By Matt Huck
Area Scout

The Underclass Games at UIC has quietly became one of the more premier events for incoming sophomores in Illinois and Wisconsin. This year’s event took place on Monday, July 24th and featured more than 60 rising sophomores.

Today we continue the analysis of the event with a look at the outfielders in attendance.

Top Outfield Prospects

1. Marquis Jackson, OF, Brother Rice, 2020
5-foot-8, 185-pound left-handed hitting right-handed throwing outfielder with a strong, compact frame. At the plate hits from a tall, open setup with a short leg lift stride and good balance. Pull, power approach at the plate with a short, uphill swing path and fluid rhythm. Showed off pull side power in batting practice. 91 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.43 runner down the line. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Throws showed carry from the outfield at 87 mph. Athletic actions, plays thru the ball with quick footwork.

2. Alex Ryan, OF, Lakeside Lutheran (WI), 2020
5-foot-9, 150-pound right-handed hitting outfielder with a small, athletic frame. High level defender in the outfield. Has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Throws showed carry from the outfield at 83 mph with plus accuracy. Natural actions, plays thru the ball with a clean exchange and soft hands. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a quick leg kick stride and good balance. Line drive hitter works gap to gap with a level swing path and fast bat. 86 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.44 runner down the line.

3. Luke Fox, LHP/OF, Catholic Memorial (WI), 2020
5-foot-11, 170-pound LHP/OF with an athletic frame. On the mound works from a ¾ arm angle with a long, loose arm action. Tall and fall delivery with easy effort. Smooth rhythm working in line with home plate with an athletic finish. Fastball has running action, gets in on the hands of hitters. Sat 81-84 topping out at 85 mph. Curveball has 2-8 shape with short breaking action at 72-74 mph. Changeup has running action at 77 mph. Consistently gets weak contact, ball didn't leave the infield in his appearance, struck out two. Offensively hits from a balanced setup with a short load and heel lift stride. Pull hitter with fluid rhythm. 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.44 runner down the line. Defensively has a long arm action from a ¾ slot. Accurate throws from the outfield at 85 mph with carry. Athletic actions, plays thru the ball. Made a diving catch in centerfield in game.

4. Tyler Chadwick, OF/RHP/1B, Marshall, 2020
6-foot-4, 175-pound right-handed hitting utility player with a lanky, highly projectable frame. Intriguing two way talent. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a leg kick stride and good balance. Gap to gap hitter with fluid rhythm and a fast bat. 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.61 runner down the line. Defensively in the outfield threw an event best 91 mph from the outfield. Long arm action from an over the top slot. Accurate throw with carry. Plays thru the ball with fluid rhythm. Also took drills at first base and threw 79 mph across the infield. Projects best on the mound. Works from an over the top arm angle with a long, loose arm action. Tall and fall delivery with easy effort and smooth rhythm. Fastball sat 83-85 topping out at 86 mph. Curveball has 11-5 shape at 67-71 mph. Changeup has downer action at 72-74 mph.  

5. Gunnar Doyle, OF, Oak Creek (WI), 2020
6-foot, 175-pound left-handed hitting right-handed throwing outfielder. Ast the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short strided and good balance. Line drive, gap to gap hitter with consistent hard contact. 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.43 runner down the line. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Plays thru the ball with a clean exchange. Threw 75 mph from the outfield.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Marc Babicz, SS, St. Laurence, 2020
6-foot, 160-pound right-handed hitting shortstop. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with an armbar load and long stride. Long, uphill swing path. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.87 runner down the line. Defensively has a long arm action from an over the top slot. Plays thru the ball with a long exchange. Threw 78 mph from the outfield.

Sam Buduris, OF, Minooka, 2020
5-foot-9, 135-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Plays thru the ball with quick footwork and soft hands. Threw 77 mph from the outfield. At the plate hits from a balanced, slightly open stance with a short stride. Line drive hitter with a level swing path. 73 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.93 runner down the line.

Noah DeLuga, LHP/OF, Lake Zurich, 2020
6-foot, 175-pound left-handed hitting LHP/OF with a strong frame. Established himself as one of the top arms in the Illinois Class of 2020. Works from a ¾ arm angle with a short, quick arm action. Works exclusively out of the stretch. Tall and fall delivery with easy effort, slightly closed landing with an upright finish. Hides the ball well. Fastball was firm with late running action at 84-85 topping out at 86 mph. Curveball has 2-8 shape at 69 mph. Can back foot RHHs for swings and misses. Featured a changeup in warmups at 71-72 mph. Struckout all four hitters he faced. Offensively hits from a tall, narrow setup with a short leg lift stride and average balance. Short, leve swing path. 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.33 runner down the line. Defensively has a short arm action from a ¾ arm slot. Throws showed carry from the outfield at 87 mph.

