Quad City Open: Outfield Analysis

January 29, 2015

By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Iowa

The Prep Baseball Report Iowa's final event in 2014- the Quad City Open- took place on Sunday December 14^th at the Ambrose Dome in Davenport, IA. 53 prospects strutted their stuff in front of over 20 collegiate programs in attendance. Over the next several days the PBR Scouting staff will roll out position-by-position rankings of the event, culminating with the Top Ten Overall Prospects from the showcase.

Click Here to view the statistical performances from the event.

We also broke down the Top Tools of the event. Click Here to view the Top Tools based on various commonly used scouting criteria for analyzing prospects.

Davenport Assumption's Chase Hager takes top honors in the outfield category. Hager ran a 6.77; easily the best time of the event. He also showed strength in the bat with an 88 mph exit velocity. There's some things that will need to be cleaned up mechanically in college but he is one of the best raw athlete's still available in the class of 2015.

Let’s take a look at the top outfield prospects from this December’s Quad City Open.

top outfield prospects

1. Chase Hager, OF, Davenport Assumption, 2015
5-foot-10, 195-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. 6.77 60 time. Running back build with quick twitch actions and strength. Shows ability to hit. Some stiffness to swing; with good hand-eye coordination and squares baseball well. 88 mph exit velocity off tee. Moves with purpose in outfield. Is able to field routine. Quick release from outfield with short arm action. 79 mph arm strength. Competitive and athletic. Somewhat raw in actions; has ability to play. Also has high academic marks. Should be committed soon bases on present ability and tools to develop.

2. Jordan Wright, OF, Sycamore, 2016
5-foot-8, 155-pound left-handed hitting outfielder currently ranked No. 166 in Illinois’ 2016 class impressed as one of the top outfielders at the Quad City Open. Hits from an open setup, hands load back smoothly, short stride, dives slightly, well above average 84 mph exit velocity, balanced left-center field approach. Defensively, threw 78 mph from the outfield from short, high ¾ arm slot with accuracy and carry. Moves extremely well side-to-side, soft hands fielding through the baseball. Ran a 7.03 60-yard dash.

3. Devin Wessels, RHP/OF, United Township, 2016
6-foot-2, 155-pound right-handed hitting outfielder/right-handed pitcher impressed as one of the top overall prospects at this year’s Quad City Open. Hits from a balanced setup, wide base, no stride, lifts front heel, hands start back, load back and up smoothly, short path, occasional extension, line drives from gap-to-gap with 83 mph exit velocity off the tee. Defensively, threw 86 mph in the outfield from short, over-the-top arm slot with accuracy, plays through the baseball aggressively. Ran a 7.52 60. On the mound, short, quick, over-the-top arm slot, toe up at balance point, slight drop and drive delivery, arches back slightly to get up top with arm action, slightly uphill shoulders, lower half stride direction stays in line with home plate, lands square and athletically. Fails to load from stretch, losing some fastball velocity. Fastball sat in the 83-85 mph range, 84-85 in windup. Secondary lags behind slowing arm on 64-66 mph curveball with 11/5 shape, erratic up in zone. Changeup showed fading action when down in the zone at 72-74 mph. Wessels has two years to refine his off speed, but his arm strength and athleticism make him a prospect to follow closely.

4. Dane Steidler, OF/RHP, North Scott, 2015
6-foot, 175-pound 2-way player. Lean athletic body. 7.11 60 time. Open stance and strides to square. Shows flashes of above average hitting ability. Load is short and controlled. Balance throughout swing. Optimal swing plane creating backspin and ability to make solid contact gap to gap. One of better mechanical swings at event producing 87 mph exit velocity off tee. Long arm action from outfield with accuracy and carry. Moves well with adequate actions. 78 mph arm strength. Short high ¾ arm action from the mound. Solid delivery with in-line stride to plate. Fastball was straight at 74-80 mph. Curveball showed 12/6 shape and ability to throw for strikes. Changeup showed fade at 66-70 mph when thrown in bottom of zone. Interesting prospect to follow in college. With added reps, maturity, and strength could become very good player.

5. Zachary Walz, SS/OF/RHP, Grand Forks Central (ND), 2015
5-foot-10, 165-pound right-handed hitting utility player. Solid build with strong lower half. 7.12 60 time. Open stance with stride into long base. Swing is long at times causing slight uphill bat plane and contact on bottom half of ball. Does show good hand-eye coordination and has ability to get barrel to ball. Good strength in swing with 84 mph exit velocity off tee. Super utility defender with ability to play in outfield and infield. A lot of value with ability to play multiple positions well along with future hitting ability. Arm works in outfield. Ability to throw from different angles and hands are soft at shortstop. Feet work and has good short burst speed to cover infield. Outfield velocity of 84 mph. Infield velocity of 81 mph. Typical quality position player who can get on mound and be competitive. Balanced compact delivery with long arm action. Fastball is 80-82 mph with run for strikes. Breaking ball is hard with 11/5 shape and plus pitch when shown in bottom of zone. Changeup shows late 2-seam action and has decent feel for pitch.

6. Ian Bedell, RHP/OF, Davenport Central, 2018
6-foot-2, 155-pound 2-way player. Tall lanky athlete with a 7.34 60 time. Slightly open stance with tall set-up. Tall to fall hitting mechanics with good weight transition through contact. Swing plane is appropriate creating backspin after contact with hard line drives. Pull approach. Shows ability in outfield. Confident fielder with loose high ¾ arm action. Throws have carry and are accurate at 78 mph. Projectable frame on mound. Arm works from from high ¾ arm slot. Compact delivery with ability to repeat mechanics. Fastball was 75-81 mph. Curveball had 12/6 shape with gradual break. High Follow for 2018 class.

