Unsigned Senior Games: Outfield Analysis

September 2, 2015

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Next on the docket is the outfielders from the Unsigned Senior Games. Alex Herbst made a big impression throughout the weekend and took home the top outfield spot from the event. Herbst flashed a short, quick bat during batting practice and carried it over to game play. He seemed to barrel up every pitch thrown his way during the games. Dylan Rusniak comes in at the number two spot. Although he lacks prototypical size, he makes up for it with the way he plays the game. Hard nosed, dynamic outfielder has an above-average arm from the outfield and some pop in his left-handed bat.

Below is a list of the top five infielders from the Unsigned Senior Games.

Top Outfield Prospects

1. Alex Herbst, OF/RHP, Hinsdale Central, 2016
6-foot, 175-pound, right-handed hitting, two-way player. Athletic build. Defensively, showed an over-the-top, short-arm action with carry and accuracy on throws. Hands play, fluid footwork, and plays through the ball well. Clocked at 88 mph from the outfield and had an outfield assist throwing out a runner at third base in game play. Ran a 7.10 60 and was 4.76 home to first. Offensively, showed above-average bat speed, good approach, short and quick to the ball, line drive and gap to gap hitter. Starts from a balanced setup, low hands, short leg lift, with good lower half and rhythm in swing. Registered 81 mph exit velocity off of the tee. On the mound, arm works from a high ¾ arm angle, quick short arm action, rhythm in delivery, lands with an athletic finish. Fastball sat 82-84 mph with arm side run, touching 85 mph. Curveball sat 70-74 mph with 10/4 action. Changeup was 73-75 mph arm side run. Threw two innings, allowing one hit, one walk, no runs, while striking out two.

2. Dylan Rusniak, OF, Brother Rice, 2016
5-foot 7, 155-pound, small frame left-handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, balanced setup, with short stride. Above-average bat speed, long uphill bat path with pull-side tendencies. Registered 84 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, plays through the ball, displayed quick, fluid footwork, has a long-arm action, with accurate throws. Threw 89 mph from the outfield. Ran a 4.51 home to first and a 7.2 60. In game play Rusniak went 1-3 with an inside the park home run to right center. Plays with a higher motor than most.

3. Michael Bengston, OF, Grant, 2016
5-foot-11, 175 pound right-handed hitting outfielder, lean, loose, athletic build, projects well to fill out frame. Defensively threw 85 mph from the outfield. Works from a high ¾ arm angle. Plays through the ball with a clean exchange, uses crow hop. Ran a 7.23 60 and was 4.43 from home to first. Offensively hits from a tall, balanced setup, slight leg lift with uphill bat path. Registered 91 mph exit velocity off the tee. In game play Bengston went 2-3, with a double, a triple and a stolen base.

4. Andrew Gaytan, OF, Sandburg, 2016
5-foot-6, 145-pound left-handed hitting outfielder impressed defensively. Gaytan showed range and athleticism during game play with an outstanding diving catch down the left line. Threw 80 mph from the outfield and Showed good actions, playing through the ball and having accurate throws to the plate. Hits from a slightly open setup, hands by the ears, small load, quiet approach. Showed good plate discipline, and aggressive base running going 3-3 in game play with a walk, three singles (one opposite field), and a stolen base. Exit velocity was 77 mph off the tee. Ran a 7.52 60 and was 4.51 home to first in game play.

5. Brendan Joyce, OF, St. Charles North, 2016
5-foot-11, 175-pound outfielder, solid athletic build with strength. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short leg lift stride, athletic setup. Line drive approach, made pull side contact on uphill plane in BP. 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. Natural outfield defender, got good jumps and reads in game play. Plays through the baseball with proper actions. Arm played at 82 mph, over the top slot from a short arm action.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Jacob Ahrens, OF, McHenry West, 2016
Carries his strength well 6-foot, 190-pound athletic body, right-handed hitting outfielder. Offensively, had one of the top exit velocities at the event, 92 mph. Offensively, balanced, athletic stance. Short stride and average balance through contact. Long, uphill bat path through the hitting zone. Defensively, long-arm action, over-the-top slot and accurate throws, clocked at 82 mph. Reliable hands with a quick and clean exchange. Also, ran a 7.16 60 yard dash.

