Prep Baseball Report

Unsigned Senior Showcase: Outfield Analysis



By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The Unsigned Senior Showcase took place on Sunday January 22nd at the Max in McCook, IL. The event was open to unsigned seniors in Illinois and Wisconsin and featured over 40 schools in attendance. We began the analysis of the event a few weeks ago with a Quick Hits and Stat Story breaking down the top performers from the event. Today we continue the analysis with a look at the outfielders in attendance.

Robert Chayka (Solorio), currently ranked No. 193 in Illinois, ran a 6.78 laser-timed 60, routinely squared balls up in batting practice and plays through the baseball with quick feet in the outfield.

Michael Lehner (Muskego, WI) and Robert Bannon (Richmond Burton) both swing left-handed bats with some strength through contact.

Outfield Prospects (Listed Alphabetically)

Robert Bannon, OF, Richmond Burton, 2017
6-foot-1, 180-pound left-handed hitting outfielder. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Lays thru the ball with quick footwork. Threw 82 mph from the outfield. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a drop load, short stride, and good balance. Line drive hitter with a short, level swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.35.

Robert Chayka, OF, Solorio, 2017
5-foot-10, 145-pound right-handed hitting outfielder with a small, athletic frame. At the plate hits from a balanced, open setup with a smooth load and long, leg kick stride and good balance. Fluid rhythm with a long swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran an event best 6.78 60-yard dash. Defensively has a loose arm action from an over the top slot. Plays thru the ball with aggressive routes and fluid footwork. Threw 81 mph from the outfield.

Joe Culbertson, OF, Illinois Valley Central, 2017
6-foot-1, 195-pound left-handed hitting outfielder. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short heel lift stride and average balance. Short, uphill swing path with stiff rhythm. 78 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.78. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Plays thru the ball. Threw 79 mph from the outfield.

Kennon Daugherty, RHP/OF, Glenwood, 2017
5-foot-9, 140-pound right-handed hitting RHP/OF. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short arm action. Tall and fall, crossfire delivery with a closed landing. Throws four pitches. Fastball showed slight running action at 70-71 topping out at 72 mph. Curveball sat 60-62 mph. Maintained arm speed on changeup at 66-67 mph. Also featured a splitter at 64-65 mph. Offensively hits from an open stance with a long stride back to even. Long, uphill swing path. 73 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.70. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball with a quick exchange. Threw 72 mph from the outfield.

DJ Donofrio, OF, Plainfield North, 2017
6-foot, 185-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a wide base. Short heel lift stride with average balance. Gap to gap hitter with an uphill swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.10. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball with a clean exchange, effort in release. Threw 84 mph from the outfield.

Joseph Hagee, OF, Lake Zurich, 2017
6-foot, 195-pound right-handed hitting outfielder with a strong frame. At the plate hits from a balanced, open setup with a leg kick stride and average balance. Opposite field hitter with an uphill swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 85 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.49. Defensively has a long arm action from an over the top slot. Threw 77 mph from the outfield.

Michael Lehner, 3B/RHP/OF, Muskego (WI), 2017
6-foot-1, 200-pound left-handed hitting utility player who projects best on the mound. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long, quick arm action. Tall and fall delivery working in line with home plate with smooth rhythm. Fastball flashed slight running action at 81-83 topping out at 84 mph. Curveball has 12-6 shape with tight rotation and downer action at 74-76 mph. Changeup sat 72-75 mph. At the plate hits from a balanced, open setup with a smooth load and short stride. Long, uphill swing path with fluid rhythm and good balance. Showed strength thru contact with 89 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.53. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Showed off arm strength from both the infield and outfield. Throwing 84 mph across the diamond and 85 mph from the outfield.

Willie Mitchell, OF, Dominican (WI), 2017
5-foot-8, 150-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. At the plate hits from an open stance with a short stride back to even. Short, uphill swing path. 76 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.45. Defensively has a long arm action from a ¾ slot. Slow exchange with average hands. Threw 73 mph across the infield.

Jalen Nicholson-Bourn, OF/2B, TF South, 2017
5-foot-7, 140-pound right-handed hitting OF/2B. At the plate hits from a tall, balanced setup. Short, leg kick stride with fair balance. Short, uphill swing path. 73 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.17. Defensively in the outfield has a long arm action from a ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball with soft hands and a long exchange. Threw 78 mph from the outfield. Moves well in the infield, throws from a side arm slot across the diamond. Throws clocked at 68 mph.

Seamus Sjostrom, OF/LHP, Mount Carmel, 2017
6-foot, 170-pound left-handed hitting OF/LHP. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Online throws with a clean exchange. Threw 78 mph from the outfield. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short stride and average balance. Line drive, opposite field hitter with a short swing path. 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.47. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall, slow paced delivery working in line with home plate. Fsatball was straight ta 73-74 topping out at 75 mph. Curveball has 12-6 shape with gradual action at 59-62 mph. Changeup sat 57-61 mph.

Sullivan Stickann, OF/LHP, Highland, 2017
5-foot-8, 150-pound left-handed hitting OF/LHP. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball with a clean exchange, and quick footwork. Threw 73 mph from the outfield. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a tense load. Short, uphill swing path. 71 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.18. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short arm action. Slow paced, tall and fall delivery working in line with some plate. Some rhythm with effort in delivery. Fastball was straight at 74-75 mph for strikes. Curveball has 1-7 shape at 66-68 mph. Changeup was straight at 67-68 mph.

Colton Strohl, OF/RHP, Prairie Central, 2017
6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed hitting OF/RHP with an athletic frame. Offensively hits from a balanced setup with a short stride and no load. Short, uphill swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 86 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.11. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball with a compact exchange. Threw 81 mph from the outfield.  On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short arm action. Tall and fall delivery working in line with home plate. Square landing with some rhythm. Struggled to command pitches. Fastball sat 77-80 mph. Curveball has 12-6 shape with gradual action at 62-65 mph. Changeup was straight at 65-72 mph.

Jeremy Vogel, LHP/OF, Pekin, 2017
5-foot-11, 165-pound left-handed hitting LHP/OF. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall delivery working in line with home plate and smooth rhythm. Fastball was straight at 71-73 topping out at 74 mph. Curveball has 1-7 shape with gradual action at 66-68 mph for strikes. Changeup was straight at 64-66 mph. At the plate hits from a closed setup with a short heel lift stride. Short swing path with stiff rhythm. 77 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.62. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Threw 69 mph from the outfield.

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