Prep Baseball Report

Illiana Preseason I.D.: Outfielder Analysis


By Illinois Scouting Staff

On Jan. 21, staff representing both PBR Illinois and PBR Indiana were on hand at the Ho-Chunk Sports and Expo Center in Chicago Heights, Ill., to evaluate close to the 60 prospects who made it out to our Illiana Preseason I.D. showcase.

We began our event coverage last week with our Quick Hits post and a Statistical Analysis, and yesterday we began our position-by-position breakdowns with the day’s catchers. We’re continuing out positional analysis today by evaluating the showcase’s outfielders.

One of the top ranked prospects coming into the event was Indiana’s Carson Husmann (South Central, 2019). A top-10 ranked senior in the state’s 2019 class, Husmann asserted himself as one of the most talented outfielders in the area in Chicago Heights. His strength and athleticism is especially evident in the right-handed batter’s box where he demonstrates power to his pull side. He committed to Bradley last August where he likely profiles in a corner spot, but has the footwork and arm strength to fit in neatly at the next level.

Gabe Wright a 2020 outfielder from Indiana was one of the biggest breakout candidates from the event. The athletic right-handed hitter ran the top 60 time of the event, a 6.68 and has quick-twitch in his swing.

Two Illinois prospect earned a spot on the rankings below, including Hinsdale Central’s Dylan Elazegui, a junior. The two-way prospect swings a rhythmic bat from the left side. St. Ignatius sophomore Martin Boyle was also named in the rankings below for his regular line-drive contact made from the left-handed batter’s box, too.

Continue on below for full reports on each of the 18 outfielders from the group. And remember to check back tomorrow when we examine the day’s infielders.

TOP PROSPECTS

1. Carson Husmann, OF, South Central (IN), 2019
Bradley commit. 6-foot-1, 190 pounds, athletic, strong frame. Athletic, open stance, leg lift timing trigger. Good balance throughout his swing. Uphill swing plane, gets to extension, present power to his pull-side, ability to drive the gaps, 95 mph exit velocity. Long high ¾ arm action from the outfield with accuracy and carry at 86 mph. Footwork is fluid, clean exchange, plays through the baseball. Projects as a corner outfielder at the next level.

2. Gabe Wright, OF, Brebeuf Jesuit (IN), 2020
5-foot-9, 160 pound athletic frame. Showcased clean defensive actions with above average hands, fluid footwork and a clean exchange.  Plays through the baseball with athleticism. Long, high ¾ arm action with average carry, 81mph. Offensively, hits from an open, athletic stance. Loads back, short stride. Displays quick bat, gets to extension. Consistent hard contact during his BP round, high exit velocity of 87 mph. High upside. 6.68 runner in the 60.

3. Zach McKenna, C/OF, Chesterton (IN), 2020
5-foot-11, 180 pound catcher/outfielder , athletic build. Right-handed hitter, balanced/athletic setup.  Loads back with a slight drop in the hands. Stride is short, above average use of the lower half. Good balance throughout the swing.  Showcased quick bat speed, short level path. Strong bat and works gap-to-gap. High exit velocity of 87 mph. Behind the dish showcased average hands with a clean exchange. Short, over-the-top arm action, 73 mph from the crouch. 2.12-2.27 pop times. Showcased natural feel in the outfield with average arm strength, 81 mph.  Ran 6.87 60.

4. Dylan Elazegui, OF/LHP, Hinsdale Central, 2020
5-foot-8, 140-pound, left-handed hitting/throwing two-way player. Smooth pre-pitch actions, open setup, knee-to-knee load to even, hands drift back. Rhythm in swing, short to the baseball, line drive ability, uphill finish. Exit velocity topped 80 mph from a tee. Defensively, plays behind and through the ball, ball gets deep, clean exchange, long to release. Arm plays short and quick, ¾ arm slot, throws topped 80 mph from the outfield turf. 7.38 runner in the 60. Left-handed pitcher, compact, low effort delivery, work in-line, toe lands square, smooth rhythm. Arm draws out quick and back, slightly rotational, high ¾ slot. Fastball worked straight with some cut, 71-73 mph, topped 76 mph. Slider, 1/7 shape, gradual break, 61-64 mph. Changeup faded, played 64-67 mph.

