2024 Velo Heat Sheet
May 10, 2024
This spring our staff has seen nearly 200 arms throughout the entire state of Illinois. Of that total, 110 of those arms have been 86 mph plus, and 31 have been 90 mph or higher.
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Below are some of the top fastball velocities we've seen this spring, with reports and video on those players.
ILLINOIS' HEAT SHEET
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98 MPH - Ryan Sloan RHP / York, IL / 2024From 4/15/24: “Wake Forest commit. Currently ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 7 in the country. Strong, durable build with a developed lower-half, listed at 6-foot-4, 225-pounds. The right-hander is a fluid and controlled mover on the mound, working into a high balance point with some pace before driving down the mound, keeping his back hip over the rubber while working in-line, athletic finish, repeats well for size. Loose, uninterrupted arm action that plays long out of the glove in the back, delivers his arsenal from a high ¾ window, quickness out front. He worked his fastball up to 98 mph three times in the first inning, cruising in the 95-97 mph range with life to his arm-side, working it to both sides of the plate. Go-to secondary was his slider, playing in the 82-85 mph range with late 10/4 bite and depth, similar release window to the fastball, ability to land for strikes and was also placing it below the zone to his glove-side for swing and miss. Changeup is a quality third offering at 88-89 mph, showing the ability to land it for strikes and selling the pitch with arm-speed, played with some late dive to get under barrels. Flashed what appeared to be a cutter at 93-94 mph, short lateral action, miss was glove side with it. High-level prep arm that should continue to garner first day draft attention as the spring plays out.” |
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97 MPH - Ethan Bagwell RHP / 1B / Collinsville , IL / 2024From 4/16/24: “Mizzou signee, ranked No. 10 overall in the state’s senior class and No. 152 nationally. Highly physical and professional 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame that’s packed with muscle throughout. Punched out six and allowed an earned run on three hits for the Kahoks in five innings of work. Works only out of the stretch, lead leg lifts inward into a hip coil to start his movement downhill. Gets onto his backside and rides it down the mound, glove arm tucks and finishes onto his front heel through release. Quick arm that’s continuous on the backside, finishes out of a ¾ slot. Fastball pitched in the low-90s, touching 93 mph early, and touched 92 mph in the fifth near the end of his outing. Cut it at times, best when he stays behind and backspins it up in the zone. Slider showed out-pitch potential in this look; flashed sweep and bite at times at 77-80 mph that grabbed several uncomfortable swings-and-misses against a good lineup. A strong-armed, physical senior that’s garnered MLB Draft attention throughout the spring.” |
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93 MPH - Henry Brummel RHP / Pontiac, IL / 2024From 4/22/24: “Indiana commit. Currently ranked No. 15 in Illinois’ 2024 class and No. 414 nationally. Listed at 6-foot-4, 200-pounds with strength and athleticism throughout. Started on the mound for the Indians and threw 6.2 innings with 16 strikeouts, three walks, one unearned run and three hits allowed. Showed a high motor with competitiveness on the mound and worked with a quality pace throughout the game. Simple delivery into balance point, medium leg lift with tuck and coil, tall and fall delivery down the mound, works in-line, toe consistently lands in-line with the plate. Clean and loose arm path with clear acceleration out front, ¾ slot. Fastball sat 90-92 mph early on, touching 93 mph multiple times, but settled in at 89-92 mph throughout the game with clear life through the zone. Mixed in two separate breaking balls; a curveball that sat 77-78 mph with 11/5 break, showing sharp, vertical actions that dropped in the zone, and a slider that sat 79-82 mph with hard, sweeping shape, created multiple check-swings and some swing-and-miss. Rounded out his four-pitch mix with a changeup that sat 82-84 mph with slight fade to the arm-side. An impressive performance from the senior against a talented Monticello lineup.” |
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93 MPH - Joseph Chiarodo OF / RHP / Edwardsville, IL / 2025From 4/16/24: “Alabama commit and one of the top arms in Illinois’ junior class; ranked No. 8 overall in the state. 5-foot-11, 180-pound athlete with strength throughout his frame, particularly in the lower half. Took the mound for the Tigers in a conference win over Collinsville; tossed five strong innings, striking out six with a walk and three earned runs. Power mover, sits into his back hip and works downhill in a drop/drive pattern with noticeable athleticism, repeats. Strong front side, stays closed up front and finishes onto a firm lead leg through release. Bulldog-like demeanor on the mound, highly competitive and in control. Short arm draw out the glove, travels to release on a short, compact arm circle that finishes out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball touched 93 in the first, sat 90-92 mph early, settled at 88-90 mph. Jumps out the hand with life on the corners, strikes often and pitches off it. Slider was the best it has ever been over our numerous looks. Stays on fastball tunnel with sharp, late swing-and-miss break at 80-84 mph. Able to land it for strikes too, though mostly used for whiffs in this look. Depth and more vertical action to a 74-76 mph curveball, tight spin and strike feel. Starting to show more comfort and feel for a changeup at 81-83 mph, favored it to left-handed hitters. High level athlete that has four-pitch feel and polish who consistently performs each time we see him.” |
