Houston Underclass Trials: Infield Analysis

HOUSTON, TX - To say that the Houston Underclass Trials was loaded with talent would be an understatement. Over 50 players in the 2020-2022 grad classes converged on the University of Houston campus on Tuesday, June 5. Here is the infield analysis from the event.

Orlando Salinas, SS/2B, King HS, 2020
5-foot-11, 175-pound strong athletic frame. One of the most well-rounded players at the showcase with confident body language. The left-handed hitter starts from an athletic stance, slightly crouched, with smooth rhythm throughout. Relaxed load with a controlled leg kick, displayed excellent balance and body control. Aggressive swing with bat speed and power (92 mph exit velo). Loose-quick hands whip the barrel through the zone with good extension through contact on an uphill plane. Great barrel awareness with pull side pop. On the infield, he has quick footwork and plays through the ball with easy rhythm, simple glove actions and soft hands, very smooth transfer on double play feed to his right. Can play on the run and makes all the throws from different slots that should allow him to stay on the infield at a high level. Throws across the diamond with high end accuracy and carry with a top velocity of 88 mph. Ran a 6.91 laser-timed 60.

Drew Woodcox, SS/OF, Lamar HS, 2020
Woodcox has a strong, athletic frame at 6-foot, 180-pounds. Started the day by posting one of the fastest 60-times of the event (6.66 laser-timed). The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, relaxed stance with a slight split grip in hands. Smooth load back with early rhythm as he uses a reverse leg-lift while pinching his knees together before landing square, into his legs. Quick-strong hands, compact path to contact, explosive lower half, great extension with a high finish generates excellent carry with a 92 mph exit velocity. Ball jumps off his bat with current gap power and more to come in the future. On the infield, Woodcox has quick, agile footwork as he plays through the ball with smooth actions, soft hands, and an easy exchange. Quick arm stroke from a high-¾ slot on throws across the diamond with a top velocity of 79 mph.  

Cameron Yadon, SS/2B, Bridge City HS, 2020
Yadon has a high-waisted, lean-muscular, projectable frame at 5-foot-11, 140-pounds. All around athletic player, ran a 6.80 laser-timed 60-yard dash. The right-handed hitter starts from an open stance with relaxed rhythm and flex in his lower half. Simple load back using a reverse leg lift as he triggers his hands down and back before striding forward, landing balanced with good energy in his lower half. Aggressive hack with a short, compact path to contact and excellent lag in the barrel, creating an inside-out path as he whips the bat through the zone with a loose finish. Balls jumps off his bat with good carry in the middle of the field. Solid barrel awareness and wiry-strength, created a ton of line drives during BP. On the infield, Yadon has quick footwork that allows him to get to full speed quickly when he ranges to either side. Soft hands, quick exchange, clean release, arm works well from different slots, but throws mostly from a natural ¾ slot that comes directly from the mid-line of his body. Showed good feel for starting the double play, and can play on the run. High end athlete with a ton of upside.

Sergio Galvan, SS/3B, Alexander HS, 2020
Galvan has an athletic, lean-strong frame at 6-foot, 170-pounds. Started the day by posting a 6.97 60-yard dash. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, slightly open stance. Smooth load back as he strides forward, landing square and balanced into his lower half with his hands working back into a strong power position. Inside-out path, loose-quick hands, line drive approach with the majority of contact in the middle of the field. Was on time and on the barrel with an exit velocity of 85 mph off the tee, look for his bat speed to improve as he adds strength to his frame. On the infield, Galvan has smooth all-around actions with rhythm in his footwork as he plays through the ball with soft hands, an easy exchange, and smooth transition into throws. His arm works well from different slots, including the play on the run and starting the double play. Whippy, high-¾ arm action, accurate throws with good carry across the diamond at 84 mph.

Parker Guerin, SS/2B, Lake Travis HS, 2020
At 5-foot-10, 150-pounds, Guerin has a high-waisted, long-limbed frame, with the look of a player that is not done growing. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide, athletic base with fluid rhythm and some swagger in the box. Uses a small leg kick to load weight back, smooth weight transfer, and aggressive swing with an explosive lower half; 87 exit velo.  Gap approach, drove balls to both gaps with backspin and barreled up balls all over the field. On the infield, Guerin plays fast with smooth actions and quick footwork and good tempo. Arm works in sync with his footwork as he does a nice job of creating momentum with a smooth, clean arm stroke. High end accuracy on throws to first base, every throw was on target from different arm slots, topping out at 83 mph with some backspin carry.

