Prep Baseball Report

Class of 2016 Showcase: Outfield Analysis



By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

The Prep Baseball Report’s Class of 2016 Showcase took place on Sunday October 19th indoors at the MAX in McCook, IL. The event featured 100 uncommitted prospects in the junior class and also saw several Division-I coaches in attendance.

CLICK HERE to see complete statistics from the event in PDF format.

Over the past three days we highlighted catchers, corner infielders, and middle infielders. Today we will take a look at the top outfield prospects at this year’s Class of 2016 Showcase.

Morgan Park’s Christian Bullock has already been noted for his stellar play at first base, and also takes the top spot at what is most likely his future position. Bullock possesses natural outfield instincts, and has projection remaining his clean arm action. The left-handed hitter impresses with his fluid swing and above average bat speed. Has he continues to fill out the entire package could be scary for opposing pitchers over the next two seasons.

Fremd’s Jack Molnar participated in August’s Future Games, and once again showed off the tools that have impressed the PBR scouting staff in the past: 87 mph from the outfield, and 85 mph exit velocity.

Morgan Park’s Darius Hill again make an appearance, as his speed translates well to the outfield in addition to his talents in the middle of the diamond.

Let’s take a look at the Top Outfield Prospects from this October’s Class of 2016 Showcase.

Top Outfield Prospects

1.Christian Bullock, OF/1B/LHP, Morgan Park, 2016
6-foot, 170-pound lanky and athletic left-handed hitting outfielder, first baseman, and left-handed pitcher, committed to Michigan impressed as the top overall player at the Class of 2016 Showcase. Hits from a tall, open setup, hands load smoothly, utilizes a leg kick stride, lower half is aggressive with hips, explosive bat speed, level bat path gets extension, slightly uphill at times, showed off gap-to-gap power, particularly to the opposite field gap with several line drives, overswings at times, 84 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 79 mph from long, loose, high ¾ arm slot with carry. Arm action is clean and smooth, projects to have at least an average arm as he gets stronger. Impressed attacking the baseball, soft hands, quick footwork, clean and quick exchanges fielding. At first base, could be a premium defender as well, turns double play quickly, hands work clean scooping baseball. On the mound fastball sat 76-79 mph with slight run. 11/5 breaking ball has slurvy action at 65-67 mph. Cuts changeup at 67-69 mph. Delivery is clean, flies open a bit, lands slightly open, athleticism evident. Bullock also ran the top 60-time of the event at 6.75 seconds.

2. Jack Molnar, OF/RHP, Fremd, 2016
6-foot-1, 170-pound lanky and athletic right-handed hitting outfielder currently ranked No. 53 in Illinois’ 2016 class. Hits from a balanced setup, slightly open, short leg kick stride, hands load back smoothly, creating long level bat path, producing line drives from gap-to-gap during batting practice, above average 85 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 87 mph from the outfield with carry from long, loose, high ¾ arm slot with carry, but inconsistent accuracy. Ran a 7.48 60. On the mound, fastball sat 79-81 with arm side run from same slot as in the outfield. Turns/coils over the rubber to load, swings lower half/front leg out to land point, lands slightly closed, spins off on front foot. 66-69 mph curveball flashed 11/5 shape, backed up at times. Chokes 72-76 mph changeup, thrown with good arm speed for strikes.

3. Darius Hill, MIF/OF, Morgan Park, 2016
5-foot-8, 155-pound middle infielder, thin athletic frame. Quick athlete, runs a fluid 6.76 in the 60. Offensively hits from tall narrow setup, slightly open, short stride. Handsy swing, path works well, stays flat through zone, line drive approach, spray hitter, 84 mph exit velocity from the tee. Showed soft hands defensively, projects at second base, quick feet, excellent transfer, hands work quick. 77 mph across the diamond, 80 mph from the outfield.

4. Thalame (PJ) Byrd, OF, Morgan Park, 2016
5-foot-11, 150-pound lanky and athletic right-handed hitting outfielder impressed running a 6.91 60. Hits from an open setup, short stride, hands load back smoothly, quick hands, short, level bat path with line drive, pull tendencies producing 82 mph exit velocity. Threw 82 mph from the outfield from long, high ¾ arm slot with a stab in the back of arm swing. Displayed soft hands fielding the baseball, fluid footwork, and clean athletic actions playing through the baseball.

