Underclass Trials: Outfield Analysis

June 26, 2015

By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

The Prep Baseball Report Underclass Trials took place on Thursday, June 11^th indoors at the MAX in McCook, IL. This event featured 2017 and 2018 graduates, and acts as an identifier for this summer’s prestigious PBR Future Games powered by Under Armour..

89 underclass prospects came together to show off their skills in front of the PBR Scouting Staff.

CLICK HERE for complete statistics from the event in PDF Format.

Today we’ll take a look at the top outfield prospects from the event, led by two physically impressive prospects, Normal Community’s Miles Simington, and Marian Catholic’s Wyell Woods. Both impressed with fast-twitch athleticism, and showcased the best bat speed of the outfield prospects.

Barrington’s Jeff Korus also showed above average bat speed (84 mph exit velocity) and tied with Woods for the top outfield throwing velocity at 85 mph. 2018 prospect Andrew Golde (Lake Forest), projects both as an outfielder and as a left-handed pitcher. His lanky frame is extremely projectable, and he’ll be a prospect to follow closely over the next three years.

Let’s take a look at the top outfield prospects from this year’s Underclass Trials:

Top Outfield Prospects

1. Miles Simington, OF, Normal Community, 2017
5-foot-8, 177-pound, strong, athletic build, good body, strong lower half, muscular thighs, left-handed hitter. Hits from a balance set-up, smooth load, lower half works. Well above average bat speed, short path, slightly uphill, gap-to-gap approach, feel for barrel, 84 mph exit velocity (registered 93 mph exit velocity back in Feb.), one of the more impressive rounds of batting practice. Defensively showed quick footwork, clean exchange, ability to play through the ball. Short, loose arm action, high ¾ slot, some carry, 84 mph from the OF. Ran a 7.6 60, but speed plays up in games with quality outfield routes.

2. Wyell Woods, OF, Marian Catholic, 2017
5-foot-11, 170-pound, strong, athletic build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a wide, spread out base, short stride, loads hands down and back, strong lower half in swing. Well above average bat speed, longer, slightly uphill bat path, gap-to-gap type hitter, future power potential, natural lift to swing, 85 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed quick footwork, clean exchange, ability to play through the baseball, threw 85 from the OF from long, high ¾ arm slot, level shoulders throughout crowhop, solid carry on throws. Ran a 7.13 60, will continue to get faster.

3. Jeff Korus, OF/RHP, Barrington, 2017
5-foot-10, 175-pound, two-way player, average build. Hits from an open stance, short stride, average balance. Above-average bat speed, short, uphill bat path, 84 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed slightly above-average hands, high ¾ arm slot, some carry, 85 mph from the OF. Impressed running a 7.05 60, should continue to get faster as he fills out. On the mound displayed a quick arm, short arm action. Straight fastball, sat 77-78 mph, touched 80. Curveball had a 12/6 shape, 60-63 mph. Knuckleball sat 61-62 mph.

3. Andrew Golde, LHP/OF, Lake Forest, 2018
5-foot-10, 150-pound, projectable, two-way player, lanky and athletic with plenty of projection remaining. Hits from the right side, open stance, loads hands back, average balance. Slightly above-average bat speed, long, level bat path, 76 mph exit velocity. In the OF showed fluid footwork, clean exchange, ability to play through the ball. Short arm action, some carry, 82 mph from the OF. Ran a 7.39 60-time. On the mound showed a high ¾ arm slot, smooth rhythm, landing square. Fastball showed arm-side-run, sat 77-79 mph, touched 80. Sweeping slider, 2/8 shape, 64-68 mph. Changeup, some cut, 70-71 mph.

Best of the Rest (In No Particular Order)

Jacob Sonnefeldt, OF/SS, Jacobs, 2017
5-foot-9, 150-pound, multi-positional player, small, strong build. Hits from a crouched stance, loads hands back and up, short stride, above average balance. Average bat speed, short path with extension, line drive approach, 68 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively displayed slightly above average hands, quick, fluid footwork, ability to play through the ball. Long, loose arm action, over-the-top slot, 78 mph from the IF, 83 mph from the OF. Ran a 7.56 60-time.

Keaton Lauro, OF, West Chicago, 2017
5-foot-7, 152-pound, right-handed hitter. Hits from a closed stance, drops hands on load, average balance. Long, uphill bat path, 74 mph exit velocity. Defensively displayed short arm action, high ¾ slot, with some accuracy, 74 mph from the OF. Ran a 7.63 60-time.

Jake Arthur, SS/OF, Lincoln-Way North, 2017
5-foot-11, 160-pound, lanky, athletic build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a balanced set-up, short stride. Average bat speed, long path, 76 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed average hands, clean exchange. Short arm action, high ¾ arm slot, some accuracy, 77 mph from the infield, 81 mph from the OF. Ran a 7.73 60-time.

Jack Donnelly, OF, Peoria Notre Dame, 2018
6-foot-0, 145-pound, lanky build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a balanced set-up, short stride, average bat speed, drops hands to load, slightly uphill bat path, cuts of swing at finish at times, 65 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed some ability to play through the ball, threw 67 mph from the OF. Ran a 7.37 60.

Brandon Olion, OF/LHP, Champaign Centennial, 2018
5-foot-11, 130-pound lanky outfielder. Offensively hits from left side, balanced and wide setup, toe-tap stride, usually takes short path, gap-to-gap type. Exit velo off the tee was 77 mph. Defensively has smooth and short arm action from high ¾, average hands and showed some accuracy. Threw 73 mph from outfield and ran a 7.79 60. On the mound, the left-hander throws from over-the-top angle, shows regular effort, tall and fall type. Falls to third base side. Threw a fastball that sat 65-66 mph and touched 68, curveball sat 56-60 mph had 1/7 shape and gradual action, and changeup sat 58-60 with occasional sink.

