Prep Baseball Report

Class of 2021 Showcase: Outfield Analysis


By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

On Sunday, Oct. 13th the Class of 2021 Showcase took place at The MAX in McCook, IL. The event was open to all high school juniors from across the state and featured close to 70 uncommitted prospects.

Today we continue the positional breakdown with a look at the 18 outfielders in attendance.

Joey Hagen (Johnsburg) leads the way in regards to the outfielders from the day. Hagen is a left/left prospect who ran a sub-7.0 60 and took one of the top rounds of BP on the day. Hagen has a quick bat, controls the barrel and consistently found the barrel. On top of that, Hagen was one of the top arms on the day as well.

Behind Hagen is another left-handed hitting outfielder, Julian Jimenez (Romeoville). Jimenez has a long, athletic frame and loose swing that projects. Jimenez is a natural outfield defender who has the arm to play all three spots. 

Below is a look at all of the outfielders from the event.

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS

1. Joey Hagen, Johnsburg (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-foot-9, 165-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned strength.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, pre-pitch rhythm and load, slight bar action, short stride and maintains balance through contact. Fluid rhythm, quick hands, fast bat, level path, consistent hard gap-to-gap contact.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 84 mph. Arm plays short and from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Quick, fluid footwork, steady hands, plays through the baseball at times.
Run: 6.93 runner in the 60. 

2. Julian Jimenez, Romeoville (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-2, 170-pounds. Long-limbed, athletic, highly-projectable frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, quiet setup, smooth load and short stride. Hits off front foot, fluid rhythm, loose hands, fast bat and slight lift in swing.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot. Throws carried and played accurate.
Defense: Fluid outfield actions, attacks the baseball, smooth footwork and clean release.
Run: 7.54 runner in the 60. 

3. Wilken Benjamin III, Mundelein (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-foot-4, 165-pounds. Long-limbed, high-waisted, highly-projectable frame.
Hit: RHH. Quiet, balanced setup, smooth load and short stride. Long bat path, works uphill through the zone and pull-side tendencies.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic actions, attacks the baseball, fluid footwork, sure-handed and plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.51 runner in the 60. 

3. Quinn Willard, Cornerstone Christian Academy (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted, proportioned strength.
Hit: LHH. Slightly open, balanced setup, exaggerated load and leg-kick timing trigger. Level bat path, pull-side approach, occasional bat strength.
Power: 95 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, works through the baseball.
Run: 6.76 runner in the 60. Well-above runner for his age.

BEST OF THE REST (Listed Alphabetically)

Douglas Burson, Yorkville (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-1, 195-pounds. Physical, strong, wide-shouldered frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, open setup, stride gets back to square. Simple swing, strong hands, stays short to the baseball and uses the whole field.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Long, clean arm action, works quick and from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: Clean transfer, directional to target.
Run: 7.33 runner in the 60. 

Sebastian Caid, Lane Tech (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-foot-10, 170-pounds. Athletic build, strength in lower half.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, sits into backside, short stride. Simple swing, long uphill bat path and pull-side approach.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 79 mph. Arm plays clean and from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Attacks the baseball, clean actions, plays through, maintains body control, reliable hands.
Run: 7.37 runner in the 60. 

Remington Cox, Homewood-Flossmoor (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-11, 150-pounds. Long, lean build with plenty of room for continued physical development.
Hit: RHH. Starts balanced, rhythm in hands, short stride. Path works uphill through the zone, occasional pull-side tendencies.
Power: 68 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 77 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 to high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active feet, plays fast with a quick and clean transfer.
Run: 7.34 runner in the 60. 

John Creviston, Brother Rice (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 157-pounds. Lean, well-proportioned build.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, slight hand load and toe-tap stride. Simple swing, athletic hands, short uphill bat path and uses the middle of the field.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 73 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Clean, fluid footwork, proper routes, plays through the baseball, directional transfer.
Run: 7.65 runner in the 60. 

Danny D'Arrigo, Loyola Academy (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-2, 160-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted frame.
Hit: RHH. Crouched, balanced setup, pre-pitch load and short stride. Simple swing, uphill path, looks to lift the baseball and use the middle of the field.
Power: 74 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 77 mph. Short firm arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands and plays through the baseball.
Run: 6.96 runner in the 60. 

Jacob Furmanek, TF South (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-foot, 157-pounds. Athletic, projectable build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, tall setup, minimal load and short stride. Long, level bat path, works gap-to-gap.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 75 mph. Long arm action, plays from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, clean release and maintains body control on the move.
Run: 7.47 runner in the 60. 

Michael Hughes, Lockport (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-foot-3, 160-pounds. Long-limbed, projectable frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, fluid pre-pitch rhythm, short stride and maintains balance through contact. Quiet swing, loose hands, uphill path.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 79 mph. Short, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Clean and easy outfield actions. Reliable hands, plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.03 runner in the 60. 

Jaden Salazar, Fremd (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Wiry frame.
Hit: LHH. Crouched, slightly open setup, smooth load and long toe-tap stride. Strong, twitchy hands, level bat path and gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 75 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 window.
Defense: Steady hands, plays through the baseball, gets tall at times.
Run: 6.94 runner in the 60. 

Jacob Scott, TF South (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-8, 160-pounds. Well-proportioned frame, strength in lower half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load and short stride. Simple swing, level bat path, middle of the field approach.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 72 mph. Long arm action, works over-the-top.
Defense: Aggressive to the baseball, clean transfer, plays through.
Run: 7.87 runner in the 60. 

Marius Skaathun, McHenry (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-foot-10, 180-pounds. Strong, wide-shouldered build.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, quiet load and short stride. Simple swing, strong hands, long through the zone and pull-side approach.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 74 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Hands work steady and plays clean through release.
Run: 7.75 runner in the 60. 

Anthony Sykes, Bradley Bourbonnais (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/2B
Body: 5-foot-11, 160-pounds. Present strength in frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced setup, loads into backside, short stride. Hits off front foot, strong hands, short uphill bat path.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 73 mph. OF - 80 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Worked out on the infield and in the outfield. Looked most natural in the outfield. Fundamentally sound fielding position, plays through the baseball in rhythm, steady hands.
Run: 7.14 runner in the 60. 

Nick Varon, Fremd (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-3, 200-pounds. Extra-large, physical, wide-shouldered build.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced setup, loads into backside, short stride. Strong hands, level bat path and opposite field approach.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 77 mph. Arm works short and from a 3/4 slot.
Defense: Aggressive to the baseball, plays fast, steady hands and clean release.
Run: 7.69 runner in the 60. 

Justin Waddell, Lockport (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Quiet, balanced setup, short stride. Simple swing, long path, opposite field approach.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Short, over-the-top arm action.
Defense: Fluid footwork, plays through the baseball, gains ground on exchange.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60. 

Brian Wrenn, Geneva Community (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-foot-1, 160-pounds. Lean, Athletic frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, pre-pitch load and short stride.  Level bat path, line-drive approach.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Short, quick arm action, high 3/4 slot and throws carry.
Defense: Quick footwork and plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.2 runner in the 60. 

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