Prep Baseball Report

Illinois 2024 Top Prospect Games: Outfield Analysis


By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

On Aug. 22, the PBR Illinois team hosted the first event of its kind: the 2024 Top Prospect Games. In an attempt to gather the state’s best incoming freshmen in one place, the staff invited over 50 of Illinois’ rising Class of 2024 prospects to participate in the showcase.

We opened our analysis of this event by reporting on the day’s highlights inside of this Quick Hits post, published just a couple days following the showcase. Later that week, we examined the event’s measured data that we gathered inside this Statistical Analysis. We began the positional analysis of the event with a look at the catchers. Today we continue with an inside look at the outfielders from the day. 

At the top of the list is OF/INF Savion Flowers (Undecided, 2024). Flowers, a 6-foot, 154-pound, high-waisted, left-handed hitter, took one of the more polished rounds of BP and showed the ability to play all over the diamond. In the outfield, Flowers has clean, easy actions with the potential to profile at all three spots. 

Right behind Flowers, is another upside left-handed hitter, Samuel Chapman (Woodstock). Chapman is a fluid athlete with a loose swing that should continue to ascend as he adds strength to his wiry frame. 

Read these two’s full scouting reports below, as well as the rest of the outfielders from the event.

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS

1. Savion Flowers, Undecided (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: 3B/OF. High-follow multi-positional 2024.
Body: 6-0, 154-pounds. Athletic, projectable build with plenty of room for continued physical development.
Hit: LHH. Balanced and comfortable look in the box. Smooth load, short stride and stays balanced through contact. Fluid rhythm, repeatable, short and direct to the ball, flashed bat speed, controls the barrel, hard contact and worked gap-to-gap.
Power: 74 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. OF - 78 mph. Clean, easy arm action plays from multiple slots on the infiel; natural high 3/4 slot in the outfield.
Defense: Showed equally as well on the infield and the outfield. Smooth, easy, athletic actions, steady hands and clean release.
Run: 7.57 runner in the 60. 

2. Samuel Chapman, Woodstock (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-0, 150-pounds. Lanky, athletic, upside frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, slightly open setup, smooth load and short stride. Loose, athletic hands, fluid rhythm, flashed bat speed, uphill path through the zone works the middle of the diamond.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. 20.80g of rotational acceleration according to Blast.
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot and throws played accurate.
Defense: Attacks the baseball, fluid long strides, natural outfield actions, soft hands and plays through the baseball in rhythm.
Run: 7.54 runner in the 60. 

3. Jackson McCarey, New Trier (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds. Live-bodied, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth loading action and toe-tap stride at times. Hits off front foot, short path, quick hands and middle of the field approach.
Power: 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. 69% on plane efficiency via Blast.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Firm arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active bouncy feet, quick first step, attacks the baseball, steady hands, long through release. Profiles at all three outfield spots.
Run: 6.89 runner in the 60. Highly-advanced run time for his age.

3. Jonah Weathers, Marian Catholic (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: 3B/OF
Body: 6-0, 150-pounds. Long-limbed, athletic build with plenty of room for continued physical development.
Hit: RHH. Wide, spread setup, quiet load and short stride. Compact, repeatable swing, minimal wasted movement. Loose, quick hands, short uphill bat path and pull-side tendencies.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. Top hand speed of the event; 26.70 mph, according to Blast. Max distance of 324' with a max exit velocity of 88.14 mph during BP, via TrackMan.
Arm: RH. INF - 80 mph. OF - 82 mph. Quick arm action, plays over the top from the outfield; multiple slots on the infield.
Defense: Worked out in the outfield and on the infield. Currently actions played best in the outfield. Active quick feet, attacks the baseball, gets behind the baseball, steady hands and plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.60 runner in the 60. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Timothy Allison, St. Laurence (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-8, 145-pounds. Average, lean build.
Hit: LHH. Wide, balanced setup, hands load and short stride. Level path, looks to control the barrel, line-drive approach and uses the middle of the field. Finished game play with a single, walk and RBI.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 72 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Natural outfield actions. Plays with bounce, light on his feet, proper angles and routes, plays through the baseball with soft hands.
Run: 7.71 runner in the 60. 

Liam Arnold, Palatine (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds. Athletically-built.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, slight arm-bar and long stride.  Aggressive swing, present bat speed, consistent hard line-drive contact and used the whole field.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. 34.50g max rotational acceleration, best of the event, according to Blast.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Attacks the baseball, reliable hands, proper routes and plays through the baseball at times.
Run: 7.75 runner in the 60. 

