Fox Cities Preseason I.D.: Outfielder Analysis

On Feb. 24, the PBR Wisconsin staff travelled out to Appleton to host the Fox Cities Preseason I.D.Every year, the event helps us uncover some of the top prospects representing the northern half of the state. There were over 100 players in attendance at this year’s Fox Cities event, all of whom needed to battle blizzard-like conditions to make it out.

The rest of this week, we’ll share with you our position-by-position analysis from the showcase, continuing with the outfielders today. We previously posted our rapid reactions inside our Quick Hits post, as well as a Statistical Analysis of all the measured data taken from the event.

A 2018 PBR Future Game representative tops the list of outfielders in attendance, Christopher VandenHeuvel, a Wisconsin-Milwaukee commit. The junior committed to be a Panther just last month, two weeks following his excellent performance in Appleton. His strong hands help generate hard gap-to-gap contact and he’s also shown sub-6.80 speed in the past.

Three sophomores are ranked below, too, including West De Pere’s Joshua Brud. He’s strong, athletic outfielder who’s capable of barreling balls into the gaps. His athleticism works especially well on defense, where he’s shown that he has the right footwork to navigate the outfield.

Yesterday, we published our catcher analysis from this event, and we’ll continue our positional breakdowns in the coming days. For now, check out our staff reports on each and every one of the outfielders who made it out to the Appleton showcase.

TOP PROSPECTS

1. Christopher VandenHeuvel, Xavier, 2020 Wisconsin-Milwaukee
Body: 6-foot-0, 205-pounds. Strong build, athletic, explosive body type.
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Run: 6.89 runner in the 60. Power runner.
Hit: LHH. Open stance, short stride to even, quiet load, hands load back. Front foot hitter, short swing, hands create bat speed, strong hands.
Power: 96 mph exit velocity from the tee. Hard gap to gap contact.
Arm: LH. OF - 86 mph. Long high 3/4 slot, flashed carry.
Defense: Plays with bounce, light on feet, quick footwork and soft hands. Plays through the baseball in stride, occasional late glove presentation. Natural defender.

2. Joshua Brud, West De Pere, 2021
Body: 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Athletic shape, some present strength.
Positional Profile: OF
Run: 7.21 runner in the 60. Shorter, low stride.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, leg kick trigger, solid balance. Loose hands, level path, hits in rhythm, athletic hands.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Gap to gap contact, jumped off the bat at times.
Arm: RH. OF - 86 mph. Long high 3/4 slot, played with carry.
Defense: Athletic actions, plays through the baseball, clean exchange, fluid feet, soft hands. Aggressive through exchange, long at times, excessive footwork.

3. Wilson Zuck, Appleton North, 2021
Body: 5-foot-10, 190-pounds. Strong athletic body type, strong lower half.
Positional Profile: OF
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60. Easy runner, quiet upper half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, short stride, maintains strong balance, varied timing. Short level path, in rhythm, strong hands dictate swing, front foot hitter, static at times.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Bat strength over bat speed.
Arm: RH. OF - 89 mph. Short over the top slot, accurate to target, plays on line with carry.
Defense: Corner outfield profile with big arm, plays through, fluid feet, above average ball skills.

4. Cole Wilcox, Shiocton, 2020
Body: 5-foot-11, 145-pounds. Wiry build, some lean strength.
Positional Profile: CF
Run: 6.98 runner in the 60. Above avg, aggressive runner.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, short stride to even, good balance through contact. Level path, short inside of it, hands stay tight, roational.Live loose levers, projects some.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Flashed hard contact, could come with strength.
Arm: RH. OF - 89 mph. Long loose arm action, high 3/4 slot, played with carry.
Defense: Crowhop through the baseball, hands and feet work through the ball, clean actions and exchange. Athletic defender, could profile in CF.

5. Dylan Anderson, Neenah, 2020
Body: 6-foot-1, 170-pounds. Lanky frame, think build.
Positional Profile: OF
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60. Loose runner.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, short leg lift stride, lift and replace. Some lift, handsy swing, level path. Line drive contact.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Should continue to improve with strength.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Long arm action, over the top slot, showed carry.
Defense: Long strider, plays in stride, crow hop through exchange, plays through the baseball, fluid footwork.

