Chicagoland Open: Outfielder Analysis

On Sunday, Aug. 26, Triton JC played host to the annual Chicagoland Open. The Chicagoland Open was the final summer showcase of 2018 and has a rich history of unveiling top prospects from around the state. This year’s event was no different, as a number of players emerged as high follows in their respective classes.

Today, we’ll analyze the outfielders who made it to the Chicago-area event.

Ben Hetelle (South Elgin, 2019) must have gotten accustomed to the Triton turf because he committed to the junior college earlier this month. At the showcase, Hetelle was one of the top hitters in attendance. The 6-foot-1, 165-pound left-handed hitter demonstrated loose, quick hands and flashed some pull power at the Open.

Another left-handed bat who showed well was OF/RHP Braden Highley (Mt. Zion, 2030). Highley has a strong 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame, with a loose swing and is able to create leverage.

Joining Hetelle and Highley as standouts were a couple of sub-7.00 60 runners who had solid all-around days: Peyton Agan (Ankeny, IA; 2019) and Adam Huekels (Marian Catholic, 2020).

Read the reports on Hetelle, Highley, Agan, and Huekels, as well as the rest of the outfielders who attended Chicagoland Open, by continuing on below. We’ve already published a Statistical Analysis from the showcase, as well as a breakdown of the day’s catchers. Also, keep an eye out tomorrow when we publish our in-depth look at the infielders who performed at the event.

OUTFIELD PROSPECTS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Peyton Agan, OF, Ankeny (IA), 2019
5-foot-9, 160-pound, athletic, well-proportioned, right-handed hitting outfielder. 6.91 runner in the 60, laser-timed. At the plate, balanced, taller setup, minimal load, gets separation in hands and toe-tap stride. Aggressive swing, loose, quick hands, long level bat path and consistent hard contact. 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, athletic outfield actions, attacks the baseball, fluid footworks, plays through the baseball, reliable sure-handed. Loose, quick arm action, high ¾ slot, accurate throws with carry and clocked at 79 mph.

Grant Baker, OF, South Elgin, 2019
5-foot-11, 175-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder with present strength. Offensively, balanced, open setup, pre-pitch load, gets hands back and leg-kick timing trigger. Aggressive swing, long, uphill bat path and gap-to-gap approach. 74 mph exit velocity. Defensively, strong arm from the outfield. Long arm action, high ¾ slot, accurate throws with carry, topped at 86 mph. Steady hands, clean transfer and plays through the baseball at times. 7.50 runner in the 60.

Michael Carvatta, OF/RHP, Maine South, 2019
5-foot-10, 161-pound, right-handed hitting, two-way prospect. At the plate, balanced setup, smooth loading action, long leg-lift trigger. Long bat path, works level through the zone and 76 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, steady hands, plays through the baseball, long arm action from a high ¾ to over-the-top arm action. Throws clocked at 78 mph from the outfield. 7.85 runner in the 60. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, delivery works on-line and lands square. Arm works long and out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball works straight, thrown for strikes, sat 71-73 mph. Curveball, best secondary offering, 11/5 action, short, tight break, feel, 68-70 mph. Changeup, arm-side-run and occasional sinking action, 66-70 mph.

Shane Curtin, LHP/OF, Mount Carmel, 2022
5-foot-9, 155-pound, live-bodied, two-way prospect. Put himself on the map as a high-follow 2022 left-handed pitcher. Highly-athletic delivery, repeatable, works with rhythm, stays on-line and lands square. Arm action projects for more velocity in the future. Works clean, loose and quick out of a ¾ slot. Fastball, clean out of the hand, slight arm-side-run, thrown for strikes, sat 78-81 mph, touched 82. Curveball, thrown aggressively, 1/7 plane, tigh spin, sharp action, feel, 68-71 mph. Changeup, sink and fade action, feel, 72-74 mph. Potential for three above-average offerings on the mound. 7.43 runner in the 60, laser-timed. At the plate, left-handed hitter, balanced setup, leg-kick timing trigger, long, level bat path and 75 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, athletic outfield actions, plays with bounce, fluid footwork, soft hands, plays through the baseball and quick, clean release. Short arm action, high ¾ slot, accurate throws, topped at 81 mph. High-follow 2022 left-handed pitcher.

Tom Egan, RHP/OF, Mount Carmel, 2021
5-foot-11, 170-pound, two-way prospect, athletic, well-proportioned buld. Ran a 7.19 laser-timed 60. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, drop and drive delivery, lands square and stays on-line. Slight plunge out of the glove, arm works loose and fast out of a high ¾ window. Fastball, thrown for strikes, works mostly straight, finishes through the zone, 81-82 mph. Slider is a swing and miss offering; late, sharp, tight action, 72-73 mph. Changeup, projects, flashed advanced sink and fade action at times, 68-73 mph. Curveball 12/6 plane, 64-66 mph. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, pre-pitch movement, toe-tap stride. Loose, twitchy hands, creates bat speed. Ball jumps off the bat at times; registered an 85 mph exit velocity from a tee. In the outfield, steady hands, short loose arm action, throws carry and topped at 84 mph. Follow 2021 right-handed arm.

