2016 Top Prospect Games: Awards
August 8, 2013
By Sean Duncan
Executive Director
The Class of 2016 Top Prospect Games on July 23-24 featured many of the top rising sophomores from Illinois and Wisconsin at the University of Illinois-Chicago’s pristine Les Miller Field. Over the course of the two-day, invitation-only event, four evenly balanced teams competed against each other.
What amazed our scouting staff the most was not the raw tools that were on display, though there certainly were plenty there. No, what impressed us the most was how hard they competed, and the sheer number of baseball plays being made – double plays, hitting cut-off men, outfielders throwing runners out, base-runners taking extra bases, pitchers throwing strikes, etc.
The Top Prospect Games not only helped identify the top 2016 prospects in Illinois and Wisconsin, it put into clearer focus who can take their natural tools and apply them into game situations.
Team Green went 2-0-1 to win the Top Prospect Games. Although the team was remarkably balanced, it was led by SS Luke Shadid (Peoria Notre Dame HS, IL), RHP/OF Brad Littleton (Coal City HS, IL), 1B/LHP Bradley Harrison (O’Fallon HS, IL), MIF Jackson Dvorak (Providence Catholic HS, IL), and OF/RHP Austin Galindo (Normal University HS, IL), to name a few.
SS Tyler Fitzgerald (Rochester HS, IL) earned Top Prospect honors at the event. The athletic and long-limbed 6-foot-1, 165-pound Fitzgerald is a high-ceiling prospect who has all the requisite skills – arm strength, athleticism, instincts and aptitude – to play shortstop at a high level. He plays hard, yet makes everything look extremely easy. Offensively, he possesses tremendous bat speed and an overall advanced approach. He also ran a 6.89 60 last winter.
OF/3B Josh Shaw (Morgan Park HS, IL) earned Most Outstanding Player during the three-game span. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound versatile athlete wore out the baseball, collecting an event-high five hits, including a triple to right-center field. He also showed off his athleticism by making a diving catch in centerfield and threw strikes on the mound.
RHP Anthony Holubecki (Kaneland HS, IL) earned the Most Outstanding Pitcher honors. The lanky 6-foot-3, 180-pound right-hander topped out at 89 mph, sitting 86-87, during his outing. His arm is extremely quick and loose, leaving us to believe he will continue to add velocity as he physically develops.
C Ben Rortvedt (Verona Area HS, WI) earned the Stock Award at the event. Rortvedt was a prospect whom we weren’t overly familiar with, but by the end of the two-day event, proved himself to be a high-interest prospect. The physically strong 5-foot-10, 170-pound left-handed hitter has developed forearms, tremendous bat speed for his age, and easy carry to his throws. He was clocked at 79 mph from the crouch (flick of the wrist), 92-mph exit velocity off a tee, and consistent 2.00-2.08 pop times. In game play, he went 4-for-7 with a double.
Right behind Rortvedt as the biggest risers were LHP/OF Drew DeMumbrum (Plainfield East HS, IL) and RHP/OF Brad Littleton (Coal City HS, IL), among several others.
Over the course of the next week, we will give in-depth player analysis of all the performers at the 2016 Top Prospect Games.
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