Midwest ProCase: Infield Analysis

By Sean Duncan and Matt Huck

The Midwest ProCase took place on July 11th at Silver Cross Field in Joliet, Illinois. The event featured players from ten surrounding states. Today we continue our event analysis with reports on the infielders.

SS Seth Halvorsen (Heritage Christian Academy, MN) impressed with his plus plus arm strength and raw ability at the plate. He is athletic in the infield and tied for an event best 96 mph infield velocity. At the plate Halvorsen has raw power and strength, he generates explosive bat speed and possess enough strength to miss hit balls to the fence. He will be a high level draft prospect in 2018 for both his work on the mound and in the infield.

Switch hitting SS Branden Comia (Sandburg, IL) continued to show and improved run tool and arm strength. Defensively he has soft hands with fluid actions and quick footwork, showed the ability to play on the run.

Infield Scouting Reports (Listed Alphabetically)

Max Alba, RHP/1B, Franklin HS, WI
North Carolina commit. Currently ranked No. 3 in the Wisconsin Class of 2018 and No. 69 in the PBR Overall Ranks. 6-foot-5, 190-pound right-handed pitcher with a projectable, athletic frame. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short, quick arm action. Wrap on the backside. Full overhead, drop and drive delivery with good tempo. Works in line with home plate, square landing with good balance. Fastball is mostly straight worked 86-88 topping out at 89 mph. Curveball has continued to get better, has 11-5 shape with late, sharp breaking action, thrown with fastball arm speed. Curveball worked 77-80 mph. Also took batting practice and worked out at first base.  Shows athleticism running a 7.11 60 yard dash. Hits from a balanced setup with a short toe tap stride. Short, uphill swing path. 92 mph exit velocity from a tee. Fluid footwork and actions at first base, with good feel around the bag. Threw 85 mph across the infield. 

Alex Binelas, 3B, Oak Creek HS, WI
Louisville commit. Currently ranked No. 2 in the Wisconsin Class of 2018 and No. 53 in the PBR Overall Ranks. 6-foot-2, 210-pound left-handed hitting third baseman with a strong, mature frame. Profiles as a power hitting corner infielder. Moves extremely well for size, 6.76 60-yard dash. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short hand load to backside and heel lift stride. Short, level swing path generates easy bat speed. Line drive hitter, shows power to the pull side in BP. Showed strength thru contact with 96 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Throws showed carry across the infield at 88 mph. Good body control on the run thru.

Anthony Calarco, 1B/3B, New Trier HS, IL
Northwestern recruit, currently ranked No. 29 in Illinois’ 2018 class. 6-foot-4, 200-pound switch hitting corner infielder. From the right side hits from a balanced setup with a long stride and a long, level swing path. From the left side, balanced setup with a long, slightly uphill swing path. Swing tends to get get long at times but shows pop from both sides of the plate. 94 mph exit velocity from both sides. Ran the 60 at 7.28. Defensively has a long, loose arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball with fluid footwork. Threw 86 mph across the infield. Will contribute at the next level from either corner infield position.

Francois Castillo, 3B/OF, Clemente HS, IL
Eastern Illinois recruit, currently ranked No. 24 in Illinois’ 2018 class. 6-foot, 210-pound right-handed hitting third baseman who can also play the outfield. Possesses a big arm anywhere on the field. Was clocked at 96 mph across the infield and 94 mph from the outfield, both event highs. Shows athletic, soft hands in the field, long transfer and considerable effort in the throw. Offensively, has balanced setup, rhythm in load, loose hands, small leg lift trigger, pull-side approach, inconsistent path. Registered 91 mph exit velocity and ran a 7.10 laser-timed 60.

