By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Illinois/Wisconsin

Outfield prospects were led by senior Jacob Goldberg of Woodstock North HS. Goldberg led all outfielders with the best arm strength at 86 mph from the outfield. Several 2017 prospects showed well, and Tyler Acosta (Barrington) was the only 2018 prospect on the list.

Top Outfield Prospects

1. Jacob Goldberg, OF, Woodstock North, 2016
6-foot, 190-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. Quick twitch athlete with some present strength. Defensively has a long arm action from an over the top arm slot with carry on throws. Plays thru the ball with quick footwork. Threw 86 mph from the outfield. Offensively hits form a balanced setup with a two piece load and short stride. Pull hitter with a long, uphill swing path. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.26.

2. Reginald Brock, OF, Simeon, 2017
5-foot-10, 180-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder with strong, athletic frame. Currently ranked No. 89 in the Illinois Class of 2017. Defensively has a long arm action from an over the top arm slot, flashed carry on throws. Quick footwork and exchange with average hands. Threw 82 mph from the outfield. Offensively hits from a tall, narrow setup. Short leg kick stride with raw bat speed. Gap-to-gap hitter with a short swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.16.

3. Charlie Rodriguez, OF, St. Rita, 2017
5-foot-9, 160-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder. Offensively hits from a balanced, open stance with a smooth load and short, leg kick stride. Line drive, pull hitter with a level swing path. 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.29. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Some accuracy with slight run on throws. Athletic fielder, plays thru the ball with fluid footwork. Threw 81 mph from the outfield.

4. Tyler Acosta, OF, Barrington, 2018
6-foot-1, 155-pound right-handed hitting outfielder with a lanky, athletic frame. Offensively hits from an open stance with a short leg lift stride. Short, uphill swing path with quick hands. 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.16 Defensively has a long, quick arm action from an over the top arm slot. Plays thru the ball with quick footwork and a quick exchange. Threw 79 mph from the outfield. 

5. Austin Straley, OF, DePaul College Prep, 2016
5-foot-10, 160-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder with a strong frame. Offensively hits from a tall, open stance with a short leg lift stride. Line drive hitter with a short swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.00. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Accurate throws that flashed carry. Plays thru the ball with a clean exchange and fluid footwork. Threw 76 mph from the outfield.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Ernst Coupet, SS/OF, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2017
Long and lean 6-foot, 145-pound right-handed hitting infielder and outfielder. Projectable body has plenty of room to add strength as he matures. Offensively, two-piece swing with an early, long stride. Short path to the baseball, line-drive hitter, flashed loose hands with the ability to backspin the baseball at times. Exit velocity registered, 74 mph. Defensively, worked out in both the infield and the outfield. On the infield, steady hands and athletic fielding position. Clocked at 69 mph across the infield. In the outfield, plays through the baseball, long-arm action, high ¾ slot and clocked at 72 mph from the outfield. Also, ran a 7.4 60 yard dash.

Alberto Garcia, OF, Hersey, 2017
6-foot-1, 175-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder. Offensively hits from an open stance with a low hand set, and toe tap stride. Long, uphill swing path. 81 mph exit velocity form a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.87. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot with slower actions. Threw 68 mph from the outfield.

Corey Graham, OF/SS, Crete Monee, 2018
Slender build 5-foot-10, 151-pound right-handed hitting infielder and outfielder. Offensively, loose hands creating some whip through the zone. Two-piece swing, early pre-pitch load of his hands and short stride. Balanced, tall setup and good balance through contact. Looked to pull in batting practice, line-drive approach and flashes some bat speed at times. Registered an exit velocity 73 mph. Defensively, from the outfield long-arm action, high ¾ slot and clocked at 75 mph from the outfield. On the infield, reliable hands, shorter arm action, ¾ slot and registered 68 mph across the infield. Also, ran a 7.28 60 yard dash.

Anthony Herron, 1B/OF, Simeon, 2018
Physically advanced 6-foot-1, 220-pound large, thick build right-handed hitting first-baseman and outfielder. Offensively, showcased some of the fastest bat speed at the event. Ball jumped off of his bat and made a different sound during his round of batting practice. Simple compact swing, plus strength, fluid rhythm and consistently made hard contact. Presence and confidence in the box. Starts from a tall, open stance and long stride. Short path to the baseball and gets extension through contact. Has present pull power, showcased when he hit a home-run to deep left-center field. Exit velocity registered, 87 mph, well-above average for his age. Defensively, worked out in both the outfield and infield. Projects as more of a first-baseman. Moves well around the bag at first and showed feel for the position. Reliable hands and clean exchange. Short-arm action, over-the-top slot and clocked at 65 mph across the infield. From the outfield, plays through the baseball. Clocked at 71 mph from the outfield from an over-the-top slot. Also, ran a 7.45 60 yard dash.

