MN Preseason Underclass: Middle Infield Evaluations

April 29, 2016

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

Prep Baseball Report's MN Preseason Underclass event took place on Saturday, March 19, 2016. The event was held at the Vadnais Sports Center in Vadnais Heights, MN. The event featured prospects from the 2018 and 2019 classes from Minnesota and South Dakota who showcased their talents in front of our scouting staff.

There were a number of great individual performances this year at the MN Preseason Underclass. Also of note is the fact that official high school practices don't start in Minnesota until the Monday after the event. Look for many of these player's numbers to continue to improve as they start playing and working into mid-season form.

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Below we have listed the middle infielders in attendance listed alphabetically.

top middle infield Prospects

Keagan Bagley, SS, Holy Angels, 2018
5-foot-8, 137-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.44 runner. Lean athletic frame. Leg kick trigger, short to contact, solid bat speed, uses whole field, consistent hard line drive contact, interesting hitting tools, 69 mph exit velocity. Light on his feet, good actions, ability to throw from multiple slots, minor things to work on but projects well. 76 mph arm strength. Strong follow in 2018 class.

Gavin Baker, SS/RHP, Lakeville North, 2019
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.41 runner. Tall stance, simple stride, loose hands, drives backside through at contact well, good gap to gap approach, 80 mph exit velocity. Flashes actions in field, works out front- tends to funnel balls in. Will improve once he grows into body. 76 mph arm strength. Interesting follow in 2019 class with continued development.

Michael Caron, SS, Cretin-Derham Hall, 2018
5-foot-9, 152-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.59 runner. Solid frame for age. Active load, inconsistent timing, works middle of field, solid pop in bat, 79 mph exit velocity. Above avg. footwork in field, soft glove, good actions, clean projectable arm with accuracy, 74 mph arm strength. Follow in 2018 class.

Jack Dankert, SS, Austin, 2018
6-foot, 150-pound right-handed hitting infielder. 7.78 runner. Lean frame. Open stance, strides in-line, simple swing mechanics, consistent solid contact, shows ability to hit, 77 mph exit velocity. Long strides and athletic actions in field, soft glove, works through ball, clean arm action, solid carry with good accuracy to bag, 74 mph arm strength. Good follow in 2018 class. If tools continue to improve with strength gains; becomes very interesting player in the 2018 class.

Charlie Fischer, SS, Edina, 2018
6-foot, 168-pound left-handed hitting shortstop. 7.25 runner. Open stance, double tap trigger, narrow base, quiet head to contact, loose hands, finds barrel with solid pop in bat. 80 mph exit velocity. Easy fluid actions in field, above avg. footwork, soft hands, fields deep at times, clean projectable arm with accuracy and carry to bag, 80 mph arm strength. High Follow in 2018 class.

Seth Halvorsen, SS/RHP, Heritage Christian Academy, 2018
6-foot-1, 180-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Strong projectable build. 7.19 runner. Showed best pop in bat at event, square stance, athletic set-up, minimal movement, easy stride, short to contact, short finish with 2-hands on bat, 87 mph exit velocity. Easy arm action with accuracy to bag; 84 mph arm strength. Soft glove, simple mechanics, avg. tempo, flashes athleticism when on the run. Strong Follow in 2018 class.

Zachary Raabe, SS, Forest Lake, 2018
5-foot-10, 155-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.35 runner. Compact build with strength. Linear hitter, square stance, good weight transfer, swings with intent, hard line drive contact, projectable hitting tools, 82 mph exit velocity. Plays fast in field with athletic actions, solid glove, good footwork, aggressive fielder. Quick release on throws with carry and accuracy, 75 mph arm strength. Strong follow in 2018 class.

Paxton Thompson, SS/RHP, St. Michael-Albertville, 2018
6-foot-1, 155-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.4 runner. Lean projectable build. Strong set-up in box, generates good bat speed, stays inside baseball at contact, shows good hit tools, 81 mph exit velocity. Loose, easy, athletic actions in field. Glove is soft; tends to field deep and funnel occasionally. Long release on throws. Arm projects well with long loose action. 81 mph arm strength across. Strong follow in 2018 class.

TJ Truso, SS/RHP, Chanhassen, 2018
5-foot-9, 150-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.31 runner. Open stance, strides in-line, athletic set-up, loose hands, good extension through contact, mid/pull approach. 79 mph exit velocity. Solid actions, fields out front, soft glove, works through baseball, needs to follow throws to target, 72 mph arm strength. Follow in 2018 class.

