By Phil Wade
Indiana Executive Director

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The 5th Annual Preseason All-State Showcase took place on Saturday, February 21st, at Lawrence North High School in Indianapolis, IN with a total of 81 players in Indiana's 2016 class in attendance.  Below we analyze the 15 outfielders that attended the event.   

Top 5

1. Brett Herndon, OF, Terre Haute North HS, 2016: 6-foot, 175 pound junior showcased athletic actions defensively with quick, fluid feet and a clean exchange.  Plays through the baseball and shows athleticism.  Up to 90 from the OF with carry.  Runs a 6.86-60. Offensively, hits out of a slight crouch setup.  Loads back.  Minimal stride.  Gets good use of his lower half with good balance throughout the swing.  Possesses quick hands with a good approach to the ball.  Fluid rhythm, line drive hitter.  Recorded a high exit velo of 88 mph.  

2. Harrison Freed, OF, Westfield HS, 2016: 6-foot, 188 pounder uses a short, high ¾ arm action from the OF up to 83 mph with accuracy.  Average hands with fluid feet.  Ran a 7.05-60 at the event.  The right-handed hitter hits from an athletic stance with a slightly open front foot.  Possesses good bat control with quick speed.  Uses a slightly uphill path, getting to extension.  Shows gap-to-gap power and reached a top exit velocity of 95 mph.   

3. Jason Hall-Manley, C, New Palestine HS, 2016: Athletic, strong 6-foot, 190 pounder displayed average hands in the field.  Footwork is fluid and plays through the ball well.  Possesses some arm strength, up to 85 from the OF.  Ran a 7.14-60.  At the plate starts from an athletic setup with a smooth load.  Long stride.  Over rotates with his lower half.  Good balance throughout the swing.  Possesses quick hands and bat speed with slightly uphill path.  Possesses pull-side power.  Recorded a high exit velo of 94 mph.   

4. Amir Wright, OF, Griffith HS, 2016: 5-foot-11, 160 pound athletic Junior.  Showcased solid defensive actions with fluid feet and a clean exchange.  Plays through the ball with some athleticism.  Long arm action up to 80 mph with accuracy.  Ran a 6.86-60.  At the plate the LHH hits with a wide base, smooth load and short stride.  Level path with some bat speed.  Line drive hitter.  Recorded a high exit velo of 86 mph.  

5. Will Randell, OF, Castle HS, 2016: 6-foot-5, 215 pounder possesses a big, strong frame.  Defensively showcased average hands and feet.  Plays through the baseball well and shows some athleticism.  Long, over the top arm action up to 82 mph.  Ran a 7.15-60.  Hits from a balanced setup.  Hands tend to drop during the load.  Short stride, with some stiffness in his lower half.  Possesses above average bat speed and displayed present power to his pull-side.  Recorded a high exit velo of 89 mph.   

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Austin Begley, OF, Lapel HS, 2016: 5-foot-9, 145 pounder was up to 80 from the outfield from a high ¾ slot.  Showcased some athleticism.  Hands were average and displayed fluid footwork.  Clean exchange.  Field the ball a little deep. Ran a 7.19-60.  At the plate starts balanced, loads back.  Short stride.  2-part swing.  Short, level path to the ball.  Good balance throughout.  Line drive hitter.  Recorded a high exit velo of 77 mph. 

Alec Bryan, OF, Franklin Central HS, 2016: 5-foot-10, 160 pound Junior was up to 75 from the outfield with some accuracy.  Moves well with a clean exchange.  Average hands defensively, plays through the ball. Ran a 6.88-60.  At the plate starts in an athletic setup.  Loads back, minimal stride.  Short, level path to the ball.  Good balance.  Line drive type hitter.  Recorded a high exit velo of 87 mph.  

