Hitters Top Prospect Camp Preview
The Hitters Baseball 2016 Top Prospect Camp takes place this weekend, and we'll have complete coverage for you at Wisconsin Baseball Central. The camp is an opportunity for players from around the Midwest to showcase their skills in front of coaches and recruiting coordinators from over 20 colleges. This year, schools such as Vanderbilt, Louisville, Michigan, Indiana, Kentucky, and Illinois will be in attendance. Additionally, Los Angeles Dodgers catcher A.J. Ellis and Milwaukee Brewers bullpen catcher Marcus Hanel will be at the camp to help instruct the catchers.
On Saturday, there will be instruction from the college coaches on hitting, pitching, fielding, and weight training. On Sunday, the players will go through pro-style workouts in the Hitters’ top-class indoor facility to showcase their skills and see where they can improve.
Today we’ll take a look at some of the players who could put on good performances and carry some momentum into the upcoming season.
Players to watch
Evan Spry: Janesville Craig junior
Spry was the starting third baseman for the Division 1 state champion Janesville Craig team last season. As a sophomore, he batted .344 with 21 RBIs and 23 runs scored. On the mound, he pitched 24.2 innings and went 3-0 with a 2.83 ERA. He’ll be one of three returning starters for the reigning state champs this year.
Joey Scaffidi: New Berlin Eisenhower junior
Scaffidi is a two time all-conference player for New Berlin Eisenhower. He earned 2nd team honors after his freshman season and 1st team honors following his sophomore campaign. Now a junior, the outfielder looks primed for another big year.
Jacob Lindemann: Burlington junior
Lindemann, a junior fireballer from Burlington, recently committed to Wichita State. His fastball can touch 90 MPH on the radar gun and he’ll have a chance to showcase similar or improved numbers at the camp. He should be in line to be a big part of any success that Burlington has this spring.
Mitch Buban: Kenosha Tremper junior
Buban started as a sophomore for Tremper last season and put up solid numbers across the board. He batted .300 and got on base at a .410 clip. The Trojans could be poised for a very successful spring, and if Buban continues to improve he’ll be right in the middle of it.
Christian McKelvey: Germantown junior
McKelvey will be one of a few players from Germantown who will play for his school team as opposed to a travel team for the first time this summer. The switch hitting shortstop is one of the top infielders in Wisconsin’s class of 2017 and his presence on the Germantown team should be a boost to their chances of having a good season.
Alex Binelas: Oak Creek sophomore
As just a freshman last year, Binelas started at third base for Oak Creek, which was one of the best teams in summer baseball. He is already committed to play college ball at Louisville, and he still has three seasons ahead of him to improve. Participating in this camp should only help his stock rise.
Jarred Kelenic: Waukesha West sophomore
Kelenic burst onto the scene last year with his commitment to Louisville as a freshman. The sophomore outfielder is one of the top talents in the Midwest for his age and has already impressed scouts with his impressive hitting and fielding. He’ll have another chance to show what he can do at the Top Prospect Camp.
Jon-Anthony Caban: St. Thomas More senior
Caban was a 2nd team all-conference pitcher as a sophomore and was a 1st team all-conference infielder as a junior. What will his senior season hold? It’s hard to say, but he’ll have a chance to get some momentum going for the spring with a good experience at the camp.
Ryan Hoerter: Kenosha Indian Trail junior
Hoerter was one of Indian Trail’s two main pitchers last season, and he helped lead his team to the state quarterfinals. He was the losing pitcher in the quarters despite giving up just one earned run, but he’ll be back in the mix for the Hawks this year. As a sophomore, he pitched 59.2 innings and posted a 2.46 ERA.
Ben Dragani: Catholic Memorial junior
Dragani committed to Michigan this fall after an impressive showing on the summer ball circuit. The 6 foot 5 inch southpaw is one of the best pitchers in Wisconsin’s class of 2017 and he will try to prove why this spring with Catholic Memorial.
Be sure to follow our coverage of the Top Prospect Camp on Twitter and Snapchat. We'll have updates, photos, and videos of the event all weekend long.
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