On Sunday, February 23, the PBR Illinois team hosted its first-ever Libertyville Preseason I.D. showcase at the Libertyville Sports Complex where over 70 prospects participated in this open event. 

Shortly after the event’s conclusion we posted an early analysis of the event with our Quick Hits and Statistical Analysis pieces. We jump started our position-by-position breakdown by taking a dive into the catchers.

Today we continue the analysis with a look at the outfielders who were in attendance.  

Left/left OF Brenden Max (Libertyville, 2022) took home the top spot from the event. Max has a simple, easy, repeatable swing and controls the barrel, making a lot of hard contact in his round of BP. Defensively, he showed natural outfield actions, fluid footwork and a clean arm. 

Rounding out the top three were two physical 2021s, Braden Mullen (Loyola Academy) and Brady Wells (Libertyville) was not far behind. Mullen has an aggressive approach from the right side of the plate and ran a 7.27 60. Wells’ future could end up on the mound but the right-handed hitter creates easy bat speed and when his swing syncs up the ball jumps off the barrel. 

Read on below for reports on all of the outfielders from the event.

TOP OVERALL PROSPECTS

1. Brenden Max, Libertyville (IL), 2022
 Positional Profile: OF/LHP
 Body: 5-foot-10, 165-pounds. Compact frame, strength in lower half.
Hit: LHH. Balanced slightly open setup, quiet load, short stride and maintains balance through contact. Simple easy swing, minimal wasted movement, short and direct to the ball, quick hands, line-drive approach and fluid rhythm.
Power: 85 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 81 mph. Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Natural outfield actions, gets around the baseball, sure-handed and plays through in rhythm.
Run: 7.43 runner in the 60. 

2. Braden Mullen, Loyola Academy (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 6-foot-3, 200-pounds. Physical, wide-shouldered, strong frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, pre-pitch rhythm and short stride. Aggressive swing, strong hands, flashed bat speed, long uphill path and gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 93 mph exit velocity from the tee. Ball jumps off the barrel at times.
Arm: RH. OF - 88 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot and throws played with carry and accurate.
Defense: Corner outfield profile. Plays through in rhythm at times, proper routes, clean release and steady hands.
Run: 7.27 runner in the 60.

3. Brady Wells, Libertyville (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-foot-3, 210-pounds. Wide-shouldered, durable build with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, pre-pitch load and short stride. Simple, strong swing, strong wrists, flashed quick twitch and bat speed. Uphill path, ball jumps off the barrel and made consistent hard contact into the pull-side gap.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Present bat strength.
Arm: RH. OF - 87 mph. Long, easy arm action, 3/4 to high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Sits back at times, steady hands, clean release.
Run: 7.03 runner in the 60. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Michael Addari, Libertyville (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-foot-2, 165-pounds. Lean, athletic build. High-waisted with plenty of room for continued physical development.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, pre-pitch rhythm, short stride. Loose levers, easy effort, uphill path, pull approach, fluid rhythm and stays balanced throughout.
Power: 76 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Long, fluid strides at times, length through exchange.
Run: 7.44 runner in the 60. 

Jake Bush, Prospect (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 165-pounds. Athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, pre-pitch load, leg-kick timing trigger. Level path, gets extension through contact, occasional whip through the zone and uses the whole field.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 77 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Quick first step at times, gets around the baseball, proper angles, reliable hands.
Run: 7.21 runner in the 60. 

Alexander Carruthers, Warren Township (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/OF Emerged as a 2021 arm to follow.
Body: 6-foot-2, 180-pounds. Athletic, lean frame with plenty of room for continued physical development.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load and short stride. Flashed twitchy levers, level path, stays through the zone and a lot of hard line-drive contact.
Power: 76 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 90 mph. Long, loose arm action, 3/4 slot and throws played accurate with carry.
Defense: Quick first step, ranges with ease, plays through the baseball in rhythm at times, steady hands.
Run: 7.53 runner in the 60. 

Bobby Dlatt, Lake Zurich (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-foot-11, 160-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, long stride and hits off front side. Short, level bat path, line-drive approach.
Power: 75 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 77 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Quick feet at times, gains ground through transfer.
Run: 6.97 runner in the 60. 

