Prep Baseball Report

Underclass Showcase: Outfield Analysis


By: Illinois Scouting Staff

On Sunday, October 16, the PBR Illinois staff hosted the Underclass Showcase at The MAX in McCook, Illinois. The event featured just under 70 players from the 2025-2026 grad classes and brought together some of the most talented underclass prospects in the state.

We continue our post-event rollout today with the outfielders from the event. You can find every single outfielder that was in attendance with their scouting report, below.

A couple of 2025s to keep tabs on who just missed out on the top-five were Connor Lund (South Elgin), Constantine Coines (Maine South) and Luke McClure (Champaign Central). All three are high-level athletes with developing swings. 

A 2024 to know from the event was OF/RHP Bryce Loeger (Conant). The athletically-built, 6-foot-2, 180-pound right-handed hitter put up above-average tools across the board at the event. He topped at 91 mph from the outfield, registered a 93 peak exit velocity, furthest batted ball traveled 334’, sat mid-80’s on the mound and ran a 7.23 laser-timed 60.

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS

1. Ben Toft, New Trier (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-10, 163-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Wide, crouched setup, loads into back knee, short stride. Athletic hands, short and level bat path, line drive approach with feel to work back up the middle.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 83.7 mph. 309’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 86 mph. Short, quick arm, works from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic feet, natural actions, fluid defender with soft hands. Clean release with length.
Run: 6.93 runner in the 60. 

2. Henry Murray, Lane Tech (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds.
Hit: SH. Balanced setup, high leg-kick, hangs foot into a long stride. Strong hands with bat speed, rotates with intent out of load, long and uphill path to contact. Physical presence, swings with aggression.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 87.9 mph. 359’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Long arm swing, finishes from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active feet, plays through and fields in rhythm, clean release.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60. 

3. Carter Bleakney, Champaign Central (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, crouched setup, short/minimal stride, drops hands into extension at footstrike. Strong hands with bat speed, level bat path, line drive approach with juice off the barrel.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 87.8 mph. 312’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Arm plays long out the glove, swings on the backside into a high 3/4 release.
Defense: Gets behind the baseball, easy steady hands and clean release.
Run: 7.40 runner in the 60. 

4. Mason Atkins, West Aurora (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-0, 160-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly crouched setup, short stride. Long and uphill bat path, line drive approach, worked the other way. Loose, fluid rhythm.
Power: 81 max exit velocity, averaged 75.9 mph. 207’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 72 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Quick feet, breaks down through transfer, directional through release.
Run: 7.52 runner in the 60. 

5. Jack Nelson, Johnsburg (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Strong, athletic build with evenly proportioned strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Wide, crouched setup, toe-taps into a long stride, fluid load. Athletic look, loose hands with athleticism, level bat path. Line drive approach with upside.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 85.6 mph. 304’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Clean arm circle into a 3/4 slot, whippy/quick arm.
Defense: Deliberate actions, steady hands, quick first step.
Run: 7.64 runner in the 60. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Gaetano Bucciferro, Rockford Christian (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/SS
Body: 5-9, 135-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, balanced, medium stride, minimal/simple hand load. Twitchy hands, long and flat bat path, line drive approach, worked the other way.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 77.4 mph. 256’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 76 mph. Tight, compact arm draw, over-the-top finish.
Defense: Steady defender in the outfield, gets behind the baseball and secures through release.
Run: 7.64 runner in the 60. 

Donovan Christman, McHenry (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-2, 174-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, slightly crouched, smooth load into a medium stride, simple hand load. Flat direct bat path, line drive approach. Simple and repeats.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 83.3 mph. 301’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Long/clean arm circle into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic look, quick actions at times, gains ground through release.
Run: 7.73 runner in the 60. 

Constantine Coines, Maine South (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/SS
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, tall setup, fluid load into a medium stride. Loose, athletic hands, short and flat bat path, gap-to-gap approach. Ball jumps off the barrel.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 78.9 mph. 317’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Long arm action with some wrap on the backside, high 3/4 finish. Athletic with carry through target.
Defense: Quick, active feet, plays fast and through the baseball in rhythm.
Run: 6.88 runner in the 60. 

