By Brandon Hall
North Carolina Director of Scouting

On August 10th, fifty of the top underclass players in North Carolina assembled at Campbell’s Jim Perry Stadium.  A gorgeous day featured each player showcasing their talent in a controlled setting.  The position players went through an extended BP, followed by individual work at their defensive positions.  Pitchers worked to live hitters in two controlled innings, showcasing their stuff and ability to pitch.

An impressive group of middle infielders was on display.  Players ranged in age from 2019 - 2021 graduates.  Several players possessed an offensive first approach while others showed advanced defensive skills.  In the 2019 class, Cameron Greene (Charlotte Country Day) and Kenshawn Dixon (North Lenoir HS) showed off athleticism throughout the workout and game settings.  Grayson LaSpaluto (Apex Friendship) ran one of only a couple sub 7.0 sixties. 

The 2020 class featured a couple of "hitterish" left handed hitting middle guys in Chandler Riley (Cox Mill HS) and Joey Berini (Orange HS).  Both showed well in BP and carried it over to production in the game settings. 

Defensively, AJ Jones (Southern Nash, 2020), Michael Misenheimer (Piedmont HS, 2019), and Justin Ebert (Terry Sanford HS, 2019) all showed an advanced ability to catch the ball and transition it accurately to first base.

Nolan DeVos (Hickory Ridge HS, 2019) was the lone dual pitcher - middle infielder, showing an ability to catch the ball while pounding the zone on the mound from multiple angles. 

A complete analysis of each middle infielder at the Top Underclass Games is below.  There name will link to their profile with complete stats and video from the event.

Top Underclass Games Quick Hitters

+ 47 Players took part in the Top Underclass Games
+ 15 Players ran a 7.40, or better 60… 6 ran better than 7.20
+ 6 Position players showed an arm speed of better than 80 mph from their position
+ 9 catchers registered Pop Times of better than 2.20… 3 were below 2.10
+ 12 hitters had exit velocities, off the barrel, of 84 mph or higher
+ 7 pitchers touched 83 or better with their fastball… 1 touched 90.

CLICK HERE for a full roster of participants

CLICK HERE for a full statistical breakdown from the Top Underclass Games

 

Middle Infielder Analysis

 

 

Joey Berini SS / 2B / Orange, NC / 2020 Average frame with some athleticism at 5-foot-9, 150 pounds.  Left-handed hitter comes across “hitterish” in the box.  Open stance and good rhythm in the load back.  Short stride.  Handsy feel for the barrel.  Loose throughout with a direct path.  Better than average bat speed.  Exit velocity of 80, that will improve with added strength.  Level, line drive approach, sprayed back spin across the field.  On the infield, hands show to have some softness, funneling to the mid-section with active feet, in rhythm.  Plays through the ball with clean transitions getting to a long arm swing and high-3/4 release.  Shows carry, as the arm does work to load throws and lays off away from the body at times.  78 across the diamond on the throws.  Ran a 7.45 sixty.

 

 

 

Cameron Greene 2B / SS / Charlotte Country Day School, NC / 2019 Athletic, works to make a lot of his fundamental play look easy.  Ran a 7.06 sixty.  Young frame that has strength and definition in the lower half at 6-foot, 170 pounds.  Easy to dream on the addition of strength and quickness with maturity.  Right handed hitter works from a balanced and athletic setup.  Uses a weight shift, with a small leg kick.  Short stride and better than average bat speed.  Loose and whippy with barrel ability.  Level, line drive approach, working the middle of the field.  Exit velocity peaked at 86.  Soft hands on the infield with fluid feet that can be cautious at times.  Works to play through balls.  Clean exchanges, long at times, work to a high-3/4 slot that can be manipulated, with accuracy, pending the play and his footwork.  Caught the ball consistently with looseness, working to secure the ball to the mid-section.  Arm topped at 72 across the diamond with average carry.

