Prep Baseball Report

Metro East Open: Outfield Analysis


By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The annual Metro East took place earlier this summer on June 26th. The event, originally scheduled to take place at Blazier Field in O’Fallon was moved indoors to Kings Point Sports Club (Batters Box), due to inclement weather.

On Monday we began the breakdown of the event, looking at the catchers in attendance. Today we take a look at the outfielders from the day, led by 2021 switch-hitter Hayden Moore.

Below is a look at all of the outfielders from the event.

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS

1. Hayden Moore, /INFOF, Edwardsville, 2021
5-foot-9, 140-pound, lanky switch hitting outfielder. From the left side, balanced open setup, flashed bat speed, gap-gap approach, uphill finish, smooth back load, toe tap, short stride, engaged lower half, extension through contact and clocked at 77-mph off a tee. From the right side, balanced setup, smooth load, quiet hands, good balance, stays inside baseball, extension, fluid rhythm, uphill finish. Exit velocity of 79-off tee. Defensively, worked out in the infield and in the outfield. Natural outfield actions, fluid footwork, athletic fielding position, clean exchange, plays through baseball. Short arm action, high ¾ arm action, follows through target. Throws 82-mph from outfield and 76 mph across the infield. Ran 6.88 in the 60.        

2. Brennan Orf, OF, Westminster Christian Academy, 2020
6-foot-4, 210-pound, strong, athletic, projectable left handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, balanced slightly opened stance, quiet aggression, quick to baseball, short stride, engaged lower half, hard contact. Fast bat speed, gap-gap approach with pull side power, uphill finish and 86-mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, short arm action, over the top slot, accuracy on throws, 81-mph from the outfield. Fluid footwork, moves well, athletic positioning, plays through baseball. Ran 7.35 in the 60.

3. Sam Chapman, OF, Champaign Central, 2020
6-foot-1, 185-pound, projectable, athletically-built, right handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, balanced slightly crouched setup, smooth load, rhythm and short toe-tap stride. Short barrel path, line drive approach and exit velocity of 82-mph off bat. Defensively, plays ball aggressively, fluid footwork, quick clean exchange, proper angles and routes, momentum through target. Quick arm action, high ¾ arm slot, flashed accuracy on throws, consistent carry on ball, throws 88-mph from outfield. Ran 6.96 in the 60.   

3. Theron Morgan Jr, OF, O’Fallon, 2019  
5-foot-8, 145-pound, athletic, right handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, balanced narrow set up, smooth simple load, quiet hands, fluid rhythm, closed toe, leg kick trigger and utilizes lower half. Flashed bat speed, short barrel path, stays through baseball, line drive approach, uphill finish. Exit velocity of 82-mph exit velocity from a tee, Ran well, 6.97 in the 60. Defensively, athletic fielding position, fluid footwork, quick clean exchange, momentum through target. Short arm action, over the top arm action, topped at 80-mph from the outfield.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Lucas Alred, OF, Althoff Catholic, 2021
5-foot-6, 165-pound, athletic right handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, open narrow toe setup, slightly crouched, long stride and maintains balance. Short level barrel path, line drive approach, fluid rhythm throughout, balanced finish. Exit velocity of 78-mph off tee. Defensively, clean exchange, short arm action, high ¾ release, throws 70-mph from outfield. Ran 7.46 in the 60.  

Austin Bonvicino, OF, Granite City, 2019
6-foot, 230-pound, strong left handed hitting/throwing outfielder. Offensively, balanced set up, quiet hands, simple load, fluid rhythm, narrowed toes, short stride, heel raise, engaged lower half through baseball. Flashed bat speed, exit velocity of 89-mph, long barrel path, gap-gap approach, uphill finish. Defensively, played through baseball, consistent hand placement, clean exchange, throws through target. Long arm action, high ¾ release, accuracy, throws 82-mph from outfield. Ran 7.38 in the 60.

Jackson Brunner, OF, El Paso, 2019
5-foot-9, 204-pound, strong, durable, right handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, slightly crouched setup, pre-pitch load, exaggerated leg kick, level barrel path, aggressive uphill finish. Exit velocity of 82-mph off tee. Defensively, in the outfield, long exchange. Long arm action, over the top release, 65-mph exit velocity from outfield. Ran 8.27 in the 60.

Daniel Burns, OF/RHP, O’Fallon, 2020
6-foot-1, 155-pound, long, athletically-built, projectable right handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, open balanced setup, smooth back load, toe tap with long stride, fluid rhythm, engaged lower half, remains balanced throughout. Flashed bat speed, hitting 86-mph off tee, long barrel path, line drive pull approach, uphill finish. Defensively, athletic fielding position, soft hands, clean exchange, plays through baseball. Short arm action high ¾ release, throws 82-mph from outfield. Ran 6.95 in the 60. On the mound, high leg kick, high ¾ arm action, quick arm action, repeatable balance point, linear direction, square landing, athletic finish out front. Fastball ranged from 79-81 mph touching 82. Curveball came from 11/5 slot, gradual action, sat between 66-71 mph. Changeup showed downward action, ranging between 72-76 mph.   

Aiden Detering, OF, Homeschool, 2020
6-foot, 175-pound, athletically-built, projectable right handed hitting infielder. Offensively, tall, balanced setup, slightly open, smooth load, toe tap, shirt stride. Hit 78-mph off tee, long barrel path, line drive approach. Defensively, short arm action, high ¾ release, quick clean exchange, threw 73-mph from outfield. Ran 7.35 in the 60.  

Amare Dupske, OF, Hazelwood Central, 2022
5-foot-4, 137-pound, right handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, balanced setup, quiet hands, stays inside baseball, long stride, utilizes lower half. Fast bat speed for age, exit velocity of 72 off tee, level barrel path, line drive approach. Defensively, high over top release, long action, flashed accuracy, threw 69-mph from outfield. Quick aggressive footwork, clean exchange, plays through baseball. Ran 7.30 in the 60.   

