By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The winter Underclass Invitational is one of our favorite events because it always brings the most unseen talent to the forefront. This year was no different as several prospects put their names on our big board and over the next week we will break down the top prospects at each position. Today we take a look at the outfielders from the Underclass Invitational.

The outfielders stole the show from a position player standpoint. When it comes to the top three on the list you could flip a coin. Danny Doligale is a quick-twitch athlete who runs a 6.88 60 and swings a loose left-handed bat with bat speed. Benji Brokemond is a high level athlete with a compact swing, gap-to-gap approach and easy bat speed. Kendal Ewell has a physically impressive frame and big power potential at the plate.

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS

1. Danny Doligale, OF, Brother Rice, 2019
5-foot-11, 155-pound left-handed hitting outfielder with an athletic frame. At the plate hits from a balanced, slightly open stance. Smooth load with a short stride and good balance. Line drive hitter with a short, level swing path. Shows good feel for the barrel. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 6.88. In the outfield has a long, loose arm action. Throws showed carry throwing 85 mph. Advanced actions with a quick, clean exchange and soft hands.

2. Benji Brokemond, SS/OF, Walter Payton, 2019
6-foot-1, 170-pound highly athletic, right-handed hitting SS/OF. Tied for and event best 6.64 second 60 yard dash. At the plate hits from a balanced, slightly open stance. Short stride with a smooth load. Line drive, gap to gap hitter with a short, uphill swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 85 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively in the infield has a short arm action from an over the top arm slot. Plays thru the ball with athletic actions and a quick, clean exchange. Showed good body control on the run. Threw 81 mph across the diamond. Showed the same athletic actions in the outfield throwing 83 mph.

3. Kendal Ewell, OF/1B, Marist, 2019
6-foot-3, 185-pound right-handed hitting OF/1B with a lanky, athletic frame. At the plate hits from a balanced, slightly opens stance with a short leg lift stride. Good balance with fluid rhythm. Fast bat with an uphill swing path and loose hands. Showed strength thru contact with an event best 94 mph exit velocity from a tee. Will develop more power as he continues to fill out his lanky frame. Continues to improve 60 time running a personal best 7.13. Defensively in the outfield has a long, loose arm action from an over the top slot. Plays thru the ball with rangy actions. Threw 87 mph from the outfield. Also took drills at first base throwing 78 mph across the infield.

4. Michael Bolton, OF, Brother Rice, 2019
5-foot-9, 150-pound left-handed hitting outfielder with a small, athletic frame. Tied for an event best 6.64 60 yard dash time. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Accurate, online throws throwing 83 mph from the outfield. Plays thru the ball with soft hands and quick footwork. Offensively hits from a balanced setup with good balance. Simple static approach with a short swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 83 mph exit velocity from a tee.

5. Brian Adams, OF, Marist, 2019
6-foot-2, 160-pound switch hitting outfielder with a lanky, athletic frame. From the left side hits from a balanced setup with an arm bar load and short heel lit stride. Showed a fast bat, 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. From the right side showed similar mechanics with more fluid rhythm. 79 mph exit velocity from the right side. Ran the 60 at 7.26. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Lays thru the ball with soft hands. Threw 76 mph from the outfield.

6. Kyle Hetherington, OF, Crystal Lake South, 2019
5-foot-10, 160-pound left-handed hitting outfielder with a lanky, athletic frame. Defensively has a long, loose arm action from an over the top slot. Athletic actions, playing thru the ball with soft hands. Throws showed carry throwing 88 mph from the outfield. At the plate hits from a balanced, athletic setup with a smooth load and collapse on the backside. Line drive hitter with fluid rhythm and good balance. Showed strength thru contact with 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.27.

7. Tre Hondras, 2B/OF, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2020
6-foot, 160-pound right-handed hitting 2B/OF with an athletic frame. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a smooth load and short stride. Gap to gap hitter with fluid rhythm and good balance. Showed strength thru contact with 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.11. Defensively in the outfield has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball with a clean exchange. Throws showed carry throwing 81 mph from the outfield. In the infield has solid actions with fluid footwork and soft hands. Threw 70 mph across the diamond.

8. Clark Elliott, SS/OF, Barrington, 2019
5-foot-11, 160-pound left-handed hitting SS/OF with an athletic frame. At the plate hits from a crouched, open stance. Short stride with fluid rhythm and an uphill swing path. 81 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 6.99. Defensively in the outfield has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Plays thru the ball with a clean exchange. Throws showed carry at 86 mph. Threw 80 mph across the diamond.

