6/18/2015 6:53:30 PM
Dominic Fletcher (2016 OF, Cypress, CA) has made his reputation on his high level defensive tools but he also has a high level bat. He has a big move into contact and lots of lower half use to generate very good bat speed.
Thomas Dillard (2016 C, Oxford, MS) is a man-child and his listed 6-0/215 size doesn't do justice to how strong he is. Dillard is a switch-hitter with power from both sides but better extension and bat speed from the left side.
Brock Anderson (2016 OF, Huntsville, AL) is a 6-3/200 athlete who hits from a tall left handed stance and has an easy swing and present gap to gap power. The base hitting skills, balance and shift into contact is there for him to really develop.
Nolan (Nonie) Williams (2016 SS, Kansas City, KS) is a natural right handed hitter who has steadily begun hitting more left handed in the last year. The toolsy Kansas native didn't show that today; he actually looked more more natural and smooth hitting left handed and had bat speed from both sides.
I watch thousands of batting practice's a year and almost never see a home run on the first pitch, let along a 400 foot blast into the RCF bullpen at Fenway South. It usually takes a few timing swings for even the most powerful hitters to get dialed in with their timing. But that's what
Trace Bucey (2016 OF, Corpus Christi, TX) did today.
Brandon McIlwain (2016 OF, Newton, PA) is more renowned as a high level football quarterback recruit and his right handed swing is pretty raw in it's consistency and execution. But he has tremendous strength when he squares the ball up and lots of high end baseball potential.
Matt Mervis (2016 3B, Potomac, MD) is listed at 6-4/230 and fills up the left handed batter's box nicely. He keeps his swing admirably short and direct for a big athlete and really squared the ball up, often with big bat speed and power.
Alex Kirilloff (2016 1B, New Kensington, PA) has a long leg pull back load and a busy swing but is very well timed for his swing's complexity and creates plus bat speed from the left side. He really squared the ball up well and with power.
There were lots of home runs today but only one player left the yard three times that I saw and that was
Mario Feliciano (2016 C, Hato Rey, PR). The right handed hitter has a big coil load that gets his lower half into play and a long extended swing that really gets lift when he can get his hands away from his body.
Max Guzman (2016 3B, Miami, FL) takes a very singular home run/power approach at the plate but he's fun to watch because when he squares it up and is well timed, as he was a couple of times, he can hit it further probably than anyone else in Fort Myers right now.
Seth Beer (2016 OF, Suwanee, GA) has easy, easy left handed bat speed and the natural ability to impart lots of backspin on the baseball. That means his drives to right centerfield stay in the air for a long time and land a long ways away.
Grant Bodison (2016 SS, Simpsonville, SC) is got significantly stronger over the last year and it shows in his right handed bat speed. He had lots of lift in his swing today but we've seen him stay over the ball and drive it before as well.
Ben Rortvedt (2016 C, New Glarus, WI) has a very short and direct swing from the left side of the plate and really stood out for his ability to square the ball up hard every time up.
Edward "EP" Reese (2016 OF, Lexington, NC) ironically hit right before Rortvedt in the BP line up and did pretty much the exact same thing, with a level line drive swing and very hard and consistent line drive contact.
Avery Tuck (2016 OF, San Diego, CA) is a 6-5/195 left handed hitter who is a very graceful and projectable athlete. He has a low effort swing that creates very impressive bat speed and carry on the ball and he isn't anywhere close to getting strong.
Joe Rizzo (2016 3B, Oak Hill, VA) has been long known as a high level performer in WWBA tournament games but he really impressed today with his tools and raw bat speed from the left side of the plate.
Andres P. Sosa (2016 SS, San Antonio, TX) hits from a straight left handed stance with a very simple and short swing. He has big jump when he squares the ball up from exploding his hands at the ball with consistently perfect timing.
Walker Robbins (2016 LHP, Leakesville, MS) is a primary left handed pitcher but he had my favorite hitting mechanics and execution of the afternoon. He has a beautiful shift into contact with very good balance and present bat speed. He has a chance to be a high level hitter; we'll wait to see how he performs on the mound.