Metro East Open: Outfield Analysis

July 25, 2014

By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

The Prep Baseball Report Metro East Open Showcase held on July 9^th at Blazier Field in O’Fallon, Illinois featured many top prospects in the Metro East Area of Southern Illinois outside of St. Louis. The open showcase included players from the 2015-2018 classes. The outfielders will lead off our coverage and no one impressed more than O’Fallon’s projectable Bradley Harrison, whose smooth left-handed hitting stroke and plus frame projects well down the road. A pair of Edwardsville High School prospects, Fahd Shakeel and Cole Cimarolli, also impressed with their speed and approach at the plate. The speedsters ran two of the top 60-yard dashes at the event.

Here’s a look at the Top 10 Overall Prospects at the Prospect Identification Showcase.

Top Outfield Prospects

1.Bradley Harrison, OF/LHP, O’Fallon, 2016
6-foot-3, 190-pound left-handed hitting outfielder/left-handed pitcher impressed with lanky, athletic frame and two-way ability. Currently ranked No. 33 in Illinois’ 2016 class, No. 129 overall, committed to Southern Illinois. Was the top two-way prospect in attendance at the Metro East Open. Hits from a balanced, open setup with hands loading back smoothly with a short stride, and a fast, short, level bat path. Fluid rhythm in swing produced 88 mph exit velocity, second highest at the event, with power to his pull side. Defensively, showed fluid, clean actions in the outfield, aggressively attacking the baseball and throwing 83 mph from a long, loose, high ¾ arm action with carry. Ran a 7.45 60, and 4.82 seconds to first. On the mound missed arm side several times with 77-80 mph fastball, which exhibited arm side run when down in the zone. Falls off towards third base landing open at times, but loads well over the rubber and arm is long and clean. 73-76 mph slider was firm, with late breaking 2/8 action. 71-74 mph changeup also showed arm side run.

2. Fahd Shakeel, OF, Edwardsville, 2015
5-foot-11, 160-pound athletic, right-handed hitting outfielder started for Edwardsville HS’s 4A Sectional Championship team and impressed with one of the Metro East Open’s top outfield arms. Threw 83 mph from long over the top slot, with accuracy and carry. Aggressively attacked the baseball, and became more tentative after a couple tough outfield hops and missed balls. Offensively, hits from a balanced setup with short stride and smooth hand load. Short, level, bat path with quick hands produced several line drives during live batting practice with exit velocity up to 75 mph. Impressed running the event’s third fastest 60 at 6.88 seconds.

3. Cole Cimarolli, OF/MIF, Edwardsville, 2016
5-foot-8, 160-pound fleet-footed, right-handed hitting, middle infielder currently ranked No. 87 in Illinois’ 2016 class, impressed running the Metro East’s second fastest 60 at 6.79. Hits from a balanced, slightly open setup, with hands loading smoothly with very little movement. Short stride and short, level bat path creates extension and line drives from gap-to-gap. Does a very good job staying inside the baseball with short, compact swing creating 80 mph exit velocity. Defensively, showcased athletic feet, playing through the baseball in the outfield, throwing from a high ¾ arm action, with some length in back that shortens and comes to his ear, with some accuracy up to 80 mph.

4. Jackson Penrod, OF/RHP, O’Fallon, 2015
6-foot, 180-pound outfielder/right-handed pitcher impressed with the Metro East Open’s top outfield velocity at 84 mph. Showed average hands defensively, throwing from a short, high ¾ arm slot with accuracy and some carry. Hits from a slightly open setup, with a short stride, dropping hands down and back in load. Level bat path produced line drives from gap-to-gap and 80 mph exit velocity. On the mound, exhibited a feel for three pitches with 77-81 mph fastball from same arm slot as in the field. Works from a tall and fall delivery, with slow tempo, landing closed, with a short leg lift, short stride, and throwing across his body. 66-67 mph curveball showed 12/6 shape, and 67-70 mph changeup was thrown consistently down in the zone for strikes.

