For the second fall in a row, the PBR staff headed to GCS Credit Union Ballpark for an event. The St. Louis Open took place on Saturday, October 12th. The open event featured close to 50 prospects from 2020-2024 high school graduates. 

A couple of days ago we began the positional breakdown of the event with a look at the catchers in attendance. Today we continue with a roll-out of the 11 outfielders from the day. Illinois State commit, Josh Dima (Belleville West, 2020) stole the show with an impressive performance as a two-way prospect. The athletically-built, left/left prospect took a polished round of BP showing advanced bat speed and feel for the barrel. Dima also showed confident, easy actions and a big arm that was up to 93 mph from the outfield.

Future Missouri Valley Conference foe, OF/INF Hayden Moore (Edwardsville, 2021), a Missouri State commit, continued to show he is one of the top switch-hitting prospects in the Illinois’ 2021 class. Moore is comfortable from both sides of the plate, has loose, athletic hands and can play all over the diamond. 

Rounding out the top-three was OF Jake Markert (Fort Zumwalt South, 2021). Markert has a short, quick swing, controls the barrel and is a natural outfielder who has the tools to play all three outfield spots. 

Below is a look at all of the outfielders from the day:

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS

1. Josh Dima, Belleville West (IL), 2020 (Illinois State commit)
 Positional Profile: LHP/OF. High-level two-way prospect in the 2020 class.
Body: 6-foot-1, 180-pounds. Strong, athletic, wide-shouldered frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, open setup, smooth load and toe-tap timing trigger. Loose, athletic hands, creates easy bat speed. Long, level path, stays through the baseball, works gap-to-gap and ball jumps off the barrel at times.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 93 mph. Loose, quick and extremely easy arm strength from a high 3/4 slot. Throws played true with life and carry.
Defense: Easy, athletic actions, plays with body control and confidence. Sure hands, plays through the baseball and clean transfer.
Run: 7.26 runner in the 60. 

2. Hayden Moore, Edwardsville (IL), 2021 (Missouri State commit)
Positional Profile: OF/INF
Body: 5-foot-11, 150-pounds. Lean, athletic frame.
Hit: SH. Natural from both sides of the plate. Pre-pitch rhythm, open setup, smooth load and balanced, rhythmic swing. Hands are loose, directional through the zone and repeatable swing. Controls the barrel, natural lift, uses the whole field and consistent hard contact.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. OF - 85 mph. Long, loose arm action. high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Worked out in the outfield and infield. Natural outfield defender, profiles at any of the three spots. Fluid natural actions, plays with ease and body control. Moves with a purpose, concise routes, plays through the baseball, clean release.
Run: 7.09 runner in the 60. 

3. Jake Markert, Fort Zumwalt South (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-9, 160-pounds. Lean, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, stride works short and gets back to square.  Athletic, quick hands, controls the barrel, stays short to the ball and made a lot of hard gap-to-gap contact.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Sneaky pop off the bat.
Arm: RH. OF - 86 mph. Loose, quick arm action, high 3/4 slot and throws play accurate and with carry.
Defense: Athletic defender, natural in the outfield, fluid footwork, sure-hands and plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.16 runner in the 60. 

4. Jackson Bell, Richland (MO), 2021
Positional Profile:  OF/RHP
Body: 6-foot-4, 205-pounds. Physical, extra-large, well-proportioned build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, wide setup, smooth load, leg-kick timing trigger. Creates advanced bat speed, aggressive swing, short level bat path and gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ball jumps off the bat at times.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Long, loose arm action, over-the-top slot and throws played accurate, true and with carry.
Defense: Long, easy strides, soft hands, plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.88 runner in the 60. 

5. Clayton Ello, Francis Howell Central (MO), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-foot-5, 127-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Athletic, balanced setup, smooth load, leg-kick timing trigger and maintains balance through contact. Swings with intent, consistent hard contact, uphill path and finishes on back side.
Power: 76 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 79 mph. Long, loose arm action, 3/4 slot and arm plays accurate.
Defense: Athletic outfield actions, natural playing through the baseball, fluid footwork, clean transfer.
Run: 7.84 runner in the 60. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Jakob Besand, Notre Dame (MO), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-foot-3, 168-pounds. Long-limbed, highly-projectable build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth easy load and short stride. Long bat path and pull-side approach.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 73 mph. Long, firm arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Long, easy strides at times.
Run: 7.34 runner in the 60. 

Nicholas McElroy, Woodlawn (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-foot-11, 155-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, pre-pitch load and short stride. Long, uphill bat path, flashed bat speed worked mostly to the pull-side gap.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 79 mph. Short arm action from a 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, plays through the baseball in rhythm at times.
Run: 7.09 runner in the 60. 

Ayalew Sisay, Timberland (MO), 2022
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-foot-9, 160-pounds. Lean frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, smooth load, big leg kick stride. Level bat path, line-drive approach.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. INF - 80 mph. OF - 83 mph. Short arm action, an-over-the-top slot.
Defense: Worked out all over the diamond. Arguably looked the most natural in the outfield. Quick footwork, plays through the baseball.
Run: 8.02 runner in the 60. 

Noah Sweeny, Edwards County (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot, 160-pounds. Long-limbed frame with room for continued physical development.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, big pre-pitch loading action and long stride. Aggressive swing, flashed quick twitch, short bat path stays level through the zone at times.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Present bat strength.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Long strides, plays fast, works through the baseball and gains ground on release.
Run: 7.18 runner in the 60. 

Trenton Trieb, Blue Springs South (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-foot, 184-pounds. Athletic, strong build.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced setup, minimal quiet load and short stride. Twitchy hands, long, uphill bat path and occasional hard contact.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady defender, clean release, occasionally plays tall.
Run: 7.52 runner in the 60. 

Nolan Turner, N/A (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-5, 110-pounds. Small, well-proportioned frame.
Hit: LHH. Narrow, open setup, long stride and utilizes his lower half. Loose hands, aggressive swing, natural lift, occasional pull-side tendencies.
Power: 69 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 66 mph. Long arm action, plays from a 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, concise routes, plays through, clean release.
Run: 8.4 runner in the 60. 

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