Prep Baseball Report

Ft. Wayne Winter Preview: Infield Analysis





By Mark De La Garza

NE Indiana Area Scout 



On Saturday, February 28th, we hosted the Ft. Wayne Winter Preview Showcase at Norwell High School in Ossian, IN.  A total of 51 players were in attendance.  Below we analyze the 19 infielders from the event.


CLICK HERE to view the statistical results from the event.   

Top 5

Mac Hippenhammer, SS, FW Snider HS, 2017: 6-foot-0, 165 pounds, 6.64-60, bats switch, throws right. Strong, athletic and projectable. Glider type runner that can hit and hit for power (Exit speeds R-89/L-84) Balanced stance, short stride and a short path to the ball with extension through contact. Impressive fielder with soft hands and a short ¾ arm slot, throws are on target with carry ( 82 mph across the infield).  Athletic defender. 

Treavor Floor, SS, Wabash HS, 2016:  5-foot-9, 170 pounds, 7.10/60, bats right, throws right,Good athlete, does all the little things really well. Handles the glove with ease, good range to both sides, arm is short and quick all throws are on target with carry at 81 ph. Hits in an athletic stance with a short stride, gets the bat through the zone on a level plain with good extension through contact. He doesn’t miss strikes. Gap to gap/ line drive type hitter with occasional power.  Hands are quick. Recorded a high exit velo of 91 mph.   

Luke Adams, SS, Crown Point HS, 2017:  5-foot-9, 160 pounds, 7.26-60, bats right, throws right.  Defensively, possesses fluid feet with soft hands.  Clean exchange.  Plays through the baseball well.  Athletic defender.  Offensively, hits from an athletic, crouch setup.  Loads back, short stride.  Good use of the lower half with good balance.  Above average bat speed with a good approach to the ball.  Short path to the ball, line drive hitter with fluid rhythm.  Overall quiet hitter with some twitch.  Recorded a high exit velo of 82 mph.   

Ryan Tomlin, 3B, Norwell HS, 2016:  5-foot-10, 195 pounds, 7.43-60, bats right, throws right. The bat will carry. Gap to gap hitter with occasional HR power. He has a fast bat (89 mph exit speed) with a level swing and extension through contact. Hips explode. Short stride, smooth load. Good balance. At times spins off.  Defensively he plays multiple positions. At 3B he is 78-79 across the infield with sure hands.  

Zach Orn, SS, Angola HS, 2017:  5-foot-10, 158 pounds, 7.47-60, bats left, throws right. Athletic player, with a short ¾ arm across the infield (80 mph) with carry and accuracy. Sure hands, stays down well with good actions.  Hits from an open stance with a long stride, hips explode at contact creating 87 mph exit speed.  Max effort. Over rotates.  Line drive, gap to gap type hitter with occasional power.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically) 

Nathan Alston, SS, Oak Hill HS, 2019: 5-foot-8, 135 pounds, ran a 7.44-60, bats right, throws right. Good young player (8th grade) with upside. Strong, athletic, with soft hands and good range to his glove side. All throws were on target with carry at 74 mph.  At the plate this from a balanced setup, big leg kick.  Shows excellent balance throughout his swing.  Minimal load.  Average bat speed, long, uphill path.  Good mechanics for his age.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 75 mph.  

Logan Gallaway, SS, FW Bishop Luers HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 170 pounds, bats right, throws right. 7.75-60. Good athletic frame with a strong lower body. Average hands at shortstop with fluid feet, throws to first base are 77 mph and on line. Hits from an athletic stance with a short stride, average bat speed, bat tends to drag through the zone. Needs added upper body strength and arms speed and bat control will improve. Recorded a high exit velo of 79 mph. 

Braden Klinedinst, 3B, FW Northrup HS, 2018:  5-foot-11, 185 pounds, bats right, throws right. Plays hard and has good baseball instincts. Throws 71 across the infield with a short ¾ arm slot. Flat feet, hard hands.  Ran a 8.08-60. Hits from a balanced stance with a short stride. Loads back. Average bat speed, long path to the ball. Recorded a high exit velo of 78 mph. 