5. Jack Cavanaugh, OF/3B/RHP, St. Laurence, 2016
6-foot-1, 195-pound two-way player, lean build with strength. Hits from a wide base, short stride, above average bat speed with right center field approach during batting practice, slightly uphill bat path produced 81 mph exit velocity. Defensively, profiled better in the infield throwing 81 mph across the diamond at third base from short, loose, high ¾ arm slot with accuracy and carry. Possesses soft hands, fluid footwork, and clean exchanges. Threw 82 mph from the outfield. Ran a 7.41 60. On the mound worked from a stretch only delivery, slightly across his body, athletic delivery. Arm action is loose, ¾ slot. Fastball has running action, showed feel for the zone, worked at 82-84 mph, touched 85 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, 64-66 mph. Changeup has fading action, throws aggressively with fastball arm speed, 73-75 mph. Splitter has downer action, mostly arm side, 68-70 mph.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Michael Cipriani, OF, South Elgin, 2016
5-foot-8, 160-pound outfielder, medium build. Right-handed hitter, open stance, slightly narrow, short stride with slight tap. 70 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a long ¾ arm action, 77 mph arm strength from the outfield. Ran the 60 at 7.2.

Kevin Fitzgerald, OF, Providence, 2016
5-foot-9, 165-pound outfielder, medium build. Ran the 60 in 7.18. Defensively showed the ability to play through the baseball. Arm action is long from a ¾ slot, 84 mph from the outfield. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride. Line drive approach, several off the L-screen to opposite field, slightly loopy path. 72 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Tristan Hannah, OF, Lindblom Math and Science, 2016
6-foot, 150-pound lanky right-handed hitting outfielder hits from a crouched, open setup, short stride, uphill bat path with pull tendencies produced 82 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 82 mph from the outfield from long, low ¾ arm slot. Ran a 7.28 60.

Tre Hendon, OF, Richwoods, 2016
6-foot, 185-pound athletic right-handed hitting outfielder hits from a balanced setup, no stride approach, hands drop slightly to load, long level bat path produced line drives during batting practice with 81 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 76 mph in the outfield from short, high ¾ arm slot. Ran a 7.26 60.

Austin Hilvert, OF, Bartlett, 2016
6-foot, 165-pound lanky and athletic right-handed hitting hits from a balanced setup, hands load smoothly, little to no stride, uphill bat path, with pull tendencies and power potential, 85 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 83 mph from the outfield from a long ¾ slot. Accuracy suffered due to arm side run from arm slot. Ran a 7.01 60. Projectable athlete with tools all-around.

Andrew Jurack, LHP/OF, Hinsdale Central, 2016
5-foot-10, 155-pound left-handed two-way player, thin build with athleticism. Tall and fall delivery shows regular effort, coils at the top of balance point, lands square with athletic finish. Arm action is loose, high ¾ slot. Fastball has advanced running action for his age, stayed around the zone with regularity, 74-76 mph, touched 77 mph. Curveball has 1/7 shape, 59-61 mph, showed the ability to land for strikes. Slider has late sweeping action, similar plane to curveball with added velocity, 65-67 mph, tighter with better action, more of a swing and miss pitch. Changeup has fading action, fastball similar arm speed, 66-67 mph. Offensively hits from an open stance, leg kick trigger, good balance throughout. Loose hands, line drive hitter with pull side approach. 7.11 runner in the 60. Defensively played through the baseball with a crowhop, calculated approach getting to the baseball. Arm action is similar to that on the mound, 79 mph.

Griffin Kelty, OF/RHP, Oak Park-River Forest, 2016
6-foot-2, 215-pound left-handed hitting outfielder/right-handed pitcher with a strong frame, developed lower half hit from a wide, balanced setup, heel lift stride, drops hands to load, level bat path produced aggressive swing with lift/power potential, left-center field/opposite field approach during batting practice, 79 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 82 mph from the outfield from short, loose, high ¾ arm slot with some accuracy. Ran a 7.6 60 yard dash. On the mound, fastball sat 77-81 mph from same arm slot, tall and fall type delivery, shoulders stay level throughout delivery, some rhythm. 71-75 mph breaking ball was erratic out of the zone, with short break. Plus action on 72-73 mph changeup with sinking action.

Joshua Mosley, C/OF Roberto Clemente, 2016
5-foot-10, 210-pound right-handed hitting catcher/outfielder with a strong lower half and muscular build. Hits from a balanced setup, short stride, doesn’t use lower half, uphill swing, with up-the-middle approach and 76 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, behind the plate pop times ranged from 2.12-2.19, 75 mph from the crouch. Threw 80 mph from the outfield from short, high ¾ arm slot with some accuracy. Ran a 7.67 60.

