Prep Baseball Report

Fall Underclass Games: Missouri Position Players



Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

On November 1, Prep Baseball Report Missouri/Kansas held the Fall Underclass Games in Manhattan, Kansas.  Several players from Missouri high schools attended the event.  Below is a look at Missouri high school position players from the event. 

CLICK HERE, to see the Instant Analysis for the Fall Underclass Games

CATCHERS

Jackson Caley, C, Pleasant Hill (MO), 2018
Caley is a 5-foot-10 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 7.19 60 and a 4.30 home-to-first.  At the plate, Caley has an athletic stance with fluid rhythm during his load, strides in line, hands work inside of the ball, used middle of the field during batting practice, gap-to-gap approach, body controlled throughout swing, 84 mph exit velo.  Behind the plate, Caley posted a top pop time of 2.04, one the top pop times on the day, over the top release, clean exchange, hands and feet work together, momentum through catch, 70 mph positional velo, somewhat accurate throws, numbers are on upward trend from last event.

Daniel Hammond, C, Rockhurst (MO), 2019
Hammond is a 5-foot-10 160-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  Hammond ran a 7.56 60 and a 4.70 home-to-first. At the plate, 79 mph exit velo, starts slightly open, short stride, quick hands, works the opposite side of field, showed some power to pull gap.  Behind the plate, top pop of the event at 2.02, between 2.02 and 2.39, short over the top release, arm works, simple and quick feet, clean exchange with quick release, throws on the bag at second, 73 mph positional velo, top for the event.

Crichton Hill, C, Grain Valley (MO), 2018
Hill is a 6-foot-1 155-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2018 class. Hill ran a 7.56 60 and 4.82 home-to-first. At the plate, balanced starting position, walks away from hands with early stride, middle-to-opposite field approach, level bat to extension, body stays under control during swing, 80 mph exit velo.  Behind the plate, 2.35 to 2.58 pop times with 65 mph positional velo, over the top release, short and quick first step in feet, quick exchange, mostly accurate throws.

Riley Rader, C, Rockhurst (MO), 2019
Rader is a 5-foot-10 155-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  Rader ran a 8.89 60 and a 5.14 home-to-first.  Offensively, Rader had a 70 mph exit velo, fast rhythm during set up, wide base, loose hands, gap-to-gap approach.  During defensive evals, pop times between 2.41 and 2.65, 63 mph positional velo, most throws on line to bag, over the top release, fluid exchange.

OUTFIELDERS

Christian Franklin, OF, Rockhurst (MO), 2018
Franklin is a 5-foot-11 165-pound right-handed hitting outfielder in Missouri’s 2018 class.  Committed to Arkansas shortly after event, posted event high 84 mph velo from the outfield and ran a 6.56 60, another event best, ran a 4.26 home-to-first. Franklin was also among the top in RHH exit velo at 89 mph.  At the plate, Franklin showed a gap-to-gap approach with power to pull side, smooth rhythm, quick bat speed, solid consistent contact to both fields.  In the outfield, quick to the ball, athletic footwork, clean exchange, over the top release, quick and clean arm action with momentum towards target. Singled to right in game action.  In all, quick twitch athlete with room to add strength on athletic frame.

Grant Heizer, OF, Lee’s Summit (MO), 2019
Heizer is a 5-foot-8 135-pound right-handed hitting outfielder in Missouri’s 2019 class.  Heizer ran a 8.12 60 and got down the line in 5.07-seconds.  At the plate, tall stance, early hand separation and stride, middle of the field approach, 71 mph exit velo.  In the outfield, high three quarters arm slot, 75 mph positional velo, athletic actions, clean glove-to-hand exchange.  Lean frame with room to add strength.

Liam Henry, OF, Park Hill (MO), 2018
Henry is a 6-foot-2 160-pound left-handed hitting outfielder in Missouri’s 2018 class and has committed to Arkansas.  Henry has a 79 mph positional velo, one of the top for the event, and ran a 6.87 60, again one of the event's best. He also posted one of the top LHH exit velos on the day at 85 mph. He ran a 4.26 home-to-first from the left side.  At the plate, balanced set up, controlled leg kick to stride, slight dive in front foot, quick hands, short level path through contact, gap-to-gap approach, power to pull side, solid consistent line drives during batting practice.  In the outfield, quick an athletic footwork to the ball, high three quarters release, plays through the ball, quick release, mostly accurate throws. Tripled to right-center during the game.  Projectable athlete with quick twitch actions.

