Norcal Upperclass ID: Outfielder Analysis

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LATHROP, CALIF. - The Northern California Upperclass ID event took place at Islanders Field at River Islands on the morning of 10/10/20. There were 35 players in attendance, 13 of whom showcased as outfielders.

TrackMan and Blast Motion were utilized during their batting practice round to gather data on exit velocity, hand speed, bat speed, rotational acceleration, fly ball %, on plane efficiency, and many other data points.

We are rolling out position reports this week and next. Be on the look out for future reports on infielders, as well as reports on the players who took part in the underclass ID event earlier that day.

Here are the reports for the upperclass pitchers, catchers, outfielders, 3rd basemen, and shortstops, as well as underclass pitchers.

(Click to individual player profiles for full stats and video)

Sorted in order of exit velo, OF velo, 60 time:

Cole McGowan, Redwood (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/SS - Showing at this event earned him invite to ProCase Preview.
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds. Smaller athletic build, built to run, lean strength.
Hit: LHH. Slightly open, starts in pronounced crouch, hands close to body just off shoulder, early barrel with circular rhythm, closes off in the stride, roles outside stride foot, fast hands, aggressive hunting type mentality, small hand load, quick trigger. Whippy lively swing, swing plane gives him a chance to drive ball through gaps to all fields, size doesn't suggest the power he has in the body, tools to make impact with the bat are significant; 20.66 avg rotational acceleration (26.5 max), 57% on plane, 55.5% LD/FB.
Power: 95 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. Avg hand speed 22.79, max bat speed 75.7 (71.39 avg).
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Short quick arm action, gets rid of ball quickly, some tailing action at end of throws, flashed ability to get carry, arm will play as above average.
Defense: Quick approach, fast feet, aggressive to ball on the ground, powerful delivery of the ball, range and tools to play CF.
Run: 6.59 runner in the 60. 

Luca Bove, Redwood (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/RHP - Showing at this event earned him invite to ProCase Preview (OF).
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds. Strong and athletic with lean musculature, streamlined build.
Hit: RHH. Wide feet, smooth swinging of leg back to load over backside, creates tension and separation between hands feet, explosive stroke with leverage coming from lower body, quiet head. Some similarities to Josh Donaldson type mechanics, sees ball well, attacks on plane with the pitch, loud impactful contact, projects as a power threat; 71% on plane, 16.6 max rotational acceleration (13.61 avg), 72.8% LD/FB.
Power: 95 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. Max hand speed 22.5 (20.54 avg), max bat speed 78.6 (72.53 avg).
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Longer arm action on backside, aggressive arm swing, gets rid of it quickly, some tailing action to the bag given the slot he throws from.
Defense: Smooth to ball, reads ball a bit long before approaching, sets up throwing mechanics to get to his peak velocity, projects to corner OF spot.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60. 

Christian Galvez, St. Francis (Mountain View, CA), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/3B/OF - Showing at this event earned him invite to ProCase Preview.
Body: 6-3, 200-pounds. Athletic and also filled out nicely, physical body.
Hit: RHH. Wide feet, powerful set-up, quiet load with simple smaller hand movement, quick direct trigger, smaller controlled stride, sees well. Flat swing, creates carry, hands work inside, gap to gap with present and future power to middle of field; 72% on plane efficiency, 54.5% hard hit, 45.5% LD, 27.3% FB.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. Max hand speed 21 (20.38 avg), max bat speed 72.4 (69.41 avg).
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. OF - 86 mph. Compact arm action, above avg arm strength happens quite easily both in INF and OF, accuracy is a strength.
Defense: Soft hands in INF, occasionally lets ball get a bit deep on him, best when on the move to right or left, range profiles best to 3B in the INF, in the OF sets up well to get throws off, fields out front and creates momentum, believe he's only recently started taking OF reps.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60. 

