I-10 Border Battle: Infield Analysis

Josh Phillips, 3B/1B, Bridgeland HS, 2021
The Arkansas commit stands 6-foot-3, 225-pounds, with a strong durable frame and has the look of an impact corner bat at the collegiate level. The left-handed hitter took a polished round of BP, showing easy rhythm and a low effort hack with juice in the barrel. Launched several balls out of the yard to the pull side and drove the ball deep to the gaps. On the infield, he shows soft hands, the ability to make the one handed play, and throws from a ¾ slot with a clean arm swing.

Jack Pruitt, 3B/RHP, Frisco Reedy HS, 2020
Projectable, durable frame with strength throughout at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds. Started the day with a 7.15 60-yard dash. The left-handed hitter took an outstanding round of BP, pounding balls around the yard and launching two home runs. He coils his shoulders as he cocks the barrel and triggers his hands down, using a big leg kick to generate leverage. Strong physical bat with raw strength and top exit velocity of 88 mph. On the infield, he has a quick exchange and strong arm across the diamond with a top velocity of 84 mph. On the mound, the right-hander works from a high-¾ slot a medium arm swing and tall and fall delivery. His fastball sat 80-81. Curveball had early break with 11/5 shape at 65-66, and his changeup was 68-70 mph.

Jacob Garcia, 2B/SS, Ridge Point HS, 2020  
At 5-foot-8, 162-pounds, Garcia has a strength throughout his frame and is an offensive infielder with gap power and a middle of the field approach. His barrel stays in the zone a long time, allowing him to consistently barrel it up in both BP and games. Triggers his hands back and down, striding forward, creating separation and plenty of room for the barrel to work through the zone with quick-strong hands on a slightly uphill path. Hammered a couple of balls during game play, including lacing a curveball to left field with two strikes. Defensively, Garcia has rhythm in his footwork and soft hands.

Jack Schell, SS, St. Thomas HS, 2019
High-waisted, long-limbed frame at 6-foot, 170-pounds. Ran a 6.98 60-yard dash to start the day. The left-handed hitter barrelled it up during BP with a simple load and balanced hack with great feel for the barrel as he takes an inside-out path with loose-quick hands and line drive power. Defensively, Schell has the polished actions and arm strength that should allow him to stay on the left side of the infield at the next level. Quick footwork, soft hands, easy exchange, and a loose arm swing with a top velocity across the diamond of 87 mph.

Thomas Schreck, SS, Needville HS, 2020
5-foot-9, 155-pound, lean-strong frame. Schreck can really handle the ball in the middle of the field where he plays through the ball with smooth footwork, soft hands, quick exchange, creating quality angles with high end feel. Starts and finishes the double play with quick, accurate feeds, can throw from different slots and can play on the run. The right-handed hitter starts from a wide base, and takes aggressive hacks as he rotates to contact. Loose-quick hands work inside the ball on a flat path, driving the ball from the middle to pull side.

Micah Walker, SS, South Houston HS, 2020
5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Walker improved his 60 time to 6.93 to start the day, then showed strength to the pull side gap with natural lift as he squared it up during BP. The right-handed hitter uses a leg lift load as he pushes back, triggers his hands, and takes a short stride forward, keeping forward tilt in his shoulders. Rotates his lower half as he launches the barrel through the zone with loose hands and a high finish. On the infield, he plays through the ball with aggressive footwork, smooth actions and fast hands. Cuts distance and creates good momentum on throws to first base. Quick exchange on double play feeds with touch and feel to the bag.  

Dalton Davis, SS, Montgomery HS, 2019
Davis has a broad shouldered, lean-muscular frame with strength throughout at 5-foot-8, 150-pounds. Started the day with a 6.81 60-yard dash. The right-handed hitter has a tall, open stance, then cocks the barrel as he triggers his hands down and strides forward, creating separation. Quick hands throw the barrel through the zone on a flat path with a loose finish. Laced line drives during BP with excellent balance and feel for the barrel. On the infield, he has quick footwork with soft hands and clean exchange, to go along with a strong arm that creates carry to first base with a top velocity of 83 mph.

JP Rathbun, SS/3B, W.T. White HS, 2020
Rathbun has a projectable, strong frame at 6-foot-1, 170-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from an open stance with flex in his lower half. Triggers his hands back before striding forward, landing slightly closed. Back foot gains ground as he transfers his weight and rotates to contact with strength in the barrel and a top exit velocity of 87 mph. On the infield, he plays light on his feet with a quick first step, and stays stacked as he approaches the ball, using soft hands that play out front. Midline exchange into a low slot with a top velocity across the diamond of 76 mph.

Sergio Guerra, SS/C, San Diego HS, 2021
Listed at 6-foot, 180-pounds, Guerra posted some of the best pop times of the event (1.94-2.07) and played easy catch to second base with a top velocity from the crouch of 79 mph. The right-handed hitter was on time and on the barrel during BP. Uses a short leg kick to load back, loose-strong hands with good lag in the barrel, he drove the ball to the gaps with a top exit velocity of 86 mph. On the infield, he has quick footwork and soft hands with directional shuffles to throw from over the top arm swing with a top velocity of 87 mph.

Makel Butler, SS, Poteet HS, 2020
Projectabel, high-waisted, athletic frame at 6-foot-3, 200-pounds. The right-handed hitter loads back with rhythm as he triggers his hands down and uses a slight toe-tap with a short stride. Transfers his weight with balance and has loose hands that work on an upward path through the zone, creating lift and carry during batting practice with a top exit velocity of 84 mph. Smooth footwork on the infield as he approaches the ball with rhythm. Fields the ball with soft hands out front with a wide base, then shuffles in line to his target with an accurate arm and top velocity of 77 mph. Starts the double play with touch and feel, and can throw from a lower slot on the run.

Malik Butler, 2B, Poteet HS, 2020
Projectable, high-waisted, athletic frame at 6-foot-3, 200-pounds. The right-handed hitter starts from a narrow, slightly crouched stance, then loads back smooth with a slight toe-tap as he pinches his knees together. Triggers his hands down as he strides forward, landing with separation. Loose hands with strength in the barrel, working slightly uphill through contact with gap power to the pull side and top exit velocity of 86 mph. On the infield, he plays through the ball with quick feet and soft hands, throwing from a low-¾ slot with a top velocity of 71 mph.