Prep Baseball Report

St. Louis Invitational: Middle 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 middle infielders. Twenty middle infielders took part in the defensive evaluations. Ten players are in the 2018 class, eight were from the 2019 class, and two in the 2020 class. The group included one switch hitter and one left handed hitter, six players hand an infield velo of 80 mph or better.   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
CLICK HERE, for the Corner Infielders Analysis

Middle Infielders

Alex Adams, SS, Lafayette HS (MO), 2018
Adams is a 6-foot-2 195-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 4.10 home to first and a has an exit veto of 88 mph. At the plate, smooth load into back leg, some hand movement, quiet, short in line stride, consistent line drives gap-to-gap, power to middle and pull side. On the infield, 90 mph positional velo, athletic actions, smooth transfer with hands and feet in sync, high three quarters release, feet work through the catch with momentum to throw.

Cam Been, 2B, Rockwood Summit HS (MO), 2018
Been is a 6-foot-171-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 4.95 home to first and has a 77 mph exit velocity. At the plate, balanced stance with rhythm in upper half, minimal load and stride, hands control the bat, level path, gap to gap line drives. On the infield, 72 mph positional velo, short three quarters release, quick exchange, gains ground after the catch.

Cody Boatwright, 2B, Francis Howell Central HS (MO), 2019
Boatwright is a 5-foot-5 155-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2019 class. He has ran a 4.77 home to first and has an 82 mph exit velo. At the plate, swing produced line drives to the pull side gap, starts balanced and lands square, controlled leg lift, level path through contact. On the infield, 76 mph positional velo, three quarters release, quick exchange, quick feet to the ball, plays through he catch, soft hands, fluid actions. 


Jack Boland, SS, CBC HS (MO), 2019
Boland is a 5-foot-9 160-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2019 class. He ran a 4.59 home to first and has an exit velocity of 87 mph. At the plate, balanced set up, leg kick, short stride, quick bat speed, level through the zone, hands create bat whip, swing produced middle of the field line drives during hitting evals. On the infield, 82 mph positional velocity, three quarters release, quick and active feet to the ball with quick exchange and release, plays with high energy.

Justin Budrovich, 2B, Lutheran HS (MO), 2018
Budrovich is a 6-foot 185-pound right-handed hitting second baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 4.38 home to first and has an 87 mph exit velo. At the plate, tall and thin stance, attacks the ball with minimal load, loose and quick hands, fast bat speed, gap to gap approach with pull side power. On the infield, 76 mph positional velo, athletic actions with soft hands, quick feet, soft hands, hands and feet work on time, physically built frame.

Braden Burcham, 2B, Timberland (MO), 2019
Burcham is a 6-foot-2 145-pound right-handed hitting first baseman in Missouri’s 2019 class. He ran a 4.69 home to first and has a 75 mph exit velo. At the plate, open stance, smooth and controlled load into back side, level path though the zone, middle line drives in evals. At first base, 74 mph positional velo, On the infield, 75 mph positional velocity, high three quarters release, short arm circle, quick transfer, gains ground after catch, soft hands, long levers with lean frame.

Joseph Creamer, 2B, Orchard Farm HS (MO), 2018
Creamer is a 5-foot-11 155-pound right-handed hitting second baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 4.70 home to first and has an exit velocity of 87 mph. At the plate, starts in a square position with feet, controlled leg kick, smooth tempo in swing, swing produced consistent solid contact during hitting evaluations, gap-to-gap line drives. On the infield, 76 mph positional velocity, fields ball in athletic position, long arm circle, over the top release, arm works, soft hands, clean transfer, fluid footwork, showed athleticism on diving play.

Gage Dodge, 2B, Scotland County R-1 HS (MO), 2018
Dodge is a 5-foot-7 165-pound right-handed hitting second baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 4.51 home to first and has an exit velocity of 81 mph. At the plate, starts slightly open, slight leg kick, quiet hands, showed feel for the barrel, loose hands, consistent solid contact during hitting evals, mostly pull side line drives. On the infield, 78 mph positional velo, high three quarters arm slot, clean transfer with fluid footwork, momentum after the catch.

Louis Eckelkamp, 2B, St. Francis Borgia HS (MO), 2019
Eckelkamp is a well built 5-foot-9 195-pound right-handed hitting second baseman in Missouri’s 2019 class. He ran a 4.27 home to first and has a 90 mph exit velo. At the plate, starts open, controlled leg lift, short stride, fast bat speed with bat whip, gap-to-gap contact flashing power. On the infield, 82 mph positional velo, three quarters arm slot, soft hands, glove to hand exchange work with fluid footwork, athletic actions,.

Tyler Fogarty, 2B, Chaminade HS (MO), 2019
Fogarty is a 5-foot-9 165-pound right-handed hitting second baseman in Missouri’s 2019 class. He ran a 4.10 home to first and has an 86 mph exit velo. At the plate, tall stance, thin base, smooth rhythm in stance, hands manage the bat, body stays under control, mostly pull side line drives during hitting evals, fast bat speed. On the infield, high three quarters release, 78 mph positional velo, athletic actions with soft hands, quick exchange, footwork creates momentum to throw.