5. Braydon King, St. Mary's Springs Academy, 2021
Body: 6-foot-0, 160-pounds. Lean projectable frame.
Positional Profile: OF
Run: 7.67 runner in the 60.
Hit: LHH. Balanced stance, short toe tap stride, hands load down, occasional pause, average balance. Loose hands, level path, gap to gap contact, fluid rhythm.
Power: 79 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 77 mph. Short firm arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Plays in stride, long stride gets around and plays through the baseball, above average actions, clean exchange.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Landon Behringer, North Fond du Lac, 2022
Body: 5-foot-8, 130-pounds. Lean athletic frame.
Positional Profile: 2B/OF
Run: 7.47 runner in the 60. Easy run.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, short stride, simple through contact. Loose hands, showed repeatability, level path hits in rhythm. Line drive contact.
Power: 74 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 66 mph. OF - 73 mph. Long action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Infield actions, played through, long exchange. Outfield showed more comfortable, plays through the ball, in stride, deliberate footwork.

Tyler Blum, De Pere, 2020
Body: 5-foot-10, 150-pounds. Thin wiry build.
Positional Profile: OF/SS
Run: 6.97 runner in the 60. Light footed, live body.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, short stride, loads hands back, average balance. Hands/upper body dominate swing, loose hands. Pull side approach, showed fell for the barrel.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Line drive contact. Singles type.
Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. OF - 84 mph. Long loose action, high 3/4 slot, occasional carry.
Defense: Profiled best in OF, played in stride, works through the baseball, shuffle through transfer. INF actions play deep, average hands.

Brandon Engels, Coleman, 2020
Body: 6-foot-3, 165-pounds. Lean projectable frame.
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Run: 7.34 runner in the 60. Tall upright runner.
Hit: RHH. Tall open setup, loads hands back and down, leg kick trigger. Short path, rotational some, slight pull side approach.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 76 mph. Short over the top slot.
Defense: Feet play fluid through the baseball, two hands through exchange, tall upright.

Hunter Goldschmidt, Menominee, 2020
Body: 6-foot-0, 155-pounds. Thin build, projectable frame.
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Run: 7.23 runner in the 60.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, short stride to even partial lower half. Level path with length, hands work some lift.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 76 mph. Long arm action, over the top slot, online.
Defense: Step behind exchange, plays through the baseball.

Ben Graff, Green Bay Preble, 2020
Body: 6-foot-0, 193-pounds. Sturdy build, some strength.
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Run: 7.57 runner in the 60.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, short lift and replace stride, uses lower half. Pull side approach, long uphill path.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Strong hands created hard contact.
Arm: RH. OF - 88 mph. Long action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Corner outfield profile, plays through the baseball, some effort.

Reed Hafeman, Hortonville, 2020
Body: 6-foot-1, 195-pounds. Lean strength.
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Run: 7.44 runner in the 60.
Hit: LHH. Balanced stance, short leg kick stride, timing varies. Long uphill path, with effort, lifted contact.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 88 mph. Raw arm strength, high 3/4 slot, long action.
Defense: Plays through with two hands, lets travel on him, long to release.

Ethan Hoops, De Pere, 2022
Body: 6-foot-1, 150-pounds. Long lean frame, projectable build.
Positional Profile: OF
Run: 7.41 runner in the 60.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, slightly open, short timing tap to long stride. Long path, slightly uphill, front foot hitter.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 70 mph. Long over the top slot.
Defense: Plays with long levers in the outfield, clean exchange, works through the baseball.

Zac Jurmu, Shawano, 2022
Body: 5-foot-8, 146-pounds.
Positional Profile: OF
Run: Did not run the 60.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, short stride, average balance through contact. Short path, uphill finish, line drive contact at times off back side.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 76 mph. Long firm arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Crowhop to release, works with two hands through the ball, long exchange.

Wolfgang Kalz, Appleton West, 2021
Body: 5-foot-8, 125-pounds. Slender build.
Positional Profile: OF
Run: 7.08 runner in the 60. Quiet gait, should improve with strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, reverse load stride, pre-pitch rhythm. Level path, some length, middle of the field approach.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Long, loose, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Long stride, plays in stride, crow hop to release, fluid footwork played athletically.

