Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Prospect Identification Showcase 2.18.13: Outfield Analysis

March 6, 2013

By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director - Illinois

Today we are breaking down the outfield group at the Prospect Identification Showcase at the Quarry Fieldhouse on Feb. 18. Justin Hoffman (Carbondale HS, 2014) took the top spot showing the best arm strength from the outfield as well as the best home to first time of the day at 4.08. Here’s how the rest of the group shakes out.

Top Outfielders

1. Justin Hoffmann, Carbondale HS, RHP/OF, Class of 2014
Athletic frame, 6-foot-2, 175-pound two way player. On the mound showed upside. Delivery shows effort. Arm action is quick, over the top slot. Fastball sat 84-85, touching 87 twice, mostly straight. Breaking ball has 12/6 tilt, thrown for strikes, 67-68 mph. In the outfield showed arm strength, traditional outfield arm action, long and over the top, showed accuracy through his target with carry, 84 mph from the outfield. Exchange is clean, plays through the baseball well, athletic actions, uses crow hop. Shows excellent foot speed, well above average runner, 4.08 runner home to first. Offensively hits from an open stance, drops hands at load. Pull side approach.

2. Steven Ladd, Prairie Ridge HS, RHP/OF, Class of 2014
Athletic frame, 5-foot-11, 175-pound two way player. On the mound has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Fastball sits 80-81 topping out at 83 on his last pitch. Fastball is straight but is sneaky quick, occasional late life. Curveball has 11/5 shape at 66-68 mph, gradual break with feel. Changeup has some fading action, thrown with control, decelerated arm action, 70-72 mph.  Also showed knuckleball at 69-72 mph. At the plate hits from an open stance, uses short stride. Line drive hitter, looks to work the middle of the field, consistent hard contact, finds the barrel. Defensively arm shows strength from the outfield 80 mph but lacks carry. Feet work well, shows excellent foot speed, 4.19 runner home to first.

3. Tyler Kopp, Lincoln-Way West HS, OF, Class of 2013
5-foot-10, 160-pound outfielder. Defensively feet work athletically, 4.25 runner home to first, fields the baseball athletically on the move. Arm plays from a high ¾ arm slot, uses crow hop, 76 mph from the outfield. Offensively hits from a slightly open stance, uses heel lift stride. Swing has some flatness, makes consistent contact, repeatable swing, bat speed present, 88 mph exit velocity. 

4. Tyler Stegich, Niles West HS, OF/SS, Class of 2015
Athletic build, 5-foot-10, 150-pound outfielder. Defensively arm shows playability (77 mph), short loose action, over the top slot with accuracy. Defensively shows fluid footwork with some quickness, 4.39 runner home to first, clean exchange, fields the baseball athletically. Offensively, hits from a balanced stance, short stride, solid balance throughout, 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.

5. Jack Molnar, Fremd HS, OF/RHP, Class of 2016
Lanky frame, 6-foot, 150-pound two way player. Very projectable athlete. On the mound showed a long loose arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Fastball has run with occasional sink, showed control, 75-76 mph. Breaking ball has 11/5 shape, early action, gets around the baseball, thrown with near fastball arm speed, 65-66 mph, showed feel. Changeup has feel, 68 mph. In the outfield, uses a long over the top arm action, 77 mph from the outfield. Hits from a closed stance, no stride approach, lacks lower half involvement, good balance throughout. Line drive approach, 75 mph exit velocity.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Jacob Ahrens, McHenry West HS, OF/3B, Class of 2016
Strong bodied, 5-foot-11, 165-pound outfielder. Arm slot is over the top, 72 mph arm strength, some hesitation attacking the baseball. Offensively shows excellent bat speed for age, 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Hits from a wide stance, slightly longer stride, level bat path, stays flat through the zone. Young strong hitter to follow.

Mason Coggins, Delavan HS, OF, Class of 2013
6-foot, 175-pound left handed outfielder. At the plate, hits from the left side, balanced stance, toe tap trigger. Shows bat speed, 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Path shows length, pull side hitter. Defensively, arm action is long, high ¾ arm slot, 68 mph from the outfield.

Kyle Copeland, Jacobs HS, OF/RHP, Class of 2016
Lanky frame, 5-foot-10, 145-pound two way player. Shows high projectability on the mound, loose arm action and slender frame make for high ceiling. Delivery is balanced and has rhythm, tall and fall approach, regular effort, stays tall at balance point. Long loose arm action, ball comes out cleanly, ¾ arm slot. ¾ arm slot generates late run, throws for strikes, 80-81 mph, touches 82 mph. Hasn’t developed breaking ball yet. Change up shows signs of having feel, fading action, thrown with near fastball arm speed, 75-76 mph. Showed knuckleball at 56-58 mph, minimal action. Will be a high follow on the mound. In the outfield arm works similarly to that on the mound, shows some accuracy, 83 mph arm strength from the crow hop. Offensively hits from a balanced setup, bat path is level, line drive approach, lacks strength offensively.

