By Phil Wade & Blake Hibler
PBR Indiana

On Saturday, October 19th PBR Indiana hosted the 2015 Underclass Preview at Bishop Chatard High School in Indianapolis.  Sixty players in the class of 2015 from across the state participated in the event including 21 middle infielders. 

Below we analyze each MIF from the event:

Top 10

1. Clay Dungan, SS, Yorktown HS, 2015: 5-foot-10, 150 pound junior  starts slightly open at the plate.  Uses a small leg kick.  Hits downhill.  Shows above average bat speed and barrels up a lot of baseballs.  Defensively shows good hands with a quick release.  Ability to throw from multiple arm angels.  Average foot work.  Was 83 mph across the INF.  Ran a 7.25 60.

2. Brooks Ullery, 2B/MIF, Penn HS, 2015: 5-foot-8, 145 pound junior starts with an open stance at the plate from the left side.  Smooth load with a short, compact swing.  Swing plane is slightly uphill.  Good rhythm throughout his swing with athleticism.  Exit velo of 77 mph.  Ran a 7.29 60.  Defensively was 76 across the diamond from a short arm action.  Possesses soft hands with fluid feet.  Exchange is quick and clean.  Plays through the baseball well. 

3. Ryan Jones, SS, Charlestown HS, 2015: 5-foot-10, 185 pound junior hits from a crouch with a strong lower half.  Smooth load.  Uphill swing path.  Above average bat speed and gets to extension.  86 mph exit velo.  Possesses projectable power.  Strong upper body.  Body type suggests he will move to 3B at the next level.  More than adequate SS in HS.  Moves well, light on his feet.  Hands are average.  Above average arm strength from a ¾ arm slot.  Needs to improve playing the game on the run.   

4. Andrew Krull, 2B/MIF, Cathedral HS, 2015: 6-foot, 165 pound junior hits from a closed set up, in a crouch position.  Shows a smooth load with a leg kick.  Possesses some bat speed with overall good balance throughout the swing.  Consistently makes hard contact.   Defensively was 73 across the diamond.  Displayed some lateral quickness with an above average glove.  Overall solid defender, projects as a 2B.  Ran a 7.40 60. 

5. Tyler Keith, 2B/MIF, Carmel HS, 2015: 5-foot-8, 155 pound junior hits in a crouch position with a short stride.  Swing is short and compact and level through the zone.  Shows average hand speed.  High contact hitter.  Defensively shows good arm strength at 81 mph.  Possesses good hands.  Release is slow.  Throws from multiple arm angles.  Has the ability to play the game on the run.  Ran a 7.19 60.  

6. Christian Beard, 2B/MIF, Roncalli HS, 2015: 6-foot-3, 180 pound junior possesses a slender build.  Offensively starts wide with no stride.  Drops his hands during the load.   Swing path is long, but the hands work with some projectable power.  Across the INF was 73 mph.  Foot speed suggests he’ll move to 3B at the next level.  Average actions defensively with solid glove.  Shows a quick release. 

7. Brayton Nyland, SS, Avon HS, 2015: 6-foot, 185 pound junior hits from an athletic setup with a wide base.  Uses a smooth load.  Dives at the baseball.  Possesses good bat speed (82 mph exit velo).  Possesses some projectable pop, finishing one-handed.  Defensively showcased good arm strength at 82 mph.  Overall athletic actions with soft hands and quick feet.  Ran a 7.06 60.  

8. Nate Broughton, SS, East Central HS, 2015: 6-foot, 160 pound junior possesses a slender build.  At the plate uses a toe tap.  Swing is level with a two handed finish.  Above average hand speed.   Gets wide at times.  Lower half is inconsistent.  Should improve at the plate as he physically matures.  Defensvely, moves well laterally with good hands.  Plays through the baseball.  Arm is quick.  Just needs to get stronger in order to stay on the left side.  Ran a 7.21 60. 

9. Jake Hobson, 2B/MIF, Roncalli HS, 2015: 5-foot-7, 145 pound junior shows a good load at the plate with quick twitch.  Athletic in the box with a one handed finish.  Barrels up a lot of baseballs.  Defensively, lacks premium arm strength.  Shows a long release with average hands.  Footwork is average.  Projects more as a 2B or LF.  Ran a 7.32 60.

10. Cale Hall, 2B/MIF, Orleans JR/SR HS, 2015: 6-foot-155 pound junior hits from a tall setup.  Bat path is short with average bat speed.  Posted an exit velo of 80 mph.  Showcases some arm strength across the diamond at 78 mph.  Possesses an above average glove with good actions.  Ran a 7.26 60.  