Logan Corsaw, OF, Cuba, 2016
6-foot-1, 170-pound outfielder, thin lean build. Offensively hits from a balanced setup, arm bar load, leg kick stride. Path works around the baseball, sweeping path that lifts, pull side approach. 77 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is firm, high ¾ slot, 73 mph from the outfield. Ran the 60 at 7.36.

Nick DeWier, OF, Lincoln-Way East, 2016
5-foot 9, 160-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder. Hits from a tall balanced setup, short stride, with long bat path and pull side tendencies. Recorded 78 mph exit velocity. Defensively has a short arm action that comes over the top. Threw 78 mph from the outfield. In game DeWier went 1-2 with a single, a walk, a stolen base, and one run scored. Was 4.61 home to first and Ran a 8.11 60.

Michael Freeze, OF, Bolingbrook, 2016
5-foot-11, 173-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. Ran a 6.9 60. Defensively works from a high ¾ arm angle, long arm action with some carry on throws. Threw 80mph from the outfield. Hits from an athletic, balanced setup with short stride. Registered 80 mph exit velocity off the tee.

Nick Kirk, INF/OF, Cary Grove, 2016
5-foot-11, 155-pound infielder, average lean frame. Defensively showed playable actions on the infield, played through the baseball with a clean exchange. Arm action is short, high ¾ slot, average arm strength, 81 mph across the diamond. Also, threw 82 mph from the outfield. Offensively hits from the right side, open setup, leg-lift trigger, good balance throughout contact. Loose hands, path is level, stays compact at times, 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Liam McKeough, RHP/OF, Loyola Academy, 2016
6-foot-2, 185-pound two-way player, solid frame. Defensively showed arm strength from the outfield, 87 mph from a crowhop, loose over the top arm action, showed carry. Feet played through the baseball at times, 7.71 runner in the 60, projects to a corner outfield spot. Offensively hits from the right side, tall setup, short stride. Path has slight uphill plane, lifts the baseball, 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound fastball flashed occasional cut action, 77-79 mph, topped at 82 mph. Curveball has 12/6 action, 67 mph. flashed a changeup at 74 mph.

Dylan Molek, OF, Stevenson, 2016
5-foot-8, 180-pound switch-hitting outfielder. Defensively works from a high ¾ arm angle, short arm action, average hands with a clean exchange, plays through the ball. Threw 85 mph from the outfield. Ran a 7.11 60. Hits from a tall, balanced set up, short stride with slight uphill bat path. Registered 86 mph off the tee left handed and 89 mph from the right side. In game play went 1-3 and showed good approach and healthy swings.

Tyler Mulligan, 2B/OF, Newark, 2016
5-foot 9, 135-pound, right-handed hitting second baseman. Defensively works from high ¾ arm action in the infield with a long exchange. Threw 70 mph from both outfield and infield. Hits from a crouched, balanced setup. Short stride with level bat path. Registered 81 mph exit velocity off the tee. In game Mulligan went 2-3 with a single, a double, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Ran a 7.68 60 and was 4.69 home to first.

Wesley Nash, OF, T.F. South, 2016
6-foot, 176-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder. Defensively works from a ¾ arm angle with short arm action. Firm hands, quick footwork, with clean exchange. Showed accuracy and carry on throws Recorded 84 mph on throws from the outfield. Hits from a tall balanced setup, short stride, with inside out approach. Registered exit velocity of 83 mph off the tee. Was 4.51 home to first in game play and ran 7.25 60. Went 1-3 in game play with a single, a stolen base, and one run scored.

Jack Nelson, OF, Stoughton (WI), 2016
6-foot 1, 160-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder. Defensively works from a low ¾ arm angle with stiff actions. Threw 80 mph from the outfield. Hits from a tall, balanced setup, leg lift, with pull side tendencies. Recorded exit velocity of 80 mph off the tee. Went 1-3 in game play with a single. Ran a 7.16 60 and was 3.86 home to first on a plus bunt.

