By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Illinois/Wisconsin

The Corner Infield analysis is highlighted by strong, physical offensive threats. Michael Borst took the top spot as a 6-foot-3, 195-pound first baseman. Borst not only showed well in showcase format but impressed even more in game action with his feel for the game. Borst also showed the ability to play a corner outfield spot making him even more versatile.

Here’s a look at the top corner infield prospects.

Top Corner Infield Prospects

1. Michael Borst, 1B/OF, McHenry, 2015
Advanced frame, 6-foot-3, 195-pound first baseman, present strength, athletic build. Right handed hitter, open stance, short stride. Impacts the baseball, bat speed present, longer path, 85 mph exit velocity from the tee. Went 3-for-5 in game action with a double. Defensively showed feel around the bag, softer hands, fluid footwork, athletic actions. Arm action is long and loose, plays at 77 mph across the diamond. Above average runner for size, 7.00 60, laser timed. Plays the game the right way, good baseball I.Q., highly projectable.

2. Thomas Kempf, 1B, Lane Tech, 2015
6-foot-1, 225-pound left handed first baseman, large frame and build, shows strength. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, minimal loading action, short stride. Path has lift to pull side, showed well above average pop to pull side, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively looked natural around the bag, feet worked. Arm action is short and over the top, 72 mph across the diamond. 7.99 runner in the 60.

3. Marco Melgoza, 3B, Plainfield South, 2015
6-foot, 203-pound third baseman. Offensively hits from the right side, open stance, crouched setup, strides back to square. Bat speed present, aggressive swinger, has the ability to impact the baseball. Slightly pull side approach, showed the ability to use opposite field gap. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Two hits in game action. Defensively played through the baseball, softer hands, arm played at 81 mph across the diamond, loose arm action.

4. Michael Homan, 3B, York, 2015
6-foot, 175-pound third baseman, solid build, some upper body strength. Defensively showed one of the strongest infield arms at the event, 85 mph across the diamond, short over the top slot, carries extremely well. Hands played, reliable defender, showed the ability to move well to his glove side. 7.31 runner in the 60. Right handed hitter, open stance, shorter stride, maintained strong balance. Path is level, worked the middle of the field in BP, mechanically sound swing. 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Had two hits in game action.

5. Max Hughes, 3B, Brother Rice, 2015
5-foot-11, 165-pound infielder, lean athletic build. Well above average runner, 6.84 laser timed 60. Defensively plays with short arm action, athletic, high ¾ slot, accurate arm, 77 mph across the diamond. Athletic defender, showed the ability to play well laterally to his glove side, above average range, plays through the baseball, excellent body control. Right handed hitter, tall setup, slight open stance, short stride, maintains balance. Bat path is slightly uphill, two handed finish, lacked extension at times, athletic hands. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Riley Alvarado, 3B/1B, Dundee Crown, 2015
5-foot-11, 195 pound left-handed hitting third baseman hits from a tall, open setup, short stride, hands load back smoothly, hit several line drives up the middle and also showed power to his pull side.  79 mph exit velocity off the tee.  Defensively, threw 79 mph across the diamond from short, ¾ arm slot with accuracy.  Can also play first base.  Ran a 7.91 60, and 5.02 from home to first.  Finished game one going 1-for-3 with an RBI-single.  Stole a base in game two.

David Blutcher, 1B/RHP, Southland College Prep, 2015
6-foot-1, 240-pound two-way player. Offensively hits from the right side, balanced stance, short stride, occasional leg kick. Showed strength offensively, occasional hard contact, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound arm worked from an over the top slot. Fastball pitched at 67-70 mph. Curveball flashed sweeping action at 54-59 mph.

Richard Bryza, 3B, Plainfield North, 2015
5-foot-11, 190-pound third baseman. Offensively hits from an open stance, leg kick stride, lower half works. Flashed bat speed, some quick twitch, 89 mph exit velocity. Two hits and an RBI on day two of game play. Defensively plays with high ¾ arm action across the diamond, 80 mph arm strength. Showed the ability to play through the baseball.

