Maryland Preseason All-State Session I: Middle Infield Analysis
April 22, 2021
Kyle Campbell & Jamie Naill Jr.
PBR Maryland
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Session I of the Maryland Preseason All-State featured close to 70 players from across the Old Line State and Delaware. Players were put through a pro-style workout and threw bullpens in front of our PBR Maryland staff with TrackMan and Blast on hand to capture additional data throughout the event. Below are evaluations on the 14 middle infielders at the event.
Middle Infielders
(Listed Alphabetically)
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Evan Bouldin SS / 2B / Appoquinimink (DE), MD / 2022
Body: 6’1’’, 190 pounds. Athletic, projectable frame with strength. Hit: RHH. Balanced, crouched setup as the hands showed minimal movement at shoulder height. Utilized an up-and-out leg lift stride in order to initiate the bat head through a flat path that worked slightly vertical at times. Lived in the LCF gap with some thump while getting the barrel out in front, really confident bat to ball skills driving the backside gap on occasion when thrown over the plate. Feel for extension yielding a noticeable 330 foot max batted ball distance during his batting practice round. Power: 93 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Doubles power to either gap with developing ability to run it out of the yard to the pull-side. When the leverage is there, the ball jumps off the barrel. Arm: RH. INF - 83 mph. Quick, high three-quarter slot with a moderate takeaway, accurate across the diamond. Should stick on the left side with enough carry and pace to get the job done. Defense: “Hop step” on the prep allowing for a confident first step to either side from a low-postured position. Read the ball well and fielded out in front with a soft glove hand funneling into the belt loop; moderate pace and could show more urgency by playing through the baseball a little earlier in routes. Run: 7.26 60-yard time.
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Dean Carr SS / RHP / Franklin, MD / 2022
Body: 5’10’’, 180 pounds. Strong and well-proportioned frame with a sturdy lower half. Hit: RHH. Wide, even stance with the hands flashing rhythm at the shoulder; utilized a short leg lift stride in order to initiate the bat head through a controlled, flat path into the hitting zone. Recorded a 68% on-plane efficiency via Blast Motion, pointing towards developing bat to ball skills present at the plate. Got on top of the ball mostly to the pull-side on this date, staying through it at times while notching a 23% line drive rate during batting practice. Power: 81 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Still learning his body, but the power is coming (280 foot peak batted ball distance). Mostly singles power at the moment with ability to generate XBH contact here and there. Arm: RH. INF - 75 mph. Short and usable, high three-quarter slot with some fluidity in the arm circle. Low-intent and smooth across the diamond. Defense: Average footwork with medium-high posture at the fielding window, a moderately soft glove hand worked just inside the toes and funneled inward. Could use the lower half to assist throwing power a little easier. Run: 7.66 60-yard time.
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Nathan Clarke RHP / 2B / Severna Park , MD / 2023
Body: 5’9’’, 145 pounds. Developing, lean frame with feel present. Hit: RHH. Balanced, traditional setup with the barrel resting on the shoulder pre-load; utilized a short lift and replace stride to initiate the bat head through a flat path into the hitting zone. Good connection and minimal effort pointing towards repeatability present at the dish, generated one of the top on-plane efficiencies we’ve seen (96% via Blast Motion) hinting at obvious bat to ball skills present. Will be an extremely tough out as he matures with a veteran, well-seasoned approach during batting practice. Used the middle of the field mostly and just hit the ball where it was pitched with consistency. Power: 81 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Starting to tap into his power source; developing doubles power at the moment with ability to hammer pitches up in the zone with good barrel accuracy. Arm: RH. INF - 74 mph. Quick, whippy high 3-4 slot and drops it down lower on plays on the run. Comfortability getting it out on the release with minimal restrictions. Defense: Arrived on time and held momentum through the fielding window, aggressive downhill shuffles towards the target and adequate pace during defensive evaluations. Handled plays in any direction well with confidence in the glove hand. Accurate throws across the diamond and the arm strength points to a stay at 2B for the moment. Run: 7.80 60-yard time.