Erick Diez, Vanden (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: OF - Showing at this event earned him invite to ProCase Preview.
Body: 5-11, 210-pounds. Strong durable frame, big and athletic, man-type body.
Hit: RHH. Wide feet, strong set-up, engaged in legs early, slight crouch, short controlled load /minimal hand movement, easy hands to the ball, powerful hips. Showed ability to make adjustments based on pitch location, flat when need be, created swing angle when called for, loud contact, physical impact of ball; 19.3 max rotational acceleration, 62% on plane, fairly equal distribution LD/FB/GB %.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. Max hand speed 21.1 (19.7 avg), max bat speed 73.5 (68.68 avg).
Arm: RH. OF - 91 mph. Powerful arm, short arm action, fairly quick release, throws track on line.
Defense: Direct approach, fields in position to get throw off quickly and access powerful arm, uses lower body well, projects as above avg corner OF with RF tools.
Run: 7.1 runner in the 60. 

Aidan Taclas, Sacred Heart Cathedral (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/2B
Body: 6-1, 160-pounds. Long and lanky, loose and agile, lots of physical development still ahead.
Hit: LHH. Tall set with very slightly open front foot, relaxed hands with early barrel tilt, larger knee lift to backside load, smooth stride, creates leverage to fight against front side. Whippy lively swing, lets barrel live through ball, intent to do damage, flashed middle of field ability though mostly pull side with upward attack angle; 72% on plane efficiency, 66.7% fly ball.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. Max hand speed 20.7 (19.32 avg), max bat speed 67 (64.55 avg).
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Longer arm action from lower slot, enough raw arm strength to play above avg with a quicker release.
Defense: Conservative to ball on the ground, can work to eliminate a step or two in throwing mechanics, perhaps a recent convert to the OF, hands are playable, profiles as LF.
Run: 7.42 runner in the 60. 

Cody Zachariasen, Truckee (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 160-pounds. Lean body with budding muscle and strength, athletically built, good frame.
Hit: LHH. Tall set up, narrow feet, calm hands, loads over back foot with knee lift, sizeable stride landing into stiff front leg, has hand speed. Some swing mechanics similar to Matt Olsen, gets on plane with the pitch, rotational shoulders, barrel tilt early though inconsistent barrel position at contact; 74% on plane, 42.9% ground balls, 42.9% fly balls.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. Max hand speed 10.7, max bat speed 72.7 (avg 68.89).
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Short arm action, gets rid of ball quickly, high arc throws, accuracy is good, carry is fair.
Defense: Good routes, closes quickly, confident with feet and glove, sets up to throwing mechanics well, projects to LF.
Run: 7.69 runner in the 60. 

Michael Banderas, San Ramon Valley (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-1, 197-pounds. Fuller body type, broad, has some natural power in lower half.
Hit: RHH. Traditional set-up, knee lift to load backside, bars lead arm, maintains balance, leverage against stride leg, sizeable stride. Flat to contact with upward angle through finish, strong hands, has power to pull side; 17.8 max rotational acceleration, 51% on plane, 45.5% LD/FB%.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. Max hand speed 21.9 (avg 20.32), max bat speed 69.7 (65.46 avg).
Arm: RH. OF - 89 mph. Loose strong arm, has carry, can speed up his release, arm that can threaten aggressive runners.
Defense: Fairly light and bouncy feet, release and approach to ball are fair, got caught in between with feet on occasion, profiles as LF regarding range.
Run: 7.81 runner in the 60. 

Max Coupe, Menlo-Atherton (CA), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/2B
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Athletic and well-proportioned, multi-sport type of body.
Hit: RHH. Tall set-up, starts open, loads hands fairly deep over backside, medium knee lift out to in-line stride, smooth stroke, feel for the bat, can adjust to different locations, maintains balance and athleticism in the stroke. Flat plane, hands work inside, catches ball out front with body in good position behind his hands, two hand finish through contact; 19.8 max rotational acceleration, 81% on plane.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. Max hand speed 21.5 (19.95 avg), max bat speed (63.2).
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Gets ride of it quickly, strong arm, accurate, combined with mechanics makes his arm play well above average.
Defense: Confident quick approach to ball, catches cleanly getting to quick release footwork while allowing best throws to come out, looks fully capable of manning any of the three OF spots.
Run: 7.02 runner in the 60. 

