By Matt Yarber and Sean Duncan

Now we examine the middle infielders at the Prep Baseball Report Preseason All-State Showcase on February, 19 at The Max.^.Kyle Colletta, a left-handed hitting 6-foot, 170-pound shortstop was the top middle infielder at the event after he took one of the best rounds of BP of the day and demonstrated top-level hands in the field.

A look at the middle infielders at the event:

 1. Kyle Colletta, SS, Niles West HS, Class of 2013
Colletta is a 6-foot, 170-pound shortstop who impressed with his easy left-handed swing and defensive prowess. Colletta has a balanced setup with a smooth load and an economical approach to his swing.  He has an explosive lower half and maintains excellent balance throughout.  Defensively, Colletta is a slick-fielding shortstop with soft hands and excellent lateral movement.  He was one of the best infielders at the event with his combination of footwork, clean exchange and arm strength (83 mph) across the diamond.

2. Tyler Johnson, SS, Harlan Community HS, Class of 2013
Johnson is a 5-foot-8, 150-pound shortstop who impressed with his smooth fielding, soft hands and all-around defensive actions. Johnson was one of the best middle-infielders at the event with his quick footwork and ability to play through the baseball, showing excellent lateral range and the ability to play the baseball on the run.  He displayed accurate throws across the diamond and was clocked at 83 mph.  Offensively, Johnson has a slightly open setup with a smooth load and short, compact swing.  He showed good extension through his swings and created some whip through the zone.  Additionally, Johnson ran a 7.23 60.

3. Kurt Palandech, SS, Plainfield North HS, Class of 2013
Palandech is a quick-twitch athlete who ran one of the best 60 times at the event, a 6.87. The 6-foot-1, 150-pound shortstop has long legs and moves fluidly in the field. He had an accurate arm from his position, posting a velocity of 76 mph from across the diamond.  Offensively, Palandech has a balanced setup and easy swing, one that featured quick, whippy hands. 

4. Alexander Cain, RHP/SS, Oregon HS, Class of 2013
Cain is a 6-foot-3, 185-pound two-way talent who is physically strong and has a very projectable frame. Cain especially impressive with his defensive prowess at shortstop, where he exhibited concise footwork, athletic rhythm, soft hands, and ability to play through the baseball. Furthermore, he delivered strikes across the infield, clocked at 84 mph. Cain, who ran a 7.27 60, hits from a slightly open approach. He exhibited rhythm, barrel whip through the zone and overall sound hitting fundamentals. On the mound, Cain has four pitches: a 79-81 mph fastball, a 70-71 mph curveball, a 73-75 mph changeup, and a 73-75 mph slider. 

5. Jake McCabe, RHP/SS, Lincoln-Way North HS, Class of 2013
McCabe is a lanky, athletic 6-foot-2, 165-pound two-way player who performed well in all aspects of the game.  On the mound, McCabe has a quick, loose arm coming from a high 3/4 slot.  His fastball sat in the 80-82 range with some late life. He also threw a 67 mph breaking ball, and a 71-73 mph changeup.  He showed feel for all three pitches and used his whippy arm action to create natural arm-side run.  Defensively, McCabe showed athletic feet, as he covered a lot of ground up the middle.  He was clocked at 80 mph from across the diamond.  McCabe continued to show his athleticism by running a 7.08 60.

6. Nicholas Erickson, MIF, St. Charles East HS, Class of 2013
Erickson is a 5-foot-10, 160-pound middle infielder who showed well in all facets of the game. At shortstop, Erickson impressed with his soft hands and fluid footwork.  He plays through the ball well, in addition to playing the ball on the move. Erickson was clocked at 72 mph from across the diamond.  Offensively, Erickson has a balanced setup and takes a short stride to the baseball.  Offensively, Erickson has an aggressive plate approach, demonstrating excellent swing mechanics. He remains balanced throughout, and utilizes his lower half well. He creates barrel whip through the zone as he sprayed line drives to all fields.

7. Zack Zyburt, MIF/RHP, Plainfield North HS, Class of 2013
Zyburt is a 5-foot-10, 160-pound two-way player who impressed with his smooth, fluid footwork and soft hands in the field. Everything Zyburt did was fundamentally sound. Defensively, he displayed an accurate arm and was clocked at 77 mph from across the diamond.  Offensively, Zyburt features a balanced setup and short stride to the baseball.  He maintains excellent balance throughout his swing and is able to generate good whip through the zone through his active lower half.  He also ran a 7.2 60.  On the mound, Zyburt has a quick arm and throws from a high 3/4 arm slot.  He commanded the zone with three pitches: a 77-79 mph fastball with slight arm side run,  a 66-67 mph curveball and a 72-76 mph changeup.

8. Troy Vandenbroek, OF/INF, Belvidere HS, Class of 2013
Vandenbroek is a strong-bodied, athletic 5-foot-10, 185-pound multi-positional player who plays the game hard. In the outfield, he takes aggressive routes to the baseball and showed a solid, accurate arm, as he was clocked at 84 mph. At shortstop, Vandenbroek again showed arm strength (82 mph).  Vandenbroek, who ran a 7.13 60, took his same aggressive approach to the plate. He certainly doesn’t get cheated in the box, as he swings with force, using his strong lower half to generate torque and pop.

