Norcal Academic Game: Outfielder Reports

MENLO COLLEGE - ATHERTON, CALIF. - Our last event of 2021, the Northern CA Academic Game was tailored to student-athletes with strong academics and exposure to schools (big and small) that are also of a strong academic nature. These were the outfielders in attendance.

In addition to the traditional showcase (60 yard run, BP round, defensive workouts), the pitchers competed in live game action where their data was gathered, and each position player had three at-bats during the game they played in.

(Note: All showcase videos have been edited and added to the players' profiles)

CLICK HERE FOR SORTABLE PLAYER STATISTICS INCLUDING TRACKMAN AND BLAST MOTION DATA

MIF's LISTED IN ORDER OF TOP EV

Liam Barrett, Mountain View (CA), 2024, #97 rank in 2024 class in California
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-11, 160-pounds. Athletic, streamlined with lean strength throughout.
Hit: LHH. Wide feet, set-up off the plate, tall, even feet, deeper load creating significant separation from lower half, knee lift out to aggressive stride. Consistent to out front connection point, fairly flat to ball with slight upward attack angle through contact, has loft power ability on pull side and ability to slash with power to the opposite field.
Power: 96.3 max exit velocity, 87.9 EV avg, 349' max estimated distance, 37.5 hard hit %, 62.5 sweet spot %, 50% line drives, 22.9 max hand speed, 74.1 max bat speed, 69.8 avg bat speed.
Arm: RH. OF - 88 mph. Long loose arm, overhand slot, throws track on-line, powerful release with low trajectory.
Defense: Creates direct angles, decisive approach to the ball, athletic gather and release with full arm frequently on display.
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60.

Matthew Gobel, Lodi (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-4, 200-pounds. Large broad frame, powerfully built.
Hit: RHH. Wide feet, tall set, even feet in mid-box, hands significantly off body before moving back over backside, smooth lift out to stride. Maintains vertical/tall posture, physical swing with some on-plane sweep into zone with aggressive upward attack angle through contact, strong top hand move into two hand finish, ball leaves bat with loudness.
Power: 95.4 max exit velocity, 88.3 EV avg, 367' max estimated distance (303'avg), 50% hard hit %, 75% fly balls, 22.2 max hand speed, 72.5 max bat speed, 72.9% on-plane efficiency.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Long arm action, full release from high-3/4 slot, ball comes out of hand easily with carry.
Defense: Calm and direct approach to ball, efficient range and angles within his footspeed ability, balanced at ball into consistent release timing.
Run: 7.49 runner in the 60.

Isaiah Herrera, Valley Christian (CA), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds. Compact body with athletic build on average size frame.
Hit: RHH. Slight crouch, medium width feet, hitter-ish set-up, slightly open with hands starting in deeper slot, toe tap out to long stride, hips lead the stroke with separation between load and stride. Aggressive swing while maintaining balance, sees ball well enough to drive ball to all fields, aggressive with ability to stay on plane with pitches in multiple height zones. Game ABs - 1B/3U/1B
Power: 94.3 max exit velocity, 86.9 EV avg, 340' max estimated distance, 25% hard hit %, 62.5% sweet spot%, 50% fly balls, 23 max hand speed, 77.8 max bat speed, 24.7 max rotational acceleration, 69.9% on-plane efficiency.
Arm: RH. OF - 76 mph. Compact backside arm action, overhand slot, accurate with low trajectory.
Defense: Creates clean angles and gets to release efficiently, confident hands, tracks ball well, athletic with good body control.
Run: 7.49 runner in the 60.

Matthew Dicicco, Bellarmine College Prep (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-9, 155-pounds. Sinewy and lean with streamlined strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Tall set-up, open medium width feet, hands start low near mid torso, high lift prior to crash to contact stride, medium depth hand load. Physical to the pull side, top hand generally stays above the ball, finishes powerfully with body control, works to get to out front contact, head stays quiet, two hand finish.
Power: 89.8 max exit velocity, 83.9 EV avg, 323' max estimated distance, 60% sweet spot %, 56% fly balls, 23.7 max hand speed, 73.3 max bat speed, 63.5% on-plane efficiency avg.
Arm: RH. OF - 75 mph. High-3/4 release, fairly compact arm action, front side pulls off line a bit.
Defense: Quick approach to ball, gets to release quickly, angles are clean, range is a strong plus, ability to close and release allows arm to play up.
Run: 6.65 runner in the 60.

