Prep Baseball Report

IA Underclass Prospect Games: Infield Evaluations



By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Iowa

Prep Baseball Report's IA Underclass Prospect Games event took place on Monday, July 31, 2017. The event was held at Duane Banks Field on the campus of the University of Iowa. The event featured prospects from the 2019, 2020 and 2021 grad classes. 

There were a number of great individual performances this year at the IA Underclass Prospect Games

CLICK HERE TO VIEW COMPLETE STATISTICS IN PDF FORMAT.

Below we have listed the evaluations for all the infielders in attendance at event. The group had an abundance of corner infielders who showed above avg. present strength with pop in the bat. Standing out in the event was the play of 2021 Aaron Downs, SS/RHP, from Pella HS. Downs is an athletic underclassman with advanced actions in the field, strength at the plate, and above avg. running ability.

 

Aaron Downs

Class of 2021 / 3B

Player Information

  • Graduating Class: 2021
  • Primary Position: 3B
    Secondary Position: OF
  • High School: Heritage Academy
    State: MS
  • Summer Team: East Coast Sox
  • Height: 5-11
    Weight: 205lbs
  • Bat/Throw: R/R

Statistics

Pitching
83
Max FB
81 - 83
FB
65 - 66
CB
73 - 74
CH
Position
6.58
60-yard
87
INF Velo
97
Exit Velo
4.21
H-1st
Position
INF Velo
83
Exit Velo
96
Position
60-yard
6.71
INF Velo
77
Exit Velo
93

 

At the end of the week we will release our list of the Top Prospects from the event regardless of position.


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infield EVALS (ALPHAbetical)

Cory Anderson, SS/RHP, Wilton, 2019
5-foot-9, 145-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 4.57 home-to-first time. Athletic stance, average balance through swing, slight arm bar in load, out and around at contact, barrels ball consistently, pull approach with flat path producing line drives, 79 mph exit velocity. Solid athleticism, late glove presentation, winds up to throw, has arm strength and accuracy to bag, 81 mph arm across infield.

Cole Arduser, SS/RHP, Solon, 2020
6-foot, 160-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 4.72 home-to-first time. Square spread stance, choppy hand rhythm, flashes pop in bat, pull side contact, with back spin and carry, 74 mph exit velocity. Avg. hands and feet, works through ball, accurate to bag, 76 mph arm strength across infield.

Adam Brauch, SS, Dowling Catholic, 2020
5-foot-11, 155-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 4.76 home-to-first. Crouched stance, stands up through contact, solid contact to middle/oppo side of field, 84 mph exit velocity. Slight pie arm action, accurate to bag, average hands and feet, tends to sit back on ball, 77 mph arm across infield.

Nick Buttolph, 1B, WDM Valley, 2020
6-foot-2, 230-pound right-handed hitting first baseman. 4.76 runner. Present strength, crouched stance, hitchy leg kick trigger, mid/pull approach, flashes of pop in bat, 89 mph exit velocity. Avg./solid hands, active around bag, sound receiver at first, 74 mph arm across field.

Grant Christy, 3B/RHP, Des Moines Christian, 2019
6-foot-1, 165-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 4.97 home-to-first time. Tall stance, high hand load, some length to contact, flashes pop in bat, hard line drive contact, mid/pull approach, 85 mph exit velocity. Solid athleticism in field, flashes actions, soft hands with appropriate footwork, solid actions in field, 75 mph arm across infield.

Aaron Downs, 2B/RHP, Pella, 2021
5-foot-11, 170-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. One of top performers at event. Athletic build with room to grow. Shows above avg. wiry strength for age. 4.21 home-to-first time. Consistent loud contact during BP; one hopping both walls in the gaps, above avg. bat speed, had multiple hits during game action, 94 mph exit velocity. Fields low to ground with soft hands and above avg. footwork, funnels underneath occasionally, well above avg. actions, short arm action with carry to bag, 75 mph arm strength across infield. One of top 2021 grads in the state of Iowa.

Tyler Elliott, 2B, Mount Vernon, 2019
5-foot-9, 150-pound right-handed hitting second baseman. 4.9 home-to-first. Tall stance, heavy body load, inverted swing plane, consistently barrels ball, mid/away approach, line drive and ground ball contact, 80 mph exit velocity. Easy arm action from OT slot, stiffer actions in field, accurate to bag, 75 mph arm across infield.

