MN Class of 2015 Identification Showcase: Outfield Analysis
October 7, 2014
By Rob Allison
Minnesota State Director
The Minnesota Class of 2015 Identification Showcase brought almost 45 prospects to be evaluated by PBR Minnesota and showcase themselves to colleges in attendance in the one day event held at Ames Field located on the campus of Dakota County Technical College. Over the next week we will unveil our analysis of the top players at their respective positions.
Our next analysis focuses in on the outfielders. This category had many players that also played other positions. Our focus today will be on primary position outfielders. All secondary position outfielders will be listed in our Best Of The Rest category at the bottom of the page.
TOP outfield PROSPECTS
1. Matt Boyde, OF, Minnetonka, 2015
6-foot-2, 180-pound outfielder. 7.18 60 time. Right-handed hitter with easy load. Inline stride. Linear actions. Has good bat speed with leverage from 6-foot-2 frame. Front foot hitter with gap to gap approach. Slight arm bar with long levers into contact. Downhill swing plane with lift through contact. 88 mph exit velocity. In the outfield shows good actions with long athletic body. Shows quality footwork and glove on groundballs. Low ¾ arm slot effects accuracy. 83 mph velocity from outfield. Overall very interesting prospect based on tools, present ability, and projection.
2. Justin Lembeck, OF, Prior Lake, 2015
5-foot-10, 165-pound outfielder.7.12 60 time. Right-handed hitter. Medium hand slot with deep load. Inline stride with high leg kick. Balanced and has momentum into contact. Stays on baseball with gap to gap approach. 79 mph exit velocity. In the outfield has good actions. Able to track fly-balls well. Fields ball cleanly and smoothly. Throws uphill at times. Has loose arm with hand speed. Above average accuracy. 84 mph velocity from outfield. Good player.
3. Mitchell Kurth, OF/RHP, Hutchinson, 2015
5-foot-10, 175-pound 2 way player. 7.15 60 time. Right-handed hitter. Minimal load. Easy front heel turn and stride trigger. Limited momentum through contact with stiff legs. Line drive swing plane. Consistent solid contact to middle of field. 84 mph exit velocity. Good actions in outfield. Works through balls. Has energy and feet/ glove work well. Throws from high slot with level shoulders. Arm has quickness. Above average throws with accuracy. 86 mph from outfield. Has athletic actions on mound. Average rhythm. Leaks early to plate from balance point. Shoulder tilt. Has enough arm speed to compensate. Quality downhill plane on fastball from over the top slot. Fastball was 78-81 mph. Wraps breaking ball early effecting velocity and depth. 12/6 break with gradual action at 66-69 mph. Changeup was 71-73 with sink and down in zone for strikes. Good 2 way prospect with chance to develop into major contributor.
4. Hunter Blommer, OF, St. Cloud Apollo, 2015
5-foot-9, 175-pound outfielder. 7.4 60 time. Right-handed hitter with low hand set. Average easy load. Strides across body cutting swing off and effecting balance through and after contact. Short to contact with flat plane. Has extension through contact. 78 mph exit velocity. Defensively, strong athletic actions in outfield. Good angles and routes to ball with confidence. Arm works very well and some quickness. Above average accuracy to base.
BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)
Jackson Buelow, SS/OF, Highland Park, 2015
6-foot-1, 175-pound position player. 6.75 60 time. Right-handed hitter with low hand set. Average rhythm. Disconnect in stride and swing causing slight arm bar. Uphill swing plane with low level finish. Solid contact with 83 mph exit velocity. In the outfield shows athleticism and ability to track balls in air routinely. Throws uphill from ¾ arm slot. Has arm quickness and accuracy when arm slot stays over the top. Outfield velocity of 88 mph. In the infield shows good first step, has athleticism, hands are above average, and arm is very quick with accuracy. Infield velocity of 83 mph. With added strength and some refinements in hitting has chance to make early contributions in college program.
Ty Denzer, SS/OF, Chanhassen, 2015
6-foot-1, 180-pound shortstop/outfielder. 6.78 60 time. Switch hitter. Left-handed shows athletic setup. Open stance and pull approach. Compact swing. Short finish with fluidity. Right-handed uses square stance. Balanced swing. Not as much rhythm from this side. Hands tend to drop- slight lift at contact. Stays in middle of field. Exit velocity of 87 mph from left side. 85 mph from right side. Versatile athlete who can play shortstop and outfield. In outfield has good actions. Above average ability. Shoulders stay level on throws allowing arm to work out front with accuracy. 90 mph from outfield. At shortstop fields with confidence. Glove and feet work well. Ability to slow the game down and make routine plays. Will field flat footed at times; able to make up for it with above average arm strength. Very accurate arm. 86 mph across infield. Loose athletic player with current ability and future projection committed to Kansas.
