Prep Baseball Report

Missouri Recruiting Notebook



Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

With signing day behind us, here is a look at the schools in the state and who has signed.

University of Missouri
Shane Benes (Westminster) is a 6-foot-2 195-pound SS/2B ranked #1 in Missouri and #3 overall.  Benes is advanced physically with broad shoulders and has a balanced approach at the plate with a quick, powerful swing. He also has some two-way ability with an upper-80s fastball and a sharp curveball.  Brett Bond (Westminster) is a 6-foot-1 195-pound C that handles the bat from both sides of the plate. He has a strong, accurate arm and manages games well. Bond is ranked #12 in Missouri and #52 overall.

Missouri State
Brad Archer (Lebanon) is a 6-foot-0 165-pound RHP and is currently ranked #13 in Missouri and #53 overall.  Archer touched 90-plus in Jupiter last month.  Kyle Reed (Blue Springs) is a ranked #11 in Missouri and #50 overall.  Reed showed an advanced plate approach in Jupiter last month. He’s aggressive yet controlled and uses his strong lower half to generate bat speed through the zone.  Austin Knight (Lebanon) a 6-foot-2 180-pound RHP, and is currently ranked #17 in Missouri and #101 overall. Knight has a live, quick arm and delivered an easy 88-mph fastball, sitting in the 86-88 mph range. Knight also has a power 12-to-6 breaking ball with near fastball arm speed in the 70-71 mph range.  Jake Burger (CBC) is a 6-foot-1 190-pound 3B/OF and ranks #21 in Missouri and #200 overall.  At the plate with his size and lower-half explosion, the ball really jumps off his bat with excellent carry and loft with pull side power. Burger is a strong and sturdy player who showed ability and versatility in the outfield and at 3B.  Missouri State also signed twin brothers Jake and Jackson Walker from Jefferson City.  Jake is a 5-foot-10 165-pound 2B/SS and Jackson is a 5-foot-10 165-pound catcher. 

Southeast Missouri
Wesley Pyles (Poplar Bluff) is a lanky 6-foot 176-pound LHP.  Pyles has a deceptive delivery and a quick arm that works well, with fastballs from 79 to 81 mph that have late sink. He shows good feel for a sharp breaking ball (68-72 mph). Pyles also has a 67-69 mph change up, with late sink.

Saint Louis University
Mick Layton (SLUH) is a projectable 6-foot-4, 175-pound frame with the ability to throw three pitches consistently for strikes. Layton uses a ¾ arm slot with quick arm speed and a loose arm with easy effort. His fastball sits 78-81 mph, topping at 83-mph with some sink and cut action. He is ranked #83 in Missouri
Kyle Fletcher (Timberland) is a 5-foot-7, 160-pound OF.  His athleticism and quickness played well in the outfield, with a position velocity of 72-74 mph.  A left-handed hitter, Fletcher has a level swing and direct bat path that yields line drives.  He is ranked #92 in MIssouri.  SLU also signed Trey Faulconer (Ozark), a LHP that earned all-conference honors last season for the Tigers.

 

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