Clayton Miller, SS/2B, Stratford HS, 2020
Miller has a strong frame at 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from an athletic stance, simple swing with a smooth load and works behind the ball to create a fluid swing with easy power, present strength and an exit velocity of 86 mph. Had an impressive approach in batting practice with good extension driving balls hard to the power alleys. On the infield, Miller plays low with his hands out front, quick footwork and clean transition with rhythm as he funnels the ball to the mid-line of his body. Arm works well from a high-¾ slot with solid accuracy and a top velocity of 83 mph across the diamond. 

Elijah Uribe, SS/RHP, Oak Ridge HS, 2020
Projectable, athletic, high-waisted frame at 5-foot-10, 165-pounds. The right-handed hitter has an aggressive hack with an athletic leg-kick and loose, strong hands. Does a great job of walking away from his hands, creating separation for excellent lag in the barrel as works on a slightly uphill path with hard contact and solid power for his class (87 mph exit velocity). On the infield, Uribe has great body control with quick footwork as he plays through the ball with smooth actions, soft hands, and a clean, mid-line exchange. Great sense of timing, especially on balls to his back hand side, always throws with his feet underneath him, allowing his arm to work easy, making strong, accurate throws across the diamond with a top velocity of 80 mph. Can throw from different slots and plays on the run with relative ease. Ran a 7.40 laser-timed 60.

Caden Queck, SS/OF, The Woodlands Christian Academy, 2020
6-foot-1, 180-pound frame with wide shoulders and room to add more strength.  Right handed hitter with power, 90 mph exit velo, showed a gap to gap approach with explosive bat speed and power. Athletic stance in his legs and some rhythm in his hands. Works with a low leg kick and looks to do damage with an aggressive swing on an uphill plane through the zone, works behind the ball well with his body to create power, explosive lower half. On the infield, Queck has quickish footwork, fields the ball in the mid-line of his body before funneling the ball into a longer arm stroke with significant carry and a top velocity of 87 mph. Shows the ability to throw from different slots on double play balls and making the play on the run. Ran a 7.35 laser-timed 60.

Sergio Guerra, SS/2B, San Diego HS, 2021
5-foot-10 170-pound frame.  Fluid footwork defensively, middle infielder with smooth natural actions. Puts self in good positions to make plays with quick feet and by reading hops well.  Clean arm action from a ¾ slot and showed good accuracy (84 mph). Guerra has soft hands in the field and works through the ball with his body and flows through the throw with a consistent and accurate release.  Guerra has an athletic stance at the plate with a smooth load Guerra has strong hands at the plate, and he flashed power potential to the gap in left center field; 83 mph exit velocity. He ran a 7.37 laser-timed 60.

Shea Walker, RHP/SS, Smithson Valley HS, 2020
6-foot-2, 185-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from an open stance, then loads back smooth with easy, relaxed rhythm with a low hanging leg kick. Loose-quick hands, short path to contact as he transfers his lower half with regular effort. Great extension through contact with a loose finish, took a really polished round of batting practice, peppering the middle of the field with line drives. Outstanding barrel awareness, solid gap power with more likely to come in the future. On the infield, Walker plays through the ball with rhythm and tempo, using quick footwork as he approaches the ball. Soft hands out front with a quick exchange into a ¾ arm slot and a top velocity of 78 mph across the diamond.

Peyton Havard, RHP/3B, Bridge City HS, 2020 
Havard has a strong, sturdy, barrel chested frame at 5-foot-11, 220-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, open stance before he loads up by cocking the bat forward, turning inward as he uses a short leg kick to stride forward. Lands square with his hands in a strong position over his back shoulder with good separation. Aggressive hack, explosive lower half weight transfer, front arm bar, quick bat, loose finish on an uphill plane creates leverage, lift, and hard contact to the pull side during BP with an 89 mph exit velocity. On the infield, Havard’s arm works well from different slots as he plays through the ball with quickish footwork, soft hands, and made accurate throws with a top velocity of 87 mph across the diamond.