Tyler Gilmore, SS, Parkway West HS (MO), 2020
Gilmore is a 5-foot-9 130-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2020 class. He ran a 4.78 home to first and has a 78 mph exit velo. At the plate, starts slightly open, smooth and controlled load, short in line stride, simple and repeatable mechanics, loose hands, gap-to-gap approach. On the infield, 69 mph positional velocity, over the top release, flashes quick glove to hand exchange, feet and hands are connected, momentum through the ball, projectable frame with clean arm action.

Cal Hagin, SS, Timberland HS (MO), 2019
Hagin is a 5-foot-8 125-pound switch-hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2019 class. He ran a 4.46 home to first and has a 74 mph exit velocity from the right side and a 71 mph exit velocity from the left side, hands with inside the ball from both sides, middle to opposite field approach, starts open from left side, more square from tight side, controlled leg kick, lands in line, showed feel for the barrel on both sides, repeats swing and will become more consistent as he adds strength. On the infield, 75 mph positional velocity, loose over the top release, feet create momentum to throws, aggressive to the ball, clean exchange, will be a player to follow with continued strength and development.

Hunter Hiett, SS, Cape Girardeau Central HS (MO), 2020
Heitt is a 5-foot-10 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher in Missouri’s 2020 class. He ran a 4.14 home to first and has an 84 mph exit velo. At the plate, starts open, short and controlled leg lift, slightly closed stride, quick bat speed, swing produced solid contact and line drives to pull gap. On the infield, 76 mph positional velo, over the top release, long arm circle, quick catch and throw, quick to the ball, soft hands, feet and hands connected.

Eion Jones, SS, Francis Howell Central HS (MO), 2019
Jones is a 5-foot-10 160-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2019 class. He ran a 4.57 home to first and has an 84 mph exit velo. At the plate, starts slightly open, quick tempo, square stride, mostly middle of the field contact during hitting evals, gap-to-gap approach. On the infield, 81 mph positional velocity, over the top release, fields ball in athletic position, ready to throw, clean transfer with fluid footwork, strong frame with strong lower half.

Drew Mize, SS, Fort Zumwalt West HS (MO), 2019
Mize is a 5-foot-10 154-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2019 class. He ran a 4.84 home to first and has a 79 mph exit velo. At the plate, open stance, smooth and controlled load, in line stride with controlled leg lift, hands create bat whip and control of barrel, solid consistent line drives to middle of the field, gap-to-gap approach, repeats. On the infield, 78 mph positional velocity, high three quarters release, quick catch and throw with footwork creating momentum to throw, slender frame capable of adding strength to already smooth actions.

Adam Rakowiecki, SS, St. Mary’s HS (MO), 2018
Rakowiecki is a 5-foot-11 175-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 4.62 home to first and has an 85 mph exit velo. At the plate, starts slightly open, quick toe tap to in line stride, some rhythm in hands, minimal load, attacks ball, solid consistent pull side contact during hitting evaluations. On the infield, 79 mph positional velo, over the top release, clean exchange with fluid footwork, quick catch and throw.

Elijah Schumer, SS, Lutheran South HS (MO), 2018
Schumer is a 5-foot-10 180-pound right-handed hitting shortstop in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 4.45 home to first and has an exit velocity of 83 mph. At the plate, open stance, smooth rhythm to an in line stride, aggressive swing, gap-to-gap approach, flashes pull side power, body stays under control with quick bat speed. On the infield, 78 mph positional velo, three quarters release, quick to the ball with fluid footwork, soft hands with clean exchange, made all plays cleanly during infield evals. 



Danny Tharp, SS, Waterloo (IL), 2018
Tharp is a 6-foot-1 160-pound right-handed hitting outfielder in Illinois’ 2018 class. He ran a 4.41 home to first and has an 80 mph exit velo. At the plate, open stance, short in line stride, hands create a flat bat plane and quick speed, gap-to-gap line drives, body stays under control. On the infield, 75 mph across the infield, lean frame, quick catch and throw, high three quarters arm slot, fluid footwork to the ball, fields ball in position ready to throw. On the infield, 75 mph positional velo, over the top release, quick catch and throw, footwork creates momentum through the catch, quick transfer. 



Josh Wagner, 2B, Francis Howell North HS (MO), 2018
Wagner is a 5-foot-9 190-pound left-handed hitting second baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 4.58 home to first and as an exit velocity of 88 mph. At the plate, thin base, slightly closed, holds hands high with rhythm, quick bat speed, mostly middle of the field line drives during hitting evals. On the infield, 81 mph positional veto, over the top release, made all plays cleanly during defensive evals, fluid footwork to the ball, quick catch and throw, soft hands.

Alex Winscher, 2B, Fort Zumwalt West HS (MO), 2018
Winscher is a 6-foot-1 165-pound right-handed hitting second baseman in Missouri’s 2018 class. He ran a 4.59 home to first and has an 80 mph exit velocity. At the plate, tall set up, smooth load, in line stride, level path through the zone, hands manage bat, gap to gap line drives, repeats swing. On the infield, 80 mph positional velo, high three quarters release, quick transfer, fluid footwork to the ball, made all plays cleanly during defensive evals.

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