By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

The Prep Baseball Report Underclass Trials held on June 12^th at Schaumburg Boomers Stadium featured several top 2016 and 2017 outfield prospects.  Providence Catholic’s Tom Kelley impressed with his all-around play, showing solid arm strength (82 mph from the OF) coupled with power potential (85 mph exit velocity).  St. Viator’s Michael Ragauskis ran an event best 6.68 60-yard dash.

Here’s a look at the top outfield prospects at the Underclass Trials.

Top Outfield Prospects

1. Tom Kelley, Providence Catholic, OF, 2016
6-foot-1, 180-pound physical and athletic OF/MIF impressed with his arm and bat.  Easily one of the top performers at the Underclass Trials.  Threw 82 mph from the outfield with fluid footwork approaching the baseball, leading to a loose over-the-top arm action with good carry and accuracy to the bases.  Hit from a balanced quiet setup with smooth pre pitch load.  Possessed excellent bat speed leading to 85 mph exit velocity with a short level bat path producing line drives from gap-to-gap.  Ran a 7.31 60-yard dash and 4.79 seconds from home to first.

2. Brett Lemmons, Morgan Township (Ind.), OF, 2017
5-foot-10, 150-pound switch-hitting INF/OF impressed with arm strength from the outfield throwing 85 mph from a crow hop with a long high ¾ arm action with some accuracy and advanced carry.  Showed better fielding actions from the outfield than in the infield.  Hit from a balanced closed stance with average bat speed, showing better from the left side.  Solid athlete ran a 6.95-60 yard dash, the top time for a 2017 at the Underclass Trials, and we were intrigued by arm strength enough to want to see him on the mound one day in the future. 

3. Jordan Wright, Sycamore, OF, 2016
5-foot-8, 155-pound outfielder threw from short, high ¾ arm action up to 73 mph from the outfield with some accuracy.  Played through the baseball fielding with a quick fluid exchange.  Hit from a balanced top hand-heavy swing with a leg kick that hindered timing, but still produced several line drives.   Ran a 7.22 60-yard dash.

4. Tre Hendon, Richwoods, OF, 2016
6-foot, 180-pound outfielder impressed with muscular, athletic frame.  Hit from a wide stance with considerable weight shift forward onto front foot.  Level swing with above average bat speed produce 80 mph exit velocity and line drives mostly to his pull side.  Ran a 7.38 60-yard dash and 4.93 seconds from home to first.  Threw 75 mph from the OF from a ¾ arm slot with shoulders working uphill.

5. Michael Ragauskis, St. Viator, OF, 2016
5-foot-10 160-pound outfielder impressed running the top 60-yard dash time at the Underclass Trials with a blazing 6.68 seconds.  Hit from a tall narrow stance spraying line drives to the opposite field displaying above average bat speed and 80 mph exit velocity.  Defensively, threw 72 mph from the outfield from a short high ¾ arm action with uphill tendencies and arch on throws to third and home.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Blake Begner, Peoria Heights, LHP/OF, 2017
5-foot-7, 130-pound two-way talent impressed with arm strength on the mound and in the outfield.  Hits from a balanced setup with a smooth load, leading to a level bat path with good extension.  Begner has a fluid rhythm to his swing, but currently lacks strength/power.  Threw 80 mph from the outfield with a long, loose arm action.  On the mound impressed with a 77-79 mph fastball, 63-65 mph curveball with 11-5 shape thrown near arm speed with occasional depth.  68-70 mph changeup was thrown near fastball arm speed with some sink and arm side run. 

Jeremy Davis, Geneva, OF, 2017
5-foot-10, 145-pound left-handed hitting outfielder impressed during batting practice session with a short level line-drive stroke from a balanced setup producing 77 mph exit velocity.  Threw from a long high ¾ arm action with some carry at 72 mph from a crow hop.  Feet worked well playing through this baseball with natural fielding actions.  Showcased athleticism with a 7.05 60-yard dash, well advanced for age.

Jake Deak, Huntley, RHP/OF, 2016
5-foot-8, 145-pound two-way player hit from an open stance with a short stride and long uphill path in his opposite field approach.  Threw 75 mph from the outfield and 72-73 off the mound touching 74 from a long ¾ arm action with regular effort.  Dropped arm angle on 59-66 mph breaking pitch and also threw a 66-68 mph split change.  Ran 7.65 in the 60 and produced 60 mph exit velocity.

Ryan Grant, West Chicago, OF/3B, 2016
5-foot-9, 185-pound right-handed hitter threw 75 mph from the outfield from short high ¾ arm action with average carry to third and home.  Hit from a balanced crouch setup dropping his hands down and back producing an uphill swing with above average bat speed up to 83 mph exit velocity.  Also ran a 7.25 60-yard dash with a 4.69 second home to first time.

Bo Lindstrom, Geneseo, OF/SS, 2016
5-foot-11, 185-pound right-handed hitting outfielder ran a 7.03 60-yard dash and 4.53 second from home to first.  Drops hands low below chest in pre-pitch load for short simple swing that produced 76 mph exit velocity.  Threw 77 mph from the outfield from short ¾ arm action with accuracy to the bases.

Dallas McDonough, Marian Central Catholic, OF, 2016
6-foot, 225-pound outfielder hit from balanced setup with leg kick and upper cut swing producing above average exit velocity at 85 mph.   Threw from a long, high ¾ arm action accurately to the bases at 73 mph from the outfield.  Ran an 8.06 second 60-yard dash and 5.18 seconds from home to first.

Alec Powell, Rockford Christian, RHP/OF, 2016
6-foot, 155-pound two-way talent impressed on the mound and in the outfield with arm strength.  On the hill fastball sat 81-84 mph with erratic command, but late life when in the zone.  Threw both curveball and slider.  Slider showed better with late break from 74-75 mph touching 78 once.  Pitched exclusively out of the stretch from a high ¾ arm action with toe pointed up at balance point.  Showed some rhythm with delivery, but rushed at times.  Also threw 81 mph from the outfield from an aggressive crow hop.  Hit from a balanced setup coiling front foot/hip to load lower half producing exit velocity up to 78 mph.

Juan Robles, Pritzker, OF, 2017
5-foot-9, 130-pound right-handed hitting outfielder hit from a balanced stance with a toe-tap load and average bat speed.  Ran 5.33 seconds from home to first, and 8.00 in the 60 yard dash.  Threw 62 mph from the outfield and also produced exit velocities up to 70 mph at the plate.

Zach Spence, Marian Catholic, OF, 2017
5-foot-11, 155-pound lanky left-handed hitter impressed with 80 mph exit velocity from open stance with reverse toe tap load, producing some lift in uphill swing.  Moved feet well in outfield drills, throwing 77 mph  from short, over-the-top arm angle with accuracy to bases.  Ran 7.82 seconds in the 60-yard dash.

Devin Thomas, Sacred Heart-Griffin, OF, 2016
5-foot-11, 165-pound left-handed hitting outfielder impressed by running one of the Underclass Trial’s best 60-yard dashes at 6.89 seconds.  Hit from a crouched open stance with an uphill swing plane and an opposite field approach.  Also threw 77 mph from the outfield.

Wyell Woods, Marian Catholic, OF, 2017
5-foot-10, 160-pound right-handed hitting outfielder hit from a balanced stance with a minimal stride and slight wrap during load.  Produced average bat speed up to 70 mph exit velocity.  Ran a 7.23 60-yard dash and threw 77 mph from the outfield from a long ¾ arm slot.  Also ran 4.69 seconds from home to first.

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