Jordan Kelly, SS/2B, Ridge Point HS, 2021
Kelly is going to be a fun player to follow over the next couple of years as he continues to develop and fill out his projectable, long-limbed, wiry, high-waisted frame at 6-foot-2, 160-pounds. The left-handed hitter starts from a tall upper body posture with slight bend in knees and has smooth rhythm in hands, creates torque with body during load as he tips the barrel behind his head when he triggers his hands. Good separation with a fluid load and stride; smooth swing, ball jumped to the gaps with backspin, 84 mph exit velo. On the infield, Kelly plays through the ball with quick footwork and does a nice job of playing low with soft hands out front. Creates good angles, has a clean exchange, fluid actions, stays on line with his throws. Arm works well from a ¾ slot with clean arm swing and a top velocity across the diamond of 75 mph. 7.43 laser-timed 60.

Best of the Rest (Alphabetical)

Josh Bond, 3B/2B, Cypress Fair HS, 2020
Quick bat from the left side, with a short stroke, good barrel action, quick and flat throughout the hitting zone, 77 mph exit velo, small leg kick; hit the ball hard to the right side of the field.  In the infield he has quick hands, and fluid footwork. He has a quick release with a short arm action and was accurate throwing the baseball on target even when moved laterally, 70 mph across the infield.  7.71 laser-timed 60.

Luke Capel, C/3B, Foster HS, 2021
5-foot-10, 165-pound frame.  Capel handled the bat in batting practice, and hit consistent line drives up the middle and into right center field. Crouched stance at the plate with a short simple stride. Loose hands with easy rhythm, attacks the inside of the ball with a short path, on a level plane, with a loose finish. Blocked consistently well off of live arms and works hard behind the plate. Posted pop times 2.15-2.3 with a top velocity of 73 mph. On the infield, Capel has fundamental footwork, soft hands out front into a good fielding position, clean exchange into a long arm stroke with a top velocity of 74 mph across the diamond. Ran a 7.24 laser-timed 60.

Canon Chester, 1B/RHP, Sinton HS, 2022
Chester has an already projectable frame for a rising freshman at 6-foot-3, 185-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a neutral stance, and uses a quick load as he strides forward and triggers his hands, creating good separation. Lands balanced, good energy in his lower half, rotational swing with strength in the barrel, high finishes with snap in his hands, flashes pull side pop with an exit velocity of 84 mph. At first base, Chester has quickish footwork using short, choppy steps to create rhythm through the ball. Solid arm strength for his class, with a long arm stroke and top velocity of 79 mph.

JaiDen Chinnis, OF/SS, Georgetown HS, 2021
Chinnis has a long-limbed, high-waisted, athletic frame at 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. A quick-twitch athlete started the day by posing an event-best 6.64 60-yard dash. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide base, then loads back as he triggers his hands before taking a short stride forward. Inside-out path on a flat plane with an opposite field approach during BP. On the infield, Chinnis plays through the ball with rhythm in his footwork, funnels the ball to the midline of his body before throwing from a long, over the top slot across the diamond with a top velocity of 76 mph.

Casey Fowler, SS/2B, Langham Creek HS, 2020
Fowler has a lean-strong frame at 5-foot-11, 150-pounds. On the infield he has clean actions with fundamental footwork, works through the ball with fluid footwork. Has a clean exchange with soft hands; short arm action, 78 mph with accuracy on all throws. A right-handed hitter, Fowler has twitchy hands and  he showed power from the right side (85 mph exit velo), driving a couple balls into the right-center field gap. Leans back with body during load and creates separation, then punches the barrel from inside of the baseball to the right center field gap on a level path with good barrel awareness. Ran a 7.04 60-yard dash.

Logan Hamm, OF/RHP, Bridge City HS, 2020
Hamm has an athletic, physically strong frame with broad shoulders at 6-foot, 200-pounds.  Showed some of the best overall tools with versatility, and proved he has the tools to be a true two-way player.  At the plate he has strong body language in the box, and has big time bat speed showing power to both gaps with an exit velocity of 92 mph off the tee.  Quiet-simple load, the ball jumps off his bat with relative ease and pull side juice. Hamm’s arm strength translates to the infield, where he threw 89 mph across the diamond, and plays through the ball with quickish footwork.

Patrick Hogan, C/OF, Bridgeland HS, 2020
5-foot-11, 155-pound frame. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, relaxed, open stance; simple load into a short stride. Downward path to contact with a short finish produced mostly line drives and ground balls during BP with an exit velocity of 79 mph off the tee. On the infield, Hogan plays through the ball with soft hands and threw with a top velocity of 69 mph across the diamond.

