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Unsigned Senior Showcase: Outfield Analysis

October 24, 2013

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director – Illinois/Wisconsin

In today’s Unsigned Senior Showcase analysis we take a look at the outfield position. We saw a number of fleet footed athletes as five of the top ten ran sub 7.0 60’s while four of those were under 6.9. Our list of top ten outfielders brings a mix of speed demon defenders, power hitting corner guys and all around athletes.

Here’s a look at our top ten outfielders from the Unsigned Senior Showcase.

Top Outfield Prospects

1. Mizraim Fuentes, OF, Roberto Clemente, 2014
Impressive frame, 6-foot-3, 195-pound outfielder, athletic build. Defensively shows some of the smoothest outfield actions in the state, feet work effortlessly to the baseball, athletic crow hop, 7.03 runner in the 60. Arm plays true to its target, advanced carry, typical outfield arm action, long over the top slot, showed accuracy at 89 mph. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, short stride, smooth loading action. Rhythmic hitter, showed bat speed, short path with extension, made solid contact. Fuentes plays the game with ease both offensively and defensively, highly athletic with excellent future potential.

2. Josh Kuntz, OF, Lyons Township, 2014
5-foot-10, 165-pound fast twitch athlete who ran a 6.75 60. His speed and athleticism translate well defensively, taking solid routes with high quality footwork, and throwing with clean, linear direction. Has crisp, clean exchange and throws, hitting 85 mph on the gun with accuracy and quality carry. At the plate he uses a balanced, athletic stance, with lowered hands. Takes short stride with good use of lower half. Swing is short and strong, with some explosiveness and whip through the zone. Line drive swing with a gap-to-gap approach. Exit velocity was 84 mph.

3. David Gonzalez, OF, Roberto Clemente, 2014
5-foot-9, 170-pound left hand hitting outfielder with solid upside. Ran a 7.09 60. In the outfield took solid angles and showed high quality actions and movements. Throws with a long arm from over the top with above average carry and accuracy at 82 mph. Offensively, has athletic stance, smooth load and short stride. Uses lower half explosively. Line drive style swing, with pull side approach, has a short, level bat path and fluid rhythm.  Above average bat speed with solid barrel head whip. Exit velocity was 89 mph off a tee.

4. Alex Rice, RHP/OF, Oak Park River Forest, 2014
Big frame, 6-foot-4, 215-pound two way player. On the mound delivery is tall and fall style, regular effort. Arm action is long and loose, ¾ arm slot. This is the best we've seen Rice on the mound as he showed the best fastball of the showcase sitting 86-87 mph touching 88 mph. Fastball featured excellent arm side run, lively action. Breaking ball ranged between 68-73 mph. Changeup showed good fading action, decelerated arm action, 74-77 mph. Offensively hits from the right side, open stance, short stride. Advanced bat speed, 91 mph exit velocity, produced whip, aggressive approach, swing showed extension. Defensively arm played at 84 mph, played through the baseball with a step behind.

5. Christian Bland, OF/C, Harlan, 2014
5-foot-6, 150-pound strong, fast twitch athlete. Ran a 6.89 60. In the outfield showed quick, athletic movements and footwork, and plays through the ball aggressively. Arm works well at 86 mph with carry. Behind the dish he throws with a short arm from over-the-top. Has quick catch and release with solid carry at 74 mph and pop times in the 2.05-2.1 range with accuracy. At the plate has a wide, balanced setup with very short stride. Bat path is short and flat with above average bat speed, producing hard contact line drives. Exit velocity off a tee was 79 mph.

6. Blake Thompson, OF/LHP, Rochester, 2014
6-foot-1, 170-pound left hand hitting, lanky two way player. At the plate he has a balanced setup, smooth load and short stride. The swing is simple and repeatable with solid bat speed and generates some lift. Exit velocity was 86 mph off a tee. Defensively, showed solid hands and quality footwork. Arm is short from a high ¾ slot with carry and accuracy at 85 mph. Ran a 7.25 60. On the mound he throws with the same arm action. Repeats his delivery with some effort and rhythm. Fastball was 77-79 mph with slight run. Showed feel for the changeup, throwing it 73-74 mph with sink. Curveball was 63 mph.

7. Mike Wick, OF, Bartlett, 2014
5-foot-11, 170-pound left hand hitting outfielder with foot speed. Ran a 6.86 60. Defensively he plays with athletically aggressive actions. Showed quick feet, soft hands, and quick field and release. Throws with a long, loose arm from over the top at 79 mph with carry. At the plate has a balanced stance with smooth load and no stride. Creates solid barrel whip through the zone. Exit velocity was 88 mph off a tee.

