Prep Baseball Report

St. Louis Invitational: Corner Infielders Analysis



Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

Prep Baseball Report-Missouri held the St. Louis Invitational on February 20 at All-Star Performance in St. Louis. Nearly 80 players in the 2020 to 2018 class from around the St. Louis area participated.

In the days to come, we will break down the event position-by-position.  Today we will take a look at the corner. Twenty-four corner infielders took part in the defensive evaluations, seven were first baseman. Ten players are in the 2018 class, twelve were from the 2019 class, and one each in the 2017 and 2020 class. Five players were left-handed hitters and thirteen players had 85 mph or better exit velos.  Players are listed in alphabetical order.

Player's profiles have been updated with profile pictures, videos and stats from the event. Coaches will have new profiles to add their dashboard on ScoutPlus and players will be able to update information on their profile with ProspectPlus.

CLICK HERE, for the Instant Analysis
CLICK HERE, for the Catchers Analysis
CLICK HERE, for the Outfielders Analysis

Corner Infielders

Colin Bergmann, 3B, CBC (MO), 2019
Bergmann is a 5-foot-11 180-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.32 home to first and has a 91 mph exit velo. At the plate, tall and open stance, aggressive, does not get cheated, quick bat, swing produced mostly pull side contact, pull power. On the infield, 83 mph positional velo, high three quarters release, quick arm speed, quick actions with quick catch and throw, strong frame.

Carson Buddemeyer, 1B, CBC (MO), 2019
Buddemeyer is a 6-foot-2 220-pound left-handed hitting first baseman in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.46 home to first and has an exit velocity of 89 mph. At the plate, starts slightly open, leg kick, in line stride, some hand load, consistently squared up the ball gap-to-gap, middle to pull side power. On the infield, high three quarters release, moves the the ball well, fluid footwork, hands work on time with feet, 74 mph positional velo.

Kurtis Byrne, 3B, CBC (MO), 2019
Bryne is a 6-foot 205-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class and is committed to Indiana. Bryne ran a 4.90 home to first and has an exit velocity of 96 mph.  At the plate, showed mostly pull side power, quick hands and bat speed, aggressive, starts balanced, leg kick, minimal hand movement, consistent hard contact. On the infield, 86 mph positional velo, over the top release, athletic footwork, momentum after the catch, clean exchange, soft hands. 



Hayden Cooper, 3B, Holt (MO), 2018
Cooper is a 6-foot-3 180-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 4.00 home to first and has an exit velocity of 92 mph. At the plate, open stance, short stride, has bat control, quick hands generating bat whip, consistent hard contact gap-to-gap, good round of hitting during evals, body stays under control.  On the infield, 77 mph positional velo, smooth action, feet in sync with hands, field ball in athletic position ready to throw, soft hands, loose high three quarters arm slot.  

Brenden Cooper, 1B, Francis Howell North (MO), 2019
Cooper is a 6-foot-4 195-pound right-handed hitting first baseman in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.57 home to first and has an 85 mph exit velo. At the plate, open stance, quick leg kick, in line stride, swing produced middle to pull side contact, flashing pull side power.  At first base, 73 mph positional velo, high three quarters release, throws with effort, quick feet to the ball, clean glove to hand transfer.  

Jack Covert, 3B, Marquette (MO), 2018
Covert is a 6-foot 190-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 4.89 home to first and has an exit velocity of 86 mph. At the plate, open set up, low foot to inline stride, swing produced pull side line drives during batting practice, quick bat speed on level path.  On the infield, 83 mph positional velo, over the top arm slot, moves to the ball well with quick feet, momentum though the catch, clean transfer. 



Jack Darwin, 1B, Whitfield (MO), 2018
Darwin is a 5-foot-11 180-pound left-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 208 class. Darwin ran a 4.39 home to first and has an 86 mph exit velo. At the the plate, startts in a balance stance, some hand load, short in line stride, compact swing, flashing pull side power. At first base, 67 mph positional velo, short three quarters release, clean exchange, gains ground with feet after catch.

