Prep Baseball Report

Senior Games: Outfielder Analysis


By Illinois Scouting Staff

The Senior Games returned to Triton JC in River Grove, Ill., on August 7. Over 60 of the top remaining uncommitted prospects in Illinois' class of 2019 participated in a pro-style workout and a simulated game. Six prospects, and counting, have since made commitments to play at the next level following their final prep seasons this spring.

Today, we’ll break down the day’s outfielders who participated in the invite-only showcase.

The versatile C.J. Lewis (Normal West) claims the top spot among this group. He demonstrated the ability to play both the infield and outfield, but his size and smooth footwork probably create more of a outfield profile as he continues to grow and mature. Regardless where he plays, Lewis has a loose swing and creates advanced bat speed. He snags the No. 1 rank on this list and is emerging as one of the more interesting uncommitted prospects in the state.

Geneva’s Luke Fisher and Aurora Christian’s M.J. Stavola are the next two prospects on the board for separate reasons. Fisher showcased a short, strong swing from the left side of the box that created gap-to-gap contact. Stavola, on the other hand, glides in the outfield is loaded with arm strength, which allowed him to fire 90-plus mph throws home.

We previously published our Statistical Analysis from the event, as well as yesterday’s Catcher Analysis, which you can find hyperlinked. Tomorrow we’ll break down the day’s infielders but before then, check out full reports below on each and every one of the outfielders in attendance.

TOP PROSPECTS

1. CJ Lewis, INF/OF, Normal West, 2019
6-foot-2, 178-pound, right-handed hitting multi-positional player, well-proportioned, athletic build. At the plate, tall, open setup, smooth load, lower half coils to leg kick trigger. Loose, rhythmic hands, short and direct to the baseball, line drive ability to both gaps, ball came off hard, fluid rhythm involved. Fast bat speed, exit velocity topped 89 mph from a tee. In the outfield, quick, fluid footwork, soft hands, exchanges are quick and clean, naturally plays through the baseball. Arm is short and loose, quick arm speed, high ¾ slot, ball comes out firm, throws topped 87 mph from the outfield. Longer transfer and release in the infield, hands work, can range to glove side, showed arm strength, throws topped 85 mph across the infield. 7.37 runner in the 60.

2. Luke Fisher, OF, Geneva, 2019
5-foot-11, 170-pound, left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing outfielder, projectable frame, athleticism translates to the field. At the plate, balanced, open setup, smooth load, short leg lift trigger. Strong, quick hands, rhythm in swing, short, uphill bat path, gap to gap hitter, generates quick bat speed, exit velocity topped 86 mph from a tee. Collected two hits in gameplay, a double to the pull gap and a single up the middle, walked twice and drove in a run. Smooth actions defensively, fluid feet, works through the baseball. Long to release, short arm action with present arm speed, high ¾ slot, throws topped 82 mph from the outfield. 7.22 runner in the 60.

3. MJ Stavola, OF, Aurora Christian, 2019
5-foot-9, 150-pound, right-handed hitting, left-handed throwing outfielder, high-waisted, lanky, athletic frame. Confident defender, feet work in rhythm, soft hands, exchanges are quick and clean, plays through the ball, makes tough plays look easy. Short, athletic arm action, present quick arm speed, high ¾ slot. Ball comes out firm, accurate throws to home, topped 91 mph from the outfield. At the plate, balanced setup, smooth load, short stride, maintains balance. Loose hands, bat path is short and direct to the ball, controls barrel in the zone, present bat speed, exit velocity topped 88 mph from a tee. Repeatedly hit line drives up the middle and translated ability to gameplay singling to center, stole second handedly. 7.30 runner in the 60.