Nick Followell, 1B/RHP, Plainfield East, 2015
6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed hitting 1B/RHP hits from a wide setup, short leg kick stride, producing level bat path with pull tendencies and 77 mph exit velocity off the tee.  Defensively, threw 73 mph across the diamond from short, ¾, slinging arm action with accuracy.  On the mound, utilizes same arm action, toe down at balance point, shoulders closes off staying level throughout delivery, lower half stride direction stays in line with home plate, shoulders get rotational at times.  Fastball sat 76-79 mph with occasional cutting action.  64-66 mph slider had sweeping action.  73-74 mph changeup also cut at times.  Threw two scoreless innings with a looking strikeout on a 64 mph slider and a 6-4-3 double play ball in his second inning of work. 

Ramon Gonzalez, 1B/LHP, Andrew, 2015
5-foot-11, 175-pound left-handed hitting first baseman/left-handed pitcher this from an open setup, short stride, hands load smoothly, simple approach, fluid, uphill bat path with 78 mph exit velocity off the tee.  Defensively, threw 78 mph across the diamond from long, high ¾ arm slot with some accuracy.  Ran a 7.34 60, 4.76 from home to first.  Fastball sat 72-75 mph, touched 78 once from long, clean, high ¾ arm slot.  Utilizes tall and fall delivery, breaks hands early, shoulders stay level throughout, lower half stride direction stays in line with home plate, lands slightly open.  68-69 mph breaking ball had sweeping, horizontal action.  Also threw a 71-73 mph changeup, hard to tell between fastball/changeup separation.  Threw two scoreless, hitless innings, with three walks.

Adam Gregory, LHP/1B, Shepard, 2015
6-foot-2, 165-pound left handed two-way player, lanky frame with some athleticism. Projects more on the mound. Drop and drive style delivery, short loose arm action, slight stab, quicker arm, high ¾ slot. Fastball pitched at 79-81 mph, touched 82 mph. Curveball worked on 1/7 plane, 59-60 mph. Changeup used near fastball arm action, 64-67 mph, used more in game action. Struck out two in two innings. Offensively hits from the left side, tall setup, short stride, line drive type path. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Jonathan Hollifield, 3B/RHP, Bloom, 2015
6-foot-2, 235-pound two-way player, large frame, large build. On the mound uses a short over the top arm action, regular effort. Fastball showed control of the zone, 80-83 mph, touched 84 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, feel for the zone, 68-71 mph. Straight change at 73 mph. Worked two scoreless innings in game action. Right handed hitter, strong swing, reverse toe tap stride. Strong bat with bat speed. Defensively arm played 81 mph across the diamond.

Joe LaCivita, 1B, Downers Grove South, 2015
6-foot-4, 200-pound catcher, solid build present strength. Offensively hits from the right side, slightly open stance, smooth loading action, short stride, lower half works well, good balance through contact. Attacks the baseball, loose swing, hard contact. Pull side approach, above average bat speed, occasional extension, 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively showed feel around the bag, short arm action, 73 mph arm strength across the diamond.

G.W. Leynaud, 1B/3B, St. Bede Academy, 2015
Long thin frame, 6-foot-3, 170-pound corner infielder. Right handed hitter, open stance, short leg lift stride. 74 mph exit velocity from the tee, doubled in game action. Defensively showed accuracy across the diamond, arm played at 69 mph.

Jake McMillan, 3B, Lyons, 2015 
5-foot-9, 190-pound right-handed hitting third baseman hits from an open, narrow setup, short stride, leans back, uphill bat path, opposite field tendencies with 76 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, threw 72 mph across the infield from short, high ¾ arm slot, getting underneath the baseball at times.  Ran a 7.42 60 and 4.67 from home to first.  Made his mark during gameplay at the plate.  In game one went 3-for-3 with three triples, two well hit to right center, the third was misplayed by the right fielder.  In game two, went 1-for-3 with a single to right field.

