Top Prospect Games West: Catchers and Corner Infield Analysis

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Over 30 uncommitted players from the 2020 - 2023 graduating classes came to Mount St. Mary's University this year for the PBR Maryland Top Prospect Games West. Tons of talent was on display as each player participated in a pro-style workout and game in front of college coaches from around the region and our PBR scouting staff. Below is an analysis of each of the catchers and corner infielders at the event. Be sure to continue following us right here as we bring you full analysis of all the players from the Top Prospect Games West this week. 

Top Prospect Games West: Catchers

Morgan Bragg C / 3B / Clarksburg, MD / 2021 Strong, solid body type and 5’9’’, 170 pound frame. Hits from a slightly crouched, open stance at the plate. Short back load and small stride with some hand separation. Strong lower half involvement and a short, slightly uphill swing. Stays behind the ball well showing quick hands and bat speed. Middle to pull-side approach line drive approach with some pop. Recorded an 81 mph exit velocity. Showed quick footwork behind the plate and gains ground on throws to second base. Squares shoulders well to the target and throws with short arm action from a mid to high three-quarter slot at 70 mph. Exchanges were clean and throws were very accurate. Pop times ranged 2.16 - 2.25. Ran a 7.57 60-yard time.

Kyle Brown C / 1B / Frederick, MD / 2021 Strong, solid body type and projectable 6’0’’, 175 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, open stance at the plate. Smooth back load and medium sized leg kick with nice hand separation. Stays behind the ball well with strong lower half involvement. Attacks the ball with intent and a short, uphill swing path. Showed good extension through contact and a strong finish. Creates quick bat speed through the hitting zone. Gap-to-gap type hitter with power present and much more projected. Recorded a 83 mph exit velocity. Stays low behind the plate with short, quick footwork. Gains ground and squares shoulders to target at second. Throws with short arm action from a high three-quarter slot at 72 mph. Showed quick, clean exchanges with pop times ranging 2.01 - 2.03. Ran a 7.10 60-yard time.

Joe Lokos C / OF / Avalon, MD / 2020 Strong, solid, physical body type and 5’11’’, 180 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, slightly open stance at the plate with relaxed rhythm. Smooth, controlled backload with a medium sized leg kick and good hand separation. Attacks the ball with intent and generates power with strong lower half involvement. Short, uphill swing path, quick hands and fast, whippy bat speed through the hitting zone. Excellent extension past contact and showed good balanced in the box. Easy power present to all fields. Recorded a 90 mph exit velocity. Athletic, with quick footwork behind the plate. Squares shoulders and gains ground on throws to second base. Throws with short arm action from a mid to high three-quarters arm slot at 74 mph. Showed quick, clean exchanges with pop times ranging 2.01 - 2.03. Ran a 7.00 60-yard time.

Matthew May C / CH Flowers, MD / 2022 Big, solid, physical body type and 5’9’’, 190 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, square stance at the plate with a slightly wider base. Medium sized leg kick load with slight hand separation. Showed quick hands and bat speed through the hitting zone. Short, direct, compact, level swing. Line drive type hitter with occasional pop. More power projected as he learns to incorporate his lower half more in the swing. Recorded a 74 mph exit velocity. Showed quick footwork on throws down to second base. Quick, clean exchanges, squaring shoulders to target. Throws with short arm action from a low to mid three quarter slot at 65 mph. Pop times ranged 2.22 - 2.46. Ran a 7.98 60-yard time.

Alex Pope C / 3B / Poolesville, MD / 2021 Strong, solid body type and 5’10’’, 180 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, slightly open stance at the plate. Rhythmic load, short stride, and slight hands separation. Incorporates some lower half into swing. Showed a short, level swing path, quick hands, and quick bat speed. Excellent balance, good extension, and a strong finish. Gap-to-gap line drive type hitter with some pop. More power easily projected as he continues to utilize lower half in swing more. Recorded a 77 mph exit velocity. Showed quick footwork behind the plate and gains ground on throws to second base. Squares shoulders well and throws with short arm action over the top at 70 mph. Exchanges were quick and clean, throws were accurate, and pop times ranged 2.01 - 2.08. Ran a 7.58 60-yard time.