Kyle Carter, Williamsville (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/2B
Body: 5-8, 152-pounds. Wiry frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, tall setup, short stride and maintains balance throughout. Simple swing, long bat path and line-drive approach.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 72 mph. Long, easy arm action, high 3/4 to 3/4 slot and throws play accurate.
Defense: Fluid footwork, steady hands and plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.26 runner in the 60. Above-average runner for his age.

Anthony Holloway, St Patrick (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-7, 140-pounds. Live-body with sneaky strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced crouched setup, smooth load and leg-kick timing trigger. Strong hands, long through the zone, feel for the barrel and stayed middle throughout BP. Reached base in all three at-bats during game play.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Max rotational acceleration of 28.40g, second-best of the event.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Bouncy active feet at times, steady hands and proper routes.
Run: 7.67 runner in the 60. 

Luke Holstrom, Nazareth Academy  (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-10, 125-pounds. Long-limbed, projectable frame.
Hit: LHH. Open, quiet setup, smooth load and short stride. Simple swing, long bat path, stays flat through the zone at times and line-drive approach.
Power: 69 mph exit velocity from the tee. 94% on plane efficiency, via TrackMan.
Arm: LH. OF - 72 mph. Long arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fluid footwork, sure-handed and plays through the baseball at times.
Run: 7.75 runner in the 60. 

Ayinde Kidd, Homewood-Flossmoor (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 5-5, 117-pounds. Compact, wide-shouldered frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load and short stride. Simple, easy, repeatable swing, minimal wasted movement, short and level to and through the baseball. Line-drive approach.
Power: 70 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 65 mph. OF - 68 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Worked out in the outfield and on the infield. Steady defender, clean actions, plays with body control at times.
Run: 8.36 runner in the 60. 

Jack LoConte, Andrew (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-10, 145-pounds. Wiry build.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, smooth load and leg-kick timing trigger. Top of the order type profile. Controls the barrel, short/direct path, stays within himself and looks to spray line-drives.
Power: 70 mph exit velocity from the tee. 21.80 mph max hand speed and 79% on plane efficiency according to Blast.
Arm: LH. OF - 71 mph. Short, loose arm action, high 3/4 to 3/4 slot.
Defense: Patient defender, gets behind the baseball, soft hands and clean transfer.
Run: 7.53 runner in the 60. 

Beau McBride, New Trier (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-1, 175-pounds. Strong, wide-shouldered build.
Hit: LHH. Open setup, smooth load into backside and leg-kick timing trigger. Short path, hands work on top of the baseball, occasional hard line-drive contact with backspin. Line-drive, pull-side tendencies.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. 88.93 max exit velocity off the bat during BP, according to TrackMan.
Arm: LH. OF - 81 mph. Loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Profiles as a corner outfielder. Gets behind the baseball, clean footwork, proper routes and plays through the baseball in rhythm at times.
Run: 7.69 runner in the 60. 

Owen Micklinghoff, McHenry (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted frame.
Hit: RHH. Narrow, tall setup, low handset and short stride. Long bat path, uphill through the zone with intent to lift the baseball.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. 83.96 max exit velocity during BP, via TrackMan.
Arm: RH. OF - 77 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot and throws played accurate.
Defense: Clean actions, steady hands, plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.41 runner in the 60. 

Braylon Singer, Williamsville (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Average build with strength in lower half.
Hit: LHH. Open slightly crouched setup, minimal load and leg-lift trigger.  Short bat path, hands work on top of the baseball and line-drive approach.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Max distance of 299' during BP, via TrackMan.
Arm: LH. OF - 76 mph. Long arm action, plays from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: Profiles as a corner outfielder. Steady defender, sure-handed and clean through release.
Run: 7.79 runner in the 60. 

Peter Visconti, Warren Township (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 5-8, 160-pounds. Wiry build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, slight bat tilt loading action and short stride. Simple swing, easy effort, short bat path, stays within himself and looks to control the barrel.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Max distance of 310' off the bat during BP, via TrackMan.
Arm: RH. INF - 75 mph. OF - 77 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot to over-the-top.
Defense: Worked out on the infield and in the outfield. Gets around the baseball and plays from the ground up on the infield; smooth double play feed and showed body control on the slow roller. Also, showed natural actions in the outfield, plays through the baseball and clean release.
Run: 7.51 runner in the 60. 

Luke Weber, Highland Park  (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-8, 140-pounds. Lean build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced relaxed setup, hands load and short stride.  Level path, hands work on top of the baseball, line-drive approach.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. 23.90 mph of max hand speed according to Blast.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Loose, quick, upside arm action plays from an over-the-top slot. Throws carried and played accurate.
Defense: Active feet, attacks and plays through the baseball; steady hands with some effort through release.
Run: 7.68 runner in the 60. 

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