By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Director
Illinois and Wisconsin

The Unsigned Senior Showcase brought a number of outfielders to the forefront. We saw a group of outfielders that showed excellent athleticism spotlighted by some blazing 60 times. A rare 96 mph arm was also featured in this group. True outfield actions and instincts were a must to crack our list of top outfielders, and here’s how it all shook out.

1. Jeremiah Figueroa, Clemente HS, OF, Class of 2013
Figueroa’s arm is a pro tool. At 5-foot-10, 170-pounds, Figueroa put on a display from the outfield that is rarely seen. Figueroa exhibited plus arm strength as he was clocked at 94-96 mph, displaying throws that stayed on line and through his target with great life. As impressive as his arm was, his defensive prowess was not far behind, showing fluid footwork and soft playable hands his defensive actions were that of a true outfielder. Offensively, he showed solid rhythm at the plate working a line drive, gap to gap approach. He hit out of a balanced setup using a slight leg kick to get into his hitting position. Figueroa also ran a 7.03 and projects as a solid corner outfielder at the next level. Figueroa also showcased himself on the mound. Figueroa featured lightning quick arm speed producing an 87-89 mph fastball with hard, late life. His changeup was thrown with solid arm speed featuring arm side run and thrown for strikes. Figueroa also featured a breaking ball that worked on an 11/5 plane at 69-70 mph also throwing it for strikes.

2. Mike Farnan, Stagg HS, OF, Class of 2013
Farnan is a pure athlete. He showed plus foot-speed running a 6.59 in the 60 while using smooth, concise footwork in the outfield. With the pure speed that Farnan showed, he proved he has the ability to run down baseballs in the outfield at a high level. His arm played well showing accuracy to his target at 82 mph. At 6-foot-1, 195-pounds, Farnan showed strong hands at the plate, using a short stride he produced excellent bat speed and showed opposite field pop on a consistent basis. He has a strong presence in the box and good rhythm to his swing. Farnan is a solid, high level outfielder with strong athleticism.

3. David Matthews, Clemente HS, OF, Class of 2013
Matthews is a talented athlete, possessing a solid pro-style frame at 6-foot-2, 185-pounds. The left-handed hitting outfielder showed a great presence in the box. His athletic stance is slightly open and uses a short bat path while creating extension through the baseball. He showed tremendous bat speed at the plate with good balance and a line drive approach. He registered 87 mph exit speeds from the tee as well. Defensively, Matthews is a natural outfielder showing good instincts and fluid outfield actions.  His athleticism shines in the outfield where he moves well to his left and right getting himself into good positions to play through the baseball. He uses a long over the top arm action to create carry and accuracy to his target at 84 mph. Matthews is a true high-level outfielder with an advanced frame that projects him well at the next level.

4. Jon Escobar, Fremd HS, OF/RHP, Class of 2013
Escobar is a solid two-way talent.  At 6-foot, 185-pounds, Escobar is a strong, athletic specimen. His arm strength was apparent, as he was clocked at 92 mph from the outfield, using a long, high ¾ arm action. Offensively, Escobar hits from a wide, crouched setup. He uses a smooth load and short stride exhibiting solid balance throughout his swing. He displayed solid bat speed using a level bat path. On the mound, Escobar operated out of a high ¾ arm slot, producing an effortless 86-88 mph fastball, touching 90 mph. Escobar also featured a breaking ball at 71-72 mph and a change up at 75-76 mph. A few days after the event, Escobar committed to Holy Cross.

5. James DeGeorge, Lake Zurich HS, OF/RHP, Class of 2013
DeGeorge featured himself as one of the top outfielders at the event. DeGeorge is an athletically built 5-foot-11, 175-pounder that showed solid defensive actions. He played through the ball well showing fluid footwork and a clean exchange. His arm possessed excellent accuracy, working through his target every time recording velocities at 80 mph. Offensively, DeGeorge hits out of a slightly closed setup; he gets on top of the baseball well exhibiting a level bat path that produces line drives. DeGeorge also demonstrated solid barrel whip, making hard contact.

