Top Prospect Games West: Middle 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 middle infielders at the event. 

Top Prospect Games West: Middle Infielders

Graham Albers 2B / SS / Oakdale , MD / 2020 Athletic body type and 5’9’’, 145 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, slightly open stance at the plate. Short, rhythmic back load with some hand separation and a toe tap used for timing. Attacks the ball with intent and showed strong lower half involvement. Swing is short to the ball with a slightly uphill path that has a tendency to get more level at times. Showed quick hands and bat speed through the hitting zone. Stays behind the ball well with nice balance, extension and follow through. Showed a nice middle of the field line drive approach and some gap pop. Recorded an 83 mph exit velocity. Plays with active feet and rhythm in the infield. Surrounds the ball and works through it to first base with clean actions. Moves well and showed range with soft hands and quick, clean transfers. Throws with short arm action from a low three-quarters slot at 79 mph across the diamond. Ran a 7.00 60-yard time.

Shane Bowie SS / RHP / Thomas Johnson, MD / 2020 Athletic, lean body type and 5’11, 150 pound frame with room to fill out. Hits from a balanced, square stance at the plate with hands pre-loaded. Smooth back load with a small leg kick. Stays behind the ball well with explosive lower half involvement, quick hands, and fast bat speed. Showed excellent balance, extension and a strong finish. Slightly longer uphill swing with some pop. Stayed middle to pull side mostly. Recorded an 80 mph exit velocity. Works through the ball in the infield with fundamental footwork. Funnels ball to belt and squares shoulders to target. Throws with longer arm action from a mid to high three-quarter arm slot at 79 mph across the diamond. Stayed low and showed a smooth, clean double play exchange to second base. Ran a 7.26 60-yard time.

Branden Brown SS / RHP / Atholton, MD / 2021 Long, athletic, lean body type and projectable 6’1’’, 142 pound frame. Hits from a slightly crouched, open stance at the plate with weight shifted on back side in a pre-loaded position. Short, quick stride and hand separation hitting from that pre-loaded stance. Stays behind the ball very well, strong lower half involvement and a slightly longer uphill swing path. Showed quick hands creating fast bat speed through the hitting zone. Really nice balance, excellent extension past contact and a strong finish. Gap-to-gap line drive type hitter with occasional pop. Recorded a 79 mph exit velocity. Athletic, rangy, and moves extremely well on the infield. Plays with active feet and works through the ball with soft hands fielding the ball out in front. Showed clean actions and quick exchanges. Throws with long, loose arm action from a high three-quarter slot at 75 mph across the diamond. Showed the ability to throw from various arm angles depending on the type of play. Ran a 7.71 60-yard time.

Travis Fullerton SS / RHP / Francis Scott Key, MD / 2020 Athletic body type and 5’9’’, 150 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, slightly closed stance at the plate with hands pre-loaded. Smooth back load and uses a toe tap for timing. Short, level swing path and strong lower half involvement. Quick hands creating fast bat speed through the hitting zone. Showed nice balance, good extension and a strong finish. Line drive type hitter with occasional gap pop. Uses the entire field well. Recorded an 83 mph exit velocity. Works through the ball in the infield with quick, fundamental footwork. Stays low on double play feeds and showed a clean exchange. Throws with short arm action from a mid three-quarter arm slot at 79 mph across the diamond. Also showed an ability to throw from various arm angles depending on the type of play. Ran a 7.13 60-yard time.

Casey Jackman SS / RHP / Huntingtown, MD / 2022 Strong, athletic body type and projectable 5’11’’, 160 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, square stance with feet shoulder width apart and hands pre-loaded. Sinks into lower half during load with a toe-tap used for timing. Short, compact, slightly uphill swing with some lower half involvement. Quick hands and bat speed. Stays behind the ball well and gets good extension past contact. Line drive type hitter with occasional gap pop. Used the entire field well and recorded a 78 mph exit velocity. Plays with active feet and moves well in the infield. Works through the ball with smooth, clean actions. Presents glove early and showed soft hands funneling the ball to his chest. Quick, clean exchanges and showed the ability to throw from a variety of arm angles. Stays low on double play feeds to second and showed advanced actions. Recorded a 74 mph infield velocity from shortstop. Ran a 7.41 60-yard time.

Owen Liberto 2B / SS / Calvert Hall, MD / 2021 Athletic, lean body type and projectable 6’0’’, 165 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, square stance at the plate. Smooth back load with some hand separation and a small leg kick. Strong lower half involvement. Swing stays connected through contact. Short to the ball with a level swing path, quick hands and showed some bat speed. Gets good extension past contact with a strong finish. Gap-to-gap line drive type hitter with some pop. Nice approach using the whole field during BP. Recorded an exit velocity of 81 mph. Plays with active feet in the infield and moves well. Showed range and really smooth clean actions. Works through the ball with soft hands and quick, clean exchanges. Throws with short arm action from the side at 77 mph.

E.J. Lowry SS / RHP / St. John's Catholic Prep, MD / 2023 Athletic body type and projectable 5’10’’, 150 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, square stance at the plate with hands pre-loaded in a lower position at shoulder height. Uses a high leg kick to load and showed good balance and body control. Explosive lower half involvement in the swing. Stays short with a slightly uphill path. Stays behind the ball well with quick hands and fast bat speed. Showed nice extension through contact and a one-handed finish. Showed a nice middle of the field line drive approach with occasional pop. Recorded a 74 mph exit velocity. Moves well on the infield and showed quick, fundamental footwork. Works through the ball and funnels it the chest. Taps glove in exchange. Throws with shorter arm action in the infield from a low three-quarter slot at 76 mph. Ran a 7.97 60-yard time.

