Peoria Preseason I.D.: Outfielder Analysis
April 16, 2019
On Feb. 20, the PBR Illinois team made its way down to Peoria to host the area’s annual preseason event where over 60 prospects came out to showcase the improvements they made over the offseason. The Peoria Preseason I.D. has allowed us to get a closer look at the best players in Central Illinois. This year, the talent was once again on display.
If you missed our rapid analysis inside our Quick Hits post or the data gathered in our Statistical Analysis, click the previous hyperlinks to learn more. We began publishing our position-by-position breakdown on Monday, with this event’s catchers. We’re onto the outfielders today.
Freshman Ramon Jimerson Jr. has already earned playing time at the varsity level for Sacred Heart Griffin and, ultimately, we’re not surprised. He showed our staff an electric round of batting practice in Peoria a couple of months back, peppering hard liners into the gaps. He’s a quick-twitch athlete we’re excited to see more of in the next few years.
Another freshman, Corey Boyette (Romeoville), showed well at this event. He has a short and sweet left-handed swing that’s geared for line-drive contact. He has plenty of athleticism to continue to project growth on the outfield grass, too.
Continue on below for reports on each of the 18 outfielders who made it out to Peoria in February. Stay tuned tomorrow for a look at the day’s infielders.
TOP PROSPECTS
1. Ramon Jimerson Jr., OF, Sacred Heart Griffin, 2022
5-foot-9, 167-pound right/right outfield prospect with live body, strong and athletic frame. Ran a 7.00 flat in the 60. In the batter’s box, balanced/open setup, hands set high, smooth back load, short leg hang trigger. Quick-twitch, simple and repeatable swing. Fast bat, short path to the ball, level plane with big extension through contact. Fills the gaps and is able to create backspin; topped 86 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, smooth and easy actions, under control, fluid and athletic feet. Arm is live, short and over-the-top throws with carry; topped 83 mph to home.
2. Dylan Drumke, OF, Libertyville, 2020
5-foot-10, 190-pound right/right outfielder prospect with a strong, compact build. At the plate, balanced setup, simple and smooth back load, short leg hang trigger. Fast bat, short and compact path, extension through the ball. Fluid throughout, repeats, consistent hard contact; 95 mph exit velocity from the tee. On defense, agile feet, athletic to the ball, short and over-the-top arm action; 85 mph throws home, some carry. Ran a 7.02 in the 60.
3. Corey Boyette, OF, Romeoville, 2022
5-foot-10, 170-pound left-handed-hitting outfield prospect with projectable, athletic frame. At the plate, balanced setup, hands load back, slight bat wrap, short stride. Loose bat with above-average bat speed, path is short and level, fluid throughout; 83 mph high at exit velocity station from a tee. Defensively, athletic to the ball, works through it. Long, high ¾ arm action, crowhops home; throws topped 75 mph. Ran a 7.57 in the 60.
4. Logan Sapp, OF, Rochester, 2020
6-foot-1, 200-pound outfield prospect with strong frame, durable lower half. Left-handed hitter, balanced and athletic setup, quick leg kick stride. Creates bat speed, strong hands, loose bat, long and uphill path with extension, power potential, a gap-to-gap hitter; topped 93 mph exit velo off the tee. Defensively, works through the ball, long arm action, high ¾ slot, throws on target; topped 80 mph to home. A 7.44 runner in the 60.
5. Jack Shields, OF, Peoria Notre Dame, 2020
6-foot, 185-pound outfield prospect with strength in frame. Right-handed hitter, tall/open setup, simple load back short stride to even. Short, uphill path to the ball, creates bat speed, ball jumps from barrel. Favors pull-side, gap-to-gap type; 94 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, quick and choppy feet, arm action is long, high ¾ slot; 86 mph throws home. A 7.43 runner in the 60.
5. Will Morris, OF/RHP, Plainfield South, 2021
6-foot-4, 175-pound two-way prospect with lanky, high-waisted frame with plus projection; strong lower half. Right-handed hitter, balanced/athletic setup, simple approach. Loose and easy levers create whippy barrel, above-average bat speed, long and uphill bat path; topped 92 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, arm action is long, ¾ slot; throws topped 83 mph to home. Ran a 7.65 in the 60. On the mound, full windup, some rhythm, high knee, lands very closed. Utilizes a slot in between ¾ and low ¾. Fastball, consistent run, some hard, 75-78 mph. Curveball, some sweeping action, 10/4 shape, 62-65 mph; still finding feel. Changeup, thrown at arm speed, firm with similar run, 72-74 mph.
Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)
Alex Burden, OF/LHP, Chatham-Glenwood, 2021
5-foot-6, 160-pound two-way prospect. Right-handed hitter, tall/balanced setup, subtle load back, slight leg lift stride, works in rhythm, simple and repeatable. Short and uphill path, above-average bat speed, feel for the barrel, worked the gaps on contact; topped 81 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, works uphill, long and over-the-top arm action, topped 75 mph to home. An 8.41 runner in the 60. On the mound, methodical delivery, works in some rhythm, tall-and-fall type. Clean, long arm action with some quickness out front, works on line and lands toe closed. Fastball, mostly straight, slight run, strikes, 75-76 mph. Slider, tendency to slow arm down, some sweep, 2/8 plane, 58-60 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape with some depth, 50-52 mph.
