Prep Baseball Report

Preseason I.D. - Peoria: Outfield Analysis


By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The inaugural Preseason I.D. - Peoria, held at the Louisville Slugger Sports Complex, took place on Saturday, January 27th. The event featured close to 90 prospects, mostly from the Central Illinois area. Yesterday we began the positional analysis from the event with a look at the catchers.

Today we breakdown the outfielder's in attendance. Four of the top five on our list are underclassmen. 

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS

1. Connor Aten, RHP/OF, Galesburg, 2020
5-foot-10, 160-pound, two-way prospect. Put himself on the map as a high-follow 2020. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, smooth repeatable delivery, lands slightly closed with easy effort throughout. Arm works quick and over-the-top. Fastball, comes out of the hand easy, life through the zone, sat 83-85 mph, touched 87 twice. Curveball works 12/6, occasionally backs up, 66-69 mph. Changeup, cut action at times, 75-77 mph. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced, static setup, minimal pre-pitch movement and short stride.Aggressive swing, loose, athletic hands, uphill path and pull approach. 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, fluid footwork, plays through the baseball, athletic transfer. Quick arm action from an over-the-top slot, accurate throws with carry, clocked at 86 mph. 7.07 runner in the 60.

2. CJ Lewis, OF/INF, Normal West, 2019
6-foot-2, 175-pound, athletically built, high waisted, multi-positional prospect. Has made significant strides since our last look. Right-handed hitter, open setup, stride gets back to even and stays balanced throughout. Aggressive swing, loose hands and creates bat speed. Fluid rhythm, long bat path and gap-to-gap approach; 89 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, actions play best in the outfield. Athletic actions, works through the baseball, transfer is quick and directional. Long arm action, high ¾ slot and throws topped at 83 mph. Throws clocked at 82 mph across the diamond. 7.41 runner in the 60.

3. Jack Shields, OF/RHP, Peoria Notre Dame, 2020
6-foot, 185-pound, strong, athletically built, two-way prospect. At the plate, right-handed hitter, tall, open setup, long stride and gets separation in hands. Easy bat speed, loose hands and rhythm throughout. Long bat path, gap-to-gap approach and 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, works through the baseball in the outfield, sure handed and clean transfer. Long, loose arm from a high ¾ slot; throws carry and topped at 86 mph. 7.46 runner in the 60. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, simple, repeatable delivery, minimal use out of lower half. Clean, loose, easy arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball thrown for strikes, 78-80 mph, touched 81. Curveball, slows arm at times, 11/5 shape, 61-64 mph. Changeup 64-66 mph.

4. Drew Henrikson, OF, Rochester, 2020
5-foot-11, 175-pound, athletically built outfielder. Added about 20 pounds of muscle since our last look. At the plate, wide, solid base, leg-lift timing trigger and fluid rhythm throughout. Athletic, quick hands, creates bat speed. Uphill bat path, gap-to-gap approach and consistently makes hard contact. 87 mph exit velocity. Defensively, steady hands, clean transfer and throws from a low ¾ slot. Throws clocked at 82 mph. 7.46 runner in the 60.

5. Ryan St. Ledger, OF, Edwards County, 2021
6-foot, 160-pound, athletically built, outfielder. Ran one of the top 60 times of the event, 6.89 laser-timed. At the plate, balanced, wide, slightly open setup, short stride and simple swing. Path works long at times, gap-to-gap approach and 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. In the outfield, long, over-the-top arm action, high front side. Throws flashed carry at 78 mph from the outfield.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Abe Collins, OF, Morton, 2020
6-foot-3, 178-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder with an advanced, strong frame. Ran a 6.94 laser-timed 60. At the plate, balanced, quiet setup, short leg-lift trigger. Short to the ball, gap-to-gap approach. Defensively, attacks the baseball, long arm action, high ¾ slot and throws clocked at 79 mph from the outfield.

Kayden Crawford, OF, Mahomet-Seymour, 2021
5-foot-8, 120-pound, lean, left/left, outfielder. One to watch as he physically matures. 7.54 runner in the 60. At the plate, balanced setup, leg-kick timing trigger and maintains balance. Feel for the barrel, flashed quick hands and stays short to the ball. 70 mph exit velocity from a tee. In the outfield, athletic outfield actions, attacks the baseball, soft hands, gains ground on crow hop and stays on-line. Short arm action, ¾ slot and clocked at 66 mph.

Blake Donnan, RHP/OF, Taylorville, 2020
6-foot-4, 205-pound, two-way player with an advanced, athletic, strong frame. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, compact delivery, stays on-line and lands square. Short arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball, run and sink, heavy at times, thrown for strikes, sat 80-81 mph. Slider, thrown aggressively, 10/4 shape, cutter action at times, 70-74 mph. Changeup, ranged between 63-68 mph. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced, wide setup, static and short leg-kick trigger. Present bat strength, line-drive approach and ball jumps off his bat at times. 85 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, in the outfield, throws from a ¾ slot and clocked at 76 mph. 7.85 runner in the 60.