Raymond Voss, SS, Tartan, 2019
5-foot-7, 140-pound right-handed hitting infielder. Solid frame- should continue to add size and strength. 7.69 runner. Square stance, slight arm bar, strong for grad class, good pop in bat with gap to gap approach, 77 mph exit velocity. Advanced defensively, good arm action, plays with energy, works through baseball, solid actions, 79 mph arm strength with accuracy to bag.

middle infield Prospects

Lucas Ammons, SS, Cretin-Derham Hall, 2019
5-foot-10, 135-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 8.01 runner. Tall stance, shoulder load, mid/pull approach, slight uphill plane to contact, short finish, 65 mph exit velocity. Light on feet, plays with rhythm, needs to play though ball more and follow throws across. 65 mph arm strength.

Brenden Baxter, 2B/RHP, Rochester John Marshall, 2019
5-foot-6, 125-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Open stance, strides slightly across body, consistent contact, mid/pull approach, 68 mph exit velocity. Fields deep in stance, tall position, hands are solid, accurate arm, should continue to improve with maturity and strength, 67 mph arm strength.

Daniel Claussen, SS/RHP, Totino-Grace, 2018
6-foot, 150-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.9 runner. Projectable frame- solid strength. Active load, short to contact, generates bat speed, hard contact, mid/pull approach, 81 mph exit velocity. Flashes solid athleticism, decent glove, short release on throws, 72 mph arm strength. Has interesting traits; follow in 2018 class.

Kathan Decker, 2B/RHP, Eastview, 2019
5-foot-6, 150-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.87 runner. Open stance, clean swing path, pull approach, shows good pop in bat for age, 80 mph exit velocity. Solid glove and actions, will improve with additional reps and maturity, low ¾ arm slot with quicker release, 70 mph arm strength.

Jacob Dorff, SS, Blaine, 2018
5-foot-7, 146-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.5 runner. Square stance, easy stride, stands up at contact, solid hit tool, mid/away approach, 2-hole type bat with consistent solid contact, 82 mph exit velocity. Plays with energy, works through ball, fields cleanly, needs improved arm action, 73 mph arm strength.

RJ Galvez, SS, Cretin-Derham Hall, 2018
6-foot, 165-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.75 runner. Good physical maturity over last year. Athletic set-up, leg kick trigger, aggressive swings, flashes pop to pull side of field, above avg. BP session, 75 mph exit velocity. Tends to sit back on groundballs, short release on throws, flat footed to target, 72 mph arm strength. Has made good strides in game- should continue to develop.

Mitchell Goodwin, SS, Prior Lake, 2018
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. 7.53 runner. Strong build. Leg kick trigger, arm bar in load, has strength, hard contact, gap to gap approach, 87 mph exit velocity. Solid glove, third base actions, accurate arm, 73 mph arm strength. Follow in 2018 class.

Michael Gottschalk, SS, Blaine, 2018
5-foot-9, 135-pound left-handed hitting infielder. 7.53 runner. Spread stance, active load, aggressive swinger, gap to gap approach, makes hard contact oppo, 79 mph exit velocity. Active feet, solid athlete, young mechanics, short arm action, follows throws to target, 74 mph arm strength.

Benjamin Hurth, SS/RHP, Hopkins, 2018
6-foot, 165-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 8.09 runner. Spread stance, solid set-up, flashes pop to pull side, flashes pop in bat to pull side, 74 mph exit velocity. Shows avg. feet and hands, works from ground up well, stiff arm action, 76 mph arm strength.

Jayden Johannsen, SS/RHP, Sioux Falls Washington (SD), 2019
6-foot-2, 160-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Tall lean frame- wiry strength. 7.12 runner. Square spread stance, short load, good balance, pre-set hands and load- some rhythm. Line drive swing plane, solid contact, pull approach, 82 mph exit velocity. Fields routine, has better actions when on the run using athleticism, still growing into body, short arm action, 77 mph arm strength across infield. Follow in 2019 class.

Trey Kocher, SS/RHP, Apple Valley, 2018
6-foot, 170-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 6.97 runner. Wiry strength. Simple swing mechanics. Short path through zone, flashed hard contact, some stiffness, gap to gap approach, 86 mph exit velocity. Short strides, solid glove, quick arm action, solid/avg. accuracy, 77 mph arm strength. Solid tools; follow in 2018 class.

