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2.16 Underclass Invitational East: Outfielders Analysis

March 19, 2015

Shon Plack
Missouri Scouting Director

On Monday, February 16, Prep Baseball Report-Missouri held the Underclass Invitational East showcase for players in the 2017 and 2018 class.  Over 60 players from around the state participated to show their skills in front of the PBR staff.

CLICK HERE to view the Instant Analysis article reviewing the top performers from the event in the various stat areas.

Over the next week we will be releasing position-by-position analysis articles with scouting reports on each player and identifying the top prospects. We will also be updating the Missouri class of 2017 and 2018 player rankings over the next few weeks.

Today we take a look at the outfielders that participated in the event. The talent level was high and included many of the top class of 2017 and 2018 catching prospects from Missouri.

Top Outfield Prospects

Craig Theiss, OF, De Soto, 2017
Theiss is an athletic 6-foot-6 205-pound outfielder.  Offensively, balanced set-up, smooth load, no wasted actions, small stride, short to contact, level path, fast bat speed, 88 mph exit velo, 4.19 home-to-first. Defensively, plays thru ball, crow hop, over-the-top release, loose/easy arm action, momentum towards target, clean exchange, quick footwork, athletic actions, event high 90 mph velo from outfield, impressive athlete in the 2017 class.

Carter Mize, OF, Fort Zumwalt West, 2017
Mize is a slim 6-foot 150-pound left-handed hitting outfielder, offensively 79 mph exit velo, balanced stance, short stride, level path, line drive to mostly pull gap, quick/loose hands hands, consistent quaility contact during batting practice, runs 4.37 home-to-first, in the outfield, high three-quarters arm slot, plays behind the ball, clean exchange, crow hop, plays thru the catch, 78 mph positional velo, arm work, loose arm action, projectable frame and arm action will lead to increased velo.

Douglas Payne, OF, Cuba, 2017
Douglas is a lean 5-foot-9 150-pound second-baseman from Cuba, MO. Open set-up at the plate, coils a bit to load, lands square.  Consistent hard contact to middle-opposite field during batting practice, loose hands, 83 mph exit velo, ran a 4.34 home-to-first. In the outfield, 84 mph positional velo, quick exchange and release, loose arm action, over-the-top arm slot, momentum through catch, crow hop, accurate throws, showing increased velocities since last event.

Brendan Kelly, OF, CBC, 2017
Kelly is a 5-foot-6 145-pound outfielder from Christian Brothers College.  At the plate, athletic set up, leg kick, consistent line-drives during batting practice, short to contact, level to extension, line drive approach, balanced finish, 79 mph exit velo, has tremendous speed with 4.01 home-to-first, tops for the event.  In the outfield, plays behind ball, quick foot work, clean exchange, momentum thru catch, 76 mph positional velo, showing improvement since last event.

The Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Thatcher Burns, OF, Marquette, 2017
Burns is a 6-foot-3 160-pound left-handed hitting outfielder, offensively, starts in open stance, lands square, some hand load, smooth rhythm, uses middle of the field, level path, 80 mph exit velo, 4.43 home-to-first.  During outfield evaluations, plays thru ball, momentum thru catch and in throw, over-the-top release, quick exchange and release, 79 mph positional velo.

Matt Ference, OF, Lafayette, 2017
Ference is a 5-foot-11 155-pound outfielder.  At the plate, athletic set-up, small stride, smooth load, quick bat speed, level to extension path, gap-to-gap approach, 75 mph exit velo, 4.15 home-to-first. In the outfield, catches ball in athletic position, quick hand-to-glove exchange, over-the-top release, loose arm action, mostly accurate throws, 84 mph positional velo.

Colton Groshong, OF, Silex, 2017
Groshong is a 5-foot-9 145-pound outfielder in the 2017 class.  With the bat, athletic stance, has toe-tap and stride, short path to ball, uses middle of field, 83 mph exit velo, 4.41 home-to-first.  Defensively, high three-quarters release, moves to ball with a purpose, plays thru the catch, long arm swing, mostly accurate throws, 83 mph positional velo.

Tommy Kraus, OF, Vianney, 2017
Kraus is a 5-foot-7 147-pound left-handed hitting outfielder.  Offensively, balanced stance, low hands, minimal stride, quick bat speed, gap-to-gap approach, 83 mph exit velo, 4.25 home-to-first. In the outfield, plays thru ball, high three-quarters release, clean exchange, small crow hop, mostly accurate throws, 77 mph positional velo.