Luke Gillam, 3B, Chaminade (MO), 2019
Gilliam is a 6-foot-2 190-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.56 home to first and has an exit velocity of 85 mph. At the plate, open stance, gathers in back side with a toe tap, quiet hands, connected swing, level path, controls the barrell, gap-to-gap line drives, flashed pull power.  On the infield, 78 mph positional velocity, high three quarters release, long arm circle,  fluid footwork in sync with a clean transfer, lean and athletic frame.  

Jon-David Gunther, 1B, Ladue Horton Watkins (MO), 2018
Gunter is a 6-foot-6 205-pound right-handed hitting first baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 4.83 home to first and has an exit velocity of 67 mph. At the plate, open stance, rhythm in hands, short stride, hands create bat whip with quick speed, swing produced gap-to-gap line drives, power to the middle of the field. At first base, big frame, extra large target with reach, quick to the ball with feet, three quarters arm slot, 72 mph positional velo.

Jaxson Huffman, 3B, Poplar Bluff (MO), 2018
Huffman is a strong and athletically built 6-foot-3 195-pound left-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 4.63 home to first and has an exit velocity of 83 mph. At the plate, starts with a wide base, short stride, slight weight shift to back side, swing produced mostly line drive contact to middle of the field, gap-to-gap approach.  On the infield, 75 mph positional velocity, quick catch and throw, field in position to throw, fluid footwork with clean exchange, high three quarters release.

Zack Hunsicker, 3B, Francis Howell (MO), 2018
Hunsicker is a 6-foot-5 225-pound right-handed hitting outfielder in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 4.66 home to first and has an exit velocity of 94 mph. At the plate, balanced set up, controlled leg lift and hand load, short stride, aggressive and quick bat speed, power to the middle and pull gap, balanced swing. At first base, 85 mph positional velo, over the top release, fluid footwork, works around the ball, quick catch and throw with momentum.  



Ryan Keisker, 1B, Francis Howell Central (MO), 2018
Keisker is a 6-foot-2 200-pound right-handed hitting first baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 4.71 home to first and has an exit velocity of 78 mph. At the plate, start open, stays slightly open, controlled load, no wasted movement, swing produced mostly pull side line drives during hitting evaluations.  At first base, three quarters release, some momentum after the catch, fields ball in athletic position, 67 mph positional velo.

Alex Lancaster, 3B, Staley (MO), 2018
Lancaster is a 6-foot-3 195-pound left-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 4.59 home to first and has a 84 mph exit velo. At the plate, balanced set up, some rhythm in hands, minimal load with no wasted movement, shot stride, body under control, line drives gap to gap.  On the infield, 75 mph positional velo, throws from a thee quarter arm slot, long arm circle out of glove, soft hands, fluid footwork working through the ball, clean exchange.  



Michael Long, INF, MICDS (MO), 2019
Long is a 6-foot 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.84 home to first and has an exit velocity of 90 mph. At the plate, takes an aggressive swing, open with short stride, slightly close, gap-to-gap approach, power to middle and pull side, hard consistent contact.  On the infield, 79 mph positional velo, over the top release, fluid footwork, gains ground after the catch with fluid glove to hand exchange.  



Nick Meacham, 3B, Rockwood Summit (MO), 2018
Meacham is a 6-foot-1 145-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 4.58 home to first and has an exit velocity of 76 mph. At the plate, thin and open set up, little movement in hands, balanced throughout swing, level path, mostly pull side line drives during hitting evaluations.  On the infield, 69 mph positional velo, high three quarters arm slot, quick feet to the ball, plays through the catch with momentum to throw, quick transfer to throwing hand.  

Kenan Payne, 3B, Holt (MO), 2019
Payne is a 6-foot-1 160-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.75 home to first and has an exit velocity of 69 mph. At the plate, balanced stance, slight pre swing rhythm, short stride, hands control the bat, gap-to-gap line drives, most contact to center field.  On the infield, 71 mph positional velo, over the top release, clean transfer, made all plays cleanly.  