5. Jack Lanxon, OF, Belleville West, 2017
5-foot-8, 155-pound left-handed hitting impressed with arm strength and bat speed during live batting practice. Hits from a balanced, open setup, with a short stride, and short, level bat path producing exit velocity up to 74 mph. Threw 79 mph from the outfield from loose, high ¾ arm action with good carry on throws. Showed soft hands and fluid footwork attacking the baseball with clean exchanges from glove to hand. Also impressed running a 6.98 60, above average for a 2017.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Derrick Allen, OF/MIF, Alton, 2016
5-foot-7, 155-pound right-handed hitting outfielder/middle infielder impressed more defensively in the outfield with aggressive actions, fielding through the baseball and showing good carry on throws from long, over the top arm action reaching 71 mph. In the infield, threw 68 mph across the diamond from outfield-type arm action. Offensively, this from an open setup with a short stride and leg kick. Finishes his level swing with two hands producing 72 mph exit velocity. Also ran a 7.58 60.

Adam Banach, OF, Pinckneyville, 2015
6-foot-3, 210-pound physical, right-handed hitting outfielder hit from a wide, balanced setup with a short stride and long, uphill bat path with opposite field tendencies. Exit velocity at 83 mph. Threw 81 mph from the outfield from long, over the top arm action with carry and accuracy. Ran a 7.36 60, and 4.93 from home to first.

Bryce Beckmann, OF, Mater Dei Catholic, 2016
6-foot-2, 170-pound lanky, right-handed hitting outfielder hits from a tall, slightly open setup with a leg kick. Level bat path shows opposite field tendencies and 75 mph exit velocity, cutting off swing at times. Defensively, threw 74 mph from the outfield from a long, high ¾ slot. Ran a 7.28 60 and 4.67 seconds from home to first.

Christopher Berry, OF/1B, Kirkwood (MO), 2016
6-foot-1, 195-pound right-handed hitting, left-handed throwing OF/1B hit from an open setup with a leg kick trigger that made him late at times, but showed significant power to his pull side with uphill bat path producing 85 mph exit velocity. Defensively, graded out better at first base than in the outfield, threw 75 mph across the diamond at first, and 76 mph from the outfield, both from a long, slinging, ¾ arm action. Showcased soft hands at first, and turned the double play quickly. Ran a 7.46 60, and 4.68 from home to first.

Nick Crabtree, OF, O’Fallon, 2015
6-foot, 140-pound lanky right-handed hitting outfielder hit from a balanced setup with a short heel lift stride. Hands load smoothly producing short, level bat path with extension hitting line drives from gap-to-gap with 80 mph exit velocity. Ran 4.29 seconds to first base, and a 6.92 60. Defensively, threw 81 mph from a short, over the top arm action in the outfield with carry. Showed clean, fluid actions fielding, playing through the baseball.

Cody Crowder, OF, O’Fallon, 2017
5-foot-9, 137-pound small, lanky, right-handed hitting, left-handed throwing outfielder hit from a balanced, open setup, with a short stride, loading hands back smoothly, producing slightly uphill bat pat with extension, fluid rhythm and exit velocity up to 71 mph. Threw 69 mph in the outfield from long, high ¾ arm action showcasing average hands fielding. Ran 7.44 in the 60.

Justin Dye, OF/RHP, O’Fallon, 2017
6-foot, 170-pound right-handed hitting outfielder/right-handed pitcher hits from a balanced setup, with a short stride, starting hands forward, dropping them down and back to load. Uphill bat path shows opposite field tendencies and exit velocity up to 71 mph. Defensively, threw 76 mph from the outfield from a low ¾ arm action. On the mound, worked from a short, over the top arm action at 72-74 mph with fastball. Flips 58-60 mph 12/6 curveball over, which was consistently up in the zone. 63-65 mph changeup showed cutting action but was thrown down, out of the zone. Ran a 7.87 60.

Matthew Gruber, OF, Yorkville, 2015
5-foot-10, 163-pound right-handed hitting outfielder hit from a wide, balanced setup with very little stride. Possesses above average bat speed and 80 mph exit velocity, with short, level swing producing line drives from gap-to-gap during live batting practice. Defensively, moves well in the outfield showing fluid footwork approaching the baseball, throwing 73 mph from a stiff, over the top arm slot. Ran a 7.08 60 yard dash.

