2018 Top Prospect Games: Outfielder Analysis

Alex Crosby OF / LHP / Faith Christian School , NC / 2019

Athletic frame, stands 5-foot-10, 165 pounds.  Left handed hitter setups balanced using a weight shift back to load.  Small to no-stride. Set to uphill through the zone. Average bat speed with good hands through the zone.  Stays on the back side, working through the ball with a pull emphasis. Wants extension. Exit velocity peaked at 84 mph off the barrel.  Cautious to the ball in the outfield, working to field just off his right foot, setting the left handed thrower up for an athletic exchange around his chest.  Long, clean arm stroke to an over-the-top slot. Better than average carry with accuracy and a positional velocity of 79 mph out of the hand. Ran a 7.42 sixty.

On the mound, works quickly, using an simple, repeatable delivery with an average leg kick.  On-line through balance, lands in-line and square with the foot. Long, clean arm stroke works to an over-the-top slot.  Arm is slightly late in its arc, creating some elevated misses in sequencing. Fastball worked to both sides with a feel for getting in on hitters.  Fastball ranged 78-80 with late arm side action. Breaking ball has some depth with late 1/7 tilt at 68-73. Change-up has deception from a similar hand speed as fastball.  Fades away from right handed hitters, touching 73.

Sam Crone OF / 1B / Lake Norman, NC / 2019

Average, balanced frame at 5-foot-10, 180 pounds. Whippy, loose hands that generate juice when the barrel connects.  Exit velocity up to 89 mph off the barrel. Level bat path brings line drives to both gaps. Quiet setup, tall with a narrow base.  Good rhythm in a slow weight shift back to load as the hands tilt the bat head to a slightly vertical slot. Small stride. High barrel ability with quickness through the zone.  Works gap to gap. Good balance throughout. Cautious to the ball, fielding it off his left foot. Quick, clean transitions to an average arm swing. Works through some stiffness getting to the high-¾ release.  Average accuracy and carry with throws measured at 75 mph out of the hand. Ran a 7.73 sixty.

Jason Montague OF / 2B / Southern Nash, NC / 2019

Coker College commit. 5 feet 7, 160-pound athletic build, with a strong lower half. Hits from the right side using a tall setup. Leg kick for his load with his strong lower half getting through the ball and maintaining balance during his swing. Fluid swing with advanced bat speed and looks to get extension out front. Fluid swing that he repeats well with good feel for his barrel.  Looks to the drive the ball with his exit velocity recorded at 94 mph. Average hands in the outfield, using a long arm action throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Waits on the ball leading to a slower exchange with his arm topping at 71 mph. Showcases his strength and bat speed in game driving a couple balls to the gaps. Recorded a 6.86 in the 60-yard dash.

Will Elder OF / 1B / Alexander Central, NC / 2020

5 feet 10, 175-pound strong build. Hits from the right side using a crouched setup. Short stride with his weight going back during his load. Looks to get extension out front with average bat speed. Raises up out of his legs at times causing his barrel to work long to the ball. Exit velocity recorded at 78 mph and should improve with more lower half and added looseness to his swing. Plays through the ball in the outfield with average hands and clean exchanges, leading to a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Arm peaked at 71 mph from the outfield with some accuracy to his throws.  Shows average hands at first base with some feel for playing the position.  Arm peaked at 69 mph across the diamond.  Recorded a 7.48 in the 60-yard dash.

Jake Soorus OF / RHP / North Lincoln, NC / 2020

5 feet 11, 185-pound build with a strong lower half. Athletic presence and a multi-sport guy.  Hits from the right side using an open setup. Has some bat wrap during his load but barrel does work short to the ball.  Gets his strong lower half through the ball with above average bat speed, with his exit velocity peaking at 93 mph. Athletically plays through the ball in the outfield with quick, fluid feet and average hands. Long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot with carry to his throws.  Accurate arm that topped at 86 mph form the outfield.  Average hands on the infield with a long arm action and carry to his throws peaking at 81 mph across the diamond. In game his swing is still raw, with a lot of movement but has above average bat speed.  Athletic player with upside who can play different positions. Recorded a 6.97 in the 60-yard dash.
On the mound, the fastball plays heavy at 81-85.  Working out of a quick hand it is easy to project more coming.  Occasionally cuts the fastball to his glove side at 81-82.  Breaking ball has depth with a sharp, power 11/5 tilt ranging 68-70.  Slows the arm on the change, gaining occasional sink at 72-75.  Ability to pitch off the fastball – curveball combination, attacking the zone and expanding at times.  The change is still maturing to be added to the arsenal.  Strong base and stable head through the delivery.  Easy, repeatable process to balance.  Long arm swing to a high-3/4 slot with some effort as the hand works with quickness to release.  Level and on-line throughout.  Finishes in an athletic position.

Corey Avant OF / RHP / Sun Valley, NC / 2020

6 feet 4, 190-pound lanky, athletic build. Frame catches the eye and should continue to add quickness and strength.  Offensively he works from the right side using a balanced setup with a smooth load and long stride. Fluid swing, with an explosive lower half that generates above average bat speed. Works mostly middle to pull side with his barrel level through the zone.  Attempts to create some leverage through the ball.  Shows the ability to barrel the ball during BP with plenty of power potential. Exit velocity recorded at 89 mph. Athletically plays through balls in the outfield with fluid feet and soft hands. Clean exchanges with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot. Accurate arm with carry to his throws topping at 85 mph. Swing is long in game, but the power potential is hard to ignore and will only get better as his athletic projectable body fills out. Recorded a 7.21 60-yard dash.