6. Frankie Perrone, Maine South HS, OF, Class of 2013
Perrone is a 5-foot-9, 165-pound outfielder who showed a well-rounded game. Perrone showed strong athleticism as displayed by his 6.97 60 and his ability to play through the baseball with quick fluid footwork. His arm played well from the outfield showing solid life and accuracy to his target. His arm action is that of a true outfielder, using a long, loose, over the top action topping out at 87 mph. At the plate he hits from a wide, balanced setup. Using a strong lower half, Perrone created full extension and displayed aggressiveness in his swing.

7. Peter Doughty, York HS, OF, Class of 2013
Doughty is a left-handed hitting outfielder who plays through the baseball aggressively and athletically. At 6-foot-1, 170-pounds, Doughty, who ran a 7.00 60, showed above average carry while being clocked at 87 mph from the outfield. His footwork is clean and fluid, playing through the baseball aggressively. At the dish, Doughty uses a short stride with a slight leg kick. His bat path is level and showed aggressive bat speed through the zone. His approach is mechanically sound, staying line-drive disciplined throughout his round. Doughty also showed exit speeds of 88 mph from the tee.

8. Anthony Fortunato, Palatine HS, OF, Class of 2013
Fortunato is a 5-foot-10, 160-pound outfielder who displayed a solid overall game. Fortunato displayed aggressive defensive prowess playing through the ball well using quick footwork and instincts. Fortunato displayed athletic outfield actions, his arm works well using a long loose arm action producing 82 mph throws, on target. Offensively, Fortunato hit from a balanced setup using a smooth load and solid lower half. He showed bat speed and barrel awareness producing line drives to all fields. Fortunato also ran a 7.19 60.

9. Christian Rodriguez, Whitney Young HS, OF, Class of 2013
Standing 5-foot-9, 150-pounds, Rodriguez moved well in the outfield, showing quick footwork and athletic actions when fielding the baseball. Aside from running a 7.17, Rodriguez also displayed a playable arm, using a long arm action that showed accuracy at 82 mph. Hitting from the left side, Rodriguez sets up in a crouched stance, using a minimal stride, maintaining solid balance throughout. Rodriguez produced line drives making consistent contact while showing solid barrel awareness. Rodriguez displayed a well-rounded game that projects as a top of the lineup, left-handed outfielder.

10. Matt Fallon, Loyola HS, OF, Class of 2013
Fallon is an athletically built 6-foot-1, 175-pound outfielder who displayed the ability to run well, posting a 6.97 60 time. His athletic feet allowed him the ability to play through the baseball well delivering on target throws with a long over the top arm action at 80 mph. Offensively, Fallon hits out of an athletic stance using a short stride and starting his hands in a low-set position.

11. Dennis Rutter, St. Rita HS, OF, Class of 2013
Rutter is an athletic 5-foot-10, 165-pound outfielder. Rutter showed solid defensive skills, exhibiting the ability to play through the baseball well, also showing carry at 85 mph with accuracy from the outfield. Offensively, he hits from a balanced, athletic position with a smooth load and short stride. Rutter is a line drive, gap to gap style hitter who uses an inside-out swing. He displayed solid hands in his swing, producing excellent bat control. Rutter also ran a 7.14 60.

12. David Hill, Providence Catholic HS, OF, Class of 2013
Hill is an athletic 6-foot-2, 170-pound outfielder who showed good mobility in the field. Running a 6.83 60, Hill proved he has the ability to run down baseballs in the gaps. He showed a solid arm at 82 mph from the outfield while he played through the ball well making clean exchanges. Offensively, Hill uses a short stride out of a balanced setup to create a short path to impact. Hill also recorded 82 mph when testing his exit speeds from the tee.