9. Jim Wujcik, SS, Richards HS, Class of 2013
Wujcik is a 6-foot-2, 165-pound shortstop who impressed with his athleticism by running a 7.04 60. Wujcik’s athleticism translated in all aspects. At shortstop, he moved well laterally as he was clocked at 76 mph across the diamond. Offensively, he has a balanced setup and has a line-drive, fundamental approach.

10. Hayden Krimer, RHP/INF, Oak Creek HS (WI), Class of 2013
Krimer is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound two-way player who showed well offensively with a level bat path and economical approach to the ball.  Krimer has a balanced setup and exhibited some pop in his swing as he consistently barreled up the baseball.  Defensively, Krimer showed athletic actions in the outfield and in the infield, being clocked at 78 mph from the OF and 81 mph INF. He continued to show his athleticism by running a 7.21 60.  On the mound, Krimer throws from over the top slot and has four pitches.  His fastball checked in at 80 mph, while his curveball registered at 68-71 mph. He also threw a 73-75 mph changeup, and 76 mph cutter.

Best of the Rest (Alphabetically)

Jonathan Chudacoff, MIF, New Trier HS, Class of 2013
Chudacoff is a 5-foot-8, 150-pound middle infielder who showed solid hands at the plate as he was able to create some barrel whip through his swing.  Chudacoff has a smooth load and is able to use his lower half to generate some elevation in his swing.  Additionally, Chudacoff was clocked at 74 mph from across the diamond and ran a 7.66 60.

Cord Church, OF/INF, Rantoul Township HS, Class of 2013
Church is a 6-foot-2, 175-pound multi-positional player who ran a 7.19 60.  Church moved athletically in the outfield, taking sound routes to the baseball, and was clocked at 73 mph from the position.  Across the infield, Church was clocked at 71 mph.

Ryan Karrick, MIF, Bartlett HS, Class of 2013
Karrick is a 5-foot-7, 140-pound middle infielder who showed well at the plate. Karrick, who ran a 7.59 60, demonstrated a fundamentally sound swing; he hits from an open setup as he remains excellent balance throughout.  Karrick exhibited fast hands through zone as he sprayed line drives.  Defensively, Karrick showcased athletic feet and solid hands; he was clocked at 77 mph from across the diamond. 

Dylan Lidge, MIF, Barrington HS, Class of 2013
Lidge is a 5-foot-7, 140-pound switch-hitting middle infielder. Lidge’s left-handed swing was highlighted by his balanced setup, level bat path and overall fundamental approach.  Defensively, Lidge  exhibited sound hands up the middle and was clocked at 73 mph from across the diamond.  Additionally, Lidge ran a 7.52 60.

Antuan McHerron, MIF/RHP, Thornton HS, Class of 2013
McHerron is a 6-foot, 170-pound two-way player who ran a 7.3 60. At shortstop, he was clocked at 74 mph from across the diamond.  On the mound, McHerron has a 75-77 mph fastball and a 63-65 mph changeup. 

Paul O’Toole, INF/RHP, Fenwick HS, Class of 2013
O’Toole is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound two-way player. On the mound, O’Toole’s fastball topped out at 78 mph. He also threw a 73-74 mph slider, a 71-74 mph changeup that demonstrated some arm-side sink, and a 64-71 mph curveball that had 12/6 break.  Offensively, O’Toole has a balanced setup with a compact swing and a level bat path.  O’Toole generated solid barrel whip through the zone as he sprayed line drives.

Carl Sanders, OF/SS, Glenbard South HS, Class of 2013
Sanders is a 5-foot-10, 145-pound outfielder who ran a 7.05 60. Sanders’ athleticism also translated in the field, as he moved with lateral ease. In the outfield, Sanders fielded the ball in rhythm, and was accurate with his throws (74 mph).  Offensively, Sanders has a slightly open setup and a short stride to the baseball.  He maintains good balance throughout his swing.

Chase Thurston, RHP/SS, Danville HS, Class of 2013
Thurston is 5-foot-10, 165-pound two-way player. On the mound, the right-hander features three pitches and throws from an over the top arm angle.  Thurston has a quick, easy arm; his fastball sat at 80-81 mph with some arm-side life. He also threw a 67-69 mph curveball that flashed tight, late break, and a 77-78 mph changeup.  Defensively, Thurston was clocked at 73 mph from across the diamond.

Brazon Wheeler, MIF, Ottawa Township HS, Class of 2013
Wheeler is a 5-foot-8, 165-pound middle infielder who showed well at the plate with his line drive swing.  He features an open setup, a smooth load, and maintains excellent balance throughout his swing.  Additionally, Wheeler was clocked at 74 mph from across the diamond and ran a 7.45 60.

Ted Williams, MIF, Meadville Area HS (PA), Class of 2014
The 5-foot-6, 130-pounds Williams is a left-handed hitting middle infielder who showed well in all facets of the game. Williams especially impressed at the plate, where he showcased loose, quick hands and an overall advanced plate approach. For his size, Williams generates excellent barrel whip through the zone as he laced line drives to all fields. Defensively, Williams moves well laterally and exhibited a quick, clean exchange. The Class of 2014 prospect was clocked at 74 mph from his position.

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