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Josh Erd SS / 3B / Wootton, MD / 2023
Body: 5’10’’, 160 pounds. Athletic body type. Hit: RHH. Wide, athletic setup with the weight pre-shifted over a slightly-bent backside with upper-half coil. Utilized a deliberate, early lift and replace stride as well as a gather load behind the shoulder to initiate the bat head through a flat path into the hitting zone. Generated a standout 77% line drive rate showcasing obvious feel for the barrel offensively; hammered the middle of the field, wearing out both gaps during batting practice. Also could hit for some pop; accrued a 330 foot peak batted ball distance. Power: 92 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Current doubles power with room for more as he continues filling out. Hits any pitch in the zone well for extra bases. Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. Short and quick “V-slot” with ability to lengthen it out and fire when need be; handled different slots on the move as well. Defense: Advanced footwork working “right to left” at the fielding window from a low, athletic posture. Trusted the glove hand to be quick and smooth, funneling with ease to the throwing phase; pure middle infield intangibles and could be a standout defender moving forward. Run: 7.28 60-yard time.
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Christian Gamez OF / C / Calvert Hall, MD / 2023
Body: 5’11’’, 185 pounds. Athletic, wiry frame with some projection. Hit: RHH. Hits from a balanced, crouched, square stance at the plate. Smooth back load with weight shifted naively to the back side. Some hand separation with a quick toe-tap stride. Stays on the ball well and keeps his head down through contact with a slightly uphill swing path. Quick bat speed through contact and stays behind the ball well with solid extension through the zone. Some lower half involvement and a strong gap-to-gap approach. Power: 90 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Present pop to the pull side with more projected as the body continues to fill out. Arm: RH. C - 70 mph. INF - 76 mph. Throws with longer arm action from a high three-quarter slot. Defense: Pop times ranged 2.16-2.32. Replaces feet well with solid momentum towards the throw. Quick, clean exchanges with accurate strong throws to the bag. Attacks the ball in the infield with active feet. Fields the ball in closer to the body, funneling to the belt with quick, clean exchanges. Shows solid range side to side. Run: 7.64 60-yard time.
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Nathan Gumagay SS / OF / Winston Churchill High School, MD / 2022
Body: 5’11’’, 168 pounds. Compact, athletic frame with some feel for his body. Hit: RHH. Loose, slightly-open, and narrow setup as the hands started low with the barrel pointing straight up and down next to the head. Good stretch upon foot strike with a deep lift and replace stride outward towards the pitcher; utilized a flat barrel path to generate a middle of the field, line drive approach during batting practice (43% line drive rate). Genuine feel for the top hand with present bat to ball skills at the plate. Power: 85 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Developing doubles power with ability to get on the baseball when contacting out in front of the plate. Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. Short, high three-quarter slot with a mostly quick release; worked with some restriction on the takeaway and could change arm angles on the run. Defense: Solid round of defensive evaluations with moderate range to the glove hand side, knew when to attack high hops, sticking the foot in the ground early on the reads. Soft glove hand funneled into the belt loop allowing for average pace across the diamond. Run: 7.28 60-yard time.
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Bryce Mitchell SS / 3B / Damascus , MD / 2024
Body: 5’9’’, 150 pounds. Lean, developing frame with room to fill out. Hit: RHH. Balanced, even stance with a slight bend in the knees; utilized a deliberate leg lift stride early and often, initiating the bat head through a flat path in the hitting zone. Recorded a middle of the field approach during batting practice with occasional pull-side rotation, delivered the bat well at the point of impact allowing for a 43% line drive rate per Trackman Baseball. Power: 79 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Developing pop in the bat with ability to handle the pitch up in the zone for extra bases (265 foot batted ball distance). Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. High-intent, coiled setup with a quick arm from a three-quarter slot on the release. Accurate across the diamond. Defense: Approached the ball on time with the left foot as the glove worked softly out in front, stayed behind the ball creating momentum through the fielding window, powerful shuffles in line towards the target; took some time to get rid of the ball, which could be cleaned up. Run: 7.68 60-yard time.