Michael Quiram, 3B/RHP, Joliet Catholic, 2015
6-foot, 170-pound two-way player, athletic shape. Right handed hitter, balanced stance, short toe tap stride, good balance throughout. Repeats swing, contact type, middle of the field approach in BP, gap to gap, showed occasional bat speed, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively uses long arm action across the diamond, high ¾ slot, some carry at 78 mph. Hands play with softness, short choppy footwork. 7.36 runner in the 60. On the mound, tall and fall delivery works with little effort, stretch only, upright finish. Arm works from high ¾ slot, occasionally drops slot to low ¾. Fastball touches 80 mph, pitched at 76-79 mph, maintains velocity when drops arm slot. Slider showed control, 66-70 mph. Flashed changeup at 69-70 mph. Worked two innings, no hits, two strikeouts, no walks and no runs.

Joe Rimac, LHP/1B, Notre Dame, 2015
6-foot-1, 180-pound athletic and lanky right-handed hitting first baseman/left-handed pitcher hits from a narrow, open setup, high leg kick, hands load back smoothly, producing short, level bat path with 73 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, threw 68 mph across the diamond from first base from short, ¾ arm slot with accuracy.  Soft hands fielding, feet work well around the bag.  Ran 7.67 60, and 5.04 from home to first.  On the mound, threw two scoreless innings allowing one hit with one strikeout.  Pounds the zone with 75-78 mph fastball from short, loose, high ¾ arm slot with slight hook in back of arm swing.  Tall and fall delivery, toe down at balance point, shoulders stay level throughout delivery, lower half stride direction in line with home plate.  66-68 mph curveball showed 11/5 shape, also threw a 70-71 mph changeup. 

Dalton Robinson, C/3B/RHP, Boylan Catholic, 2015
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitting catcher/third baseman/right-handed pitcher hits from a tall, open setup, bat wraps during load, short stride, slightly uphill bat path with 84 mph exit velocity.  Defensively at third, threw 76 mph across the diamond from short, loose, high-3/4 arm slot with accuracy.  Hands were average, clean exchanges, plays through the baseball.  Behind the plate threw 74 mph from the crouch with pop times ranging between 2.05-2.12.  Threw out two runners during game play.  Went 2-for-4 with two singles and an RBI during game play.  On the mound arm action raises up a slot to over the top, fastball sits 80-82 mph.  Struck out four in two innings, allowing three hits and no runs.  All strikeouts came on 69-72 mph breaking ball with 11/5, late breaking shape.  Also flashed a 72 mph changeup.

Sam Sabinash, 3B, Greendale (WI), 2015
Big build with strength, 6-foot, 210-pound corner infielder. Offensively hits from a tall stance, slightly open, short stride, good balance throughout. Showed impact of the baseball in BP, lose hands, pull side tendencies. 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Smooth actions at third base, long arm action, ¾ slot, 76 mph across the diamond.

Cooper Thompson, 1B/3B, Harrisburg, 2015
6-foot-3, 195-pound corner infielder, large frame. Offensively hits from the right side, tall setup, leg kick trigger, maintained good balance. Pull side approach, flashed occasional power to pull side, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively uses a short arm action, high ¾ slot, accurate arm played well. Athletic footwork, proper mechanics around the bag. 74 mph across the diamond. 7.38 runner in the 60. 

Dylan Weston, 1B/RHP, McHenry West. 2015
6-foot-4, 227-pound wide shouldered, strong lower half, left-handed hitting first baseman/right-handed pitcher hits from a balanced setup, short toe-turn stride to load hips, gets foot down early, hands load back smoothly, producing slightly uphill bat path, barrel gets extension, power to his pull side and natural lift to swing, with 89 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, threw 72 mph across the diamond from short, high ¾ arm slot.  Ran an 8.53 60, 5.47 from home to first.  On the mound fastball sat 76-77 mph from short, over the top arm slot, coming from his ear.  Utilizes tall and fall delivery, shoulders work downhill, lower half stride direction stays in line with home plate.  Threw 66-68 mph slider for strikes with cutting action.  Gave up one run in two innings, struck out the side in the second inning.

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