Stone Krogman, OF, Liberty, 2017
Krogman is a 6-foot-3 185-pound outfielder.  With the bat Krogman has 78 mph exit velo, tall stance, smooth load, has linear direction into contact, quick bat speed, consistent line drives during batting practice, gap-to-gap approach, ran 4.44 home-to-first, In the outfield, over-the-top arm slot, loose arm action, long arm swing, plays thru the ball, momentum towards target, 82 mph positional velo.

Drew Layman, OF, Cuba, 2017
Layman is a 5-foot-7 135-pound outfielder in the 2017 class.  Layman runs a 4.60 home-to-first, 75 mph exit velo, slightly open in stance, smooth rhythm, extended finish, consistent line drives during batting practice to middle of field.  In the outfield, works behind ball, momentum thru catch, over-top-release, arm works, 78 mph positional velo, lean frame with ability to add speed and strength.

Chris Lopez, Jr., OF, Parkway West, 2018
Lopez Jr. is a class of 2018 recruit from Parkway West in St. Louis, MO, stands 5-foot-9 145-pounds, bats right, throws left.  At the plate, tall and balanced stance, long stride, loose hands, gap-to-gap approach, 70 mph exit velo, down line in 4.69-seconds.  On the outfield, fluid footwork, clean exchange, crow hops, over-the-top release, accurate throws, 75 mph positional velo.

Matthew McGilvray, OF, Washington, 2017
McGilvray is a strong 5-foot-9 165-pound left-handed hitting outfielder in the 2017 class.  At the plate, tall/narrow stance, slightly open, rhythm in hands, smooth load, consistent line drives during batting practice, gap-to-gap approach, 78 mph exit velo, runs 4.16 home-to-first. Defensively, plays behind the ball, momentum to target, over-top-release, quick release, athletic actions, 78 mph positional velo,

Jack Riney, OF, Lafayette, 2017
Riney is a 6-foot-3 195-pound first baseman, hits right, throws left, with the bat, 88 mph exit velo, starts balanced lands square, level path, line drive approach to pull gap, runs 4.18 home-to-first. During outfield evaluations, momentum towards target, clean exchange, high three-quarters arm slot, loose arm action, 86 mph velo from the outfield.

Zachary Rosecrans, OF, Columbia (IL), 2017
Rosecrans is a 5-foot-9 180-pound left-handed hitting outfielder in the 2017 class. With the bat, consistent line drives to the middle of the field during batting practice, athletic stance, small stide, separates hands, gap-to-gap approach, quick bat speed, 83 mph exit velo, 4.34 home-to-first. In the outfield, high three-quarters arm slot, crow hop, quick exchange and release, all accurate throws, 72 mph positional velo.

Andrew Schofield, OF, Fort Zumwalt West, 2017
Schofield is a long-legged 5-foot-11 175-pound left-handed hitting 2B/MIF.  Open stance, small stride, smooth load, short path to ball, hit mostly pull side during batting practice, level swing path, 81 mph exit velo, 4.13 home-to-first. In the outfield, 82 mph positional velo, fluid hand-to-glove exchange, over-the-top release, loose arm action.

Tyler Sylanski, OF, Waterloo, 2017
Shylanski is a 6-foot-2 200-pound third baseman from Waterloo (IL), at the plate, narrow set up in feet, line drive approach, uses middle of field, 79 mph exit velo, 4.59 home-to-first, during outfield evaluations, 75 mph positional velo, quick catch and release, fluid exchange, over-the-top release, mostly accurate throws.

Carter Truong, OF, Central Community (IL), 2017
Truong is a 6-foot 155-pound outfielder from Central Community HS in Illinois.  Offensively, balanced set-up, minimal stride, no wasted movement, consistent line drives during batting practice, level path to extension, uses whole field, 79 mph exit

Andrew Wait, OF, Marquette, 2017
Wait is a 5-foot-9 130-pound outfielder in the 2017 class.  Offensively, balanced set up, loads hands, level path, gap-to-gap approach, 78 mph exit velo, runs 4.50 home-to-first. Defensively, gets behind ball, over-the-top release, long arm swing, loose arm action, clean exchange, quick release, 78 mph positional velo.

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