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Body: 6’1’’, 220 pounds. Strong, projectable frame with good proportions in the build. Hit: RHH. Tall, narrow and slightly open start with a short lift and replace stride to initiate the swing through a slightly vertical path into the hitting zone. Low intent, but connected throughout allowing for some thump through the middle part of the field. Recorded a 57% line drive rate during his round, notching a 21% hard hit rate (batted balls over 90 mph). Developing bat to ball skills will only further success offensively (66% on-plane efficiency via Blast Motion). Power: 93 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Up to a 332 foot peak batted ball distance pointing towards present doubles power with room for more. Big time power potential down the line. Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. Short, three-quarter slot with a whippy release across the diamond, slight ASR on the carry. Defense: Quick first step and stayed light on his feet, beat the ball to the spot with down chest angles, but stood up after fielding. Accurate throws across the diamond with adequate pace from the hot corner during defensive evaluations. More in the tank. Run: 7.88 60-yard time.
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Josh Reinhold SS / RHP / Cape Henlopen (DE), MD / 2022
Body: 6’0’’, 170 pounds. Athletic, twitchy actions with a feel for the movements. Hit: RHH. Starts from a wide, balanced stance with a low hand start below the shoulder; slight, fluid move upwards to launch position coupled with a controlled leg lift stride to initiate his swing. Entered the hitting zone through a flat path with ability to create easy juice through the middle of the field. Good connection in the swing (75% on-plane efficiency per Blast Motion) while accruing an impressive 57% hard hit rate during his round of batting practice. Power: 95 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Notched an average of 14.18 G’s of rotational acceleration (power ceiling) with consistent gap to gap pop in the barrel at the moment (307 foot peak batted ball distance). Arm: RH. INF - 87 mph. High, three-quarter power slot with length in the takeaway, good carry across the diamond. Defense: Adequate footwork arriving on time with a soft glove hand that played inside and outside the body depending on the hop. Funneled into the belt line with average pace during defensive evaluations. Finesse present to his game in all phases (low-intent, but smooth). Handled the play on the run with ability to get rid in a hurry if need be. Run: 6.76 60-yard time.
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Ryan Rodriguez SS / 2B / Georgetown Prep, MD / 2022
Body: 5’10’’, 165 pounds. Lengthy, athletic frame with standout feel for his body. Hit: LHH. Crouched, even stance with the hands showing controlled rhythm around the shoulder to start; utilized a short lift and replace stride to initiate the bat head through a flat path in the hitting zone. Worked the middle of the field primarily with a quick, tight turn at the plate; accrued a standout 47% line drive rate during his round with noticeable bat to ball skills (83% on-plane efficiency via Blast Motion). Room for more juice as he continues holding additional strength. Power: 86 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Doubles power at the moment with feel for XBH on pitches over the plate. Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. Quick, high three-quarter slot with a fast trigger, got it in and out of the throwing slot with no issues. Defense: Above-average defender knowing the pace he wants to play at on each rep, beat the ball to the spot with advanced posture (low to the ground). A strong and trusted glove hand worked out in front with effortless funnels inward. Accurate arm strength across on the run, from the backhand side, and to his left. Might be relegated to a 2B position at the moment, in a role which he could be an impact defender. Run: 7.48 60-yard time.
