Maryland Future Games Trials: Corner Infield Analysis

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This week we take one final look at the the roster from our Future Games Trials at the University of Maryland. We continue today with a full analysis of the corner infielders starting with our top performers.

 

TOP CORNER INFIELD PERFORMERS

 

 

James Michel 3B / RHP / Archbishop Curley, MD / 2021 Long, lanky, athletic body type and projectable 6-foot-3, 170 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, athletic, square stance at the plate. Smooth back load and short stride. Fires hips and incorporates lower body into swing. Showed quick hands and fast bat speed. Stays behind the ball well and finishes in a balanced position. Short, slightly uphill swing path with an exit velo of 86 mph. Gap-to-gap type hitter now and uses the whole field. More power projected as he fills out. Plays with active feet at third base and reads hops well. Showed clean exchanges and soft hands. Long arm action throwing from a high three-quarter slot at 75 mph. Ran a 5.07 home-to-first time.

 

 

Kyle Whitaker 3B / RHP / McDonogh, MD / 2020 Big, strong body type and 6-foot-2, 225 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, slightly closed stance at the plate. Big leg kick and short stride. Creates nice hand separation and stays behind the ball well. Gets some lower half involvement and showed quick hands and fast bat speed. Cuts finish short. Would like to see him clear front side more enabling him to use more of his lower half and rotate fully in finish. Short, uphill swing path with plus strength present. Exit velo topped at 94 mph. Gets in a good athletic set-up when fielding the ball at third base and moves well for his size. Showed soft hands and clean exchanges. Funnels ball to chest and throws with long arm action from a high three-quarter slot at 85 mph. Ran a 4.58 home-to-first time.

 

 

Bobby Duffy 3B / RHP / North Harford, MD / 2020 Solid, compact body type and 5-foot-11, 190 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, slightly crouched, open stance. Smooth back load with a short, uphill swing path. Explosive lower half involvement, quick hands, and fast bat speed. Gets really good extension through contact and stays behind the ball well. High finish and exit velo of 82 mph. Took two really impressive rounds of BP showing gap-to-gap power and even more pop to the pull side. Plays through the ball in the infield with good hands. Showed the ability to really pick it. Glove tap in exchange. Throws with shorter arm actions at a high three-quarters slot at 81 mph. Ran a 4.83 home-to-first.

 

 

Hunter Tipton RHP / 3B / John Carroll, MD / 2019 Solid, strong body type and 6-foot-1, 210 pound frame. Starts square to the pitcher with weight shifted to back side. Small toe-tap used for rhythm and timing. Showed some lower half involvement and bat speed. Short, level swing path and a 81 mph exit velo. Line drive type hitter with occasional pop. Plays through the ball at third base with soft hands and showed a quick, clean exchange. Short arm action throwing from a low three-quarter slot at 76 mph. Ran a 5.46 home-to-first time.

 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Tyler Blittersdorf C/OF/3B John Carroll 2019
Solid body type and 5-foot-10, 195 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, athletic stance at the plate. Short, smooth, rock-back load and high leg kick for rhythm and timing. Explosive lower half and stays behind the ball well. Quick hands and fast bat speed. Compact, short, slightly uphill swing path with good extension past contact. Gap-to-gap type hitter with present pull-side power. Took two impressive rounds of BP. Plays through the ball at third base and showed a quick, clean exchange. Throws with short arm action from a high three-quarter slot at 75 mph.

Jack Branthover 3B/RHP Bethesda-Chevy Chase 2020
Solid body type and strong lower half. 5-foot-8, 170 pound frame. Hits from a balanced open stance at the plate. Short back load and high leg kick used to create rhythm and timing. Drifts forward with stride. Nice lower half involvement in swing with quick hands and some bat speed. Shorter level swing path with an exit velo of 81 mph. Plays through the ball at third base. Long arm action throwing from a high three-quarter slot at 74 mph. Ran a 5.25 home-to-first time.

Ryan Callahan 1B/RHP Mount St. Joseph 2020
Long, athletic body type and 5-foot-11, 185 pound frame. Quiet body in the box hitting from a balanced, athletic, square stance with a slightly wider base. Hands pre-set at shoulder height. Small leg kick and short stride. Would like to see him use more of his lower half in the swing. Level swing path and line drive type hitter. Exit velo was 75mph. Gets in an athletic fielding position at first base and works through the ball. Showed quick, clean double play feeds with short arm action. Throws from a high three-quarter arm slot at 71 mph. Ran a 5.51 home-to-first time.

Aidan Greaney 3B/1B South Carroll 2021
Solid body type and 6-foot, 175 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, athletic, slightly open stance. Deep rock back load into a crouched position. Toe-tap used for timing. Would like to see more lower half involvement in swing. Slightly uphill swing path with a 75 mph exit velo. Line drive type hitter with occasional pop. Works through the ball at third base. Short arm action throwing from a low three-quarter slot at 65 mph. Ran a 5.52 home-to-first time.

Myles Janson RHP/OF/1B John Carroll 2019
Long, lanky body type and projectable 6-foot-5, 205 pound frame. Hits from a square stance and wide base at the plate. Uses a toe-tap for rhythm and timing. Gets uphill through contact and stays through the ball with some lower half involvement. Longer, slightly uphill swing path with an exit velo of 78 mph. Plays through the ball and showed a clean exchange on double play feeds from first base. Long arm action throwing from a high three-quarter slot at 81 mph.

Thomas Joseph OF/1B Archbishop Spalding 2021
Projectable, big, solid body type and 6-foot-3, 190 pound frame. Hits from an open stance at the plate. Creates very nice separation with a longer stride. Uses some lower half in swing, still room for more. Strong upper body and quick hands creating fast bat speed. Shorter, level swing path with an exit velo of 86 mph. Gap-to-gap type hitter with some power evident. Plays with active feet and works through the ball at first base. Short arm action throwing from a high three-quarter slot at 67 mph.

Stephen Schenning RHP/3B Loyola Blakefield 2021
Solid body type with strong lower half. 5-foot-11, 170 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, slightly crouched, and slightly open wider base stance. Quick rock-back load and attacks the baseball. Gets some lower half involvement and showed some bat speed. Worked gap-to-gap during BP and showed some pull side power. Stays behind the ball well and swings with a slightly longer uphill swing path. Exit velo was 84 mph. Plays through the ball at third base and showed nice quick, clean exchanges. Short arm action throwing from a low three-quarter slot at 73 mph. Ran a 5.34 home-to-first time.

Weston Weilminster 1B/3B Walt Whitman 2022
Solid body type and 5-foot-11, 200 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, athletic, slightly open stance with bat resting on back shoulder. Cocks bat into hitting position during short back load. Noticeable weight transfer to back side and stays behind the ball well. Shorter, uphill swing path finishing high with bottom hand. Showed some lower half involvement and bat speed. Gap-to-gap type hitter with some pop. Exit velo was up to 87 mph. Gets in a low, athletic fielding position at first base. Has a tendency to wait back on the ball. Short arm action throwing from a high three-quarter slot at 69 mph. Ran a 6.02 home-to-first time.