Southern Illinois Prospect Games: Infielder Analysis

August 11, 2015

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The inaugural Southern Illinois Prospect Games was held on July 8^th, at “Itchy” Jones Stadium on the campus of Southern Illinois University - Carbondale. The event consisted mainly of prospects in the Southern Illinois area. The infielders were plentiful and many should be followed closely moving forward. Listed below we ranked the top five infielders from the event.

Top Infielders

1) Kade Burns, SS, Edwardsville, 2017
5-foot-10, 165-pound, average build, left-handed hitter. Hits from a slightly open set up, smooth load, leg kick, above-average balance. Short, uphill bat path, 73 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange. Short arm action, high ¾ arm slot, with accuracy, 82 mph across the infield.

2) Jacob Curry, 3B/RHP, Pontiac, 2016
5-foot-10, 175-pound solidly built left-handed hitting third-baseman and right-handed pitcher. At the plate, hits from an open, tall setup. Starts with a slight leg lift and long stride. Has a gap-to-gap approach, bat stays flat through the zone. Linear backside and shows balance throughout the swing; 81 mph exit velocity off the tee and ran a 4.62 home-to-first. Defensively, was clocked at 85 mph across the infield, showing plenty of arm strength to play the left side of the infield. In game play, he displayed fluid, quick feet with a clean exchange. On the mound, Curry operates from an over-the-top slot with a long, quick, athletic arm. Fastball ranged between 83-86 mph; when down in the zone, fastball had some run and sink. Change-up was his second best offering on this day, sitting 74-75 mph. Change-up is thrown with fastball arm speed; flashes run and sink; quality secondary pitch with swing and miss potential. Threw primarily fastballs and change-ups in his outing. Did throw a couple of breaking balls in his warmup that had sharp 11/5 shape, tight spin and feel.

3) Kohlten Johnson, SS, St. Joseph-Ogden, 2016
6-foot-1, 170- pound, right-handed hitter. Hits from an athletic set up, loads back, short stride, lower half works, average balance. Level bat path, gap-to-gap, line-drive approach, 76 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed above-average hands, ability to play through the ball. Throws from a high ¾ arm slot, some carry, 82 mph across the infield. Recently committed to Illinois-Springfield.

4) Zack Fick, SS, St. Charles North, 2016
5-foot-11, 150-pound, thin build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a tall set up, loads back, slight arm bar, short stride. Average bat speed, short bat path, line-drive approach, 77 mph exit velocity. Defensively displayed above-average hands, fluid footwork and clean exchange. Short arm action, ¾ arm slot, 77 mph across the infield. Ran a 4.53 home-to-first time.

Best of the Rest (Alphabetically)

Lane Belleville, 3B, Teutopolis, 2017
6-foot-3, 207-pound third baseman. Defensively the right-hander has long arm action from ¾, slot, average strength, and quick exchange. Threw 74 mph across infield. Offensively hits from balanced setup, loads back, leg lift stride, average bat speed, long level path, and line drive type. Exit velocity 84 mph.

Ryan Brink, SS/2B/OF, Nashville, 2017
Long limbed, athletic, projectable frame, 6-foot-2, 160-pound right-handed hitter. Impressed during game play, lacing a triple to right center off an 83 mph fastball. Offensively, starts with a tall setup, early load, leg-lift timing mechanism. Bat stays flat through the hitting zone. Recorded a 76 mph exit velocity and was 4.97 home to first. Defensively, from the outfield Brink was clocked at 83 mph, above average for his age. Throws from a ¾ slot with a long, loose arm. Throws had arm-side run and were accurate. Also, worked out on the infield. Quick transfer and showcases a shorter arm action than from the outfield. Clocked at 75 mph across the infield.

Gage Burroughs, 3B/2B, Mount Vernon, 2017
5-foot-10, 170-pound right handed hitter. Hits from a balanced, wide setup with no stride. Short, compact swing. Bat stays flat through the hitting zone. Registered an 80 mph exit velocity off the tee. Turned heads with a 4.19 home to first on an infield single during game play. Defensively, was clocked at 73 mph across the infield with accuracy. Throws from a ¾ arm slot.

Noah Dressler, C/INF/RHP, Mascoutah, 2016
6-foot-2, 175-pound two-way player. On the mound the right-hander throws from high ¾, long loose action, good balance, good rhythm, lands square, closed shoulders, and athletic finish. Fastball was 78-81 mph and touched 83 with some arm-side-run, curveball was 64 mph, and changeup was 71-75 mph with some fade. Defensively the catcher has short arm action from high ¾ with clean exchange and average hands. Threw 78 mph from crouch and pop times ranged 2.11-2.26. In the infield showed long arm action from ¾ slot, accurate, clean exchange, and fluid footwork. Threw 80 mph across infield. Offensively hits from tall and balanced setup, no load, long stride, average balance, and extended level path. Exit velocity, 77 mph.