Theodore Meline SS / RHP / Walt Whitman, MD / 2021 Strong, athletic body type and projectable 6’0’’, 165 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, slightly open stance with hands held low at chest height. Creates rhythm with hands and uses a small leg kick to load. Explosive lower half involvement with a short uphill swing path. Stays behind the ball well with quick hands and fast bat speed. Gets good extension through contact with a strong finish. Peppered the pull-gap with one a bunch of well hit balls showing some pop. Recorded an 84 mph exit velocity. Plays with active feet and works through the ball to first base. Stays low and clears front hip well on double play feeds to second. Showed some fluidity on the turn and slow roller. Throws with short arm action from a high three-quarter slot at 79 mph.

Aidan Niemerski 2B / SS / Montgomery Blair, MD / 2023 Athletic body type and 5’9’’, 138 pound frame. Hits from a relaxed, balanced, square stance at the plate. Creates rhythm with hands to get separation. Smooth back load with a front foot toe-tap used for timing. Short to the ball with a compact, level swing path. Showed quick hands and quick bat speed through the zone. Gets some lower half involvement in swing at times. Would like to see more lower half involvement and extension through contact. Line drive type hitter that uses the whole field very well. Recorded a 71 mph exit velocity. Athletic and moves well in the infield. Works through the ball with fundamental footwork and a nice approach. Funnels ball to chest and showed clean exchanges. Throws from a low three-quarter slot with short arm action at 67 mph across the diamond. Ran a 7.32 60-yard time.

Blake Pesante SS / RHP / St. Mary's Ryken, MD / 2022 Strong, athletic body type and 5’9’’, 165 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, slightly open stance at the plate with a wider base. Smooth back load creating some hand separation and a front toe-tap. Strong lower half involvement and good balance in the box. Short, direct, uphill swing path, quick hands and fast bat speed. Nice extension through contact with a one-handed finish. Gap-to-gap type hitter with some pop. Recorded an 89 mph exit velocity. Athletic and moves very well in the infield. Showed range and a nice controlled approach. Presents the glove well and works through the ball fielding it out in front with soft hands. Showed quick footwork and clean exchanges. Throws with longer arm action from a high three-quarter slot at 84 mph across the diamond. Smooth, clean actions on double play feeds and slow rollers. Also showed the ability to change arm angles and throw with accuracy. Ran a 6.87 60-yard time.

Matt Ryan SS / 2B / Walt Whitman, MD / 2021 Athletic, lean body type and 5’11’’, 155 pound frame. Hits from a relaxed, balanced, open stance at the plate. Controlled toe-tap load and nice hand separation. Attacks the ball with intent and showed strong lower half involvement in the swing. Short, level swing path with quick hands and quick bat speed. Good extension through contact and a strong finish. Gap-to-gap line drive type hitter with some pop. Recorded an 84 mph exit velocity. Athletic and rangy in the infield. Moves very well and plays with quick, active feet. Smooth, clean actions working through the ball to first base. Stays low on double play feeds to second and showed the ability to change arm angles and throw with accuracy depending on the type of play. Fields the ball out in front, funneling to chest with quick, clean exchanges. Throws with short arm action at 86 mph across the diamond. Ran a 6.96 60-yard time.

Brett Seils SS / RHP / Sherwood, MD / 2021 Strong, athletic body type and 5’10’’, 165 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, slightly open stance at the plate. Small front leg kick load and rhythm in hands. Strong lower half involvement and a short, compact, more level swing. Quick hands and creates some bat speed and barrel whip through the zone. Stays behind the ball well with excellent balance in the box. Gets good extension past contact with a one-handed finish. Gap-to-gap line drive type hitter with some pop. Recorded an 83 mph exit velocity. Controlled approach on the infield, sets up early and presents the glove nicely out in front. Showed soft hands and clean exchanges. Clean actions on double play feeds and slow rollers. Throws with shorter arm action from a low three-quarter slot at 77 mph across the diamond. Ran a 7.33 60-yard time.

Zach Senders SS / Bullis, MD / 2020 Strong, athletic body type and 5’10’’, 170 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, slightly open stance at the plate with hands pre-loaded. Short load, sinking just slightly into lower half. Short to ball with a compact, level swing. Strong lower half involvement and showed quick hands and fast bat speed through the hitting zone. Stays behind the ball well with good balance, extension and a strong finish. Gap-to-gap type hitter with pop. Recorded an 88 mph exit velocity. Smooth, clean actions in the infield. Plays with active feet and works through the ball to first base. Athletic and rangy, moves very well. Fields the ball out in front with a quick funnel to chest. Quick, clean exchanges throwing from a high three-quarter slot with short arm action at 81 mph across the diamond. Stays low and opens front side well on double play feeds. Advanced defensive actions across the board. Ran a 6.60 60-yard time.

Andrew Wells 2B / SS / Calvert Hall, MD / 2021 Athletic, lean body type and 5’10’’, 160 pound frame. Hits from a balanced, slightly open stance at the plate. Small leg kick load creating some hand separation. Explosive lower half involvement and stays behind the ball well with quick hands and fast bat speed. Short, slightly uphill swing path. Good extension through contact and a strong one-handed finish. Pull-side approach with some power present. Recorded an 84 mph exit velocity. Athletic and moves well in the infield. Works through the ball with quick, fundamental footwork. Rangy and showed quick, clean exchanges. Fields the ball out in front and throws with short arm action from a mid three-quarter slot at 73 mph across the diamond. Showed the ability to throw from various arm angles on double play feed and slow rollers. Ran a 7.28 6-yard time.

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