Jay Gail, OF, Wheaton North, 2019
5-foot-9, 160-pound, well-proportioned, two-way prospect. 7.27 runner in the 60, laser-timed. Right-handed hitter, balanced, tall setup, short leg-kick trigger, short bat path, stays inside the baseball and opposite field approach; 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, in the outfield, aggressively attacks the baseball, quick footwork, plays through the baseball and reliable hands. Short arm action, high ¾ slot, accurate throws with carry; topped at 83 mph. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, works quick and throws a high-volume of strikes. Delivery works with rhythm, stays on-line and lands front-toe closed. Short arm action from an over-the-top slot. Fastball works mostly straight, occasional arm-side-run, thrown for strikes, sat 79-80 mph, touched 81. Changeup, maintains arm speed, feel, fade action, 69-71 mph. Curveball, depth at times, mostly 11/5 plane, 63-65 mph. Slider, thrown with conviction, 10/4 shape, short break, 68-69 mph.

Ben Hetelle, OF, South Elgin, 2019
Recent Triton JC commit. 6-foot-1, 165-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder; long, lean, athletic-build. At the plate, balanced setup, pre-pitch load, leg-kick timing trigger and fluid rhythm throughout. Loose hands, present bat speed, uphill path, looks to lift the baseball and pull approach; 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, steady hands and clean transfer from the outfield. Long arm action, high ¾ slot and throws clocked at 76 mph from the outfield. 7.24 runner in the 60, laser-timed.

Braden Highley, OF/RHP, Mt. Zion, 2020
6-foot-1, 185-pound, strong, athletically-built, two-way prospect. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, smooth, methodical delivery, works on-line and lands square. Long, quick arm action from an over-the-top slot. Fastball, straight action, tilt when down in the zone, sat 82-83 mph. Curveball is best secondary offering, flashed hard, downer action, tight spin, feel, 72-74 mph. Changeup, mostly straight action, fade action at times, 73-75 mph. Slider 10/4 shape, 72-73 mph. Also, threw two knuckleballs at 70-74 mph. 7.26 runner in the 60, laser-timed. At the plate, left-handed hitter, taller setup, toe-tap stride and utilizes lower half. Quick twitch hands, creates bat speed, short level bat path, gap-to-gap, pull approach. 84 mph exit velocity from a tee. In the outfield, steady hands, plays through the baseball, clean transfer. Long arm action, over-the-top slot, throws carry at 85 mph.  

Adam Huekels, OF, Marian Catholic, 2020
5-foot-11, 160-pound, well-proportioned, wiry, right-handed hitting outfielder. Ran an event best 60, 6.85 laser-timed. Offensively, balanced setup, smooth minimal loading action, short stride. Long bat path, line-drive approach and 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, steady hands, plays through the baseball, clean transfer. Clean arm action, over-the-top slot and throws topped at 83 mph.  

Phillip Hunter, OF, De La Salle, 2020
5-foot-8, 165-pound, strong, right-handed hitting outfielder. 7.05 runner in the 60, laser-timed. At the plate, balanced, quiet setup and short stride. Level bat path at times, worked the middle of the field, line-drive approach and 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, fluid footwork, sure-handed, plays through the baseball and clean transfer. Short, loose arm action, high ¾ slot and throws clocked at 78 mph.

Jimmy Moylan, RHP/OF, St. Rita, 2020
5-foot-10, 155-pound, two-way prospect. Right-handed pitcher, delivery works with rhythm, slightly across his body, lands closed and easy effort throughout. Short, quick arm action from an over-the-top slot. Fastball works mostly straight, occasional cutting action, thrown for strikes, 80-83 mph, touched 84. Curveball, sharp action, 11/5 plane, maintains arm speed, feel, 65-69 mph. Changeup, arm-side-run, ranged between, 70-73 mph. At the plate, right-handed hitter, open setup, stride gets back to even, uphill path at times; 77 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, reliable hands, plays tall through the baseball, short arm action, throws clocked at 79 mph. 7.32 runner in the 60, laser-timed.

Luke Pell, OF/RHP, Providence Catholic, 2020
6-foot-1, 175-pound, athletically-built, two-way prospect. 7.22 runner in the 60, laser-timed. Offensively, right-handed hitter, tall setup, pre-pitch load and toe-tap stride. Long bat path, pull approach and 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, athletic outfield actions, fluid quick footwork, concise routes, plays through the baseball and clean transfer. Long, loose arm action, high ¾ slot and throws carrry; clocked at 83 mph. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, coiled at balance point, rotational delivery, lands square. Long arm action, high ¾ window. Fastball, straight action, 76-78 mph. Curveball, 11/5 plane, ranged between 64-68 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, works straight, 65-69 mph.

Drew Robinson, OF/RHP, New Trier, 2020
6-foot-2, 170-pound, long-limbed, projecably-built, two-way prospect. 7.23 runner in the 60, laser-timed. At the plate, right-handed hitter, balanced setup, minimal hand load and short stride. Simple swing, long level bat path, pull approach and registered an 86 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, in the outfield, works through the baseball at times, long arm action, high ¾ slot and throws topped at 80 mph. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, delivery works with rhythm, lands square and on-line. Long arm action, ¾ slot. Fastball, cutting action, 75-79 mph, touched 80. Curveball, 11/5 plane, depth, 62-66 mph. Changeup, feel for the zone, fade action, 71-73 mph.

Adam Wenberg, OF, Stillman Valley, 2019
5-foot-9, 140-pound, wiry, right-handed hitting outfielder. 7.20 runner in the 60, laser-timed. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride, simple swing, minimal wasted movement and registered an 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively, fluid footwork, natural outfield actions, plays through the baseball. Long arm action, ¾ to high ¾ slot and throws topped at 79 mph.

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