On Aug. 9, PBR Illinois hosted this annual showcase for academically-minded prospects seeking opportunities to play at the next level: GPA Games. We previously published a post in the days after the event, highlighting the top statistical performers. Our position-by-position analysis for this showcase started yesterday with the catchers and we continue that today by rolling out the outfield reports. 

The top ranked outfielder in the group was James Vambaketes (Alton, 2022), a loose-bodied, left/left prospect, with a fluid left-handed stroke that consistently hits in rhythm, working gap-to-gap. 

Streamwood’s Scott Wolfard (2021), an athletic unsigned senior, finds himself at No. 2 on the list. Wolfard ran a 6.94 60-yard dash and showed that athleticism in the outfield during his defensive evaluation, too. Wolfard took an impressive round of BP, swinging a loose right-handed bat that stays on a level plane resulting in sprayed line drives to all fields. 

Another left/left prospect in the Illinois’ 2022 class worth a mention: OF Will Goldberg (Homewood-Flossmoor) rounds out the top three outfield prospects from the event. Goldberg is a natural outfield defender who plays with pace and quick feet. Goldberg showed a compact left-handed stroke that stays short to the baseball and looks to control the barrel.

For full scouting reports on these three, as well as all other outfielders who attended this event, continue on below. 

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS 

1. James Vambaketes, Alton (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 6-0, 155-pounds. Quick-twitch, athletic frame with room for added physical development.
Hit: LH. Quiet in the box, balanced setup, narrow base, smooth bat tip load, closed toe at footstrike. Athletic hands with some twitch, long bat path with an elevated attack angle, gap-to-gap approach. Hits in a fluid rhythm throughout, repeats.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 79 mph. Long and loose arm path, over-the-top slot. Above-average arm speed for age.
Defense: Patient to the baseball, athletic feet that field in rhythm, soft hands, some length to release.
Run: 7.19 runner in the 60. 

2. Scott Wolfard, Streamwood (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds. Twitchy, athletic build.
Hit: RH. Balanced setup, wide base, hands maintain a strong hitting position, quick toe-tap timing trigger.  Loose hands with bat speed, short and level bat path, stays inside the baseball. Line drive approach, some feel for the barrel.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Long and loose arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active defender, quick feet, plays through the baseball.
Run: 6.94 runner in the 60. 

3. Will Goldberg, Homewood-Flossmoor (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-11, 155-pounds. Wiry, high-waisted frame.
Hit: LH. Open setup, narrow base, bat rests over back shoulder, leg lift trigger, strong lead leg block.  Loose hands, short path, contact-oriented approach, steady line drive contact.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 83 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Athletic feet work to the baseball, quick first step, attacks. Steady hands, clean transfer to quick release, plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60. 

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Nathan Burdin, Rochelle Township (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-10, 145-pounds. Lean, wiry build.
Hit: LH. Tall setup, hands load straight back, quick toe-tap trigger.  Long and level bat path, line drive approach.
Power: 76 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 71 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. 
Defense: Feet field in rhythm at times, occasional two-hand gather, plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.56 runner in the 60. 

Jack Cosich, Lincoln-Way East (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/C
Body: 5-9, 145-pounds. Lean, high-waisted frame.
Hit: RH. Tall setup with some bend in the lower half, hands load in rhythm, quick toe-tap trigger.  Short and uphill bat path.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active defender, plays to the baseball.
Run: 6.91 runner in the 60. 

Sam Gossard, New Trier (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-2, 185-pounds. Strong, well-proportioned makeup.
Hit: RH. Balanced setup, wide base, hand drop at load, toe-tap timing trigger.  Long and uphill path, elevates to the opposite field at times.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 75 mph. Long arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Works around the ball at times, long to release, easy effort.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60. 

Eyan Idohl, Marian Catholic (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 6-2, 182-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned build.
Hit: RH. Balanced setup, bat rests over back shoulder at load, minimal stride.  Uphill bat path, works underneath the baseball, hits off front side.
Power: 83 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 69 mph. OF - 75 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot. 
Defense: Worked out both in the infield and outfield.  Attacks the baseball on the diamond, two-hand gather. Feet work around the baseball in the outfield, plays through at times.
Run: 7.40 runner in the 60. 

Hudson Lange, Saint Joseph (MI), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/2B
Body: 5-5, 130-pounds. Lean, athletic frame.
Hit: RH. Tall setup, active pre-pitch movement in hands, short stride.  Quick hands, short bat path, line drive approach, sprays to all fields.
Power: 71 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 70 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active defender, quick feet attack the baseball in line.
Run: 7.46 runner in the 60. 

Alex Mielcarz, Oswego  (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds. Slender build.
Hit: RH. Balanced setup, weight rocks forward then back, toe-tap timing trigger.  Level path, line drive approach, pull-side tendency.
Power: 84 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 72 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Fluid footwork at times, occasionally attacks the baseball, crow hops to release.
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60. 

Jack Novak, Lincoln-Way Central (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/C
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds. Lean, athletic frame.
Hit: RH. Tall setup, rhythmic pre-pitch movement in hands, smooth load, short stride to even.  Short and level path, sprays line drives to all fields.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. C - 75 mph. OF - 78 mph. Arm plays short and over-the-top behind the dish, accurate throws. Works more from a high 3/4 slot in the outfield.
Defense: Worked out behind the plate and in the outfield. Feet work in line out of the crouch, quick transfer at times. Patient to the baseball on the grass, slight crow hop pre-release, plays through at times.
Run: 7.09 runner in the 60. 

Joshua Rogde, Burlington Central (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 150-pounds. Compact frame, some strength in lower half.
Hit: RH. Quiet in the box, balanced setup, smooth load, short stride.  Bat travels on a level plane through the zone, line drive approach.
Power: 68 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 71 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Patient to the baseball, feet work around at times, steady hands, clean transfer.
Run: 7.88 runner in the 60. 

Matthew White, Nicolet (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: RH. Tall setup, hands drop at load, quick leg kick timing trigger.  Quick hands, stays short to the baseball, sprays line drives to all fields.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 77 mph. Arm plays long in the back, works from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Attacks the baseball, feet work in rhythm, steady hands, athletic crow-hop to a quick release.
Run: 7.04 runner in the 60. 

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