Prep Baseball Report

Topeka Prospect ID: Outfield Analysis



By Sean McCann
Prep Baseball Report Kansas

Today we take a look at the outfielders that participated in the Topeka Prospect Identification Showcase on November 2, 2014 at Bettis Family Sports Complex. This was an open event for uncommitted high school baseball players - all grades.

The top prospect list zeroes in on the top five, but the talent level in the outfield group was very deep with a number of solid college-level prospects beyond just these five.

Mitchell McCallister (Staley HS, 2016) put on a clinic on how to hit line drives in the middle of the field during batting practice and also recorded one of the events top 60-yard dash times (6.83). He’s another key piece to a very strong Staley HS junior class. Ben Pautler (Rockhurst HS, 2016) sports an impressive 6-foot-3, 180-pound athletic frame and has tools to go with it recording the second best 60 time and hitting exit velocity mark. Caleb Underwood (Olathe North, 2016) showed solid across the board tools, performing well in hitting and defensive drills while also running a 6.91 60-yard dash. Physical Andrew Kleiboeker (Lee’s Summit North HS) also flashed some of the top tools at the event including a dose of opposite field power in batting practice. Marcus Altman (Hays HS, 2016) is another projectable right-hand hitting outfielder that put in a strong performance in Topeka.

Below are the scouting reports on the corner infielders that participated in the event. We include position players in one of the post-event features at their best position while two-way players will also appear in the pitching analysis article.

To see a complete list of stats from this event click here.

Click on the player's headline link to be directed to their profile with video from their performance.

Top outfield prospects

1. Mitchell McCallister, OF, Staley HS, MO (2016)
McCallister is a strong, athletic 5-foot-11, 180-pound right-hand hitting outfielder. Balanced set-up at the plate, minimal hand load, short leg kick stride, short bat path, lower half works, maintains balance, finishes with extension. Simple, easy swing, line drive approach. Repeatedly made hard contact in the middle of the field during batting practice. Ran a 6.83 60-yard dash, 83 exit velocity. Showed athletic actions in the outfield, aggressive to the ball, quick exchanges, over the top throwing motion, quick arm, accurate, 88 mph throwing velocity. One of the top prospects at the event. 

2. Ben Pautler, OF, Rockhurst HS, MO (2016)
Pautler is an athletic 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-hand hitting outfielder. At the plate showed a balanced set-up, reverse toe tap, inline stride, minimal hand load, short path, generates bat speed, finishes with extension, gap-to-gap approach. Aggressive swing. Recorded an 88 mph exit velocity and 6.70 60-yard dash – both second best marks at the event. In the outfield took good routes to the ball, clean exchanges, high three-quarters arm action, 81 mph throwing velocity, all accurate throws. Impressive athletic frame with tools and projection. 

3. Caleb Underwood, OF, Olathe North HS (2016)
Underwood is an athletic 6-foot-1, 175-pound right-hand hitting outfielder. At the plate showed an open set-up, slight crouch, smooth hand load, inline stride, backside in sync with hands, short swing. Repeatedly flattened out the ball in the middle of the field. 82 mph exit velocity, 6.91 60-yard dash. Quick, athletic actions in the outfield, aggressive to the ball, high three-quarters arm action, 84 mph throwing velocity, accurate throws. Fluid footwork in the infield, soft hands, quick exchanges, loose high three-quarters arm action, 80 mph throwing velocity. Athlete with solid across the board tools.

4. Andrew Kleiboeker, OF/C, Lee’s Summit North HS, MO (2016)
Kleiboeker is a physical 6-foot-1, 205-pound right-hand hitting catcher, outfielder and first baseman. Showed a balanced set-up at the plate, inline stance, rolls weight back, short stride, simple load, upper half dominant, generates bat speed, strength at point of contact, drove ball to the opposite field well, exit velocity 90 mph – top mark in camp. Ran a 6.83 60-yard dash. Behind the plate throws with short three-quarters arm action, 75 mph throwing velocity, pop times in the 2.08-2.19 range. In the outfield made clean exchanges, three-quarters arm action, top throw clocked at 82 mph. At first base fielded every cleanly, threw with three-quarters arm action, 77 mph throwing velocity. 

5. Marcus Altman, OF, Hays HS, KS (2016)
Altman is an athletic 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-hand hitting outfielder. Athletic set-up at the plate, open stance, short stride, smooth hand load, short path, lower half in sync, extension through the baseball. Loose hands, lets it fly while maintaining balance. Line drives in the gaps during batting practice, 81 exit velocity, 7.37 60-yard dash. In the outfield attacked the ball, easy high three-quarters arm action, top throw clocked at 83 mph, throws had carry. Solid athlete with projection.

Best of the rest (alphabetical order)

Braden Anderson, RHP/OF, Labette County HS, KS (2015)
Anderson is a 6-foot, 189-pound right-handed pitcher and right-hand hitting outfielder. Wide stance at the plate, some length in hand load, strides in place, short swing, middle approach, exit velocity 76 mph. Ran a 7.32 60-yard dash. In the outfield threw with long, high three-quarters arm action, 81 mph throwing velocity.  On the mound tucks at balance, hides ball, tall/fall delivery, long high three-quarters arm action. Fastball with consistent arm side sinking action, very high percentage of strikes, 78-81 mph. Short, controllable 11/5 breaking ball, 68-71 mph, good pitch. Absolutely peppered the strike zone with his fastball and breaking ball. Also, showed a 77-78 mph sinking change-up below the zone.