Branden Comia, SS, Sandburg HS, IL
Illinois recruit, currently ranked No. 102 overall, No. 4 in Illinois’ 2018 class. 5-foot-11, 176-pound switch-hitting shortstop. Continues to show improvements in his overall athleticism; turned heads at the Midwest ProCase by running a 6.65 laser-timed 60. Shows all the requisite skills to stick at shortstop. High-level defender, reliable, soft hands, moves with fluidity, fields the ball in rhythm, highly athletic arm, strong, accurate arm from multiple angles (87 mph), plays on the move exceptionally well. Plays with bounce and quiet confidence. Offensively, natural right-handed hitter who only began switch-hitting this year. Shows athletic, loose hands from both sides of the plate. Relaxed, athletic approach, excellent pre-pitch rhythm, loose, easy hands, generates bat easy bat speed; handsy, line-drive approach from right side. Registered 95 mph exit velocity from the right side with wood, 91 mph from the left side.

Nate DeYoung, 3B, Xavier HS, WI
UW-Milwaukee commit. Currently ranked No. 10 in the Wisconsin Class of 2018. 6-foot-7, 215-pound left-handed hitting third baseman with a lanky frame, room to add more strength. Balanced setup at the plate. Short stride with good balance. Short, uphill swing path with loose hands. Line drive, pull hitter. 91 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.13. Defensively has a loose arm action from a high ¾ slot. Arm showed easy carry across the infield with accurate throws. Threw 80 mph across the infield. Athletic actions, moves well for size with a clean exchange. 

Seth Halvorsen, RHP/SS, Heritage Christian Academy HS, MN
Missouri recruit, currently ranked No. 32 overall, No. 1 in Minnesota’s 2018 class. 6-foot-1, 195-pound two-way prospect, strong, athletic build with room for continued physical development.. Unassuming, hard-nosed quick-twitch athlete with high-level explosive tools. Continued to prove at the Midwest ProCase to be one of the fastest-rising prospects in the 2018 class. Possesses top-of-the-scale arm strength, as he recorded an event-best 96 mph across the infield, then hopped on the mound and sat 91-93 with little effort. Legitimate two-way prospect, but his upside on the mound is undeniable. Relatively new to pitching, his delivery is simple, athletic and repeatable. Works from a high-3/4 slot, clean, compact and quick in the back, and explosive out front. Ball jumps out of his hand with relative ease, consistent strike thrower with arm-side life to fastball, works downhill well. Slider shows potential of being a go-to swing-and-miss offering. Throws it with conviction at 77-78 mph, flashes sharp, late 11/5 break. Also showed feel for 77-78 mph changeup. Positionally, likely profiles as third baseman. Features double-plus arm strength, lateral athleticism and above-average hands in the field. Ran a 6.82 laser-timed 60, powerful strider. Offensively, generates explosive bat speed with his hands, strength in swing, aggressive overall approach. Utilizes pronounced leg lift back, rhythm and athleticism throughout, tendency to be out front at times, flashes big power potential when on time. Registered 96 mph exit velocity with wood. In game, crushed a ball to right-center that was tracked down and singled. Overall, Halvorsen looks to be a high-level draft prospect as he continues to show more refinement in his game.

Nicholas Juaire, C/INF, Lakeville North HS, MN
Texas Christian recruit, currently ranked No. 312 overall, No. 4 in Minnesota’s 2018 class. 5-foot-8, 175-pound switch-hitting catcher with compact, strong frame. Legitimate switch-hitter, repeats swing from both sides. Balanced, aggressive approach, quick hands, consistent hard line drives to all fields, swing works with rhythm, strong through the ball, gets off his backside well. In game, went 2-for-3 with a two-run single, the only player to have multiple hits at the Midwest ProCase. Registered 95 mph exit velocity from the right side, 96 from the left side. Highly athletic feet for catcher, ran a 6.94 laser-timed 60. Ultra-quick glove-to-hand transfer and release, recorded pop times ranging between 1.79-1.97, erratic around the bag. Throws carry to the bag, 78 mph from the crouch. Also was clocked at 91 mph from shortstop.