Mark Lachowitzer, OF, St. Pius X (MO), 2018
Lachowitzer is a 5-foot-10 175-pound right-handed hitting outfielder in Missouri’s 2018 class.  Lachowitzer has a 78 mph positional velo, one of the top for the event.  He ran a 4.59 home-to-first and a 7.75 60.  At the plate, narrow and open stance, inline stride, aggressive bat speed, line drives to the middle of the field, solid contact, 82 mph exit velo.  In the outfield, arm works, over the top release, aggressive to the ball with momentum towards target, quick exchange and release.

Garrett Morrow, OF, Grain Valley (MO), 2018
Morrow is a 5-foot-10 165-pound left-handed hitting outfielder in Missouri’s 2018 class.  Morrow has an 80 mph positional, one of the top for the event.  He ran a 7.22 60 and got down the line in 4.45-seconds.  At the plate, open stance with controlled front leg lift, pull approach, quick bat speed and aggressive swing, power pull side, quick hands, 80 mph exit velo.  In the outfield, athletic action, quick to the ball, over the top release, quick hand to glove exchange and release, throws near bag at third base.  Singled to center in game action.

Garrett Presko, OF, Pembroke Hill (MO), 2018
Presko is a strong 6-foot-2 185-pound right-handed hitting outfielder in Missouri’s 2018 class.  Presko had an 81 mph positional velo, one of the top for the event. He ran a 7.22 60 and 4.41 home-to-first. At the plate, simple load and short stride, strong and quick hands, demonstrated power to pull side, aggressive swing, 84 mph exit velo.  In the outfield, clean exchange, over the top release, loose arm action, fluid footwork. Singled to center in game action. Athletic build with more in the tank.

Marcus Smith, OF, Pembroke Hill (MO), 2019
Smith is a 5-foot-8 145-pound left-handed hitting outfielder in Missouri’s 2019 class. Smith had an 84 mph exit velo, one of the best for the event. He ran a 7.09 60 and 4.40 home-to-first from the left side.  At the plate, balanced set up, smooth load, accelerated and quick swing, level path, middle to pull approach. In the outfield, 76 mph positional velo, high three quarters release, move the ball with ease and athletic actions, plays through catch, quick catch and release, accurate throws, quick twitch athlete that is very projectable.

Tanner Yeisley, OF, Lee’s Summit North (MO), 2019
Yeisley is a 5-foot-7 140-pound right-handed hitting outfielder in Missouri’s 2019. class.  Yeisley ran a 7.03, one of the top for the event, and had a 4.40 home-to-first.  At the plate, swing produced line drives to pull side, minimal load, level to extension, 65 mph exit velo.  In the outfield, 65 mph positional velo, high three-quarters release, takes route behind ball, plays through catch, fluid exchange.

MIDDLE INFIELDERS

Jackson Caley, 2B, Pleasant Hill (MO), 2018
Caley is a 5-foot-10 165-pound right-handed hitting second baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 7.19 60 and a 4.30 home-to-first. At the plate, Caley has an athletic stance with fluid rhythm during his load, strides in line, hands work inside of the ball, used middle of the field during batting practice, gap-to-gap approach, body controlled throughout swing, 84 mph exit velo. On the infield, 76 mph positional velo, athletic footwork, clean hand-to-glove exchange, quick release, high three quarters arm slot.

Brett Hammit, SS, Nixa (MO), 2018
Hammit is a 6-foot-2 right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 7.28 60 and a 4.57 home-to-first. Hammit posted the top infield velo on the day at 84 mph, and the top RHH exit velo at 94 mph.  At the plate, Hammit takes an aggressive swing with power, loose hands, controlled lift of front leg, hits with leverage in lower half, consistent solid contact during hitting evaluations.  On the infield, loose and short over the top release, plays through the ball, clean catch and release, accurate throws. One of the top athletes at the event and showed improvements from last event.