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Connor Strauss SS / OF / Smyrna (DE), MD / 2022
Body: 6’0’’, 170 pounds. Lean, projectable build with ability to continue trending upwards by packing on additional strength; athleticism stands out. Hit: RHH. Balanced, even stance with the hands locked into a comfortable loaded position at the shoulder; utilized a short leg lift with good posture over the backside in order to initiate the bat head through the hitting zone (flat path with lift). Was able to get leverage through the bottom of the zone en route to 43% line drive rate during his batting practice round. Stayed off the ground for the most part and pounded the gap when pitched over the plate (343 foot peak batted ball distance). Nice feel for the barrel with little going on, pointing towards consistency at the plate. Power: 94 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Present extra-base hit pop to either gap; can run it out of the yard when getting the bat head out early to the pull-side. Arm: RH. INF - 84 mph. Quick, short “v-slot” with ability to accelerate pace if need be on the release, good feel for changing down to lower arm angles on the run. Should stick on the left side with more than enough strength across the diamond. Defense: Played over the toes with a plan on each repetition, was in attack mode constantly keeping the feet moving with increased momentum towards the target, handled any hop with relative ease; nifty glove work on short hops with ability to snatch it up off the ground, working horizontally with the hand. Solid defensive profile with more strength / power coming in the actions. Run: 7.14 60-yard time.
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Cole Swift SS / C / Snow Hill, MD / 2023
Body: 5’9’’, 160 pounds. Lean, athletic frame with sneaky strength in the actions. Hit: RHH. Loose, even setup through a slightly bent backside as the upper half coiled over it; utilized a leg hang to initiate the bat through a slightly vertical, uphill path into the hitting zone promoting a lofty approach. Kept the ball in the air primarily (43% fly ball rate) peppering the LCF gap with backspin off the barrel. Low-intent and smooth operation offensively and there’s room for more burst on the horizon. Power: 89 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Doubles power (261 foot peak batted ball distance) and showed success on pitches down in the zone working concurrently with his swing plane. Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. Hitchy, high three-quarter release with time in the takeaway, got to a V-slot on occasion when he wanted to get rid earlier. Could drop down slightly on the move. Defense: Hop step in the prep work allowing for a quick first step in either direction, good posture at the fielding window with down chest angles. Let a soft glove hand play comfortably outside his body on rangy plays allowing his athleticism to shine. Run: 7.02 60-yard time.
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Tariq Talley SS / 3B / Towson, MD / 2022
Body: 6’0’’, 185 pounds. Strong and athletic, good proportions throughout the frame. Hit: RHH. Open, loose setup with the hands showing slight rhythm under the shoulder to start. Utilized a controlled, slow paced leg hang stride in order to initiate the bat head through a fluid flat path with lift after contact. Burst through the zone was evident with present power to pull. Peppered the LCF gap with feel for commanding the inner half of the plate; hit into a stiff front side allowing for a 313 foot batted ball distance and a 29% hard hit rate during his round. Power: 92 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Doubles power at the moment, can run it out of the yard on occasion with quick hand speed (23.8 mph max via Blast Motion). Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. Quick over the top slot with ability to drop it down from the side more when he wants to be quick (or on the move). Defense: Feet worked on time with a soft glove hand playing out in front, solid routes to the baseball but stood up after fielding, creating stop and start momentum at times. Quality range to either side with a quick first step and low lateral movements. Run: 6.99 60-yard time.
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Brady Weiss SS / 3B / Wootton, MD / 2022
Body: 5’10’’, 160 pounds. Lean, athletic frame with feel for his body in all phases. Hit: RHH. Compact, crouched stance from an even setup as the hands showed rhythm at the shoulder. Utilized a leg lift stride in order to initiate the barrel through a flat path into the hitting zone towards a high finish. Good connection in the box and matched the plane of the pitch early in ball flight (73% on-plane efficiency via Blast Motion). Drove the ball hard through the middle, LCF side of the yard notching a 36% line drive rate during his round. Power: 85 mph exit velocity during BP per TrackMan. Developing ability to hit for XBH, uses a lot of intent but shows the most success when being smooth and letting the barrel get out towards the front of the plate. Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. Quick arm circle with minimal restrictions from a high three-quarter slot, accurate across the diamond. Defense: Approached on time with good body momentum and down chest angles at the fielding window, displayed the glove hand early with a smooth funnel inwards, good pace across the diamond and took every rep at near game speed. Run: 7.63 60-yard time.
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