By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Illinois/Wisconsin

Moving on through our positional analysis of the Top Prospect Showcase we continue with the breakdown of the outfield. Several players showed different abilities as outfield prospects, from top of the order type center fielders to big bat corner guys, this list has it all.

Jack Suwinski led the outfield prospects much in large part to his left-handed bat. Suwinski shows easy power that projects well at the next level.

Here’s a deeper look at the top outfielders.

Top Outfield Prospects

1. Jack Suwinski, OF/LHP, Taft, 2016
Large frame, 6-foot-2, 200-pound two-way player. High level left-handed bat. Hits from an open stance, short stride, good balanced approach. Loose athletic hands, easy swing and pop, attacks the baseball, advanced bat speed, creates hard contact ball jumps off bat with ease. 95 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively projects at a corner spot, left-handed thrower, high ¾ arm slot, gets carry, 88 mph from the outfield. Shows the ability to play in stride, fluid footwork, exchange is quick to release. 7.06 runner in the 60. On the mound fastball touched 85 mph, sat 82-84 mph, fell for the fastball. Slider was the better of two breaking balls, 72-74 mph, sweeping action. Curveball showed more depth, 69-71 mph. Flashed good action on change, 70-74 mph.

2. Jack Wassel, OF/INF, Geneva, 2016
Lean loose athletic frame, 6-foot-2, 185-pound left-handed hitting outfield/infielder. Hits from a tall setup, slightly open, short stride, lower half works well, maintains good balance. Loose hands, easy bat speed, athletic hitter. Creates occasional lift, 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively shows the ability to play multiple positions, arm action is loose, high ¾ slot, shows accuracy and athleticism in arm, can play from different slots when on the move, 87 mph from the outfield, 80 mph across the infield. Footwork is athletic and shows athletic actions, looks to be best suited in the outfield, possible third base projection. 7.08 runner in the 60.

3. Dylan Gilbert, OF, St. Ignatius, 2016
6-foot-1, 210-pound outfielder, overall solid build, thick lower half with strength. Toolsy prospect. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, leg kick trigger, lower half can get involved more, good balance present. Strong bat, slight pull tendencies, uphill path. 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with an over the top arm slot, strong arm, 90 mph arm strength. Advanced foot speed, 6.77 runner in the 60. Quick, choppy footwork, plays through the baseball.

4. Andrew Dyke, OF, Brother Rice, 2016
6-foot, 190-pound outfielder, physical build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, arm bar load, short stride, good balance, can get more out of lower half. Strong bat speed, slightly uphill path with occasional pop, 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays from a high ¾ slot, 84 mph from the outfield. Runs well, 6.95 runner in the 60, projects as a good bat at a corner outfield spot.

5. Tom Kelley, OF, Providence Catholic, 2016
6-foot-1, 190-pound outfielder, solid average build. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, short leg kick trigger, good balance through contact. Athletic hitter, showed above average bat speed, slight opposite field approach.  Defensively arm plays from a short over the top slot, plays extremely well, accurate with carry, plays better than the 85 mph velocity recorded. Athletic defender, works through the baseball, fluid actions. 7.18 runner in the 60.

6. Aaron Goecks, OF/3B, Brookfield Academy, 2016
6-foot-0, 195-pound, strong, athletic build, left-handed hitter.  Hits from a balanced setup, loads hands back and up, slight leg-kick. Fast bat speed, long, uphill bat path, line drive approach, 95 mph exit velocity. Defensively fields ball deep, long, loose arm action, over-the-top slot, 89 mph from the OF, 79 mph from 3B. Ran a 7.17 60-time.

7. Thomas Kenney, OF, Mahomet-Seymour, 2016
5-foot-11, 180-pound L/L outfielder, average frame with strong build. 6.87 runner in the 60, laser timed. Hits from an open stance, smooth loading action, short stride gets back to even, uses lower half and maintains balance. Bat path works well, creates whip and made hard contact, good approach with above average bat speed. 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays from a high ¾ slot, average carry, 83 mph. Tends to sit back, can attack baseball more.

8. Addison Fugitt, OF/RHP, Normal Community, 2016
6-foot, 175-pound outfielder/left-handed pitcher, lanky frame, shows projection. Left-handed hitter, balanced stance, short heel lift trigger, good balance. Loose hands, repeats swing well, athletic easy swing with fast hands. Good line drive approach, 92 mph exit velocity from the tee, projectable hitter. Defensively showed standard outfield actions, feet work, 6.82 runner. Arm action is over the top, accurate, carries well, 80 mph. On the mound arm works cleanly, high ¾ slot, tall and fall delivery, easy effort. Fastball sat 74-75 mph, showed control. Flashed a changeup at 65-68 mph.

