On Saturday, Feb. 11, the PBR Illinois staff traveled to Pro Player Academy in McHenry to host the McHenry Preseason ID - an event that’s been on our winter calendar since 2016. This event provides our staff an up-close opportunity to check on 100+ high school prospects hailing from all high school classes, this region of the state, and the Fox Valley Conference, early in the year. 

This week we began our positional breakdown of the event, starting with a look at the catchers. Today we continue it with reports on all of the outfielders from the day. Charlie Smerek (Harvest Christian) and Jack Stecker (McHenry) are two 2024 outfielders that just missed out on the top-five below but warrant a mention. Smerek took aggressive swings with loose, athletic hands and natural uphill path through contact. Stecker is an above-average athlete who ran a 3.94 30-yard split and looked natural in the outfield playing with clean footwork. 

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS

1. Ryan Dabe, Huntley (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/SS
Body: 6-1, 180-pounds. Athletic frame with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, confident look in the box, short stride. Strong, fast hands, creates advanced jump off the barrel, on time and on the barrel, hard and loud off the bat. Flashed pull-side power.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 92.6 mph.
Arm: RH. INF - 87 mph. OF - 90 mph. Life out of the hand from a clean high 3/4 slot
Defense: Active feet, soft hands, plays through the ball with intent and in rhythm INF: Active feet, soft hands and steady actions, athletic, moves well laterally, clean double play turn.
Run: 4.02 runner in the 30-yard split. 

2. Easton Stewart, Hononegah (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: 1B/OF
Body: 5-11, 165-pounds. Lean, wiry athletic frame with room for added muscle.
Hit: LHH. Athletic setup, early stride. Strong hands, uphill path, compact swing, sits into backside and works gap-to-gap.
Power: 84 max exit velocity, averaged 78.6 mph.
Arm: LH. OF - 82 mph. Clean arm stroke, loose, 3/4 slot. life out of the hand,
Defense: Sure-handed, plays through the baseball,
Run: 4.00 runner in the 30-yard split. 

3. Payton Sensabaugh, McHenry (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/C
Body: 5-8, 145-pounds. Compact, athletic frame with room for growth.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, fluid load and stride. On top of the baseball, direct quick swing, creates backspin, on the barrel and on time. Line-drive whole field approach.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 88 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Loose, clean arm, high 3/4 slot with life.
Defense: Steady hands, plays through the ball.
Run: 3.75 runner in the 30-yard split. 

4. Haiden Janke, Huntley  (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/C
Body: 6-1, 210-pounds. Big-bodied frame with strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced stock setup, long stride. Strong, physical bat, aggressive swing, level through the zone and loud off the bat.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 92.4 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Loose, quick arm, high 3/4 release.
Defense: Steady hands, plays through the baseball.
Run: 4.07 runner in the 30-yard split. 

5. Jacob Dorn, Barrington (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-9, 150-pounds. Athletic, well proportioned from with room for more development.
Hit: LHH. Wide setup, smooth quiet load and stride. Athletic hands, direct and through the baseball, on the barrel and balanced finish.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 72.4 mph.
Arm: LH. OF - 83 mph. Longer draw into a 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active feet, plays through the ball with intent, soft hands.
Run: 4.09 runner in the 30-yard split. 

5. Ian Kelly, Huntley (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-9, 145-pounds. Lean, ultra athletic frame with room for added muscle.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, athletic setup, smooth load and short stride. Level path, controlled intent, balanced finish and on time.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 84.1 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 79 mph. High 3/4 slot, some quickness to release.
Defense: Athletic actions, soft hands, plays through the ball in rhythm, active feet
Run: 4.07 runner in the 30-yard split. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY) 

Justin Ceisel, Jacobs (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-2, 205-pounds. Large frame with broad, sloped shoulders, strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Wide, strong setup, smooth load and short stride. Strong hands, direct swing, on top and up the middle of the field.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 87.6 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. High 3/4 slot, plays with some life out of the hand.
Defense: Two-hand gather out front, attacks the baseball.
Run: 4.1 runner in the 30-yard split. 

Scott Cole, McHenry  (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-0, 161-pounds. High waisted frame with a strong lower half.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, minimal load and stride. Strong hands, fast bat, aggressive swing with occasional jump off the barrel.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 84.4 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 79 mph. Loose, 3/4 slot, life out of the hand.
Defense: Plays through the ball with intent, soft hands,
Run: 4.2 runner in the 30-yard split. 

