Prep Baseball Report

Peoria Preseason I.D.: Outfielder Analysis


By Illinois Staff

On Feb. 24, the PBR Illinois team hosted the the third-annual Peoria Preseason I.D. at the Louisville Slugger Dome in Peoria, Ill. The event featured over 70 players from high school graduates in classes 2022-25, from across Central Illinois and beyond.

Previously, our staff collaborated to highlight the biggest takeaways and highlights from this showcase, and we published them within our Quick Hits piece. We also shared the event's traditional stat leaderboards, published inside this Statistical Analysis. Later on, we published batted-ball, pitch, and swing metrics and leaderboards that you can find inside the event’s TrackMan Files and Blast Motion Board. We began to roll out scouting reports on each of the players from this event, beginning with the catchers, and we’re onto the outfielders today.

For the full reports on the outfielders who made it out to this Peoria-area event, continue reading on below.

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS

1. Jacob Blunck, Maroa-Forsyth (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-9, 150-pounds. Wiry frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, slightly open setup and leg-kick timing trigger. Swings with controlled aggression, quick hands, short uphill bat path and made hard contact up the middle of the field.
Power: 86.64 max exit velocity, averaged 77.59 mph. 306’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Clean arm action, plays out of an over-the-top slot.
Defense: Fluid footwork, charges the baseball and plays through in rhythm at times.
Run: 6.85 runner in the 60. Above-average runner.

2. Ashton Horchem, Limestone (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds. Wiry-athletic build.
Hit: LHH. Tall relaxed setup, load and leg-kick timing trigger work in sync. Loose athletic hands, easy effort, feel for the barrel, stays inside the baseball and uses the whole field.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 78.16 mph. 277’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Short arm action, plays out of a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Quick active feet, plays fast at times. Plays through the baseball in rhythm at times, clean release and steady hands.
Run: 7.20 runner in the 60. 

3. Devan Tupper, Normal University (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-1, 160-pounds. High-waisted, athletic build with upside.
Hit: RHH. Tall quiet setup, short stride and maintains balance throughout.  Simple, easy swing, loose hands, short path, level through the zone and stays within himself.
Power: 88.2 max exit velocity, averaged 76.79 mph. 268’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fluid footwork at times, clean release and steady hands.
Run: 7.17 runner in the 60. Clean, long-strided runner.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Aidan Fulton, Illinois Valley Central (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-9, 150-pounds. Wiry build.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, quiet load and short stride. Lets the ball travel, quick hands, looks to control the barrel and line-drive spray approach.
Power: 82.6 max exit velocity, averaged 73.73 mph. 278’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active feet, attacks the baseball, plays through in rhythm at times, steady hands.
Run: 6.98 runner in the 60. Above-average runner for his age.

Caleb Guthrie, Belleville East (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-8, 165-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, minimal load and stride. Simple swing, minimal wasted movement, short/direct to the baseball, line-drive approach.
Power: 88.21 max exit velocity, averaged 79.29 mph. 267’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 77 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Proper routes, plays through in rhythm, clean release.
Run: 7.23 runner in the 60. 

Grant Knutson, Washington Community (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-8, 125-pounds. Wiry frame.
Hit: LHH. Tall setup, long stride and maintains balance through contact at times. Flat swing, stays through the zone, line-drive approach and uses the whole field.
Power: 80.2 max exit velocity, averaged 56.65 mph. 178’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 76 mph. Arm plays with length at times, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active feet, aggressive to the baseball, plays through in rhythm and clean release.
Run: 7.60 runner in the 60. 

Cole Kratzberg, Orion (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-9, 160-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth pre-pitch load and leg-kick timing trigger. Short uphill bat path, looks to lift the baseball. Fluid rhythm throughout.
Power: 72.86 max exit velocity, averaged 63.17 mph. 209’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 86 mph. Long arm action, over-the-top slot. Strong arm.
Defense: Natural outfield actions, aggressive to the baseball, sure-handed, plays through in rhythm and clean release.
Run: 7.16 runner in the 60.

