On Wednesday, February 19th, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff traveled down to Peoria, IL for the Peoria Preseason ID held at the Louisville Slugger Dome. This event is a great opportunity for our staff to get a look at players from the central part of the state, as well as the surrounding areas.

Today we are continuing our post-event rollout with a look at all the outfielders from the day, along with a ranking of who our staff deemed as the top outfield prospects.

A couple sophomore names that just missed the cut below are Chase Beckham (Sacred Heart-Griffin) and Crayton Schnierle (Bloomington Central Catholic).

Beckman, a 5-foot-8, 165-pound right-handed hitter, worked on the barrel throughout his round and also showed a strong arm in his defensive portion.

Schnierle, listed at 6-foot-1, 165-pounds, has plenty to dream on with an upside right-handed swing and projectable frame.

TOP OUTFIELD PROSPECTS

1. Cullen Schwigen, Rockridge (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-2, 176 pounds. Lean, athletic frame with present strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Medium base, small leg lift, small stride. Strong hands, flat path, pull-side power. 75.7 mph bat speed with 15g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 97 mph max exit velocity (86.2 avg.); 346-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 89 mph. Short, easy arm action with armspeed out front, ¾ slot.
Defense: Smooth and easy athletic movements, athletic feet, clean exchanges.
Athletic Testing: 7.04 runner in the 60-yard dash; 22.80-inch max vertical jump.

2. Keaton Ariano, Geneseo (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 6-0, 182 pounds. Strong, lean build.
Hit: LHH. Wide base, toe-tap into long stride. Strong hands, uphill bat path, stays through the zone, pull-side approach. 70.6 mph bat speed with 13g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 mph max exit velocity (81.7 avg.); 312-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Compact arm action, over the top slot.
Defense: Athletic, strong mover, feet flow.
Athletic Testing: 7.09 runner in the 60-yard dash; 27.90-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 76.15 Edge Score.

3. Landon Gray, Dunlap (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-0, 164 pounds. Trim, athletic frame with room for added strength in the future.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, some rhythm in the hands, loads the hands into footstrike. Loose hands, flat path through the zone, pull-side approach, flashed hard lifted contact to the pull-side. 69.6 mph bat speed with 16g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 mph max exit velocity (83 avg.); 339-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Loose, quick arm action, over the top slot.
Defense: Smooth and athletic movements, confident glove.
Athletic Testing: 7.11 runner in the 60-yard dash; 21.10-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 67.78 Edge Score.

4. Haydon Hawksworth, Washington (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-0, 160 pounds. Lean, athletic frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced setup, medium stride, occasional toe-tap stride. Compact and balanced, flat swing. 70 mph bat speed with 18g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 93 mph max exit velocity (81 avg.); 320-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Compact arm action, high ¾ slot with some whip in the finish.
Defense: Quick feet, simple and easy movements, athletic, clean one-hand gather.
Athletic Testing: 7.41 runner in the 60-yard dash; 21.90-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 76.21 Edge Score.

5. Ethan Cour, Sacred Heart-Griffin (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: 2B/RHP
Body: 6-2, 165 pounds. Trim build with room for added strength in the future.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, short stride. Loose and whippy, flat path, pull-side approach. 67.5 mph bat speed with 13g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 mph max exit velocity (81 avg.); 337-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 78 mph. OF - 82 mph. OF: Loose, full arm action, high ¾ slot. INF: Compact, ¾ slot.
Defense: OF: Smooth and easy athletic movements, clean one-hand gather off front foot. INF: Two-hand gather out front, reliable exchanges, athletic actions.
Athletic Testing: 7.27 runner in the 60-yard dash; 18.20-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 68.65 Edge Score.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Hunter Barber, Pawnee (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-8, 167 pounds. Compact, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Tall, balanced setup, high leg lift into small stride. Strong, quick hands, worked hard on the barrel pull-side and up the middle, compact finish. 72 mph bat speed with 18g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 94 mph max exit velocity (85.3 avg.); 323-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 75 mph. Quick arm action from a high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Quick first step, active feet, attacks the baseball, steady one-hand gather.
Athletic Testing: 7.54 runner in the 60-yard dash; 19.20-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 56.14 Edge Score.