9. Nick Iannantone, OF, Joliet Catholic, 2019
6-foot-2, 217-pound left-handed hitting outfielder with a strong frame. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short stride. Power hitter showed explosive bat speed with a level swing path. Consistently barreled balls off the back screen in batting practice. Showed strength thru contact with 90 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.07. Defensively has a short arm action from a ¾ slot. Threw 76 mph from the outfield.

10. MJ Stavola, OF, Aurora Christian, 2019
5-foot-9, 140-pound right-handed hitting outfielder with a lanky frame. Currently ranked No. 66 in Illinois. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Plays thru the ball with aggressive footwork and soft hands. Throws showed carry throwing an event best 89 mph from the outfield. Arm would be interesting to see play on the mound as a left-handed pitcher. At the plate hits from a balanced slightly open setup with a short stride and good balance. Level swing path with fluid rhythm. 79 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.22.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Tyler Cwik, OF, Nazareth, 2020
5-foot-10, 151-pound left-handed hitting outfielder. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Plays thru the ball with fluid footwork and a clean exchange. Threw 77 mph from the outfield. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short stride and good balance. Long, uphill swing path. 77 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.23.

Jacob Ferry, OF, Oswego East, 2020
6-foot-1, 150-pound left-handed hitting outfielder. At the plate hits from a narrow, open stance. Long linear stride with good balance. Long, level swing path. 77 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.42. Defensively has a long, stiff arm action from a high ¾ slot. Quick footwork playing thru the ball. Threw 74 mph from the outfield.

Connor Gill, RHP/OF, Oswego East, 2020
5-foot-10, 150-pound left-handed hitting RHP/OF with a lanky projectable frame. On the mound works from an over the top arm angle with a short, quick arm action and stab on the backside. Tall and fall delivery working in line with home plate. Smooth rhythm with good balance throughout delivery. Fastball was straight at 82-84 mph for strikes. Curveball has 12-6 shape at 65-67 mph. Changeup showed fading action at 73-75 mph. Defensively has a long, loose arm action from an over the top arm slot. Plays thru the ball with fluid footwork and soft hands. Threw 83 mph from the outfield. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a low hand set and arm bar load. Gap to gap hitter with a long swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.57.

Brendan Holloway, SS/OF, Vernon Hills, 2020
5-foot-4, 125-pound right-handed hitting SS/OF with a small, athletic frame. Ran a 6.89 60 yard dash at the event. At the plate hits from a narrow, open stance. Long stride with average balance. Long, level swing path. 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. Defensively in the infield has a short arm action from a ¾ arm slot. Quick, fluid footwork with good body control. Threw 74 mph across the infield. In the outfield plays thru the ball with quick footwork. Threw 77 mph from the outfield.

Mason Hsieh-Bailey, OF, Oak Park-River Forest, 2020
5-foot-9, 140-pound right-handed hitting outfielder with a lanky, athletic frame. Defensively has a short arm action from an over the top slot. Showed highly athletic actions in the outfield playing thru the ball with quick, fluid footwork. Quick, clean transfer with accurate throws. Threw 79 mph from the outfield. At the plate hits from an open, spread out stance. Smooth load with a short leg lift stride. Long, uphill swing path. 75 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.10.

Tom Jurack, OF, Hinsdale Central, 2020
6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed hitting outfielder with a lanky, athletic frame. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a low hand set. Heel lift stride with good balance. Raw power creating leverage thru his swing. Showed strength thru contact with 88 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.60. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Plays thru the ball with average hands. Threw 80 mph from the outfield.

Sean Malpeli, RHP/OF, Lincoln-Way East, 2020
6-foot, 178-pound right-handed hitting RHP/OF. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a long arm action. Tall and fall delivery with regular effort. Works in line with home plate with smooth rhythm. Fastball flashed running action at 77-79 mph for strikes. Curveball has between 12-6 and 11-5 shape with gradual action at 59-62 mph. Changeup flashed sinking action at 65-70 mph. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Threw 80 mph from the outfield. At the plate hits from a closed setup with a heel lift stride and drop load. Long, uphill swing path. Showed strength thru contact with 83 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.85.

Nicolas Palermo, OF, St. Ignatius, 2019
5-foot-11, 170-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a leg kick stride and big collapse on the backside.  Gap to gap hitter with fluid rhythm. Showed strength thru contact with 87 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.10. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ slot. Plays thru the ball with a slow exchange. Threw 80 mph from the outfield.

Patrick Quirk, OF, Glenbrook South, 2020
5-foot-9, 160-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. At the plate hits from a balanced, slightly open stance. Short leg lift stride with a collapse on the backside. Uphill swing path. 80 mph exit velocity from a tee. Ran the 60 at 7.78. Defensively has a long arm action from a ¾ slot. Threw 72 mph form the outfield.

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