5. Martin Boyle, LHP/OF, St. Ignatius, 2021
5-foot-10, 160-pound, left-handed hitting/throwing two-way player, lanky frame with athletic actions. Offensively, sets up tall and balanced, hands load back, leg kick trigger. Rhythm in hands, path works long and uphill, consistent line drive contact, favored pull side. Exit velocity topped 82 mph from a tee. Defensively gets behind the ball and works through, fluid footwork, soft hands, athletic actions. Arm plays long and loose, easy ¾ slot, accurate throws topped 75 mph from the outfield turf. 7.49 runner in the 60. On the mound works at a quick pace, heel lift balance point, works in line, toe lands open, athletic finish. Long and loose arm action, ¾ slot, effort is easy. Fastball, slight run, 74-77 mph. Curveball, 1/7 shape, 63-65 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, faded, 64-69 mph.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Eli Aronson, OF, The Latin School of Chicago, 2021
6-foot-2, 180-pound, right-handed hitting/throwing outfielder, present strength in frame, advanced size for age. At the plate, tall setup, feet angle outwards, body wrap load, short leg kick trigger, some dive over plate. Strong hands, path plays long, occasional hard contact, power potential, exit velocity topped 85 mph from a tee. Defensively, two-handed gather, clean exchange, long to release. Arm plays long high ¾ slot, throws topped 76 mph from the outfield turf. Moves well, 7.19 runner in the 60.

Austin Clark, OF, Evanston, 2020
5-foot-10, 200-pound, right-handed hitting/throwing outfielder, strong, thick frame. At the plate, balanced, tall setup, hands bar back, long stride. Short bat path, works uphill, goes with pitch, exit velocity topped 77 mph from a tee. Defensively short, choppy feet, plays through the baseball, long to release. Long arm action, full swing, high ¾ slot, throws topped 78 mph from the outfield turf. 7.43 runner in the 60.

John Creviston, LHP/OF, Brother Rice, 2021
5-foot-9, 137-pound, left-handed hitting two-way player, high-waisted, lean frame. Left-handed pitcher, works with rhythm and in-line to home, toe lands closed, athleticism in finish. Arm plays loose and clean, easy effort, high ¾ slot. Near/in the zone on all offerings, maintaints arm speed. Fastball, some sink, 71-73 mph, topped 74 mph. Can spin the curveball, 1/7 depth, 58-63 mph. Deceptive changeup, 67-69 mph. At the plate, sets up tall, minimal load, short stride. Path is long and uphill, rhythm in hands, favors pull side, exit velocity topped 75 mph from a tee. Defensively plays through the ball, clean exchange and actions, loose arm action, throws topped 74 mph from the outfield turf. 7.77 runner in the 60.

Daniel Dombrowski, OF, Providence Catholic, 2020
6-foot, 190-pound, right-handed hitting/throwing outfielder, athletic and strong build. At the plate, open setup, smooth load back, strides to even, maintains control. Loose hands, short path with present bat speed, line drive hitter with a gap-to-gap approach.  Exit velocity topped 90 mph from a tee. Defensively, quick feet, gets behind and through the ball, two handed gather, clean exchange. Long to release, quick arm speed, high ¾ slot, throws topped 81 mph from the outfield turf. 7.99 runner in the 60.

Phillip Hunter, OF, De La Salle, 2020
5-foot-9, 169-pound, right-handed hitting/throwing outfielder, strong, durable build with present lower half strength. Offensively, balanced, tall setup, hands wrap at load, short stride, maintains control. Loose hands, path works slightly uphill, line drive production, favored pull side, ability to lift the ball, rhythm involved. Exit velocity topped 79 mph from a tee. Defensively gets behind and through the baseball, quick and clean exchanges. Arm plays short and over the top with arm speed, throws carried at 80 mph from the outfield turf. Moves well, 7.16 runner in the 60.

Jaden Jackson, OF, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2022
5-foot-3, 110-pound, right-handed hitting/throwing outfielder, plays quick and with energy. Defensively feet work in rhythm and through the ball, natural actions, exchanges are quick and clean. Short arm action, minimal arm swing, high ¾ slot, throws topped 70 mph from the outfield turf. At the plate, balanced setup, leg lift trigger, hands load back. Active hands, line drive ability, looks to go with the pitch, some rhythm in swing. Exit velocity topped 71 mph from a tee. 7.81 runner in the 60.

Michael Knezevic, OF/LHP, Oak Forest, 2021
5-foot-11, 160-pound, right-handed hitting, left-handed throwing two-way player, well-proportioned, athletic frame. Offensively sets up even, minimal load, weight shifts back into a leg lift trigger. Loose hands, short to the ball, path slightly uphill, line drive ability to all fields, some rhythm. Exit velocity topped 83 mph from a tee. Defensively attacks and plays through the baseball, clean exchanges. Short arm action, ¾ slot with some arm speed, throws topped 78 mph from the outfield turf. 7.82 runner in the 60. On the mound, works with tempo, tall, toe lift balance point, works in-line, toe lands square, easy athletic finish. Arm plays long and loose, shows on back side, ¾ slot, easy effort. Fastball runs to arm side, 77-78 mph, topped 79 mph. Slider, 2/8 gradual break, 69-70 mph. Changeup plays at 68-70 mph.

