I-10 Border Battle: Outfield Analysis

Christopher Stallings, OF, Kinkaid HS, 2020
The U.S. Air Force Academy commit is an athletic player with a strong, high-waisted frame at 6-foot, 170-pounds. Seasoned approach during BP as he throttled balls into the gaps with easy rhythm and loose hands. Simple swing that he repeats consistently with low effort pop and bat speed. Cocks the barrel forward before taking a short stride, then delivers the barrel with quick hands the produced excellent carry in the gaps. In the outfield, he plays through the ball with quick footwork and soft hands, throwing a high slot with a medium arm stroke.

Henry Cooper Huspen, OF, Allen HS, 2020
Listed at 6-foot-2, 156-pounds, Huspen has a quick-twitch, wiry frame, and posted a 6.63 60-yard dash. The right-handed hitter has loose-quick hands that trigger back before he takes a short stride with an occasional toe-tap. Natural lift as he slots the barrel in the zone, working on plane with natural lift to finish and strength at contact. In the outfield, he moves with fluid footwork, fielding the ball with soft hands and throws with a loose arm swing from a high-¾ slot and top velocity of 83 mph.

Mitchell Andrews, OF, Cypress Fair HS, 2020
Andrews has matured physically and is starting to fill out an already athletic frame at 6-foot, 170. The right-handed hitter pounded the ball from gap to gap during BP and ran a 7.04 60-yard dash. Triggers his hands down, cocking the barrel upward and using a balanced leg kick, landing with easy rhythm. Quick-strong hands deliver the barrel with some lift as he rotates his lower half to contact and drove the ball with authority. Athletic footwork and soft hands in the outfield to go with a long, clean arm swing from an over the top slot.

Tommy Ivey, OF, Kingwood Park HS, 2020
Ivey has a projectable frame at 6-foot-2, 173-pounds, and still has room to add strength. Ran a 6.91 to start the day. The right-handed hitter has a natural ability to hit the ball on the barrel, using a bit of an “old-school” hitch to trigger his hands before striding forward and delivering the head with plenty of lag through the zone, strong hands, and a loose finish as he gets into his legs. Uses the whole field and shows pop to the pull side gap with a top exit velocity of 90 mph. Athletic defender in the outfield, cuts distance, good rhythm with an athletic crow hop and solid carry in a quick arm swing.

Chase Richter, OF, Cypress Woods HS, 2020
Richter played really well during the game, running down a sure double in centerfield, making an easy over the shoulder catch that looked like a wide receiver catching a fade route for a touchdown. He has added strength to his 6-foot, 190-pound frame this offseason and plays faster than his 7.09 60-time. The left-handed hitter also hammered a ball to centerfield during the game. Hitting from a wide base with low hands, he loads back and takes a short stride, slotting the barrel on plane early, working uphill through the ball as he rotates to contact. In the outfield, he plays through the ball with smooth rhythm and soft hands with a quick exchange to throw from a clean arm swing.

Bryce Johnson, OF, McKinney HS, 2021  
Johnson has a long-limbed, projectable frame at 6-foot-3, 195-pounds. Starting from a tall, open stance, the right-handed hitter triggers his hands as he turns inward to load, taking a short stride forward, landing balanced. Whips the bat through the zone with quick hands on an inside-out path with slight lift, producing low effort bat speed with gap power and top exit velocity of 90 mph. In the outfield, he throws from a high slot with a loose arm swing and top velocity of 84 mph.

Brady Braun, OF, Klein Cain HS, 2020
Braun is an all around gamer that stands 5-foot-6, 132-pounds with plenty of quick-twitch in a still developing frame. The right-handed hitter has quick hands that work through the zone on an efficient path with relaxed rhythm and snap to finish. Generates solid leverage for his size with line drive power and the ability to get to the fastball as well as handle spin. Gets to full speed quickly on the bases and plays faster than his 60 time. Gets great jumps in the outfield, plays through the ball with athletic footwork (former infielder) and has an accurate arm. Bounces around the field with positive energy and has a quality presence.

Slade Foreman, OF, Bridge City HS, 2021  
Foreman has a quick twitch frame at 5-foot-10, 155-pounds, and started the day with a 7.03 60-yard dash.. The right-handed hitter has loose hands, natural rhythm, an easy leg kick. Took a polished round of BP with quality feel for the barrel and gap approach. Plenty of lag through the zone allowed him to drive the ball to all fields. Defensively, he plays aggressive through the ball with quick footwork, midline exchange and throws from an over the top slot with a clean arm swing.

Noah Pate, OF, Sweeny HS, 2022
5-foot-9, 140-pounds. Pate is a young right-handed hitter with an aggressive hack, quick hands, a solid feel for the barrel. Using a leg kick load, he strides forward as his hands slide back, getting into his legs and delivering leverage through contact with a gap approach and line drive power. In the outfield, he plays through the ball with soft hands as he attacks the ball and cuts distance, throwing from a short, high-¾ slot.

Cole Smajstrla, OF, Pearland HS, 2020
5-foot-9, 165-pounds. The right-handed hitter has quick-strong hands and packs a punch that produces hard contact during BP. Starts from a tall, slightly open stance, simple load as he triggers his hands back and takes a controlled stride forward, landing with separation. Efficient weight transfer, maintains balance as he delivers the barrel. In the outfield, he plays through the ball with smooth actions, soft hands, clean exchange and throws with high accuracy with a loose arm swing.