DFW Top Prospects Showcase: Outfield Analysis

PLANO, TX - Here is the outfield analysis from the DFW Top Prospects Showcase.

OUTFIELDERS

Top Performers

Cody Akers, SS/OF, Azle HS, 2019
Athletic 5-foot-10, 185 pound frame. Akers started his day off running a 6.88 laser-timed 60, and the athletic switch hitter continued to impress at the plate by driving balls in batting practice.  He pounded a 93 mph exit velocity off the tee, he controls his body well and has fluid actions in his swing, stays behind the ball well with his body, is in the hitting zone a long time with his barrel, and is strong at the point of contact. He has an athletic stance with a leg kick from both sides of the plate, maintains excellent balance throughout the swing, and has an explosive backside drive, and this translated into him driving balls into both gaps from both sides of the plate in BP.  From the outfield, he has a smooth approach and transfer and made strong accurate throws with carry to the plate; topped out at 91 mph. He is athletic in the infield with fluid footwork, a quick exchange, and similar arm strength and carry (89 mph). Akers already has an impressive well-rounded tool set, and has yet to hit his high ceiling.

Kameron Weil, OF/2B, Lamar HS, 2020
Five-foot-9, 160-pound athletic build.  Weil started his day off running a 6.73 laser-timed 60, and showed fast-twitch actions all over the field.  Weil hits from the left side in an athletic stance with a fast bat, gets extension through the ball especially to right field.  He showed the ability to split the gaps with backspin carry. He was consistently on the barrel in BP with an exit velocity of 84 mph.  In the outfield he works aggressively through the baseball to make low and accurate throws through the cutoff man at 84 mph. Weil put up exciting numbers, and his athleticism at his age shows a high ceiling of potential.

Jacob Bushnell, OF/3B, Marcus HS, 2019
Strong frame, 6-foot-1, 175-pounds.  Bushnell showed power from the right side of the plate pounding a 91 mph exit velocity off the tee, and that translated into BP where he hammered some balls off the barrel into the left center field gap.  In the box he starts with a strong base out of an open stance, loud rhythm in his hands with looseness in his hands and wrists, a controlled leg kick with weight shift getting off of his backside through the baseball and creates power and extension through the zone.  Bushnell ran a 6.96 laser-timed 60 yard dash. From the outfield, he closed ground and attacked the ball aggressively, moved through the ball with fluidity and a clean exchange and made low accurate throws to the plate at 84 mph.

Jaxon Alley, OF/3B, Prosper HS, 2019
Strong and athletic 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame.  Alley had the second highest OF velocity at the event topping out at 87 mph, and was highly accurate making low throws with cary to the plate.  Alley showed quick feet in the infield, and displayed more carry and accuracy on his throws; topped out at 81 mph from the infield. At the plate, he has an athletic stance with a fluid load and flashed fast quick hands.  He has line drive power, and showed it in BP by hitting consistent hard low line drives off the barrel; 82 mph top exit velo off tee. Alley ran a 7.20 laser-timed 60.

Colbie Fritchen, OF, Eaton HS, 2019
Athletic, 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame. Fritchen hits from the right side out of an athletic stance, has a leg kick, and loose quick hands in his swing; 87 mph exit velo off the tee.  He has a loose barrel action that has some whip in it, he takes aggressive swings and creates natural lift through the middle of the field. Fritchen ran a 6.86 laser-timed 60. In the outfield, he has quiet feet in his approach, a clean transfer, and he made accurate throws to the plate topping out at 85 mph.

Cedric Bowman, OF/LHP, All Saints Episcopal School, 2019
Lean athletic 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame.  Bowman ran a 6.96 laser-timed 60 to start his day.  Bowman has a smooth swing from the left side of the plate.  He has a tall posture in his stance, has a smooth load with a short stride, and his barrel whips through the zone on a slightly uphill plane.  Bowman made hard contact to the pull-side in bp, flashing power down the right field line; 83 mph exit velo off the tee. Bowman has fluid movements in the outfield with a smooth approach to a clean transfer, and he made strong accurate throws (83 mph) to the plate.

Best of the Rest (Alphabetical)

Ryan Frnka, OF/SS, Plano West HS, 2019
High-waisted 5-foot-10, 160-pound athletic frame with room to develop into the frame.  Frnka ran a 7.07 laser-timed 60. In the outfield, he has smooth footwork in his approach to the ball, has a clean exchange with a quick over-the-top release; 79 mph to the plate.  At the plate he hits from the right side in an athletic slightly open stance; posted a 75 mph exit velo. He has a smooth swing with a flat barrel path and hit the ball off the barrel using the whole field.

Riley Hicks, OF, Reedy HS, 2019
Lean 6-0, 165-pound athletic frame.  Hicks ran an impressive 6.49 laser-timed 60 to start his day.  He hits from the right side with an early rhythm and load in his swing.  He hits in an athletic stance with a long stride with a toe tap for timing.  He has strength at the point of contact, and has quick-twitch actions in his barrel.  He is short to the ball, and has line drive power, posting an exit velo of 82 mph off the tee.  In the outfield he works aggressively through the ball with his body throughout the throw and has an over-the-top release point, and he topped out at 81 mph to the plate with carry.  He made low accurate throws through the cutoff man to the plate.

Koby Ketcher, C/OF, Legacy Christian HS, 2019
Strong 6-0, 180-pound athletic frame.  At the plate he has a smooth load with a leg kick where he brings his knee back to his midline before striding.  He has a compact swing with minimal head movement, works behind the ball well with his body to create the space for his barrel to get on plane, and he gets extension through the hitting zone with his barrel.  He has easy effort in his swing, and the ball jumps off his barrel with gap to gap pop; 87 mph exit velo. Ketcher ran a 7.18 laser-timed 60. From the outfield he had fluid movements and topped out at 80 mph, making low and accurate throws through the cutoff man.

Joshua McCrory, OF/2B, McKinney HS, 2019
5-foot-10, 160-pound frame.  McCrory ran a 7.24 laser-timed 60.  He pounded an 83 mph exit velo off the tee.  He has a wide stance, is down in his legs throughout the swing, and works with a very short stride and rhythm in his hands.  His hips work around a rotational axis at the plate, and his barrel works with extension to the pull-side of the field. He takes an aggressive swing, and his barrel is quick through the hitting zone.  In the outfield he works through the ball, and creates direction to the plate in his footwork; 71 mph from the outfield. In the infield he threw 65 mph across the diamond with quick footwork and a clean exchange.

Mitchell Miller, OF/RHP, Liberty HS, 2019
6-foot-1, 170-pound lean frame with some wiry strength.  Left-handed hitter with fluid actions at the plate, he hits from an athletic stance with a smooth load with a toe tap for timing, he has quick bat speed with loose hands and wrists, and flashed line drive power to the gaps (83 mph exit velo off the tee).  He consistently found the barrel in BP. In the outfield he approaches the ball under control, has fluid footwork, and a smooth transfer to release (79 mph arm strength). Miller ran a 7.54 laser-timed 60.

Jake McCorkle, OF/LHP, Whitesboro HS, 2019
Strong, sturdy 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame. The left-handed hitter starts from a tall, slightly open stance with his hands set high. Toe-tap load as he triggers his hands down and back, laying the barrel flat. Quick-strong hands, flat path with a high, two-handed finish. Very strong at the point of attack with good bat speed and an exit velocity of 89 mph off the tee. In the outfield, McCorkle plays through the ball smooth, with quickish footwork and a clean transition into his crow hop. Throws from a high-¾ slot with a long arm swing and a top velocity of 78 mph.

Texas Class of 2019 Rankings