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Fall Underclass Games: Middle Infield Analysis

November 13, 2014

By Sean McCann
Prep Baseball Report Kansas

Prep Baseball Report Kansas hosted the Fall Underclass Games at Tointon Family Stadium on the campus of Kansas State University in Manhattan on October 19, 2014. This was an invite-only event for Kansas high school class of 2017 and 2018 prospects.

There were several two-way players (pitcher + position player) at this event, but keep in mind that the evaluations below are based on the position player side only. 

Two Central Kansas area prospects stood out among the middle infield group in Adam Theis (Bishop Carroll HS, 2017) and Griffin McBride (Rose Hill HS, 2017). Both have strength and compact swings built to deliver line drives and showed themselves to be very solid defenders in pre-game workouts and game action.

Below are the scouting reports on the six middle infielders that participated in this event. Click on the player's headline link to be directed to their profile with video from this event.

Top Prospects

1. Adam Theis, SS/2B, Bishop Carroll HS (2017)
Theis is a 5-foot-10, 165-pound right-hand hitting shortstop and second baseman that also worked out in the outfield in pre-game. At the plate showed a balanced set-up, open stance, reverse toe tap, strides inline, smooth hand load, short bat path, compact swing, line drive approach with bat speed, mostly flat-middle line drives with some pull side juice, exit velocity 84 mph. Ran a 7.29 60-yard dash and 4.59 home-to-first. Ran hard 90’s in the game; best times were in the game. In the outfield showed athletic footwork, clean exchanges, long high three-quarters arm action, all accurate throws, 80 mph throwing velocity. During defensive evaluations at shortstop showed quick feet, soft hands, clean exchanges, high three-quarters arm action, throws had carry to them, very accurate arm, 76 mph throwing velocity. In game action he put on a defensive display at both middle infield spots dominating the average play and making challenging plays look easy. Theis was the top middle infielder at the event.

2. Griffin McBride, SS, Rose Hill HS (2017)
McBride is a strong 5-foot-9, 185-pound right-hand hitting shortstop that has already racked up KABC 4A-I All-State First Team honors during his freshman campaign. During batting practice showed a tall set-up, open stance, strides slightly open, short bat path, compact swing, repeats, strong hands, maintains balance, peppered the middle of the field with line drives, 80 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.79 60-yard dash and 4.68 home-to-first. At shortstop fielded everything cleanly, easy high three-quarters arm action, 72 mph throwing velocity. In the game showed sure hands and an accurate arm on a number of plays. Very aggressive player that knows how to compete.

3. Chris Esposito, SS, Blue Valley Southwest HS (2017)
Esposito is an athletic-framed 5-foot-11, 175-pound right-hand hitting shortstop. At the plate showed a tall set-up, open stance, no hand load, inline stride, short bat path, simple, stays inside the ball, worked the middle of the field in batting practice, exit velocity 81 mph. Went 1-for-3 with a walk and stolen base in game action. Ran a 7.62 60-yard dash and 4.51 home-to-first. At shortstop moved well to his left and right, fielded everything cleanly, short high three-quarters arm action, all accurate throws, 77 mph throwing velocity.

best of the rest (alphabetical order)

Jayton Haggard, SS, Marysville HS (2017)
Haggard is a thin, athletic 6-foot-2, 150-pound right-hand hitting shortstop that earned First Team All-League honors as a freshman. Balanced set-up at the plate, open stance, minimal hand load, strides inline, maintains balance, simple swing, gap-to-gap approach, exit velocity 74 mph. Ran a 7.41 60-yard dash and 4.58 home to first. Went 1-for-4 with a double and stolen base in game action. During defensive evaluations at shortstop fielded everything cleanly, short arm action, easy arm, all accurate throws, 73 mph throwing velocity. Projectable class of 2017 infield prospect.

Grant Lathrop, 2B/3B, Olathe East HS (2017)
Lathrop is a 5-foot-10, 145-pound left-hand hitting second baseman and third baseman. At the plate showed a balanced set-up, open stance, smooth hand load, short swing, simple, balance throughout, middle-oppo line drives, exit velocity 77 mph. Ran a 4.50 60-yard dash and 4.69 home-to-first. During defensive evaluations showed fluid footwork, clean exchanges, short three-quarters arm action, easy arm, 72 mph throwing velocity.

Blake Meis, 2B, Manhattan HS (2017)
Meis is a 5-foot-7, 130-pound right-hand hitting second baseman. Balanced set-up at the plate, open stance, minimal hand load, strides inline, short bat path, maintains balance, middle approach, exit velocity 71 mph. Ran a 7.25 60-yard dash and 4.41 home-to-first. During defensive evaluations showed fluid footwork, fielded everything cleanly, short three-quarters arm motion, accurate throws, 71 mph velocity. Solid athlete.

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