Prep Baseball Report

Fall Underclass Games: Outfield Analysis



By Sean McCann
Prep Baseball Report Kansas

Prep Baseball Report Kansas hosted the Fall Underclass Games at Tointon Family Stadium on the campus of Kansas State University in Manhattan on October 19, 2014. This was an invite-only event for Kansas high school class of 2017 and 2018 prospects.

There were several two-way players (pitcher + position player) at this event, but keep in mind that the evaluations below are based on the position player side only. 

Below are the scouting reports on the eleven outfielders that participated in this event. Click on the player's headline link to be directed to their profile with video from this event.

TOP CLASS OF 2017 PROSPECTS

1. Jacob Owens, St. James Academy (2017)
Owens is an athletic, projectable 6-foot-1, 165-pound right hand hitting outfielder and middle infielder. Athletic set-up at the plate, open stance, leg kick, strides inline, no hand load, bat speed, strong hands, extension through the baseball, line drive middle of the field approach, 85 exit velocity. Simple, repeatable swing. Ran a 6.89 60-yard dash, second best time in camp. Also ran a 4.33 home-to-first, best mark in camp. Went 2-for-3 in the game with a walk and stole a base, good reads on the bases. Quick feet in the outfield, clean exchanges, high three-quarters arm action, arm works, top throwing velocity of 80 mph. Showed quick hands and feet in the infield, clean exchanges, short high three-quarters arm action, all accurate throws, top throw clocked at 80 mph – best mark of the middle infielders. Very athletic player that does a lot of things well on the baseball field.

2. Corey Thomas, Topeka HS (2017)
Thomas is a strong, athletic 5-foot-10, 170-pound right-hand hitting outfielder. Balanced set-up at the plate, slightly open stance, short inline stride, smooth hand load, short bat path, compact swing with bat speed, balance throughout, 81 mph exit velocity. Worked middle of the field well in batting practice. Ran a 7.06 60-yard dash and 4.36 home-to-first from the right side, second best time in camp. In game action drove a triple into left center field and also recorded the hardest hit out of the game with an absolute laser to center field.  In the outfield showed athletic footwork, fielded everything cleanly, short high three-quarters arm action, throwing velocity 80 mph, mostly accurate throws.

3. Zebulon Vermillion, Shawnee Mission East HS (2017)
Vermillion made quite an impression for his work on the mound which we will cover in the pitching analysis, but he's also an athletic, projectable 6-foot-4, 170-pound left-hand hitting, right-hand throwing outfielder. Tall set-up at the plate, open stance, strides inline, smooth hand load, lower half in sync, hands inside the ball, middle-oppo approach, 87 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.20 60-yard dash and 4.51 home-to-first. In game action reached on an error, stole a base and hit a triple down the left field line in three plate appearances. In the outfield showed fluid footwork, soft hands, clean exchanges, played through, over-the-top slot, arm works, 83 mph throwing velocity, all accurate throws.

4. Brett Parke, Maize South HS (2017)
Parke is a 5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. At the plate showed a balanced set-up, inline stance, strides in place, minimal hand load, short bat path, upper-half dominant, bat speed, very aggressive swing, line drive approach, exit velocity 83 mph. Ran a 7.16 60-yard dash and 4.41 home-to-first. Collected one hit in game action and stole a base. In the outfield attacked the ball, clean exchanges, over-the-top throwing motion with effort, played through the ball, throwing velocity up to 82 mph.  Also made the play of the day in center field running down a ball that appeared to be a sure double off of the bat.

Top class of 2018 prospect

Bryce Mitchell, Blue Valley Northwest HS (2018)
Mitchell is an athletic 5-foot-11, 155-pound left-hand hitting outfielder. Balanced set-up at the plate, open stance, strides in line, smooth hand load, short bat path, short finish, line drive approach, worked middle of the field during batting practice, 79 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.15 60-yard dash and 4.46 home-to-first. During pre-game outfield drills showed quick feet, high three-quarters arm action, arm works, 76 mph throwing velocity. Athletic left-left outfielder to follow in the 2018 class. 

Best of the rest (in alphabetical order)

Pryce Anderson, Labette County HS (2018)
Anderson is a 5-foot-10, 140-pound right-hand hitting outfielder. At the plate showed a balanced set-up, inline stance, smooth load, strides slightly open, slight pull approach, exit velocity 73 mph. Ran a 7.85 60-yard dash and 4.95 home-to-first from the right side. In the outfield throws with high three-quarters arm action, 71 mph throwing velocity. 

Cody Ladson, Washburn Rural HS (2017)
Ladson is an athletic 6-foot, 175-pound right-hand hitting outfielder. Tall set-up at the plate, slightly closed stance, drops hands in load, aggressive upper half dominant swing, showed some pull side juice in batting practice, 81 mph exit velocity. Collected one hit in game action, a triple to left center field. Ran a 6.88 60-yard dash – top mark in camp. During outfield pre-game work threw with short, three-quarters arm action, mostly accurate throws, top throw clocked at 78 mph. 

Carter Perkins, Manhattan HS (2017)
Perkins is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound right-hand hitting outfielder.  At the plate showed a wide base, open stance, loads weight back with leg kick, strides open, upper half dominant, slight pull approach, 82 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.28 60-yard dash, 4.41 home-to-first. In game action collected three hits in four at-bats including a triple down the left field line. Aggressive base runner – looked to take extra base and also stole a base. During pre-game defensive drills attacked the ball in the outfield, short over-the-top arm action, throwing velocity of 76 mph, mostly accurate throws. 

Zach Reeder, Shawnee Mission Northwest HS (2017)
Reeder is a 5-foot-8, 155-pound right-hand hitting outfielder. Tall set-up at the plate, leg kick, some length in load, very aggressive hack, level to slightly uphill bat path, gap-to-gap approach, 76 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.45 60-yard dash, 4.95 home-to-first. Notched one hit in game action. In the outfield moved well, threw with short high-three quarters arm action, 79 mph throwing velocity, mostly accurate throws. At shortstop fielded the ball cleanly, short high three-quarters throwing motion, throws had carry, 79 mph throwing velocity, all accurate throws.

Edward Scott, Manhattan HS (2017)
Scott is a thin, athletic 5-foot-6, 134-pound switch-hitting outfielder. From both sides of the plate starts with a wide base, open stance, strides inline, smooth hand load, loose hands, lower half in sync, maintains balance, extension through the ball, middle of the field approach. Right-handed exit velocity up to 76 mph. Scott’s swing works well from both sides, just needs time, size and strength. Ran a 7.26 60-yard dash and 4.51 home-to-first. Collected one hit in the game and promptly stole second and third. Athletic footwork in the outfield, attacks the ball, long high three-quarters arm action, top throw clocked at 72 mph, mostly accurate throws.

Blayten Tullis, Derby HS (2018)
Tullis is an athletic 5-foot-9, 140-pound right-handed hitter.  Balanced set-up at the plate, open stance, inline stride, smooth hand load, short bat path, lower half in sync, aggressive swing, maintains balance, finishes with extension, worked middle of the field, 76 mph exit velocity. Sound approach, needs time, size and strength. Ran a 7.59 60-yard dash and 4.62 home-to-first.  Walked and stole a base in game action. In the outfield showed high three-quarters arm action, arm works, 79 mph throwing velocity.  

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