Bryce Pahl, OF, Jacobs, 2016
6-foot, 180-pound strong, right-handed hitting outfielder hits from an open setup, hands load back smoothly, short stride, long, uphill bat path with power potential. Doesn’t get cheated, as evidenced by 91 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 79 mph from the outfield from long, high ¾ arm slot, uphill shoulders, some accuracy. Showed average hands fielding the baseball. Ran a 7.74 60.

Anthony Ramirez, OF/LHP, Brooks College Prep, 2016
5-foot-11, 150-pound left-handed hitting, left-handed throwing outfielder/pitcher hits from an open, crouched stance, hands move back to load, short stride, dives slightly, foot gets down early, uphill bat path with opposite field tendencies and 70 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 75 mph from the outfield from long, over-the-top arm action. On the mound, fastball sat 72-75 mph from long, high-3/4 arm slot, tall-and-fall delivery, pauses at balanced point, shoulders stay level throughout delivery, stride direction is in line, lands square. Left 59-61 mph curveball up in the zone. Threw 68-71 mph changeup with cutting action better for strikes from the stretch position.

Eric Ramos, OF, Lincoln-Way Central, 2016
5-foot-11, 160-pound right-handed hitting outfielder hits from a slightly open, spread out setup, toe-tap stride, short, level bat path produced 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, threw 78 mph from the outfield from short, high ¾ arm slot, average hands fielding, plays through the baseball. Ran a 7.98 60.

Jordan Rogers, OF, Brother Rice, 2016
5-foot-10, 170-pound right-handed hitting outfielder hits from an open setup, hands load back smoothly, short stride, leg lifts slightly, fluid approach, with several line drives during batting practice with a right-centerfield approach. Defensively, threw 79 mph from the outfield from a short, over the top arm slot. Aggressively crow hops, plays through the baseball. Ran a 7.96 60.

Josh Shaw, 3B/OF, Morgan Park, 2016
6-foot-1, 172-pound lanky right-handed hitting third baseman/outfielder hits from a tall, narrow, open stance, short stride, short slightly uphill bat path with feel for barrel and some power to his pull side producing 81 mph exit velocity. Defensively, profiles better in the infield thanks to short, high ¾ arm slot with soft hands, clean, fluid actions, playing through the baseball and throwing 81 mph across the diamond. Also threw 81 mph from the outfield, from the same short arm action. Ran a 7.33 60.

Kobe Shutter, 1B/3B/OF, Bishop McNamara, 2016
6-foot-5, 190-pound right-handed hitting corner infielder hits from a tall, open setup, drops hands to load, long stride, long level bat path with above average 84 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 78 mph from the outfield and 74 mph from the infield from short, high ¾ arm slot. Hands worked better in the infield at third base. Ran a 7.39 60.

Nicholas Steiner, OF, Montini, 2016
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitting outfielder hits from an open setup, short leg kick stride, average bat speed, uphill bat path with pull side approach producing 72 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 79 mph from the outfield from short, over-the-top arm slot. Ran a 7.31 60.

Neil Udelhofen, LHP/OF, Loyola, 2016
5-foot-9, 175-pound left-handed two-way player, athletic build. Showed upside on the mound as a left-handed pitcher. Delivery has rhythm, toe lift to balance position, level shoulders and worked on line. Arm action is short and loose, high ¾ slot, regular effort, quick arm. Showed above average command of his fastball for his age, mostly straight, 82-84 mph. Curveball has gradual action, tends to get underneath 66-68 mph, showed some feel. Changeup was mostly down, 71-73 mph. Left-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride, good balance through contact. Line drive approach, contact type hitter, good approach, bat speed present stays inside the baseball, opposite field hitter. In the outfield showed advanced arm strength for his age, 86 mph from the crowhop, short, high ¾ arm action with accuracy and carry. Athletic actions in the outfield, plays through the baseball with clean transfer, softer hands. 7.80 runner in the 60.

Spencer Wright, OF, Lake Zurich, 2016
5-foot-9, 165-pound outfielder, frame has strength, solid upper half. Offensively hits from the right side, tall setup, slightly open, short stride. Line drive approach, slightly uphill path, topspins the baseball, works both gaps. Defensively plays with a short arm action, over the top slot, accurate arm, 79 mph arm strength from the outfield. 7.23 runner in the 60.

Class of 2016 Showcase News

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