Preseason All-State: Corner Infield Analysis

March 10, 2016

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor - Illinois/Wisconsin

Continuing our analysis of the Preseason All-State, the corner infield group featured a number of big bats which you would expect to profile at those positions. KC Simonich took the top spot with improved defensive abilities and the same premium left-handed bat we've seen in the past. Bobby Seymour and Bobby Miller both showed of high level left-handed sticks as well, with Seymour recording the top exit velocity of the event at 101 mph from the tee.

Top Corner Infield Prospects

1. KC Simonich, 3B, Joliet Catholic, 2017
Texas Tech commit. Long projectable frame, lean athlete, 6-foot-4, 180-pound third baseman. Profiles as a premium left-handed bat at a corner position. Hits from a tall, slightly open setup, short stride to even, quiet in the box, excellent presence and balance. Easy bat speed, advanced approach, gap to gap hitter with loose hands and excellent barrel awareness. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed much improved arm action, release is clean and more efficient, showed carry at 82 mph across. 7.20 runner. Hands played for third base, average body control, solid range. Possible 2017 draft follow.

2. Bobby Seymour, 1B, Mount Carmel, 2017
Wake Forest commit. 6-foot-4, 225-pound left-handed hitting first baseman, large build. Profiles as a left-handed power bat at first base. Offensively hits from an open stance, leg lift to short stride, can get foot down sooner. Strong bat, shows pop with hard contact, fast bat. 101 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively hands played around the bag, average footwork, 7.43 runner in the 60. Arm played at 76 mph across the diamond.

3. Bobby Miller, 1B/RHP, McHenry West, 2017
Louisville commit. 6-foot-5, 190-pound two-way prospect, long projectable build. Left-handed hitter, open setup, short stride, lower half works. Aggressive swing, shows pop to pull side, pull side lift approach, uphill path, loose hands. 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively shows a big arm across the diamond, 88 mph across, moves well around the bag, 7.58 runner. On the mound delivery works with some effort, drop and drive style delivery. Arm action is long and loose, ¾ slot, long path to release point. Fastball has run, showed some feel, sat 86-69 mph. Showed two breaking balls, both with similar action and velocity. Curveball worked 70-73 mph, sweeping action. Slider is slightly flatter, 72-73 mph. Changeup had sink, fades to arm side, had feel for the zone, 78-80 mph.

4. Donivan Williams, INF/OF, Morgan Park, 2018
6-foot, 191-pound infield/outfielder, solid build with strength. Defensively showed arm strength all over the diamond, 86 mph across the infield, 89 mph from the outfield, short quick arm action, quick release, gets carry. Shows soft hands on the infield, athletic defender, plays through the baseball. Looks most natural on the infield. Right-handed hitter, open stance, average stride. Gap to gap approach, fast bat, fluid hitter, looks for hard pull contact. 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.16 runner in the 60.

5. Jake Pomykalski, RHP/1B, Lincoln-Way East, 2017
Illinois-Chicago commit. Extra-large frame, 6-foot-5, 215-pound two-way player, strong build. On the mound delivery works with some effort, showed balance throughout, works on line with squared landing. Loose arm, whippy action, slight decal on secondary offerings, high ¾ slot, quick arm. Fastball has arm side action, slightly heavy appearance, showed feel for the zone, 85-87 mph. Changeup showed some feel, slower arm action, creates fade, ranged 75-79 mph. Splitter showed slight tumble, 71-72 mph. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Aggressive swing, strong bat, created backspin, two piece approach, fast bat with pull side pop. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed good footwork around the bag, natural actions. Above average runner, 7.07 laser timed 60.

6. Ben Collazo, 3B/RHP, Lake View, 2017
6-foot-3, 170-pound two-way player, long lanky frame. Defensively showed advanced actions, plays through the baseball with soft hands. Arm is loose and easy, high ¾ slot, carries across the diamond, 84 mph. 7.14 runner in the 60. Right-handed hitter balanced stance, athletic setup, short stride, average balance. Mid-opposite field contact, short path, line drive type hitter, tends to stay on top of the baseball. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound delivery works online, squared landing. Arm plays short and quick, high ¾ slot. Fastball has slight arm side run, showed feel, 82-83 mph. Curveball plays more 12/6, 69-70 mph. Slider is similar, 70-72 mph. Changeup sinks, showed feel, 73-75 mph, has feel for the zone, able to throw for strikes.

7. John Carpinelli, 3B, Buffalo Grove, 2017
Lanky projectable build, 6-foot-3, 185-pound left-handed hitting third baseman. Offensively hits from an open stance, slight leg lift trigger, good balance through contact. Showed good barrel control, above average bat speed, line drive type hitter that works gap to gap. 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with body control, showed good hands, exchange can get long. Arm plays well, long and loose, high ¾ slot, carries across well, 86 mph across. 7.43 runner in the 60.