Tanner Kohlhepp, RHP/SS, Eau Claire Memorial HS, WI
Committed to Tennessee shortly following the event. Currently ranked No. 7 in the Wisconsin Class of 2018 and No. 132 in the PBR Overall Ranks. 6-foot-3, 180-pound left-handed hitting RHP/SS with a lanky, athletic frame. On the mound works from a low ¾ arm angle with a loose, quick arm action. Tough angle for hitters. Works exclusively out of the stretch. Tall and fall delivery with a slightly closed landing. Fastball has running action working 87-89 topping out at 90 mph. Slider is his put away pitch with sweeping action and sharp breaking action at 74-77 mph. High end reliever profile. Defensively showed a loose arm action from a ¾ slot. Athletic defender with fluid footwork. Threw 84 mph across the infield. At the plate hits from a tall, slightly open setup with a short leg lift stride and good balance. Short, uphill swing path with fluid rhythm. 91 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.38. 

Dakota Kotowski, OF, Providence Catholic HS, IL
Missouri State recruit, currently ranked No. 275 overall. Physical 6-foot-4, 220-pound right-handed hitting outfielder, strong, mature build with developed lower half and proportional strength. Big right-handed power potential is his calling card. Possesses extremely strong hands, generates explosive bat speed, takes man-hacks. Ball jumps off the barrel, creates lift in the swing, strong through extension, pull-side approach. Registered event-best 102-mph exit velocity with wood. Hits from tall, slightly open setup, rhythm in hands and load, some length and inconsistency in path, swings with intent to do damage. Defensively profiles as left fielder/first baseman. Average arm strength, 86 mph. Athletically has steadily improved over the years. Moves better than frame/size would indicate; ran a 7.26 laser-timed 60. Overall, shows potential of being a high-level right-handed power bat in the future.

Jacob Plastiak, INF, Andrew HS, IL
Wichita State recruit, currently ranked No. 49 in Illinois’ 2018 class. 6-foot-2, 190-pound switch-hitting infielder, lean, athletic frame. Ran a 6.94 laser-timed 60. Offensively, shows swing looseness from both sides of the plate, inconsistent swing path, gets little lower-half separation, flashes pull-side pop occasionally. Registered 93 mph exit velocity from the right side, 90 from the left. Defensively, shows above-average arm strength, 85 mph across the infield. In game, went 2-for-3 with a pair of singles.

Shay Schanaman, SS/RHP, Grand Island HS, NE
Nebraska recruit, currently ranked No. 188 overall, No. 2 in Nebraska’s 2018 class. 6-foot. 188-pound two-way prospect, lean, wiry-strong build. Showed well across the board at the Midwest ProCase. Ran a 6.91 laser-timed 60, was clocked at 85 mph across the infield, and recorded a 90 mph exit velocity with wood. At shortstop, moves well laterally, fields the ball in rhythm, shows ability to throw from multiple angles with accuracy and carry; easy, reliable hands, natural defensive actions, plays low to the ground,. Offensively, hits from a tall, slightly open setup, leg lift trigger, relaxed, athletic hands, slightly uphill path with sneaky pop. Present bat speed, generates lift in swing, gets long through contact. On the mound, sat 87-89 with his fastball, topping at 90. Inconsistent around the zone, mostly straight. Slider ranged between 75-79 mph, inconsistent shape, tendency to get underneath.

Craig Yoho, SS, Fishers HS, IN
Houston recruit, currently ranked No. 373 overall, No. 18 in Indiana’s 2018 class. 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed hitting shortstop, highly athletic frame, proportionally strong with wide shoulders and tapered waist. Ranges well for his size; if continues to fill into frame, may project more at third base. Soft, reliable hands, athletic arm action, accurate throws with carry, clocked at 89 mph across the infield. Offensively, hits from a tall, athletic base, high back elbow, steep plain, uphill path. Maintains balance through contact, generates above-average bat speed, registered 92 mph exit velocity with wood. Ran a 7.05 laser-timed 60.

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