Future Games Preview: Indiana's Outfielders

2017 Spring Scout Blog:  Uncommitted 2019, currently ranked #3 player in class flashed his athleticism and his quick hands at the plate going 3-3 with 3 singles and a RBI sac fly. Hands drop early in his load but recovers to get on an even plane with the ball. Average balance in the box. Flashed a 4.2 H-1st with a turn on one of his singles and was very aggressive on the base paths. Also, Simpson had a 2-run homer on Friday night in the Sectional semi-final game against Evansville Harrison. Played centerfield in all three sectional games and showcased his range numerous times throughout the weekend. 

Summer 2016: An ultra-athletic 6-foot-1, 156 pound RHP/OF that possesses athletic twitch, arm strength and raw power at the plate.  Simpson has a fastball in the low-to-mid 80s topping out at 88.  He ran a 6.83-60 at the USA Regional tournament this summer.  Offensively, he has a gap-to-gap approach with raw pull-side power. 

6/13/17:  5-foot-11, 165 pound outfielder showcased multiple tools including foot speed and bat speed.  Manous ran a 6.58 laser-timed 60 yard dash.  Covers gap to gap in the outfield with quick footwork and ability to play through the ball.  Outfield velocity topped at 82.  Some stiffness in the arm action, throws from a high ¾ slot.  Quick transfer, long arm action.  Offensively, he hits from a balanced setup with slight crouch.  Heavy front foot in stride.  Hands are stiff in load.  Quick twitch in lower half, creates a fast bat.   Slightly uphill path, some lift at contact.  High follow in 2019 class.

2017 Spring Scout Blog:  Uncommitted top-20, 2019 outfielder in Indiana was good from the leadoff spot. Athletic setup from the right side with the hands high and bat wrapped up around the helmet to start. Small foot and hand load to start swing, long path at times, but hands worked to the baseball for hard contact. Line drive, slightly uphill swing. Has more in the lower half of swing. Drove a ball to the RCF gap for a double and displayed plus speed out of the box and down the line. Covers a lot of ground in centerfield with good jumps. Arm is just average, with more strength and carry needed. Scrappy, hard nosed player that had good baseball instincts on the diamond. 

6/21/16: A wiry, 5-foot-11,160 pound outfielder ran a 6.71 60 yd dash (laser-timed). Possesses athletic twitch and above average speed for his age.   Offensively, hits from a balanced setup with a slight crouch. Uses a small leg lift for timing.  Minimal load back. Average lower half, at times gets off his backside. Displays bat speed with a level to slightly uphill path. Swing gets a little long at times, but gets the barrel through the zone producing hard contact. Potential gap to gap power. High exit velocity of 82 off the tee. Defensively uses quick, choppy steps, Hands are soft and plays through through the baseball with athleticism. Fields the ball clean with a clean exchange. Throws topped at 77 from the outfield. High follow 2019.

6/22/15: 5-foot-10, 150 pounder ran a 6.87-60.  In the OF displayed sure hands with fluid feet.  Exchange was clean and plays through the baseball well.  Long, high ¾ arm action at 79 with some accuracy.  At the plate hits from a slightly open setup.  Toe tap for timing.  Stride is short with average use of the lower half.  Showcased above average bat speed with a level path to the baseball.  Line drive type hitter.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 83 mph.  On the mound pitches from a long, high ¾ arm action with average arm speed.  Good balance.  Drop and drive delivery with some rhythm and effort.  Level shoulders.  Finishes upright.  Fastball was 70-74.  

4/1/17 Game Notes: 6'6", 215 pound 2019 prospect. Played RF in both games and batted 4th. Had a 2 run 1B in the first game and drove 2 balls deep to RCF in the 2nd game. Big, strong RH bat that is still raw. Athletic stance in the batters box, little rhythm to start with simple, quiet load and leg lift into stride. Has more room to create separation into swing and get into a better launch position. Made loud contact a couple times hunting the fastball, struggled hitting a breaking ball. Big athletic frame that tracked flyballs well in RF, got good first steps. High follow, two-sport athlete in 2019 class. 

2015 Future Games: Hails from the same high school as 2013 first-round pick Trey Ball, and at 6-foot-5, 195 pounds, Gillis has a similar frame already, only with more mass. Gillis was the only 2019 invite to the PBR Future Games in August. For his size, he moves well, running a 7.33 60. Has potential to be a high-level two-way guy.

6/13/17:  Standing 5-foot-8, 155 pounds, the undersized outfielder plays big on the field.  Trinkle ran a 6.93 and topped 89 from the outfield.  Plays through the ball with athleticism.  Clean, long arm swing with a high ¾ release.  Moves well and takes good angles.  Offensively, uses a leg kick as timing trigger while hands load back.  Big movements, at times lot of head movement.  Creates a long, slightly uphill path.  Loud contact during his round of batting practice.  Should continue to fill in physically and add more bat speed.  Already has a top exit velocity of 85mph.  High follow in 2020 class.