7. Keaton Rice, C/OF, Geneseo, 2017
6-foot-1, 165-pound left-handed hitting catcher/outfielder looked noticeably more physical adding height and weight since this past summer. Hits from an open setup, slight crouch, short stride, explosive bat speed for age, short path, slightly uphill, looks mostly to pull, line drives. Defensively, showed arm strength from the outfield at 83 mph from short, over-the-top arm slot with carry. Future most likely lies behind the plate where he reeled off pop times from 2.08-2.18. Pop times and accuracy were better when he came out of the chute at a lower angle, not standing up straight first. Threw 73 mph from the crouch, ran a 7.37 60. Rice already has a plus frame, and left-handed catchers are a rarity. He’s a high follow prospect in Illinois’ 2017 class.

8. Drew Boffeli, OF, North Scott, 2017
6-foot-2, 180-pound outfielder. Projectable body with room to grow. Wide base with pre-set hand load. Short to contact with stiff swing mechanics. Shows bat speed and strength with 87 mph exit velocity off tee. Is loose and athletic in outfield. Over-the-top arm slot with minimal carry. 66 mph arm strength from outfield. Shows athletic ability and will continue to grow as player. Follow.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Marcus Cashman, OF, Davenport West, 2016
5-foot-9, 160-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. 7.65 60 time. Back to front weight transfer through swing. Minimal load with level rotational swing through contact. 80 mph exit velocity off tee. Long arm action in outfield with minimal use of front side effecting carry. Shows ability to make routine plays on ground balls. 70 mph arm strength from outfield.

Brandon Gillespie, OF, Davenport West, 2016
5-foot-11, 155-pound right-handed hitting outfielder. Average slender build. 7.63 60 time. Square stance with pre-set hand load from mid-low set-up. Short to contact with uphill swing plane. Shows some bat speed with short finish after contact. 77 mph exit velocity off tee. Short ¾ arm action from outfield with ok carry. Limited use of lower half and front side on throws. Shows ability to make routine plays on ground balls. 72 mph arm strength from outfield.

Noah Harlan, OF/MIF, Knoxville, 2018
6-foot-1, 130-pound lanky switch-hitting outfielder was better from the right side. Right-handed hits from a wide base, leg kick stride, 67 mph exit velocity. Left-handed stance is crouched lower, uphill bat path, 68 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 62 mph from the outfield from long, high ¾ arm slot, stabs down in back of arm swing, starting and stopping arm action. At shortstop, also threw 62 mph across the diamond from same slot. Ran an 8.19 60.

Dylan Hart, OF, Rock Island, 2016
5-foot-7, 140-pound left-handed hitting, left-handed throwing outfielder hits from an extremely wide base, no stride, slight toe tap, hands held high, uphill bat path produced line drives from gap-to-gap, 73 mph exit velocity. Defensively, threw 68 mph from the outfield from short, high ¾ arm slot. Ran a 7.58 60.

Colton Kipper, OF/LHP, Pleasant Valley, 2016
5-foot-11, 135-pound 2-way player. 7.28 60 time. Lean projectable body with long legs. Tall square stance. Wraps barrel in load. Hands will drift down creating uphill swing plane at time. Pull approach with some whip through the zone. 76 mph exit velocity off tee. Long loose ¾ arm action in outfield. Glides to baseballs showing fluidity and athleticism. Loses accuracy and carry from slot but shows well in outfield. 70 mph arm strength. Herky high energy delivery on mound. Toe down with high leg kick balance point. Travels across rubber in delivery causing him to land open and losing direction. Short high ¾ arm slot. Fastball was 71-73 mph. Curveball showed 1/7 shape at 63-66 mph. Showed better control and feel for changeup. Kipper is a loose projectable L/L player who coaches will follow to see if strength and tools improve.

Chuck Klutho, RHP/OF, Bettendorf, 2015
6-foot-2, 200-pound 2-way player. Physical build with strong lower half. 7.48 60 time. Swings lacks rhythm at times. Rotational lower half and uphill swing plane with pull approach. Strength in upper body with 85 mph exit velocity off tee. Ok actions defensively; comfortable fielding balls with appropriate routes and angles. Throws from over-the-top slot with accuracy showing 83 mph arm strength. Balanced compact delivery on mound. Good balance point with toe down and stays inline to plate. Short high ¾ arm action with extension out front. Fastball shows downhill plane at 76-80 mph. Average curveball command. Changeup was 69-71mph.

Ryan Rice, LHP/OF, United Township, 2018
5-foot-9, 145-pound right-handed hitting left-handed pitcher/outfielder hits from a balanced setup, hands drop to load, long, slightly uphill bat path, produced 76 mph exit velocity. Threw 70 mph from the outfield from long, high ¾ arm slot with some accuracy. On the mound, showed feel for strikes with three pitches. Fastball sat 71-73 mph from long, loose, high ¾ arm action, toe down at balance point, controlled rhythm, lower half stride direction stays in line with home plate. 66-67 mph curveball flashes gradual break, 1/7 shape. Also throws 61-63 mph changeup with feel for the strike zone. Ran a 7.83 60 yard dash.

Keaton Rommel, OF/1B, Davenport West, 2016
6-foot-3, 205-pound left-handed hitting outfielder/ first baseman. Big strong build. Simple swing mechanics with no load and short stride from medium base. Swing is flat and short to contact. Flashes of strength at contact. Needs to work on rhythm and utilizing leverage and body. Average defensively in outfield; raw throwing mechanics with minimal carry and accuracy. 71 mph outfield arm strength. Average footwork and hands at first base. Is able to make routine plays and shows adequate foot work around bag receiving throws. 66 mph arm strength across infield.

Quad City Open: Outfield Analysis

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