On Aug. 11, the PBR Illinois team gathered once again at the end of the summer to host this annual uncommitted event, the Senior Games. The summer’s sixth annual uncommitted senior showcase invited select members of the state’s 2021 class to Ozinga Field in Crestwood to participate in a workout and simulated gameplay, and it was streamed digitally in an effort to showcase these players to a larger audience.

In the days following this event, our team produced immediate analysis inside of our Quick Hits post, and published insight gathered by TrackMan and Blast Motion technologies inside of this Statistical Analysis. On Monday, we began our position-by-position breakdown with the event’s catchers, and we’re onto the outfielders today.

This list is dominated by upside, uncommitted prospects, led by Oswego East’s Camden Ruby. His left-handed bat produced one of the day’s best rounds of batting practice, and he was among the top defenders within this group, too. Ruby is ranked inside the state’s top-100 seniors, with his arrow pointed up.

Something similar can be said about Braden Sayles (Hononegah), who’s an uncommitted athlete also ranked inside the state’s top-100. He ran a 6.78 here and, like Ruby, swings an easy left-handed bat that makes some sneaky hard contact.

We ranked the top-five best performances of this group at this event below, but it was a well-rounded bunch with talent that stretches throughout.

Check out the rest of these scouting reports, as there are still a number of interesting, uncommitted players among them.

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS

1. Camden Ruby, Oswego East (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds. Wiry levers, high waist; projects well.
Hit: LHH. Tall, simple setup; slight pigeon-toed, open. Confident approach. Slight coil, weight-shift load back, elbow goes up. Short stride to closed landing. Utilizes his lower half well, helping him generate bat speed and whip. Loose bat with barrel feel, above-average plane efficiency. Averaged 76.1 mph bat speed, per Blast.
Power: 92 mph exit velocity from the tee. Hardest-hit ball in BP left the bat at 96.9 mph, the fourth highest of the event. Max distance travelled was 359 feet, the fifth farthest.
Arm: RH. OF - 87 mph. Short, compact throws from a high 3/4 slot; flashed carry and accuracy.
Defense: Simple, athletic on approach; clean, steady footwork through funnel and transfer. Plays through the ball efficiently.
Run: 7.09 runner in the 60. Quiet, easy gait.

2. Braden Sayles, Hononegah (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-1, 185-pounds. Athletic frame with more room for added physical development.
Hit: LHH. Quiet relaxed demeanor in the box, tall setup, open base, smooth bat tip load, steady leg lift trigger. Simple swing with loose actions, short and level bat path, works more on a line drive trajectory right now. Consistent hard contact, average exit speed of 88.12 mph in BP, per TrackMan.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Max exit speed of 93.4 mph in BP, per TrackMan.
Arm: RH. OF - 88 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active defender, quick feet attack the baseball, steady hands, clean hand transfer, athletic crow-hop to release.
Run: 6.88 runner in the 60.

3. Payton Matthews, Neuqua Valley (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-9, 175-pounds. Proportionally strong athletic build.
Hit: LHH. Open setup, slight weight shift onto back knee, high hands drop at load, fluid toe-tap trigger. Quick hands with bat speed; averaged 73.8 mph bat speed, per Blast Motion. Short and uphill bat path, gap-to-gap approach with some power to the pull-side.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 88 mph. Long and loose arm action, over-the-top slot. Throws play with carry to the bag.
Defense: Confident and controlled outfield actions. Smooth feet that play in rhythm around the baseball, soft hands, quick hand transfer, clean to release. Athletic profile that can stick in center field long term.
Run: Did not run at this event.

4. Steve Sanderson, St. Rita (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 6-1, 195-pounds. Strength and athleticism in a physical frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced/narrow setup; hands set medium height, bat rests on shoulder. Hands load back, short stride stays even. Bat path is simple; short to the zone, level plane. Generates bat speed, with strength, showed gap-to-gap abilities. Maintained a fluid rhythm.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Averaged an exit velocity of 87.6 mph with a 93.8 mph high, per TrackMan.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. OF - 86 mph. Short, loose throws from a high 3/4 slot; flashed arm strength and accuracy.
Defense: Plays under control, direct routes to the ball. Plays through.
Run: 6.86 runner in the 60. Low-effort gait.

5. Tyler McClure, Champaign Centennial (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-3, 185-pounds. Strong, athletic frame with more physical projection to come.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, wide base, quiet pre-pitch actions, smooth load, minimal stride.  Long and uphill bat path, middle-in approach, steady line drive contact. Doesn't try to do too much; goes with the pitch.
Power: 91 mph exit velocity from the tee. Averaged the second highest exit velocity during BP at this event (90.9 mph); third farthest max distance (370 feet).
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Long arm path comes out of a loose high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Starts in a staggered stance, steady exchange, crow-hop with some length to release.
Run: 6.78 runner in the 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Rogelio Berumen, Edwardsville (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-1, 165-pounds. Tall, wiry build.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, hands set high, bat rests on shoulder; pigeon-toed stance. Minimal load, strides to even; short path through the zone, flatter plane. He does well to meet the ball on-plane with some consistency, utilizes the gaps.
Power: 80 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Long, over-the-top throws with average arm strength; flashed some accuracy to the target.
Defense: Plays through the ball with some athleticism, footwork is generally smooth. Consistent quick and clean exchanges.
Run: 7.06 runner in the 60. Quiet, athletic gait.