Cam Galgano, Providence Catholic HS, OF, Class of 2014
Strong bodied, wide shoulder, 5-foot-9, 175-pound left handed hitting outfielder. Shows foot speed, 4.25 runner home to first. Arm works from an over the top slot, arm action shows stiffness, stands tall at release, 69 mph from the outfield. Offensively hits from a balanced setup, minimal stride if any. Lower half shows some involvement. Bat path has extension, flat through the zone.  Moderate bat speed, 76 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Sage Gates, Prairie Ridge HS, OF/LHP, Class of 2015
Slender build, 5-foot-9, 145-pound left handed two way player. On the mound uses a tall and fall approach with some rhythm. Arm works with some length, ¾ arm slot. Fastball sits at 74-75 mph touching 76 mph, shows good run but misses the zone to his glove side. Curveball has 11/5 tendency, 64-66 mph. Offensively hits from a balanced setup with short stride approach. Bat path works, lacks timing, 73 mph exit velocity.

Nick Hilgemann, Neuqua Valley HS, OF, Class of 2015
5-foot-9, 160-pound left handed outfielder. Defensively arm works from a high ¾ arm slot, long arm action, lacks carry, 71 mph arm strength from the outfield, 4.2 runner home to first. Offensively hits from a balanced setup, short stride. Repeatable swing generated hard solid contact, excellent rhythm, tendency to lunge.

Anthony Holubecki, Kaneland HS, RHP/OF, Class of 2016
Lanky frame with athleticism, 6-foot-2, 175-pound two way player. High level 2016 prospect on the mound, showed high ceiling, very projectable. Delivery has balance, tall and fall. Arm action is long, quick arm speed, ¾ arm slot. Fastball has sink from ¾ slot, 84-85 mph, thrown with above average command for age. Curveball lacks true axis, still refining breaking ball, arm slot suggests potential for a sweeping slider. Change up is closer to being ready, occasional sinking action, arm shows signs of deceleration, 68-71 mph, has a feel for the pitch. In the outfield showed a long arm action from an elaborated crow hop, 4.39 runner home to first. Offensively hits from a balanced setup, heel lift trigger, 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Will project highly on the mound, potential to be a high level sinker slider guy from his ¾ arm slot.

Cahill Horner, Ottawa Township HS, OF, Class of 2014
6-foot-2, 220-pound outfielder. Defensively shows solid hands, hesitant attacking the baseball. Arm works with length, high ¾ arm slot, some accuracy, 74 mph from the outfield. At the plate, uses short stride, low hands, occasional hard contact. Shows bat speed, 85 mph exit velocity.

Eric Mallo, Richards HS, OF/RHP, Class of 2014
Lanky frame, 5-foot-10, 140-pound two way player. Defensively shows fluid footwork in the outfield, uses two hands fielding the baseball. Arm works from an over the top slot (74 mph). Offensively, hits from a slightly open stance, hands drop slightly during load, uses short stride. Short bat path, lacks extension, 74 mph exit velocity from the tee. 4.39 runner home to first. On the mound fastball is mostly straight, 71-72 mph, controlled mostly at the top of the zone. Curveball has 11/5 shape, early gradual action, 63-65 mph. Change up lacks separation from fastball, 68-71 mph, straight action, thrown with fastball arm speed.

Sam Muszynski, Plainfield South HS, OF, Class of 2014
5-foot-10, 160-pound outfielder. Uses short arm action, shows accuracy, with some carry, 78 mph. Outfield actions show stiffness, uses two hands in the outfield. Runs 4.25 home to first. Hits from a slightly open stance, slight leg lift. Shows bat speed, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee. Shows extension and balance throughout.

Alex Ragusa, Joliet Catholic Academy, RHP/OF, Class of 2015
6-foot, 160-pound right handed two way player. Showed better on the mound. Tall and fall delivery, has some rhythm. Arm action is loose from a high ¾ arm slot. Fastball is mostly straight showing slight run, showed command for his fastball, 76-77 mph. Curveball showed feel, thrown consistently for strikes, 61-63 mph. Changeup shows good arm speed and deception, shows feel, sinking action 69-71 mph, also has command. Offensively hits from a balanced stance, uses short stride, good balance throughout. Bat path shows extension, gap to gap tendencies, 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Aaron Saper, Stevenson HS, OF/LHP, Class of 2015
5-foot-11, 170-pound left handed two way player. From the outfield shows athletic feet, uses crow hop, arm works from a ¾ arm slot, 77 mph from the outfield. At the plate hits from an open stance, uses short stride, 71 mph exit velocity from the tee. On the mound uses full windup delivery, shows some deception, tall and fall delivery, high ¾ arm slot. Fastball has slight run, 77-78 mph touching 79 mph. Multiple breaking balls. Curveball has 11/5 tilt, some sweeping action, gradual bend, 61-64 mph. Slider shows identical action, lacks separation from curveball, 66 mph. Change up is down, 68-70 mph.

Mitchell Swatek, Oak Lawn HS, OF, Class of 2014
6-foot-2, 175-pound outfielder. Defensively shows a clean exchange, arm works from over the top slot, some accuracy, 75 mph from his crow hop. Offensively hits from a slightly open stance, arm bar load, short stride. Bat path shows length, solid balance, showed bat speed, repeatable swing, keeps it quiet, 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Jon Walters, Bloomington Central Catholic, OF, Class of 2015
Body shows athletic build on a lanky frame, 6-foot, 175-pound outfielder. Defensively uses crow hop, stands tall at release, stiff front side, 72 mph from the outfield. Offensively, hits from a balanced setup, no stride approach. Flashes bat speed, 80 mph exit velocity.

Click Here to see complete catching analysis

More Illinois News