Fox Cities Preseason I.D.: Outfield Analysis
March 6, 2018
The Fox Cities Preseason I.D. that was held on Feb. 17 allowed us to get a glimpse at the offseason gains in progress for the players of the Fox River Valley.
This group of outfielders demonstrated some strength and athleticism but none more than Carter Robinson (Appleton North) who was a top performer in his own right. Robinson’s skillset allowed him to emerge as one of the event’s best all-around athletes. He recorded one of the day’s best 60-yard times, outfield velocities, and exit velocities.
Of the freshman in attendance, Joshua Blount (West De Pere) stood out among them for his strength and advanced defensive abilities for his age. He actually recorded the same 60 time as the aforementioned Robinson, too.
Continue reading on for a more detailed look at their performances, as well as a report on each and every one of the 17 outfielders who were at the showcase.
TOP PROSPECTS
1. Carter Robinson, OF/RHP, Appleton North, 2019
6-foot, 186-pound, athletic two-way prospect. Defensively, long arm action, over-the-top slot, kept throws around plate, flashed carry, 84 mph. Plays through the ball with fluid footwork and clean exchanges. Ran a 6.92 60. Offensively, athletic setup, smooth load back, leg kick stride, maintains good balance through contact. Gap-to-gap hitter, level swing, present bat speed, 91 mph exit velocity off a tee. On the mound, long arm action, quick arm speed, high ¾ slot, works on-line, lands square, finishes athletically. Fastball, slight run, 79-81, maxed out at 82. Curveball, 11/5 shape, showed depth, commanded, 67-69. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, sink and fade actions, commanded, 69-71.
2. Christopher Vandenheuvel, OF/LHP, Xavier, 2020
5-foot-11, 185-pound two-way prospect with a strong lower half. Offensively, open setup, loads back, short stride, incorporates lower half, maintains good balance through contact, fluid rhythm. Power hitter, predominantly hits hard to pull side, 89 mph exit velocity. Ran a 6.90 laser-timed 60. Defensively, long, loose arm action, high ¾ arm slot, flashed carry on throws, 82 mph. Plays through the ball, steady hands, clean on exchanges. On the mound, short arm action, slight stab on the backside. Drop and drive delivery, level shoulders, lands towards first base, finishes upright. Fastball, run action, 78-80, touched 82. Curveball, 11/5 shape, 69-71. Changeup, flashed fade and sink, 70-71.
3. Joshua Blount, OF/LHP, West De Pere, 2021
5-foot-11, 185-pound, physically strong two-way player. Defensively, loose arm action, high ¾ arm slot, fluid footwork, clean on exchanges, plays through the ball, 76 mph from the outfield. Offensively, tall, open setup, leg kick timing trigger. Power hitter, long, uphill barrel path, present bat speed, 89 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 6.92 laser-timed 60. On the mound, long arm action, high ¾ arm slot, tall and fall delivery works on-line, lands square, finishes athletically. Fastball, slight run and sink, 67-72. Slider, 2/8 shape, gradual break, 60-64. Changeup, fade action, 63-64.
Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)
Dylan Anderson, OF/RHP, Neenah, 2020
6-foot-1, 160-pound, lanky, athletic two-way prospect. Defensively, long arm action, pronounced stab on the backside, over-the-top slot, accurate with carry on throws, 79 mph from the outfield. Ran a 7.27 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced, narrow setup, short stride, uses lower half, maintains good balance through contact. Gap-to-gap type hitter, short barrel path, 81 mph exit velocity off a tee. On the mound, long arm action with stab on backside, high ¾ arm slot, tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes athletically. Fastball, run action, 73-75 mph. Slider, 10/4 shape, near fastball arm speed, 63-67. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, fade action, 69-72.
Jacob Arndt, OF, Oconomowoc, 2019
6-foot-1, 160-pound, lanky outfielder with a projectable frame. Defensively, long, loose athletic arm action, high ¾ slot, accurate on throws, 87 mph from the outfield. Plays through the ball, competent hands, clean on exchanges. Ran a 7.15 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced setup, long stride, uphill barrel path, 85 mph exit velocity off a tee.
Elijah Berndt, OF, Winneconne, 2019
6-foot, 170-pound, outfielder, lanky projectable frame. Defensively, long arm action, high ¾ slot, fields ball cleanly, fluid on exchanges, plays through the ball, 79 mph from the outfield. Offensively, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, short stride, long, uphill barrel path, loose at times, 87 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.14 laser-timed 60.