Chase Beckham, Sacred Heart-Griffin (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-9, 165 pounds. Lean, well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, wide base, medium stride. Strong hands, flat path, intent to lift pull-side. 68.5 mph bat speed with 11g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 89 mph max exit velocity (80.5 avg.); 329-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Quick arm action, high ¾ slot.
Defense: Quick feet, attacks the ball, steady movements.
Athletic Testing: 8.07 runner in the 60-yard dash; 19.30-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 65.43 Edge Score.

Carter Brooks, Havana (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-11, 185 pounds. Present strength in the lower-half, round shoulders.
Hit: RHH. Tall, balanced setup, small stride. Simple with some strength at impact, flat bat path, compact, gap-to-gap approach. 72.2 mph bat speed with 13g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 89 mph max exit velocity (83.2 avg.); 290-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Standard release.
Defense: Two handed approach on ground balls, flows to ball, fluid actions.
Athletic Testing: 7.22 runner in the 60-yard dash; 20.20-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 62.53 Edge Score.

Cooper Burnside, Dunlap (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-10, 163 pounds. Proportionate frame.
Hit: RHH. Coils into a medium stride from a wide base, creates some barrel tilt into footstrike. Long, flat bat path, strong hands, pull-side approach. 72.2 mph bat speed with 15g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 mph max exit velocity (71.7 avg.); 300-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. Arm has life.
Defense: Quick feet, attacks the ball with purpose, one-hand gather through the baseball.
Athletic Testing: 7.72 runner in the 60-yard dash; 23.00-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 71.97 Edge Score.

Crayton Schnierle, Bloomington Central Catholic (IL), 2027
Positional Profile: 3B/OF
Body: 6-1, 165 pounds. Projectable, high-waisted build with room to add strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, athletic setup, hangs foot into a medium stride. Works direct to the baseball, stays through the zone with some extension through impact, flatter path, some whip in the barrel with athletic hands. 66.4 mph bat speed with 18g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 mph max exit velocity (83.3 avg.); 301-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 79 mph. OF - 80 mph. Over the top, short on the backside, quick arm.
Defense: OF: Flows with ease, soft one-hand gather. INF- Quick feet, hands work out front, shuffles through the ball with timing.
Athletic Testing: 7.31 runner in the 60-yard dash; 22.80-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 66.89 Edge Score.

Dominic Stottler, United Township (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 6-0, 171 pounds. Some present strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Balanced base with a slight bend, upright, small stride. Intent to elevate, strong hands, long, uphill bat path, pull-side approach. 63.7 mph bat speed with 5g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 93 mph max exit velocity (85.7 avg.); 344-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. OF - 79 mph. Longer arm action.
Defense: OF: Plays with leverage, gets behind the ball, one-hand gather out front. INF: Plays with some bounce, two-hand gather out front, secures into body, athletic movements.
Athletic Testing: 7.02 runner in the 60-yard dash; 23.70-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 55.21 Edge Score.

Ashton Taylor, Metamora (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: OF/C
Body: 6-0, 150 pounds. Trim, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Medium, balanced base, small leg lift. Easy swing, stays flat through the zone. 57.9 mph bat speed with 5g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 81 mph max exit velocity (74.6 avg.); 306-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 73 mph. Compact slot.
Defense: Clean round, fluid footwork, active and plays through the baseball.
Athletic Testing: 7.51 runner in the 60-yard dash; 20.50-inch max vertical jump.
Vizual Edge: 65.44 Edge Score.

Ethan Thomas, Edwardsville (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-3, 188 pounds. Lean and long-levered, projectable with room to add strength.
Hit: SH. Wide base, minimal stride, simple and repeats. Easy effort, looks to use the whole field, polished. 69.3 mph bat speed with 10g of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 mph max exit velocity (76.9 avg.); 309-foot max batted distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 76 mph. High 3/4 release.
Defense: Long levers, easy actions, deliberate footwork and hands.
Athletic Testing: 7.31 runner in the 60-yard dash; -inch max vertical jump.

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