Corbin Landrum, 1B, Huntington North HS, 2017: 6-foot-1, 180 pounds, bats right, throws right.  Across the diamond was 73 mph. Showcased quick feet at 1B with sure hands.  Offensively, hits from a balanced setup and loads back.  Short stride with a tendency to over rotate his lower half.  Average bat speed, pull hitter.  Recorded a high exit velo of 79 mph.  

Jakob Layton, SS, Lafayette Harrison HS, 2016:  5-foot-8, 183 pounds, bats right, throws right. Athletic player. Hits from a wide stance with very little stride, average bat speed ( 74 mph exit speed)  and a long path to contact, pull hitter. Lower half needs refined.  Throws 76-77 mph across the infield with average carry and average hands. 

Drew McCrady, 3B, FW Snider HS, 2018: 6-foot-2, 180 pounds, 7.16/60, bats right, throws right. Long arm action from 3b with average arm strength and average hands. 73 across the infield. Feet work well and he has some actions. Hits in a balanced stance hands drop at load.  Bat drags through the zone on short path. Choppy rhythm, line drive hitter.  Want to pull every pitch. Recorded a high exit velo of 70 mph. 

Max Minich, 3B, Leo HS, 2018: 6-foot-1, 185 pounds, bat right, throws right. Athletic. Long ¾ throws across the infield (76 mph) mostly on target with average arm strength. Feet are a click slow and will improve with added physical strength. At the plate hands tend to drop during the laod, slight leg kick, long stride.  Good use of the lower half.  Average bat speed with good extension through contact.  Recorded a high exit velo of 82 mph.  

Drew Minnich, 3B,Northwood HS,2017:  5-foot-11, 165 pounds, 7.05-60, bats right, throws right. Good actions at 3b with short arm action (77 mph across the infield) with some accuracy and average arm strength. Offensively, hits from a crouch setup with a wide baes. No load, minimal stride.  Average bat speed, level path to the baseball.  Recorded a high exit velo of 76 mph.  

Alex Mitchell, 3B, Decatur Central HS, 2018:  5-foot-9, 135 pounds, 7.60-60, switch hitter, throws right, Athletic player with long arm action, average arm speed, 77 mph across the infield.  Average hands and feet.  Needs to play through the ball more. He generates bats speed from both sides from an athletic balanced stance. Tendency to dive during the stride.  Good balance.  Long path to the baseball.  Recorded a high exit velo of 74 mph. 

Austin O’Campo, MIF, Bellmont HS, 2017: 5-foot11, 160 pounds, 7.35-60, bats switch, throws right.  Showcased lateral quickness and soft hands. Plays hard and makes the hard plays. Short quick arm action,74 mph across the infield with some carry and always on target. Offensively showcased better bat control from the right-side of the plate.  Uses a toe tap, small load. Hits off his front side.  Level path to the ball, lacks balance.  Recorded a high exit velo of 72 from the right-side and 70 from the left-side.

Dylan Pranger,3B, Lakeland HS, 2016: 6-foot-0, 187 pounds, 7.36-60, bats right, throws right, From 3B he was 83 mph across the infield with carry. Showcased average hands and actions. He hits from a crouched stance with a slight drop in his hands at load, exit speed was 85 mph with a long path to the ball. Gap to gap type hitter.  Athletic frame.  

Carter Roach, 2B, Leo HS, 2017: 5-foot-8, 143 pounds, 7.50-60, bats right, throws right. Showcased good baseball instincts. Hits from a crouch stance with very little load and a slight uphill swing, line drive type hitter. Recorded a high exit velo of 78 mph. Defensively he has soft hands with a short, quick throw to 1b, with first step quickness. Across the diamond was 74 mph.  

Mason Shinabery, 3B, Bellmont HS, 2016:  6-foot-2, 190 pounds, 7.50/60, bats right, throws right. Strong and athletic with room to grow. Defensively he has average hands and fluid feet; throws from 3B are 83 mph across the infield on target and with carry. He hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, average use of the lower half.  Average balance.  Average bat speed, long path.  Recorded a high exit velo of 87 mph.  

Sy Zickler, 1B, Brownstown Central HS, 2017:  6-foot2, 210 pounds, bats right, throws right.  At first base he has average hands and  was 70 across the diamond.  He hits from an open stance with a long stride, average bat speed and a long path to the ball.  Recorded a high exit velo of 81 mph.  

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