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Underclass Invitational: Outfield Analysis

February 19, 2015

By Sean McCann and Shon Plack
Prep Baseball Report

The Prep Baseball Report Underclass Invitational took place on January 19, 2015 at 68’s Inside Sports Indoor Training Facility in Overland Park, Kansas. The event featured several of the top class of 2017 and 2018 prospects from Kansas and Missouri. 

Over the last several days the PBR scouting staff has been rolling out position-by-position analysis articles with scouting reports on each player. Two-way players will be included in the position feature articles as well as pitching analysis.

Click here to view the article on the top statistical performers from the event.

Today we take a look at the outfield group. Leading the way is Kearney HS (MO) sophomore Jess Davis, a left-hand hitting centerfielder with impressive fast-twitch athleticism that can be seen in all aspects of his game including recording the event's top running time.

Sophomore Nate Scantlin from Rose Hill HS (KS) is another athletic left-hand hitting centerfielder that can run that also performed well at the plate and during defensive work. Shawnee Mission East HS (KS) sophomore Jake Randa stood out with an impressive round of batting practice, showing loose hands and bat speed while repeatedly squaring up the baseball in the middle of the field.

Mill Valley HS (KS) sophomore Luke Sosaya has an athletic, projectable frame (6-foot-3, 185-pounds) and made hard, flat contact during hitting evaluations. He also recorded the top home-to-first time for right-handed hitters at the event. Sophomore Oakley Reed of Olathe South HS (KS) impressed with a very aggressive left-handed swing that repeatedly produced hard contact.

 Top Outfield Prospects

1. Jess Davis, OF, Kearney HS, MO (2017)
Davis is a very athletic 6-foot, 175-pound left-hand hitting outfielder. Attends Kearney HS in Kearney, Missouri. Class of 2017. At the plate has a balanced set-up, leg kick, smooth load, line drive approach, slight pull. Recorded an 81 mph exit velocity, ran an event-best 3.91 home-to-first. Impact runner. In the outfield showed quick feet, clean exchanges, high three-quarters arm action, strong throws, very accurate arm. Prime athlete with frame that has more room to fill out and has the kind of speed that can impact the outcome of games, both offensively and defensively.

2. Nate Scantlin, OF, Rose Hill HS, KS (2017)
Scantlin is a strong, athletic 5-foot-11, 165 left-hand hitting outfielder. Attends Rose Hill HS in Kansas. Class of 2017. At the plate showed a tall set-up, narrow stance, short stride, loose hands, bat speed, lower half works, line drive approach, repeats swing. Recorded an 88 mph exit velocity - top mark in camp. Ran a 4.14 home-to-first, strong runner. Throws right-handed, in the outfield showed athletic actions, quick exchanges, high three quarters slot, 82 mph throwing velocity. Impressive class of 2017 left-hand hitting outfield prospect.

3. Jake Randa, OF/1B, Shawnee Mission East HS, KS (2017)
Randa is a left-hand hitting outfielder and first baseman that attends Shawnee Mission East HS in Prairie Village, KS. Class of 2017, 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame. Tall, open set-up at the plate, quiet stride, smooth load, short path to the ball, loose hands, delivers barrel out front with authority. Back side in sync with hands. Rhythm and flow. Maintains balance, finishes with extension. Squared the ball up repeatedly in batting practice. Recorded an 85 exit velocity, ran a 4.27 home-to-first. In the outfield attacked the ball, clean exchanges, quick high three-quarters arm action, played through, throws had carry, accurate arm. 

4. Luke Sosaya, OF, Mill Valley HS, KS (2017)
Sosaya is a athletic, projectable 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-hand hitting outfielder that attends Mill Valley, HS in Kansas. Class of 2017. At the plate showed a balanced set-up, sets hands early, leg kick, fast bat, very aggressive swing, extension through the baseball, maintains balance. Hard, flat contact in batting practice, middle to slight pull. Exit velocity clocked at 81 mph, ran a 4.07 home-to-first – top mark at the event for a right-handed hitter. Quick, athletic footwork in the outfield, quick exchanges, fast arm, high three-quarters slot, 84 mph throwing velocity, throws had carry, accurate arm. Impressive athlete that projects large.

5. Oakley Reed, OF, Olathe South HS, KS (2017)
Reed is a left-hand hitting outfielder that attends Olathe South HS in Olathe, KS. 5-foot-11, 170-pound frame. Class of 2017. Balanced set-up at the plate, minimal hand load, short bat path. Takes an absolute hack, very aggressive swing, backside fires in sync with hands, finishes with extension, made hard contact in the gaps. Ran a 4.50 home-to-first.  In the outfield fielded the ball out front, clean exchanges, high three-quarters arm slot, 79 throwing velocity, throws had carry, mostly accurate throws. 

Best of the rest (alphabetical order)

Alex Buffo, 1B/OF, Blue Valley West HS, KS (2017)
Buffo is a physical 6-foot, 215-pound right-hand hitting first baseman and outfielder that attends Blue Valley West HS in Stillwell, KS. Class of 2017.  During batting practice showed an open set-up. Pre-sets hand load and stride. Keeps hands inside ball, short swing, strong hands, middle-oppo approach. Exit velocity clocked at 81 mph, ran a 4.38 home-to-first, strong runner. In the outfield attacked the ball, clean exchanges, high three-quarters arm action, some effort, mostly accurate throws, 71 mph throwing velocity.