Matt Mitchell, Marin Catholic (CA), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-0, 170-pounds. Rangy body, lanky with projectable frame for size and strength gains.
Hit: RHH. Wide feet, pinched knees in a slight crouch, starts with relaxed vertical bat, small stride, tips upper body/head during rotation, access his power well. Upward swing through contact, explodes hips at the point of contact, has abilities to impact the baseball with authority; 19.03 avg rotational acceleration, 65% on plane, 66.7% fly ball.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. Max hand speed 22.1 (21 avg), max bat speed 65.6 (63.63 avg).
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Strong arm that has more to come, fast aggressive arm stroke, longer traditional OF arm action, showed accuracy with one hop throws to the bag.
Defense: Smooth routes and footwork to the ball, a step or two too many to get the throw off, soft hands, caught ball cleanly with rhythm.
Run: 7.51 runner in the 60. 

Miles Bergman, Acalanes (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds. Lithe lean body, plenty of frame to still fill in, athletic proportions.
Hit: RHH. Narrow feet, slight crouch/hunch, early engagement in lower half, loose but ready hands, medium knee lift, minimal load over backside, small hand movement before firing, lands with balance in slightly closed stride, hands direct to ball. Handsy swing, contact oriented approach, spray type hitter, soem XBH pop could come on with strength gains; 71% on plane, 12 max rotational acceleration, 50% line drives, 37.5% fly balls.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. Max hand speed 18.8, max bat speed 67.4.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Compact arm action, average raw arm strength, accuracy is a strength, fair carry.
Defense: Reads ball early, aggressive to ball into throwing mechanics, makes early adjustments in routes, sound mechanics, projects to CF/LF.
Run: 7.03 runner in the 60. 

Rocky Reyes, Buchanan (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds. Average frame, longer arms, lean with strength and very well-proportioned.
Hit: RHH. Pinched knees, starts slightly open, hands held high with back elbow parallel to ground, back foot position set to more easily get to hip rotation, closes stride, some barring of lead arm with some head tip during swing.  Flat stroke, good plate coverage, spray/contact oriented approach, hands have feel, easy swing, seems to understand his tools; 64% on plane, 13.1 max rotational acceleration, 62.5% line drives.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. Max hand speed 20.6, max bat speed 64.2.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Long arm action with depth and some cupping of ball on backside, minimal carry though generally on target.
Defense: Sees ball well, aggressive approach, drives through ball into throwing mechanics, made adjustments well on tough hops, projects to LF.
Run: 7.73 runner in the 60. 

Austin Parlog, Liberty (Brentwood, CA), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-1, 165-pounds. Lean body type, streamlined proportions, wiry strength.
Hit: RHH. Tall erect stance, feet slightly wider than shoulders, hands held high off shoulder, lots of pre-pitch barrel waggle starting pointed away before creating barrel tilt and knob to catcher, small toe tap stride, short stroke, works inside directly to ball, two hand finish with balance. Line drive stroke, handsy swing with direct path, ability to spray to all fields, high focus for quality contact; 78% on plane, 20.9 max rotational acceleration (avg 18.62), 75% LD/FB.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. Max hand speed 22.6 (avg 21.29), max bat speed 68.8 (67.02 avg).
Arm: RH. OF - 74 mph. Smooth arm action nears full extension on backside with waste deep arm stroke, minimal carry.
Defense: Charges ball confidently, feet move quickly, at times got rid of ball quickly and other throws took an extra step or two, quality hands and mechanics, projects to LF.
Run: 7.26 runner in the 60. 

Thomas (TJ) Hays, Archbishop Mitty (CA), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/2B
Body: 5-9, 160-pounds. Average athletic build, still plenty of room in the frame to fill out.
Hit: RHH. Strong set up, bent at knees, hands held relaxed just off the shoulder, very slightly open, up in the box, simple small stride, minimal lift, hands load sync'd with feet, throws barrel through contact, maintains balance, shoulder to shoulder with quiet head. Flat plane, spray contact type swing, looks to be capable of making consistent contact and able to use all fields; 66% on plane, 12.4 max rotational acceleration.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity in live BP via TrackMan. Max hand speed 18.8, max bat speed 59.
Arm: RH. OF - 67 mph. Short catcher type arm action, high arc throws, accurate with minimal carry.
Defense: Gets low through the ball on the ground, secures ball well, fundamental mechanics, mostly got rid of ball quickly (one fumble grip), focused defender, projects to LF.
Run: 7.35 runner in the 60.