Preseason All-State: Outfield Analysis

Today we take a look at the 18 outfielders that were in attendance. Left-handed hitters was the theme of this group as the top-10 were made up almost exclusively of left-handed bats or switch-hitters. 

Three committed prospects headline the group with two-way talent Drew Gray (Belleville East; Arkansas commit) leading the way. The top uncommitted prospect in the group was Quinn Willard (Cornerstone Academy). Willard is a left-handed hitter who put up head-turning numbers across the including a 6.59 laser-timed 60. When he syncs everything together in BP there the ball jumps off his bat to the pull side.

Another uncommitted prospect worth noting is switch-hitter Nate Freeze (Crystal Lake South). Freeze has an athletic strong build and has made big strides to his game since our last look. His bat has become more physical, flashing quick, strong fast hands from the right-side of the plate and making consistent hard line-drive contact.

Another prospect to know is OF Gavin Baldwin (Nashville). Baldwin is a physical right-handed hitter and took one of the loudest rounds of BP on the day. Baldwin has some of the best raw power in the class and would have been in the mix in the Top-10 but he did not participate in the defensive portion of the event.

Read on below for reports on all of the outfielders from the event.

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS

1. Drew Gray, Belleville East (IL), 2021 (Arkansas commit)
Positional Profile: OF High-level two-way talent with a high ceiling.
Body: 6-foot-3, 180-pounds. Long-limbed, high-waisted frame with plenty of room for continued physical development.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, quiet setup, minimal load and short leg-kick timing trigger. Fluid rhythm, loose, athletic hands, natural lift in swing, consistent hard contact to the pull-side.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ball jumps off the barrel.
Arm: LH. OF - 93 mph. Long, loose, whippy arm from a 3/4 slot. Advanced arm strength ball stays true with carry.
Defense: Attacks the baseball, long fluid strides, natural outfield actions, fields in rhythm, plays through athletically and gains ground on transfer.
Run: 6.85 runner in the 60. Long, easy strides.

2. Hayden Moore, Edwardsville (IL), 2021 (Missouri State commit)
Positional Profile: OF Versatile switch-hitting athlete.
Body: 5-foot-11, 155-pounds. Lean, wiry frame with plenty of room for added strength.
Hit: SH. Similar setup from both sides of the plate, more rhythm from the left side. Upright, balanced, slightly open setup, smooth loads and hands separate. Loose athletic hands, creates whip in barrel from left side. Short uphill path, looks to lift the baseball especially from the left-side of the plate. Feel for the barrel, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 85(R) 88(L) mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 87 mph. OF - 85 mph. Clean, quick arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Worked out on the infield and in the outfield. Natural defender. Quick, athletic feet look to work best in the outfield. Plays fast, light on his feet, easy range, maintains body control and plays through in rhythm.
Run: 6.74 runner in the 60. Quick first step, gets to top end speed quickly.

3. Isaiah Thompson, Sacred Heart-Griffin (IL), 2021 (Indiana State commit)
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot, 175-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, load and small leg-kick work in rhythm. Short path, direct to the ball, controls the barrel, works mostly to the pull-side.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 87 mph. Clean arm stroke, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Natural outfield actions, athletic and fluid movements, active feet, gets behind the baseball, maintains body control. Soft hands, fields in rhythm with a quick, clean release.
Run: 6.93 runner in the 60. 

4. Quinn Willard, Cornerstone Christian Academy (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF. High-level combination of tools.
Body: 6-foot-2, 185-pounds. Strong, athletic build.
Hit: LHH. Crouched open setup, pre-pitch load and leg-kick timing trigger. Controlled swing, present bat strength, lift in swing, consistent hard lifted contact to the pull-side.
Power: 97 mph exit velocity from the tee. Flashed present pull power.
Arm: RH. OF - 90 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot; throws stay true.
Defense: Proper routes, steady hands, length to release at times.
Run: 6.59 runner in the 60. Quick out of the gate, powerful runner.

5. Nicky Giamarusti, Notre Dame (IL), 2021 (Pittsburgh commit)
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot, 185-pounds. Athletic frame, quick-twitch muscle.
Hit: RHH. Balanced quiet setup, smooth load and short stride. Minimal wasted movement, direct path, creates leverage to the pull-side, length through the zone.
Power: 96 mph exit velocity from the tee. Present bat strength.
Arm: RH. OF - 88 mph. Long arm, over-the-top slot and true ball.
Defense: Light on his feet, ranges well to both sides, deliberate transfer at times.
Run: 6.31 runner in the 60. High-level runner. Top 60 times in the country.

6. Nate Freeze, Crystal Lake South (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-2, 185-pounds. Highly-athletic frame with well-proportioned strength.
Hit: SH. Handles the bat from both sides of the plate. Balanced setup, short stride and balanced finish.  Quick, strong hands, direct to the ball, present bat speed and strength from the right-side of the plate, line-drive approach.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Long arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Gets around the baseball, plays through in rhythm at times and gains ground on release.
Run: 7.18 runner in the 60. 