Evan Dahl, Lakes Community  (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-5, 205-pounds. Proportional frame with room for continued development.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, stride works to even. Athletic, direct swing, creates leverage in swing, uphill path and pull-side gap tendencies.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 78.8 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 79 mph. Longer draw into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Sure-handed, attacks and plays through the ball.
Run: 4.23 runner in the 30-yard split. 

Peyton Horowicz, McHenry  (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-1, 175-pounds. Well proportioned frame with some strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, quiet load and stride. Long path creates pull-side leverage, occasional lift through the zone.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 84 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 78 mph. Longer draw into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Two hand gather out front, steady actions
Run: 4.2 runner in the 30-yard split. 

Carter Kelley, Crystal Lake Central (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds. Proportional frame with room for growth.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, slightly open setup, short stride. Compact swing, sees the ball deep, stays on balanced and works the middle of the field.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 76.4 mph.
Arm: LH. OF - 84 mph. Loose, whippy arm, 3/4 release.
Defense: Sure-handed, proper routes that attack and field through the baseball.
Run: 4.1 runner in the 30-yard split. 

Jackson Murphy, Wauconda (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 180-pounds. Proportional frame with room for added strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, short stride. Direct Swing, controls the barrel, line-drive approach.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 78 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Loose, quick arm, high 3/4 slot
Defense: Active feet, plays through the ball with intent, sure-handed.
Run: 4.07 runner in the 30-yard split. 

Ethan Riska, McHenry (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-0, 162-pounds. High waisted, with room for continued development.
Hit: RHH. Open setup, stride works to even. Direct path, on top of the baseball, line drive approach.
Power: 81 max exit velocity, averaged 71.4 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 76 mph. Longer draw, reaches back into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands and actions, plays through the ball.
Run: 4.31 runner in the 30-yard split. 

Andrew Robertson, Jacobs (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-9, 135-pounds. Proportional frame with room for growth.
Hit: RHH. Tall, balanced setup, fluid load and stride. Loose easy swing, uphill path, whole field approach.
Power: 80 max exit velocity, averaged 77.8 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 79 mph. Fluid, longer draw into a 3/4 slot.
Defense: Two-hand gather out front, active feet.
Run: 4.11 runner in the 30-yard split. 

Charlie Smerek, Harvest Christian (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/OF
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds. Athletic frame with room for growth.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, smooth load and leg-kick timing trigger. Aggressive swing, loose and athletic hands, uphill and on-plane path, gap-to-gap approach and on the barrel.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 80.9 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. Loose, whippy arm from a 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, aggressive routes, works through the baseball.
Run: 4.24 runner in the 30-yard split. 

Jack Stecker, McHenry (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-11, 160-pounds. Lean with some strength to the frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, coiled load and leg-kick trigger. Controlled aggression throughout, on the barrel, uphill path and pull-side tendencies.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 83.5 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Loose, clean arm with a quick stroke, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Sure-handed, plays through the ball with intent.
Run: 3.94 runner in the 30-yard split. 

Eric Suarez, Huntley (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-0, 160-pounds. Proportional build with room for growth.
Hit: RHH. Balanced tall setup, smooth load and leg-lift. Sits into backside, uphill path at times, middle opposite field approach.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 80.1 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Long out of the glove into a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Plays through the ball, steady hands,
Run: 4.01 runner in the 30-yard split. 

Jake Thorstenson, Wauconda (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-6, 155-pounds. Athletic frame with room for growth.
Hit: RHH. Wide, balanced setup, quiet load and stride. Compact swing, works uphill through the zone, whole field approach.
Power: 83 max exit velocity, averaged 74.2 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 81 mph. Full arm action into a over the top slot, with quickness to the arm.
Defense: Soft hands, proper routes that attack the baseball.
Run: 4.29 runner in the 30-yard split. 

Carson Young, Antioch (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 155-pounds. Proportional frame with room for added muscle.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, smooth load and short stride. Wiry levers, pull-side approach and finishes on balance.
Power: 78 max exit velocity, averaged 68.8 mph.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. OF - 74 mph. Short arm action, 3/4 release.
Defense: C: Low, one-knee setup, steady hands. Clean release out of the crouch. OF: Two-hand gather out front, active feet, plays through the ball.
Run: 4.85 runner in the 30-yard split.

Michael Zawilenski, Saint Viator (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds. Proportional frame with lower half strength.
Hit: RHH. Narrow, balanced setup, minimal load and stride. Strong hands, direct swing, uphill path and uses the middle of the field.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 78.8 mph.
Arm: RH. OF - 82 mph. 3/4 slot. short out of the glove.
Defense: Two-hand gather out front, plays through the ball with intent.
Run: 4.22 runner in the 30-yard split. 

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