Zack Ploch, 3B, Timberland (MO), 2020
Ploch is a 5-foot-11 190-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2020 class.  He ran a 4.96 home to first and has an exit velocity of 88 mph. At the plate, open stance, minimal load, quiet and strong hand, level bat path to extension, flashed pop to opposite field gap, gap-to-gap approach, repeats swing.  On the infield, over the top release, quick arm speed, fluid footwork to the ball flashing quickness, clean transfer, throws have backspin carry, 84 mph across the infield.

Stephen Randazzo, 3B, DeSmet (MO), 2018
Randazzo is a 6-foot-1 190-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class.  He ran a 4.58 home to first and has an exit velocity of 91 mph. At the plate, starts with an open stance, in line stride, loose hands, showed feel for the barrell, gap-to-gap approach, mostly solid line drives to the middle of the field.  On the infield, 76 mph positional velo, over the top release, feet work well to the ball, creates momentum to throw after the catch, high three quarters arm slot, clean transfer.  



Carlos Santangelo, 3B, Chaminade (MO), 2019
Santangelo is a 6-foot 155-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.75 home to first and has an exit velocity of 84 mph. At the plate, balanced stance, smooth pre swing rhythm in hands, short stride, no wasted movement, loose hands with level path, gap-to-gap line drives, flashed pull side power. In the outfield, 76 mph positional velo, high three quarters release, soft hands, fields the ball out front, feet and hands work together, in sync, loose high three quarters arm action, slender frame with projection.  



Joseph Schmidt, 3B, St. Francis Borgia (MO), 2019
Schmidt is a strong 6-foot-2 225-pound right-handed hitting third baseman in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.84 home to first and has an exit velocity of 92 mph. At the plate, open stance, controlled load with minimal hand movement, leg kick, swings with intent to hit the ball hard, above average pull side power, consistently squared up ball during hitting evaluations. On the infield, 82 mph positional velo, short over the top arm slot, big frame, moves well, fluid footwork on time with feet, momentum to throw.

Mark Shallenberger, 1B, St. Louis Priory (MO), 2019
Shallenberger is a 6-foot-1 185-pound left-handed hitting first baseman in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.40 home to first and has and exit velocity of 83 mph. At the plate, starts loaded in back leg, open stance, toe tap for timing, loose hand creating quick bat speed, level path, mostly pull side line drives, during hitting eval, flashing power.  At first base, 74 mph positional velo, high three quarters arm slot, quick feet to the ball, fields in athletic position, quick catch and throw.  

Andrew Snyder, 3B, CBC (MO), 2019
Snyder is a 6-foot 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 5.08 home to first and has an exit velocity of 83 mph. At the plate, open stance, in line stride, level path through the zone, quiet hands, gap-to-gap approach. On the infield, 75 mph positional velocity, three quarters arm slot, quick transfer, fluid footwork gaining ground to throw, fluid to the ball.

Tommy Stevenson, 3B, Kirkwood (MO), 2019
Stevenson is an athletic and projectable 6-foot-3 170-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class.  He ran a 4.94 home to first and has an exit velocity of 78 mph. At the plate, open stance, works into back leg to load, hands load with stride, ball jumps off bat, gap-to-gap approach, loose hands create bat whip. On the infield, 78 mph positional velo, athletic and under control, quick high three quarters arm speed, in sync with feet and exchange, soft hands.

Mitch Tinkham, 1B, Oakville (MO), 2017
Tinkham is a 6-foot 220-pound right-handed hitting first baseman in Missouri’s 2017 class.  He ran a 4.94 home to first and has an exit velocity of 81 mph.  At the plate, balanced set up, slight rhythm in hands, strong hands, controls the bat, swing produced middle of the field to pull side contact, repeats swing.  At first base, 67 mph velo, 65 mph across the infield, over the top release, quick to the ball, clean exchange, creates momentum to throw after the catch.

 

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