Jack Lausch headlines a outfield unit with legitimate upside.
With just a couple of days until Northwestern kicks off its season with a three-game stand against Long Beach State on February 14th, we continue our position previews by shifting focus to the outfield. If you missed our other position previews, check out our analysis of Northwestern’s infield or our breakdown of pitchers, transfers, key first-years, and newcomers.
The Northwestern men’s baseball team will return some notable impact players to the outfield this season, such as Preston Knott and Jackson Freeman. These Wildcats will be looking to start off strong this season after impressive campaigns in 2024. While Northwestern returns some impact players to the position, none come with as much excitement as starting quarterback, Jack Lausch, who will be the first Wildcat to suit up for both the football and baseball teams since Dan Kubiuk did so in 2015-2016.
Who to watch: Returners
#1 Preston Knott – OF, Senior
A senior out of Arlington, Texas, Preston Knott started his collegiate career at the University of Charleston. After just two games played for the Golden Eagles in 2022, Knott transferred to Northern Oklahoma College for a year, before eventually making the switch to Northwestern. He made his debut for the Wildcats against Bethune-Cookman on March 1 of last year, and after what was a tumultuous couple years of baseball for Knott, the Arlington product made the best of his opportunities in 2024. Knott led all Wildcats in walks with 32, ranking second on the team in OBP (on-base percentage) with .406. The Texas native also came in third on the team in batting average, hitting an impressive .290 for the season.
#4 Jack Lausch – OF, Junior
The Chicago native projects to become a fan-favorite for the Northwestern men’s baseball team this season. Standing at 6 foot 2, 209 pounds, Lausch certainly has the athletic prowess to make an impact for a Wildcat team that hopes to arise from the ashes this season. He was the highest ranked outfielder by Perfect Game in the state of Illinois coming out of high school and the No. 23 outfield prospect in the country. As a redshirt sophomore for the football team in the fall, Lausch amassed 1,714 passing yards in the air, 213 rushing yards on the ground and 9 touchdowns. Look for Lausch this spring as the Wildcats claw their way through Big Ten competition in 2025.
#7 Marty Kaplan – OF, Junior
Marty Kaplan, a 6 foot 3, 185 pound, product from Santa Monica, California, readies himself for his third season on the team. Kaplan, a standout from Harvard-Westlake, had offers from Arizona, Cal and Georgia Tech before choosing to take his talents to Evanston. In 2024, we saw Kaplan’s OBS and batting average dip a little bit from his freshmen year to the tune of .333 OPS and .176 batting average while playing in five fewer games and making four less starts. Look for Kaplan to get back on track in his third year with the program.
#12 Jackson Freeman – OF, Sophomore
A 6 foot 2, 185 pound sophomore from Ladera Ranch, California, Jackson Freeman made quite the splash in 2024. In his first season, the Wildcat was named to the 2024 Big Ten All-Freshman team. Freeman led the team in home runs, RBIs and triples, smashing away 11, 39, and three respectively. Starting all 52 games for the Northwestern side in 2024, Freeman reached base safely his first 15 games while also posting an 8-game hitting streak. Freeman looks to avoid the dreaded ‘sophomore slump’ in 2025 as the Wildcats make a push in the Big Ten this year.
#34 Pirmin Brechbuhl – OF, Graduate
A 6 foot 3, 215 pound graduate student from Brookhaven, Georgia, Pirmin Brechbuhl comes out of a four-year baseball career at Wake Forest, helping the Demon Deacons modestly from 2021-2024. Although he appeared sparingly for his Wake Forest squad, Brechbuhl was on teams that were with the best of the best. In 2023, Wake Forest finished 3rd in the College World Series, hosting both the Winston-Salem Regional and the Super Regional. Earning varsity letters in football, baseball, and swimming, Brechbuhl was a star-studded athlete out of high school, ranking No. 44 in the loaded state of Georgia for outfielders. Let’s see if coach Ben Greenspan can get the best out of his fifth year in 2025.
#49 Griffin Mills – OF, Sophomore
Mills enters the 2025 season looking to build off his first-year success for the Wildcats. A sophomore from the Delbarton School, Mills made his debut in 2024 for the Northwestern side in a win over Tulane, where he recorded his first hit. Mills appeared in 31 games last year, starting in 15 of them. Mills has the length to go the distance as he recorded his first and only home run against Maryland in 2024.
Who to watch: Newcomers
#27 Zach Carlson – OF, First-Year
A 5 foot 11, 190 pound outfielder from South Jordan, Utah, Zach Carlson will look to make an impact on this Wildcats squad in 2025. Primarily a left handed hitter and fielder, it will be interesting to see where coach Greenspan utilizes his first-year player from the Juan Diego Catholic High School.
#42 Masai Marshall – OF, First-Year
Masai Marshall, a 6 foot 3, 190 pound outfielder from New York City, is counting on his big city dreams in 2025. A first-year out of Poly Prep, Marshall hopes to combine his size and length at the next level. His 6.86 in the 60-yard dash provides a path to immediate contribution in his freshman season, and his bat speed should create some opportunities in the batter’s box as well. According to Perfect Game, Marshall’s nationally ranking came in at 500, 395th for outfielders. In the state of New York, Marshall came in at No. 57, 12th for outfielders.