Reed Fehseke, 3B, Holy Trinity, 2020
5-foot-9, 170-pound right-handed hitting third baseman. 4.92 home-to-first time. Hitchy load, knee to knee trigger, line drive swing plane, avg. pop in bat with spray contact, gap to gap approach, 79 mph exit velocity. Hands are sure, avg. footwork, fields with flat glove, tall fielding position, quick release, accurate to bag, 72 mph arm across infield.

Cameron Gallt, SS, Ames, 2020
5-foot-5, 120-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 4.68 home-to-first time. Tall stance, body load, compact swing, stays to short to contact, mid/oppo approach with consistent line drives, 74 mph exit velocity. Works down to up in field, plays slightly flat footed, shows sure hands, solid accuracy to bag, 68 mph arm strength across infield.

Keaton Gray, SS, Ankeny Centennial, 2020
6-foot, 160-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 4.46 home-to-first time. Active hand load, inconsistent lower half, flashed solid contact to pull side, line drive swing plane, 75 mph exit velocity. Decent athlete in field, solid footwork, tends to field underneath body, accurate to bag, solid arm action, 76 mph arm across infield.

Blake Grevengoed, SS/RHP, WDM Valley, 2019
6-foot, 160-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 4.75 home-to-first time. Body load, pre-set hands, simple line drive swing plane, fly ball contact, shows extension through baseball, gap to gap approach, 82 mph exit velocity. Fields out front, shows angles and works through ball, sure hands, long arm action, accurate to bag, 78 mph arm strength across infield.

Andrue Henry, 3B/RHP, Dubuque Senior, 2020
6-foot-3, 200-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 5.53 home-to-first time. Above avg. ability to hit, multi- extra base hits during game action, Square stance, shows rhythm with easy leg kick trigger, deeper load, has extension through contact, consistent solid contact to gaps, 89 mph exit velocity. Shows solid hands and feet in field, sure glove, plays on balls of feet and moves through ball well, clean arm action, accuracy and carry to bag, 79 mph arm strength across field. Strong follow in 2020 class with bat.

Jake Hull, RHP/3B, Grinnell, 2020
6-foot-2, 175-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 4.65 runner. Tall stance, present strength, slight shoulder load, hard contact to mid/pull side of field, line drive and fly balls off bat, 82 mph exit velocity. Aggressive fielder, confident with glove, solid/avg. actions, solid athlete, accurate throws to bag, 73 mph arm across infield.

Reese Jamison, SS, Woodward-Granger, 2020
6-foot-1, 175-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 4.77 runner. Open stance, relatively simple swing, flashed loud contact off bat, repeatable line drive swing plane, consistent line drives gap to gap, 87 mph exit velocity. Raw fielding mechanics, heavier feet, solid glove, winds up to throw, avg. accuracy to bag, 74 mph arm strength across infield.

Cooper Johnson, 3B/RHP, WDM Valley, 2019
6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 5.13 runner. Taller athletic build, solid present strength, line drive swing plane, barrel exits zone early, spin tendencies, flashed hard contact to middle of field, 79 mph exit velocity. Solid pre-pitch footwork, tends to sit back on balls, sure hands, long arm action, avg. accuracy to bag, 79 mph arm strength across.

Cole Kaufman, LHP/1B, Waukee, 2019
5-foot-10, 180-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. 4.88 runner. Tall stance, body load, short path through zone, lift in swing plane, pull approach, spray contact, 81 mph exit velocity. Soft hands in field, solid footwork, comfortable around bag, sound receiver at first, 78 mph arm across infield.

Will Kranz, SS, Davenport Central, 2019
5-foot-7, 145-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 4.99 home-to-first time. Balanced stance, leg kick trigger with shoulder load, hitchy swing, solid barrel contact, pull approach, 82 mph exit velocity. Solid glove, active feet, shows quick release from multiple slots, avg. accuracy to bag, 74 mph arm across infield.

Sam Link, SS, Dubuque Senior, 2019
6-foot, 163-pound right-hand hitting shortstop. 4.5 home-to-first time. Tall athletic stance, loads well- slight hitch in trigger, balanced swing, flashes pop in bat, consistent hard line drive contact, mid/pull approach, 83 mph exit velocity. Sure hands in field, solid actions, moves slightly flat footed, solid athleticism, short arm action with accuracy and carry to bag, 80 mph arm across field.

