The Performance Academy Open ID - Infielder Analysis
November 22, 2018
On Saturday November 11th, Prep Baseball Report held an open prospect identification, in conjunction with the Performance Academy, at Jim Perry Stadium, on the campus of Campbell University. With over 70 players in attendance, PBR ran a full pro-style workout, gathering information on each player in attendance.
Position players were up first, going through a full offensive evaluation that included a laser timed 60 on the turf at Campbell, an exit velocity test off a tee in the cage area, and several rounds of batting practice, live on the playing field. Following the offensive testing, a full defensive evaluation took place with outfielders throwing from right field, infielders working out at shortstop and at first base, and catcher being evaluated on pop times, blocking and recovering, and receiving.
Following the position players, pitchers and catchers were evaluated in a bullpen setting. Delivery, arm action, arm speed, stuff, velocity, and command were all taken into account as scouts dialed into each arm in attendance.
PBR scouts in attendance were able to take stats on each player in attendance, while compiling evaluations on players that will lead to potential invites to the Preseason All-State, Top Prospect Games, the Future Games, and the Super 60. Player statistics are available, with evaluations and player video coming in the near future.
CLICK HERE to see the full roster from the workout, along with the statistics compiled.
Nine primary infielders took part in the workout. One 2020 was committed entering the event and shortly after the scout day, Gavin Mortenson committed to Western Carolina. Daniel Stephens has drawn a lot of attention after his performance including showing premium arm strength across the diamond.
By The Numbers:
+ 72 players worked out at the event. All players ranged from 2020 – 2022 graduates.
+ 17 players ran a sub 7.20 sixty on the laser timer.
+ 7.51 was the median sixty time for the event
+ 91 mph was the top arm velo on the day from Infielder Daniels Stephens (2020)
+ 6 players worked at 83 mph or better across the diamond with a median infield velocity of 73 mph
+ 89 mph was the top OF velocity with 6 at or above 82 mph from right field. The median velocity was 75 mph
+ 18 catchers worked out with a median pop time of 2.12 and a median positional velocity of 72 mph out of the crouch
+ 2 catchers posted a sub-2.00 pop time with 7 at or below 2.10
+ 2 hitters broke the 90 mph barrier in exit velocity with 13 above 85 mph. The median exit velocity was 80 mph
+ 87 mph was the top Fastball in the bullpen sessions
+ 6 players worked at 81 mph or better, out of the 16 bullpens
+ 78 mph was the median fastball for the event.
Infielder Analysis
Chase Caristo SS / 2B / Apex, NC / 2021Average frame at 5-foot-8, 150 pounds. Quickness exists, running a 7.17 sixty on the laser. Right handed hitter is balanced in his setup. Uses little to no stride and can be rushed through his load at times. Average bat speed, working level through the zone. Occasionally gets into a pull mode working for extension. Exit velocity peaked at 78 mph. Active feet on defense with trust in his hands. Tends to center the ball on the catch, occasionally receiving it deep. Funnels to the midsection with a clean exchange to a long arm swing. Some effort in the release from a lower slot, occasionally pushing the elbow through the throw. Some accuracy, with some throws sailing arm side. Positional velocity of 68 mph across the diamond. |
Tyler Gurganus 3B / OF / Fike, NC / 2020Average frame at 5-foot-9, 180 pounds. Good bend in the hips and the hands work to funnel to the midsection on the catch. Feet can anchor on routine balls at times. Long exchanges to a short arm swing and ¾ slot. Some accuracy on throws measuring 73 mph across the diamond. Right handed hitter works from a balanced setup, using a short stride. Works to be level through the zone, occasionally around the ball with some length. Average bat speed and barrel awareness may increase with more hand strength. Ran a laser timed 60 in 8.05. |
Joey Ferrari SS / 2B / Sanderson , NC / 2020Twitchy athlete in an average frame at 5-foot-10, 150 pounds. Ran a 6.85 on the laser timed 60. Left handed hitter works from a slightly open stance. Uses a leg kick to load his weight back, occasionally fall forward out of the kick. Vertical bat and some stiffness in the hands at launch, still shows better than average bat speed and good feel for the barrel. Level through the zone, works to stay gap-to-gap with line drives. Exit velocity touched 80 mph off the barrel. Active feet defensively with good bend in the hips. Hands work. Easy transitions. Effort in the arm with a short arm swing to a low release, occasionally allowing the elbow to dip and push the arm through the slot. Ball tends to sail to the arm side with a positional velocity of 72 mph. |