Zach Floyd, INF/OF, Lutheran St. Charles, 2019
5-foot-10, 190-pound, athletic, right handed hitting infielder. Offensively, narrow, closed toe set up, short toe tap stride, balanced landing, quiet hands, slight back load, extension. Fast bat speed, exit velocity of 94-mph off the bat, short level barrel path. On the infield, longer arm action, high ¾ slot, clocked at 80-mph across infield. Also worked out in the outfield, athletic fielding position, and throws topped at 85-mph from position. Ran 7.04 in the 60.     

Paul Gilmore, OF, Sacred Heart-Griffin, 2021
5-foot-10, 165-pound, right handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, balanced set up, pre-pitch load, short stride, exit velocity of 79-mph off tee. Short level barrel path, line drive approach. Defensively, long arm action high ¾ arm slot, accuracy on throws, throws clocked at 74-mph from outfield. Ran 7.29 in the 60.   

Hunter Haines, OF, Mascoutah, 2019
5-foot-10, 170-pound, long, athletically-built right handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, tall set up, slight back load, short stride, average balance. Long barrel path, exit velocity of 75-mph off the tee. Defensively, high over top release, long arm action, flashed accuracy, throws 69-mph from outfield. Ran 7.56 in the 60.   

Cameron Hibbets, OF/LHP, Granite City, 2019
5-foot-9, 186-pound stocky, strong, left handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, balanced tall set up, smooth back load, fluid rhythm, leg kick, engaged hips. Fast bat speed, 94 exit velocity off tee, long barrel path through zone, gap-gap approach with power, extension through ball. Defensively, long arm action, over the top release, accuracy to throws, 87-mph velocity from outfield. Fluid footwork, clean exchange, athletic fielding position, plays through baseball. Ran 7.72 in the 60. On the mound, over top arm angle, long arm action, quick arm speed, effort, stays in line, out front finish. Fastball sat between 83-84 mph, touching 85. Curveball ranged between 72-73 mph, 10/4 shape. Changeup was 74-mph, slight fade.

Connor Howe, OF, Fort Zumwalt West, 2019
6-foot-3, 170-pound, long, lanky, left handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, open setup, slight backload, hands drop, toe tap, short stride. Flashed bat speed, exit velocity of 81-mph off the bat. Defensively, short arm action, high ¾ release, accurate throws, clocked at 80-mph from outfield. Consistent hand placement, clean exchange. Ran 7.04 in the 60.

Robby Manor, OF, Timberland, 2020
6-foot-1, 155-pound, lanky, long right handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, balanced setup, smooth load, small toe tap, short stride, average balance on finish. Level barrel path, line drive approach, fluid rhythm and uphill finish. Exit velocity of 74-mph off a tee. Defensively, quick footwork, clean exchange, plays through baseball, follow through on throws towards target. Short arm action, high ¾ release, accuracy on throws, 79-mph from outfield. Ran 6.98 in the 60.

Nolen Mcgowen, OF/RHP, Triad, 2020
5-foot-11, 165-pound, long, projectable left handed hitting infielder. Offensively, open stance, slightly crouched, leg kick trigger. Line drive swing, exit velocity of 79 off tee. Defensively, plays through baseball, follow through finish, clean exchange. High ¾ release, flashed accuracy, throws 79-mph from outfield. Ran 6.99 in the 60. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, uptempo delivery at times, toe pointed down at balance point and lands square. Arm works clean and from a high ¾ slot. Fastball worked mostly straight, sat 77-79 mph, touched 80. Slider, 10/4 action, 63-66 mph. Changeup sat 69-70 mph.     

Drew Rakers, OF/LHP, Breese Central, 2020
6-foot-1, 160- pound, lanky left handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, slightly opened stance, balanced, small leg kick. Line drive approach, exit velocity of 79-mph off the tee. Defensively, clean exchange, plays through baseball. Long loose arm action, high ¾ slot, accuracy on throws, carry, threw 77-mph from outfield. Ran 7.45 in the 60. On the mound, slightly crouched, ¾ arm slot, loose long arm action. Repeatable balance point, out front finish, linear towards plate. Fastball flashed run, for strikes, sat between 77-78 mph. Curveball had 2/8 break, sharp snapping action, 66-67 mph. Changeup thrown in lower quadrants of zone, 68-71 mph.

Colin Shea, OF, Belleville West, 2020
5-foot- 9, 135-pound, right handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, open balanced set up, long toe tap stride. Flashed bat speed, level barrel path, pull-side approach. Exit velocity of 82-mph off a tee. Defensively, athletically positioned, played through baseball, repeatable mechanics. Long arm action, over the top release, flashed accuracy on throws, topped at 78 mph from outfield. Ran 6.87 in the 60. 

John Weedman, OF/RHP, Shawnee Mission East, 2020.
5-foot-10, athletic, projectable, right handed hitting infielder. Offensively, balanced slightly open setup, slight back load, small leg kick timing trigger and maintains balance throughout. Fast bat speed for age, short level path, line drive approach, stays inside baseball and 84-mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, athletic fielding position, clean exchange, plays through baseball, follows through towards target, Short arm action, high ¾ release, flashed carry on throws, clocked at 82-mph from outfield. Ran 7.01 in the 60. On the mound, over the top release, short arm action, repeatable balance point, consistent rhythm, level shoulders, remains in line, athletic finish. Fast ball sat between 77-79 mph touching 80. Curveball ranged between 66-69 mph, 11/5 shape, late action, put away pitch. Changeup thrown at 70-mph, similar arm action, lower quadrants of zone.

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