Preseason I.D. - Illiana: Top Overall Prospects
February 18, 2017
By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director
The Preseason I.D. - Illiana took place on January 28th at the Southland Center in Chicago Heights, Illinois. The event was open to all high school classes and featured players from Illinois and Indiana. We started the analysis of the event a couple of weeks ago with the Quick Hits and Stat Story.
Today we conclude the analysis of the event by taking a look at the top overall prospects from Illinois and Indiana.
Top Illinois Prospects
1. Tyler Schlaffer, RHP, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2019
5-foot-11, 145-pound, loose, live-bodied right-handed pitcher. Put himself on the map as a high-follow 2019 arm. Schlaffer has above-average arm strength for his age and the makings of a legitimate three-pitch mix. Smooth, repeatable delivery, stays on-line, lands square, finishes athletically with easy effort throughout. Arm works long, loose, uninterrupted and quick, out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball, thrown for strikes, late life, arm-side action at times and sat 84-85 mph, touching 86. Curveball currently works 11/5, feel, tight spin and sits 68-71 mph. Given his arm slot, quick arm, and feel for spin he may be well-suited for a hard slider down the road. Changeup looks to currently be his best secondary offering. Maintains arm speed, good feel, late sink and sat 70-72 mph. Highly projectable 2019 right-handed pitcher.
Top Indiana Prospects
1. Ryan Fender, RHP, Crown Point HS (IN), 2019
6-foot-3, 182 pound, lean, athletic, projectable build. Easy effort with smooth rhythm in the delivery. Good direction, athletic finish. Clean, easy arm action from a high ¾ slot, quick arm speed. Good downward plane. Fastball shows slight run at 83-85. Breaking ball shows an 11/5 shape with gradual movement and kept in the strike zone at 67-68. Changeup is thrown with fastball arm speed and for a strike at 72-73; straight. High follow 2019 RHP.