Midland Swarm Scout Day - Standouts
May 21, 2019
The Midland Swarm Scout Day took place on Saturday, May 14th. The event featured over 50+ prospects from the 2022-2024 classes. Last week we started the event analysis with a stat story. Today, we will look at 15 standout prospects from the event, by class.
Standouts
Joseph Benigno, OF, Wiregrass Ranch, 20225-foot-10, 140-pound athletically built left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing outfielder. Ran the top laser-timed 60 on the day at 6.88 seconds. Defensively, arm works long from a ¾ slot, drawing the ball fully back, 73 mph from the outfield. Natural feel for position, plays through the ball with fluid footwork and clean exchanges. Offensively, balanced setup, hands start high loading back, short leg lift stride, maintains good balance through contact. Line drive type hitter with pull tendency, barrel works level through the zone with some bat speed, 79 mph exit velocity off a tee.
Skyler Keesee, RHP/1B, Alonso, 2022
6-foot-1, 175-pound two-way prospect, strong build. On the mound, works out of a high ¾ slot with a long circular arm action on the back-side, good balance, pitches with easy effort. Drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands open spinning off towards first. Fastball sat 76-79 with tilt, controlled. Curveball, 12/6 shape, tight action at times, 63-66. Changeup, near fast arm speed, flashed sink and fade, 65-69. Offensively, sets up with front foot slightly closed, short toe-tap stride, hands load back smoothly, good rhythm. Power hitter, pull-side tendency, flashed extension in barrel path, 85 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, arm worked long from a high ¾ slot, accurate on throws to the plate with some carry, 82 mph. Ran a 7.81 laser-timed 60.
Julian Montes, SS/RHP, Cambridge Christian, 2022
5-foot-8, 160-pound switch-hitting shortstop and right-handed pitcher, athletic frame. Offensively, open setup from both sides with a more extreme set from the left-side, bat starts on shoulder, hands load to bring barrel vertical, short stride, maintains good balance. Takes a line drive approach, barrel works level, smooth rhythm, 81 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.77 laser-timed 60. Defensively, fields position athletically with fluid footwork and clean exchanges. Arm works short from an over-the-top slot, kept throws around the bag at 71 mph. On the mound has a long, clean arm action out of a high ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery with smooth, methodical rhythm. Fastball played at 71-73. Curveball showed depth with 12/6 shape, 61-63. Changeup, fastball arm speed, flashed fade, 67-68.
JuanCarlos Morales-Vega, UTL, Steinbrenner, 2022
5-10, 155-pound right-handed utility player, long, athletic frame. Defensively, worked out at all positions. Highly athletic and versatile prospect, arm works short and loose from a ¾ slot, accurate on most throws with carry, up to 87 mph from the outfield, 77 on infielder, 76 behind the dish. Fields positions athletically, with fluid actions, clean on exchanges, pop times ranged 2.00-2.08. On the mound, short, loose arm action out of a ¾ slot, works on-line, landing square with an athletic finish. Fastball plated with some run, 79-81. Curveball, late sweeping action at-times, 64-68. Changeup, maintains arm speed, feel for, fade action, controlled, 67-71. Ran a 7.22 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced setup, high hands, long stride, maintains balance, line drive type hitter, developing gap-to-gap with power, 79 mph exit velocity.
Isaiah Myles, RHP, Alonso, 2022
5-foot-7, 130-pound, two-way prospect, athletically built. On the mound, tall and fall delivery, smooth rhythm, begins delivery with a slow pace and speeds up, works on-line, lands open, finishes crossing over towards first. Short, loose arm action from a high ¾ slot, arm turns over quickly. Fastball sat 76-79. Slider, 11/5 shape, throws aggressively, 66-70. Changeup, armside run, controlled, 71-74.
Taylor Burdon, UTL, Winter Haven, 2023
5-foot-7, 135-pound multi-position prospect, right-handed, athletic build. Defensively, arm worked long and loose from a high ¾ slot, kept throws from all position around the bag with some carry, 77 from outfield, 75 infield, 73 catcher. Athletic fielder, showed good hands with fluid footwork, pop times ranged 2.36-2.44. Ran a 7.44 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced setup, reverse toe-tap stride, hands load up. Line drive hitter, barrel works level through the zone, worked middle-pull, 76 mph exit velocity off a tee.
Joseph Fritz, OF/RHP, Jefferson, 2023
5-foot-11, 140-pound right-handed pitcher and outfielder, athletically built, lanky projectable frame. On the mound, short, clean arm action out of a high ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery, smooth rhythm, works on-line, lands square, finishes crossing over. Fastball sat 71-74 with tilt. Curveball, 11/5 shape, depth and feel, 59-61. Changeup, sinking action, 61-64. Offensively, open setup, leg kicking timing trigger, good balance. Quick hands, looks to pull the ball, uphill barrel path, 79 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.58 laser-timed 60. Defensively, long arm action, high ¾ slot, plays through the ball, 73 mph from the outfield.