Andrew Pounder, RHP/OF, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2018
5-foot-10, 150-pound right-handed two-way player. Defensively, has average hands and usually plays thru. Threw 74 mph from outfield. Offensively hits from right side with slightly open stance, short stride, and good balance. Average bat speed and takes level path. Exit velo off the tee was 74 mph. Ran a 7.86 60. On the mound, throws from over-the-top angle, short arm action, and in line direction. Throws fastball that sat 72-74 mph with occasional cut, slider sat 63-65 mph and hard changeup that sat 71 mph with some sink.

Brandon Rutherford, OF, Mount Vernon, 2017
6-foot, 160-pound outfielder has a strong build. Offensively hits from right side, wide/open setup, smooth load, short stride, and average balance. Showed some quick bat speed, uphill path and sometimes level, up the middle/line drive type. Exit velo off tee was 77 mph. Defensively throws from left side, long arm action, high 3/4, and average strength. Threw 76 mph from the outfield. Ran 7.56 60.

Costa Pavlopoulos, OF, New Trier, 2018
5-foot-10, 155-pound outfielder. Defensively throws from right side, short arm action, high ¾, average hands and showed some accuracy. Threw 71 mph from outfield. Offensively hits from right side, balanced setup, short stride, and average balance. Takes short and level path, average hands, and line drive/ gap-to-gap type. Exit velo off tee was 71 mph. Ran 7.88 60.

Evan Jordan, OF/RHP, Champaign Centennial, 2018
5-foot-11, 150-pound right-handed two-way player. Defensively has short arm action, high 3/4 , average hands and average strength. Threw 78 mph from outfield. Offensively hits from balanced setup, short stride, and fair balance. Average bat speed, short path, gap-to-gap type. Exit velo off tee was 82 mph. Ran 7.77 60. On the mound, throws from high ¾ angle, in line direction, and square landing. Fastball sat 73-74 mph and touched 75 with occasional cut, curveball sat 63-66 mph, and changeup sat 66-68 mph.

Pierce Jones, OF/RHP, East Richland, 2018
6-foot, 135-pound right-handed two-way player. Offensively hits from right side, balanced setup, short stride, average balance and long, level path. Exit velo off tee was 70 mph. Defensively, long, loose arm action, high ¾ slot, average hands, and occasionally plays thru. Threw 71 mph from outfield. Ran 7.72 60. On the mound, throws from high ¾ with quick arm speed, short and loose arm action, easy effort. Shows smooth rhythm, level shoulders, and good balance. Fastball sat 73-75 mph and touched 77 with cut, curveball sat at 62 mph with 11/5 shape, and changeup sat 69-71 mph.

Bradley Breunig, OF/RHP, Glenbard West, 2018
5-foot-11, 185-pound right-handed two-way player. Defensively throws from right side, over-the-top slot, some accuracy, average hands, and sometimes long exchange. Threw 68 mph from outfield. Offensively hits from right side, balanced setup, toe-tap stride, average bat speed, long path, and decent balance. Exit velo off tee was 81 mph. Ran 8.74 60. On the mound, throws from over-the-top with short arm action, some effort and some rhythm. Fastball sat 71-73 mph and touched 75, curveball sat 62-64 mph with 11/5 action, and changeup sat 68-70 mph with occasional sink.

Jacob Pauley, OF, Geneso, 2017
6-foot-2, 150-pound tall and lanky left-handed hitting outfielder. Threw 79 mph from outfield from long, over-the-top slot, aggressive crow hop, uphill shoulders, some accuracy, average strength. Clean arm and frame intrigued our scouting staff to see him on the mound one day. Average hands and fluid footwork. Offensively hits from balanced and wide setup, loads hands up and back, toe-tap stride, average balance, and takes long path. Exit velocity off tee was 82 mph. Ran 7.75 60. Will continue to improve as he physically fills out and matures.

Charles Burr, OF, Grayslake North, 2017
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed outfielder. Defensively throws from long, ¾ slot, some accuracy, and arm-side-run. Threw 82 mph from outfield. Offensively hits from right side with slightly open setup, loads back, short stride, and average balance. Takes uphill path and average bat speed. Exit velo off tee was 78 mph. Ran 7.39 60.

Dan Cryan, C, Andrew, 2017
6-foot-1, 185-pound, strong build, right-handed hitter. Hit from a balanced set-up, drops hand on load, short stride, balanced throughout. Average bat speed, uphill bat path, 80 mph exit velocity. Behind the plate showed average hands, short arm action, over-the-top slot, with some carry, pop times ranged from 2.18-2.27, 77 mph from the crouch. In the outfield, threw 81 mph from, short, quick, aggressive over the top arm slot, played through the baseball. Ran a 7.54 60-time.

Fletcher Brown, C/INF, Evanston, 2018
5-foot-10, 165-pound, small build, some athleticism. Hits from a balanced set-up, short stride, average balance. Average bat speed, long bat path, 78 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively showed short arm action, high ¾ arm slot, pop time ranged from 2.25-2.29, 67 mph from the crouch. From the outfield, threw 74 mph from short, high ¾ arm slot, two-hand fielder. Ran a 7.63 60-time.

Vincent Gawerecki, OF, Grayslake North, 2017
5-foot-11, 170-pound left-handed hitting outfielder, hits from a tall, wide base, balanced setup, short stride, drops hands to load, short quick, uphill path, cuts off swing slightly at end, line drives from gap-to-gap, above average bat speed for age, 84 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 82 mph from the outfield from short, quick, over the top arm slot, uphill shoulders, aggressive crowhop, plays through the baseball. Ran a 7.86 60.