Underclass Trials: Outfielder Analysis
August 22, 2018
Next up in our examination of Underclass Trials, we’ll take a closer look at the day’s group of outfielders. The Rock Sports Complex in Franklin hosted some of the state’s best 2020, 2021, 2022 talent and of the classes represented at the event, it was the incoming freshman who stole the show on the turf.
There are two prospects in particular who impressed us at The Rock and both will be making their prep debuts next spring: Michael Lippe (Whitefish Bay, 2022) and Jonathan Kim (Brookfield Academy, 2022). Lippe has impressed us all summer long and did so again at Underclass Trials. He uses his advanced build well in the box, consistently battering baseballs with strong contact, featuring both gaps. Lippe’s has all the tools to build himself a profile that could earn him a prominent role at the next level in four years.
The incoming freshman from Brookfield Academy, Kim is already exhibiting some pull-side power potential from the left side. He’s athletic, too, and it shows in the outfield.
Of course, these two 2022s weren’t the only ones from their position to make the most of their performances at The Rock in late June. Check out our reports below on each of the outfielders who attended Underclass Trials. To view reports on the day’s catchers, CLICK HERE; or to see the analysis on the infielders, CLICK HERE.
Tomorrow, we’ll dissect the pitchers who came out and impressed us, but for now, keep reading on below for a more detailed look at Lippe, Kim, and the rest of the talented outfielders who made their marks.
Top Outfield Prospects
1. Michael Lippe, OF/INF, Whitefish Bay, 2022
6-foot, 170-pound, strong, athletic-build, right-handed outfielder and corner infielder, projectable frame. Offensively, balanced, reverse toe-tap stride, maintains good balance. Gap-to-gap type hitter, long barrel path through zone, fluid rhythm, 91 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.23 laser-timed 60. Defensively, in the outfield, long, loose arm action, kept throws on target, 77 mph. On the infield, similar arm action, 74 mph across. Plays through the ball, athletic actions.
2. Jonathan Kim, OF, Brookfield Academy, 2022
5-foot-9, 165-pound, athletically-built, left-handed outfielder. Offensively, open setup, leg kick timing trigger, incorporates lower half, maintains good balance through contact. Line drive approach with pull-side pop, long barrel path, gains extension at-times, 85 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.46 laser-timed 60. Defensively, long arm action, high ¾ slot, 75 mph from the outfield. Plays through the ball, quick, fluid footwork, clean on exchanges.
3. Jake Leverenz, OF/RHP, Lake Country Lutheran, 2020
6-foot, 195-pound, left-handed outfielder, strong, athletic build. Offensively, tall, open setup, smooth load, leg kick timing-trigger. Pull hitter, long, uphill barrel path, aggressive swings, 92 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short arm action, ¾ slot, kept throws around bag with some carry, 79 mph. Plays through the ball, clean on exchanges, fluid footwork at-times. Ran a 7.35 laser-timed 60. On the mound, long arm action, high ¾ slot, regular effort. Tall and fall delivery, some rhythm, lands square, finishes athletically. Fastball, run action, sat 78-79, touched 80. Curveball, 1/7 shape, 63-67. Changeup, armside run, 73-75.
Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)
Mason Buss, RHP/OF, Arrowhead, 2022
5-foot-11, 135-pound, right-handed two-way prospect. On the mound, long arm action, some looseness, ¾ slot. Drop and drive delivery, lands toe open, falls off first base side. Fastball, run action, commanded, sat 74-75. Curveball, 12/6 shape, feel for, 63-67. Changeup, mostly straight, 63-66. Offensively, balanced setup, short stride, maintains balance. Long, controlled barrel path through zone, uses whole field, 77 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.82 60. Defensively, long, clean arm action, high ¾ slot, fluid footwork, clean exchanges, 72 mph from the outfield.
