By Mike Penn
Michigan Director of Scouting

The outfielders group at Midwest Futures Tryouts may not have been big but it was deep.  Some outstanding athletes showed extremely well during the tryouts.  As a whole the group ran extremely well with Miles Hardy taking the fastest prospect award turning in a blistering 6.68 in the 60.  Tyler Schmidt posted the best velocity from an outfielder turning in a 93 mph effort.

Here is a look at all of their performances.

Top Performers

1. Tyler Schmidt, LHP/OF, Crosswell-Lexington HS, 2015

Schmidt has all of the tools to be a high-level player in the state.  Extremely athletic.  Will need to prove it in a game setting that the tools translate.  Long lanky high-ceiling frame at 6-foot-2, 150-pounds. Long legs and high waist. Above average runner at 6.74. Explosive accurate arm from the OF. Best positional velo at 93mph.  Needs to work on transfer and footwork. Two-hand fielding technique from OF.  At the plate shows looseness in swing.  Balanced at setup.  Bat generates good backspin. Needs to use whole field. 

2. Greg McDade, OF/MIF, Sterling Heights Stevenson HS, 2015

Extremely athletic raw OF from traditional powerhouse program.  Still learning how to play the game.  6-foot-1, 175-pounds.  Above average runner (6.8). Softer hands in of with strong arm (84mph). Long arm action with high ¾ slot.  Open stance with good bat speed.  Bat got through the zone well.  Had good timing and some swagger in the box.  Great toolset with lots of upside.  Still raw but when it clicks has a chance to be special. 

3. Miles Hardy, OF, Lake Orion HS, 2015

Hardy is one of the best runners in the Class of 2015 at 6.68 in the 60.  6-foot, 155-pound athletic OF with best days ahead of him.  Good projection.  Liked his actions a lot.  Arm was shorter and registered at 79mph from the OF.  Worked from a High ¾ slot.  Ball carried well and showed soft hands in OF.  At the plate was athletic and balanced.  Gap-to-gap hitter with slight uphill stroke.  Hardy possesses an above average skillset overall.  Natural instincts in the outfield.  High follow.

4. Eric Gilgenbach, OF/3B, Stoney Creek HS, 2015

Big bodied good looking athlete at 6-foot-2, 185-pound.  Strong kid. Ran a 7.18 in the 60.  Live arm from the OF (87mph).  Carry with accurate throws. Good motor. Hustled everywhere he went.  Played through the ball nicely.  At the plate woks uphill a bit looking to drive the ball.  Above average power.  Can drive to ball to all fields.  Seemed to have good approach to center of the field staying in the gaps.

 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Ben Edwards,  OF/MIF, Forest Hills Northern HS, 2015-

Edwards has solid 6-foot-1, 175-pound build as a sophomore.  Ran a respectable 7.2 in the 60.  In the outfield arm strength needs to continue to improve (69mph). Shorter arm action with high ¾ slot. Did play through the ball well.  At the plate shows some balance in the setup. Looks to drive the ball gap-to-gap. Showed consistent contact to all fields.

Tratez Henton, OF/C, Detroit Western Intl. HS, 2014

Henton surprised with solid speed and a great round of BP at the showcase.  The 6-foot-160 Henton has plenty of room to grow into his body.  Stronger lower half with more maturing left to do in the upper half. Ran a respectable 7.3 in the 60. Long arm action from the OF with 81mph arm strength.  Ball carried well with accurate on the bag throws.  Showed soft hands and good instincts.  At the plate hit the ball extremely well.  Athletic setup with open stance.  Generated good torque with lower half and backspun the ball well.  Path was short and compact.  Definite gap-to-gap pop with some good looseness in the swing.

Joey Sweigart, OF/MIF, Saline HS, 2016

Only a freshman Sweigart possesses a good toolset already.  Smaller compact player at this point at 5-foot-7, 145-pounds.  Time is on his side.  Runs well at young age at 6.97 in the 60. Arm strength is coming along at 76mph.  Shorter arm action with accurate throws.  Good overall bally player who carried himself well.  Seems to know the game and has good natural instincts.  At the plate starts with open stance.  Advanced approach with line drive stroke.  Rhythmic swinger with good potential at the plate.

Zach Winzer, OF, Muskegon Catholic Central, 2015

Winzer one of the better athletes to attend Midwest Future Tryouts.  5-foot-10, 175-pound frame.  Some projection in size.  Above average runner 6.84 in the 60.  Moved well.  Long arm-action but got under the throw quite a bit causing some inaccuracy at this point.  High ¾ slot (76mph). At the plate showed balance at setup.  Left-hand hitter.  Used whole field effectively including good oppo approach. Seems to know how to use his speed to his advantage.  Line drive stroke.  Generated some good backspin from time to time.

Noah Wittkopp, OF/RHP, Grand Haven HS, 2015
 Wittkopp continues to improve. Improved his 60 time to 7.07.  Threw 85mph from the outfield.  Bigger frame with room to grow. 6-foot-2, 180-pounds.  Long arm action with good life and backspin carry. Accurate arm.  Hit better at the plate as well. Crouches a touch at the plate.  Level bat path. Will see more pop as he gets better extension and uses his levers to his advantage.