Nate McCombs, LHP/1B, Treynor, 2020
6-foot-3, 195-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. 5.14 runner. Square stance, leg kick trigger, short to contact, flare oppo contact, flashed occasional hard contact to gaps, some stiffness in swing, 84 mph exit velocity. Sure hands, light on feet, comfortable around bag, solid receiver, 72 mph arm across infield.

Logan McCoy, SS, Alta-Aurelia, 2020
6-foot, 162-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 4.76 home-to-first. Square stance, leg kick load, inconsistent trigger with hand load, occasional hard contact to mid/pull side of field, 83 mph exit velocity. Short clean arm action, average actions, raw mechanics but shows athleticism, arm plays with accuracy and carry to bag, 77 mph arm across infield.

Collin McCrabb, RHP/3B, Wilton, 2019
5-foot-11, 185-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 4.71 home-to-first time. Present strength in compact frame, body load, short to contact, above avg. pop in bat, hard contact to mid/pull side of field, 92 mph exit velocity. Average footwork, works through ball, sure hands, follows throws across, short arm action, accuracy and carry to bag, 79 mph arm strength across infield.

Sam McCune, LHP/1B, WDM Valley, 2019
6-foot-4, 225-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 4.69 runner. Present strength, leg kick trigger, lower hand slot, middle/pull approach, hard pull contact, shows extension through baseball with lift, 91 mph exit velocity. Works down to up, sure hands, avg. footwork around bag, sound receiver, above avg. arm strength for first base, 83 mph arm across field.

Patrick McGinn, 2B, Cedar Rapids Xavier, 2019
5-foot-10, 145-pound left-handed hitting second baseman. 4.68 home-to-first. Pre-set hands with slight rhythm, easy body load, still head, repeats swing well, works gap to gap, 75 mph exit velocity. Solid athleticism, solid/avg. hands and feet, glides to ball, follows throws to bag, 74 mph arm across infield.

Wyatt Morgan, 3B, Pleasant Valley, 2019
5-foot-11, 200-pound left-handed hitting third baseman. 5.06 runner. Consistent hard contact, body load with leg kick trigger, flashes pop in bat, line drive and fly ball contact, pull side approach, 93 mph exit velocity. Works through ball with appropriate footwork, sure hands, throws have accuracy and carry to bag, average lateral range, 77 mph arm strength across infield.

Ethan Mortensen, RHP/SS, OA-BCIG, 2019
5-foot-8, 145-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 4.78 home-to-first time. Shows rhythm in load, line drive swing plane, avg. use of lower half, roll-over ground ball contact, flashed line drive contact to gaps, 82 mph exit velocity. Easy arm action with accuracy, tends to sit back on balls, avg. glove and feet, has solid athleticism, 76 mph arm across infield.

Alec Nigut, 1B/LHP, Des Moines Roosevelt, 2020
5-foot-9, 160-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. 5.01 home-to-first. Athletic stance, easy load, repeats swing well, minimal effort and repeats, consistent line drive contact to both gaps, 80 mph exit velocity. Works through ball, sure hands, comfortable around bag, solid receiver, 72 mph arm across field.

Alec Patino, 3B/RHP, Sioux City East, 2020
5-foot-11, 185-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. 4.76 home-to-first time. Fluid athletic swing, easy leg kick trigger, flashes pop in bat, mid/pull approach, occasional loud contact to gaps, 86 mph exit velocity. Clean arm action with carry to bag, solid actions, fields out front with soft hands, has above avg. actions, 81 mph arm across infield. Strong follow in 2020 class.

Evan Paulus, 3B, Mason City Newman, 2019
5-foot-10, 230-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 5.12 home-to-first time. Present strength, well above avg. bat speed, launch oriented swing, shows power from right-center gap to left field line, consistent loud fly ball contact, 91 mph exit velocity. Average footwork and range, tends to sit back on ball, hands are sure, throws show carry and accuracy to bag, 80 mph arm strength across infield.

Connor Reed, RHP/1B, Pekin, 2019
6-foot-1, 195-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 5.02 runner. Present strength, hitchy leg kick trigger, spray contact, line drive swing plane with lift through contact, 92 mph exit velocity. Solid athleticism at first, sure hands, solid footwork around bag, well above avg. arm strength for position, 85 mph arm across field.