Carl Cano, SS/OF/RHP, Bay Port, 2021
6-foot, 160-pound, two-way prospect, lanky frame. Offensively, right-handed, closed setup, bar load, maintains balance. Opposite field approach, makes line drive contact, 88 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, more natural actions in outfield, arm action is long, loose, high ¾ slot, 77 mph from the outfield. On the infield, short arm action, high ¾ slot, fields deep, 79 mph across the infield. On the mound, quick, loose arm action out of a high ¾ slot. Tall and fall delivery. Fastball, running action, sat 79 mph, touched 80. Curveball, 11/5 shape, gradual break, 62-66. Changeup, sinking movement, 68-71.
Wolfgang Kalz, OF, Appleton West, 2021
5-foot-7, 120-pound, lanky, lean, right-handed hitting outfielder. Defensively, long arm action, high ¾ slot, kept throws around bag, 72 mph. Plays through the ball athletically, quick, fluid footwork, clean on exchanges. Offensively, tall, balanced setup, low leg kick timing trigger, maintains balance. Opposite field approach, long barrel path, 77 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.45 laser-timed 60.
Jacob Kleemann, OF/LHP, Bay Port, 2021
5-foot-7, 162-pound, two-way prospect, strong frame. Offensively, balanced setup, smooth load back, short stride. Simple pull approach, short, level barrel path, fluid rhythm, 80 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.55 laser-timed 60. Defensively, short arm action, over-the-top slot, fluid footwork, clean exchanges., 64 mph from the outfield. On the mound, short arm action, high ¾ slot, regular effort. Tall and fall delivery. Fastball, sinking action, sat 62-64. Curveball, 1/7 shape, gradual break, 50-56. Changeup, sinking action, 51-56.
Corey Monty, OF/RHP, Kettle Moraine, 2021
5-foot-10, 143-pound, two-way prospect. Offensively, wide, balanced setup, loads weight back, long stride, maintains balance. Line drive approach, long, level barrel path through the zone, 79 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.40 laser-timed 60. Defensively, long arm action, ¾ slot, 76 mph from the outfield. On the mound, long arm action, high ¾ slot, works on-line, lands square. Fastball, run action, sat 67-68, touched 69. Curveball, 11/5 shape gradual break, 55-58. Changeup, mostly straight, 59-62. Ran a 7.92 laser-timed 60.
Brandin Podziemski, LHP/OF, Muskego, 2021
6-foot-3, 175-pound, left-handed, two-way prospect, long frame. Defensively, long arm action, high ¾ slot, kept throws on target, 72 mph. Plays through the ball, good pre-catch footwork, fluid throughout, clean on exchange. Offensively, left-handed, open setup, hands start low loads back, maintains balance. Line drive approach, pull-side tendency, level barrel path through the zone, some fluidity, 84 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.73 laser-timed 60. On the mound, long arm action, high ¾ slot, regular effort. Tall and fall delivery, smooth rhythm, works on-line, lands square. Fastball, some run and sink, controlled, 68-72, touched 73. Curveball, 12/6 shape, depth, 59-61. Slider, 1/7 shape, more lateral movement than curveball, 62-65. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, fade, 65-68.
Adam Quam, OF, Holmen, 2020
5-foot-11, 193-pound, athletically-built outfielder. Offensively, right-handed, open setup, hands load back and up, leg kick timing-trigger. Line drive approach, flashed gap-to-gap, level barrel path through the zone, 77 mph exit velocity off a tee. Defensively, short, loose arm action, high ¾ slot, kept throws on target, 79 mph from the outfield. Plays through the ball with fluid footwork, clean on exchanges. Ran a 7.87 laser-timed 60.
Nolan Wojciechowski, OF, Mukwonago, 2020
5-foot-8, 150-pound left-handed outfielder. Defensively, short arm action, high ¾ slot, 72 mph from the outfield. Fields position with fluid footwork, clean on exchanges.Offensively, balanced setup, hands load back, short toe-tap stride, maintains balance. Pull hitter, natural lift to swing, long barrel path through zone, 76 mph exit velocity off a tee. Ran a 7.42 laser-timed 60.