Max LeCroy OF / SS / Christ School, NC / 2019

Lenoir-Rhyne commit, making his declaration shortly after the Top Prospect Games.  Skinny athletic frame at 6-foot-2, 160 pounds. Quickness is present, running a 6.80 sixty, the best time at the event, and a 4.34 home to first in game.  Plenty of room to continue to add strength with maturity. Tall and balanced from the right side with waggle in the bat head. Slight load down with the hands, as the bat head gets to a vertical position at launch.  Aggressive stride. Quick hands working for extension. Good barrel ability. Patience and zone control in game situations. Exit velocity up to 88 mph and that power should increase with increased strength. Athletic presence in the outfield.  Active through the ball with clean catches and easy transfers around his chest. Long arm swing to an over-the-top slot producing carry and accuracy with a positional velocity of 86 mph out of the hand.

Vance Anderson OF / RHP / Lake Norman, NC / 2019

Stetson commit.  Stands at 6-foot, 170 pounds with wide shoulders and good strength.  Athletic presence in all facets of the game. Ran a 7.07 sixty. Right handed hitter is tall, balanced and quiet.  Small weight shift back to load. Small Stride toward the plate. Quick hands and bat through the zone working for extension.  Good head discipline and high barrel awareness. Balanced throughout with hand strength through the finish. Exit velocity up to 90 mph off the bat.  Aggressive and athletic through the ball in the outfield. Easy, quick transitions to a long arm swing. Over-the-top slot with a quick hand produce advanced carry with a feel for accuracy.  Ball measured at 88 mph out of the hand.

Pres Cavenaugh OF / OF / Myers Park, NC / 2019

Lenoir-Rhyne commit.  6 feet, 170-pound build.  Solid athlete with good statistical numbers across the board, throughout the day.  Hits from the left side using a balanced setup.  Smooth back in his load with a short stride.  Good hands with feel for his barrel and above average bat speed.  Looks to get extension with a gap to gap approach.  Exit velocity recorded at 88 mph.  Athletically plays through balls in the outfield with average hands and quick, clean exchanges.  Short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot with some accuracy to his throws.  Positional velocity peaked at 83 mph.  Showed the ability to barrel balls in game.  Recorded a 6.96 in the 60-yard dash. 

Darius Welcome OF / East Wake, NC / 2019

5 feet 11, 134-pound build. Quickness exists, running a 7.08 sixty.  Offensively he works from the right side using an open setup.  Leg kick for his load with some bat wrap. Lot of movement during his load but does show feel for the barrel staying inside the ball.  Barrel works short to the ball, level through the zone getting extension out front. Looks to stay in the middle of the field with a line drive approach. Exit velocity peaked at 80 mph. Athletically plays through balls in the outfield with fluid feet and average hands.  Quick, clean exchanges with a long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Some accuracy to his throws with his arm topping at 76 mph. 

Noah Coleman OF / C / North Davidson, NC / 2019

Piedmont International commit. 6 feet, 165-pound build. Right-handed hitter who uses an athletic, balanced setup. Smooth load using a small leg kick. Simple swing, with good balance and quiet barrel. Average bat speed, with his barrel working short to the ball and staying in the zone.  Line drive approach working gap to gap with his exit velocity peaking at 80 mph.  Athletically plays through balls in the outfield with fluid feet and average hands.  Long arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Some accuracy to his throws topping at 76 mph.  Showed the ability to barrel the ball in game with a line drive approach. Recorded a 7.12 in the 60-yard dash.

Cody Cato OF / Hilltop Christian School, NC / 2020

5 feet 11, 160-pound build. Righthand hitter who uses a balanced setup.  Small load with a short stride.  Feel for his barrel working to stay inside the ball and work gap to gap.  Barrel works short to the ball with average bat speed.  Exit velocity recorded at 79 mph.  Athletically plays through balls in the outfield, with fluid feet and average hands.  Clean exchanges, with a short arm action, throwing from a high ¾ slot.  Arm peaked at 74 mph from the outfield.  Recorded a 7.42 in the 60-yard dash. Competes in game with a simple, line drive approach. 

Jack Masonis OF / Myers Park, NC / 2019

Athletic projectable frame at 6-foot, 178 pounds.  Big winner on the day with solid numbers in the workout and in game situations.  Ran a 7.27 sixty with an exit velocity of 89 mph off the bat. Also showed arm strength with a positional velocity of 89 mph out of the hand in the outfield.  In game continued to show barrel awareness with a feel for the strike zone. Ran a 4.48 home to first. Right handed hitter is tall and loaded back slightly on his back side.  Flat barrel works to a slightly vertical position for launch. Small stride and good head discipline. Direct path with strength at contact. Simple, repeatable swing with a gap-to-gap approach.  Athletic to the ball in the outfield, catching it off his left foot. Exchanges around his chest with an aggressive crow-hop. Long arm action and over-the-top release has carry and accuracy.

RJ Rhem OF / 1B / Myers Park, NC / 2019

Strength is present with length in the limbs at 6-foot-1, 180 pounds.  Wiry, should continue to add strength in the coming years. Ran a 7.08 sixty Left handed hitter is loaded back on his back side with a flat barrel in his setup.  Quiet, there is not much of a load. Small stride and direct bat path working to barrel balls to all fields. Average batspeed with strength at contact producing an exit velocity of 92 mph.  In game, the lack of a load led to some timing and pitch recognition issues but this can be cleaned as he matures. Defensively, clean and athletic through the ball in the outfield, working off his right foot and exchanging to a long arm swing and over-the-top slot from the lefty.  Carry and accuracy are present. Positional velocity peaked at 80 mph. At first base, the base settles a little early, but the hands work out front, funneling to the midsection, catching the ball routinely Ball carried out of the hand at 75 mph on the infield.