Sam Kulasingam SS / RHP / Holly Springs , NC / 2020Rankings StateRank: 85 / POS: 21
Air Force Academy commit. Rangy athlete with long limbs at 6-foot-1, 160 pounds. Plenty of room to continue to add strength to the frame. Advanced rhythm defensively. Feet and hands works with ease. Ball sticks in the glove, funneling to the midsection for a rhythmic and athletic exchange to a long arm swing and high-3/4 release. Easy carry and accuracy across the diamond at 83 mph. Switch hitter seems to have more comfort on the right side where there is looseness. Works to mimic the swing on both side with a tall, athletic base and easy load back. Average quickness from the right side with average to above feel for the barrel. Exit velocity on the right side peaked at 80 mph. On the left side, the load lacks some rhythm and the hands tend to cast early, getting around the ball. More pull emphasis on the left side with an exit velocity of 72 mph. |
Cole McGivern SS / 2B / Middle Creek , NC / 20215 foot 10, 138-pound build. Offensively he works from the right side using a balanced setup. Medium length stride, getting his lower half through the ball. Works mostly middle to his pull side with his barrel getting long and around at times. Exit velocity recorded at 71 mph and should improve with added strength and looseness to his swing. Athletic on the infield with quick feet. Average hands with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Some accuracy to his throws across the diamond peaking at 72 mph. Recorded an 8.13 in the 60. |
Gavin Mortenson SS / 2B / Northwest Guilford, NC / 2020Rankings StateRank: 43 / POS: 11
Committed to Western Carolina shortly after this event. Premium defender is beginning to fill out his 6-foot-2, 170 pound frame. Strength gains were evident in his performance when compared to the late summer. Offensively, the right hander is much more quiet getting to a repeatable launch position with a slight bat tip. Goo rhythm. Much more direct with good feel for the barrel. Wants extension but stayed gap-to-gap creating loft off the barrel. Exit velocity will continue to rise with more strength, peaking at 82 mph of this day. Defensively, the hands and feet have great rhythm and the arm works to make every throw with carry and accuracy. Carry has continued to improve with a peak positional velocity of 85 mph. Ran a 7.54 sixty and should see this number lower as his strength allows him to hold peak acceleration. |
Daniel Stephens SS / OF / Pro 5 Academy , NC / 2020Athletic frame with strength present and room to continue to fill out. Stands 6-foot-1, 170 pounds. Quickness is present running a 7.10 sixty. Right handed hitter is balanced and athletic in his setup. Smooth, quiet weight shift back is paired with a load out of the hands. Average stride. Works for extension with some uphill leverage in the swing. Stayed in the middle of the field with an exit velocity of 81 mph. Quick bat through the zone, there is barrel awareness. Defensively, the feet work to be active. Some stiffness in his bend, but the hands works to secure the ball, funneling to the midsection. Aggressive feet and long arm swing to a high-3/4 slot produces plenty of carry with accuracy across the diamond. No issue projecting him to stay on the left side with a positional velocity peaking at 91 mph. |
Dominic Williams SS / 2B / Corinth Holders, NC / 20215 foot 8, 145-pound average build. Switch hitter who uses a tall setup with a leg kick during his load. Works mostly to the pull side from both sides of the plate with a line drive approach. Quiet barrel with some feel, keeping it through the zone. Swing is more fluid from the left side with more feel for the barrel. Exit velocity recorded at 74 mph. Plays through balls on the infield with fluid feet and average hands. Funnels to the center of his body after catch leading to a long arm action throwing from a high ¾ slot. Some accuracy to his throws that peaked at 72 mph across the diamond. Recorded a 7.77 in the 60. |
Parker Wood SS / 2B / South Johnston , NC / 20215 foot 9, 150-pound average build. Hits from the right side using a tall setup. Leg kick during his load creating some momentum into the ball. Some stiffness in the swing with his barrel working level through the zone. Works gap to gap with his exit velocity recorded at 75 mph. Average hands on the infield with his feet stopping at catch creating a longer exchange. Long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot with some accuracy to his throws. Positional velocity peaked at 72 mph. Recorded a 7.94 in the 60. |