Cole Ketzner, C/1B, Magnolia HS, 2020
6-foot, 195-pound frame with lower body strength.  Hits from the right side in a crouched stance, in his legs; has a long stride, stays closed upon landing, has a fluid stride/load and creates separation by keeping hands back over back foot, creates torque in his core by loading into his right scap.  Has strong hands at the point of contact, drove balls to CF and LF, has pull-side pop, 92 exit velo, gets off his backside early. Behind the plate, Ketzner has quick and powerful feet, creating good leg drive to second; had some of the best footwork in the showcase. Clean exchange, and throws from an over-the-top arm slot. Threw strikes to second base with a top velocity of 75 mph from the crouch. Pop times were 2.05-2.16. Showed quiet feet in the infield and possesses soft hands. Similar arm stroke on the infield, with a top velocity of 75 mph.  Ran a 7.65 laser-timed 60.

Clayton Miller, SS/2B, Stratford HS, 2020
5-foot-10, 160 pound frame. Right handed bat who hits from an athletic stance, controls body with a smooth load and works behind the ball to create a fluid swing with easy power; 86 mph exit velo.  Had an impressive approach in batting practice with good extension driving balls hard to the power alleys. In the infield Miller had a consistent and accurate arm action, throwing 83 across the diamond.  Stayed low throughout the play, and used momentum through the baseball to throw. Ran a 7.02 laser-timed 60 yard dash.

Joseph Richard, RHP/3B, Ridgepoint HS, 2021
Richard has a long-limbed, high-waisted frame at 6-foot-3, 165-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a tall, open stance, then loads early as he coils his body, pinching his knees together, and sliding his hands back with rhythm before he strides forward. Aggressive hack, loose-quick hands, throws the barrel with good extension through contact and an exit velocity of 86 mph. On the infield, Richard has quickish footwork as he works through the ball with soft hands. Arm works well from a ¾ slot with a longer arm stroke and a top velocity of 72 mph across the diamond.

Ethan Siegel, LHP/1B, Westlake HS, 2020  
Siegel has a projectable, long-limbed frame with broad shoulders at 6-foot-4, 180-pounds. The left-handed hitter starts from a tall, balanced stance and has a simple load as he rocks back early, then glides forward as he walks away from his hands, creating good separation. Slots the barrel early and on plane, creating some lift and carry with line drives from the middle to pull side of the field with an exit velocity of 82 mph off the tee. In the outfield, he plays through the ball with quickish footwork and good rhythm that allows his arm to sync up with the momentum he creates with his crow hop. His arm works well from back to front with smooth, clean arm stroke and a top velocity of 80 mph. At first base, he has still developing footwork and threw 76 mph across the diamond.

Joel Tan-Aristy, OF/2B, Tompkins HS, 2020
5-foot-3, 135-pound frame. Ran a 7.14 laser-timed 60.  Hit the ball consistently to right field in batting practice; good balance at the plate, utilizes a small leg kick.  Shows a solid approach offensively by maintaining a fluid rhythm and handling the bat to work to his strength of hitting the ball the other way, 81 mph exit velo. Quiet footwork in the infield, good angles to balls to his right and left; accurate throwing on the run, good direction in his footwork on balls hit to either side; 70 mph velo from the infield and outfield.

Weston Valasek, OF/SS, Tompkins HS, 2020
At 6-foot, 170 pounds, Valasek has an already athletic, long-limbed frame that should allow him to add strength as he continues to develop. Started the day with a 6.91 60-yard dash. The right-handed hitter starts from an open stance with relaxed rhythm and flex in his lower half. Smooth load with a reverse leg lift as he triggers his hands down and back before taking a short stride, landing square with good separation. Has great rhythm in his hands as he slots the barrel early, working on a slightly uphill plane with a high finish. Loose-quick wrists as he snaps the barrel through contact with lift, and an exit velocity of 83 mph (off the tee). Does a nice job of transferring his lower half through contact. On the infield, Valasek plays through the ball with quickish footwork and soft hands. His arm works well across the infield with a top velocity of 77 mph.

Julius Villarreal, SS/2B, Round Rock HS, 2020
5-foot-9, 150-pound athletic frame.  Has confidence and swagger in the middle infield. Smooth footwork and twitchy actions, clean exchange into a short arm stroke. Arm action assists him in creating carry on his ball when moving to either side, 77 mph across the diamond. The right-handed hitter has quickish hands, attacking the inside part of the ball. Short stride, balanced swing, hit mostly line drives to the opposite field with a top exit velocity of 81 mph.

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