The Prep Baseball Report Open I.D. Showcase at John A. Logan Junior College in Carterville, IL on June 24 featured wealth of promising prospects in Southern Illinois. While there were standout performances by some highly ranked Class of 2010 prospects, such as Harrisburg SS Reid Roper and hard-throwing Marion RHP Bryan Waldrop, the event was dominated by top 2011 and 2012 prospects. Below are the top players at the event.
Top 2010 Prospects
1. Reid Roper, SS, Harrisburg HS: Far and away the best hitter at the event – and one of the most pure left-handed strokes in the state – Roper put on a BP show. With a quick and quiet setup and an advanced plate approach, the University of Illinois recruit drove line drives all over the field. He showed the same swing driving the ball to the left-center gap as he did pulling the inner-half pitch. In the field, Roper showcased his arm strength (84 mph from SS) and smooth hands. One of the top prospects in the Class of 2010.
2. Bryan Waldrop, RHP, Marion HS: At 6-4, 230 pounds, Waldrop is a man amongst boys on the mound. He possesses an extraordinarily strong lower half and arm strength. Waldrop topped out at 88 mph and worked at 86-87. He also commanded a solid 77-80 mph changeup and showed a developing 73-74 mph curveball. One of the top pitching prospects in the state.
3. Noah King, C, Harrisburg HS: Has a strong, sturdy frame behind the plate and receives exceptionally well. All his throws were on the bag and had a consistent pop time of 2.09. Has a good approach at the plate, and showed a quiet, compact swing with strong hands and gap-to-gap power. One of the better catchers in the Class of 2010.
4. Nolan Kurfman, RHP/OF, Quincy HS: The 5-11, 160-pound right-hander showed solid arm strength from the mound and in the outfield. On the mound, his fastball sat at 82-83 mph and also threw a slider with some bite. In the outfield he moved well and had solid carry on his throws (80 mph).
5. Caine Cloe, 3B/RHP, Shelbyville HS: Possesses extremely strong legs and knows how to play the game. Demonstrated excellent hands and actions at third base with solid arm strength. At the plate he showed the ability to drive the ball with pull power potential. On the mound he had command of the strike zone with his 78-80 fastball, slider and changeup.
6. Casey Nadolski, RHP, Murphysboro HS: A wiry 6-3, 175-pound right-hander, Nadolski throws a fastball from two different arm angles – three-quarters and sidearm. His sidearm fastball has solid run at 77 mph.
7. Kolton King, INF/OF, Marion HS: Well put together with a strong lower half, King showed power potential at the plate and ability to drive fastballs middle-in. In the outfield he had solid carry on his throws.
Top 2011 Prospects
1. Dylan Craig, LHP/1B, Murphysboro HS: Established himself as one of the premier left-handed pitching prospects in the junior class. At 6-2, 185 pounds, Craig possesses an impressive athletic build and natural athleticism. While his fastball topped out at 81 mph at the event, he has a lot more in the tank as he demonstrated all spring long. Also showed a sweeping 66-68 mph curveball and a changeup. Craig was also impressive at the plate, showing quick hands and power from the right side of the plate. Plays a strong first base as well. A prospect to pay close attention to in the coming years.
2. J.C. Davis, SS, DuQuoin HS: A left-handed hitting shortstop, Davis showed impressive quickness, range and hands in the field. Moves extremely well laterally, has a quick transfer, and proved to have all-around excellent defensive actions. At the plate he showcased quick hands and a solid plate approach. Once he becomes more physically developed and puts weight on his wispy 5-11, 135-pound frame, he should develop into one of the premier infielders in the class. Ran a 7.16 60 yard dash.
3. Travis Barnett, SS/RHP, Marion HS: The 5-8, 150-pound Barnett does everything on the field well. He possesses impressive arm strength from shortstop (81 mph), extremely quick feet and all-around athleticism. On the mound, he showed a quick arm and topped out at 81 mph. Ran an event-best 7.15 60. At the plate, he showcased solid bat speed and a line drive-producing swing.
4. Brok Webb, 3B/RHP, Marion HS: Physically strong, Webb can flat out swing it from the right side. Has a quiet, mechanically sound and explosive swing, and showed an ability to hit with power, demonstrating good backspin carry on his balls. Also showed well at third base, showcasing good hands and arm strength across the diamond. On the mound he topped out at 76 mph with the ability to throw harder in the coming years.
5. Trent Bigham, RHP/OF, DuQuoin HS: This long and whippy right-hander topped out at 80 mph, but the 6-foot, 175-pounder appears to have a lot more in the tank. Has a very quick arm. Bigham also proved to be the top outfielder at the event, as he moved athletically the outfield with light feet and had good carry on his throws (81 mph).
6. William Fisher, 3B, Lincoln HS: An impressive physical specimen, Fisher stands 6-2 and weighs 190 pounds. He’s a raw quick-twitch athlete with serious bat speed at the plate. A left-handed hitting third baseman, he showed his pull power potential by hitting the only home run in BP. Has solid footwork and arm strength at third base. Once he refines his game, Fisher has a chance to be a top-level prospect.
7. Isaac Behme, LHP/OF, Harrisburg HS: Keep an eye on this left-hander in the coming years. Smooth and easy, Behme’s arm works fluidly and showed command of three pitches. His curveball was sharp and had good depth – no doubt it will give hitters fits at the high school level. His changeup had good fade and topped out at 77 with his fastball. Also showed an impressive left-handed stroke at the plate and plays a solid outfield.
8. Denton Reed, C/RHP, Galatia HS: Reed was equally impressive behind the dish as he was on the mound. Catching, he registered consistent 2.1 pop times with excellent footwork. On the mound he has a whippy arm action with a 78-81 mph fastball. A switch hitter at the plate.
Top 2012 and 2013 Prospects
1. Ryne Roper, SS, Harrisburg HS: The only Class of 2013 prospect at the event – and judging by the way he swings the bat, Roper has to be one of the top incoming freshman in the state. With a clean, compact stroke from the right side and an approach well beyond his years, Ryan was the second-best hitter at the event, behind his older brother, Reid. In time, he showed the potential to also be up to par with his brother in the field. A top-level prospect.
2. Michael Trey Garrett, C, Benton HS: An athletically built 6-foot, 180 pounds, Garrett is a physically mature sophomore. And he has the skill to back it up. Has the potential to be a top-level catching prospect, Garrett showed advanced footwork and transfer, and consistent 2.13-2.19 pop times. At the plate, he has strong hands and a quick bat with the potential to be a power-hitting catcher. One to watch in the coming years.
3. Paul Knapp, RHP/SS, Flora HS: Another impressive prospect to play close attention to in the future. This 6-foot, 160-pound right-hander’s arm works free and easy – and you don’t need too imaginative to see that his 78-80 mph fastball will continue to climb as he gets more physically developed. Has a long, athletic frame and moves well at shortstop, too.
For complete showcase statistics and rankings, Click Here.
Videos of the event will be posted in our Video Center over the course of the month.