Prep Baseball Report

Preseason All-State: Corner Infield Analysis





By Phil Wade

Indiana Executive Director 



The 5th Annual Preseason All-State Showcase took place on Saturday, February 21st, at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, IN with a total of 81 players in Indiana's 2016 class in attendance.  Below we analyze the 16 corner infielders that attended the event.  

Top 5

Brice McDaniel, 1B, Columbus North HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 215 pounder, strong, athletic frame.  Works well around the bag at 1B with sure hands and fluid feet.  Clean exchange.  Accurate arm across the diamond at 82 mph.  The left-handed hitter hits from an open, athletic stance with a good approach. Showcased fluid rhythm with gap-to-gap power.  Possesses quick hands to the baseball.  Reached a top exit velocity of 90 mph.  Committed to Purdue.

Drew Bertram
, 3B/C , Zionsville HS: A 6-foot-2, 190 pound Junior, Bertram showcased soft hands in the field with plus actions.  His footwork is fluid and plays through the baseball with athleticism.  Strong, accurate arm across the diamond at 82 mph.  Ran a 7.18-60.  Offensively, hits from a slight crouch setup.  Loads back and uses a leg kick.  Good use of his lower half.  Bat waggle.  Possesses good bat speed with a level path to the baseball.  Overall good approach to the ball.  Line drive hitter with fluid rhythm.  Consistently barrels up the baseball.  Recorded a high exit velo of 86 mph.  

Nick Prather, 1B, Zionsville HS, 2016: 6-foot-1, 205 pounder possesses a strong frame with wide shoulders.  Showcased sure hands at 1B and moves well around the bag.  Possesses a strong, accurate arm across the diamond at 90 mph.  Ran a 7.59-60.  Offensively, hits from an athletic, open setup.  Smooth load back with good balance throughout the swing.  Slight leg kick, stride is short and possesses above average bat speed.  Level path, gets to extension.  Consistently barreled up the baseball.  At times this off his front foot.  Recorded a high exit velo of 88 mph.  

Zack Turnbough, 3B, Lake Central HS, 2016: 5-foot-11, 190 pounder ran a 7.05-60.  Defensively, possesses soft, sure hands with fluid feet.  Clean exchange, plays through the ball well.  Across the field was 80 mph with accuracy.  At the plate the LHH hits out of an athletic setup.  Smooth load, short stride.  Good use of the lower half, quick bat speed with some whip through the zone. Short, level to slightly uphill path.  Gap to gap power.  Recorded a high exit velo of 91 mph.  

Anthony Quintero, 3B/1B, Griffith HS, 2016: 6-foot-1, 200 pounds, ran a 7.40-60.  Possesses soft hands at the corners with fluid feet and a clean exchange.  Plays through the ball well.  Accurate arm with average carry at 78 mph.  Good athleticism. Offensively, starts in an athletic, open setup.  Loads back, uses a leg kick.  Bat waggle.  Bat speed is quick with good whip.  Very good approach to the ball.  Gets to extension regularly showcasing pull-side power.  Recorded a high exit velo of 96 mph. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Philip Archer, 1B, Floyd Central HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 210 pound 1B possesses average hands in the field.  Moves well around the bag, clean exchange.  81 mph across the field with carry.  Offensively the LHH starts in a narrow setup.  Smooth load, short stride.  Average use of the lower half, good balance.  Possesses a quick bat with some whip.  Slightly uphill path, gets to extension.  Gap to gap type hitter with power potential.  Fluid rhythm.  Recorded a high exit velo of 91 mph.  

Dane Baldwin, 3B, Crawfordsville HS, 2016: 6-foot-3, 190 pounds, ran a 7.55-60.  Defensively, showcased average hands and feet.  Exchange is clean and plays through the ball.  Short arm action across the diamond at 77 mph with average carry.  Offensively the LHH starts in a balanced setup with a wide base.  Minimal load back, slight leg kick.  Average use of the lower half with good balance throughout the swing.  Above average bat speed with a good approach to the ball.  Short, level path to the baseball, gets to extension.  Gap power, fluid rhythm.  Recorded a high exit velo of 87 mph. 

Tyler Blackington, 3B, Carmel HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 215 pounds, ran a 7.20-60.  Hands are hard defensively.  Lacks foot speed.  Needs to quicken up the exchange.  Plays through the ball.  Across the diamond was 76 with average carry, accurate throws.  At the plate hits from a balanced setup.  Loads back, short stride.  Average bat speed, fair approach to the ball.  Long, uphill path, slap type hitter.  Recorded a high exit velo of 85 mph.  

