By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The inaugural Prep Baseball Report Preseason I.D. - Litchfield at Litchfield Sports Inc. took place on Monday, January 16th. The event was open to all 2017-2021 high school graduates. Today we continue the analysis from the event with a look at the outfielders.

Top Outfield Prospects

1. Dawson Johns, OF, Mt. Zion, 2018
5-foot-9, 165-pound right-handed hitting outfielder with a strong, compact frame. At the plate hits from an open, spread out stance. Long, leg kick loading action with good balance. Gap-to-gap hitter with a short, uphill swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.26 runner down the line. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Throws showed carry throwing 85 mph from the outfield. Plays thru the ball with a clean exchange.

2. Jake Ambuel, OF, Carlinville, 2019
6-foot, 180-pound right-handed hitting outfielder with a strong, athletic frame. At the plate, hits from a balanced setup with a short stride and maintains good balance through contact. Path is short to the ball, stays on top of the ball and gets extension through contact at times. Flashed bat speed and used the entire field. Registered a 75 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.50 runner down the line. Defensively, profiles as a corner outfielder. Arm works short and from a ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball with a clean exchange. Clocked at 71 mph from the outfield.

3. Brandon Olion, OF, Champaign Centennial, 2018
6-foot-3, 165-pound left-handed hitting outfielder with a lanky, projectable frame and plenty of room for continued physical development. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a leg kick stride and maintains balance throughout. Line-drive approach with fluid rhythm, occasionally cuts off the finish. Found the barrel with regularity and flashed strength through contact with 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, natural outfield actions, fluid, athletic movements. Plays through the ball with a clean exchange. Arm works short from a high ¾ slot. Clocked at 78 mph from the outfield. Ran a 4.45 home-to-first.

4. Drew Stine, OF, Lafayette (MO), 2020
6-foot-2, 180-pound, athletically built, well-proportioned outfielder. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, early backside load and exaggerated leg-kick timing trigger. Flashed bat speed and strength through contact; registered an 85 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.37 runner down the line. Defensively, short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball with a clean exchange and fluid footwork. Clocked at 79 mph from the outfield.

5. Todd Fowler, OF, Glenwood, 2018
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. At the plate hits from a tall, slightly open stance and short stride. Path works level and he looks to pull the ball. Flashed strength thru contact with 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran a 4.51 runner down the line. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Aggressive to the ball, plays through with a clean exchange and steady hands. Clocked at 79 mph from the outfield.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Daniel Burns, RHP/OF, O’Fallon, 2020
6-foot, 138-pound, lanky two-way player. Defensively, attacks the ball, clean exchange. Loose arm action, throws from a high ¾ slot, flashed accuracy; clocked at 83 mph from the outfield. 4.28 home to first runner. Offensively, right-handed hitter, pull approach, level path through the zone; 81 mph exit velocity. Open setup, smooth load, short stride. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, tall and fall delivery, big coil and lands square. Works with some deception. Long arm action from an over the top slot. Fastball, works mostly straight, sits 71-73 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, gradual action, 61-66 mph. Changeup, keeps it down, 66-68 mph.

Blake Donnan, RHP/OF, Taylorville, 2020
6-foot-3, 170-pound, lanky, athletic, two-way prospect. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, works with some rhythm, falls off to first base. Long arm action from a ¾ angle. Fastball, slight run and sink action, sat 71-72 mph. Curveball, varied between 11/5 and 10/4 shape, gradual action, 65-66 mph. Changeup, features sink, 62-64 mph. Offensively, pull approach, long path through the zone. Balanced setup, toe tap trigger. Exit velocity registered at 73 mph. Defensively, long arm action from a high ¾ to ¾ slot, accurate at times; throws clocked at 74 mph from the outfield. 5.11 home to first runner.

Cameron Edmonson, OF, Rochester, 2019
5-foot-8, 150-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Accurate throws with carry throwing 85 mph from the outfield. Athletic actions playing thru the ball with fluid footwork and a clean exchange. At the plate hits from a crouched setup with a short stride and good balance. Short, uphill swing path, pull tendencies. 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.76 runner down the line.

Zachary Gebhardt, OF/RHP, Belleville East, 2020
5-foot-9, 130-pound, lanky two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, fluid rhythm, bat stays flat through the zone; exit velocity registered at 76 mph. Balanced setup, smooth load, toe tap trigger. Defensively, clean exchange, plays through the baseball. Short arm action from an over the top to high ¾ slot; throws clocked at 77 mph from the outfield. 4.87 home to first runner. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, tall and fall delivery, flashed rhythm, stays in line, toe lands closed, finishes athletically. Short arm action from an over the top to high ¾ slot. Fastball, works mostly straight, sat 71-72 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, thrown for strikes, 59-63 mph. Changeup, 64-66 mph.

Nicholas Mascher, LHP/OF, Nokomis, 2020
5-foot-11, 140-pound, lanky, two-way prospect. On the mound, projectable, left-handed pitcher. Tall and fall delivery, smooth rhythm, stays in line, lands square. Short, loose arm action from a high ¾ angle. Fastball, works mostly straight, sat 70-72 mph. Curveball, 1/7 shape, 62-66 mph. Changeup, 61-66 mph. Offensively, left-handed hitter, simple swing, found barrel on occasion, pull approach, long path; 75 mph exit velocity. Slightly open setup with a short stride. Defensively, fluid footwork, clean exchange. Short arm action from a high ¾ to ¾ slot; throws clocked at 74 mph from the outfield. 4.57 home to first runner.

Drew Masset, OF/RHP, Ramsey, 2020
5-foot-10, 185-pound, two-way prospect. On the mound, right-handed pitcher with a three pitch mix. Works with some rhythm, stays in line, lands square. Long arm action from a high ¾ angle. Fastball, thrown for strikes, arm side run, sat 77-79 mph. Curveball, advanced for age, thrown for strikes, 11/5 shape, maintains arm speed, 64-66 mph. Changeup, kept down, works mostly straight, 68-69 mph. Offensively, right-handed hitter, strong contact, path works uphill; exit velocity registered at 80 mph. Tall setup with a leg kick trigger. Defensively, long arm action from a high ¾ slot, throws clocked at 78 mph from the outfield. 4.61 home to first runner.

Henry Patterson, C/OF, Rochester, 2020
6-foot-1, 172-pound, multi-positional player. Offensively, right-handed hitter, path works uphill; exit velocity registered at 75 mph from a tee. Balanced setup, toe tap trigger. Defensively, worked out at catcher and in the outfield. Behind the plate, pop times ranged from 2.37-2.50. Long arm action from a ¾ slot; throws clocked at 73 mph from the outfield and 68 mph from the crouch. 5.10 home to first runner.

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