Diego Lopez, OF, Mount Carmel, 2022
5-foot-7, 148-pound, right-handed hitting/throwing outfielder. At the plate, balanced setup, minimal load, short stride. Short bat path, middle of the field approach, exit velocity topped 76 mph from a tee. Defensively attacks the baseball, plays through to release, exchanges were clean. Short arm action, ¾ arm slot, throws topped 63 mph from the outfield turf. 7.52 runner in the 60.

Rick Lytle, OF, Prospect, 2021
5-foot-11, 140-pound, right-handed hitting/throwing outfielder, long and lean frame, room to fill out physically. At the plate, balanced setup, hands load back, long stride, occasional dive over plate. Uphill bat path, head stays down, pull side tendencies with line drive abilities, some rhythm. Exit velocity topped 77 mph from a tee. Defensively, short, choppy steps, long to release. Arm plays long, high ¾ slot, throws topped 72 mph from the outfield turf. 7.52 runner in the 60.

Justin Schassburger, RHP/OF, Andrean (IN), 2021
5-foot-9, 170 pound frame. On the mound pitches from a short, loose high ¾ arm action with above average arm speed. Compact delivery, high front side, smooth rhythm. Stays in line to the plate, lands square, athletic finish. Fastball sat 77-79 with slight sink and run action. Breaking ball was 66-69 from an 11/5 shape. Changeup is thrown with fastball arm speed at 69-71 with fade. Long, high ¾ arm action from the outfield with carry; 82mph. Average hands, fluid footwork, long exchange. Offensively, hits out of a slight crouch stance. Loads back with a slight wrap. Stride is short, average use of his lower half. Above average bat speed, gets to extension, 86 mph exit velocity. Consistently found the barrel during his BP round, hard contact. 7.63 runner in the 60.

Brayson Shew, RHP/OF, Toledo-Cumberland, 2021
6-foot-4, 182-pound, right-handed hitting/throwing two-way player, long, wiry frame with room for continued physical development. Works with tempo to a sturdy, flat footed balance point, cross-bodied landing, toe strikes closed and hard, some rhythm. Long and loose arm action, hands separate late, quick arm action, high ¾ window. Fastball is live, plays straight at 83-84 mph, topped 85 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape with depth, 70-73 mph. Slider, 10/4 shape, tighter spin, 70-73 mph. Present foot speed, 7.11 runner in the 60. At the plate, tall, closed setup, toe tap stride, some dive over plate. Short bat path, shoulders get uphill, exit velocity topped 81 mph from a tee. Defensively, short, choppy feet, two-handed gather, plays through the ball. Long arm action, quick arm speed, high ¾ slot, ball comes out, throws carried at 88 mph from the outfield turf.

Gavin Terry, OF, Mount Carmel, 2020
5-foot-10, 142-pound, left-handed hitting/throwing outfielder, lanky and athletic frame. Defensively plays with confidence and bounce, feet work in fluid rhythm, clean exchanges. Long and loose arm action, over the top slot, come out easy, accurate throws topped 75 mph from the outfield turf. At the plate, balanced setup, hands drop at load, reverse toe tap trigger. Quick hands, short bat path, swings with intent. Exit velocity topped 71 mph from a tee.  7.72 runner in the 60.

Tavares Van Kuiken, LHP/OF, Illiana Christian (IN), 2020
Athletic 6-foot-2, 190 pound LHP pitches from a long, loose high ¾ arm action with average arm speed. Easy effort, tall-to-fall type delivery, smooth rhythm. Stays in line, lands square, athletic finish. Some deception in the delivery. Fastball sat 76-78 with occasional run and sink for a strike. Curveball has 1/7 shape with gradual action, 69-70. Changeup is thrown with fastball arm speed at 70-72. In the outfield showcased sure hands with a clean exchange and fluid footwork.  Plays through the baseball. Long, high ¾ arm action with some carry; 81mph. At the plate hits from a balanced, athletic setup. Hands load back, arm bar, tendency to dive during his stride. Shows good use of his lower half. Above average bat speed. Short, level swing path. Hard contact during his BP round, line drive type hitter. High exit velocity of 85mph. 7.10 runner in the 60.

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