Prep Baseball Report

Houston Preseason ID: Infielder Analysis


Tyler King
PBR Texas Scout

CYPRESS, TX- On January 18th, our PBR Texas staff hosted the Houston Preseason ID event to a much anticipated showcase and trials on the confines of Schiel Rd Sports Complex. The event featured a talented group of players from the 2021-2024 classes. Last week we started with the catcher analysis, today we give a full breakdown on every infielder in attendance.

+ Catcher Analysis
+ Quick Hits Notebook

+ Full Stat Sheet

Infielder ANALYSIS

Sean Gardiner SS / 2B / Port Neches Groves , TX / 2024

Positional Profile: 2B/SS

Body: 5-foot-4, 135 pounds.

Hit: RHH. Balanced, open stance starting with the bat above his shoulder using a rhythmic barrel tilt then shooting his hands back with a  leg kick to trigger load. Uphill swing path hitting mainly line drives and some fly balls with a pull side tendency.

Power: 81.32 mph max exit velocity in BP, 75.07 mph average exit velocity, and 287 feet max distance.

Arm: RH. INF - 72 mph. Short arm action, over the top slot, good carry, accurate throws.

Defense: Fluid footwork working towards his target, fielding the ball in rhythm, soft hands, clean funnel to release, fields the slow roller well.

Run: 7.54 runner in the 60.

Tomas Ramirez SS / RHP / Jesuit College Preparatory, TX / 2024

Positional Profile: SS/RHP

Body: 5-foot-8 , 135 pounds.

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance with a wide base, quick leg lift to trigger load, small hand movement back to trigger the swing, long stride. Level swing path, hitting a mix of fly balls and line drives up the middle of the field with a slight pull side tendency.

Power: 79.59 mph max exit velocity in BP, 65.93 mph average exit velocity, and 243 feet max distance.

Arm: RH. INF - 74 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate throws.

Defense: Good footwork, staying back on the ball, fielding it in the middle of body, clean funnel to release

Run: 7.69 runner in the 60.

Joshua Coniff 1B / Cypress Ranch, TX / 2023

Positional Profile: 1B

Body: 5-foot-11, 165 pounds.

Hit: RHH. Balanced, upright stance, hands start high, small leg lift load trigger, hands move down and back with load trigger, short stride, uphill swing path, hitting primarily fly balls to both sides of the field. 

Power: 76.7 mph max exit velocity in BP, 68.01 mph average exit velocity, and 283 feet max distance.

Arm: LH. INF - 68 mph. Short arm action, over the top slot, accurate throws.

Defense: Stayed behind the ball, fielded it in center of body, clean funnel to release

Run: 7.24 runner in the 60.

Jacob Bulcroft SS / 3B / The Woodlands, TX / 2022

Positional Profile: SS/3B

Body: 5-foot-11, 170 pounds.

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance with a wide base, leg kick load trigger, little hand movement before going to the ball, level swing path, pull side tendency with mainly line drives and some fly balls. 

Power: 84.53 mph max exit velocity in BP, 73.50 mph average exit velocity, and 274 feet max distance.

Arm: RH. INF - 74 mph. OF - 84 mph. Short arm action, high ¾ slot, accurate throws. 

Defense: Worked on the infield and outfield. Good footwork when fielding the ball right at him, got a bit out over his feet moving laterally, good hands, clean funnel to release on the infield. Occasional good footwork, smooth funnel to release, 

Run: 7.25 runner in the 60

Nathan Wilson SS / St. John's , TX / 2022

Positional Profile: SS

Body: 5-foot-4, 135 pounds.

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, hands start a bit away from the body, tips the barrel down and then back up to trigger the load with a small leg lift. Uphill swing path with a middle of the field approach, hitting line drives and fly balls. 

Power: 81.96 mph max exit velocity in BP, 75.07 mph average exit velocity, and 287 feet max distance.

Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.

Defense: Good footwork, uses a small hop to time reaction, good hands, clean funnel to release

Run: 7.30 runner in the 60.

Aidan DeLeon SS / OF / College Station, TX / 2024

Positional Profile: SS/OF

Body: 5-foot-11, 160 pounds.

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, slightly open, moves hands back to trigger load with a short stride, slight barrel tilt as his hands get back into position to attack the ball. Level swing path, pull side tendency, hitting line drives and some fly balls.

Power: 88.91 mph max exit velocity in BP, 81.18 mph average exit velocity, and 286 feet max distance.

Arm: RH. INF - 71 mph. OF - 74 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.

Defense: Worked both in the infield and outfield. Quick funnel to release at times, good footwork at times, fields the ball out in front and in the middle of his body on the infield. Clean funnel to release, fields the ball out in front, fields the ball in rhythm at times in the outfield. 

Run: 7.14 runner in the 60

Alex Dunagan SS / OF / Cy Fair, TX / 2022

Positional Profile: SS/OF

Body: 5-foot-10, 155 pounds.

