The Fox River Open was held on Monday, June 11, at The MAX in McCook. Nearly 50 prospects from all high school classes participated in a pro-style workout in front of the Illinois scouting staff. On Monday we began the rollout of the event with a look at the catchers in attendance.

Today we continue the event analysis with a look at the outfielders from the day. Left-handed hitting Luke Fisher stood out offensively. Fisher has present bat speed and made a lot of hard contact in his round of BP. Another left-handed hitter to follow moving forward is 2019 Keegan Brandt.

Mitch Nieweglowski, Jackson Mladic and Daniel Marion are three other 2019s to follow. All three flashed bat strength from the right-side of the plate.

OUTFIELD PROSPECTS (Listed Alphabetically)

Keegan Brandt, OF/LHP, Conant, 2019
5-foot-11, 185-pound, athletic build, projectable, left handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, slightly opened, balanced stance, small leg kick, short stride, hip coil, engaged lower half, balanced finish. Short path to the baseball, above average bat speed, 82-mph off the tee, line drive hitter approach, power potential, fluid rhythm. Ran a 7.43 in the 60. Defensively, showed a clean exchange, repeatable footwork, plays through baseball, aggressive momentum through target. Short, clean arm action, over the top release, carry on throws, 75-mph from outfield. On the mound, high over the top release, short arm action, high leg kick, lands out front. Fastball thrown for strikes, low in zone, sat between 72-75 mph. Curveball comes from 1/7 slot, put away pitch, sat between 63-64 mph.    

Austin Buser, OF, Byron, 2019
6-foot-1, 160-pound, projectable, lanky right handed hitting outfielder. Showed well in the 60, running a 6.97. Offensively, balanced set up, slight knee bend, hip coil, short stride. Short through the baseball, extension, uphill finish, rhythm throughout, 80-mph off the tee. Defensively, plays through the baseball, athletic throughout, clean exchange, repeatable footwork. Long arm action, over the top release, with some accuracy to his throws. 72-mph from outfield.

Luke Fisher, OF, Geneva, 2019
5-foot-11, 170-pound, athletic, projectable, left handed hitting, right handed throwing outfielder. Offensively, balanced slightly open setup, short stride, engaged lower half, smooth rhythmic load, consistent balance throughout. Level barrel path, gap-gap type swing, strong top hand, above average bat speed, 88-mph off tee, uphill finish. Defensively, fluid footwork, athletic fielding position, plays through baseball, clean exchange, soft hands. Long arm action, high ¾ arm slot, 79-mph from outfield, accuracy on throws, carry.

Charles Gannon, C/OF, Dekalb, 2020
5-foot-11, 142-pound, lanky catcher and outfielder. Defensively, in the outfield, plays through the ball, short, loose arm action, over-the-top slot, clean exchanges, 73 mph from the outfield. Behind the plate, short, loose arm action, over-the-top slot, clean on exchanges, 68 mph out of the crouch, pop times ranged between 2.33-2.40. Ran a 7.11 laser-timed 60. Offensively, balanced setup, hands drop on load, leg kick timing-trigger, maintains balance. Line drive contact, long barrel path varying between level and uphill, 79 mph exit velocity.

Trevor Laffin, OF, Hampshire, 2019
6-foot-1, 202-pound, lanky, athletic, right handed hitting outfielder. Balanced, athletic set-up, high leg kick, long stride, quiet hands, slight hand drop, linear lower half. Fast bat speed, exit velocity of 92-mph off the tee, fluid rhythm, long barrel path, line drive approach with power. Defensively,  long arm action, high ¾ release, 68-mph from outfield. Ran a 7.10 in the 60.

Daniel Marion, OF, West Aurora, 2019
5-foot-8, 210-pound, strong lower half, short stocky, right handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, balanced set-up, short stride, foot down early, smooth load, quiet hands, lower body engaged. Fast bat speed, exit velocity 91-mph off the tee, short level path, extension through baseball, line drive approach with power, fluid rhythm. Defensively, fluid footwork, good hand placement, clean exchange, plays through baseball, soft hands. Long arm action, over the top release, throws 70-mph from outfield. Ran 7.45 in the 60.   

Clayton McKinstry, OF, Grant Park, 2021
5-foot-11, 155-pound, long, lanky, right handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, tall setup, slight bend in knees, short stride, short to baseball. Short, level barrel path, 78-mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, Long arm action, high ¾ arm slot, plays through baseball, routine route to baseball, 66-mph from outfield. Ran 7.15 in the 60. On the mound, high leg kick, lands open,  athletic finish. Long arm action, high ¾ release. Fastball sits between 63-65 mph, slight run, sits in lower part of zone. Change-up showed slight sink, fade, arm speed near fastball. Sat between 57-59 mph.    

Jackson Mladic, OF, Lockport, 2019
6-foot, 195-pound, strong, projectable, right handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, balanced tall set-up, slight bend in knees, small leg kick, short stride, smooth back load, consistent throughout. Level bat path, extension through ball, gap-gap approach, fast bat speed, uphill finish, exit velocity of 94-mph off the tee. Defensively, plays through baseball, average hand placement, throws 74-mph from outfield. Long arm action, high ¾ arm slot, accuracy on throws, finish with momentum towards target. Ran 7.53 in the 60.   

Mitch Nieweglowski, OF, Marmion, 2019
5-foot-10, 174-pound, strong, right handed/throwing outfielder. Offensively, balanced crouched setup, short stride, good balance, quiet hands. Fast bat speed, 88-mph off the tee, level barrel path, line drive swing, fluid rhythm, uphill finish. Defensively, clean exchange, average hand placement, slight attack towards the baseball. Short arm action, over the top release, 76-mph from the outfield. Ran 7.14 in the 60.  

Christopher Rafford, OF/RHP, Prairie Ridge, 2019
5-foot-11, 175 pound, lanky, right handed hitting outfielder. Impressed with speed, running 6.64 in the 60, an event best time. Hits from a tall balanced setup, short stride, backload, maintains balance throughout. Displayed a level bat path, extension through ball, exit velocity of 78-mph off the tee. Defensively, displayed consistent footwork, played through baseball, above average hands, followed through on throws. Long arm action, ¾ arm slot, quick out of hand, 68-mph from outfield. On the mound, high separation with hands, hitch in motion, arm whips from side, low ¾ release in delivery. Fastball has natural run, sits between 66-67 mph. Slider comes from 10/4 slot, outer half, 60-63 mph. Change-up similar arm speed to fastball, fades to lower third of zone, can be thrown for strike, sits between, 63-65 mph.

Jeffrey Wright, OF, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2021
5-foot-6, 130-pound, athletic, right handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, balanced, slightly crouched set-up, short stride, engaged lower half. Short level bat path, line drive approach, exit velocity, of 72-mph off the tee. Defensively, repeatable hand placement, plays through baseball, follow through on throws. Long arm action, over the top release, throws 67-mph from outfield. Ran 7.70 in the 60.   

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