The Joliet Open took place on Sunday, March 28th at the brand-new Rhino Baseball Academy in Shorewood, Ill. The event was open to all high school classes (2021-2024). Shortly after the event we took a look at the event with a Quick Hits article as well as a Statistical Analysis. 

Today we continue the positional breakdown from the event with a look at the outfielders in attendance. OF/C Dylan Sayles (Hononegah, 2022) showed an athletic, repeatable left-handed swing and natural outfield actions to come away as the top outfielder from the event.

Read on below for more.

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS

1. Dylan Sayles, Hononegah (IL), 2022
 Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 170-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride. Short path, line drive approach with fluid rhythm.
Power: 91.44 max exit velocity, averaged 76.12 mph. 261’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 79 mph. OF - 85 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate arm, with carry on throws.
Defense: 2.01-2.09 pop times. Soft hands, quick footwork, quick exchange, athletic defensive actions in the outfield.
Run: 7.05 runner in the 60. 

2. Kade Schneider, Barrington (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 6-4, 187-pounds.
Hit: SH. Tall balanced setup, short stride, smooth load. Level, gap to gap line drive approach, fluid rhythm.
Power: 96.26 max exit velocity, averaged 86.17 mph. 352’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 81 mph. Long arm action, low 3/4 slot, loose.
Defense: Clean exchange, fluid footwork.
Run: 7.27 runner in the 60.

3. Anthony Francone, Lockport (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced stance, leg kick, back hip load. Fluid swing, loose hands, line drive approach, direct bat path.
Power: 90.74 max exit velocity, averaged 82.62 mph. 346’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 77 mph. Low 3/4 slot, loose arm.
Defense: Fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.19 runner in the 60.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Michael Addari, Libertyville (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-4, 205-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, tall open stance, smooth load, short stride. Present speed, flashed pull side power, gap-to-gap approach.
Power: 98.52 max exit velocity, averaged 74.51 mph. 316’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 87 mph. Long arm action, over the top release, strong arm.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid foot work and fluid exchange.
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60. 

Jason Ballard, Homewood Flossmoor (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/OF
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall balanced setup, smooth load, small leg kick, rhythm. Fluid rhythm, uphill, line drive swing, hands take direct path to ball, gap to gap approach.
Power: 84.98 max exit velocity, averaged 70.78 mph. 301’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Short arm action, over the top slot, accurate with carry.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, quick, clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60. 

Oliver Barkal, New Trier (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, toe tap into a long stride, sits on the back side. Line drive gap to gap approach, short bat pat to contact.
Power: 71.48 max exit velocity, averaged 60.55 mph. 245’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 89 mph. Short arm action, over the top slot, accurate.
Defense: Clean exchange, methodical footwork.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60. 

Thomas Beardman, Warren (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-11, 173-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, wide base, smooth load, toe tap to leg kick. Long, uphill swing, showed pull side strength, fluid swing.
Power: 92.47 max exit velocity, averaged 76.51 mph. 326’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Long arm action, over the top release, showed carry.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, quick, clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60. 

Blake Binkowski, Lincoln Way East (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: 1B/OF
Body: 6-2, 225-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced tall setup, barrel load, short stride. Short, level swing, pull line drive approach, fluid movements.
Power: 97.65 max exit velocity, averaged 86.69 mph. 348’ max distance.
Arm: LH. INF - 78 mph. OF - 76 mph. Long arm action, low 3/4 slot, some accuracy.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 7.80 runner in the 60. 

Tristan Clark, Lyons Township (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: 1B/RHP
Body: 5-11, 160-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall, open, balanced setup, backside load, toe tap to short stride, hands load to arm bar. Direct path to contact, backside collapse, oppo approach, in/out of zone.
Power: 85.03 max exit velocity, averaged 69.85 mph. 262’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 87 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 release point, strong arm with some accuracy.
Defense: Soft hands, quick feet, quick exchange, athletic actions.
Run: 7.36 runner in the 60. 

Connor Cole, Mattawan (MI), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/SS
Body: 5-9, 161-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Crouched balanced setup, toe tap load, long leg kick stride. Long bat path to contact, pull side approach, level swing, fluid athletic ability.
Power: 91.79 max exit velocity, averaged 80.36 mph. 348’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Long arm action, over the top slot, some accuracy, showed carry.
Defense: Soft hands, quick fluid footwork, clean exchange, athletic and plays through the ball.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60. 

Jacob Garcia, Providence Catholic (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 6-0, 205-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall balanced stance, short stride, smooth load, strength in legs. Flashed bat speed to the pull side, short level line drive swing, hands are direct to contact, gap to gap approach, swing is loose and strong.
Power: 91.1 max exit velocity, averaged 82.08 mph. 341’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 76 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.55 runner in the 60. 

Rafael Garza, Mattawan (MI), 2023
Positional Profile: 2B/OF
Body: 5-7, 160-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced tall setup, quick load, leg kick trigger. Short, quick swing, uphill, pull side approach, max effort.
Power: 90.75 max exit velocity, averaged 79.79 mph. 322’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. OF - 82 mph. Short arm action, over the top, accurate.
Defense: Athletic, quick fluid footwork quick hands, clean exchange, twitchy.
Run: 7.67 runner in the 60. 

Sam Gossard, New Trier (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-2, 195-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced tall setup, toe tap to long stride, smooth load, gets balanced. Line drive up the middle approach, level swing, good extension.
Power: 91.21 max exit velocity, averaged 80.69 mph. 315’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Long arm action, over the top slot, accurate throws with carry.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange, athletic actions.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60. 

Olin Hemingway, Walter Payton College Prep (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-11, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced open stance, smooth load, leg kick to long stride. Fluid rhythm, direct barrel path, level swing, showed pull side power,.
Power: 87.04 max exit velocity, averaged 74.13 mph. 307’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4, throws showed carry.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid actions, quick footwork, quick exchange, athletic, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60. 