 

 

Kenshawn Dixon SS / 2B / North Lenoir , NC / 2019 Quickness exists in the 5-foot-6, 145 pound frame.  Strong build.  Ran a 6.87 sixty.  Offensively works from a tall stance, open, using a short stride to get to the launch position.  Twitchy athlete, there is quickness in the bat.  Works short and level to the ball, staying in the middle of the field.  Barrel ability is average as the bat can get in and out of the zone quickly at times.  Exit velocity peaked at 82 off the barrel.  Hands play through some stiffness, showing an ability to catch consistently, as he funnels to the mid-section to secure and transition the baseball.  Quick and clean exchange to a short arm swing and over-the-top slot.  Accuracy can improve on throws that reached 69 mph across the diamond.

 

 

Chandler Riley SS / 2B / Cox Mill, NC / 2020 Aggressive, flat, and with barrel awareness from the left side of the plate.  Exit velocity up to 84, but played better in BP and in game, where he drove the baseball to the opposite gap and to deep center field.  Open setup, a slight leg kick loads the weight back, prior to an aggressive stride.  Loose, works to get on top of his front side.  Stays in rhythm with a quick bat producing line drives.  Head discipline may improve some.  Loose on the infield with ‘V-cut’ footwork around the ball.  Average hands and active feet transition the ball cleanly to the mid-section.  Long arm action worked from an over-the-top and high-3/4 slot showing some accuracy and carry.  Arm topped at 74 across the diamond, but there is more in there from watching the games.  Ran a 7.57 sixty.

 

 

Alex Anderson SS / 2B / Richmond County, NC / 2019 5-foot-7, 157 pound infielder ran a 7.11 sixty.  Works low through his catches with average hands.  Clean transitions as he plays through the ball.  Picks to the exchange area, occasionally sitting and bunkering on hops, catching the ball on the right hip.  Average arm swing gets to a high-3/4 slot showing good feel for accuracy and average carry at 77 mph across the diamond.  Right handed hitter is balanced and slightly open, with a small stride back toward the plate.  Bat works off the shoulder, lifting to the launch position.  Stays on the back side.  Pull emphasis.  Good barrel ability.  Wants extension, working with uphill leverage.  Exit velocity peaked at 79 mph off the barrel.

 

 

Greyson LaSpaluto SS / 2B / Apex Friendship, NC / 2019 Wiry build at 5-foot-9, 148 pounds.  Ran a 6.97 sixty and used that quickness on the infield as well.  Clean with active feet and soft hands.  Funneled to the mid-section, securing the ball through clean exchanges.  Long arm swing to an over-the-top slot, showing some carry and good accuracy at 81 mph from shortstop.  Right-handed hitter works from an athletic base with a weight shift back to load, and a short stride.  Better than average bat speed wants extension while working level through the zone.  Stayed gap-to-gap.  Good rhythm in a loose swing with barrel awareness.  Exit velocity peaked at 80.

 

 

Kade Smith 2B / OF / Alexander Central , NC / 2020 Thin build, with plenty of room for maturity at 5-foot-10, 125 pounds.  Soft hands with quick, fluid feet on the infield.  Tends to catch the ball deep in stance.  Feet remain active as the ball funnels to the mid-section.  Short arm swing to a high-3/4 slot.  Above average carry and accuracy on throws topping at 69 from shortstop.  Right-handed hitter works tall and from an open stance.  Aggressive stride allows the high hand position to settle.  Looseness is present as the bat head works to a flat position.  Average bat speed.  Stays level through the ball, producing line drives in the gaps.  Exit velocity peaked at 72.  Ran a 7.56 sixty.

 

 

Nolan DeVos 2B / RHP / Hickory Ridge, NC / 2019 Maturity ahead for the young 5-foot-10, 145 pounder.  Catches the ball with ease on the infield, securing it to the mid-section.  Soft hands and fluid footwork.  Does not waste effort.  Quick, clean exchanges with an athletic base work to a high-3/4 slot.  Slot is laid off slightly, when trying to create arm speed, turning the ball over early and barring the arm slightly.  Has accuracy.  Throws peaked at 75 across the diamond.  Right-handed hitter is balanced, using a weight shift back with a short stride.  Loads the bat head to a vertical position.  Loose actions, repeats the swing showing good barrel awareness.  Exit velocity should improve with added strength, topping at 82.  Level swing, showed occasional uphill leverage, worked the middle of the field.  Ran a 7.55 sixty. On the mound, showed different slots with the fastball, working to command the ball more than turn it loose.  Did work up to 77-79 in the second inning but sat 75-77 in the first from an over-the-top-slot.  Drops down to a side-arm slot occasionally at 73-75 and occasional arm side run.  Breaking ball ranged 60-64 with 12/6 shape.  Slowing the arm slightly, the ball has a hump out of the hand and gradual arc.  Spin appears somewhat tight as the shape has maturity.  Presents feel of the pitch, throwing it for a strike and expanding down at times.  Arm works with quickness as the body remains tall through balance.  Glove points to set the front side and the delivery has smooth rhythm.  Shoulder remain level and the foot lands on-line.  Change-up is third pitch but use-able at 67-69.  Straight, the arm slows slightly, but the pitch features in the strike zone.