Jacob Ferry, OF, Oswego East, 2020
6-foot-1, 160-pound left-handed hitting outfielder with a lanky frame. At the plate hits from an open setup with a short stride. Line drive, gap to gap hitter. 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.46 runner down the line. Defensively has a long arm action from an over the top slot. Plays thru the ball with fluid footwork. Threw 79 mph from the outfield.

Eben Heine, OF/RHP, Plainfield North, 2020
6-foot-1, 165-pound right-handed hitting OF/RHP with a lanky frame. Features plus arm strength, threw 90 mph from the outfield in workouts. Raw arm strength translates on the mound. Long arm action from a high ¾ slot, throws showed carry. Plays thru the ball with athletic actions and a quick exchange. At the plate hits from a balanced slightly open setup with a toe tap stride and fair balance. Long, level swing path. 4.61 runner down the line. 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a quick arm action. Drop and drive Uptempo delivery with a slightly closed landing. Fastball sat 81-85 topping out at 86 mph, lost velocity from the stretch. Curveball has 11-5 shape with short breaking action at 70-72 mph. Changeup sat 76-78 mph.

Mason Hsieh-Bailey, OF, Oak Park-River Forest, 2020
5-foot-9, 140-pound right-handed hitting outfielder with a small, athletic frame. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Plays thru the ball with a quick, clean exchange and fluid footwork. Threw 75 mph from the outfield. At the plate hits from a slightly open setup with a short stride and average balance. Line drive hitter with a short swing path. 67 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.36 runner down the line.

Connor Gill, RHP/OF, Oswego East, 2020
6-foot, 145-pound left-handed hitting RHP/OF with a highly projectable frame. On the mound works from an over the top arm angle with a short arm circle and hesitation on the backside. Arms works quick with regular effort. Tall and fall, slow paced delivery working in line with home plate. Square landing with an athletic finish. Fastball has tilt at 81-83 mph. Showed feel for curveball with 12-6 shape at 68-70 mph. Changeup has sinking action at 73 mph. Hides the ball well, tough to pick up curveball out of hand, gets swings and misses. Retired all four hitters he faced in his outing. Offensively hits from a balanced setup with an armbar load and average balance. Pull hitter with a long, uphill swing path. 89 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.57 runner down the line. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Threw 83 mph from the outfield.

Jack Kuchel, OF/RHP, Sandburg, 2020
5-foot-11, 165-pound right-handed hitting OF/RHP with a strong frame. At the plate hits from a wide base with a short stride and average balance. Long, uphill swing path. 91 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.57 runner down the line. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball with average hands. Threw 82 mph from the outfield. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall delivery with some effort on release and an upright finish. Fastball has cutting action at 79-82 mph. Curveball sat 69-70 mph. Changeup sat 74 mph.

Drew Masset, RHP/OF, Ramsey, 2020
5-foot-10, 185-pound right-handed hitting RHP/OF. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall delivery with easy effort working in line with home plate. Fastball had heavy action. Doesn’t consistently get on top of fastball, allows him to cut it and sink it at 74-77 topping out at 78 mph. Curveball has 12-6 shape with loose rotation at 62-65 mph. Changeup has cutting action at 68 mph. Struckout two in his inning of work. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short stride and fair balance. Pull hitter with an uphill swing path. 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.75 runner down the line. Defensively took drills in the outfield, throwing 76 mph.

Nicholas Nielson, OF, Peshtigo (WI), 2020
5-foot-11, 165-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. At the plate hits from an open setup with a long toe tap, leg kick stride. Opposite field hitter with a long, uphill swing path. 85 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.72 runner down the line. Defensively has a long arm action from a ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball. Threw 74 mph from the outfield.

Henry Schuler, RHP/OF, Joliet Catholic, 2020
5-foot-10, 145-pound right-handed hitting RHP/OF. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall delivery working in line with home plate. Fastball sat 74-76 mph. Curveball has 12-6 shape with loose rotation at 62-64 mph. Changeup sat 68 mph. At the plate hits from a closed setup with a short stride. Opposite field hitter. 77 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.82 runner down the line. Defensively took drills in the outfield, threw 75 mph.

Jack Shields, OF, Peoria Notre Dame, 2020
5-foot-11, 175-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. At the plate hits from a tall, narrow, open stance with a leg lift stride and average balance. Pull hitter with fluid rhythm. Short, uphill swing path. 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.68 runner down the line. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Threw 77 mph from the outfield.

Evan Tocmo, SS/OF, Huntley, 2020
5-foot-9, 155-pound right-handed hitting SS/OF. At the plate hits from a tall, open setup with good balance. Line drive hitter with a short, uphill swing path. 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.51 runner down the line. Took drills in the infield and outfield, profiles best in the outfield. Short arm action from an over the top slot. Plays thru the ball with quick, fluid footwork. Threw 78 mph from the outfield and 76 mph across the infield.

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