Austin Gomez, Libertyville  (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 5-foot-9, 153-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, pre-pitch rhythm and short toe-tap stride. Hits off front side, long bat path, line-drive spray approach and flui rhythm throughout.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 72 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Natural outfield actions, attacks the baseball at times, steady hands and clean release.
Run: 7.53 runner in the 60. 

Nicholas Hissong, Cary-Grove (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-foot-1, 195-pounds. Strong, wide-shouldered frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced tall setup and short stride. Handsy swing, level through the zone, works gap-to-gap.
Power: 94 mph exit velocity from the tee. Present bat strength.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Clean arm action, plays from an over-the-top to high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, quick and clean release.
Run: 7.18 runner in the 60. 

Owen Hodges, Carmel Catholic (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-foot-11, 154-pounds. Lean, wiry frame.
Hit: RHH. Open narrow setup, long stride works back to square. Short, uphill bat path, and uses the entire field.
Power: 81 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 70 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Proper routes, steady hands and clean release with length.
Run: 7.93 runner in the 60. 

Carter Laureys, Mundelein (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-foot-6, 120-pounds. Wiry lean frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide balanced setup, minimal load and short stride. Long bat path, works level through the zone at times, line-drive approach
Power: 73 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 77 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fluid active footwork, gets around the baseball, plays through, sure hands and clean release.
Run: 7.83 runner in the 60. 

Gabriel Lynch, Carmel Catholic (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/OF
Body: 5-foot-10, 170-pounds. Defined, muscular build.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, minimal load and short stride. Strong wrists, uphill path, consistently worked the pull-side gap.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 79 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Quick footwork, secures the baseball, directional transfer, clean exchange.
Run: 7.19 runner in the 60. 

Nicholas Martino, Huntley  (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-foot-8, 154-pounds. Lean frame.
Hit: RHH. Upright balanced setup, minimal load and long stride. Level path, line-drive approach and sprayed balls to all fields.
Power: 66 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Long arm action plays from an over-the-top slot with occasional carry.
Defense: Quick active feet, attacks the baseball and clean exchange.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60.  

Matthew McBrien, East Leyden (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-foot-6, 135-pounds. Average, well-proportioned frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced confident look in the box, smooth load and short stride. Athletic hands, short uphill path, gap-to-gap approach. Repeatable swing with fluid rhythm throughout.
Power: 74 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 75 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot and throws played accurate and true.
Defense: Natural in the outfield, proper routes, sure-handed, plays through the baseball at times.
Run: 8.16 runner in the 60. 

Dayvin Olaiz, Grayslake Central (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-foot-9, 185-pounds. Compact, strong frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced quiet setup, leg-lift timing trigger. Simple swing, flat path, strong hands, line-drive approach and showed the ability to backspin the baseball.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Profiles as a corner outfielder. Proper routes, plays through the baseball at times, steady hands.
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60.

Charlie Parcell, Maine West (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-foot-8, 118-pounds. Lean, long-limbed frame with plenty of room for added strength.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, comfortable look in the box, smooth load and long stride. Level bat path, line-drive approach and fluid rhythm throughout.
Power: 74 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 77 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Easy fluid strides, charges and plays through the baseball at times, clean release.
Run: 7.63 runner in the 60. 

Theo Schmidt, Libertyville  (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-foot-2, 235-pounds. Strong, big-bodied frame.
Hit: RHH. Tall balanced setup, minimal load and short stride. Short bat path, consistently worked the pull-side gap and ball jumped off the barrel at times.
Power: 78 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 67 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Secures the baseball, clean release.
Run: 7.56 runner in the 60. 

Ryan Thrawl, Libertyville  (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 5-foot-10, 185-pounds. Thick compact frame.
Hit: LHH. Narrow upright setup, long stride gets to square. Strong hands, present bat strength, level path and made consistent hard line-drive contact to the middle of the field.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 73 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot and throws played accurate.
Defense: Active feet, proper routes, steady hands and plays through in rhythm.
Run: 7.66 runner in the 60. 

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