13. Kyle Weller, Oswego East HS, RHP/OF, Class of 2013
Weller is an athletic 6-foot-1, 170-pound left-handed hitting two-way player. On the mound, Weller sat at an easy 83-85 mph. His mechanics are clean and athletic, using a tall and fall type approach, Weller displayed an effortless delivery with rhythm and repeatable actions. His off speed pitches showed some potential with a curveball at 65-68 mph working on an 11/5 tilt, and a change up that stayed down at 70-71 mph. In the outfield he showed the same easy arm at 84 mph working through the ball well and delivering strikes to his target. Offensively, Weller hits with a short stride and shows good balance throughout his swing. Weller showed the ability to hit line drives to his pull side with regularity. Weller also ran a 6.95 60.

14. Michael Poluha, De La Salle HS, OF, Class of 2013
Poluha is a 5-foot-6, 150-pound outfielder. Poluha displayed a playable arm at 81 mph showing carry from a long over the top arm action. His footwork was quick and fluid defensively, also displayed by his 7.00 60 time. At the plate Poluha showcased himself as a contact hitter, using a short path to produce line drives. Poluha displayed solid bat control.

15. Alex Neufeld, Lincoln-Way North HS, OF/MIF, Class of 2013
Neufeld is a 5-foot-7, 130-pound outfielder. Neufeld showed a playable arm at 82 mph, possessing accuracy and some carry to his target. Neufeld showed a clean exchange using quick footwork. At the dish, he uses an inside out path with a short stride to produce exit speeds of 76 mph from the tee.

Best of the rest (Listed Alphabetically)

 Kyle Burton, Herscher HS, OF, Class of 2013
Burton is a solid outfielder at 5-foot-9, 152-pounds. Burton displayed plus speed running a 6.64 60. As a left-handed hitter, Burton hit from a balanced setup using a short stride. He showcased himself as a contact type hitter using an inside out bat path to slap the baseball to the opposite field with regularity.

 Alex Galik, Downers Grove South HS, OF/RHP, Class of 2013
Galik brings an athletic build to the table, standing 6-foot-1, 170-pounds. As a two-way player, Galik showed a well-rounded game both on the mound and at the plate. Offensively, he hits from tall balanced stance using a slight leg kick to get into his hitting position. His bat path showed extension and displayed the ability to get the barrel to the baseball quickly with gap to gap tendencies. On the mound the right-hander showed an 83-84 mph fastball with sink. Galik gets on top of the baseball well, working on a downhill plane showing the ability to throw strikes. His curveball showed some 12/6 tendencies at 62 mph, while his slider sat 70-72 mph with the ability to throw it for strikes.

Manny Georgitis, Montini Catholic HS, OF, Class of 2013
Georgitis is a solid outfielder with a strong lower half who checks in at 5-foot-7, 185-pounds. Georgitis’ arm worked at 76 mph from the outfield with accuracy. At the plate he delivered exit speeds of 71 mph. 

Paxton Harmon, Warsaw HS (IN), RHP/OF, Class of 2013
Harmon is a big strong bodied 6-foot-4, 205-pound two-way player. In the outfield Harmon threw with a long arm action showing carry and accuracy to his target. His arm strength was clocked at 83 mph from the outfield. Defensively, he showed solid hands using fluid footwork to play through the baseball and get it to his target on time. At the plate, Harmon hits from a balanced setup with a pull side approach. His exit speeds were measured at 79 mph. On the mound, Harmon is a physical pitcher with a 78-81 mph fastball. His breaking ball registered at 66-69 mph while his change came in at 68-69 mph.

Jacob Klemp, Homewood Flossmoor HS, OF/MIF, Class of 2013
Klemp is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound outfielder. He displayed solid foot speed running a 7.06 60. In the outfield he throws with a long arm action out of a high ¾ slot that showed some accuracy. His arm strength was recorded at 78 mph. Offensively, Klemp hits with a leg kick producing 79 mph exit speed from the tee. 