Joseph Sweeney C / OF / Smithsburg, MD / 2022 Athletic body type and 5’8’’, 145 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, square stance at the plate with hands pre-loaded and a slightly wider base. Smooth back load, crouching down into a more compact hitting position. Attacks the ball with intent and showed a short, quick, level swing. Incorporates some lower half involvement in the swing with good balance throughout and a one-handed finish. Line drive type hitter with occasional pop. Recorded a 79 mph exit velocity. Showed quick footwork and clean exchanges behind the plate. Squares shoulders to second and gains ground on throws. Throws with short arm action from a mid three-quarter slot at 69 mph. Throws were accurate and pop times ranged 2.13 - 2.16. Ran a 7.61 60-yard time.

Top Prospect Games West: Corner Infielders

Matthew Rineman RHP / 1B / Delone Catholic , PA / 2021 Strong, solid body type and projectable 6’2’’, 195 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, slightly open stance at the plate. High leg kick load with some lower half involvement. Short to the ball with a slightly uphill swing path. Compact swing, creating some bat speed through the hitting zone. Stays behind the ball and gets good extension through contact. More lower half involvement would add some fluidity to the swing. Stayed gap-to-gap and showed some pop. Recorded an exit velocity of 79 mph. Bends well and sets up to the ball in an athletic position at first base. Showed fundamental footwork on double play feeds and throws with short arm action from a high three-quarter slot at 75 mph. Ran a 7.36 60-yard time.

Mike Wineke 1B / LHP / Calvert Hall, MD / 2021 Big, strong, solid body type and projectable 6’0’’, 220 pound frame. Hits from a pre-loaded, tall, balanced, slightly open stance from the left side. Creates nice hand separation and strides to a closed position at foot-strike. Showed some lower half involvement in the swing and good balance. Short to the ball with a compact, level swing that gets slightly uphill at times. Stays behind the ball and gets good extension through contact finishing with one hand. Quick hands and bat speed through the zone. Power type hitter with big time pull side pop. Took a few out during BP and peppered the wall with the rest. Recorded an 83 mph exit velocity. Works through the ball at first with fundamental footwork and showed quick, clean exchanges to second on double play feeds. Throws with short arm action from a mid three-quarter arm slot at 74 mph. Showed the ability to drop down for quicker exchanges to second base. Ran a 8.11 60-yard time.

Brendan Yagesh LHP / 1B / Urbana, MD / 2022 Long, lean athletic body type and projectable 6’2’’, 165 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, slightly open stance from the left side. Slight rock-back load and uses a toe-tap for timing. Explosive lower half involvement in the swing and stays behind the ball really well. Short to the ball with a slightly uphill swing path. Showed quick hands and quick bat speed. Body gets uphill through contact with good extension and high one-handed finish. Also showed nice balance in the box throughout. Nice gap-to-gap approach with some power present and much more projected. Recorded a 79 mph exit velocity. Athletic and rangy at first base. Moves well and sets up to the ball nicely. Works through the ball with fundamental footwork and showed clean exchanges to second base on double play feeds. Throws with long arm action from a mid to high three-quarter slot at 77 mph. Ran a 7.85 60-yard time.

Jacob Zuniga RHP / 3B / Good Counsel, MD / 2021 Athletic body type and 5’9’’, 155 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, square stance at the plate with a wide base. Smooth back load and short stride creating nice hand separation. Short, compact swing, quick hands and fast bat speed. Attacks the ball with intent and showed some lower half involvement. Stays behind the ball with good extension and a one-handed finish. Nice gap-to-gap line drive approach with occasional pop. Recorded a 79 mph exit velocity. Athletic and moves well at third base. Strong base and fields the ball out in front. Plays through the ball with quick footwork and showed clean exchanges to first base squaring shoulders to the target. Throws with shorter arm action from a mid to high three-quarter slot at 76 mph. Ran a 7.39 60-yard time.

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