Bradley Peterson, OF, Park, 2015
6-foot-1, 170-pound outfielder. 7.22 60 time. Right-handed hitter. Easy load with short stride. Short to contact. Good hands to ball. Has some snap at and through contact. Rotational lower half. 81 mph exit velocity. In the outfield has average actions and makes routine plays. Throws flat footed with little momentum from ¾ arm slot. 78 mph velocity from outfield.
Daniel Pharis, C/OF, Chanhassen, 2015
5-foot-11, 185-pound catcher/outfielder. 7.49 60 time. Right-handed hitter. Easy load with inline stride. Line drive swing plane. Front foot hitter. Quiet head and short to contact. Minimal finish. 88 mph exit velocity. In the outfield shows average actions. Fields balls cleanly. Stiff over the top throwing action. 73 mph outfield velocity. Behind the dish shows good lower half flexibility. Strong hands and ability to receive. Above average blocking mechanics with deadens balls well. Stiff upper half while throwing with limited velocity and carry on throws. 2.26-2.51 pop times at 69 mph.
Dominic Schleif, OF/LHP, Shakopee, 2015
5-foot-11, 165-pound 2 way player. 7.69 60 time. Left-handed hitter. Low hand position. Deep load and long inline stride to contact. Good weight shift through contact. Best when on/ on top of baseball and swing stays level. Middle of the field approach. 80 mph exit velocity. In the outfield shows ok actions and works to get behind fly-balls. Field balls off the ground cleanly. ¾ arm slot with below avg. carry. 78 mph from outfield. On the mound uses simple step and turn delivery. Good balance point. Low hand set. Stabs down with 2 piece arm action. Short over the top slot. Fastball cuts and sinks varying with release and hand placement. Curveball showed 2/8 shape with late break. Changeup had flat toppling action. Fastball was 73-76 mph. Curveball 66-68 mph. Changeup was 64-68.
Carter Schmidt, C/OF, Chaska, 2015
6-foot-1, 180-pound catcher/outfielder. 7.12 60 time. Right-handed hitter. High hands. Gradual load. Length to swing. Slight arm bar. Flat swing plane with average balance. Stays in middle of field. 82 mph exit velocity. Ok actions in outfield. Ability to make routine plays. High ¾ slot with average carry. 82 mph from outfield. Solid receiver and blocker. Average feet to second base. Slightly open front side. Limited momentum and direction on throws. Gets to proper throwing slot. 2.14-2.28 pop times with 72 mph arm strength.
Joseph Sullivan, OF/1B, Academy of Holy Angels, 2015
5-foot-10, 165-pound outfielder/first baseman. 6.96 60 time. Left-handed hitter. Pre-set load with short balanced stride. Minimal weight shift. Rotational swing with level plane through contact. Pull approach. Short to contact. 82 mph exit velocity. Stiff actions in outfield. Limited momentum on throws from low ¾ arm slot. Below avg. carry. 73 mph from outfield. At first base has a usable glove. Tends to field flat footed and deep. 67 mph across infield.
Cody Ulfers, SS/OF, Waseca, 2015
6-foot-2, 160-pound shortstop/outfielder. 6.94 60 time. Left-handed hitter. Wide stance. Athletic set-up. Load can be long at times. Slight arm bar. Above average hand eye coordination. Great barrel awareness. Uses entire field. Long finish. Stays on ball long time. 84 mph exit velocity. In the field has athleticism and rhythm. Above average glove. Short arm action with accuracy across infield. 70 mph across infield. Overall is line drive/spray hitter right now with projectable body. Raw tools are average but plays above. Very “hitterish” in games. Always seems to find holes and get on base.
Jordan Wilkerson, OF, Woodbury, 2015
6-foot, 170-pound outfielder. 7.4 60 time. Right-handed hitter. Has strength in swing. Flat line drive swing plane with limited rhythm. High leg kick timing mechanism into stride. 85 mph exit velocity. Stiff actions in outfield. Makes routine catches. Throws flat footed with low ¾ arm slot. Below average carry to bag. 79 mph from outfield. Physical player with strength in swing.
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