Brett Bradison, OF/C, De Pere, 2019
6-foot, 165-pound catcher, lean frame with strength. Profiled best in the outfield, actions played through the baseball, clean transfer to over the top slot, 76 mph from the outfield. 7.23 runner in the 60. Pop times ranged 2.16-2.26, similar exchange and arm action as in the outfield. 71 mph out of the crouch. Right-handed hitter, open stance, leg lift stride, athletic setup. Path has slight uphill plane, occasional length. Contact worked the middle of the field, line drive type, 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Gavin Daniel, OF, Oconomowoc, 2019
5-foot-7, 165-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, hits from a slightly open stance, pronounced short leg lift stride, maintains balance through contact. Line drive type hitter, level barrel path, 73 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.33 laser-timed 60. Defensively, left-handed, short arm action, high ¾ slot, clean on exchanges, 75 mph from the outfield.
Adam Duevel, OF/INF/RHP, De Pere, 2021
5-foot-10, 140-pound two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, triple tap stride, maintains balance through contact, uphill barrel path, 76 mph exit velocity. Defensively, short arm action, high ¾ arm slot, plays through the ball at times, 72 mph from the outfield, 66 across the infield. Ran a 7.46 laser-timed 60. On the mound, short arm action, high ¾ slot, tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes upright. Fastball, 69-71 mph, touched 72. Curveball, 11/5 shape, gradual break, 61-63. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, fade action, 64-67.
Kyle Elias, OF/RHP, Freedom, 2019
6-foot-3, 180-pound, lanky two-way prospect, projectable frame on the mound. On the mound, loose, easy arm action, quick arm speed, high ¾ slot. Drop and drive delivery, easy effort, smooth rhythm, works on-line, finishes athletically. Fastball, heavy armside run, commanded, 79-81. Curveball, 12/6 shape, near fastball arm speed, feel for out of the stretch, 67-72. Changeup, sink and fade actions, better feel for out of the stretch, 71-73. Defensively, short arm action, over-the-top slot, 77 mph from the outfield. Offensively, open setup, drops hands on load, leg lift stride, long, uphill barrel path, 87 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.87 laser-timed 60.
Wolfgang Kalz, OF, Appleton West, 2021
5-foot-6, 115-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, balanced setup, reverse toe-tap stride, maintains balance through contact, level barrel path, line drive type hitter, 73 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, long arm action, over-the-top slot, kept throws on target, 71 mph from the outfield. Ran a 7.35 laser-timed 60.
Dwight Koehler, OF/RHP, Ripon, 2021
5-foot-11, 175-pound, right-handed two-way prospect. Defensively, short arm action, over-the-top slot, fluid footwork, plays through at times, 76 mph from the outfield. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride, long, uphill barrel path, gap-to-gap type hitter, 82 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.76 laser-timed 60. On the mound, short arm action, over-the-top slot, tall and fall delivery, works on-line. Fastball, slight run at times, 73-76 mph. Curveball, shape varied between 11/5 and 12/6, near fastball arm speed, 59-63.
Tucker Kohl, C/OF, New London, 2020
6-foot, 180-pound catcher/outfielder, athletic build. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, lifted stride, bat waggle load. Path is level, some length, shows bat strength. Hard contact at times, 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is long, high ¾ slot, shorter out of the crouch, 69 mph as a catcher, 77 mph from the outfield. Pop times are 2.17-2.26. Plays through the baseball in the outfield. 7.27 runner in the 60.
Collin Kovnesky, OF, Mukwonago, 2019
5-foot-9, 160-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, balanced setup, leg kick stride, flashed bat speed, long, uphill barrel path, gap-to-gap type hitter, 86 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.06 60. Defensively, left-handed, short arm action, over-the-top slot, plays through the ball, 80 mph from the outfield.
Kaden Krueger, LHP/OF, Appleton West, 2020
6-foot, 185-pound, strong, athletic left-handed two-way prospect. On the mound, short, quick arm action, ¾ arm slot, drop and drive delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes athletically. Fastball, featured run and sink at times, sat 81-83, touched 84. Curveball, 2/8 shape, some sweeping action, 64-68. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, fade action, 67-71. Defensively, short, loose arm action, high ¾ slot, clean on exchanges, 84 mph from the outfield. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride, gap-to-gap hitter, strong contact, 78 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.14 laser-timed 60.
Ben Navarre, OF, Preble, 2020
5-foot-8, 138-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, balanced setup, loads back short stride, line drive hitter, smooth rhythm, 81 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short arm action, high ¾ slot, fluid footwork, 72 mph from the outfield. Ran a 7.61 60.
John Nett, OF/RHP, Kimberly, 2019
5-foot-10, 185-pound, two-way prospect with a strong lower half. Right-handed hitter, open setup, loads back, hands drop, maintains balance through swing. Power hitter, long, uphill barrel path, 90 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 6.83 laser-timed 60. Defensively, long arm action, high ¾ slot, plays through the ball with fluid footwork, 79 mph from the outfield. On the mound, long arm action, high ¾ slot, tall and fall delivery, works on-line, lands square, finishes athletically. Fastball, mostly straight, 80-81 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, commanded, 69-71. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, fade action, 73-74.