Aidan Kunimura, Neuqua (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/2B
Body: 5-8, 165-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced smooth load, short stride. Short level swing, gap to gap approach, loose fluid swing, hand and barrel are direct to contact.
Power: 77.35 max exit velocity, averaged 58.83 mph. 280’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 76 mph. Long arm action, over the top release, loose arm.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 7.43 runner in the 60. 

Carter Laudeman, Morris (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-3, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Mechanically sound, balanced smooth toe tap stride. Fluid rhythm, short line drive level swing, hands are direct to contact, loose hands.
Power: 91.03 max exit velocity, averaged 82.16 mph. 328’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Long arm action, over the top slot.
Defense: Fluid footwork, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.23 runner in the 60. 

Nate Locker, Homewood-Flossmoor (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-9, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load, short stride. Average bat speed, good approach, short path
Power: 85.07 max exit velocity, averaged 78.06 mph. 292’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 68 mph. OF - 76 mph. Long arm action, over the top slot, average arm strength.
Defense: 2.30-2.39 pop times. Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange.
Run: 7.59 runner in the 60. 

Alex Matter, Belleville East (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall stance, hands drop in load, long stride. Long uphill swing, pull hitter, fluid rhythm.
Power: 80.46 max exit velocity, averaged 71.09 mph. 286’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 74 mph. Long arm action, over the top release.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, fluid exchange.
Run: 7.74 runner in the 60. 

Richard McPherson, Lockport (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-8, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, backside load, toe tap to short stride. Short repeatable swing, direct to barrel path to contact, line drives to the pull side.
Power: 86.29 max exit velocity, averaged 78.45 mph. 227’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 81 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot, some accuracy, some carry.
Defense: Soft hand, fluid footwork, clean exchange, athletic.
Run: 7.64 runner in the 60. 

Camden Minster, Normal Community West (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-11, 140-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced tall stance, wide base, lifts hands on load, lunges during stride. Long downhill path to contact, oppo approach, extends through contact.
Power: 75.26 max exit velocity, averaged 57.48 mph. 236’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 71 mph. Long arm action, over the top release, backside stab
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, fluid exchange,
Run: 7.20 runner in the 60. 

Dylan Mroz, Minooka (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/OF
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, wide  base, short stride, smooth load, balanced landing. Short level swing, hands direct to contact, gap to gap approach, fluid swing.
Power: 89.47 max exit velocity, averaged 67.06 mph. 296’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 79 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Gets behind the baseball, plays through in rhythm, gains ground to target.
Run: 7.57 runner in the 60. 

Michael Mucha, Lockport (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-5, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Crouched stance, toe tap to short stride, smooth load to the backside Uphill swing, linde drive up the middle approach.
Power: 85.85 max exit velocity, averaged 76.95 mph. 258’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot, accurate, slight carry.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.80 runner in the 60. 

Luke Newhall, Walter Payton College Prep (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-5, 210-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall wide open stance, back hip load,. Long swing, off balance, pull approach.
Power: 92.55 max exit velocity, averaged 88.77 mph. 302’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Choppy footwork, clean exchange, plays  through the ball.
Run: 7.93 runner in the 60. 

Ryan Norman, Minooka (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, tall setup, short stride, smooth load. Repeatable short swing. stays on path to and through contact, line drive gap to gap approach,.
Power: 75.3 max exit velocity, averaged 62.47 mph. 181’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 release, accurate.
Defense: Soft hands, good footwork, fluid exchange.
Run: 7.19 runner in the 60. 

Michael Penzone, Oswego (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/2B
Body: 6-0, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced smooth load, leg kick to balanced landing. Short level swing, quick loose hands, line drive approach, gap to gap approach, fluid and loose. 
Power: 88.39 max exit velocity, averaged 77.99 mph. 331’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 70 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4, loose arm.
Defense: Soft hands, quick clean footwork, quick clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.74 runner in the 60. 

Carter Selk, Mahomet Seymour (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-3, 200-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Tall balanced stance, short stride, quick load. Uphill swing, short gap to gap approach, fluid rhythm.
Power: 91.24 max exit velocity, averaged 85.48 mph. 354’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 77 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.54 runner in the 60. 

Mitch Thomas, Minooka (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced set up, smooth load on back side, short stride,. Fluid rhythm, direct path, good extension, pull hitter, good balance.
Power: 85.39 max exit velocity, averaged 69.97 mph. 272’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Long arm action, over the top slot, accurate throws with carry.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange, athletic actions.
Run: 7.10 runner in the 60. 

Zachary Wisniewski, Lincoln Way West (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/SS
Body: 6-1, 165-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall balanced setup, toe tap stride, balanced landing. Level, gap to gap line drive approach, fluid rhythm, barrel direct to ball, loose swing, flashed bat speed.
Power: 88.59 max exit velocity, averaged 81.05 mph. 328’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Long arm action, over the top slot.
Defense: Clean exchange, fluid footwork, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.47 runner in the 60. 

Cole Workman, Glenwood (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-9, 185-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced open stance, smooth load to close, long stride. Fluid rhythm, direct path, extension, pull hitter, good balance.
Power: 86.47 max exit velocity, averaged 80.56 mph. 282’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Short arm action, high 3/4, showed accuracy.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 7.83 runner in the 60. 

Patrick Young, De LaSalle (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-8, 115-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Balanced open stance, leg kick, quick load, lunges. Level swing, opposite field approach,  fluid rhythm.
Power: 70.79 max exit velocity, averaged 62.45 mph. 200’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 64 mph. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fluid footwork, quick clean exchange, plays through the ball.
Run: 8.20 runner in the 60. 

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