4. Darrius Little, OF, Simeon, 2019
5-foot-10 154-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder, athleticism in frame. Fleet footed runner, 6.78 60-yard dash. At the plate, balanced setup, minimal load, short toe tap trigger, maintains balance through contact. Loose hands, short, compact bat path, controls barrel through hitting zone, line drive hitter with an all field approach, repeats with rhythm involved. Exit velocity topped 82 mph from a tee. Singled up the middle in game play. Defensively, athletically gets behind and plays through the baseball, fluid feet, hands work, clean exchanges. Short arm swing, loose arm action, over the top slot, on line throws topped 86 mph from the outfield.

5. Dominic Listi, OF/LHP, Prairie Ridge, 2019
Recent Benedictine commit. 6-foot, 178-pound, left-handed hitting two-way player, athletic frame translates to the field. Defensively, natural actions, feet work in rhythm, gets behind the baseball, exchanges are quick and clean, plays through with soft hands. Arm is long and loose with present arm speed, clean, high ¾ slot, throws carried with accuracy, topped 87 mph from the outfield. At the plate, wide setup, drop/bar load, long toe tap trigger. Strong hands, uphill bat path, flashed line drive ability, present bat speed, exit velocity topped 90 mph from a tee. Went 2-for-2 in gameplay with a double to centerfield and a single to the pull side. Also, stole second base, 7.27 runner in the 60. On the mound, repeatable, hybrid delivery, works in-line, lands square, athletic finish, rhythm involved. Arm is long and loose, speeds up through window, clean high ¾ slot. Fastball, some late run, mostly straight, topped 83 mph, sat 80-82 mph. Feel for curveball, 1/7 shape for strikes with arm speed, 66-69 mph. Changeup played at 72 mph.

5. Tony Mosher, OF/RHP, Plainfield South, 2019
5-foot-9, 205-pound, right-handed hitting two-way player, strong, muscle-bound frame. Balanced, open setup, minimal load, quick leg kick stride. Strong hands, short, level bat path, flashed hard, line drive contact with pull side power potential. Present bat speed, exit velocity topped 87 mph from a tee. Present foot speed for frame, tripled to deep right field in game play, 7.19 runner in the 60. Defensively, fluid footwork, quick exchange, plays through the ball. Short, strong arm action, early release, ¾ slot, throws topped 88 mph from the outfield. Right-handed pitcher, long rocker step, compact delivery, works in-line, stiff front leg, toe lands closed. Arm plays short and quick, over the top slot, some effort. Fastball worked straight, firm through the zone, topped 90 mph, ranged 86-89 mph. Curveball, 10/4 shape, got on the side of it, 70-71 mph.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Nino Carra, RHP/OF, Plainfield South, 2019
6-foot-4, 150-pound, right-handed hitting two-way player, high-waisted, thin frame. At the plate, balanced setup, back load, short stride. Loose hands, short, level bat path, pull side tendencies, exit velocity topped 80 mph from a tee. Defensively, feet work through the ball, clean exchange, plays through. Long arm action, some stab on back side, ¾ slot, throws topped 79 mph from the outfield.  7.27 runner in the 60. On the mound, works cross body, toe lands closed, jumps at hitter deceptively. Arm is long, hitch on back side, ¾ to high ¾ slot. Fastball, run early out of the hand, topped 78 mph, ranged 72-75 mph.

Antonio Crews, OF, Grayslake Central, 2019
6-foot-1, 185-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder, well-proportioned, athletic frame. Tall, balanced setup, back load, short leg lift stride. Short, level bat path, flashed line drive ability with rhythm in hands, easy effort, exit velocity topped 86 mph from a tee. Short, fluid footwork, clean exchanges, plays tall. Short arm action, high ¾ slot, early release, throws topped 80 mph from the outfield. 7.20 runner in the 60.

Jared Dorfman, OF, Mundelein, 2019
5-foot-8, 150-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder, wiry frame. Quick foot speed, 7.02 runner in the 60. At the plate, wide setup, back/drop load, toe tap trigger. Lets ball get deep, quick wrists, short, level bat path, works middle of the field, exit velocity topped 87 mph from a tee.
Defensively, quick, choppy footwork, clean exchanges, plays through the ball. Short arm action, slight wrap on back side, high ¾ slot, throws topped 81 mph from the outfield.

