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Class of 2016 Open Showcase: Middle Infield Analysis

August 19, 2014

By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

The Class of 2016 Open Showcase took place on Wednesday, July 23rd at Plunkett Park in Elgin, IL. This year’s showcase featured several talented, uncommitted players in Illinois’ 2016 class in the middle infield.  Boylan Catholic’s Max Maney took home top honors thanks to his athletic middle infield actions and arm strength across the diamond, which he also showcased on the mound.  Lincoln-Way Central’s Marc Schaefer may be undersized, but he possesses solid baseball actions and moves extremely well.  Marian Central Catholic’s Kolton Rominski impressed with his physicality both at the plate and in the field.

 Let’s take a look at the Top Middle Infield Prospects at this year’s Class of 2016 Open Showcase.

Top Middle Infield Prospects

1. Max Maney, MIF/RHP, Boylan Catholic, 2016
5-foot-8, 160-pound undersized right-handed hitting middle infielder/right-handed pitcher impressed hitting from a tall, open, setup with 77 mph exit velocity.  Showcased long, loose, athletic, high ¾ arm action in the middle infield with soft hands and quick footwork fielding the baseball.  Threw 78 mph across the diamond and ran a 7.16 60, and 4.89 seconds from home to first.  On the mound, utilized the same quick, long, loose, high ¾ arm action with a 79-82 mph fastball.  Threw 70-72 mph changeup for strikes down in the zone.  12/6 curveball at 66-68 mph was up in the zone, while 65-67 mph slider from a lower arm angle was thrown for strikes more consistently.  

2. Marc Schaefer, MIF, Lincoln-Way Central, 2016
5-foot-6, 130-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder impressed running a 6.96 60 yard dash.  Hits from an open setup with an up the middle approach, hitting several line drives with 70 mph exit velocity.  Threw 74 mph across the diamond from short, ¾ arm action with accuracy, playing through the baseball with quick, clean middle infield actions.  Size may make him more of a second baseman, but showed the ability to get the ball across the diamond from shortstop as well.  

3. Kolton Rominski, RHP/SS, Marian Central Catholic, 2016
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitting RHP/SS impressed both in the field and on the mound.  Defensively, threw 81 mph across the diamond from short, showcasing average hands and accuracy while playing through the baseball.  Hits from a balanced, crouched setup with a toe turn stride producing long bat path with extension and 78 mph exit velocity.  Ran 4.72 seconds from home to first.  On the mound showed feel for three pitches from a short, quick, high ¾ arm slot with regular effort, some rhythm, level shoulders, and stride direction staying in line with home plate.  Threw 81-82 mph fastball with slight run for strikes consistently.  Also threw 12/6 curveball for strikes at 68-70 mph.  68-70 mph changeup with fade was thrown for strikes as well.  73-74 mph cutter had above average slider tilt at times.  

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Luke Bertolani, MIF/RHP, Lincoln-Way North, 2016
5-foot-9, 150-pound right-handed hitting MIF/RHP threw 77-80 mph, touching 81 from long, high ¾ arm slot with a wrap in back.  63-66 mph breaking ball lacked shape.  70 mph changeup produced some arm side run.  Also threw a 60-62 mph knuckle ball.  Impressed more in the middle infield than the outfield with short, loose, high ¾ arm slot throwing 75 mph across the diamond with accuracy.  Plays through the baseball with soft hands and fluid footwork.  Threw 81 mph from the outfield.  Hits from a tall, open setup with a long bat path producing line drives to the opposite field with 78 mph exit velocity.  Ran a 7.13 60 and 4.50 from home to first.

Beau Buchanan, MIF, Naperville Central, 2016
5-foot-10, 150-pound left-handed hitting middle infielder hits from a balanced setup, with a short stride diving at times.  Short level bat path with pull tendencies created 75 mph exit velocity.  Showed second base actions in the middle infield, throwing 73 mph across the diamond from a short, high ¾ arm slot. Ran a 6.97 60, and 4.43 seconds from home to first.

Nicholas Figus, OF/SS, Lincoln-Way North, 2016
5-foot-10, 160-pound athletic outfielder/shortstop impressed with the second best outfield velocity at 85 mph.  Throws from a long ¾ slinging arm slot with some accuracy.  In the infield, threw 78 mph across the diamond from a short arm action, impressing with average hands and clean exchanges playing through the baseball.  Hits from an open setup, loading hands back smoothly with a good approach up the middle of the field.  Level bat path produced several line drives from gap-to-gap with 86 mph exit velocity.  Also ran a 6.98 60 yard dash and 4.34 from home to first.

