Prep Baseball Report

Preseason All-State: Middle 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 15 middle infielders that attended the event.  

Top Ranked MIF

Jake Clawson, SS, Yorktown HS, 2016: A strong, physical 6-foot-4, 200 pounder starts from a balanced approach from the right side of the plate. He shows present power with an uphill path. Showcased an explosive lower half with quick hands to the baseball. Reached a top exit velocity of 91 mph. Possesses pro-tools.  Defensively, showcased sure hands with fluid feet and a clean exchange.  Athletic actions.  Strong accurate arm across the field at 87 mph with carry.  Ran a 6.92-60.  

Carter Bridge, SS, Harrison HS, 2016: The 6-foot-170 pound shortstop showcased athletic defensive actions.  Showcased fluid footwork with above average hands along with a quick/clean exchange. Possesses a quick arm that was 85 across the diamond.  Ran a 6.95-60 at the event.  At the plate hits in a balanced setup with a smooth load.  Short stride with average use of the lower half.  Good balance throughout the swing.  Possesses above average bat speed with a good approach to the ball.  Simple swing, line drive hitter.  Projects to hit for average.  Recorded a high exit velo of 86 mph.  

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Hunter Cornelius, 2B/MIF, White River Valley HS, 2016: 5-foot-7, 135 pounds, ran a 7.50-60.  Small frame, nothing flashy, solid defender.  Soft hands, quick/fluid feet.  Ability to throw from multiple arm angles, makes the routine plays.  Across the diamond was 76 mph with average carry.  At the plate starts in a closed setup.  Smooth load.  Stride is short, leg kick.  Cuts himself off after the stride.  Average use of the lower half with good balance.  Short, level path to the baseball.   Recorded a high exit velo of 80 mph.   

Jordan Cox, SS, Zionsville HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 165 pounds, showcased average hands and feet with a clean exchange.  Athletic, plays through the ball well.  Short arm action across the field at 82 mph with some accuracy.  At the plate starts open, loads back.  Leg kick, tendency to dive.  Lands heavy on his front foot.  Over rotates with the lower half.  Long, uphill path to the ball, pull hitter.  Recorded a high exit velo of 83 mph.  Ran a 7.18-60.

Jordan Cozart, SS, Evansville Central HS, 2016: 5-foot-11, 155 pounder showcased soft hands in the field with good feet and a clean exchange.  Athletic.  Short arm action across the diamond with accuracy at 83 mph.  Offensively, hits from an athletic setup slightly open.  Bars during the load.  Short stride with average use of the lower half.  Good balance.  Fast bat with a good approach.  Level path, gets to extension.  Line drive hitter with fluid rhythm.  Recorded a high exit velo of 84 mph.  Ran a 7.51-60.

Joseph Drury, SS, Center Grove HS, 2016: 5-foot-11, 175 pound SS showcased fluid actions in the field with good hands and a clean exchange.  Plays through the baseball.  Long arm action across the field at 82 mph.  Ran a 7.44-60.  At the plate hits from a tall, open setup.  Loads back and uses a short stride.  Possesses some bat speed with a good approach to the ball.  Short path, fluid rhythm.  Line drive hitter with some pull-side power.  Recorded a high exit velo of 86 mph.  

Drew Fox, SS, Carmel HS, 2016: 5-foot-10, 155 pounder ran a 6.92-60.  Displayed average hands and a clean exchange.  Fluid feet.  Plays through the ball.  Short arm action across the diamond at 80 mph.  Offensively, starts in a tall, narrow setup.  Loads back and uses a short stride.  Good balance throughout the swing.  2 part swing.  Long, uphill path.  Lacks rhythm.  Recorded a high exit velo of 79 mph.  

Tyler Kenjic, SS, Hobart HS, 2016: 6-foot, 185 pound SS ran a 7.25-60.  Aggressive defender possesses average hands with fluid feet.  Exchange is clean, plays through the ball.  Short arm action at 80 across the diamond.  Plays hard.  Offensively, hits from an athletic, open setup.  Loads back, short stride.  Good balance.  Average bat speed with a good approach.  Level path, produces line drives.  Recorded a high exit velo of 83 mph.  

Drew Lunsford, 2B/MIF, Homestead HS, 2016: 6-foot, 150 pounds, ran a 7.18-60.  Solid defender with above average hands and fluid feet.  Exchange is clean.  Lacks elite foot speed.  Long arm action across the diamond at 77 mph with some accuracy.  At the plate this from an athletic, crouch setup.  Tendency to drop hands during the load.  Stride is short with some use of the lower half.  Average balance.  Bat speed is average with a fair approach to the ball.  Long path, line drive hitter.  Recorded a high exit velo of 84 mph.   

Alan Lozer, 2B/MIF, North Central HS, 2016: 6-foot, 150 pound MIF ran a 7.50-60.  Defensively possesses sure hands with average feet.  Clean exchange, plays through the ball.  Makes the routine play.  Across the diamond was 82 with accuracy.  Long arm action.  Offensively, starts closed and loads back.  Short stride.  Good balance throughout.  Average bat speed, level path.  Pull-side hitter with good rhythm.  Recorded a high exit velo of 84 mph.  

James Meyer, 2B/MIF, Zionsville HS, 2016: 6-foot-2, 180 pound MIF possesses an athletic frame.  Showcased average hands with fluid feet up the middle.  Clean exchange and plays through the ball with some athleticism.  Long arm action at 83 mph with some carry and accuracy.  Ran a 7.44-60.  At the plate hits from a slight crouch setup, loads back.  Long stride with average use of his lower half. Good balance throughout.  Aggressive hitter with a quick bat.  Long path to the ball, shows some power potential.  Recorded a high exit velo of 86 mph.  

Sam Rhoades, SS, FW Carroll HS, 2016: 5-foot-11, 160 pounds, ran a 7.33-60.  Average hands and actions in the field.  Fluid feet.  Slow exchange.  Plays through the ball.  81 across the infield from a long arm action.  Offensively, starts in an open setup.  Loads back, front arm bar.  Short stride, stiff front side.  Average bat speed, short level path.  Line drive hitter, barreled up the baseball.  Recorded a high exit velo of 81 mph.   

Ryan Ruthrauff, 2B/MIF, Lake Central HS, 2016: 5-foot-11, 185 pounds, ran a 7.26-60.  In the field showcased soft hands with good footwork.  Clean exchange, plays through the ball.  Across the diamond was 81 mph from a  short arm action with accuracy.  Offensively, hits from an open setup, loads back.  Bat tends to wrap during the load.  Leg kick, average balance.  Above average bat speed with a great approach to the ball.  Long, uphill path showing pull-side power.  Recorded a high exit velo of 87 mph.

Luke Schneider, SS, Penn HS, 2016: 5-foot-10, 160 pounder ran a 7.44-60.  Above average hands in the field with fluid feet.  Clean exchange, slow transfer.  Ability to throw from multiple arm angles.  79 across the field.  At the plate starts open.  Smooth load.  Compact swing, uphill path.  Finishes one-handed.  Excellent balance.  Recorded a high exit velo of 82 mph.   

Robbie Strader, 2B/MIF, Roncalli HS, 2016: 6-foot, 175 pounder ran a 7.27-60.  Possesses above average hands defensively with quick, fluid feet.  Exchange is clean.  Athletic actions, plays through the ball.  Across the diamond was 81 mph, long arm action.  At the plate starts in a balanced setup, loads back.  Short stride, toe tap.  Lower half collapses at times. Spins.  Quick hands at the plate.  Good approach to the ball.  Slightly uphill path, gets to extension regularly.  Recorded a high exit velo of 84 mph.  

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