Branden Harder, SS, Nevada (MO), 2018
Harder is a 5-foot-9 150-pound switch-hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2018 class. Harder ran a 7.16 60 and 4.34 home to first. He posted a 76 mph exit velo from the left side and an 80 mph exit velo from the right side.  During batting practice, similar tall and balanced stance from both sides, short stride, gap-to-gap approach, line drives to middle of the field, showed more power from right side.  On the infeidl, has a 78 mph positional velo, one of the top for the event, short over-the-top arm slot, quick catch and throw, fluid footwork, mostly accurate throws. Improvements to running times and positional velo from last event.

Kade Peterson, SS, Warrensburg (MO), 2018
Peterson is a 5-foot-10 150-pound left-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 7.85 60 and a 4.81 home-to-first. At the plate, Peterson had a 76 mph exit velo, smooth load, some hand load, showed ability to hit to all fields, slightly uphill through zone, consistent contact that produced line drives.  During defensive evaluations, 75 mph positional velo, three quarters release, long arm circle, quick release, feet and hands in sync, mostly accurate throws.

Kaden Rayman, SS, Fair Grove (MO), 2019
Rayman is a 6-foot-175-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 7.08 60 and a 4.60 home-to-first. At the plate, posted an 85 mph exit velo, wide set up with small stride, loose and free hands, used whole field during batting practice, stays on ball through contact.  On the infield, high three quarters arm slot, bit of a slinging action, fluid can clean actions, clean exchange and soft hands, 68 mph positional velo.  Increases in running times and exit velo since last event.

Bobby Rivera, SS, Blue Springs South (MO), 2018
Rivera is a 5-foot-8 130-pound switch-hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 7.26 60, ran a 4.11 home-to-first from the left side and a 4.47 from the right side. Offensively, similar swing from both sides, 73 mph exit velo from side and 68 mph exit velo as lefty, athletic set up, loads hands, level bat path with gap-to-gap approach from both sides.  Defensively, quick and athletic footwork, high three quarters release, hands in sync with feet, plays through catch, mostly accurate throws at 71 mph.

Jakob Woods, SS, Maryville (MO), 2018
Woods is a 6-foot-2 175-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 7.38 60 and a 4.84 home-to-first. Offensively, 81 mph exit velo, smooth pre-swing rhythm, toe tap for timing, loose and free hands create bat whip to extension, power to pull gap, used whole field during batting practice.  On the infield, Woods has a 78 mph positional velo, one of the best among middle infielders, athletic actions, with quick catch and throw, loose arm action, over the top arm action, arm works from different angles, accurate throws, athletic frame with more in the tank.

CORNER INFIELDERS

Kole Ficken, 3B, Boonville (MO), 2018
Ficken is a 5-foot-11 170-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class. Ficken ran a 7.33 60 and a 4.45 home-to-first. He posted one of the top RHH exit velos on the day at 89 mph.  Physical and aggressive at the plate, controlled leg kick to start swing, strong hands with level path to extension, quick bat speed, power up the middle and to pull side. On the infield, 76 mph positional velo, high three quarters arm slot, quick catch and throw, accurate throws.

Mickey Simpson, 3B, Grain Valley (MO), 2019
Simpson is a 5-foot-5 115-pound switch-hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2019 class.  Simpson ran a 8.82 60 and 5.35 home-to-first from the right side and a 5.08 from the left side. Simple and repeatable mechanics from both sides, early stride, balanced finish, level path, gap-to-gap approach.  On the infield, 68 mph positional velo, high three-quarters release, arm works, fluid footwork creating momentum through catch.  Will mature physically and will help already athletic actions.

Gabriel Whipple, 3B, Rockurst (MO), 2019
Whipple is a 6-foot-1 145-pound right-handed hitting third baseman is Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 8.15 60 and 5.06 home-to-first. At the plate, loads into back leg, middle/opposite approach, hands work inside ball, balanced finish, 65 mph exit velo, On the infield, 68 mph positional velo, over the top release, clean transfer, fluid footwork.

 

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