KY College Prospect Showcase: Outfield Analysis

By Chris Fuller
PBR Kentucky

The Winter College Prospect Showcase took place on Sunday, January 24 at Legends Sports Academy in Louisville and afforded nearly 60 players from around the state the opportunity to showcase their abilities. The event included many players attending their first PBR event while others improved on their performances at previous events.

The complete results and top statistical performers were posted on the PBR website shortly after the event. CLICK HERE to view that information.

The following is a look at the group of Outfielders who attended the event. This is position analysis only. Those outfielders who also pitched at the event will have their pitching performance featured in a subsequent article.

outfielders

Reece Puckett, OF/MIF, Bardstown, 2018
Home-1^st: 4.37, Position Velocity:  IF-75, OF-88, Exit Velocity: 87
5-foot-9, 155-pound right-handed hitter continues to solidify his status as a top OF in the 2018 class. Hits from balanced stance with a short stride, generates easy bat speed, gets the barrel on plane and keeps it in the zone a long time, consistently barrels the baseball with a line drive approach and flashes of gap to gap power, speed is a big part of offensive game. Defensively, athleticism allows him to play multiple positions but likely projects as a CF at the next level, showed a big jump in outfield arm strength at 88 mph from a high-3/4 release, moves well as a middle infielder with a quick exchange and sure hands.

Trey Eden, OF, Madison Central, 2018
Home-1^st: 4.26, Position Velocity:  OF-81, Exit Velocity: 85
6-foot, 155-pound right-handed hitter continues to progress toward a high-level 2018 prospect. Hits from a slightly open stance and gets to square with a short stride, stays quiet with no wasted  movement, short and compact swing (has eliminated arm bar) with good bat speed produces consistent line drives to the gaps, took one of the best rounds of BP of the event, speed will play well on the field in his offensive game. Shows athleticism as a defender, clean exchange with a long, over the top release produced a significant improvement in OF velocity.

Tanner Brown, OF/RHP, St Xavier, 2017
Home-1^st: 4.64, Position Velocity:  OF-85, Exit Velocity: 77
6-foot-2, 170-pound left-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance, a short stride and rhythmic load initiate the swing, tends to wrap bat in load, flat bat path produced line drive contact especially to the opposite field, showed some pop to the left-center gap, could develop some power as he fills out his frame. Showed a two-handed approach to balls on the ground with some choppiness in footwork, long arm action with an over the top release produced good outfield velocity, interesting prospect with frame and current tools.

Edward Alexander, OF, Jeffersontown, 2017
Home-1^st: 4.47, Position Velocity:  OF-84, Exit Velocity: 73
5-foot-7, 155-pound right-handed hitter hits from a wide stance and utilizes a leg kick and aggressive stride, shows some hand quickness, swing path produces line drive contact to all fields, occasionally gets to front side early, showed better bat speed than exit velocity would indicate, runs well and will incorporate speed in offensive game. Athletic outfielder with quick feet, plays through the ball well, showed good arm strength from a high-3/4 release, athletic prospect who continues to make strides in overall game.

William Undershute, LHP/OF, Holy Trinity (Okotoks, Alberta), 2017
Home-1^st: 4.83, Position Velocity:  OF-81, Exit Velocity: 81
6-foot-1, 170-pound right-handed hitter hits from an open stance and squares up with a short stride, stays quiet and was consistently on time in BP, took an impressive round squaring up several line drives with a gap to gap approach, maintains good balance through contact. Shows average hands and feet in the outfield with some athleticism, long arm action with a high-3/4 release produced slightly above average arm strength.

Jameson Arnold, OF/RHP, Daviess County, 2019
Home-1^st: 4.84, Position Velocity:  OF-75, Exit Velocity: 84
6-foot-1, 174-pound right-handed hitter hits from a slightly open stance, uses a slight leg kick and short stride to get square, has a fairly flat bat path that gets the barrel on plane and keeps it in the zone, strong kid for age that showed well above average power and bat speed in his round of BP, can improve overall balance. Shows athleticism defensively and attacks the ball aggressively, clean exchange and a long over the top release, current arm strength is average but will undoubtedly improve. Interesting player to follow from the 2019 class.

Ben Ginter, LHP/OF, Bowling Green, 2018
Home-1^st: 4.71, Position Velocity:  OF-78, Exit Velocity: 79
5-foot-9, 150-pound left-handed hitter hits from an open stance and gets to square with a short stride, hands start high and load back, a level swing path produces line drive contact to the gaps, has good offensive upside with the addition of physical strength. Shows good athleticism defensively while playing through the baseball, soft hands and athletic feet, gets rid of the ball with long arm action and a high-3/4 release, athletic arm that should continue to produce additional velocity. Ginter is a 2018 prospect to follow. 

Mathew Kirkland, LHP/OF, Male, 2019
Home-1^st: 5.16, Position Velocity:  OF-72, Exit Velocity: 81
6-foot-1, 160-pound right-handed hitter hits from a balanced stance with a short stride, shows above average bat speed for age and creates some lift at contact, occasional arm bar creates some length in swing but still got the barrel through the zone consistently, should continue to develop some power. Does a good job playing through the ball defensively with soft hands, uses a big crow hop and long arm action, over the top release produced average arm strength for age. Kirkland is definitely a 2019 prospect to keep an eye on.