball down in the zone, locating to his arm side and throwing nothing straight.  Stayed in the zone throughout his outing.