The Prep Baseball Report Top Prospect Showcase on June 24 at IUSE in New Albany proved to be full of talented prospects. The 2012 graduates at the event were particularly impressive as a whole, as were the hitters. While there were several notable performances, Chesterton RHP Jake Post walked away the top ranked 2012 prospect with his performance on the mound.
Here’s a look at the top Class of 2011, 2012, 2013 performers at Top Prospect Showcase.
Rankings reflect June 24 showcase performance only.
Class of 2011 Top Prospects
1.) Chaz Ferguson, 1B/RHP, Heritage Hills HS: The powerful 6-foot-3, 209-pound Ferguson showed well in all facets of the game. Ferguson showed excellent feet, hands and arm strength at first base. At the plate he was impressive, showing a quick and powerful swing with barrel whip through the zone. The 7.16 60 runner, produced an 83 mph fastball with a plus slider. Don’t be surprised if Ferguson is touching upper 80s later this summer (pictured right). 2.) Spencer Sapp, LHP/1B, Jasper HS: The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Sapp demonstrated excellent feel for three pitches, including a late fading change, 72-73 mph. The athletic left-hander, who went 12-3 with 121 Ks for the 2010 3A State Runner-up Jasper squad, has a strong arm. Sapp, a little exhausted after logging most of the Wildcats innings late this spring, will regain his velocity in the coming weeks.
3.) Zeke Harmon, OF, South Spencer HS: This 6-foot, 165-pound switch-hitting outfielder possesses advanced defensive actions, accurate throws and glides with ease when tracking down the ball. At the plate, he demonstrated fundamentally sound, line drive swings from both sides of the plate. Harmon ran a 6.93 60 (pictured right).4.) Kyle Niemeier, SS, Evansville Memorial HS: This sure-handed infielder is quick to the ball which produced solid infield actions with a fluid glove transfer. At the plate, Niemeier showcased a left-handed stroke that barreled the ball and sprayed line drives to all fields. Niemeier ran a 7.09 60.
5.) Lucas Stippler, 2B/OF, Evansville Memorial HS: This athletically built, 6-foot, 160-pound right-handed hitting outfielder and middle infielder has upside. At the plate, he has quick hands and gets through the zone well with some power potential. Strippler ran a 7.06 60.
Class of 2012 Top Prospects
1.) Jake Post, RHP, Chesterton HS: The athletically built 6-foot-3, 175-pound Post established himself as one of the hardest throwing pitching prospect in the state – and certainly a top 5 overall prospect in the Class of 2012. Post demonstrated tremendous feel and ease for three pitches. His fastball sat between 86-87 mph, while his 68 mph changeup and 68 mph curveball each can be useable pitches at the next level.
2.) Drew Clark, OF/SS/RHP, Fishers HS: In a very strong group of hitters, the 5-foot-10, 180-pound Clark stood above the rest. He demonstrated a mechanically sound quick bat with power at the plate. Clark was peppering balls to both outfield gaps and even hit a home run to right center field. The strong armed (84 mph from the outfield) athlete performed well in the outfield, shortstop and on the mound (pictured right). 3.) Mitch Patishall, 3B/RHP, Pendleton Heights HS: Patishall is a fast-rising prospect in the class. The physically impressive 6-foot-1, 180-pound third baseman possesses a strong (84 mph from 3B) and accurate arm that works with ease. At the plate, he possessed a short powerful stroke with good extension and lower-half rotation.
4.) Caleb Baechtold, C/RHP/OF, Bloomington South HS: The long and athletic 6-foot-2, 175-pound Baechtold is a top-level catching prospect who showed well in all facets of the game. At the plate he was impressive with his clean hitting mechanics, loads well, gap-to-gap power and bat speed. Baechtold’s strong arm shows well on the mound (79 mph), behind the plate and in the outfield (pictured right). 5.) Jordan Striegel, SS/RHP, New Albany HS: The 5-foot-11, 170-pound Striegel is just getting back to baseball shape after he was slowed by injury this season. Striegel possesses a loose and quick arm, one that leads you to believe he will throw significantly harder in the future. At shortstop, he showcased pure infield actions with plus hands. At the plate, he showcased a line drive-producing swing with flawless mechanics.
6.) JP Pena, SS, Fishers HS: Pena, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound hard-nose middle infield, performed with a hand injury and was still ranked as the top shortstop at this event. He showed quick hands, feet and rhythm with solid arm strength. At the plate, the injury prohibited Pena from driving the ball, but still showcased a quick bat with solid mechanics (pictured right).7.) Kyle Pitlick, OF, Castle HS: A quick-twitch athlete, Pitlick is one of the fastest prospects in the state. The 5-foot-8, 165-pound Pitlick ran an event best 6.72 60. His athleticism also translates at the plate, where he showed extremely quick hands with power potential.
8.) Anthony Gomez, LHP, Munster HS: A long and wiry left-hander, Gomez is a rising prospect with intriguing upside. Still physically developing, the 6-foot, 180-pounder showcased a loose arm action with mind-boggling 2-seam run on his fastball.
9.) Gates Maier, C/SS, Heritage Christian HS: This 5-foot-8, 170-pound catcher is a fundamentally sound prospect who demonstrated good footwork, soft hands and an accurate arm. At the plate he is a line drive hitter with a solid overall approach (picutred right).10.) Zack Stout, OF, Yorktown HS: The 5-foot-9, 145-pound Stout is a left-handed hitting outfielder who ran a 6.91 60 and showcased good outfield actions.
Will Hunker, 3B, Cathedral HS: A physically strong 5-foot-10, 170-pounder, Hunker demonstrated power potential at the plate with a good glove at third.
Dakota Smith, OF, New Palestine HS: A speedy outfielder, 6.93 60 runner, Smith stroked line drives at the plate.
Troy Paris, SS, Mt. Vernon HS: A projectable 6-foot-3, 180-pound infielder is one to watch.
Class of 2013 Top Prospects
Baron Ryan, OF/3B, Bloomington North HS: Ryan, a 5-foot-11, 170-pound outfielder and third baseman, was an all-around performer. Defensively, he moved fluid in the outfield with a strong arm (80 mph) and showcased infield skills from third. At the plate, Ryan (pictured right) showed advanced bat speed and power especially for a Class of 2013 prospect. Matt Warren, C, Merrillville HS: The 6-foot-2, 155-pound Warren battled through the showcase with a hand injury. The hard nose catcher showed considerable upside potential. Once he physically matures, his mechanically sound swing should produce gap-to-gap power.
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