9. Jordan Wright, OF, Sycamore, 2016
5-foot-10, 160-pound, small frame, athletic build, left-handed hitter. Hits from an open stance, smooth load, lower half works, good balance. Fast bat speed, short, level bat path, gap-to-gap approach, 91 mph exit velocity. Defensively displayed average hands, quick footwork, clean exchange, ability to play through the ball, 80 mph from the OF. Ran a 6.91 60-time.

10. Jackson Hoang, OF, Pewaukee, 2016
Athletic shape, lean and loose, body projects, 6-foot-2, 185-pound outfielder. Right-handed hitter, tall open stance, stride gets back to balanced. Loose hands, fast bat, creates lift, bat projects well. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively plays with a long over the top arm action from the outfield, arm played on line, 80 mph. Feet work, projects at a corner outfield spot, ability to play through the baseball. 6.97 runner in the 60, laser timed.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Ty Brown, OF, St. Joseph-Ogden, 2016
6-foot, 160-pound outfielder, lean projectable frame. Right-handed hitter, crouched setup, slightly open, short stride, good balance. Quiet approach, loose athletic hands, showed bat speed, line drive type hitter. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee. 7.2 runner in the 60, laser timed. Arm plays from a high ¾ slot, rigid action, 75 mph arm strength from the outfield.

Jack Cavanaugh, OF/RHP, St. Laurence, 2016
Solid build with strength, 6-foot-2, 200-pound two way player. On the mound uses a short quick arm action, high ¾ slot. Works across his body. Fastball sat 83-86 mph, also mixed in a two-seam at 83-84 mph with slight action. Curveball has 10/4 shape, sweeping action, showed good feel for the pitch with the ability to throw for strikes. Hits from the right side, balanced stance, short stride. Gets on top of the baseball, swing creates some whip, fast bat. 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Arm played at 84 mph from the outfield, short high ¾ slot, similar to that on the mound. Hesitant footwork through the baseball. 7.41 runner in the 60.

Reese Dolan, RHP/OF, Mundelein, 2016
Lean projectable frame, 6-foot-4, 180-pound two-way player. Left-handed hitter, balanced stance, short stride that slightly dives, good balance. 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm carries well from the outfield, stays on line and accurate, 85 mph. Plays through the baseball, corner outfield type. 7.43 runner. On the mound works from a tall and fall delivery, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 83-84 mph. Curveball has worked at 72-73 mph, 11/5 plane. Changeup was mostly down, 79-80 mph.

Nicholas Figus, OF, Lincoln-Way North, 2016
5-foot-11, 170-pound outfielder, average athletic shape. Good tools 6.82 runner, 87 mph arm from the outfield and 89 mph exit velocity. Right-handed hitter, open stance, short stride, bat wrap load. Simple line drive approach, average bat speed, fluid rhythm. Defensively plays with a long arm action from the outfield, showed accuracy and carry. Good outfield actions and plays downhill.

Nolan Gazouski, SS/OF/RHP, Rockford Christian, 2016
6-foot-6, 185-pound, lanky build with athleticism, two-way player. Hits from the left-side, slightly open set up, short stride, lower half works. Good bat speed, long bat path, 95 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed average hands, fluid footwork, loose arm action, ¾ slot, 88 mph from the OF, 80 mph from the IF. Ran a 6.78 60-time. On the mound displayed a tall-and-fall delivery, high ¾ arm slot, short arm action, lands closed. Fastball showed arm-side-run, sat  84-86 mph. Sider had 10/4 shape, 74-77 mph. Curveball sat 72-74 mph.

Jacob Greenburg, LHP/OF, Wauwatosa West, 2016
5-foot-10, 160-pound, lanky build, two-way player. Hits from the left-side, balanced setup, loads hands back, short stride. Slightly above-average bat speed, long bat path, line drive approach, 87 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed average hands, fields ball deep, long arm action, high ¾ slot, 84 mph from the OF. Ran a 6.93 60-time. On the mound showed tall-and-fall delivery, long arm action, high ¾ slot, lands closed, working slightly across his body. Fastball sat 79-81 mph, touched 84 mph. Curveball showed 1/7 shape, late action, 70-73 mph. Changeup sat 68-71 mph.