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93 MPH - Conor Essenburg 1B / LHP / Lincoln-Way West, IL / 2025From 4/17/24: “Kansas State commit. Ranked No. 11 in the state and No. 188 in the country. Arrow has been going way up all spring long and warrants a rise in the next update. True two-way prospect has been lights out on the mound and has impressed with the bat all spring long; left-handed thrower, right-handed hitter. Did not pitch in this look. Started in right field and hit in the two-hole. 6-foot-1, 198-pound, broad-shouldered, strong, well-proportioned frame. Advanced offensive profile. Feel to hit with power to all fields. Loose, aggressive swing while staying within. Uses the whole field, gets off his “A” swing consistently and in all counts. Path is long through the zone with extension post-contact. “Yes, yes, no” mentality with presence and athleticism in the box. Competitive overall nature to his game, which should continue to elevate his current profile, most notably, if it can be channeled towards himself and own team. Finished 1-for-2 with a two-run home run on an elevated breaking ball. Defensively, athletic enough to play all over the outfield and first base. Is one of the best defensive first baseman in the state. Looked natural in right-field in this look. Confident overall actions and judged fly balls with ease despite a strong wind blowing out to center field. Arm plays strong and accurately. We also saw him earlier in the week on the mound, where he once again was dominant, taking a no-hitter into the seventh inning before allowing a two-out single, finishing the day with 6.2 innings, the lone hit allowed, three walks and 13 strikeouts. He attacked the zone with a fastball up to 93 mph early, sitting mostly 90-91 in the early going and settling in at 87-89 into the seventh inning. He went to a sharp curveball in the mid-70s and a lateral slider at 77-78 mph for swing and miss, pairing effectively off the fastball. His final offering was a fading changeup around 79-81 mph. One of the top prospects in the state continues to “perform” on the field. Making a strong case for All-State honors down the road.” |
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93 MPH - Aidan Hayse RHP / SS / Joliet Catholic, IL / 2024From 3/15/24: “Tennessee commit. 6-foot-3, 193-pound, athletically-built, right-handed pitcher, currently ranked No. 11 in the Illinois’ 2024 class. Got the start on the mound and showed high-level stuff with uneven results. Athletic mover down the mound, arm works quick out of a ¾ slot. Inconsistent timing and misses. When in the zone, stuff is some of the best in the class. Fastball played mostly at 91-92 mph, climbed to 93 once; primarily straight action with some jump through the zone. Slider played anywhere from 77-82 mph (2500+ rpm) with late, sharp action and advanced bite when he was able to get it out front and to the arm-side. Changeup sat 82-84 mph with fastball arm speed and late running action. Went two innings, scattered three hits, three runs, walked three and struck out two.” |
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93 MPH - Austin Musso RHP / 3B / Mascoutah, IL / 2025From 4/15/24: “Kansas commit and one of the top arms in the state’s junior class. Strong, athletic 6-foot-2, 195-pound well-proportioned frame that has present physicality and room to add more. Started on the mound for the Indians in a conference win over Highland, punching out eight over 5 ⅔ innings of work with four hits allowed and three walks. Pace and tempo on the mound, controlled throughout. Gets onto his backside and rides it downhill, stays connected to the rubber, finishes through a firm lead leg. Strong glove side that stays closed consistently. Still head, throws with intent. Arm plays with some length on the backside, finishes from an athletic high ¾ slot. Fastball held 87-89 mph in a 109 pitch outing, carry up in the zone. Did not work in the zone as often as he normally would, but did lock in when he needed to. Spun two differing breaking balls; a tighter, more laterally spun slider at 76-78 mph and a high-arching curveball at 70-71 mph with big depth. Showed more comfort and feel for a fading changeup at 79-81 mph to left-handed hitters, spotted it to the arm-side corner of the plate and threw it with conviction. Starter profile with four pitches that consistently performs each time he takes the mound.” |
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92 MPH - Tucker King RHP / OF / Lyons Township, IL / 2025From 4/15/24: “Cincinnati commit. Currently ranked No. 13 in the state, No. 460 nationally. Started on the mound and opposed Sloan in this West Suburban Silver matchup. Lean, projectable 6-foot-4, 207-pound frame with long limbs. Has some deception in his delivery, up-tempo pace that works quickly down the mound, drive leg swings across in his finish. Quick arm throughout it’s path, ¾ release window. Fastball worked up to 92 mph early with late arm-side run, settled in around 88-90 early and was more upper-80s as his day went on. Went to his slider often, playing with lateral sweep at 76-79 mph, showed some depth on it at times. Flashed a changeup at 81-83 mph with similar fastball traits, thrown with arm-speed. High-follow arm in the state.” |
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92 MPH - Luke Teschke RHP / SS / Monticello, IL / 2024From 5/6/24: “Illinois State signee. Ranked No. 14 in the state and No. 390 nationally. Stands in an athletic 6-foot-1, 187-pound frame with lean strength throughout. Started on the mound for Monticello and threw six innings, struck out seven, walked two, allowed one run and four hits. Teschke showed confidence and competed throughout. It’s a simple, repeatable delivery with a high leg lift, maintaining strength in balance before going into a drop and drive delivery down the mound, foot lands towards the third base foul line at landing. Has a long, loose arm path out of a high ¾ slot with clear acceleration out front. Fastball sat 88-91 mph, topping out at 92 mph with mostly straight actions. Curveball sat 74-75 mph with 11/5 shape with late break, dropping in at the bottom of the zone, and he also mixed in a hard, low-80s slider with sharp, horizontal bite. One of the top arms in the state’s senior class.” |
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