Grant Rieker, SS, WDM Valley, 2020
6-foot-1, 165-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 4.62 runner. Square stance, knee to knee trigger, flat bat path, arm bar in load, avg. pop and contact to mid/pull side of field, 75 mph exit velocity. Shows solid footwork, avg. hands, longer arm action, accurate to bag on throws, 69 mph arm across infield.

Lincoln Riley, SS, Cedar Rapids Washington, 2019
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 4.4 runner to first. Multiple hits during game action. Tall stance, short stride, good balance in box, short repeatable swing, consistent solid contact to both gaps, line drive and hard ground ball contact, 81 mph exit velocity. Solid actions, sure hands, stops to field occasionally, creates direction to target, sound mechanics in field, 78 mph arm across infield with accuracy to bag. Strong follow in 2019 class.

Joel Sarver, RHP/SS, Champaign Central (IL), 2020
6-foot-1, 160-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 4.72 home-to-first. Solid athlete, body load, slight rhythm in hands, consistently barreled baseball, line drives to both gaps, flashes of solid pop in bat, 81 mph exit velocity. Has easy actions in field, solid footwork, hands work, follows throws, shows carry and accuracy to bag, 84 mph arm across infield.

Luke Schaben, 2B, Harlan, 2019
5-foot-9, 155-pound right-handed hitting second baseman. 4.77 home-to-first time. Open stance, rhythm in hands, avg. use of lower half, flashed hard contact to pull side, 78 mph exit velocity. Solid athleticism, sure hands, works through ball ball, accurate arm to bag, 76 mph arm across infield.

Bryce Schares, RHP/3B, Don Bosco, 2019
6-foot-2, 195-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. 5.28 runner. Physically advanced, open stance, high back elbow, lift in swing plane, uphill path through zone, covers middle/in, gap to gap approach, 84 mph exit velocity. Heavier feet, tends to sit back on ball, avg./sure hands, accurate arm, 75 mph arm strength across infield.

Caleb Stoltz, 2B, Van Buren, 2019
6-foot, 165-pound right-handed hitting second baseman. 4.7 home-to-first time. Pre-set hands, short stride, minimal rhythm in swing, slashy line drive swing plane, mid/away approach with ground ball contact, 80 mph exit velocity. Raw mechanics in field with average accuracy to bag from short arm action, 66 mph arm across infield.

Jared Townsend, LHP/1B, Wilton, 2019
6-foot, 215-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. 4.58 runner. Present strength, body load, produces above avg. bat speed from lower hand slot, lift in swing plane, shows power to pull side gap, flashes of loud hard contact, 92 mph exit velocity. Sure hands, solid around bag, sound receiver, well above avg. arm strength for first base, 85 mph arm across field.

Luke Turner, SS, Washington, 2020
5-foot-10, 180-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 4.75 home-to-first time. Pre-set hands and stride, swings with shoulders, present strength, pull approach, ground ball contact, inconsistent timing during BP, 80 mph exit velocity. Has accuracy and carry to bag, active feet, aggressive fielder, solid actions, sure/solid glove in field, 73 mph arm strength across infield.

Noah Van Vark, 3B, Pella, 2020
6-foot-1, 175-pound left-handed hitting third baseman. 4.73 runner. Square stance, body load, knee to knee trigger, stiffer lower half, solid contact oppo, line drive swing plane, 84 mph exit velocity. Heavier feet in field, sits back on balls, avg. footwork and hands, short arm action, 68 mph arm strength across infield.

Cody Wolfe, RHP/1B, Ballard, 2019
6-foot, 200-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 5.03 runner. Tall open stance, strides to square with knee to knee trigger, line drive swing plane, flashes occasional pop to mid/pull side of field, 80 mph exit velocity. Sure hands, accurate arm, average footwork around bag, solid receiver, 73 mph arm across infield.

Sam Young, RHP/SS, Dowling Catholic, 2019
6-foot-2, 188-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 4.72 runner. Square stance, front heel turn trigger, shoulder load, present strength, hard contact to middle of field, ability to drive ball to gaps, 85 mph exit velocity. Works through ball, sure hands, quick release, sure hands, tall fielding position, solid actions, 75 mph arm strength across infield.

Nate Zyzda, RHP/SS, Sioux City East, 2019
6-foot-2, 185-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 4.71 runner. Crouched stance, front heel turn trigger, shoulder load, line drive swing plane, flashed hard barrel contact, pull side approach, 81 mph exit velocity. Heavier feet in field, tall fielding position, avg/sure hands, accurate throws to bag, 74 mph arm across infield.