Dylan Murphy, Cathedral Catholic (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-10, 150-pounds. Average size frame, lean body composition with visible lower body strength development.
Hit: RHH. Wide feet, slight crouch, balanced with  even feet, modest knee lift with small load of hands, quiet set-up with minimal wasted movement. Maintains balance, stays above ball to and through contact, ability to stay through contact with consistent barrel contact, even distribution of fly balls, ground balls, line drives.
Power: 89.3 max exit velocity, 327' max estimated distance, 21 max hand speed, 65.7 max bat speed, 63% on-plane efficiency.
Arm: RH. OF - 86 mph. Long backside with loose arm, quickly accelerates arm through release, low trajectory with accuracy from high-3/4 release, creates leverage against front side.
Defense: Calm approach, read ball on ground well and timed footwork to release cleanly, sets up to get off consistently accurate throws, showed instincts and range and confidence in game play.
Run: 7.03 runner in the 60.

Ryan Silver, Chaminade  (CA), 2024
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds. Lean and wiry, high waist, has budding present strength with athletic proportions.
Hit: RHH. Narrow feet, even stance close to the plate, relaxed tall set-up, quiet load, small reverse toe tap out to longer stride. Short stroke, adjustable to different locations, contact oriented with ability to make consistent barrel contact, line drive stroke with ability to drive gaps and gather hits.
Power: 88.7 max exit velocity, 83.3 EV avg, 267' estimated avg distance, 71.4% sweet spot %, 94% LDs/fly balls, 23 max rotational acceleration, 22.1 max hand speed, 73.5% on-plane efficiency.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Loose quick arm, ball jumps out, overhand release, ability to create carry with on-bag accuracy.
Defense: Aggressive and athletic approach with confidence even on tough surface, gets to release quickly, moves to ball with urgency, long stride range.
Run: 7.26 runner in the 60.

Zach Hayward, Palo Alto (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-9, 158-pounds. Athletically proportioned, lean strength, some room in upper body for size and strength gains.
Hit: LHH. Wide feet, balanced with even feet, starts with lower hand slot in slight crouch, small simple load with medium stride that very slightly closes off. Can pepper ball and spray around, handsy stroke, keeps head on the ball, natural opposite field swing, has feel for the barrel and able to make swing adjustments with contact oriented approach.
Power: 87.3 max exit velocity, 19.4 max hand speed, 63.6 max bat speed, 73.7% on-plane efficiency avg.
Arm: RH. OF - 79 mph. Compact arm stroke, gets it underway quite quickly, accurate with low trajectory to the bag.
Defense: Quick approach with balance and athleticism, feet are in position to throw quickly, body control with clean footwork.
Run: 7.59 runner in the 60.

Austin Wang, The Harker School (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-8, 145-pounds. Compact body, lean with wiry strength on smaller frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide feet, balanced, even feet a bit off the plate, relaxed hands/arms/barrel position, stretches into deep load while getting to medium stride.  Catches ball consistently out front and on plane, pulls barrel through from a deep set, stays above ball, high two hand finish, can slash the ball around, best when keeping ball out of the air.
Power: 87.1 max exit velocity, 75% sweet spot %, balanced between LDs (38) and fly balls (37.5), 21.8 max hand speed, 63 max bat speed, 27.8 max rotational acceleration, 80% on-plane efficiency.
Arm: RH. OF - 72 mph. Long backside arm stroke, overhand slot, understands how to get it out quickly while aggressively gaining ground to shorten the throw.
Defense: Decisive routes, quick agile feet, quick jumps with accurate routes, projects best to LF.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60.

UPCOMING EVENTS

RELATED TOPICS