Tim Kelly, De Pere, 2021
Body: 5-foot-10, 165-pounds.
Positional Profile: OF
Run: 7.80 runner in the 60.
Hit: LHH. Tall open stance, preloaded hands, short stride. Uphill path, pull side approach, varied timing.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 77 mph. Long firm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Outfield actions play two hands through exchange.

Drake Locklear, Denmark, 2021
Body: 5-foot-9, 135-pounds. Lean build.
Positional Profile: OF
Run: 7.75 runner in the 60.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, slightly wide, arm bar load, short stride. Long path, slightly uphill, hits off back side.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 71 mph. Long action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fields with two hands, plays through the baseball.

Charlie Marion, Franklin, 2022
Body: 5-foot-8, 140-pounds. Lean build, high waist.
Positional Profile: OF
Run: 8.13 runner in the 60.
Hit: LHH. Slight open stance, short reverse lift stride. Short path at times, pull side approach in BP, hands occasionally cast.
Power: 77 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 76 mph. Short loose, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Plays in stride, works through the baseball, shuffle through release.

Julian Murillo, Fond Du Lac, 2020
Body: 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Athletic with some strength.
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Run: 7.37 runner in the 60. Athletic gait, long easy strider.
Hit: LHH. Balanced stance, short leg lift stride, good balance through contact. Long sweep path at times, simple pre pitch, quiet. Arms generate swing.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 79 mph. Long, high 3/4 slot, firm action.
Defense: Methodical actions through the baseball, easy to and through it, shuffle through release.

Jourdon Schuyler, West De Pere, 2021
Body: 6-foot-0, 205-pounds. Sturdy squared build, compact strength.
Positional Profile: OF
Run: 7.19 runner in the 60. Power type runner.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, short toe tap stride, tall setup. Short path to the baseball, front foot hitter at times, middle of the field contact.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Present bat strength.
Arm: RH. OF - 75 mph. Long firm action, high 3/4 slot
Defense: Plays through the baseball, fields one hand, out in front, in stride.

Brandon Stillman, Gibraltar, 2020
Body: 6-foot-1, 170-pounds. Lean frame.
Positional Profile: OF
Run: 7.68 runner in the 60.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, long le kick stride. Long path, around the ball at times.
Power: 73 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 72 mph. Long action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Works through with two hands, gets it deep. Corner outfield profile.

Brett Tetzlaff, Seymour, 2021
Body: 5-foot-9, 140-pounds.
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Run: 7.56 runner in the 60.
Hit: LHH. Slightly closed setup, short stride, lift and replace. Pull side contact, path works around the baseball.
Power: 70 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 70 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Outfield actions play through the ball, varied exchanges.

Max Vezina, Appleton North, 2022
Body: 5-foot-7, 120-pounds. Lean, lanky frame, projectable.
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Run: 8.07 runner in the 60.
Hit: LHH. Tall open setup, leg kick trigger, average balance. Line drive gap to gap contact, level path.
Power: 68 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 71 mph. Long high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Above average actions, play fluid through the baseball, clean exchange, shuffle through release.

Sean Wells, Ripon, 2020
Body: 5-foot-11, 145-pounds. Slender build, squared shoulder, projectable.
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, slightly open, loads hands back, short stride, average balance. Short uphill path, in and out of the zone, high two-handed finish, pull contact.
Power: 72 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 71 mph. Short loose high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Hands play out front, pushes through, shuffle through release.

Wyatt Wiitanen, Green Bay Preble, 2021
Body: 5-foot-11, 140-pounds. Lanky frame, thin build.
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Run: 7.72 runner in the 60.
Hit: LHH. Tall setup, leg kick trigger, average balance. Short path, stays on top of the baseball, static lower half, hands work the swing.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 75 mph. High 3/4 slot, long action.
Defense: Clean exchange, crow hop exchange.

Jaylon Zacharias, Wild Rose, 2020
Body: 5-foot-8, 170-pounds.
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Run: 7.77 runner in the 60. Effort/aggressive runner.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, short stride. Level path, flat through contact with length, loses feet through swing. Line drive gap to gap contact. Varied timing.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee. Raw with occasional bat strength.
Arm: LH. OF - 76 mph. High 3/4 slot, long action.
Defense: Corner outfield profile, long shuffle through release.

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