Myles Henry, INF/OF, Crete-Monee, 2019
6-foot, 175-pound, right-handed hitting, multi-positional player, athletic, wide-shouldered frame. Present food speed, swiped second base easily in game play, 6.99 runner in the 60. At the plate, balanced, wide setup, back load, short leg lift stride. Short bat path with rhythm through contact, mostly level through the zone, line drive hitter, fast bat speed, exit velocity topped 84 mph from a tee, effort involved. Singled to right field and drove in a run in game play. Plays with bounce in the outfield, quick feet, clean exchange, plays through release. Short arm action, gets rid of it, high ¾ slot, throws topped 80 mph from the outfield. Similar action in the infield, plays fast, clean transfer, quick release, multi-angle slot, throws topped 70 across the diamond.

Daniel Marion, OF, West Aurora, 2019
5-foot-8, 210-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder, thick build, present strength in frame. At the plate, balanced, wide setup, back load, short stride. Short, uphill bat path, gap to gap approach with power potential, hard contact, rhythm involved. Strength in hands generated present bat speed, exit velocity topped 89 mph from a tee. Defensively, fluid footwork, clean exchanges, plays through the baseball. Long arm action, over the top slot, throws topped 73 mph from the outfield. 7.62 runner in the 60.

Nathan Milianti, C/OF, Mount Carmel, 2019
5-foot-10, 185-pound, multi-positional prospect; frame carries strength well. At the plate, right-handed hitter, starts balanced, low hands and short stride. Uphill bat path, present bat strength, registered a 94 mph exit velocity from a tee. Doubled and scored a run during game play. Defensively, worked out behind the plate and in the outfield. Behind the plate, gains ground on transfer, soft block. Short arm action, high ¾ slot and topped at 74 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.18-2.29. In the outfield, throws topped at 80 mph. Also, ran a 7.44 laser-timed 60.

Jackson Mladic, OF, Lockport, 2019
6-foot, 200-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder, durable frame with present lower half strength. At the plate, tall, narrow setup, back load, long stride. Strong hands, long, uphill bat path, gap to gap approach with pull side power potential, ball came off the bat hard. Present bat speed, exit velocity topped 92 mph from a tee. Defensively, feet work fluidly for frame, clean exchanges, plays through the ball aggressively. Short arm action, ¾ slot, throws topped 76 mph from the outfield. 7.81 runner in the 60.

Theron Morgan Jr, OF/INF, O’Fallon, 2019
5-foot-9, 160-pound, right-handed hitting multi-positional player, wiry, athletic frame. Defensively profiles as a center fielder, fleet footed, hands work, exchanges are quick and clean, athletically works through the baseball. Short, loose arm action, clean, high ¾ slot, accurate throws topped 78 mph from the outfield. Similar footwork in the infield, plays through, packs at exchange, short arm action, lower arm slot, throws topped 73 mph across the diamond. At the plate, balanced setup, minimal load, short stride. Loose hands, uphill bat path, works middle of the field with quick twitch tendencies, rhythm involved, exit velocity topped 81 mph from a tee. 7.24 runner in the 60.

Luca Paolucci, OF, St. Patrick, 2019
5-foot-8, 170-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder, strength in frame, durable build. At the plate, balanced open setup, smooth load, short stride to even. Strong hands, short, compact bat path, works middle of the field, exit velocity topped 82 mph from a tee. Defensively, fluid footwork, high crow hop, plays through the baseball. Hands work, long, clean exchanges, long arm action with arm speed, clean, high ¾ slot, comes out. Accurate throws, repeatedly one hopped home, topped 76 mph from the outfield.7.29 runner in the 60. Singled to right field and stole second in game play.

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