Josh Haberer, OF, Breese Mater Dei, 2016
5-foot-10, 195-pound impressed running the Metro East Open’s top 60 time at 6.76. Hits from a balanced, athletic setup with a short stride and an uphill bat path producing 81 mph exit velocity. Spings off his back side, dropping back elbow as well, but creates some lift in swing. Defensively, threw 77 mph in the outfield from long, ¾ arm action.

Jacob Holl, C/OF, O’Fallon, 2015
6-foot, 185-pound right-handed hitting catcher/outfielder hit from a crouched, open setup with a short stride and hands moving back smoothly in load. Showed a short, level bat path with some lift to his pull side and 82 mph exit velocity. In the outfield, threw from a long, high ¾ arm slot with average carry at 71 mph. Shortens arm action behind the plate, with better arm strength at 74 mph from the crouch, with pop times ranging between 2.08-2.19. Ran a 7.72 60.

Christian Lett, OF, Rochester, 2016
5-foot-11, 170-pound right-handed hitting outfielder hits from a wide setup, with a leg kick, dropping hands in load producing line drives and 68 mph exit velocity. Does a good job of repeating simple swing. Defensively, threw 75 mph from the outfield from a short, over the top arm action with carry. Ran a 7.36 60 yard dash.

Nick Longhorn, OF, O’Fallon, 2017
5-foot-8, 135-pound left-handed hitting outfielder hit from a balanced setup with a long stride and a long, level bat path producing 75 mph exit velocity. Threw 67 mph from the outfield from a short, over the top arm action. Ran a 7.71 60.

Brandon McDaniel, OF, O’Fallon, 2018
5-foot-10, 140-pound right-handed hitting outfielder hits from a balanced setup dropping hands low, producing uphill swing and 66 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 63 mph from the outfield from a long, ¾, slinging arm action. Ran a 7.95 60 and 5.09 seconds from home to first.

Kurt Ober, OF, O’Fallon, 2016
6-foot, 135-pound right-handed hitting outfielder hit from a balanced, square setup, with a long stride opening up early and leaning back. Hit several line drives up the middle in live batting practice with exit velocity up to 70 mph. Defensively, showed average hands approaching the baseball, throwing from a long, high ¾ arm action with an aggressive crow hop throwing 71 mph. Ran a 7.69 60.

Brady Rakers, OF, Breese Mater Dei, 2016
5-foot-11, 210-pound, strong, right-handed hitting outfielder hits from an open stance with a short stride and aggressive, uphill bat path producing 80 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 80 mph from the outfield from a long, high ¾, slinging arm slot with some accuracy and carry. Showcased average hands, slow footwork, playing through the baseball. Ran a 7.08 60 and 4.76 seconds from home to first.

Caleb Shelton, OF, O’Fallon, 2018
5-foot-6, 145-pound right-handed hitting outfielder Hits from a balanced setup with a backwards toe-tap into a leg kick and long stride producing long, uphill bat path, with opposite field line drives and 74 mph exit velocity. Threw from an over the top arm action, with slightly uphill shoulders 69 mph from the outfield. Ran a 6.98 60, impressive for a 2018.

Brent Timmons, OF, Breese Central, 2016
6-foot, 180-pound right-handed hitting outfielder hits from an open setup, utilizing a leg kick with a long, uphill bat path looking mostly to pull. Exit velocity was up to 74 mph. Defensively, threw 74 mph from the outfield from a long, high ¾ arm slot with some accuracy and clean exchanges from glove to hand fielding. Ran a 7.23 60.

Matthew Toohey, LHP/OF, O’Fallon, 2017
5-foot-11, 155-pound switch hitting left-handed pitcher/outfielder hit better from the right side. Hits from open setup with short, leg kick stride. Hands move back to load, producing long, uphill bat path with 76 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 76 mph from the outfield from a short, ¾ arm slot with some accuracy, showcasing fluid footwork approaching the baseball. On the mound, utilized tall and fall delivery, and similar arm action used in the outfield (possibly a tick lower) throwing fastball 72-74 mph with erratic command. Front foot lands slightly open, and does not utilize front glove side, clearing out early. Dropped elbow on 60-61 mph curveball that backed up. 63-66 mph changeup showed promise, thrown consistently down with some fade. Ran a 7.20 60.