Prep Baseball Report

2021 Games: Outfield Analysis


Jordon Banfield
Arizona Scouting Director

The Invite-Only 2021 Games took place on Wednesday, June 6th at Hi Corbett Field, home of the Arizona Wildcats. The event featured many of the state's top outgoing freshman and gave players an opportunity to earn an invitation to play for Team Arizona in our premier national event, the PBR Future Games. Today, we continue the event coverage with our Outfield Analysis. The list is headlined by Quade Swearingen, a very impressive multi-sport athlete who absolutely stood out from the crowd in out first look at the young prospect who did not play varsity at Corona this spring. If baseball is his sport of choice, Swearingen looks like a potentially very high-end outfield prospect. Kyle Alexander's repeated loud contact in game action earned him the second spot on the list, followed by a number of other intriguing young players. Guys like Braden Watkins, Michael Estrada and Cooper Harrison also narrowly missed being included and all showed something intriguing.

Complete video, data, pictures and scouting reports have been posted to players' individual profiles. As always contact [email protected] or direct message @PBRArizona on Twitter with any questions and/or information. The next opportunity for players from the 2020-2022 classes to attend a PBR event in AZ will be 10/14 at Brazell Field, home of the Grand Canyon Antelopes. The event is open for registration at this LINK.

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS:

 

Quade Swearingen OF / RHP / Corona Del Sol, AZ / 2021

5-foot-10, 185-pound frame. Strong, compact build. Swearingen was one of the top athletes in attendance, posting the top 60-yard dash time at 6.83. At the plate Swearingen hit from a balanced, athletic set up. Very quick hips. Efficient path to the baseball, on-plane swing, high one handed finish. Present bat speed. His 81 mph exit velocity is not indicative of his present strength level or the type of contact he made during BP. Defensively, Swearingen has the athleticism to profile as a center fielder down the road, but could easily handle a corner spot if need be; 77 mph outfield velocity. On the mound Swearingen ran his fastball up to 80 mph using a simple, highly repeatable delivery and a high ¾ arm slot. Minimal back knee flexion/loading of the rear hip. Full arm circle, clean arm action. Change up was thrown at 67-70 mph with solid fading action. Curveball ranged from 63-65 mph with 11/5 shape and tight spin. Multi-sport athlete has very high ceiling on the diamond. Will be highly-rated when rankings are next updated.

 

Kyle Alexander OF / 1B / Queen Creek, AZ / 2021

5-foot-11, 160-pound frame. Athletic build. OF/1B Kyle Alexander shows some present strength and connected on two of the louder barrels of the day in game action. Balanced set up, small stride. Simple, short swing that he repeats well; 89 mph exit velocity. Worked out defensively in the outfield; moved well, light on his feet. Used a big, leaping crow hop to register a 75 mph outfield velocity. Also turned in a very solid 7.0 60-yard dash and should be able to stick in an outfield corner. Bat is carrying tool and shows louder in game action than BP.

 

John Lauinger OF / SS / Pinnacle, AZ / 2021

5-foot-10, 145-pound projectable frame. Offensively Lauinger starts slightly open with a wide base. Shifts weight onto back side before hips fire aggressively. Stays short to the ball, flat swing path, good extension through contact. Posture tends to bend over plate after contact; 78 mph exit velocity. Lauinger proved to be one of the better athletes in the class, moving naturally in the outfield and posting a 6.92 60-yard dash. Everything he does is quick-twitch. Posted an 82 mph outfield velocity. Strong follow as good-looking athlete with knack for making hard contact.

 

Tyler Kearney OF / 2B / Mountain Pointe, AZ / 2021

6-foot, 150-pound frame. Kearney has made some swing adjustments that will benefit him in the long run and allow him to drive the baseball more consistently. Now gains ground with his stride and keeps in his back leg longer; 78 mph exit velocity. Kearney is a solid athlete (7.10 60-yard dash) and can defend any position on the diamond. Posted a 78 mph infield velocity and an 80 mph outfield velocity with college-level actions in both spots. Projectable body and should be able to add considerable strength moving forward. 