Hit: LHH. Balanced stance, wide base, small hand movement back to trigger the load with a very short stride. Uphill swing path, pull side tendency, line drive approach.

Power: 89.01 mph max exit velocity in BP, 76.36 mph average exit velocity, and 299 feet max distance.

Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. OF - 83 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, good carry, accurate throws.

Defense: Small hop to time reaction, good footwork working through his throws, good hands, quick funnel to release on the infield. Good footwork working towards his target, fields the ball in rhythm off his glove, clean funnel to release in the outfield. 

Run: 7.04 runner in the 60.

Royce Congi SS / RHP / Cypress Ranch, TX / 2022

Positional Profile: SS/RHP

Body: 5-foot-8, 135 pounds.

Hit: SH. Balanced stance, slight bat waggle pre-pitch, moves hands back to trigger load with a leg lift, long stride, level swing path, pull side tendency. Same setup, triggers, and swing on both sides. 

Power: 77.60 mph max exit velocity in BP, 63.39 mph average exit velocity, and 254 feet max distance.

Arm: RH. INF - 74 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.

Defense: Good hands, occasional good footwork, quick funnel to release at times, fields the ball out in front.

Run: 7.22 runner in the 60.

Nicholas Gardiner 1B / 3B / Port Neches Groves, TX / 2023

Positional Profile: 1B/3B

Body: 5-foot-9, 190 pounds.

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, bat waggle pre-pitch, leg lift load trigger with a slight movement of hands back, good lower half explosion, uphill swing path, middle of the field approach hitting primarily line drives.

Power: 90.51 mph max exit velocity in BP, 84.32 mph average exit velocity, 315 feet max distance, and 12.5% batted over 90 mph exit velocity..

Arm: RH. INF - 73 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.

Defense: Stays behind the ball, fields it out in front and in the middle of his body 

Run: 7.59 runner in the 60.

Leo Zeng SS / 2B / Kinkaid, TX / 2023

Positional Profile: SS/2B

Body: 5-foot-10, 175 pounds.

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, wide base, leg kick load trigger, moving his hands back slightly to trigger his swing, short stride, uphill swing path with some length, stays inside the ball well, line drives up the middle and to the opposite field

Power: 91.00 mph max exit velocity in BP, 77.02 mph average exit velocity, 323 feet max distance and 14.3% batted over 90 mph exit velocity..

Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.

Defense: Good footwork, works his feet through his throw, good hands, clean funnel to release, fielded the slow roller well.

Run: 7.44 runner in the 60.

Dylan Rodriguez 3B / 1B / Pasadena Memorial , TX / 2023

Positional Profile: 3B/1B

Body: 5-foot-10, 189 pounds.

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, hands set towards back of stance with high back elbow, lean back load trigger with a leg kick, long stride, uphill swing path with some length, pull side tendency hitting a mix of line drives and fly balls.

Power: 89.46 mph max exit velocity in BP, 83.27 mph average exit velocity, and 287 feet max distance.

Arm: RH. INF - 64 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.

Defense: Fields the ball in the middle of his body, clean funnel to release at times.

Run: 7.76 runner in the 60.

Errick Lewis Jr. 3B / OF / Cypress Ranch , TX / 2024

Positional Profile: 3B/OF

Body: 5-foot-11, 175 pounds.

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, slightly leaning on back leg pre-pitch, dropping his hands with a leg kick to trigger load, slightly uphill swing path, hit primarily line drives up the middle and to the opposite field. 

Power: 83.48 mph max exit velocity in BP, 68.49 mph average exit velocity, and 256 feet max distance.

Arm: RH. INF - 62 mph. OF - 67 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.

Defense: Worked both in the infield and outfield. Fields the ball out in front and in the middle of his body, clean funnel to release at times in the infield. Good footwork, fielding the ball in rhythm, working towards his target, clean funnel to release at times in the outfield. 

Run: 7.85 runner in the 60.

Caleb Castle RHP / MIF / Clearlake , TX / 2022

Positional Profile: RHP/MIF

Body: 6-foot-1, 160 pounds. Long, lean, projectable build.

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance with a wide base using a leg kick to trigger his load with a short stride. Natural rhythm throughout, uphill swing path with some length. Hit majority line drives to the LCF gap.  

Power: 93.78 mph max exit velocity in BP, 82.49 mph average exit velocity, 330 feet max distance and 12.5% of batted balls over 90 mph exit velocity.

Arm: RH. INF - 85 mph. Short, quick arm action, ¾ slot, accurate throws majority of the time.

Defense: Showed soft hands with good footwork, worked through the ball towards his target and kept his feet going with the throw, quick funnel to release

Run: 7.30 runner in the 60.

Ethan Calder LHP / 1B / Lake Travis , TX / 2022

Positional Profile: LHP/1B

Body: 5-foot-11, 17- pounds.

Hit: LHH. Balanced, open stance; slight bat waggle pre-pitch, short leg lift and toe tap load trigger while moving the hands back, uphill swing path with some length, middle of the field approach, hit mainly fly balls with some line drives. 