8. Erich Lieser, OF, Brother Rice, 2014
5-foot-10, 185-pound athletic outfielder with above average foot speed. Posted a 6.94 60. Defensively, showed excellent arm strength with accuracy and carry at 87 mph. Feet worked clean and crisp and plays through the ball aggressively. At the plate he hits with a closed stance and a short stride. Bat path is uphill and creates some whip. Off a tee his exit velocity was 79 mph.

9. Joe Koutnik, LHP/OF, Hersey, 2014
5-foot-10, 145-pound left hand hitting two way player. On the mound he throws from a high ¾ slot with above average arm speed. Delivery has smooth rhythm. Fastball was 75-77 mph flashing run and sink. Curveball was 61-62 mph with gradual break. Showed feel for his changeup, sitting 69-72 mph with strong sink. In the outfield he throws with the same long, loose arm action at 80 mph, with carry. Showed solid feel for the outfield with athletic actions. At the plate he has a balanced stance with a leg kick trigger. Stays inside the ball well and has an opposite field approach. Has solid bat speed. Exit velocity was 70 mph off a tee. Ran a 7.21 60.

10. Devon Jones, OF, Morgan Park, 2014
6-foot, 160-pound left hand hitting outfielder with foot speed. Ran a 6.75 60. From the outfield displayed athletic movements with fluid footwork, clean exchange, and good direction. Throws from over the top with a long arm at 80 mph with solid carry. At the plate has a tall, balanced setup and short stride. He has a slap type swing using mostly his hands, ground ball hitter, looks to use his speed. Exit velocity was 80 mph off a tee.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Gregory Alexander, C/OF, Seton Academy, 2014
Strong bodied, developed upper body, sturdy lower half, 6-foot-1, 230-pound catcher/outfielder. Defensively showed solid hands behind the plate, clean exchange, posted 2.05-2.15 pop times. Arm played long from an over the top slot, showed accuracy with occasional carry, 77 mph from the crouch. In the outfield arm played at 81 mph. Offensively hits from the right side, hits from a balanced setup, short stride approach, solid balance throughout. Bat path is level, shows bat speed, strong hands, occasional lift. 90 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Matt Bohanon, RHP/OF, Downers Grove North, 2014
6-foot, 150-pound lanky two way player. On the mound he throws from a ¾ slot with a short arm action. Uses a drop and drive delivery with slow tempo. His fastball was 76-77 mph with slight arm side run for consistent strikes at the knees. Throws a slider with gradual break at 63-65 mph for strikes. Showed feel for the changeup, throwing it 65-68 mph with quality sinking action. At the plate he hits with a balanced stance and short stride. Exit velocity was 80 mph off a tee. Defensively, throws with the same arm action as on the mound. Throws it 75 mph with accuracy. Ran a 7.19 60.

Nathan Burris, OF, LaSalle Peru, 2014
5-foot-10, 160-pound outfielder with foot speed. Posted a 7.09 60. Throws with a long arm from a high ¾ slot with some carry at 77 mph. Took good angles. Uses strong crow hop with solid direction. At the plate has a tall stance and short stride to go with a pull side approach. Exit velocity off a tee was 76 mph.

Grant Cooper, INF/OF/RHP, Lincoln, 2014
6-foot-2, 170-pound two way player. Defensively, throws with a long, stiff arm from a high ¾ slot. From the outfield he threw 76 mph. From the infield he threw 72 mph. At the plate he has a balanced stance and a short stride. Has a long, slightly uphill bat path. Exit velocity was 83 mph off a tee. On the mound he throws from a high ¾ slot with a simple delivery and short stride. Fastball was straight at 71-72 mph, flashing 74 mph once. Curveball was 57-59 mph. Ran a 7.37 60.

William Donado, OF, Niles North, 2014
5-foot-11, 170-pound left handed outfielder. Offensively hits from the left side, balanced stance, smooth load with short leg lift stride, maintains balance. Bat path shows uphill tendencies, pull side approach. 81 mph exit velocity from the outfield. Defensively uses a long arm action from the outfield, high ¾ slot, 76 mph from the outfield. Works uphill over stiff front leg. 7.23 runner in the 60.

Nick Garcia, OF, Lincoln-Way North, 2014
5-foot-8, 165-pound left hand hitting outfielder with quality actions. Plays through it well. Throws from over-the-top with solid accuracy and carry at 78 mph. At the plate has a tall, open stance with a short stride. Stays inside the ball and has an opposite field swing. Exit velocity off the tee was 78 mph. Ran a 7.33 60.