8. Kellen Sarver, C/3B, Champaign Centennial, 2017
6-foot-1, 185-pound left-handed hitting catcher, average frame. Strong armed catcher, 79 mph from the crouch, short over the top slot, easy carry, also showed it off at 78 mph across the diamond. Defensively shows best behind the dish, hands worked, gets out of the crouch well, wide base. Pop times ranged 2.00-2.08. Offensively hits from the left side, 97 mph exit velocity. Slight open setup, loads hands back, short stride, average balance. Showed feel for the barrel, line drive approach, took a good round working gap to gap.

9. Sam Fradin, 3B, Deerfield, 2017
6-foot-1, 185-pound third baseman, average build. Defensively showed arm strength across the diamond, 83 mph, over the top slot, with effort. Showed average lateral actions, long release, can play through the baseball, good body control. Right-handed hitter, tall open setup, leg kick stride. Hands worked, flashed loud bat, 97 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ran the 60 at 7.36.

10. Harrison Hayes, 3B, Fenwick, 2017
6-foot-3, 210-pound third baseman, sturdy build. Right-handed hitter, tall balanced setup, short stride, average balance. Smooth swing, longer path, slight uphill, occasional top spin contact. 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays tall, plays through the baseball, average hands. Arm plays with some length, over the top slot, 81 mph across the diamond. 7.61 runner in the 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Noah Konie, 1B/LHP, Huntley, 2017
6-foot-1, 212-pound left-handed two-way player. Left-handed hitter, balanced stance, slight leg kick slightly dives, average balance. Path has some length on level path, occasional back spin, mid to opposite field contact in BP. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed natural actions around the bag, arm played at 80 mph. 7.79 runner in the 60. On the mound arm played from a high ¾ slot, average arm speed, longer arm action with regular effort. Showed feel for three pitches. Fastball has slight run to arm side, sat 77-79, touched 80 mph. Curveball has gradual 1/7 action, flashed depth, showed feel, 68-69 mph. Changeup thrown with fastball arm speed, slight arm side run, showed control. 74-76 mph.

Thomas Larson, 3B/OF, Families of Faith Christian Academy, 2017
Physically strong 6-foot-1, 190-pound 3B/OF, quick twitch type player. 6.98 runner in the 60. Offensively hits from the right side, balanced setup, leg kick stride. Strong hands, shows bat speed, path works around the baseball, 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively took it at third base and in the outfield. Showed arm strength from both, 88 mph from the outfield, 85 mph across the infield, long over the top arm action.

Karter Lowery, 3B/RHP, Ottawa, 2017
6-foot-1, 210-pound two-way player, solid build with strength. Defensively arm plays long, average strength, over the top slot, 84 mph arm strength across the diamond. Exchange is clean, average body control. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, average balance. Opposite field contact, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.45 runner in the 60. On the mound delivery is has some effort, works in line, squared landing. Arm action is long, high ¾ slot, occasionally underneath. Fastball has slight run, mostly up, worked 82-83 mph, touched 85 mph. Curveball flashed 11/5 shape, gradual action. 70-72 mph. Changeup has sink, worked down, 77-79 mph.

Patrick Mayo, 3B, Brother Rice, 2017
6-foot-1, 155-pound third baseman, thin build, long legs, projects. Right-handed hitter, open stance, smooth loading action with short stride back to even. Showed average bat speed, occasional opposite field contact, 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 79 mph across the diamond, short over the top arm slot, played accurately with some carry. Showed actions and average body control. 7.54 runner in the 60.

Barek McCann, 3B/RHP, Gwendolyn Brooks, 2017
6-foot-2, 215-pound two-way player. Flashes pop in his right-handed bat, tall setup, open stance, hanging leg kick stride, average balance. Pull side power type guy, longer path, uphill, looks to lift. 94 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.79 runner in the 60. Arm plays at 80 mph across the diamond, long over the top slot, shows arm to stick at third base. On the mound delivery has some effort, over the top slot, occasionally gets on heels. Fastball is mostly straight, four seam, some tilt, ranged 80-85 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, 66-71 mph, shows depth. Changeup is straight, 67-70 mph.

Alex Schram, 1B/RHP, Waubonsie Valley, 2017
6-foot-3, 190-pound two-way player. On the mound takes a deep rocker step, regular effort, firm arm action, high ¾ arm slot. Fastball sat 80-82 mph, topped at 83 mph. Curveball has 12/6 action, has depth and action, works at 68-70 mph. Changeup showed feel, slight sink, 72-74 mph. Cutter worked, 73-75 mph. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, minimal load and lower half. Path has length on uphill plane, rigid swing, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played at 81 mph across the diamond, long over the top arm action. 7.55 runner in the 60.

Tyler Woynerowski, 1B, St. Rita, 2017
6-foot-2, 192-pound first baseman, strong thick build, wide shouldered. Defensively shows good actions around the bag, easy defender soft hands. Arm plays at 78 mph across the diamond, short high ¾ slot. Right-handed hitter, open stance, slightly crouched, average stride. Average bat speed, gap to gap approach, occasionally uphill path, flashes pop. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.29 runner in the 60.