 

Carson Baker OF / LHP / Liberty, AZ / 2021

5-foot-9, 140-pound frame. Body projects to add size and strength. Offensively Baker hit from a balanced, athletic stance. Low hand set up. Hands work directly to the baseball, compact swing, high one-handed finish; 81 mph exit velocity. Has shown knack for finding barrel in game action, doubles power. Defensively Baker profiles best as a corner outfielder. Looked comfortable moving to balls. Used a step behind crow hop and a ¾ arm slot from the left side to generate a 77 mph outfield velocity. Also posted a 7.45 60-yard dash. 

 

Matthew Fike LHP / OF / Casteel, AZ / 2021

5-foot-11, 165-pound frame. Fike touched 80 from a ¾ arm slot from the left side. Arm appeared late getting up at times. Intriguing arm speed. Overly linear to the plate, doesn’t fully rotate into lead hip, lead leg fails to fully stabilize as a result. Spike curveball was thrown at 63-64 mph with proper spin and shape. Could be thrown harder to produce tighter spin and break. Showed feel for his change up at 71 mph with some sink. Fike also showed ability as a position player where he showed a short, efficient swing from the right side, posting a 77 mph exit velocity. Also recorded a 79 mph outfield velocity and a solid 7.15 60-yard dash, making him an intriguing follow with the combination of size and athleticism. 

 

Jake Terry OF / 2B / Valley Christian , AZ / 2021

5-foot-10, 145 pound frame. Athletic, lean, projectable build. Terry showed well in our first extended look at him, turning in a 6.84 60-yard dash (2nd best in the event) and 83 mph outfield velo. He's the right type of athlete and just needs to continue adding strength to drive the ball more consistently. At the plate Terry starts with his back leg slightly internally rotated. Takes a long stride resulting in a wide base. Barrel works away from body as hands work to the ball. Gets on plane early, flat swing path; 75 mph exit velocity. Can handle any position in the outfield defensively. Moves fluidly and confidently. Solid footwork. Very whippy arm action and impressive arm speed. 

 

Andrew Biddle OF / 2B / Liberty, AZ / 2021

5-foot-9, 125-pound frame. Projects to add considerable size and strength as he matures. Biddle hit from a slightly open stance with his weight loaded onto his back side. Hands are low, and very close to his body during load and stride resulting in no separation. Very short stroke. Front arm works up into contact generating some loft; 74 mph exit velocity. Defensively Biddle really impressed during his workout in the outfield. Takes advantage of his 6.93 60-yard dash speed moving confidently and aggressively to the ball. Plays through the ball well with solid footwork. Quick, loose arm generated an 81 mph outfield velocity. 

 

Brock Jessup LHP / OF / Desert Mountain , AZ / 2021

5-foot-10, 145-pound frame. Lean, athletic, projectable build. At the plate Jessup starts from a wide base, presets weight onto back leg, low hand positioning, knee knock timing mechanism and stride, slight uphill swing path, good extension through contact, high one handed finish; 81 mph exit velocity. Shows loosens in wrists that intrigues. Defensively Jessup profiles as a corner outfielder, where he possesses the skills to handle the position. Showed solid, fluid footwork. Long, loose left handed arm; 79 mph outfield velocity. 7.35 60-yard dash. 

 

Mason Washington OF / RHP / Hamilton, AZ / 2021

6-foot-1, 140-pound frame. Plenty of room to add size and strength. Hit from a balanced, wide base from the right side. Hands work down allowing barrel to get on plane deep in swing. Posture tends to lean back near contact creating some lift, high two-handed finish; 76 mph exit velocity. Corner outfield defensive profile and could play center down the road if athleticism continues to improve. Moved fluidly in the outfield and used a whippy arm action to register an 80 mph outfield velocity. Posted a solid 7.14 60 yard dash. On the mound Washington used an overhand delivery to run his fastball up to 73 mph sitting comfortably at 71-73. Generates downhill plane when down in the zone. Massive amount of forearm layback/shoulder external rotation. Hand drives straight over the elbow. Good mobility, separates well. Curveball was thrown at 60-62 mph with proper 11/5 shape and spin. Also showed a change up at 63-64 mph.