Bryce Pahl, OF, Jacobs, 2016
6-foot, 200-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder. Offensively hits from a tall, balanced, slightly open setup. Short, stride with good balance. Pull hitter with a long, uphill swing path. Pullside power, homered in batting practice. Showed strength thru contact with 95 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.80. Defensively has a long arm action from an over the top arm slot. Accurate throws with carry, waits back on the ball. Threw 84 mph from the outfield.

Nicholas Podgorny, OF, Lincoln-Way Central, 2016
5-foot-9, 180-pound outfielder. Right-handed hitter, open setup, short stride back to even, changed setup mid BP. Average bat speed, pull side approach, path works with some lift. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm action is long, over the top slot, showed accuracy. 80 mph from the outfield. Ran the 60 at 7.66.

Jason Santos, OF/RHP, Mundelein, 2016
Athletic body 5-foot-11, 165-pound strong build right-handed hitter and pitcher. Offensively, starts from an open, upright stance with pre-pitch rhythm in hands. Toe-tap trigger, with above-average balance. Uphill bat path through the hitting zone. Some looseness in swing and looks to pull the baseball in batting practice. Exit velocity registered at 77 mph off a tee. Defensively, long-arm action, ¾ slot, clocked at 70 mph from the outfield. Also, pitched during the event. The right-handed pitcher operated from a high ¾ slot with a long arm action, easy effort and some rhythm throughout his delivery. On-line direction, square landing and athletic finish. Fastball sat 69-71 mph during his outing. Threw two breaking balls. Curveball sat 64-65 mph with 12/6 action and developed some feel as his outing progressed. Also, mixed in a slider, with 10/4 action at 65-66 mph.

Shamus Segersten, C/OF, Marian Central Catholic, 2016
6-foot 2, 200-pound, right-handed hitting catcher. Hits from a tall open stance with low hands. Slight load, short stride, with uphill bat path. Ran a 7.36 60 and was 4.69 home to first. Strong, quick twitch, fast hands, stays through the ball. Registered 92 mph exit velocity off the tee. Behind the plate flashed pop times of 2.01-2.05 with a velocity of 78 mph. From the outfield, Shamus works from an over the top arm slot with a long arm action. Showed accuracy and carry on throws. Recorded velocity of 88 mph from the outfield.

Justin Willner, OF/RHP, Plainfield Central, 2016
Wiry 6-foot, 160-pound right-handed hitting outfielder and pitcher. Defensively, turned some heads with his arm strength, 88 mph with carry from the outfield. Short-arm action, over-the-top slot and some accuracy. Athletic actions, fluid footwork and a quick exchange. Athletic fielding position and ability to play through the baseball. Offensively, hits with his hands. Slightly open, tall setup, long stride. Uphill bat path and average balance through contact. Exit velocity registered 81 mph. Also, ran a 7.32 60 yard dash. On the mound the right-hander commanded three pitches, throwing them all for strikes. High ¾ slot, short-arm action, some quickness in arm. Decent amount of effort in the delivery, on-line direction, square landing, athletic finish falling off slightly at times. Fastball worked mainly straight ranging between 75-81 mph, touching 82. Feel for a curveball, soft, 11/5 action, thrown for strikes, sitting 59-64 mph. Flashed plus feel for a change-up, near fastball arm action, worked straight, 67-69 mph.

Zachary Zarifian, 3B/OF, Zion Benton, 2016
Strong build 6-foot, 190-pound right-handed hitting infielder and outfielder. Offensively, aggressive swing with fast bat speed. 88 mph exit velocity. Starts from an open, wide stance, slight pre-pitch load to his backside and a short stride. Uphill bat path through the zone and opposite-field approach in batting practice. Defensively, showcased on the infield and outfield. Threw 85 mph from the outfield. Over-the-top slot, short-arm action and some carry. On the infield flashed quick feet with a quick exchange. Clocked at 81 mph from across the diamond. Also, ran a 7.41 60 yard dash.

Unsigned Senior Games: Outfield Analysis

Top Outfield Prospects

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

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