Matthew Garbacz, SS/RHP, Willowbrook, 2016
6-foot, 160-pound right-handed hitting SS/RHP hits from a balanced setup with a long stride, hands move back during load producing 78 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, threw 77 mph across the diamond with some accuracy from short, high ¾ arm slot.  Showcased soft hands and played through the baseball.  On the mound, arm action was longer than in the infield, fastball sat between 75-78 mph.  Shortens up arm action on 61-65 mph curveball, while 67-72 mph changeup displayed cutting action.  Ran a 7.09 60, and 4.50 from home to first.

Christian Gonzalez, MIF/RHP, Matea Valley, 2016
5-foot-9, 160-pound right-handed hitting MIF/RHP hit from a balanced setup with a long, toe-tap stride producing long, level swing with line drives mostly to his pull side and 78 mph exit velocity.  Threw 75 mph across the diamond from shortstop from a short, high ¾ arm slot, with accuracy and carry.  Showcased soft hands, playing through the baseball and impressing on back hand balls.  Ran a 7.34 60 and 4.76 seconds from home to first.  On the mound threw 78-80 mph from short, high ¾ slot.  Threw strikes with fastball and 67-70 mph 12/6 curveball.  72-74 mph straight changeup showed occasional bottom. Mechanically, showed some rhythm to delivery, with level shoulders, toe pointed down at balance point, with a square, in-line towards home plate landing.

Anthony Greco, MIF, Matea Valley, 2016
5-foot-11, 150-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder with a strong lower half; hits from a wide, open stance, with a short stride, hands load back smoothly, pull side approach, with short, slightly uphill bat path.  Defensively, threw 73 mph across the diamond from short, high ¾ arm slot with average carry and accuracy.  Hands worked well out front fielding the baseball, moved well up the middle to his left.  Ran a 7.44 60.

Ryan Hartmann, RHP/MIF, Andrew, 2016
6-foot, 165-pound RHP/MIF impressed on the mound with feel for three pitches and 82-83 mph fastball velocity.  Works from a long, ¾ arm action with a slight wrap in back, but still gets out front.  Fastball was thrown for strikes with occasional arm side run.  Shoulders stay level through delivery, lower half stays in line with home plate, with toe down at balance point.  Slowed arm on 68-72 mph breaking ball with 11/5 shape, but also thrown for strikes.  Changeup showed good action with aggressive arm speed at 75-77 missing down in the zone.  Offensively, hits from an open stance with a short stride, and smooth load back, hitting several line drives and pull tendencies in batting practice with 82 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 83 mph across the infield from same arm action, with noticeable sink on throws.  Ran a 7.53 60, and 4.94 from home to first.

Colin Rivard, SS, Naperville North, 2016
5-foot-9, 140-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder impressed running a 6.89 60-yard dash.  Hits from an open setup with a leg kick producing 72 mph exit velocity.  Hands start away from his body and start low, choking up and producing uphill bat path.  Threw 78 mph across the diamond from a short, high ¾ arm action playing through the baseball.

Dominic Sarro, MIF, St. Rita, 2016
6-foot, 170-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder hits from a narrow, open stance with a short stride, and quite, simple, up the middle approach with barrel control and 81 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, shows second base type actions, throwing 68 mph across the diamond from short, high ¾ arm slot with accuracy.  Stays low fielding the baseball out front with quick, clean exchanges.  Ran a 7.03 60 and 4.66 from home to first.

Danny Schimmel, INF, Hinsdale South, 2016
5-foot-8, 155-pound right-handed hitting infielder hits from an open setup with a short stride, getting foot down early producing uphill swing with line drives from gap-to-gap and strength to the opposite field, with 76 mph exit velocity.  Threw 77 mph across the infield from short, high ¾ arm action with accuracy.  Hands were average fielding the baseball with clean exchanges.  Ran a 7.13 60 and 4.60 from home to first.

Ben Tegeler, MIF, Morrison, 2016
5-foot-9, 145-pound right-handed hitting middle infielder hit from balanced, slightly open setup with a short stride.  Hands load back smoothly producing short, level bat path and 72 mph exit velocity.  Threw 71 mph across the diamond from short, high ¾ arm action with some accuracy.  Ran a 7.17 60 and 4.60 from home to first.

Cameron Zunkel, SS/RHP, Willowbrook, 2016
6-foot-1, 160-pound left-handed hitting SS/RHP hits from a close setup, dropping hands to load, with short stride, short, level bat path, and opposite field tendencies with 74 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, threw 79 mph across the diamond from long, high ¾ arm slot with fluid footwork, average hands, and clean exchanges.  Ran a 7.32 60, and 4.57 from home to first.  Impressed more on the mound with a three pitch feel of 81-83 mph fastball with arm side run, 67-72 mph curveball with 11/5 shape, and 71-73 mph changeup with fade thrown for strikes.  Arm action is long and loose, shoulders stay level, lower-half stays in line towards home plate, while front foot lands slightly closed at foot strike.

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