Dylan Gates, OF/RHP, Mahomet-Seymour, 2019
5-foot-7, 140-pound, two-way prospect. At the plate, open, narrow setup, long stride gets back to even. Stays short to the ball, gap-to-gap approach and 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, natural outfield actions, sure hands, plays through the baseball and clean exchange. High ¾ arm slot, throws flashed carry at 79 mph.  On the mound, right-handed pitcher, tall and fall delivery, stays on-line and upright finish. Long arm action from an over-the-top slot. Fastball works mostly straight, 77-78 mph, touched 79. Curveball flashed true 12/6 shape, depth 64-69 mph. Changeup, 70-72 mph.

Kendall Green, OF, Champaign Centennial, 2020
5-foot-6, 165-pound, left/left outfielder. Ran a 7.25 laser-timed 60. At the plate, balanced, open setup, short stride and simple swing. Controls the barrel, line-drive approach and fluid rhythm throughout. 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, natural outfield actions, fields out in front, plays through the baseball, works on-line. Short, high ¾ slot and accurate throws clocked at 70 mph.

Samuel Kahwaji, OF, Normal Community, 2019
6-foot, 180-pound, well-proportioned, right-handed hitting outfielder. Balanced setup, pre-pitch waggle, loads into backside and short leg-kick timing trigger. Flashed bat strength; 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. In the outfield, steady hands, plays through the baseball, clean exchange. Arm works long and from a high ¾ slot. Throws clocked at 69 mph. 7.84 runner in the 60.

Will Kelly, OF, Peoria Notre Dame, 2020
6-foot, 165-pound, wiry, right-handed hitting outfielder. Ran a 7.18 laser-timed 60. At the plate, balanced setup, leg-lift timing trigger and long, uphill bat path. 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, clean transfer, works on-line. Long arm action, high ¾ slot and throws topped at 73 mph.

Jake Stipp, OF/LHP, Danville, 2019
6-foot-1, 155-pound, two-way prospect with a lanky, projectable frame. On the mound, left-handed pitcher, full wind up, on-line delivery and lands with his front toe open. Long, loose arm action, over-the-top slot and easy effort throughout. Fastball sat 74-76 mph, touched 80. Curveball sat 58-59 mph, 12/6 type. Changeup sat 70-71 mph. As a position player, ran a 6.86 laser-timed 60. At the plate, left-handed hitter, balanced, closed setup, pre-pitch load and short stride. Short bat path and 76 mph exit velocity. In the outfield, long and loose arm action, accurate throws topped at 75 mph.

Garrett Swingler, OF, Normal West, 2020
6-foot-1, 150-pound, right-handed hitting multi-positional prospect with plenty of room for continued physical development. Tall, static setup and leg-kick timing trigger. Long bat path and 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, worked out in the infield and outfield. Long arm action from a ¾ slot. Throws clocked at 72 mph from the outfield and 69 mph across the infield. 7.53 runner in the 60.

Bryce Trask, INF/OF, Rock Island, 2019
6-foot-2, 190-pound, infielder/outfielder with a strong, athletic build. At the plate, left-handed hitter, relaxed, tall setup, smooth load and toe-tap stride. Short, uphill bat path with some looseness in hands; 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, on the infield, reliable hands, clean transfer, quick exchange at times. Long arm action, high ¾ slot, 76 mph across the diamond and 78 mph from the outfield. 7.69 runner in the 60.

Brendan Tupper, OF, Normal University, 2020
6-foot, 165-pound, athletically built, strong, left-handed hitting outfielder. At the plate, projectable, simple swing. Balanced, wide setup, pre-pitch rhythm, and short stride. Loose, easy swing, flashed bat speed. Long, uphill bat path and 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. In the outfield, long arm action, high ¾ slot and throws topped at 80 mph. 7.25 runner in the 60, laser-timed.

Ryan Walker, RHP/OF, Washington, 2019
6-foot-2, 190-pound, well-proportioned, multi-positional prospect. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, slight coil at balance point, stays on-line and lands slightly closed. Arm works short and over-the-top. Fastball sat 73-75 mph, touched 77. Curveball, flashed feel, 11/5 shape, 64-67 mph. Changeup, sat 71-72 mph. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, loads hands and short stride. Exit velocity topped at 78 mph. Defensively, worked out on the infield and in the outfield. Steady hands and plays through the baseball in the outfield. Long arm action, throws topped at 77 mph from the outfield and 72 mph across the infield. 8.02 runner in the 60.

Kameron Wilson, RHP/OF, Bloomington, 2019
6-foot-1, 160-pound, athletically built, two-way prospect. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, smooth delivery, lands square with regular effort throughout. Short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 77-80 mph, touched 81. Curveball, good feel, 11/5 shape, 66 mph. Changeup, maintains arm speed, fade action, sat 67-70 mph. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, smooth load into backside and short stride. Long bat path, stays level at times, line-drive approach and 70 mph exit velocity. In the outfield, plays through the baseball, clean exchange, long, clean arm action throws carry and topped at 80 mph. 7.41 runner in the 60.

Braden Zenor, OF, Tri-Valley, 2020
6-foot, 140-pound, lean, left/left outfielder. 6.98 runner in the 60, laser-timed. At the plate, balanced, closed setup and short stride. Long bat path and exit velocity clocked at 79 mph from a tee. Defensively, long strides, reliable hands, plays through the baseball, long arm action from a high ¾ slot, throws topped at 70 mph.

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