By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The PBR Kentucky Underclass Games event took place on June 29-30 with a combination showcase/game play event at Sayre HS and the University of Kentucky. The event afforded players from around the state the opportunity to showcase their abilities and establish themselves as top players in their respective classes. The following is a look at the position players for Team Black at the event. This is position player analysis only. Those players who also pitched for Team Black had that evaluation featured in a previous article.

middle infielders

Braeden Lee, SS/RHP, R/R, West Jessamine HS, 2017
5-foot-9, 145-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, has a slight arm bar in load phase, gets the barrel through the zone with some hand quickness, line drive type hitter impressed in BP making hard contact to all fields, showed good speed running 6.95 60-yard dash, hit well in game play going 2-for-4 with two sharp singles to left field. Shows adequate hands defensively, good lateral movement, long high-3/4 release with solid 80 mph velocity across the infield, accurate throws, good body control with ability to throw from multiple arm angles, solid 2017 prospect.

Nolan Melton, SS/RHP, R/R, Henderson County HS, 2018
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride and good overall balance, short swing path with good extension through contact, line drive type hitter with a good approach at the plate, 75 mph exit velocity, ran a 7.44 60-yard dash, went 2-for-3 in game play with a single to right field. Shows soft hands defensively with a quick exchange and works through the baseball well, good arm strength with accurate throws, 81 mph velocity across the infield, good body control, a 2018 MIF to keep a close eye on.

Timothy Rogers, SS/RHP, Anderson County HS, 2018
6-foot-2, 150-pound lanky right-handed hitter hits from a closed stance, short stride, has a gap to gap approach at the plate, average bat speed with 74 mph exit velocity, made contact in each at bat going 1-for-4 with a single to left field, ran 8.18 60-yard dash, offensive game will continue to evolve with physical strength. Shows average defensive hands, has a high-3/4 release with accurate throws, 72 mph velocity across the infield.

corner infielders

Hunter Shiarella, 1B, R/R, Grayson County HS, 2017
6-foot-1, 205-pound right-handed hitter had an impressive showing. Hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, short swing path, shows occasional pull-side power, has strength in swing that generates some lift, ran a 7.46 60-yard dash, 87 mph exit velocity, went 3-for-3 in game play with two singles to center and a double to right-center. Shows soft hands at first base, moves well for size around the bag, 71 mph velocity with accurate throws.

John Hicks, 3B, R/R, Greenwood HS, 2018
6-foot-1, 220-pound right-handed hitter hits from an open stance with a mid-length stride, gets out on front foot early occasionally but shows good power to the pull side, 83 mph exit velocity, ran a 7.84 60-yard dash, went 1-for-3 in game play with a single to right field. Shows average hands at third base, tends to field ball on heels, shows some arm strength for age at 77 mph across the infield, accurate throws, bat is current best tool with some power.

Dalton Bearns, 3B, R/R, Hopkinsville HS, 2018
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitter hits from a slightly open stance, short stride, slight uphill swing path, line drive type hitter with average bat speed for age, 76 mph exit velocity, ran 7.97 60-yard dash, went 0-for-4 in game play with one strikeout. Shows average defensive hands, ¾ realease with some accuracy, developing arm strength at 64 mph across the infield will need improvement for the third base position.

outfielders

Will McClurg, OF, R/R, Lexington Catholic HS, 2018
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitter hits from a slightly open stance and gets to square with a short stride, line drive type hitter who makes hard contact to all fields, has above average bat speed for age, 79 mph exit velocity, ran his best 60 to date at 7.06, went 0-for-3 in game play with a strikeout. Plays through the ball well defensively with soft hands and athletic feet, short high-3/4 release with some accuracy, 72 mph velocity (76 at previous event) with average carry.

Joshua Johnson, OF, R/R, George Rogers Clark HS, 2018
6-foot-1, 160-pound right-handed hitter hits from a wide base, leg kick trigger with short stride, foot gets down late at times, average bat speed, 76 mph exit velocity, shows good speed for age with 6.98 60-yard dash, went 0-for-4 in game play with one strikeout. Shows good hands in the outfield, plays through the ball well, has a long exchange, long high-3/4 release with some accurate throws, average arm strength at 73 mph, 2018 prospect with good athleticism.

Tyler Pence, OF/LHP, R/L, Eastern HS, 2017
6-foot-1, 165-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a leg kick trigger, average balance, slight uphill swing path, took a good round of BP but struggled in game play, went 0-for-4, ran 7.40 60-yard dash. Plays through the ball in the outfield with athletic actions, showed an increase in arm strength from previous event at 73 mph with mostly accurate throws from a long over the top release and clean exchange.

Jonathan Gillock, OF/SS, R/R, Casey County HS, 2017
5-foot-8, 145-pound right-handed hitter hits from an open stance and gets to square with a short stride, wraps bat in load phase creating some length in swing, has overall good balance, line drive type hitter with average bat speed, 73 mph exit velocity, ran a 7.43 60-yard dash, went 1-for-4 in game play with a single to right field. Shows better defensively as an outfielder, plays through the ball well, long high-3/4 release with 72 mph velocity, 73 mph velocity across the infield.

catchers

Dalton Cornett, C, L/R, Knott County Central HS, 2017
6-foot, 150-pound left-handed hitter was limited at the event due to elbow soreness. Hits from a slightly open stance and squares front side with a slight leg kick and short stride, line drive type hitter who has gotten stronger and shows flashes of gap power, good round of BP consistently barreling the baseball, went 0-for-3 in game play with a SAC fly, ran a 7.38 60-yard dash (7.25 at previous event). Did not participate defensively in the event.

Clay Trusty, C, R/R, Beechwood HS, 2019
5-foot-8, 160-pound right-handed hitter hits from a wide base, minimal stride, hands start close to body and load back, level swing path with line drive production, 74 mph exit velocity, ran 7.93 60-yard dash, went 0-for-4 in game play making contact in each at bat and lining out to third base. Shows solid young skills behind the plate, quick transfer and release, 71 mph velocity with accurate throws to the bag, 1.99-2.08 pop times, a young catcher to keep a close eye on moving forward.

Peyton Fannin, C, R/R, Rowan County HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, short stride, long and level swing path, line drive type hitter took a solid round of BP, 74 mph exit velocity, ran a 7.56 60-yard dash, hit well in game play going 2-for-3 with two singles. Defensively has a short high-3/4 release with clean exchange, showed a slight increase in arm strength at 67 mph with slightly improved pop times of 2.19-2.33 with accurate throws to the second base bag.

Logan Black, C, L/R, Madison Central HS, 2017
6-foot-2, 180-pound left-handed hitter hits from an open stance, loads back on front foot, short swing path that produces line drives, 81 mph exit velocity, ran an 8.09 60-yard dash, went 0-for-3 in game play showing a pull approach with one strikeout. Has a short high-3/4 release from behind the plate, has room for quicker footwork and release, 68 mph velocity on throws to second base, accurate throws to the bag, pop times ranged from 2.16-2.28, bat is best current tool.