By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

Today we continue our look at prospects in attendance at the Western Kentucky Prospect ID Showcase in Owensboro with a complete analysis of the outfielders.

Sam Springer (OF, St. Xavier HS, Class of 2014) was the top outfielder at the event.  He showed very good speed with a 6.65 sixty, 80 mph arm, and solid round of batting practice.

Chase Blanton (OF, Edmonson County HS, Class of 2014) ran an event best 6.64 sixty while also showing an 80 mph arm.

The following is a look at all outfielders in attendance at the Western Kentucky Prospect ID Showcase.

Sam Springer, OF, St. Xavier HS, 2014
6-foot, 160-pound prospect, shows good movement and actions, attacks and plays through the ball well, accurate arm at 80 mph, athletic outfielder.  At the plate, hits from a wide setup, smooth load, no stride, good use of lower half creates bat speed through the zone, squared up several pitches and showed the ability to hit line drives the other way, runs very well, 6.65 60 yard dash, 80 mph tee exit velocity, solid 2014 OF prospect.

Chase Blanton, OF, Edmonson County HS, 2014
6-foot-2, 175-pound prospect, athletic and projectable build, good actions, plays through the ball well, 80 mph arm strength, accurate arm.  At the plate, hits from tall setup, front foot drifts back in load with arm bar, some lower half involvement in swing, ran event best 6.64 60 yard dash, 76 mph tee exit velocity.

Nelson Dant, OF/LHP, Daviess County HS, 2014
5-foot-11, 140-pound prospect, shows athletic outfield actions, attacks and plays through the ball well, 78 mph arm strength from over the top arm slot.  At the plate, hits from a balanced setup, tendency to bar arm and wrap in load, short stride, line drive type hitter shows the ability to make hard contact the other way, gets some lower half involvement in swing that creates moderate bat speed, ran 7.19 60 yard dash, 80 mph tee exit velocity.

John Stratton, OF, Daviess County HS, 2016
6-foot-3, 180-pound prospect, projectable athlete, moves well in outfield and plays through the ball, showed accurate throws and 78 mph arm strength from over the top arm slot, more arm strength to come.  At the plate, hits from balanced setup, small load, short stride, short path to the ball but has trouble getting to extension, swing will benefit from more consistent lower half torque, shows good potential, ran 7.09 60 yard dash, 73 mph tee exit velocity.

Thomas Smith, OF, Ohio County HS, 2014
5-foot-10, 160-pound prospect shows good movement in outfield, takes good angles, plays through the ball, has a long exchange, arm strength at 69 mph.  At the plate, hits from an open setup, squares frontside, good balance, hands show some quickness, uses lower half to create moderate bat speed, line drive hitter shows good rhythm in swing, ran 6.93 60 yard dash, 80 mph tee exit velocity.

Logan Poteet, OF, Edmonson County HS, 2014
5-foot-11, 155-pound prospect, attacks the ball on the ground well, plays through, arm strength at 71 mph, needs to continue working on arm strength.  At the plate, hits from a balanced setup, smooth load, toe tap trigger, level swing path, shows good lower half torque in swing, ability to take the ball the other way, ran 7.47 60 yard dash, 81 mph tee exit velocity.

Jordan Hatcher, OF, Daviess County HS, 2017
5-foot-10, 165-pound, young prospect, shows good athleticism, needs to continue working on hands and playing through the ball, arm strength at 61 mph and will continue to develop.  At the plate, hits from a balanced/crouch setup, hands show some quickness, a lot of pre-pitch movement, ran 7.13 60 yard dash, 73 mph tee exit velocity.

Neal Kirkpatrick, RHP/OF, Muhlenberg County HS, 2014
5-foot-11, 160-pound prospect, shows tentative approach to the ball, needs to continue working on attacking and playing through the ball, showed accurate arm at 72 mph.  At the plate, hits from open setup, leg kick trigger, triggers hands from chest level, long swing path, uses lower half to get barrel through the zone, showed good barrel awareness squaring up several pitches, ran 7.22 60 yard dash, 80 mph tee exit velocity.

Allen Montgomery, OF, East Jessamine HS, 2016
5-foot-10, 170-pound prospect, plays through the ball well, 67 mph arm, needs to continue to develop arm strength and angles taken on fly balls.  At the plate, hits from balanced setup, leg kick trigger, foot late getting down at times, long swing path, ran 8.03 60 yard dash, 77 mph tee exit velocity.