JD Carpenter, Lake Zurich  (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 160-pounds. Lean strength in frame.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, slightly open setup; hands set medium with bat on shoulder. Arm bar load, leg strides to even. Bat path is short and works uphill.
Power: 76 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 78 mph. Long, loose throws from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: Controlled, efficient at gather; leads to clean exchanges. Methodical through crow hop.
Run: 7.60 runner in the 60. 

Chazz Clark, Marist (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-11, 169-pounds. Lean, wiry levers; athletic.
Hit: LHH. Wide/balanced base; simple, brief load back, strides forward to even with no wasted movement. Short, compact bat path that's direct to the zone; produced steady line-drives.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Long, over-the-top throws with average arm strength; flashed some accuracy to the target.
Defense: Ranges around with athletic footwork, gathering the ball in an efficient position; consistent clean exchanges.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60. 

Jeffrey Hedlund, Palatine (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Lean, lanky frame.
Hit: SH. Similar setup from both sides. Tall stance, arm bars at load, quick toe-tap timing trigger.  Twitchy hands with bat speed, aggressive hand drive to the baseball. Bat travels on a short and level plane, gets some uphill angle through contact from the left side. Gap-to-gap approach with wiry power, favors pull-side at times.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: LH. OF - 85 mph. Long and whippy arm action, over-the-top slot.
Defense: Active feet that occasionally work in rhythm, glove works out front, soft hands with a quick exchange, plays through the baseball with athleticism.
Run: 6.82 runner in the 60. 

Julian Jimenez, Romeoville (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 6-2, 170-pounds. Long levers, wiry strength; athleticism for size.
Hit: LHH. Balanced/athletic setup, pigeon-toed stance; hands set high in slight bat wrap. Smooth load back, reverse toe-tap stride to even. Short path to the zone, bat path is uphill through contact. Loose hands, balanced throughout, fluid swings that he repeats well.
Power: 86 mph exit velocity from the tee. Recorded an average exit velocity of 84.2 mph in BP, with a 92.5 mph high; average distance of 270 feet and it projects well as he fills out.
Arm: RH. OF - 86 mph. Long arm action from a 3/4 slot. Above-average arm strength with some accuracy.
Defense: Fluid footwork, help set himself for consistently clean and efficient funnels through exchanges. Hands played soft; showed control over his long levers.
Run: 7.31 runner in the 60. 

Daniel Maller, St. Francis (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-10, 165-pounds. Athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, quick pre-pitch hand movement, short stride.  Quick hands with some twitch, stays short to the baseball with an uphill attack angle, pull-side approach.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Short arm action with above-average arm speed, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Quick first step, controlled footwork, occasionally fields in rhythm, steady hands with a clean hand transfer, plays through the baseball.
Run: 7.16 runner in the 60. 

Austin Murray, Lemont (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 5-11, 180-pounds. Long, wiry levers with athleticism.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup, hands set high, away from body; some pre-pitch rhythm. Abbreviated load, short/rushed path to the zone. Bat path is level/flat, produced some line-drive contact with above-average bat speed.
Power: 88 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. OF - 82 mph. Long arm action from an over-the-top slot.
Defense: Light on feet, helps position himself well on approach.
Run: 6.73 runner in the 60. 

Alex Najera, St. Charles North (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-10, 175-pounds. Lean strength in frame.
Hit: LHH. Tall/balanced setup, simple and smooth load back; bat-head gets vertical at bar load. Toe-tap stride closed; short, uphill bat path. Sprays contact around the field some, flashed line-drive abilities.
Power: 82 mph exit velocity from the tee.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot; some accuracy.
Defense: Athletic feet help him arrive to the ball fluidly and work through it well, cleanly.
Run: 7.07 runner in the 60. 

Lucas Nielsen, Downers Grove North (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-1, 185-pounds. Thin, wiry frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced/open setup; brief load back, long stride lands even. Bat path is short, direct to the zone; uphill through contact. Demonstrated barrel feel, utilized the middle of the field well.
Power: 87 mph exit velocity from the tee. Recorded an average exit velocity of 84.1 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Short throws from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Positioned himself well at gather; showed consistently clean exchanges.
Run: 7.67 runner in the 60. 

Kaydon Norkus, Neuqua Valley (IL), 2021; Southern Illinois commit.
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-1, 190-pounds. Wiry strength, lean levers; projects well.
Hit: RHH. Tall setup with some rhythm, pigeon-toed stance. Arm bar load, leg flares out to even stride. Bat path is short and level; produces easy bat speed. Line-drive contact.
Power: 89 mph exit velocity from the tee. Averaged an exit velocity of 88.2 mph during BP, per TrackMan.
Arm: RH. OF - 87 mph. Short arm action, over-the-top slot, throws flash carry.
Defense: Works through the ball fluidly, careful approach; raw actions, with athleticism.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60. 

Ryan Radek, Benet Academy (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds. Sturdy, strong stature; proportional build with athleticism.
Hit: RHH. Wide/balanced base, hands set low, open stance. Minimal load to brief stride to even; short path to the zone, uphill plane through it. Overall easy, athletic hands help utilize simple strength.
Power: 90 mph exit velocity from the tee. Bat path and inherent strength helped him average a distance of 270 feet; projects for more as he develops.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Long, loose, easy arm action from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Takes an athletic, fluid approach to the ball; consistently clean exchanges while working through.
Run: 7.09 runner in the 60. 

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