STL Bandit Scout Day: Infielder Analysis

Prep Baseball Report- Missouri held the St. Louis Bandits Scout Day on June 5 at Lindenwood University in St. Louis, Missouri. Over seventy players from the 2022 to 2019 classes attended.

Player profiles have been updated with running times and velocities along with a video of their performance. 

Players can now updated their profiles with a ProspectPlus subscription, while scouts and recruiters can add players on ScoutPlus.

Here is a closer look at the Infielders from the event, listed in alphabetical order.

Infielders

Ian Bryant 1B / LHP / Troy Buchanan, MO / 2022 Bryant is a 5-4, 165-pound left-handed hitting first baseman in Missouri’s 2022 class. At the event ran a 8.72 60 and posted an exit velocity of 77mph. At the plate, wide stance, long leg kick begins the load, line-drive approach, compact swing to contact, uphill bat path, maintains balanced finish. On the infield, exhibited clean transfers, showed developing footwork gaining momentum toward target, positional velocity of 62mph.

Braden Edgar 1B / RHP / Wentzville Holt, MO / 2022 Edgar is a 5-9, 180-pound left-handed hitting first baseman in Missouri’s 2022 class. At the event, he ran 8.03 60 and posted a 76mph exit velocity. During batting practice, athletic stance with narrow base, quiet hands, minimal head movement, line-drive approach, showed some power to pull-side gap. On the infield, fields ball in athletic position, clean transfers, deliberate footwork positions body well on-line with target, somewhat accurate throws, positional velocity of 69mph.

Nick Giordanella 2B / SS / Marquette, MO / 2021 Giordanella is a 5-7, 130-pound right-handed hitting second baseman in Missouri’s 2021 class. At the event ran a 7.88 60 and posted an exit velocity of 80mph. At the plate, balanced athletic stance, loose hands, minimal toe-tap load, level bat path, line-drive approach working up the middle, balanced finished, solid extension after contact. On the infield, athletic movement with rhythm, clean transfers, consistent footwork, high three-quarter release, positional velocity of 64 mph.

Jayden Jones 3B / RHP / Francis Howell Central, MO / 2022 Jones is a 5-7, 160-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2022 class. At the event he ran an 8.07 60 and posted an exit velocity of 83mph. At the plate, wide athletic stance, minimal rock-back load, sits into back side, on-plane bat path, line-drive approach, generates hard contact to middle of field, excellent extension after contact with high hands finish. On the infield, fields ball in athletic position, developing footwork, clean transfers, over-the-top release, mostly accurate throws, positional velocity of 75mph.

Matt Lehr 3B / SS / Marquette Catholic HS, IL / 2021 Lehr is a 5-foot-9 160-pound right-handed hitting infielder in Illinois 2021 class.  He ran a 7.78 60 and a 4.66 home to first.  He had a 78 mph exit velocity.  At the plate, balanced stance, some pre pitch rhythm in hands, simple and repeatable swing, short stride with no wasted movements, short to the ball, gap to gap line drives.  On the infield, 75 mph positional velocity, high three quarters arm slot, fluid footwork to the ball, quick transfer, collects feet to gain momentum, mostly accurate throws.

Kai Leese 3B / RHP / Fort Zumwalt South, MO / 2021 Leese is a 6-3, 190-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2021 class. At the event ran a 7.69 60 and posted an exit velocity of 87mph. During hitting evaluations, athletic open-stance, modified toe-tap/small leg kick load, up-the-middle approach, quick hands compact to contact, solid extension with high hands finish. On the infield, very athletic movements, good tempo, efficient and clean transfers, three-quarters release, reliable hands, accurate throws with carry across infield, positional velocity of 72mph.

Trevor Lovall 1B / RHP / Wentzille Holt, MO / 2023 Lovall is a 6-foot, 166-pound right-handed hitting first baseman in Missouri’s 2023 class. At the event, he ran a 7.62 60 and posted an 82mph exit velocity. At the plate, wide-athletic set up, small leg-kick load, engages back side well, compact swing with solid barrel-awareness, up the middle approach producing hard line drive contact, balanced finish. At first base, quick footwork, athletic movement, clean transfers, over the top release, positional velocity of 72mph.

