Top Prospect - Chicago: Outfield Analysis
July 17, 2018
Top Prospect - Chicago was held on Tuesday, June 12th at Joliet’s Route 66 stadium. Nearly 70 of Illinois and Wisconsin’s top uncommitted players performed in a pro-style workout in front of the PBR Illinois Scouting Staff as well as 50+ college programs. Monday we began the rollout with the catchers in attendance.
Today we continue the event in-depth analysis with a dive into the outfielders. Pierce Jones stood out with a fluid stroke at the plate and natural actions in the outfield. There was a crop of left-handed hitting outfielders that cracked the top ranks. Khyle Radcliffe may have been the best defender in attendance and Kyle Hetherington continues to improve at the plate.
Garret Cook and Jake Novak both showed off their running ability posting sub-7 60’s, respectively. Nick Iannantone’s physical frame and present foot speed (6.51 60-yard dash) makes him a prospect to keep an eye on moving forward.
To see where the aforementioned players landed in the ranks, as well as a report of every outfielder in attendance, read on below.
Top Outfield Prospects
1. Pierce Jones, OF, Marian Catholic, 2019
Recent Northern Illinois commit. 6-foot-1, 180-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder, wiry, athletic frame. 6.99 runner in the 60. At the plate, confident hitter, athletic, tall setup, smooth load, short stride, maintains balance. Hands are loose and strong, gets separation, natural uphill bat path with extension through the zone, creates lift, showed hard contact to the pull side, occasionally long, rhythm involved. Above average bat speed, exit velocity topped 92 mph from a tee. Defensively, natural, easy actions, plays through the ball with agile footwork, soft hands, exchanges are quick and clean, long, loose arm action, high ¾ slot, throws carried at 87 mph from the outfield.
2. Khyle Radcliffe, OF, Morgan Park, 2019
6-foot-1, 177-pound, left-handed hitting, right-handed throwing outfielder, wiry, athletic frame. 6.93 runner in the 60. At the plate, rhythmic pre-pitch actions, balanced setup, smooth load, knee to knee stride, easy effort throughout. Loose hands, level bat path with extension, uphill at times, sprayed line drives to the middle of the field, fluid rhythm involved, exit velocity topped 89 mph from a tee. Defensively, natural, easy actions, plays through the ball with agile footwork, clean exchange, arm plays long and super loose, ball comes out, high ¾ slot, throws carried 93 mph from the outfield.
3. Jake Novak, OF, Loyola, 2019
6-foot-1, 175-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder, lanky, athletic frame. 6.83 runner in the 60. At the plate, simple pre-pitch, balanced setup, short stride and load, maintains balance. Loose hands, fluid, level bat path, creates natural uphill lift, showed pull side pop with repeatable hard contact, fluid rhythm involved. Quick, under control bat speed, exit velocity topped 94 mph from a tee. Defensively, plays through the ball, hands work, clean exchange, long arm action, ¾ slot, accurate throws topped 85 mph from the outfield.
4. Kyle Hetherington, OF, Crystal Lake South, 2019
5-foot-10, 175-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder, durable, athletic frame. At the plate, relaxed, open setup, smooth load, short toe tap trigger, balance maintained. Fluid, level bat path, can create easy uphill lift, flashed line drive ability to all fields, loose, rhythmic hands, goes with the pitch. Present bat speed, exit velocity topped 90 mph from a tee. Defensively, naturally plays through, fluid feet, soft hands and clean exchanges. Arm plays short and loose, high ¾ slot, throws carried 89 mph from the outfield with accuracy.
5. Garret Cook, OF, Plainfield North, 2019
6-foot, 175-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder, right-handed throwing outfielder, well-proportioned, athletic frame. 6.77 runner in the 60. At the plate, relaxed, open setup, smooth load, short stride. Strong hands, natural uphill bat path, line drive ability to all fields, fluid rhythm involved, exit velocity topped 90 mph from a tee. Defensively, effortless actions, fluidly gets behind the ball, clean exchanges, hands work, pops up at release. Short arm action, clean, high ¾ slot, throws topped 81 mph from the outfield.
Best of the rest (Listed alphabetically)
Antonio Crews, OF, Grayslake Central, 2019
6-foot-1, 185-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder, athletic build. At the plate, tall, relaxed setup, high hands, minimal load, short stride. Long, level bat path, can get uphill, extremely easy effort involved, exit velocity topped 82 mph from a tee. Defensively, athletic actions, gets behind the ball with fluid footwork, hands work, clean exchange, long, loose arm action, early release, over the top slot, throws topped 81 mph from the outfield. 7.16 runner in the 60.
Beiker Fuentes, OF, Crystal Lake South, 2019
5-foot-10, 165-pound, right handed-throwing outfielder, well-proportioned, athletic frame. 6.81 runner in the 60. Defensively plays through the ball with quick, fluid footwork, effortless, natural actions, soft hands, short, clean arm action, over the top slot. True ball, comes out of the hand easy, throws topped 88 mph from the outfield. Offensively, similar setups from both sides, balanced setup, smooth load, short stride. From the left side, short, uphill path, worked the opposite field, exit velocity topped 80 mph. From the right side, path levels out some, flashed more line drive abilities, exit velocity topped 82 mph.
Nick Iannantone, OF, Joliet Catholic, 2019
6-foot-2, 215-pound, left-handed hitting/right-handed throwing outfielder, athletic frame, strong build. Present foot speed, 6.51 runner in the 60. At the plate, relaxed, balanced setup, short stride and load. Short, level bat path, flashed line drive ability with pull side tendencies, easy effort and rhythm involved. Fast bat speed, exit velocity topped 92 mph from a tee. Defensively plays through the ball with fluid footwork, clean, long exchanges, arm plays long and loose, over the top slot, throws topped 85 mph from the outfield.
Dominic Listi, OF, Prairie Ridge, 2019
6-foot, 178-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder, athletic, strong build. At the plate, crouched, wide stance, top bat wrap setup, bar load, toe tap trigger. Strong hands, middle of the field approach, repeatable line drive, hard contact, extends barrel through the zone, rhythm involved. Above average bat speed, exit velocity topped 93 mph from a tee. Defensively, natural, quick actions, plays through the ball with fluid footwork, short, loose arm action, high ¾ slot, throws carried 87 mph from the outfield with accuracy. 7.25 runner in the 60.
Nic Presutti, OF, Grayslake Central, 2019
5-foot-6, 170-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder, stocky build. At the plate, relaxed, slightly open setup, minimal load, short stride, maintains balance. Short, level bat path, compact throughout, high finish, line drive ability to the middle of the field, rhythm involved. Present bat speed, exit velocity topped 83 mph from a tee. Defensively, plays through with quick footwork, hands work, short arm action, high ¾ slot, throws topped 69 mph from the outfield. 7.12 runner in the 60.
Riggs Wilkinson, OF, Morton, 2019
6-foot, 165-pound, right-handed hitting, left-handed throwing outfielder, wiry, athletic frame. At the plate, crouched, wide setup, back/wrap load, short stride. Long, uphill bat path, flashed extension through the zone, line drive ability with a gap to gap approach, effort involved, exit velocity topped 89 mph from a tee. Defensively, athletically plays through with agile footwork, hands work with clean and quick transfers. Arm plays long and loose, clean high ¾ slot, accurate throws carried at 84 mph from the outfield. 7.46 runner in the 60.