Adyn Edgar, Minooka (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: 3B/OF
Body: 5-9, 140-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Upright setup, narrow, lift-and-place stride, creates hand extension at footstrike. Long and uphill bat path, repeats some.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 79 mph. 272’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 70 mph. OF - 73 mph. Short arm path, works from a loose high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Easy, clean footwork, plays with body control and easy release.
Run: 7.31 runner in the 60. 

Ryan Frano, Glenbard East  (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Wide base, more weight on back knee, loads hands into extension, medium stride. Long and uphill bat path.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 77.8 mph. 276’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 82 mph. Short, compact arm action, high 3/4 slot. Quick some, loose shoulder.
Defense: Clean actions, moves well for size and with a purpose. Sure-handed.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60. 

Bryce Loeger, Conant (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-2, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide, crouched base, simple/minimal stride, fluid load with hand separation. Loose athletic hands, long and uphill bat path, elevates to the pull-side with intent to work that way. Simple with rhythm.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 77.9 mph. 334’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 91 mph. Long arm out of the glove, 3/4 slot. Above average arm strength.
Defense: Athletic actions, sure-hands, easy and directional transfer.
Run: 7.23 runner in the 60. 

Connor Lund, South Elgin (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide, crouched setup with weight on the back knee, simple hand load into a short stride. Quick hands, short and direct bat path, works on top of the baseball, used the whole field.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 82.3 mph. 284’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Short arm circle, finishes from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Lower half works around the baseball in rhythm, athletic breakdown, clean to release.
Run: 6.74 runner in the 60. 

Luke McClure, Champaign Central  (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Weight starts on back leg, slight knee-knock into a medium stride.  Long rotational swing, flat and on top of the baseball.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 81.5 mph. 270’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 80 mph. Arm draws down and back from the glove, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Quick, athletic feet, light on his feet, clean release.
Run: 6.75 runner in the 60. 

Ryan Mirante, South Elgin (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Narrow base, slightly crouched, high-leg-kick into a short stride, short hand load. Strong hands, short uphill swing.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 89.3 mph. 304’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 75 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active feet, secures the baseball and gains ground through release.
Run: 7.32 runner in the 60. 

AJ Neargarder, Zion Benton (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 5-7, 130-pounds. Wiry, compact frame, room to add strength.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, bat wrap load, high back elbow, closed stride. Balanced swing, lets the ball travel, minimal wasted movement and repeats. Uses the middle of the field.
Power: 77 max exit velocity, averaged 72.3 mph. 243’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 73 mph. OF - 79 mph. Long arm draw from the glove, finishes from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fluid defender, plays low to the ground, clean release.
Run: 7.43 runner in the 60. 

Andrew Phelps, Lincoln Park (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-11, 160-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, crouched setup, short stride. Short and uphill bat path.
Power: 82 max exit velocity, averaged 75 mph. 242’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Long and loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active footwork through the ball, plays through the ball with intent, steady hands.
Run: 7.37 runner in the 60. 

Cole Pittman, Metea Valley (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/C
Body: 5-9, 135-pounds.
Hit: SH. Crouched setup, weight on back knee, short/minimal stride. Long and level bat path, line drive approach.
Power: 76 max exit velocity, averaged 72 mph. 266’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 73 mph. OF - 75 mph. Long arm path, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: OF: Quick release, plays directional, steady hands. On the infield, clean footwork, maintains body control on the move.
Run: 8.21 runner in the 60. 

Jackson Schlott, Plainfield North (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-1, 240-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Open, crouched setup, weight on back knee, short stride. Strong hands, short and uphill bat path.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 74.1 mph. 283’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Short, compact arm path, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Aggressive angles, steady hands.
Run: 7.66 runner in the 60. 

Jordan Shoemaker, Metea Valley (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-8, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, hands drop slightly at footstride, lift-and-place stride. Strong hands, uphill bat path.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 81.4 mph. 300’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Long arm swing, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, active footwork, plays aggressively through the ball.
Run:  runner in the 60. 

Rowan Smyth, Evergreen Park (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-9, 145-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Narrow base, open setup with more weight on the back knee, long stride. Long bat path through the zone, uphill swing, uses the whole field.
Power: 84 max exit velocity, averaged 79 mph. 262’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 81 mph. Short arm action, over the top slot.
Defense: Clean, athletic actions, quick footwork, soft confident hands.
Run: 7.82 runner in the 60. 

Related Content