Michigan’s top high school baseball players: Meet the state’s best infielders (Pt. 2)

Over the next week, we’ll be taking a look at some of the top players across the Michigan boy’s baseball scene this season.

Vote now: Who is the top pitcher in Michigan high school baseball?

This list will begin to cover some of the state’s premiere infielders.

Michigan’s top high school baseball players: Meet the state’s best infielders (Pt. 1)

There are hundreds of standout baseball players in Michigan and these lists are not intended to be comprehensive.

The following athletes will be included in our Michigan baseball top infielder poll to be posted on Wednesday.

Note: Some statistics have been updated more recently than others by nature of variance in games played.

Noah Etnyre, senior, Plymouth Christian

Etnyre plays both catcher and third base for coach Joe Bottorff’s Plymouth Christian program. He was an all-state catcher in each of the past two seasons and was voted a pre-season all-state member this season. Last season he boasted a .456 batting average with a 1.225 OPS and 51 hits.

Bottorff described him as a senior leader with a “positive attitude” who is a “power hitter at the plate.” He is also an all-state athlete in wrestling and football and a state champion on the mat.

Tyler Inge, junior, Detroit Country Day

The shortstop is committed to the University of Michigan, and he is the son of former Detroit Tiger Brandon Inge.

Julius Kass, senior, Ann Arbor Pioneer

Kass, a first baseman, designated hitter and pitcher, is a three-year varsity starter who is committed to play at Adrian College next season. Last year he was an all-conference honorable mention who hit .350 after .329 as a sophomore. This year, through three games, he is hitting .429 with 2 stolen bases. He is the team’s leader, according to coach John Knorr.

Avery McEwen, junior, Ann Arbor Pioneer

McEwen is a shortstop and pitcher for Pioneer hitting .556 with four RBIs through three games this year. Perfect Game has him graded as an 8.5/10 and on the mound he has a mid-80s fastball and a “plus” curveball.

According to coach Knorr he is an “extremely hard working player and a 4.0 student.”

Jake Leonard, sophomore, Sterling Heights Stevenson

Leonard is one of the top underclassmen in the infield in Michigan high school baseball.

Jarren Purify, senior, University Liggett

The senior shortstop is committed to playing at the University of Clemson and the top prospect in Michigan in the class of 2023

Ryan McCartan, junior, Lake Orion

McCartan is both a catcher and third baseman for Eric Jennings’ Lake Orion program. Through six games this year, he boasts a .438 batting average with a .476 OBP, one double, one triple, one homer and 8 RBIs.

“Ryan is our cleanup hitter and has got off to a hot start, really cashing in runs,” Jennings said. “(He) is providing depth to the order and should be an attractive recruit to colleges.”

Carson Womack, junior, Lake Orion

Another strong junior out of Lake Orion, Womack, who Jennings calls a “true five tool player that few know about” is batting .435 with a .500 OBP, 6 RBI and 7 runs through seven games. Early this season he’s been “hitting lasers and making highlight reel plays at short and left field,” coach Jennings said.

Connor McCartan, senior, Lake Orion

McCartan, older brother of Ryan and a shortstop, is batting .381 with a 440 OBP, four doubles, and nine RBIs through seven games. McCartan is a Northwood commit.

“(He is a) captain, leader, (and) plays hard all the time,” Jennings said. “(He’s a) great teammate, part of our leadership class and is an amazing kid.

Joey Bruno, senior, Lake Orion

Bruno, who mans second, rounds out an impressive group of Lake Orion upperclassmen. Through seven games he’s batting .450 with a .560 OBP, nine hits and six runs. Bruno, who Jennings called the team’s “emotional and vocal leader” was all-league and district last season. Jennings believes Bruno, a Lansing Community College commit, will be Division I in the near future.

“One of the best, if not the best defensive second baseman we have had in my 25 years at Lake Orion,” Jennings said.

Blake Grimmer, senior, Orchard Lake St. Mary's

Grimmer is a shortstop committed to the University of Tennessee. He is one of the critical pieces in a top Eaglets team. Grimmer has been one of the best infielders since his freshman season.

Joe Smith, senior, Davison

After sitting out last season due to an injury sustained during the football season, coach Steve Stimson is happy to have Smith back in the lineup this season. Smith is committed to playing baseball with his brother, Vince, at Siena Heights next season.

“Joe is a great defending catcher with a great arm who swings it well,” Stimson said.

Chad Fisher, senior, Dearborn Heights

Fisher is a shortstop and pitcher for coach Chris Jacob’s program, a four-year starter and two-time captain. Through 10 at bats, he is .500 with a .545 OBS and 2.045 OPS, five hits, three homers and nine RBIs. As a pitcher, he has faced 25 batters, allowing zero hits while striking out 14.

“Chad has now racked up four no-hitters and two perfect games over his career,” Jacobs said. “He has been in the top two in just about every offensive category every single year. Defensively he just doesn't miss. In his four year career at Annapolis he has only two errors. This kid is a beast.”

Fisher is committed to play middle infield at Grand Rapids next season

Reggie Sharpe, junior, University Liggett

Sharpe is a switch-hitting shortstop committed to the University of Michigan.

Brenson Watters, junior, Rochester Adams

The first baseman is one of the best in the state, and he is committed to Notre Dame.

Noah Miller, senior, Monroe

Miller is a stalwart behind the plate for Monroe. The catcher is committed to the University of Michigan. He is a great defensive catcher.

Hayden Winger, senior, Jenison

Jenison had an injury his junior season, and he is committed to Kellogg CC. 

Jordan Scott, senior, Plymouth Christian

After transferring into the program in 2021, Scott, a center fielder, pitcher and shortstop, was forced to sit out last season. This year, he’s prepared for what looks to be an impressive senior campaign. An all-state basketball and soccer player, Scott is a right-handed pitcher with a “five pitch arsenal,” according to Bottorff.

“(He) will be integral to our success this season both at the plate, on the mound, and in the field,” Bottorff said.

Sean McCormick, senior, Dearborn Divine Child

Through four games, McCormick boasts a batting average of .333 with three RBIs and bases stolen.

He is the starting center fielder, but “is willing to do whatever we ask him to do as a player,” said coach Jeremy Shay. “Sean is a special player for us because he is someone who could play pretty much any position on the field.”

Caleb Bonemer, junior, Okemos

The state is loaded with shortstops, and Bonemer is another one. He is committed to the University of Virginia.