Preseason All-State Underclass: Outfield Analysis
July 6, 2022
On Feb. 26, the PBR Illinois staff hosted the Preseason All-State: Underclass showcase at The MAX in McCook, Ill., featuring many of the state’s top players inside both the 2024 and 2025 classes. This invite-only event helped our staff gain a clearer picture of the on-the-rise underclassmen from around the state heading into the spring season.
For a complete list of the player’s that attended this event, click HERE.
In the week that followed this event, we produced post-event analysis that includes performance highlights inside of our Quick Hits story, a look at the traditional stats measured within our Statistical Analysis piece, batted-ball and pitch data compiled in TrackMan Files, swing metrics captured on the Blast Motion Board, and sight scores from an athletic perspective tracked on the Vizual Edge Scoreboard.
You can learn more about the state-of-the-art technologies featured at our showcases within the hyperlinks above. We began rolling out the scouting reports from this event last week with the catchers, and now we’re moving on to the outfield group, which you can find below.
TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS
1. Samuel Chapman, Woodstock (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-1, 160-pounds. Lean build.
Hit: LHH. Athletic, relaxed, confident look, fluid pre-pitch actions. Loose, athletic hands. Stays through the hitting zone. Direct path. Uses the whole field. Worked on the barrel throughout BP. Easy effort. Remains balanced throughout.
Power: 86.8 max exit velocity, averaged 77.6 mph. 301’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 91 mph. Loose, easy arm action from a high 3/4 slot. Advanced arm strength. Throws jump out of the hand with carry.
Defense: Athletic actions, active feet, soft hands, loose feel.
Run: 7.14 runner in the 60.
2. Khamaree Thomas, Kenwood (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-8, 150-pounds. Lean, athletic frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup. Athletic look. Smooth load. Lets the ball travel. Simple, efficient swing. Quick hands. Advanced feel for the barrel. Used the whole field.
Power: 93.8 max exit velocity, averaged 82.6 mph. 324’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 85 mph. Short out of the glove. Loose, quick arm action. Over-the-top slot. Ball jumps out of the hand.
Defense: Athletic actions. Confident hands, balanced footwork, good routes to the ball.
Run: 6.71 runner in the 60. Quick runner, light feet and gains ground.
3. Joseph Arend, St. Charles East (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-11, 153-pounds. Sloped, narrow shoulders. Plenty of room for continued physical development.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, fluid pre-pitch load. Short stride. Loose, easy hands. Stays through the hitting zone. Peppered hard contact to all fields. Upside swing.
Power: 89.5 max exit velocity, averaged 77.8 mph. 277’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 84 mph. Short, quick arm action. High 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic actions, aggressive routes. Plays with confidence.
Run: 7.20 runner in the 60. Light footed, fluid runner.
BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)
Ryan Dabe, Huntley (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-1, 160-pounds. Lean build. Projectable frame.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open, balanced setup. Short leg-lift trigger. Strong, quick hands. Aggressive, intentful swing. Stays short to the baseball. Sneaky bat strength and jump off the barrel for his age.
Power: 88.6 max exit velocity, averaged 83.1 mph. 280’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Short, clean arm that moves quickly into a high 3/4 slot, ball jumps out of the hand with carry through the target.
Defense: Aggressive, quick actions, plays loose, clean exchange.
Run: 7.48 runner in the 60.
Chris Daugherty, Brother Rice (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-8, 155-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Crouched, balanced setup. Toe tap trigger. Short stride. Athletic hands, natural lift, feel for the barrel. Hard gap-to-gap contact throughout round.
Power: 91.1 max exit velocity, averaged 83 mph. 326’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 88 mph. Short arm circle into a quick, high 3/4 slot. Arm plays with accuracy to the target.
Defense: Balanced footwork, clean exchange, plays with rhythm.
Run: 7.49 runner in the 60.
Destin Edwards, Kenwood Academy (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/2B
Body: 6-1, 175-pounds. High waisted. Long levers. Projectable frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, minimal load, short stride. Twitchy, athletic hands. Stays short to contact, uphill tendencies at times, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 84.9 max exit velocity, averaged 71.8 mph. 307’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Loose, quick arm action. Works from an over-the-top slot. Throws play with accuracy to the target.
Defense: Active feet, soft hands, athletic movements.
Run: 7.10 runner in the 60.
Christian Guzman, Niles West (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 5-11, 155-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Hit: SH. Balanced setup, fluid load, short stride. Loose levers, creates whip at times, natural lift, and uses the whole field.
Power: 85.8 max exit velocity, averaged 78.1 mph. 283’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Sure-handed.
Run: 7.51 runner in the 60.
Anthony Holloway, St Patrick (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds. Compact, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Loose and relaxed. Narrow, open setup. Short stride. Strong hands, advanced bat strength for age and size. Controls the barrel and works gap-to-gap.
Power: 88.7 max exit velocity, averaged 81.3 mph. 301’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Short, clean arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Directional transfer. Long to release.
Run: 7.64 runner in the 60. Low lifted stride.
Talan Hull, Galva (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-3, 195-pounds. Tall, strong build.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, quiet load, short stride. Strong hands, controlled aggression, bat stays on-plane. Gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 86.2 max exit velocity, averaged 71 mph. 278’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 86 mph. Clean arm action. High 3/4 slot. Throws have carry.