Jackson Gendron, OF, Washington, 2020
6-foot, 180-pound prospect with strong, athletic frame. Right-handed bat, balanced setup, wide/open stance, big load back with some arm bar, strides closer to even. Bat path is long and uphill, whippy. Strong hands help generate bat speed, consistent hard contact, a gap-to-gap type, some power potential; 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. On defense, works on line, plays through the ball. Short, over-the-top arm slot, 81 mph throws home. A 7.34 runner in the 60.
Grant Harvey, INF/OF, Mahomet-Seymour, 2020
5-foot-10, 155-pound right/right multi-positional prospect with athletic build. Right-handed hitter, balanced/athletic setup, smooth load into leg kick and long stride, open front foot landing. Short and level bat path, works inside the ball, opposite-field approach, line-drive type; 76 mph exit velocity from the tee. In the infield, plays with some bounce, long and loose throws from high ¾ slot; 71 mph throws to first base. In the outfield, controlled to the ball, works on line, crowhop, long and loose over-the-top arm action; topped 75 mph to home. A 7.56 runner in the 60.
Noah Hoffman, OF, Princeton, 2021
5-foot-10, 172-pound switch-hitting outfielder. A 7.16 runner in the 60. From the left-handed batter’s box, balanced setup, arm bar load, short stride. Bat path is short and level. From the right side, balanced setup, slightly open, short stride, bat path is more uphill. Topped 82 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, long arm action from a high ¾ slot, throws topped 77 mph to home.
Will Kelly, OF, Peoria Notre Dame, 2020
6-foot, 175-pound right/right outfielder with lanky frame, long levers. Right-handed hitter, tall/closed setup, bat waggle, minimal load, short stride, toe open landing. Bat path is short and uphill, created occasional gap-to-gap contact; 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, stays on line, works through the ball. Arm action is long and loose, over-the-top slot; 78 mph throws home. A 7.13 runner in the 60.
Jacob Lansaw, OF, Greenfield, 2021
5-foot-10, 182-pound outfielder with strength in frame. Right-handed hitter, crouched/open setup, minimal load, short stride. Short path to the ball, uphill plane, extension through contact; topped 82 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, feet work, arm action is short from over-the-top slot, throws topped 73 mph to home. A 7.19 runner in the 60.
Ryan Maul, OF, Jacksonville, 2021
5-foot-9, 140-pound outfielder with thin, lanky frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, hands set high, slight bat wrap load, short stride. Short path to the ball, some chop, line-drive contact; 79 mph exit velocity from the tee. On defense, light on his feet, fluid footwork. Short, high ¾ arm action on target to home, topped 79 mph. A 7.09 runner in the 60.
Jacob Mozingo, OF/RHP, Blue Ridge, 2019
6-foot, 170-pound two-way, right/right player. Offensively, tall/open setup, smooth back load into toe-tap stride back even. Long and level bath path, strong hands, feel for the barrel. Made gap-to-gap contact; 79 mph exit velocity off the tee. On defense, long arm action, high ¾ arm action; 78 mph throws home. A 7.61 runner in the 60. On the mound, rocks into high knee and hip turn, over-the-top arm slot. Loose arm action, quick out front, works in line and in rhythm, lands closed toe in an athletic position. Fastball, straight, some downhill tilt, strikes, 78-79 mph, touched 80 mph. Curveball, occasional late hard break, 12/6 plane, 67-70 mph.
Landyn Oestringer, OF, Highland, 2020
5-foot-8, 140-pound lanky right/right outfielder. At the plate, balanced setup, minimal load, short stride. Level bat path with a pull-side approach; 75 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively, long, high ¾ arm action, feet work, plays through the ball; 78 mph throws home. A 7.41 runner in the 60.
Kevin Smith, OF, Plainfield East, 2022
5-foot-9, 147-pound right/right outfielder with lanky frame. At the plate, balanced setup, loads back, bat gets vertical, short leg kick stride. Short path to the ball, some extension through it; exit velocity topped 75 mph. Defensively, will occasionally work through the ball, long arm action from high ¾ slot; throws topped 69 mph to home. A 7.33 runner in the 60.
Brandon Ward, OF/RHP, Illinois Valley Central, 2021
6-foot-4, 185-pound right/right two-way prospect with strength in frame, especially lower half. In the batter’s box, balanced setup, hands set high, brief load, short stride, toe lands open. Level bat path, flashed loose barrels; topped 87 mph exit velo off the tee. Defensively, aggressive to the ball, long, over-the-top arm action; throws topped 77 mph to home. A 7.38 runner in the 60. On the mound, tall-and-fall type, high knee with slight hip turn at balance point. Arm action is long from high ¾ slot, some crossfire, toe open landing. Fastball, natural cut, 69-72 mph. Curveball, breaks early, some depth, 11/5 shape, 56-62 mph. Changeup, firm, slight cut, 64-68 mph.
Maddox Yates, RHP/OF, Herrin, 2021
6-foot, 165-pound right/right two-way prospect with some projection. On the mound, rocks into high knee, coil at balance point, drop-and-drive type. Closed landing with toe out, some crossfire in delivery. Fastball, mostly straight, some slight run, 78-81 mph. Slider, sweeps, above-average action, 62-64 mph. Changeup, thrown near fastball arm speed, fading action, feel down in zone, 68-70 mph. At the plate, balanced setup, short stride. Bat path is short and uphill, inconsistent rhythm; topped 78 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, short and loose arm action from high ¾ slot; throws topped 78 mph to home. A 7.27 runner in the 60.