Blaze Alexander

His name is fitting, as Blaze Alexander is the hardest-throwing infielder in the 2018 class. He clocked a now-legendary 99 mph throw from shortstop to first base last summer during the Perfect Game National Showcase. Alexander, whose father, Chuck, played in the Indians organization from 1988-91, is a flashy shortstop who is capable of playing all over the infield thanks to his advanced internal clock, athleticism, body control, quick hands and obvious plus-plus arm strength. Most scouts say Alexander has a good chance to play shortstop at the next level, and he has the elite confidence to make it happen on top of all the physical tools. Offensively, Alexander has above-average or plus bat speed that leads to real pull power despite a smaller, 6-foot, 160-pound frame. He has twitchiness in the box and takes aggressive swings to get the most out of his power--leading to some swing and miss during the summer--but he made good adjustments in simplifying both his handset and his load this spring. Scouts are impressed with his ability to make adjustments in the box, but there are still some questions about the impact he'll make down the line with the bat. He's an average runner who is committed to South Carolina, and if he makes it to campus and develops a track record hitting in the SEC then he could become a first-round pick thanks to his elite defensive ability.