 

 

AJ Jones SS / 2B / Southern Nash, NC / 2020 Young frame at 5-foot-10, 140 pounds.  Lots of maturation ahead.  Caught the ball at shortstop with good actions.  Soft hands secured the ball, funneling to the mid-section.  Clean exchanges with athleticism throughout each play.  Works low, with looseness in the hips.  Long arm arc to a high-3/4 slot showed advanced accuracy at 79 mph across the diamond.  Listed as a switch-hitter, worked only from the right side.  Balanced setup with a simple plan.   Short stride sets the launch position.  Average bat speed that works to stay level, at times using an inside-out approach.  Hands work away from the body as the round advanced.  Average barrel awareness.  Fundamentals are in place as strength is added to the frame.  Exit velocity touched 76.  Ran a 7.57 sixty.

 

 

Michael Misenheimer SS / 3B / Piedmont , NC / 2019 Average build in the 5-foot-11, 165 pound middle infielder.  Good catch-ability on the infield with soft hands and fluid feet.  Funnels the ball to the mid-section.  Easy catch and transfer to a high-3/4 slot.  Long arm action showed a feel for accuracy with throws of 75 mph from shortstop.  Arm is laid off slightly at times, working to show arm strength.  Offensively, has a handsy approach but needs to add strength to the frame.  Open stance, loads back with a short stride.  Better than average bat speed wants to stay level creating line drives in the middle of the field.  Tends to cut across the ball at times as the hands can cast.  Exit velocity of 80 mph off the barrel.

 

 

Will Harris SS / C / Rosewood, NC / 2021 Lanky, athletic frame that is still maturing.  Strength can be added to the 6-foot, 145 pound frame.  Average hands, feet, and exchange on the infield, working clean through the ball.  Short arm action gets to a high-3/4 slot showing some accuracy and average carry at 76 mph across the diamond.  Behind the plate pop times ranged 2.38 – 2.51.  Good accuracy from the crouch with throws touching 73 mph.  Right handed hitter works in the middle of the field from a balanced, athletic stance.  Smooth load back with an average stride.  Works level through the ball, staying in the middle of the field.  Good head discipline.  Average barrel awareness.  Strength will improve the 78 mph exit velocity.  Backside tends to be inactive through the swing.  Ran a 7.51 sixty.

 

 

Justin Ebert SS / 3B / Terry Sanford , NC / 2019 Good actions on the infield.  Active feet and an accurate arm.  Soft hands work with rhythm with the feet leading to quick, clean exchanges.  Picks through to the exchange area.  Arm works to a high-3/4 slot that can drop pending the type of play, and maintain accuracy.  Short arm action produces 76 across the diamond, showing some carry.  Right handed hitter is balanced, loading the hands back with limited movement in his weight.  Better than average bat speed, stays level and in the middle of the field.  Flat bat position throughout the setup and launch, there is a feel for the barrel at contact.  Exit velocity peaked at 84.  Ran a 7.63 sixty.

 

 

Byron Younts SS / 3B / Alexander Central , NC / 2019 Right handed hitter has some length at 6-foot-1, 165 pounds.  Narrow stance, slightly crouched and balanced, using an aggressive stride while the hands load in a ‘C’ fashion, taking the barrel into a vertical position.  Works uphill through the zone, set to pull, with an exit velocity of 82 off the barrel.  Average hands and clean exchanges work to a long arm action and over-the-top slot with a slight shoulder restriction through release.  Showed some accuracy at 69 across the diamond.