Tyrone Gaston, OF, Seton Academy, 2014
6-foot-3, 163-pound outfielder. Offensively hits from the right side, tall setup, short stride. Above average bat speed, 85 mph exit velocity from the tee, flat bat path, line drive hitter. Defensively uses a long over the top arm action from the outfield. Showed athleticism, good foot speed, 7.08 runner.

Jamari Gillon, 3B/OF, Proviso West, 2014
6-foot, 170-pound third base/outfielder. Defensively used a short arm action on the infield, 74 mph across the diamond. In the outfield arm played at 77 mph. Offensively hits from a balanced setup, short stride. Lower half showed some collapse, uphill bat path. 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Also ran a 7.36 in the 60.

Zachary Kaminski, OF, Plainfield North, 2014
6-foot-1, 180-poundoutfielder with foot speed. Ran a 7.02 60. Defensively, showed clean hands and played through the ball well. Throws with a long arm from over the top with accuracy and carry at 76 mph. At the plate has a balanced stance and repeatable swing. Swing is short and creates solid whip and extension. Exit velocity was 79 mph off a tee.

Eric Mallo, OF, Richards, 2014
5-foot-11, 155-pound lanky outfielder. Defensively throws with a long arm from over the top at 75 mph with accuracy. At the plate has a tall, open stance with a toe tap load and launch. Line drive swing with flat path. Exit velocity was 72 mph off a tee. Ran a 7.34 60.

Mitchell Miner, RHP/OF, York, 2014
6-foot-2, 155-pound lanky two way player. On the mound uses a tall and fall delivery and regular effort, from the stretch only. Throws from a high ¾ slot with a long, stiff arm. Showed feel for the fastball, throwing it 79-80 mph with consistent run. Curveball had 12/6 shape with downer break at 62-63 mph. Throws a changeup 74-76 mph. Throws a split at 68-70 mph. From the outfield he throws with the same arm action, with accuracy, at 77 mph. At the plate hits with a balanced setup. Has a long bat path that produced an exit velocity of 76 mph off a tee. Ran a 7.32 60.

Tucker Newling, OF, Willowbrook, 2014
5-foot-9, 175-pound outfielder that plays through the ball. From the outfield throws with a long arm from over the top, with some accuracy and carry at 78 mph. Offensively, has wide, balanced setup with a short stride. Bat path is long and uphill. Swing has violent rhythm. Exit velocity was 77 mph off a tee. Ran a 7.94 60.

Kevin O’Keeffe, OF, Alleman, 2014
6-foot, 165-pound athletic outfielder with foot speed. Posted a 7.04 60 time. At the plate has an open, balanced stance with a short stride. Has a line drive swing with quality bat speed. Exit velocity was 78 mph off a tee. Defensively, showed athletic feet and quality actions. Arm works long and stiff from over the top at 80 mph with accuracy and carry.

Garrett Potts, SS/OF, Maldenn (MO), 2014
5-foot-10, 170-pound multi-positional player. Arm works well from the infield and the outfield. Clean and neat on the backside with acceleration to it. Was 79 mph from the outfield and 75 mph on the infield. Took clean lines to the ball as an outfielder. Showed athletic footwork on ground balls. At the plate has an open stance with a leg kick trigger. Swing is on an uphill path with solid bat speed. Exit velocity was 79 mph off a tee. Ran a 7.44 60.

Lloyd Willis, OF/1B/RHP, William Byrd (VA), 2014
6-foot-2, 190-pound two-way player, athletic frame with strength. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, leg kick trigger. Solid contact, showed bat speed, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Flashed a short path with occasional extension, line drive gap to gap approach. Defensively used a short over the top arm action, showed accuracy, 71 mph from the outfield, 73 mph across the infield. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm slot. Fastball is mostly straight, 75-78 mph. Curveball flashed 12/6 action, gradual bend, showed control, 59-62 mph. Changeup has sinking action, controlled the zone, 67-71 mph.

Rhett Wojkovich, OF/SS, Montini Catholic, 2014
5-foot-10, 155-pound switch hitting, multi positional player. Showed outstanding foot speed running a 6.72 60. From the outfield throws with long arm from over the top with accuracy and carry at 78 mph. On the infield showed quality hands and athletic footwork playing through the ball. Throws 72 mph across the diamond. Hitting from the left and right sides he uses the same wide, balanced stance with a short stride. Has a slightly uphill bat path with above average bat speed.  Exit velocity as a left handed hitter was 77 mph, 78 mph from .

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