Dane Lohman, Pekin (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-2, 175-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, short stride and minimal wasted movement throughout. Short, uphill bat path, finishes on balance and works gap-to-gap.
Power: 89.54 max exit velocity, averaged 75.95 mph. 279’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Full arm circle and comes out of an over-the-top slot.
Defense: Gets behind the baseball, proper routes, secures the baseball.
Run: 7.77 runner in the 60. 

Alex Matter, Belleville East (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Well-proportioned build.
Hit: RHH. Tall relaxed setup and long stride. Utilizes lower half at times, short path, uses the middle of the field.
Power: 88.28 max exit velocity, averaged 66.24 mph. 274’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 69 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fluid footwork, soft confident hands and plays through the baseball in rhythm.
Run: 8.05 runner in the 60. 

Mathew Montoya, Eureka (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-7, 155-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, pre-pitch load and long stride. Long bat path, stays level through the zone at times, pull-side tendencies.
Power: 85.23 max exit velocity, averaged 78.06 mph. 310’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Plays aggressive to the baseball, long fluid strides and plays through in rhythm at times.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60. 

Gabe Peters, Washington Community  (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: INF/OF
Body: 5-5, 125-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall, slightly open setup, relaxed look in the box, smooth load and leg-lift timing trigger.  Loose, easy swing, stays on balance. Long path, extension through contact with ability to spray line drives to all fields.
Power: 77.55 max exit velocity, averaged 71.13 mph. 226’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 70 mph. OF - 69 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Worked out in the outfield and on the infield. Smooth hands on the infield, natural double play turn and maintains body control when on the move, at times. In the outfield, gets around the baseball, short quick footwork and plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.88 runner in the 60. 

Zeb Rashid, Wethersfield (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-7, 165-pounds. Strong frame for age.
Hit: RHH. Crouched slightly open setup, toe-tap stride. Works to stay inside the baseball, strong hands/wrists, middle/opposite field approach.
Power: 80.08 max exit velocity, averaged 74.83 mph. 242’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 70 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Gets around and secures the baseball, reliable hands.
Run: 7.44 runner in the 60. 

Luke Read, Springfield Southeast (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds. Well-proportioned build.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, smooth early loading action, short stride. Short and direct path to the baseball, works uphill through the zone. Looks to lift the baseball and works gap-to-gap.
Power: 91.61 max exit velocity, averaged 80.33 mph. 352’ max distance. Flashed pull-side power potential.
Arm: LH. OF - 78 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Easy actions, steady hands, clean release.

Brennon Reed, Bloomington (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-1, 180-pounds. Athletically-built.
Hit: RHH. Balanced quiet setup, smooth load, short stride and maintains balance through contact. Simple, repeatable swing, loose athletic hands, short path, works uphill through the zone. Consistently on time and on the barrel.
Power: 91.11 max exit velocity, averaged 80.89 mph. 291’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 81 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Gets behind the baseball, steady hands and plays through the baseball at times.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60.
Run: 7.53 runner in the 60. 

Brady Romagnoli, Lasalle-Peru (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-5, 140-pounds. Compact frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, slightly closed setup, pre-pitch hand rhythm, maintains balance through contact. Compact repeatable swing, stays short to the baseball, controls the barrel, consistently on time and on the barrel.
Power: 79.35 max exit velocity, averaged 70.16 mph. 255’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 71 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Secures the baseball, clean release, length at times.
Run: 7.79 runner in the 60. 

Ben Wilson, Springfield (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-10, 135-pounds. Lean frame with plenty of room for continued physical development.
Hit: RHH. Tall quiet setup, short stride and minimal wasted movement throughout. Long bat path, stays level through the zone and gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 85.89 max exit velocity, averaged 71.98 mph. 263’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Quick, active footwork, plays with bounce and crow hop exchange at times.
Run: 7.02 runner in the 60. Above-average runner for his age.

Jace Weaver, Cuba (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-2, 179-pounds. Long, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Wide crouched setup, leg-kick timing trigger. Long level bat path, line-drive approach.
Power: 81.34 max exit velocity, averaged 70.45 mph. 260’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 77 mph. Long arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Secures the baseball, length through exchange.
Run: 7.24 runner in the 60. 

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