Dylan Leffeler LHP / 1B / St. Charles West , MO / 2021 Leffeler is a 6-foot 155-pound right-handed hitting first baseman in Missouri's 2021 class.  He ran a 7.21 60 and has an 82 mph exit velocity.  At the plate, starts with an open stance, minimal hand movement, short in line stride, level path to contact, high finish, gap to gap line drives.  On the infield, three quarters arm slot, gains ground with footwork after the catch, clean exchange with accurate throws, 79 mph positional velocity.

Troy Ludwig 2B / RHP / Francis Howell North, MO / 2021 Ludwig is a 5-8, 140-pound right-handed hitting second baseman in Missouri’s 2021 class. At the event ran a 7.62 60 and posted an exit velocity of 79mph. During batting practice, wide balanced stance, loose hands with rhythm, medium leg kick load, upward bat path, keeps hands inside, short to contact, line drive approach. On the infield, solid footwork, works in-line towards first, three-quarter release, long-arm action, reliable hands, positional velocity of 69mph.

Joshua Newell SS / RHP / St. Charles West , MO / 2022 Newell is a 6-foot, 155-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2022 class. At the event he ran a 7.53 60 and posted an 80mph exit velocity. At the plate, strong athletic stance, simple toe-tap load, quick hands, generates hard contact with line drive approach, flashed occasional power to pull-side, balanced extension at finish. On the infield, showed a strong arm posting an 80mph positional velocity, fields in athletic sequence, solid footwork toward first, accurate throws with carry across infield.

Ian Odonnell 3B / C / Fort Zumwalt South , MO / 2021 O’Donnell is a 5-11, 150-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2021 class. At the event he ran a 7.65 60 and posted 82mph exit velocity. During hitting evaluations, tall athletic stance, loose hands, in-line leg-kick, line-drive approach, flat bat path, balanced finish, showed some power to pull-side. On the infield, excellent hands, efficient footwork, fields the ball in athletic position, clean transfers, very accurate throws, positional velocity of 76mph.

Cody Pogue 1B / 3B / Bowling Green , MO / 2022 Pogue is a 5-10, 150-pound right-handed hitting first baseman in Missouri’s 2022 class. At the event ran a 7.59 60 and posted an 84mph exit velocity. During batting practice, athletic set up, minimal head movement, small leg kick, line-drive approach, slightly uphill bat path, showed solid barrel awareness producing hard contact. On the infield, moves with tempo, clean transfers, quick three-quarter release, somewhat accurate throws, positional velocity of 75mph.

Nick Rawlings 3B / RHP / DeSmet, MO / 2021 Rawlings is a 6-foot, 175-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2021 class. At the event ran 8.40 60 and posted an exit velocity of 82mph. At the plate, athletic set up, loose hands generating tempo, small leg-kick load, quick hands short to contact, pull-side gap approach, flashed power to left-center, strong barrel control, balanced finished. On the infield, solid footwork working in sequence toward first base, fluid hands, over-the-top release, positional velocity of 72mph.

Stephen Reid 1B / RHP / St. Dominic, MO / 2021 Reid is a 6-2, 215-pound right-handed hitting first baseman in Missouri’s 2021 class. At the event ran a 7.44 60 and posted an exit velocity of 85mph. During batting practice, solid base set up, loose hands, big leg-kick load, minimal head movement throughout swing, short compact swing, line-drive approach, balanced finish with solid extension after contact. On the infield, developing footwork for size, works well on-line to target, clean transfers, over the top release, positional velocity of 70mph.

Cody Rust OF / 2B / Fort Zumwalt East, MO / 2023 Rust is a 5-8, 150-pound right handed hitting outfielder in Missouri’s 2023 class. At the event ran a 7.70 60 and posted an exit velocity of 73mph. At the plate, upright stance, loose hands, toe-tap load, quick hands through hitting zone, level bat path. In the outfield, clean hands, works well towards target, long arm action with high three-quarter release, somewhat accurate throws, positional velocity of 65mph.