Elijah Boyer, Shawnee Mission West HS, KS (2015)
Boyer is a 5-foot-7, 160-pound right-hand hitting outfielder. At the plate has an open stance, smooth load, aggressive swing, lower half in sync, short finish, ball traveled off bat, gap-to-gap approach, 75 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.22 60-yard dash. In the outfield attacked the ball, clean exchanges, over-the-top throwing motion, throws had carry, throwing velocity 86 mph – second best mark in camp. In the infield showed quick feet, clean exchanges, quick high three-quarters arm action, throwing velocity 80 mph, accurate throws. 

Coleton Crisp, OF, Remington HS, KS (2017)
Crisp is a 6-foot, 175-pound right-hand hitting outfielder and right-handed pitcher. Stands up to hit, open stance, toe tap stride, smooth load, level path, some bat sped, line drive approach, 82 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.63 60-yard dash. In the outfield showed athletic footwork, clean exchanges, high three-quarters arm action, arm works, throws had carry, played through, 82 mph throwing velocity. Strong, accurate throws. On the mound simple early, tall balance point, three-quarters arm action, arm works, athletic finish, repeats. Fastball with arm-side run, also firmed up on glove side black, very high percentage strikes, 78-80 mph, 81 tops. Breaking ball has gradual 11/5 action, 66-70 mph. Change-up with downward sinking action at bottom of the zone, 69-70 mph.

Harrison Denk, OF/2B, Andale HS, KS (2017)
Denk is a 5-foot-6, 125-pound switch-hitting outfielder. At the plate from both sides has a tall set-up, open stance, level path, loose hands, hands really work, aggressive swing, middle of the field line drives. Ran a 7.26 60-yard dash. In the outfield attacked the ball, soft hands, clean exchanges, loose high-three quarters throwing motion, throwing velocity 74 mph. In the infield showed quick, athletic footwork, soft hands, loose three-quarters arm action, 72 mph throwing velocity, accurate arm.  Class of 2017 switch-hitting athlete that does a lot of things on the baseball field well. 

Dylan MacKay, OF, Blue Springs HS, MO (2016)
MacKay is an athletic 5-foot-10, 145-pound left-handed hitting outfielder. Open set-up, minimal hand load, short leg kick stride, explosive lower half, hands work inside ball. Simple swing with rhythm, middle of the field approach. 79 mph exit velocity, ran a 6.82 60-yard dash. Showed good routes to the ball in the outfield, athletic footwork soft hands, easy high three-quarters arm action, accurate arm, throwing velocity 77 mph. Athletic left-left outfielder with a swing built to hit for high average that has shown noticeable improvement over the last year.

Grant Parks, LHP/OF, Blue Valley Northwest HS, KS (2016)
Parks is a lean 6-foot, 140-pound left-handed pitcher and left-hand hitting outfielder. At the plate showed a tall set-up, reverse toe tap, closed stride, no hand load, short path, lower half in sync with upper, middle-oppo approach, 72 mph exit velocity, ran a 7.35 60-yard dash. In the outfield took good routes to the ball, easy high-three quarters arm action, 75 mph throwing velocity, accurate arm. On the mound turns and tucks at balance, hides ball, three quarters arm action, arm works. Athletic delivery with rhythm. Fastball with arm side run, occasional glove side cutting action, 74-75 mph, 76 tops.  Breaking ball with 1/7 shape, gradual action, controllable, 61-63 mph. Change-up with sink below the zone, 67-69 mph. 

Luke Sosaya, OF, Mill Valley HS, KS (2017)
Sosaya is an athletic 6-foot-3, 182-pound right-hand hitting outfielder. Balanced set-up at the plate, knee tuck leg kick, strides inline, simple load, short path, upper half dominant, 78 mph exit velocity. Gap-to-gap approach, ball traveled off bat when he connected. Ran a 7.10 60-yard dash. Quick feet in the outfield, clean exchanges, three quarters arm action, 78 mph throwing velocity. Class of 2017 prospect that projects well.

Tanner Stout, OF, Girard HS, KS (2016)
Stout is a 5-foot-11, 160-pound right-hand hitting outfielder. Open stance at the plate. Early stride and load. Short swing, middle-oppo approach, 80 mph exit velocity, ran a 7.19 60-yard dash. Attacked the ball in the outfield, quick high-three quarters arm action, throws had carry, 84 mph throwing velocity. Athletic class of 2017 prospect with arm strength. 

Cooper Strahl, OF, Shawnee Mission Northwest HS, KS (2016)
Strahl is a 6-foot, 160-pound left-hand hitting outfielder. Open set-up, strides inline, level path, line drive approach, 73 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.52 60-yard dash.  In the outfield fielded the ball cleanly, high three-quarters arm action, 70 mph throwing velocity.

Logan Vicin, RHP/OF, Maize South HS, KS (2016)
Vicin is a 5-foot-6, 150-pound right-hand hitting outfielder and right-handed pitcher. Tall set-up at the plate, early stride and load, worked mostly oppo, 79 mph exit velocity, ran a 7.38 60-yard dash. In the outfield fielded the ball cleanly, loose over-the-top throwing motion, 77 mph throwing velocity, mostly accurate throws. On the mound turns at balance. Hands and knee lift in sync, high three-quarters arm action. Fastball with early arm side run, 69-71 mph. Breaking ball with 12/6 shape, gradual action, 59-61 mph. Feel for change-up with arm side fade, 64-65  mph.