Alex Lagios, 2B, Eastview, 2018
5-foot-10, 140-pound left-handed hitting infielder. 7.62 runner. Knee to knee trigger, in-line stride, decent hands in swing, mid/pull approach, chance to hit with work, 81 mph exit velocity. Avg/ok footwork, long arm action, solid glove, needs to play through ball more, 68 mph arm strength.

Kristian Masters, 2B, Minneapolis Southwest, 2018
5-foot-9, 150-pound right-handed hitting infielder. 7.87 runner. Leg kick trigger, aggressive swinger, line drive swing plane, solid contact, pull approach, 77 mph exit velocity. Decent feet, soft glove, long arm action, good accuracy to bag, 75 mph arm strength.

Mason Nadolney, SS/C/RHP, Minnetonka, 2018
6-foot-3, 205-pound right-handed hitting utility player. 7.59 runner. Large frame with excellent strength for grad class. Physical presence at plate. Aggressive swings. Stays connected and short to contact. Gap to gap approach with above avg. pop in bat to pull side of field. Extra moving parts but shows some hitting ability. 94 mph exit velocity. Profiles as third baseman. Makes accurate throws across. Decent glove. Footwork should develop with instruction and reps. 76 mph arm strength at shortstop. Good flexibility and frame for position, athletic blocking mechanics, good strength holding pitches in zone. 75 mph arm strength with 2.19 pop time. Some raw/crude mechanics but has good tools to work with. Follow in 2018 class.

Garrett Nelson, 2B, Wayzata, 2018
5-foot-10, 140-pound left-handed hitting infielder. 7.75 runner. Overly active load, pull approach, 77 mph exit velocity. Solid glove, fields on heels, throws flat footed effecting accuracy, 72 mph arm strength.

Nic Nelson, SS, Eastview, 2018
6-foot, 190-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. Physical frame. 8.06 runner. Open stance, leg kick trigger with easy stride, clean bat path, rhythm in swing, some lift at contact, 78 mph exit velocity. Good footwork, soft glove, clean exchanges, short clean arm action, projects as third baseman. 75 mph arm strength. Follow in 2018 class.

Isaac Nett, SS/C, Albany, 2019
5-foot-8, 145-pound left-handed hitting shortstop/catcher. 7.21 runner. Balanced lower half in swing. Drops hands in stride. Mid/pull approach with 76 mph exit velocity. Tends to sit back on groundballs, crow hop on throws, solid accuracy to bag, 70 mph arm strength. Narrow set-up behind plate with tall stance. Clean arm path on throws. Long exchange to hand. 67 mph arm strength with 2.5 pop time.

Jose Rodgers-Valdez, C/MIF, South St. Paul, 2018
5-foot-6, 140-pound right-handed hitting catcher. 8.28 runner. Square stance. Simple swing. Line drive swing plane. Short to contact. Gap to gap approach with ability to go the other way. 74 mph exit velocity. Flexible lower half, centers ball with body when receiving, long stride in throws, clean arm action, longer exchange and release. 71 mph arm strength with 2.31 pop time.

Rico Rodriguez, 2B, Hermantown, 2019
5-foot-7, 135-pound left-handed hitting infielder. 7.44 runner. Solid base, athletic set-up, mid/away approach, uses hands in swing, collapse/loses posture at contact, 72 mph exit velocity. Quick feet, solid glove, short arm action, will need to improve arm strength, 65 mph across diamond.

Eathan Soeffker, SS/RHP, Buffalo, 2018
6-foot-1, 182-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. 8.22 runner. Easy load, balanced stride, quiet head to contact, finds barrel, consistent solid contact, gap to gap approach, 84 mph exit velocity. Moves with short strides, soft glove, clean exchanges, footwork is solid, profiles as third baseman, avg. accuracy to bag with 79 mph arm strength. Follow in 2018 class.

Timmy Smith, RHP/SS, South St. Paul, 2019
5-foot-10, 135-pound left-handed hitting 2-way player. 7.79 runner. Square stance, double tap trigger, drops hands in load creating uphill swing plane, mid/away approach, flashes hard pull contact, 65 mph exit velocity. Shows solid feet and hands, low ¾ slot effects accuracy, 68 mph arm strength.

Hayden Thomsen, SS/RHP, Maple Grove, 2018
6-foot-2, 175-pound right-handed hitting 2-way player. Projectable frame- will add quality weight and strength. 7.7 runner. Open stance, short stride, shoulder load, solid pop, uphill plane, bottom half contact, 80 mph exit velocity. Clean arm action with good carry and accuracy- 75 mph arm strength. Avg. tempo, solid glove, makes routine.