DJ Sherman 2B / RHP / Lafayette , MO / 2021 Sherman is a 5-8, 165-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2021 class. At the event he ran a 7.52 60 and posted a 79mph exit velocity. At the plate, narrow athletic stance, sets hands back, fires hands through hitting zone, minimal head movement, tall finish, solid extension after contact, line-drive approach. On the infield, efficient movement, quick footwork, solid hands and clean exchanges, positional velocity of 79mph, accurate throws with carry across the infield.

Hunter Sherman SS / RHP / Warrenton, MO / 2021 Sherman is a 5-10, 140-pound left-handed hitting second baseman in Missouri’s 2021 class. At the event he ran a 7.76 60 and posted an exit velocity of 75mph. During batting practice, athletic stance, leg-kick load with good tempo, up-the-middle approach, showed some barrel control generating solid contact, balanced finish. On the infield, strong footwork, clean hands, efficient athletic movements, quick-arm action, accurate throws, positional velocity of 74mph.

Justin Smith RHP / 1B / Fort Zumwalt East, MO / 2022 Smith is a 5-foot-11 225-pound right-handed hitting first baseman in Missouri's 2022 class.  He ran a 8.09 60 and a 5.27 home to first.  He has an 84 mph exit velocity.  At the plate, starts in a tall and balanced position, slight pre pitch rhythm in hands, reverse toe tap, in line stride, quick bat speed, loose hands, flashed some pop to pull side, high finish in hands.  On the infield, 79 mph positional velocity, aggressive to the ball, over the top arm slot, loose arm action, quick catch and throw, mostly accurate throws.

Luke Smith SS / OF / Parkway South, MO / 2021 L. Smith is a 6-foot, 180-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2021 class. At the event he ran a 7.35 60 and posted 89mph exit velocity. At the plate, upright stance, loose hands, simple load with balanced drift to contact, compact swing, aggressive through hitting zone, up-the-middle approach, showed barrel awareness with line drives throughout session. On the infield, showed a strong arm with 86mph positional velocity, accurate throws, moves very athletically and in rhythm, good footwork through baseball towards first base.

Brady Stephan SS / RHP / Fort Zumwalt West , MO / 2020 Stephan is a 6-foot, 155-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2020 class. At the event he ran a 7.26 60 and posted 85mph exit velo. During batting practice, narrow stance, simple leg-kick, sets hands back, aggressive through hitting zone, showed barrel control with hard contact to pull-side gap, excellent extension after contact, balanced finish. On the infield, moves well, good rhythm to fielding position, clean exchanges and footwork, accurate throws, posted positional velocity of 79mph.

Charlie Stergos RHP / SS / Fort Zumwalt East, MO / 2020 Stergos is a 5-foot-11 155-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri's 2020 class.  He ran a 7.33 60 and a 4.02 home to first. He has an 86 mph exit velocity.  At the plate, open stance, slightly crouched in back leg, loads with weight shift against back side, slightly hand load, stays slightly open with stride, swing produced line drives to the pull side and middle of the field.  On the infield, 72 mph positional velocity, aggressive to the ball, quick glove to hand exchange, high three quarters arm slot, quick actions with mostly accurate throws.

Nick Tsoulfanidis 3B / SS / Holt, MO / 2020 Tsoulfanidis is a 6-foot, 175-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2020 class. At the event he ran a 7.56 60 and posted an exit velocity of 88mph. At the plate, strong athletic base, toe-tap load, flat bat path, compact swing to contact, showed power to pull-side. On the infield, showed solid footwork generating momentum toward first base, clean transfers, over-the-top release, deliberate and accurate throws, positional velocity of 73mph.

Ethan Watson RHP / 2B / Francis Howell Central, MO / 2020 Watson is a 5-foot-11 155-pound right-handed hitting second baseman in Missouri's 2020 class.  He ran an 8.29 60 and a 5.33 home to first.  He has a 73 mph exit velocity.  At the plate, balanced stance, minimal load, heal lift, short stride, gap to gap contact during batting practice, controlled swing.  On the infield, high three quarters arm slot, 70 mph positional velocity, fluid footwork to the ball, clean exchange, quick shuffle in feet to gain momentum before release, mostly accurate throws.

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