On Tuesday, July 20, the PBR Illinois staff hosted the Underclass Games at Triton College in River Grove. The invite-only event featured some of the top players from Illinois and Wisconsin in the Class of 2024. A number of high-level follows emerged at the event and many will be names to become familiar with as they enter their sophomore year of high school.

Our staff published several pieces shortly after the event’s conclusion and you can find those by clicking HERE. 

We started rolling our position-by-position analysis yesterday with the catchers. Today we’ll continue working our way around the field, with all of the outfield scouting reports from this event found below. 

OUTFIELD PROSPECTS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Anthony Holloway, St. Patrick (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-8, 155-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Starts in an athletic stance, fluid pre-pitch rhythm with a leg-kick timing trigger, long stride.  Repeatable swing, showed some bat speed, quick/uphill path to the ball, loose arms throughout the swing.
Power: 89.7 max exit velocity, averaged 82 mph. 323’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 77 mph. Short, high 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: Athletic actions, clean transfer out of the glove, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.41 runner in the 60. 

Sawyer Kowalkowski, Ozaukee (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 135-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Starts in an upright stance, slightly open, slight leg-lift into a long stride, keeps elbows close together throughout pre-pitch.  Loose arms throughout the swing, level path to the ball with a line-drive approach, showed the ability to maintain balance through contact.
Power: 81.5 max exit velocity, averaged 74.3 mph. 230’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Long/loose 3/4 arm, clean action.
Defense: Athletic actions, fluid footwork around the ball, plays through the ball into an athletic crowhop.
Run: 7.28 runner in the 60. 

Cooper Marrs, Riverside-Brookfield (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-3, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Athletic setup, slightly crouched with an open front foot, knee-knocks into a long/gliding stride.  Simple/repeatable swing, direct path to the ball, level through the zone with a line-drive approach, maintains balance well after contact.
Power: 90.5 max exit velocity, averaged 84.3 mph. 287’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Short/clean 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: Athletic mover with fluid footwork, sure-handed with a clean transfer, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.59 runner in the 60. 

Jackson McCarey, New Trier (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/SS
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Athletic setup, slightly open. fluid rhythm throughout pre-pitch, leg-lifts into a long stride, hangs foot.  Repeatable swing, direct hands to the ball with a level path through the zone, line-drive approach, mature/confident prescence in the box.
Power: 88.6 max exit velocity, averaged 79.9 mph. 342’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Long 3/4 slot, some carry.
Defense: Athletic actions with a quick first step, plays through the ball with a clean transfer, transitions into crow-hop dynamically.
Run: 6.91 runner in the 60. 

Mason Phillips, Oak Park-River Forest (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds. High-waisted, highly athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Starts in an athletic position, slightly hunched over, minimal pre-pitch movement. Compact/repeatable swing, level path to the ball with a line-drive approach to the whole field.
Power: 73.6 max exit velocity, averaged 60.4 mph. 238’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 79 mph. Clean, over-the-top arm action, showed true carry on throws to bases.
Defense: Highly athletic outfield actions with a quick first step, glides around the outfield with athletic/long strides, soft hands with a clean transfer.
Run: 6.77 runner in the 60. 

Issei Takahashi, Arrowhead (WI), 2024
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-7, 160-pounds. Athletic frame with some compact strength.
Hit: LHH. Quiet in the box pre-pitch, balanced setup, smooth load with a slight bat wrap, short stride.  Short and flat path to contact, hands stay inside the baseball with clear rotation through contact. Line drive approach, all-fields feel.
Power: 89.5 max exit velocity, averaged 85.9 mph. 342’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 73 mph. Short arm stroke, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Quick first step, fluid feet that work around the baseball, soft hands, clean exchange to release.
Run: 7.32 runner in the 60. 

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