Kyle Hetherington, OF/LHP, Crystal Lake South, 2019
5-foot-7, 135-pound left-handed hitting OF/LHP with a small frame. Defensively has a long, loose arm action from a ¾ arm slot with solid actions. Athletic fielder with quick, fluid footwork and a clean exchange. Threw 82 mph from the outfield. Offensively hits from a balanced setup with a high back elbow and toe tap stride. Uphill swing path. 70 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 8.03. On the mound works from a low ¾- ¾ arm angle with a quick, loose arm action. Tall and fall online delivery with smooth rhythm and an athletic finish. Fastball showed slight running action at 73-75 topping out at 76 mph. Curveball showed sweeping action at 61-63 mph. Slider blended with curveball at 62-65 mph. Will continue to improve with maturity.

Brady Kauppila, RHP/OF, Yorkville, 2016
5-foot-11, 155-pound RHP/OF with a long, lean build. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short, quick arm action. Uptempo, tall and fall, online delivery with a level shoulders throughout. Threw fastball for strikes at 77-78 topping out at 79 mph. Curveball showed 11-5 shape with gradual action at 65-68 mph. Showed feel for a changeup with fading action for strikes at 71-72 mph. Defensively has a long arm action from an over the top arm slot. Accurate throws that flashed carry with average hands. Plays thru the ball with a quick footwork and a clean exchange. Threw 82 mph from the outfield. Offensively hits from a balanced, closed stance with a short stride and average balance. Long, uphill swing path. 74 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.45.

Madison Lowery, OF/1B, Simeon, 2017
Strong 6-foot-4, 220-pound physical specimen on a baseball field. Right-handed hitting outfielder and first-baseman. Ran a 7.18 60 yard dash and had the highest exit velocity of the event, 94 mph. Offensively, complimented his fast bat speed with plus strength and consistent, hard contact. Hands stay on top entering the hitting zone and showed the ability to back spin baseballs. Fluid rhythm, short path into the zone and bat stays level through contact. Starts from balanced, wide setup, smooth pre-pitch load and short stride. Defensively, in the outfield, fluid footwork, steady hands and played through the baseball. Long-arm action, over-the-top slot, some accuracy, clocked at 76 mph. Also has abilities and may be best suited for first base.

Jaylen Patterson, RHP/OF, Gwendolyn Brooks, 2018
6-foot, 170-pound RHP/OF with a lanky frame. On the mound works from an over the top arm angle with a short, quick arm action. Tall and fall online delivery with a square landing and athletic finish. Smooth rhythm with level shoulders throughout. Threw fastball for strikes at 80-81 mph. Curveball showed 12-6 shape with tight rotation and depth for strikes at 64-67 mph. Maintained armspeed on changeup with sinking action at 76-77 mph. Slider showed tighter action at 68-70 mph. Defensively has a long arm action from an over the top arm slot. Athletic fielder with quick, fluid footwork. Threw 82 mph from the outfield. At the plate hits from a tall open stance with a smooth load and short stride. Pull hitter with a long, uphill swing path. 68 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.25.

Noel Rodriguez, OF, Lincoln Park, 2017
5-foot-6, 125-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder with a small, athletic frame. Ran the 60 at 7.01. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Online throws with some accuracy. Plays thru the ball with a clean exchange. Threw 78 mph from the outfield. Offensively hits from a wide, balanced setup. Short leg lift stride with an uphill swing path. 76 mph exit velocity from a tee.

Barry White, LHP/OF, Lincoln-Way Eat, 2019
5-foot-4, 115-pound, left-handed hitting LHP/OF. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall, online delivery with regular effort, and smooth rhythm. Fastball sat 71-72 mph. Curveball showed 1-7 shape with early action. Showed feel for his changeup that flashed sinking action for strikes at 63-65 mph. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Plays thru the ball with a quick, clean exchange and average hands. Threw 74 mph from the outfield. Offensively hits from a balanced, tall setup with a short stride. Spray hitter with a short, level swing path. 70 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.64. Will continue to improve with maturity.  

Juston Woodard, OF, Mount Carmel, 2016
6-foot, 185-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder with a strong frame. Ran the 60 at 6.98. Offensively hits from a balanced, slightly open stance with a short stride. Long, level swing path. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively has a short arm action from a ¾ arm slot with slower actions. Threw 75 mph from the outfield.

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