Darius Hill, SS/OF, Morgan Park, 2016
5-foot-8, 155-pound, small frame, athletic build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a slightly open stance, loads back, short stride, good balance. Above average bat speed, level path, 86 mph exit velocity. In the IF showed soft hands, fluid footwork, quick exchange.  Short arm action, over-the-top arm slot, 72 mph across the infield. In the OF showed long arm action, some accuracy, 80 mph from the OF. Ran a 6.61 60-time.

Michael Kruse, OF, Hampshire, 2016
5-foot-10, 205-pound, solid build, right-handed hitter. Hits from slightly-open set up, loads back, short stride, average balance. Above-average bat speed, level bat path, 91 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed average hands, clean exchange, ability to play through the ball, long arm action, high ¾ slot, with accuracy, 86 mph from the OF. Ran a 7.00 60-time.

Nick Lahrman, OF, McHenry West, 2016
5-foot-11, 180-pound outfielder, carries some strength. Defensively attacks the baseball in the outfield, plays through aggressively with strong crowhop, feet work well. 7.05 runner in the 60. Long arm action, over the top slot, arm plays online with accuracy and carry, 83 mph from the outfield. Right-handed hitter, slightly open stance, short stride. Strong muscled swing, slightly rigid, good bat speed, pull side tendencies. 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.

Jake Lenti, OF, Mount Carmel, 2016
5-foot-10, 170-pound, athletic build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a open stance, short stride, lower half works at times, average balance. Average bat speed, level bat path, line-drive approach, 84 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed average hands, clean exchange, short arm action, high ¾ slot, with accuracy, 80 mph from the OF. Ran a 6.93 60-time.

Jack Molnar, OF, Fremd, 2016
Lean loose, athletic frame, 6-foot-2, 170-pound outfielder. Hits from an open stance, athletic setup, short stride gets back to even stance, maintains balance. Swing is loose, creates whip, flat through the zone. Showed bat speed with a line drive approach, 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ran the 60 at 7.29. Defensively showed natural actions in the outfield, played through the baseball in stride. Arm plays from a high ¾ slot, average arm strength, 83 mph, ball had tendency to run arm side.

Bryce Pahl, OF, Jacobs, 2016
6-foot-0, 200-pound, strong build, right-handed hitter. Hits from an open stance, smooth load back with hands, good balance. Fast bat speed, short, uphill path, 93 mph exit velocity. Defensively displayed average hands, quick exchange, long arm action, high ¾ slot, 84 mph from the OF. Ran a 7.6 60-time.

Michael Ragauskis, OF, St. Viator, 2016
5-foot-10, 170-pound, Oklahoma commit, small frame, athletic build, left-handed hitter. Hits from a open stance, loads hands back, short stride, good balance. Average bat speed, uphill bat path, 81 mph exit velocity. Defensively displayed average hands, high ¾ arm slot, 72 mph from the OF. Ran a 6.72 60-time.

Brandon Sanchez, OF, Whitney Young, 2016
6-foot-3, 195-pound outfield, athletic frame. Right-handed hitter, balanced setup, slightly closed, short stride, good balance through contact. Path is flat, strong fast bat. Occasional opposite field contact, late trigger, timing/rhythm can improve. 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm plays long, firm and over the top. 81 mph from the outfield. 7.02 runner in the 60.

Percy Walters, OF/INF, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2016
6-foot, 180-pound multi-positional player, athletic shape. Hits from a balanced setup with a slightly open stance. Loose athletic swing, shows bat speed, gap to gap type approach, shoulder swinger. 82 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm showed carry both from the outfield and across the infield, 86 mph from the outfield, 82 mph across the infield. Showed better actions on the infield, hands are soft, showed good body control, plays through the baseball well. 7.39 runner in the 60.

Ben Wilson, OF, Evanston, 2016
6-foot-2, 175-pound outfielder, lanky frame. Hits from a slightly open stance, drops hands at load, leg lift stride. Path has length, works uphill to lift the baseball. 78 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively arm played from an over the top slot, short arm action, average arm strength, 78 mph from the outfield, showed accuracy. Feet work well in the outfield, plays through the baseball, solid actions. 6.89 runner.

Related Event Content

• IL Top Prospect Showcase: Catching Analysis7.21.15
  A look at the top backstops, led by Bryce Gray... >>
• IL Top Prospect Showcase: Stats Posted6.19.15
  Top uncomitted 2016s in Illinois and Wisconsin impress... >>