Carl Furr, RHP/OF, Gaither, 2023
5-foot-11, 145-pound, lanky, athletic build, right-handed pitcher and outfielder. On the mound, short arm action, over-the-top slot, repeats with easy effort. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes crossing over with recoil. Fastball played firmly, sat 74-76. Curveball, 11/5 shape, 53-56. Changeup, fade action, controlled, 60-62. Ran a 7.71 laser-timed 60. Offensively, tall, narrow setup, long stride, hands load back, some coil of upper half. Swing aggressively, quick hand speed, uphill barrel path, developing gap-to-gap type hitter with pull-side power, 80 mph exit velocity. Defensively, short arm action, high ¾ slot, some carry, 74 mph.
Tyler Howald, C, Lakewood Ranch, 2023
5-foot-10, 135-pound switch-hitting catcher, long, lanky frame, projectable build. Offensively, has a similar setup from left and right sides of the plate, balanced, short stride, high hands load back and down, maintains good balance. Showed the ability to pull the ball with force from both sides, flashed extension on some swings, good rhythm, 82 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, traditional catchers arm action, short and over-the-top, accurately played the run on throws, 67 mph out of the crouch, fluid footwork, clean on exchanges, pop times ranged 2.18-2.31. Ran a 7.84 laser-timed 60.
Sam Mummau, SS/OF, Palm Harbor, 2023
5-foot-10, 150-pound right-handed hitting shortstop and outfielder, athletic build, strong lower half. Offensively, athletic crouching setup, loads back, reverse toe-tap stride. Gap-to-gap type hitter, flashed extension through the zone, fluid rhythm, 80 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, arm works long, loose from a ¾ slot, accurate with carry, 80 mph across the infield and from the outfield. Advanced defender on the infielder, quick, fluid footwork, soft hands, clean on exchanges. Ran a 7.50 laser-timed 60.
Zachary Redner, RHP/3B, Strawberry Crest, 2023
5-foot-9, 137-pound left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing two-way prospect, strong, athletic frame. On the mound, long arm action, clean on back-side, ¾ slot, easy effort. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes athletically. Fastball sat 73-76, touched 77. Curveball, 10/4 shape, sharp action to it, advanced for age, 63-65. Changeup, fastball arm speed, fade action, 65-67. Offensively, tall setup, long stride, hands load back, maintains balance. Power hitter, looks to drive the ball, 76 mph exit velocity. Defensively, long arm action, 3/4 slot, plays through the ball with fluid footwork and clean exchanges, 71 mph across the infield. Ran an 8.73 laser-timed 60.
Jacob Riegel, SS/RHP, Palm Harbor University, 2023
5-foot-10, 135-pound two-way prospect, long, athletic frame, projectable build. On the mound, low arm swing, loose arm action, low ¾ to sidearm slot, easy effort. Tall and fall delivery, smooth rhythm, works cross body, lands square, finishes in an athletic position. Fastball, running action, controlled, 77-79 mph. Curveball, 10/4 shape, sweeping action, 60-62. Changeup, fade action, controlled, 70-73. Defensively utilizes a low ¾ slot from all positions. Showed fluid footwork and quick/clean exchanges, fields multiple positions athletically, 79 mph across infield, 78 mph from outfield, 71 mph out of the crouch, pop times ranged 2.12-2.24 seconds. Offensively, open setup, long stride, hands load back, fluid rhythm. Gap-to-gap type hitter with developing power to all fields, 82 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.41 laser-timed 60.
Elijah Vickers, SS/3B, Brandon, 2023
Listed at 5-foot-4, 130-pounds but is taller and stronger presently. Right-handed hitting infielder, athletic build. Offensively, balanced setup, hands load back deep into stance, short stride, maintains balance. Pull hitter, looks to drive the ball, aggressive, projects to hit for power to pull-side, fluid rhythm, 82 mph exit velocity. Defensively, arm works long and loose, high ¾ slot, throws carried, 76 mph. Fields position athletically with soft hands, quick, fluid footwork, clean on exchanges. Ran a 7.54 laser-timed 60.
Ethan Burkhardt, UTL, Bishop McLaughlin, 2024
5-foot-6, 150-pound right-handed hitting utility player, strong frame. On the mound, short, clean arm action, high ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes crossing over. Fastball sat 70-72, touched 73. Curveball, 12/6 action, feel for, 59-60. Changeup, fade action, feel, 66-68. Defensively, worked out at multiple positions. Plays through the ball with fluid footwork, clean on exchanges, pop times ranged 2.44-2.60. Arm worked short from high ¾, kept throws on target, 71 from outfield, 69 infield, 64 catcher. Ran an 8.59 laser-timed 60.
Tanner Swank, SS, Plant, 2024
5-foot-7, 131-pound athletically built right-handed hitting shortstop. Offensively, open setup, shallow knee knock stride, smooth load back, maintains good balance. Line drive type hitter flashed power to the pull-side, gap-to-gap potential, fluid rhythm, 72 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, fields position athletically soft hands, quick, fluid footwork, clean on exchanges. Arm played short and loose from a high ¾ slot, 72 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.99 laser-timed 60.