7. Luke Trepanier, Manteno (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF Two-way potential.
Body: 5-foot-11, 175-pounds. Athletic frame with strength throughout.
Hit: LHH. Balanced calm setup, smooth load and slight leg-hang timing trigger. Quick, strong hands, feel for the barrel, lift in swing, balanced controlled finish.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 86 mph. Clean, quick arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady defender, gets behind the baseball, sure hands, plays through in rhythm at times.
Run: 7.04 runner in the 60. 

8. Braden Sayles, Hononegah (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-1, 185-pounds. Athletic frame with well-proportioned strength.
Hit: LHH. Upright, narrow setup, short stride and bat-cock load. Easy controlled swing, loose hands, consistently looks to lift the baseball to the pull-side.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Easy pull-side power at times.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Long, over-the-top arm action.
Defense: Smooth, easy actions, attacks the baseball, plays through in rhythm, gains ground on release and clean transfer.
Run: 6.82 runner in the 60. Clean, easy strides.

9. Joshua Notriano, Johnsburg (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-1, 215-pounds. Physical frame with strength throughout.
Hit: LHH. Quiet, slightly crouched setup, minimal load and short stride. Quick, strong hands, short and uphill path. Twitch and bat speed present. Flashed hard pull-side contact.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Short arm action plays from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Clean footwork, gets behind the baseball, plays through in rhythm, steady hands.
Run: 7.33 runner in the 60. 

10. Wilken Benjamin III, Mundelein (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-4, 165-pounds. Long, lean, high-waisted, projectable frame. Plenty of room for continued physical development.
Hit: RHH. Wide balanced setup, deep pre-pitch load, hands separate, short stride. Aggressive swing, creates bat speed, short uphill bat path and pull-side approach.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Long, over-the-top arm action works quick and loose out front; throws flash carry and stay true.
Defense: Attacks the baseball, light on his feet, plays through in rhythm, quick and clean release.
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Gavin Baldwin, Nashville (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-3, 215-pounds. Wide-shouldered, physical, powerful frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, strong base, hands separate and quick leg-kick timing trigger. Simple strong swing, quick hands, present bat speed and bat strength. Long bat path, natural lift and consistently made loud/hard contact to the pull-side.
Power: 98 mph exit velocity from the tee. Power potential to all fields. 
Run: 7.34 runner in the 60. 

Chazz Clark, Marist (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-11, 160-pounds. Lean, athletic frame.
Hit: LHH. Quiet, balanced setup, minimal pre-pitch movement and short stride. Handsy simple swing, short bat path and line-drive approach.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Long, over-the-top arm action.
Defense: Gets around the baseball, plays through at times and clean release.
Run: 7.00 runner in the 60. 

MacCallan Conklin, Normal University (IL), 2021 (Illinois State commit)
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-1, 185-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load and leg-kick timing trigger. Quick strong hands, present bat speed, aggressive swing, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 93 mph. Long, quick arm action, high 3/4 slot; throws carry and flashed late life.
Defense: Gets behind the baseball, steady hands, plays through, gathers through release.
Run: 6.95 runner in the 60. 

Sam Del Valle, Mt. Carmel (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-0, 165-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly open setup, long stride. Quiet handsy swing, stays on balance, easy effort. Short path, extension through contact at times and works gap-to-gap.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady actions, sure hands and plays through the baseball.
Run: 6.88 runner in the 60. 

Jeremy Fox, Riverside-Brookfield (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-foot-9, 165-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced open setup, leg-kick timing trigger. Short bat path, stays level through the zone at times, uses the middle of the field.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 88 mph. Clean arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Quick, active feet, plays through the baseball, clean release.
Run: 7.68 runner in the 60. 

Julian Jimenez, Romeoville (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-2, 170-pounds. Long-limbed, high-waisted frame with plenty of room for added strength.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, minimal load and long stride. Hits off front side, loose hands, flashed bat speed and lift in swing.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Sneaky jump off the barrel.
Arm: RH. OF - 87 mph. Long arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Smooth, athletic, natural outfield actions. Fluid footwork, easy range, gets around the baseball and plays through in rhythm.
Run: 7.68 runner in the 60. 

Tyler McClure, Centennial (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-3, 180-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted frame with plenty of room for continued physical development.
Hit: RHH. Wide, slightly open setup, hands separate and short stride.  Simple, repeatable swing, minimal wasted movement, short to the ball, controls the barrel, middle of the field approach.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 86 mph. Long, over-the-top arm action.
Defense: Quick feet, active defender, gets around and behind the baseball, plays through in rhythm, steady hands.
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60. 

Lucas Nielsen, Downers Grove North (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-foot-1, 185-pounds. Strength in lower half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, quiet load and short stride. Utilizes lower half, short path, line-drive approach and works the middle of the field.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. OF - 84 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Worked out on the infield and in the outfield. CIF/COF type. Maintains body control in the outfield, plays through in rhythm, steady hands and clean release. 
Run: 7.86 runner in the 60. 

Lucas Spence, Crete Monee (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-11, 165-pounds. Wiry, quick-twitch muscle.
Hit: LHH. Spread setup, smooth load, short leg-lift trigger. Simple swing, level bat path, looks to control the barrel, line-drive approach.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 90 mph. Quick arm action from a high 3/4 slot; throws carry.
Defense: Plays fast. Active bouncy feet, athletic actions, attacks and gets behind the baseball. Quick, clean release with effort.
Run: 7.14 runner in the 60. 

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