Christian Chapman, 1B, Fishers HS, 2016: 6-foot-3, 205 pounder possesses an athletic, strong frame.  Defensively, possesses average hands with fluid feet and a clean exchange.  Accurate arm across the diamond at 84 mph with some carry.  At the plate hits from an athletic setup.  Loads back, short stride.  Good use of his lower half.  Above average bat speed with a good approach.  Long, level path to the ball.  Line drive hitter with occasional gap power. Recorded a high exit velo of 86 mph.  

Arian Coffey, 3B, Delta HS, 2016: 6-foot-3, 160 pounder, tall, lanky frame.  Showcased sure hands in the field.  Footwork is fluid, exchange is clean.  Plays through the ball with some athleticism.  Short arm action across the diamond at 80 mph with some accuracy.  Ran a 7.49-60.  At the plate starts open, loads back.  Stride is short.  Average use of the lower half with good balance throughout the swing.  Good approach.  Long path, gets to extension.  Pull hitter, hard contact. Recorded a high exit velo of 77.  

Noah Davis, 3B, Andrean HS, 2016: 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, strong, thick frame.  Solid defender at 3B with average hands.  Moves well for his size, plays through the ball.  Long, ¾ arm action across the diamond at 78 mph.  At the plate starts open and loads back.  Stride is short.  Tendency to fly open.  Long, uphill path to the baseball.  Pull-side hitter.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 89 mph.   

Mitch Howie, 1B, Hamilton Heights HS, 2016: 6-foot-1, 195 pounds.  At 1B showcased above average hands, moves well around the bag.  Clean exchange. Solid defender.  Across the field was 74 from a short arm action.  Offensively, hits from an open stance and loads back, slight arm bar.  Partial use of his lower half with good balance throughout the swing.  Possesses some bat speed and good rhythm throughout the swing.  Gets to extension.  Recorded a high exit velo of 89 mph. 

Noah Freimuth, 1B, Bishop Dwenger HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 199 pound 1B showcased average hands defensively.  Plays through the ball well.  Slow footwork.  Across the diamond was 84 mph with carry.  Offensively, starts wide.  Loads back, hands drop.  Leg kick, hips explode.  Stays balanced.  Possesses quick bat speed with a good approach.  Gets to extension with fluid rhythm.  Gap to gap hitter, consistent hard contact.  Recorded a high exit velo of 90 mph.   

Sam Huff, 3B, Castle HS, 2016: 6-foot-4, 175 pounder possesses an athletic, lanky frame.  Above average hands defensively, with good footwork.  Exchange is clean.  Plays through the ball.  Moves well.  Across the diamond was 79 mph form a short arm action.  At the plate hits from a balanced setup.  Hands drop during the load.  Short stride.  Shows some twitch.  Good torque.  Lower half needs refined.  Level path with average bat speed.  Line drive hitter with occasional gap power.  Recorded a high exit velo of 84 mph.  

Kelly Rider, 1B, Charlestown HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 220 pounds was 80 across the infield with some accuracy.  Average actions at 1B.  Plays through the ball.  Slow feet.  At the plate hits out of a crouch setup, loads back.  Minimal stride.  Tendency to over rotate with the lower half.  Flys open, pull hitter.  Average bat speed, long path to the ball.  Line drive hitter.  Recorded a high exit velo of 83 mph.  

Jared Schoen, 1B, Hauser HS, 2016: 6-foot-1, 205 pounds, ran a 7.68-60 and was 79 across the field with accuracy.  Offensively, starts in a balanced setup with a  smooth load.  Stride is short.  Good balance throughout the swing.  Average bat speed, fair approach to the ball.  Swing path is uphill.  Pull-side hitter.  Recorded a high exit velo of 81 mph.  

Nick Thieme, 1B, Guerin Catholic HS, 2016: 6-foot, 215 pounds, ran an 8.18-60.  Bats left, throws right. Possesses average hands at 1B,  Short 3/4 arm action across the diamond at 71 mph.  Hits out of a balanced stance, loads back. Short Stride.  Lower half needs refined.  Level path. Recorded a high exit velo of 76 mph.    

Tanner Wesp, 1B, Charlestown HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 250 pounds showcased average hands in the field, ran a 7.61-60.  Offensvively, hits out of an athletic, crouch setup.  Loads back, stride is short.  Good approach to the ball with average bat speed.  Long path to the ball, gets to extension. Possesses strength.  Choppy rhythm.  Recorded a high exit velo of 86 mph.  

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