Best of the Rest (In Alphabetical Order)

Jared Burke, 2B/MIF, Jeffersonville, 2015: 6-foot-1, 185 pound junior starts from an open stance.  Short and quick to the baseball.  Needs better use of the lower half.  Toe tap for timing.  Exit velo was 83 mph.  Pull side hitter.  Shows projectable power which makes up for lack of use of lower half.  In the INF fields flat footed.  Foot speed suggests he’ll play 3B.  Hands are average.  Was 70 mph across the diamond. 

Alex Eldridge, 2B/MIF, FW Carroll HS, 2015: 6-foot, 165 pound junior  starts from a tall, balanced setup at the plate.  Wraps during his load.  Uses a short stride and shows average bat speed that sometimes drags through the zone.  Across the diamond was 70 mph with a long arm action.  Average glove defensively.  Feet are heavy.  

Matthew Kaufman, 2B/MIF, Peru HS, 2015: 5-foot-7, 165 pound junior is raw in the box.  Possesses good hand speed.  Opens lower half early.  Short simple approach.  Defensively projects as a 2B.  Was 69 across the INF from a lower ¾ slot.  Gets rid of it quickly.  Shows soft hands with little wasted movement.  Makes the routine plays.  

Cody Mobley, SS, Mount Vernon, 2015: 6-foot-2, 170 pound junior starts wide at the plate.  Lacks a true load.  Flat bat through the zone with a long swing.  Shows good hand speed.  Defensively, uses a long arm action at 77 mph across the INF.  Hands work well and plays through the baseball.  Projects more on the mound.

Bailey Montgomery, 2B/MIF, Vincennes Lincoln HS, 2015: 5-foot-10, 155 pound junior that starts tall at the plate.  Uses a short stride with an uphill swing path.  Line drive type hitter showcased some projectable pop.  Possesses some bat speed (83 mph exit velo).  Across the diamond was 66 mph with a long arm action and over the top slot.  Hands were a little hard at times.  Shows some stiffness in his actions.  Ran a 7.57 60.

Blaine Reed, SS, Frankton HS, 2015: 6-foot, 165 pound junior hits from an athletic setup with a slight crouch.  Smooth load back with a short stride.  Good balance throughout his swing.  Gets a little long with his swing with some stiffness.   Line drive type hitter.  Posted a 79 mph exit velo.  Defensively was 71 mph across the diamond.  Moves well with an above average glove.  Arm action a little long for a MIF.  Average actions overall, projects more as a 2B. 

Alex Risk, 2B/MIF, Madison HS, 2015: 5-foot-9, 170 pound junior starts with an athletic setup at the plate.  Loads back with a short stride.  Swing plane is uphill.  Hands work.  Lower half needs improvement.  Showcased some strength.  Defensively was 73 across the INF with a long, stiff arm action.  Moves well with an average glove.  Ran a 7.32 60.  

Sean Roginski, SS, McCutcheon HS, 2015: 5-foot-7, 165 pound junior starts wide with no stride at the plate.  Swing plane is uphill and gets long at times.  Finishes two handed.  Changes head height throughout his swing.  Defensively possesses average, soft hands.  Stands up to throw the ball.  High ¾ slot.  Foot speed suggests he’ll play 3B at the next level.  Was 77 mph across the diamond.  

Elliot Shebek, SS, Carmel HS, 2015: 5-foot-10, 160 pound junior shows low hands with a smooth load at the plate.  Stride is short.  Swing is level and short and compact.  Average hand speed.  Defensively shows soft hands with an above average glove.  Was 75 mph across the diamond.  Projects more as a 2B.  Ran a 7.19 60.

Chase Sizemore, 2B/MIF, Lapel HS, 2015: 5-foot-9, 150 pound junior uses an athletic setup at the plate.  Loads early and back with a short stride.  Stays balanced throughout his swing. Lacks elite power.  Defensively was 72 mph across the INF.  Quick exchange and release.  Glove is above average.  Overall solid defender.  Projects as a 2B.  Runs a 7.9 60. 

Ryan Wexelberg, SS, Valparaiso HS, 2015: 6-foot, 145 pound junior possesses a slender build.  At the plate the swing plane is uphill.  Uses a leg kick.  Needs to physically mature at the plate.  Defensively fields it deep.  Lacks the ability to throw from multiple arm angles.  Throws from a high ¾.  Was 68 mph across the diamond.  Ran a 7.65.