2/25/17: 5-foot-8, 155 pounds.  Offensively, the RHH hits from an open, athletic/crouch setup.  Smooth load, short stride. Over rotation with the lower half.  Showcased plus bat speed for his age.  Has a swagger approach in the box.  Slightly uphill swing path produced hard hit line drives.  Fluid rhythm throughout the swing.  One of the best rounds of BP at the event.  Registered a high exit velocity of 82 mph.  Defensively, short arm circle back, ¾ slot.  Throws topped out at 85 with some carry.  Plays through the baseball with quick, fluid footwork.  Solid defender.  Ran a 6.98 in the laser-timed 60.  

6/21/16: The 5 foot 7 148 pound outfielder showcased good actions for his age.  Has an athletic, balanced setup at the plate.  Bat speed is above average with a short, direct path to the ball.  Produced line drives with fluid actions.  Defensively, arm action is loose but will need to add strength as he matures.  Footwork is fluid with a clean exchange.  Throws topped at 80mph from outfield.  Grant ran a 7.27 60 yd dash.

2/21/16: 5-foot-7, 142 pounds, ran a 7.39-60.  Good actions in the field with soft hands and fluid feet. Clean exchange.  Plays through the baseball with athleticism.  At the plate hits from a slightly open setup.  Smooth load, short stride.  Average use of the lower half with good balance.  Possesses quick bat speed for his age.  Advanced approach.  Short path, gets to extension with some barrel whip.  Line drive hitter.  PITCHING- Pitches from a high 3/4 arm action with above average arm speed.  Repeats the delivery. Has rhythm with regular effort.  Strike thrower.  

6/13/17:  6-foot-1, 195 pound outfielder showcased improved arm strength and bat speed.  A two-sport, highly athletic outfielder possesses raw actions in the box with fast hands.  High exit velocity of 98mph.  Has power to both gaps.  Open setup, slight leg kick used as a timing trigger.  Slightly uphill path with good barrel awareness.  Aggressive in box and on basepaths.  Defensively, throws topped at 86 with some carry.  Plays through the ball with average glovework and quick feet.  He ran a 6.89 laser-timed 60 yard dash.

6/21/16: The 6 foot 185 pound outfielder ran a 6.82 60yd dash.  Zac showcases explosiveness at the plate.  Bat speed is fast and lower half is used well.  Bat path is level with extension.  In the outfield, he has quick footwork and above average hands.  Plays thru the ball.  Arm strength is average.  Throws topped at 83mph.  Has athleticism in the field.

2/21/16: Athletic 6-foot, 180 pounder ran a 7.09-60 and was 81 from the OF.  Possesses quick, fluid footwork with a clean exchange.  Sure hands, plays through the ball with athleticism.  Looks the part.  Offensively, hits form an open setup, smooth load, short stride from a leg kick.  Possesses quick bat speed with an uphill swing path.  Consistently makes hard contact.  Gap-to-gap power.  High exit velocity of 86.  ATHLETE.  

6/22/15: 6-foot, 180 pounds, athletic/strong frame.  Ran a 7.00-60.  Possesses athletic actions in the field with soft hands, quick feet and a quick exchange.  Plays through the baseball with athleticism.  Long, loose high ¾ arm action across the diamond at 73 mph.  At the plate hits from a balanced setup, loads back.  Stride is short with good use of the lower half.  Good balance.  Possesses quick hands at the plate.  Level path, consistently produced hard hit line drives during BP.  Recorded a high exit velocity of 85 mph.  On the mound pitches from a high ¾ slot with above average arm speed.  Drop and drive delivery with some effort.  Level shoulders.  Stays in line to the plate.  Lands open. Recoil at the finish.  Fastball was 76-77.  10/4 breaking ball sat 63-65 with early break.  Changeup shows sink and fade and kept in the zone at 70-72.  

3/14/15: As an 8^th grader, Zac displays plus athletic actions in all areas for his age.    He ran a 7.5 60yd dash.  Offensively, Zac has fast hands with an explosive lower half.  His load can get long at times.  His stride is short and bat path is uphill.  Produces gap power.  His exit velo was 84mph.  He has some cleaning up to do but has good actions overall.  In the infield, he has quick feet and exchange.  He plays through the ball well.  Zac will need to work on backhand footwork.  Throws were accurate with carry.  He threw 79 across the infield.  On the mound he feature a heavy FB thrown for strikes and topped at 78mph.  Slider has 10/4 late break at 66-67mph.  Location was erratic but had good tilt.  His change-up was thrown near FB arm speed.   Overall, he projects the most as a corner infielder.  His future could be bright if cleans up certain areas.

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