Prep Baseball Report

January 31 Preseason Preview: Corner Infield Analysis



TN TP Games

By Chris Fuller
PBR Tennessee

The second of our two Preseason Preview events took place at Turner Baseball Academy in Chattanooga on January 31, and there were several solid performances turned in. Complete stats and top statistical performers were previously posted shortly after the event.

CLICK HERE to view that information.

The following is a look at the group of corner infielders who attended the event. This is position player analysis only. Those middle infielders who also participated as a pitcher at the event had their pitching performance featured in a previous article.

Corner Infielders


Sean Kearney, 3B, Knoxville Catholic, 2017

Home-1st: 4.75, Position Velocity:  IF-82, Exit Velocity: 76
6-foot, 185-pound right-handed hitter showed a big increase in arm strength and better foot speed. Right-handed hitter hits from a slightly open stance and squares up with a short stride, good balance in swing, uses strong lower half well, showed better bat speed in BP that exit velocity indicates, shows some lift and gap to gap power. Showed soft hands with athletic corner actions, moves fluidly with good body control and ability to throw accurately on the move, long high-3/4 release with good arm strength, continues to progress as a very solid 2017 prospect.

Spencer Keylon, 3B/RHP, Soddy Daisy, 2018
Home-1st: 4.75, Position Velocity:  IF-76, Exit Velocity: 87
6-foot-3, 170-pound right-handed hitter with projectable frame, hits from a balanced stance, short stride, occasional arm bar creates some length in swing, good balance, exit velocity shows ability to generate bat speed, has a solid mid-field approach, could develop into a power threat as he fills out frame. Shows good hands and gets rid of the ball efficiently, ¾ release produced accurate throws with average arm strength. Keylon is a 2018 prospect to watch closely.

Teddy Lepcio, RHP/1B, Baylor, 2018
Home-1st: 5.05, Position Velocity:  IF-73, Exit Velocity: 90
6-foot-1, 185-pound right-handed hitter tied for the top exit velocity of the event. Hits from a balanced stance, with a short stride, strength is present in swing, slight hand load, short swing path can get steep at times, flashes power as ball jumps off the barrel when squared up. Hands are soft and shows average footwork around the bag, throws from a low-3/4 to sidearm slot with average arm strength.

Dillon Holman, RHP/3B, Tullahoma, 2016
Home-1st: 4.86, Position Velocity:  IF-79, Exit Velocity: 90
5-foot-11, 180-pound right-handed hitter hits from a slightly open stance, short stride, shows good strength in swing with an aggressive approach, uses strength and frame to generate bat speed, uphill swing path, shows occasional power to the pull side, had top exit velocity of the event. Shows some athleticism and arm strength defensively, hands work and shows solid lateral movement, arm is loose and athletic and produced accurate throws across the infield from a high-3/4 release.

Edgar Parker IV, RHP/1B, Clarkrange, 2017
Home-1st: 5.24, Position Velocity:  IF-78, Exit Velocity: 82
6-foot-5, 188-pound right-handed hitter, highly projectable frame, hits from a balanced stance, short stride, good rhythm with fluid weight shift into contact, generates good bat speed, ball jumps off barrel and shows occasional power to all fields. Average feet and hands at first base, long high-3/4 release with good arm strength and accurate throws, below average foot speed.

Nicholas Plemons, 3B, Lenoir City, 2017
Home-1st: 5.15, Position Velocity:  IF-74, Exit Velocity: 76
6-foot, 175-pound right-handed hitter starts in a balanced stance, loads back and uses a leg kick trigger, shows some quickness and looseness in hands, flashed occasional gap to gap power in a solid round of BP. Showed soft hands with average lateral movement and corner actions, has a short over the top release that produced accurate throws, some stiffness in arm action results in average arm strength, bat is his best current tool.

Riley Williams, 3B, Gibbs, 2018
Home-1st: 4.95, Position Velocity:  IF-67, Exit Velocity: 81
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitter showed a slightly wider stance and shorter stride from previous event, slight load with some stiffness in lower half, showed a mid to opposite field approach, average bat speed. Average hands and footwork defensively, has a short high-3/4 release that produced some accurate throws, arm strength will need to improve for the left side of the infield.

Cas Blevins, LHP/1B, University School, Johnson City, 2018
Home-1st: 5.00, Position Velocity:  IF-64, OF-65, Exit Velocity: 65
6-foot, 155-pound left-handed hitter hits from a balanced and tall stance, mid-length stride, hands start high and drop to trigger swing, jumps at the ball at times, line drive type hitter with average bat speed. Showed average hands and footwork around the first base bag, needs to be more aggressive in playing through the baseball as an outfielder, below average arm strength that is developing.