Brandon Carvan, RHP/MIF/OF, Raymore-Peculiar HS, MO (2018)
Carvan is a class of 2017 right-handed pitcher and shortstop/outfielder. Attends Raymore-Peculiar HS in Missouri. Thin, athletic 5-foot-9, 140-pound frame. Right-hand hitter, balanced set-up, smooth load, short bat path, upper half dominant. Simple swing with some bat speed. Middle line drives in batting practice. Ran a 4.41 home-to-first. In the outfield fielded the ball cleanly. Short, quick high three-quarters arm action, 77 mph throwing velocity, all accurate throws. On the mound showed a simple delivery with rhythm and flow. Athletic finish. Repeats. Natural three-quarters arm action. Fastball with arm side run, occasional cutting action glove side of plate, high percentage of strikes, 75-76 mph, 77 tops. Breaking ball with 11/5 shape, 67-69 mph. Change-up runs arm-side 68-69.

Tripp Horsey, OF, Glendale HS, MO (2017)
Horsey is a 5-foot-7, 140-pound outfielder. Attends Glendale HS in Springfield, MO. Class of 2017. Right-handed hitter, balanced set-up, wide base, builds rhythm with load, strides in place, short path to the ball, some lift in swing, aggressive, finishes with extension. Gap-to-gap approach. 75 mph exit velocity, ran a 4.57 home-to-first.  In the outfield attacked the ball, clean exchanges, crow hop, high three-quarters slot, plays through. Fundamentally sound defender.

Hayden Jeffryes, RHP/OF, Walnut Grove HS, MO (2017)
Jeffryes is a 5-foot-5, 150-pound left-handed pitcher and outfielder. Attends Walnut Grove HS in Missouri, class of 2017. Bats left, wide set-up. Shifts weight back with hand load, strides in place. Slight pull approach, line drives in batting practice. Ran a 4.38 home-to-first. In the outfield attacked the ball, clean exchanges, three-quarters slot. On the mound works under control early, picks up-tempo during knee lift, tall balance point. Drop and drive delivery. Three-quarters arm slot. Fastball 74-77 mph, spiked up to 81 once. Breaking ball with 1/7 shape, some sharpness, 68-68 mph. Change-up with arm-side fade 65-66 mph.

Michael Lane, RHP/OF, Blue Valley HS, KS (2017)
Michael Lane is a 6-foot, 160-pound right-handed pitcher and outfielder. Attends Blue Valley HS. Class of 2017. Athletic set-up at the plate, smooth load, toe tap then short stride, level bat path out front, excellent balance. Middle-oppo line drives in batting practice. Recorded an 80 mph exit velocity, ran a 4.71 home-to-first. Fielded the ball cleanly in the outfield, clean over-the-top arm action, 75 mph throwing velocity. On the mound showed a simple delivery with balance, three-quarters slot, arm works. Fastball with some arm side run, sink down in zone, holds consistent velocity, all fastballs 78-79 mph. Fastball command, works down in zone. Breaking ball with 12/6 shape, gradual action, strikes, 66-67 mph. Feel for 73-74 mph change-up. Threw strikes at a rate as high as anyone at the event, more in the tank velocity-wise. 

Adam Link, RHP/OF, Kickapoo HS, MO (2017)
Link is an athletic 6-foot-1, 155-pound right-handed pitcher and outfielder that attends Kickapoo HS in Southwest Missouri. Class of 2017. Right-handed hitter, showed a balanced set-up, leg kick, keeps hands inside the ball well, finishes with extension. Compact swing, repeats, made hard middle-oppo contact in batting practice. Recorded a 79 mph exit velocity, ran a 4.53 home-to-first. Aggressive to the ball in the outfield, athletic footwork, clean exchanges, high three-quarters slot, 79 mph throwing velocity. On the mound showed simple rocker step to balance move, tall balance point, three-quarters slot. Most fastballs with arm side run, also squared up the catcher glove side for low strike, 77-79 mph. Breaking ball with 12/6 shape, 70-72 mph. Change-up with arm-side run, 71-72 mph.

Will Morris, OF, Mill Valley HS, KS (2018)
Morris is a right-hand hitting outfielder that attends Mill Valley HS in Shawnee, KS. 5-foot-7, 142-pound frame. Switch-hitter. From the left side showed a balanced set-up, strides in place, sets minimal hand load early, simple swing, line drive approach, slight pull. Recorded a 73 mph exit velocity. Good runner, 4.10 home-to-first time from the left side. Right-handed showed a balanced set-up, strides in place, sets hands early, hands work, line drive approach, middle of the field line drives in batting practice, exit velocity mark of 77 mph.  In the outfield showed quick, athletic footwork, crow hop, quick exchanges, over-the-top throwing motion, 69 mph throwing velocity. Very athletic switch-hitting class of 2018 prospect.

Edward Scott, OF, Manhattan HS, KS (2017)
Scott is a class of 2017 outfielder that attends Manhattan HS in Kansas. 5-foot-10, 150-pound frame. Switch-hitter. Left-handed showed an open set-up, early stride, hands work, back side in sync with hands, line drive path, finishes with extension,  worked middle, 75 exit velocity, ran a 4.58 home-to-first. Right-handed has a balanced set-up, short early stride, aggressive swing, lower half works, line drive approach, maintains balance, finishes with extension, simple. Recorded an 80 mph exit velocity. Attacks ball in the outfield, clean exchanges, high three-quarters arm action, some arm quickness, throws had carry, 81 mph throwing velocity. Athletic-framed outfield prospect that has made improvements physically and in all skill areas over the last several months.

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