Athletic 2020 Outfielders
April 26, 2018
This week, On the Hunt takes a look at some athletic outfielders from the 2020 class. Long and agile with speed, each player shows signs of developing into a quality player at the next level. With the summer quickly approaching, recruiters will want to highlight each guy as a player to watch. Players from California, Iowa, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, and Texas are included.
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Jag Burden OF / LHP / Huntington Beach , CA / 2020At first glance, Burden’s performance at the Boras Classic South will not jump out, as he didn’t fill the stats sheet with numerous hits. However, his mature approach hitting from the left side, and strong defensive play in the outfield throughout the tournament makes me believe that he will have a chance to excel in the future. Athletic with a wiry, 5-foot-11, 150-pound frame Burden sets up in a wider stance with a slight crouch at the plate. His hands start below the shoulder with wider elbows, and a normal stride separates them further back. He exhibits a strong bottom hand through the zone with the barrel working slightly uphill with a loose, one-handed finish. The barrel showed some lag in the zone, and he should have a chance to drive the ball to both gaps as he continues filling out. What stood out most to me throughout the tournament was how advanced Burden’s approach and strike zone discipline was. He took multiple close pitches for balls even when behind in the count, and was able to spoil a plethora of pitcher’s pitches before grinding out multiple walks. He also made a couple nice plays in left field. Overall, Burden looks to be one of the top, uncommitted 2020 players in the country, and has a chance to make a big jump in the future.
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