Zach Koziol, Notre Dame HS, OF/RHP, Class of 2013
Koziol is an athletically built 6-foot-3, 185-pound two-way player. Defensively, Koziol uses a long arm action from the outfield producing 79 mph throws with some accuracy. Offensively he hits out of an open stance using a short path to the baseball. Koziol also ran a 7.13 60.

Josh Lung, Burlington Central HS, OF, Class of 2013
Lung is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound outfielder that showed above average foot speed running a 6.78 60. Lung threw it 71 mph from the outfield showing some accuracy from an over the top slot. Lung also produced exit speeds of 82 mph from the tee.

Isaac Narayan, Elgin HS, OF/MIF, Class of 2013
Narayan, is a 5-foot-8, 160-pound outfielder who ran a 7.22 60. Narayan displayed some accuracy from the outfield while recording throws of 67 mph. Narayan also recorded exit speeds of 73 mph.

Ayhan Ozgen, Minooka HS, OF/RHP, Class of 2013
Ozgen is a lanky 6-foot-2, 180-pound two-way player. On the mound Ozgen showed a 76-78 mph fastball that he was able to throw for strikes down in the zone. His fastball showed some run coming out of a ¾ arm slot with a long loose action. His breaking ball showed sweeping action in the zone at 66-68 mph, while his change up was also a strike pitch at 70-73 mph. In the outfield Ozgen showed the ability to move well in his routes using fluid footwork.

Ryan Rodgers, Hersey HS, OF, Class of 2013
Rodgers is a 6-foot, 185-pound outfielder that showed excellent foot speed running a 6.88 in the 60 yard dash. His arm was clocked at 75 mph from the outfield and showed some accuracy. Rodgers also showed good exit speed from the tee at 86 mph.

Zach Schumacher, Walther Lutheran HS, RHP/OF, Class of 2013
Schumacher is a lanky 6-foot-4, 175-pound two-way player with some projection. Schumacher showed to have some athleticism in his long frame, and ran a 7.32 60. Defensively, he moved well for his size using fluid footwork to get to the baseball. He used a long arm action showing some accuracy to his target, registering 75 mph from the outfield. On the mound, Schumacher threw from an over the top arm slot producing a 75-80 mph fastball. His curveball was clocked at 72-73 mph, while his change up is 70-72 mph.

Daniel Solis, Prairie Ridge HS, OF/3B, Class of 2013
Solis is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound outfielder. Solis showed solid footwork in the field as well as in the 60 (7.00). His arm works from a short, over the top slot that was clocked at 80 mph. Solis hits with a balanced approach recording exit speeds of 80 mph.

Michael Torres, Romeoville HS, OF, Class of 2013
Torres is a 5-foot-10, 150-pound left-handed outfielder. Torres ran a 7.15 60, and threw it 73 mph from the outfield. Offensively, Torres hit from the left side producing 83 mph exit speeds from the tee.

Daniel Urban, Conant HS, OF/3B, Class of 2013
Urban is a lanky 6-foot, 180-pound outfielder that showed a clean outfield exchange posting arm strength of 80 mph from the outfield. At the plate Urban possesses an aggressive approach to his pull side, showing bat speed out of a violent swing. Urban also recorded exit speeds of 84 mph from the tee.

Kyle Wagenbach, Stark County HS, LHP/OF, Class of 2013
Wagenbach is a 5-foot-11, 155-pound two-way player. On the mound Wagenbach threw from a high ¾ arm slot with a long arm action. His fastball recorded slight movement at 73-76 mph. Wagenbach’s curveball is an 11/5 breaker with some sharp action that he threw for strikes. He also showed solid arm action on his change up, displaying sink at 66-70 mph. Offensively, Wagenbach hit out of a wide stance using a short stride while consistently working to the opposite field.

Be sure to keep checking back for more position analysis from the Unsigned Senior Showcase.