Blake Chitwood, OF, Roncalli HS, 2016: 5-foot-8, 170 pounder possesses a strong, athletic frame.  Showcased average actions from the outfield.  Clean exchange and plays through the ball well.  Long arm action, high ¾ slot up to 72 mph.  Ran a 7.59-60.  At the plate hits from a slight crouch setup.  Toe drag, short stride.  Gets barrel through the zone. Long, level path to the ball.  Pull hitter.  Recorded a high exit velo of 80 mph.  

Hunter Cornelius, OF, White River Valley HS, 2016: 5-foot-7, 135 pound outfielder possesses average hands defensively.  Moves well with short, quick steps.  Plays through the baseball.  Clean exchange, but needs to quicken up.  Up to 82 from the OF with some carry and accuracy.  Ran a 7.50-60. At the plate starts in a closed setup.  Smooth load.  Stride is short, leg kick.  Cuts himself off after the stride.  Average use of the lower half with good balance.  Short, level path to the baseball.   Recorded a high exit velo of 80 mph.   

Nick Forche, OF, Castle HS, 2016: 5-foot-11, 182 pound outfielder showcased athletic actions defensively.  Possesses average hands with fluid feet.  Clean exchange and plays through the ball.  Up to 79 from the outfield from a high ¾ slot.  Shows some stiffness in the arm action.  Ran a 7.18-60.  At the plate hits from an athletic setup.  Short stride, smooth load.  Short, level path to the baseball with some bat speed.  Recorded a high exit velo of 86 mph.  

Jake Hurd, OF, Zionsville HS, 2016: 6-foot, 165 pounder ran a 7.00-60 at the event.  Long, loose arm action up to 82 with some carry.  Showcased average hands defensively with fluid feet.  Exchange is clean and plays through the ball well.  At the plate this from an athletic/ tall/open setup.  Smooth load.  Small leg kick, dives at times.  Lower half is a little stiff.  Line drive hitter, hard contact.  Recorded a high exit velo of 82 mph. 

Luke Jaksich, OF, Andrean HS, 2016: 6-foot-1, 160 pounder showcased quick, fluid feet with a quick exchange.  Plays through the baseball, plays with energy.  Possesses a quick arm up to 86 from the OF.  Ran a 7.50-60.  Offensively the LHH hits from an athletic setup and loads back.  Short stride with good balance throughout the swing.  Possesses above average bat speed with a good approach to the ball.  Level path, gets to extension with fluid rhythm.  Consistent hard contact.  Recorded a high exit velo of 87 mph.  

Isaiah Shake, OF, Bloomington South HS, 2016: 6-foot, 165 pound outfielder showcased athletic actions in the field.  Above average hands with quick feet.  Plays through the baseball well.  Long, high ¾ arm action up to 82 with accuracy.  Ran a 6.94-60.  Offensively, hits from a tall, athletic setup.  Smooth load, long stride.  Over rotates with lower half at times.  Average bat speed with a good approach.  Level path to the ball, line drive type hitter.  Recorded a high exit velo of 79 mph. 

Tye Thixton, OF, Center Grove HS, 2016: 6-foot, 168 pound Junior showcased average hands with fluid feet in the field.  Clean exchange and plays through the ball.  Throws from a high ¾ slot, long arm action, up to 85 from the OF with some carry.  Ran a 6.93-60.  At the plate hits from an athletic, slightly open setup.  Loads back, uses a short stride.  Low hands. Tendency to dive during the stride.  Short path to the baseball.  Recorded a high exit velo of 87 mph.    

Nathan Williams, OF, Hamilton Southeastern HS, 2016: 6-foot, 190 pound left-handed Junior possesses good hands defensively with fluid feet.  Plays through the ball well.  Accurate throws from the outfield, up to 79 mph with accuracy.  Ran a 7.30-60.  At the plate starts in a tall, narrow setup.  Smooth load with a short stride.  Simple swing, level path.  Lacks use of the lower half.  Contact hitter.  Recorded a high exit velo of 86 mph.