Defense: Plays loose. Good hands, quick feet.
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60. Long stride, covers good ground.
Michael Kuska, Pontiac (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/OF
Body: 5-11, 160-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Hit: LHH. Wide, slightly open setup, short stride. Direct path, short to the ball, hands work on top of the baseball and looks to control the barrel. Contact-oriented swing.
Power: 86.2 max exit velocity, averaged 79.4 mph. 277’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 81 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Balanced footwork, clean exchange, plays with confidence.
Run: 6.83 runner in the 60.
Jack LoConte, Andrew (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Well-proportioned frame, developed lower half.
Hit: LHH. Relaxed, slightly open setup. Short stride. Controls the barrel, stays inside the baseball. Sprayed hard contact to all fields. Hits with rhythm and balance throughout.
Power: 85.2 max exit velocity, averaged 79.4 mph. 281’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 86 mph. Clean arm action from a high 3/4 slot. Throws play with carry to the target.
Defense: Smooth actions, quick feet, clean exchange.
Run: 7.22 runner in the 60.
Cooper Marrs, Riverside-Brookfield (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-3, 185-pounds. Long, lanky frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, sits into back side, short stride. Balanced swing, loose levers, uphill path, gap-to-gap approach, ball jumps off the barrel at times.
Power: 87.9 max exit velocity, averaged 82.8 mph. 308’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Loose arm action, 3/4 slot. Throws remain on-line to target.
Defense: Athletic actions, aggressive, soft hands, quick feet.
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60. Long stride.
Jackson McCarey, New Trier (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/SS
Body: 6-0, 195-pounds. Athletic build. Lean strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load, leg-lift trigger. Easy swing, sneaky jump off the barrel at times. Short and direct to contact.
Power: 89.1 max exit velocity, averaged 79.7 mph. 319’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot. Throws play with carry and accuracy to the target.
Defense: Athletic. Plays with rhythm. Clean exchange.
Run: 6.84 runner in the 60. Athletic gait, above average runner.
Henry Murray, Lane Tech (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 5-10, 165-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Hit: SH. Balanced setup. Long stride. Aggressive swing. Stays flat through the zone. Ball jumps off the barrel at times.
Power: 97.4 max exit velocity, averaged 88.1 mph. 360’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Long, loose arm action. High 3/4 slot. Flashed carry on throws.
Defense: Quick feet, confident hands.
Run: 7.28 runner in the 60.
Chase Petersen, Glenbrook North (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/
Body: 5-9, 180-pounds. Developed lower half.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stance, minimal load, long stride. Hits off front foot at times. Long, fluid bat path. Stays through the hitting zone. Flashed hard, lifted contact to the pull-side.
Power: 89.9 max exit velocity, averaged 76.4 mph. 325’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Loose, athletic arm from a high 3/4 slot. Consistently made accurate throws to the target.
Defense: Clean footwork, efficient exchange, plays low to the ground.
Run: 7.16 runner in the 60. Athletic runner, powerful lower half.
Brandon Schultz, Stevenson (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-8, 165-pounds. Broad shoulders. Strong lower half.
Hit: LHH. Wide setup, quiet load and short stride. Strong hands, rotational swing, pull-side tendencies.
Power: 96.3 max exit velocity, averaged 75 mph. 320’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 80 mph. Short, loose arm action. Works from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Quick lateral movements. Athletic actions.
Run: 6.75 runner in the 60.
Aaron Scott, St. Rita (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-8, 155-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Tall, narrow setup. Long path, minimal load. Compact swing, short to the baseball, highly repeatable, consistently on the barrel, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 81.9 max exit velocity, averaged 78.6 mph. 261’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 82 mph. Clean arm circle, 3/4 slot with length out front. Some carry through the target.
Defense: Plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.20 runner in the 60.
Evan Stinson, Kenwood (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-11, 160-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Quiet setup, minimal load, short stride. Balanced throughout, bat stays on-plane, flat through the zone, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 83.9 max exit velocity, averaged 74.2 mph. 286’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 74 mph. Clean out of the glove with length out front. Works from a high 3/4 slot. Throws remain on line with target.
Defense: Balanced footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 7.62 runner in the 60.
Anthony Xydakis, Morris (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/2B
Body: 5-7, 163-pounds. Broad, rounded shoulders.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup. Long stride. Aggressive swing. Advanced bat strength for his size. Level through the zone. Flashed hard, line-drive contact. Gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 85.6 mph. 316’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 89 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot. Throws play with carry.
Defense: Active feet, soft hands, plays with rhythm.
Run: 6.80 runner in the 60.
Matthew Zeman, Montini Catholic (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-11, 185-pounds. Barrel chested. Strength throughout upper body.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, minimal load, short stride. Compact swing, lets the ball travel, strong hands, consistently on the barrel to the opposite field.
Power: 96.1 max exit velocity, averaged 82 mph. 214’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Short arm circle out of the glove into a high 3/4 slot. Throws have carry and remain on line with target.
Defense: Good first step. Sets up behind the baseball.
Run: 7.37 runner in the 60.
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