Cole Hansel, 1B/SS, Edwardsville, 2016
6-foot-2, 175-pound, lanky, wiry, left-handed hitter. Hits from a balanced set up, utilizes a leg lift trigger. Smooth load, with separation. Long, level bat path, producing line-drives in batting practice. Linear lower half. Recorded a 79 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed average hands, long arm action and over-the-top arm slot. Moved swiftly around the bag at first base. 76 mph across the infield.

Jacob Hartline, SS/2B, Herrin, 2017
Lanky, projectable build, 6-foot-1, 170-pound infielder hits from the right-hand side. Wiry, strong athlete, has a short path and above average bat speed for age. Starts with a wide base, smooth pre-pitch load and finishes up, off his backside. Lined out to center field off an 84 mph fastball during game play. Registered an 80 mph exit velocity off of a tee. Also, ran a 4.58 home to first. Defensively, Hartline showcased quick feet with above average lateral agility. Throws from an over-the-top arm slot. Clocked at 77 mph from across the infield.

Stanton Hathaway, 1B/RHP, Eldorado, 2016
6-foot-3, 225-pound two-way player. Offensively hits from left side with balanced and wide setup, loads back, short stride, ok lower half, and fair balance. Showed average bat speed, good approach, long path, gap-to-gap type, and used whole field. Exit velocity 85 mph. Defensively, showed long action from ¾, slot, some accuracy, average strength and average hands. Threw 69 mph across infield. On the mound throws from high ¾, long action, regular effort, in line direction, square landing, and upright finish. Fastball was 73-76 mph and touched 77 with sink and slight action, curveball was 62 mph with 11/5 shape and gradual action, and changeup was 64 mph.

Alex Jines, 1B/3B, Trico, 2017
5-foot-9, 160-pound left-handed hitter. Hits from an opened, balanced stance. Deep, early load with a leg kick trigger; stays balanced throughout swing. Registered 80 mph exit velocity. Ran a 4.97 home to first. Defensively was 65 mph across the infield from an over the top arm slot.

Thomas Larson, OF/3B/, Families of Faith Christian, 2017
6-foot-1, 185-pound athletically built right-handed hitter. Defensively has long arm action from over-the-top slot, some accuracy, some carry on ball, and average hands. Threw 81 mph from outfield and 78 mph across infield. Offensively, hits from balanced athletic and tall setup, no load, short stride, ok lower half, average balance, and short path. Exit velocity registered 86 mph.

John Rugen, 1B/3B, La Salle-Peru, 2016
6-foot-1, 205-pound corner infielder. Offensively hits from right side with tall and balanced setup, no load, no stride, average bat speed, fair approach, long level path, and line drive type. Exit velo 81 mph. Defensively, long arm action form ¾ slot, some accuracy, and some carry on ball. Threw 75 mph across infield.

Kyle Sailliez, OF/SS, Frankfort, 2016
5-foot-11, 195-pound, strong, athletic build. Opened some eyes running a 4.26 home to first from the right-side of the plate. Hits from an athletic set up, short stride, average balance. Average bat speed, short, level bat path, 80 mph exit velocity. In the outfield, displayed soft hands, long arm action, and over-the-top arm slot. Clocked at 84 mph from the outfield. Defensively, on the infield, showed a long exchange and registered 76 mph across the infield.

Aaron Schluter, LHP/1B, St. Joseph-Ogden, 2016
6-foot-1, 200-pound strong, big-bodied first basemen and left-handed pitcher, hits from the right-hand side. Tall, balanced setup, smooth lower-half load. Short stride and uphill swing path. Flashed some pull pop during batting practice. Off the tee registered an 82 mph exit velocity. Defensively the left-handed thrower showcased a smooth exchange on double play turns to second base. Long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Clocked at 71 mph across the infield. On the mound, the strong lefty showed the ability to throw two pitches for a strike. On-line direction, square landing and had some effort in delivery. Fastball showed slight run while ranging between 73-77 mph. When the fastball was not in the zone; tended to miss down. Feel for a curveball that was clocked at 63 mph, 1/7 shape and gradual break.

Colt Wilkey, SS/RHP, Carterville, 2016
6-foot-1, 160-pound lanky, projectable body, showcased above average speed running a 4.35 down the line from the right-hand side. Offensively, the right-handed hitter starts with a balanced setup and a toe-tap trigger. Line drive hitter, with a flat bat and short path through the hitting zone; 71 mph exit velocity. Defensively, flashed lateral agility and a clean exchange. Over the top, long arm action. Clocked at 73 mph across the infield. On the mound, Wilkey operates from an over-the-top slot with a long arm. Maintains rhythm throughout the delivery. Toe pointed up at balance point, ala Bronson Arroyo. Lands slightly open and has a tendency to finish toward first base. Fastball sat 77-79 mph and touched 80 mph once; when down in the zone; flashed some arm-side run. Has feel for a curveball that ranged between 64-65 mph. Displayed 12/6 shape that he routinely threw for strikes in game play.

Southern Illinois Prospect Games: Infielder Analysis

Top Infielders

Best of the Rest (Alphabetically)

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