Power: 90.43 mph max exit velocity in BP, 78.71 mph average exit velocity, 322 feet max distance, and 25% of batted balls over 90 mph exit velocity. .

Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. OF - 81 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate throws.

Defense: Worked both at first base and in the outfield. Good footwork working through the ball, good hands, good ability to pick the ball in the dirt, quick funnel to release, works towards his target through his throws at first base. Fields the ball out in front, stays behind the ball, clean funnel to release in the outfield.

Run: 7.53 runner in the 60.

Kason Hiatt 3B / RHP / Dulles, TX / 2021

Positional Profile: 3B/RHP

Body: 5-foot-11, 197 pounds. Strong frame

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, narrow base, leg kick load trigger with slight barrel tilt and moving hands back, long stride, pull side power, good lower half explosion.

Power: 98.28 mph max exit velocity in BP, 87.44 mph average exit velocity, 316 feet max distance, and 62.5% of batted balls over 90 mph exit velocity.

Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. Short, quick arm action; high 3/4 slot.

Defense: Good footwork at times, fields the ball out in front, clean funnel to release at times. 

Run: 7.60 runner in the 60.

Jose Gonzalez 1B / RHP / Cypress Ridge, TX / 2021

Positional Profile: 1B/RHP

Body: 6-foot, 225 pounds.

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, lean back with a leg kick load trigger, little hand movement in load, short stride, uphill swing path, hit primarily fly balls to the middle of the field.

Power: 91.76 mph max exit velocity in BP, 74.96 mph average exit velocity, 333 feet max distance, and 11.1% of batted balls over 90 mph exit velocity.

Arm: RH. INF - 75 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.

Defense: Good footwork, fields the ball in rhythm and getting himself in position for throw to 2B, good hands, clean funnel to release

Run: 8.35 runner in the 60.

Reese Beheler 1B / George Ranch , TX / 2022

Positional Profile: 1B

Body: 6-foot-1, 215 pounds.

Hit: LHH. Upright stance, bat waggle pre-pitch, hands move back to trigger load, short stride, slightly uphill swing path with some length, pull side tendency, hit a mix of line drives and fly balls.

Power: 93.39 mph max exit velocity in BP, 83.99 mph average exit velocity, 339 feet max distance, and 10% of batted balls over 90 mph exit velocity.

Arm: RH. INF - 67 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.

Defense: Good footwork, gets into good position to throw to 2B, good hands, smooth funnel to release.

Run: 7.52 runner in the 60.

Jon Shields BHP / 3B / St John XXIII , TX / 2023

Positional Profile: BHP/3B

Body: 6-foot-2, 195 pounds.

Hit: SH. Starts with more of his weight in back of his stance, moves hands back to trigger load, toe tap to short stride, slightly uphill swing path with some length, pull side tendency, hit a mix of line drives and fly balls. Same setup, load triggers, and swing from both sides.

Power: 87.45 mph max exit velocity in BP, 81.06 mph average exit velocity, and 280 feet max distance.

Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.

Defense: Good footwork at times, good hands at times, clean funnel to release, fields the ball out in front. 

Run: 7.77 runner in the 60.

Ryan Hammond 3B / RHP / Memorial , TX / 2022

Positional Profile: 3B/RHP

Body: 6-foot-2, 205 pounds.

Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly open stance, small lean back load trigger with a leg kick and barrel tilt, level swing path with some length, line drive approach to the LCF gap.

Power: 89.39 mph max exit velocity in BP, 82.77 mph average exit velocity, and 309 feet max distance.

Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.

Defense: Good footwork, good hands, clean funnel to release, fields the ball out in front.

Run: 7.68 runner in the 60.

Dean Reynolds 3B / Little Cypress-Mauriceville, TX / 2023

Positional Profile: 3B

Body: 6-foot-2, 208 pounds.

Hit: RHH. Balanced, open stance; barrel tip and leg kick load trigger, short stride, quick bat speed, level swing path, pull side tendency, pull side power potential, lot of deep fly balls to pull side.

Power: 93.25 mph max exit velocity in BP, 85.93 mph average exit velocity, 348 feet max distance, and 33.3% of batted balls over 90 mph exit velocity..

Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.

Defense: Good footwork, good hands, stays behind the ball, clean funnel to release.

Run: 7.59 runner in the 60.

Cole Murphy SS / RHP / George Ranch, TX / 2022

Positional Profile: SS/RHP

Body: 6-foot-3, 180 pounds.

Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, wide base, moves hands back to trigger load with a barrel tip and leg lift, uphill swing path with some length, pull side tendency hitting primarily line drives

Power: 90.22 mph max exit velocity in BP, 83.25 mph average exit velocity, 327 feet max distance, and 25% of batted over 90 mph exit velocity.

Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.

Defense: Good footwork, good hands, clean funnel to release, fields the ball in middle of his body and out in front.

Run: 6.99 runner in the 60.

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