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2025 Future Prospect Games: Quick Hits

July 13, 2021
By Kevin Coe and Peter Hamot
Illinois Scouting Staff

On Wednesday, July 7, the PBR Illinois staff travelled to Ozinga Field in Crestwood, IL, to host the 2025 Top Prospect Games. This 2025 invite-only event featured around 30 of the top 2025 prospects in Illinois, that we have seen to-date. The event helped sort out some of top prospects in the state at an early age, as well as serving as a last chance identifier for the Junior Future Games at LakePoint in Cartersville, GA, July 29 - Aug 1.

Today we begin our analysis from the event with a look at some of the early standouts. A number of others, not mentioned below, will be ones to follow as they enter their first year of high school this fall. Read on below for a look at some of the quick hits from the day.

QUICK HITS

+ OF Ezra Essex (Marian Catholic, 2025), a 5-foot-7, 140 pound right-handed hitting outfielder, should be a high-follow in the 2025 class after he displayed premium athleticism and skill. Ezra started the day off by running the best 60-time on the day, a 6.69. Offensively he put together one of the best rounds on the day as well, consistently barrelling line-drives in the middle of the field. He has a simple, repeatable swing that allows him to stay balanced and strong throughout his swing. Defensively he shows advanced footwork in the outfield. His routes are precise and confident. He has a loose, accurate arm that will get stronger with age. He delivers from a high ¾ slot and his throws have carry. 

+ Another OF, Omar Coleman (Plainfield North), displayed high-level athleticism at the event as well. Coleman, a 5-foot-6, 130-pound right-handed hitter, ran the second-best 60-time of the event coming in at 6.92. Coleman has quick-twitch to his overall game and has a loose, right handed swing. He showed some barrel awareness during BP and was direct to contact. He also flashed bat speed and sneaky juice to the pull side. Coleman’s BP translated to the game where he tripled to right-center field. Athletic 2025 outfielder to follow.

+ OF/RHP Liam Arsich (Lincoln-Way Central, 2025) is a highly-projectable 6-foot, 135-pound two-way prospect. It is easy to dream on the upside on the mound thanks to his loose levers and quick arm. Arsich displayed presence on the mound and his fastball sat 77-80 mph with sink in the bottom of the zone. Arsich’s breaking ball showed a sharp 11/5 shape, occasionally 10/4 when got on the side of it. Flashed a changeup with potential to be a go-to pitch in the future; showing arm-side fade and sink in the 68-69 mph range with fastball arm-speed. Offensively, the right-handed hitter has a loose swing, controls his levers with a line-drive gap-to-gap approach. Defensively, his arm played loose and quick with carry to his throws. Upside 2025 prospect.

+ INF/RHP DaMaurion Butler (N/A, 2025) 5-foot-4, 146-pounds is another high-end athlete. Butler, who ran a 7.25 laser-timed 60 has a stocky build with a strong lower half. Defensively he has smooth, quick, athletic actions fit for the middle infield. He has quick, active feet and showed off his range on several occasions. He also has a quick, strong arm that plays well across the diamond. Offensively he has a compact uphill swing. He has the ability to get the barrel to the ball that resulted in hard hit line drives in the middle of the field.

+ Switch-hitting outfielder, Henry Murray (Lane Tech, 2025), is listed at a strong, athletic, 5-foot-9, 160-pounds. Offensively Murray took an advanced round of batting practice from both sides of the plate. Murray has a compact repeatable swing on both sides. His advanced approach includes a strong top hand which allows him to control his barrel. He peppered line drives in the center of the field and showed advanced bat speed to the pull side. Murray ran a 7.10 in the 60 yard dash which translated to confident actions in the outfield. He took direct routes and showed quick, athletic footwork. He has an above average arm that is loose and quick. He has a long arm stroke and delivers from an over the top slot. His throws have life and carry at 77 mph.  

+ One of the highest-ceilings at the event belongs to INF/RHP Jack Wheeler (Morris, 2025). Wheeler has a 6-foot-3, 165-pound, long lanky build with quick twitch qualities. Wheeler excelled in all facets of the day, Offensively he has a short, compact swing with good extension and generates backspin line drives that carry to deep areas of the park. Wheeler flashes advanced bat speed in his swing and it allowed him to barrel and drive baseballs consistently. Defensively he is athletic, especially for his size. Wheeler has clean, quick feet and sure-hands on the infield. His arm plays loose, quick and strong which translates to the mound. Wheeler showed an above-average three pitch mix with a fastball that worked 79-81 mph and pounded the zone. Chanegup was his best secondary offering this day; featuring arm-side fade with feel for the bottom of the zone at 70-71 mph. Breaking ball was in the 71-72 mph range with 11/5 shape. Wheeler has a chance to be a high-end 2025 in the state when all is said and done.

+ Another high-ceiling prospect was 1B/RHP Brady Rosenkranz (Stevenson, 2025). The long, projectable, 6-foot-3, 185-pound two-way prospect showed well in both areas but it is hard to deny his upside on the mound. Rosenkranz has a short clean arm action that plays from a high ¾ slot. He works with a tall and fall style delivery, creating a tough angle on hitters. Fastball sat comfortably at 77-80 mph while flashing run and sink towards the bottom of the zone. Breaking ball flashed a sharp 11/5 shape, occasionally gets on the side of it. Offensively, he has present bat strength and creates leverage to the pull-side with natural lift in his swing. 

+ Another physically impressive two-way prospect was 3B/RHP AJ Putty (Huntley, 2025). Putty has a mature, strong, 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame. On the mound, he impressed in his stint, showing a clean, polished delivery and uninterrupted arm action that plays over-the-top. Putty pounded the zone with all of his offerings, including a fastball that sat 76-82 mph with minimal effort and occasional jump through the zone. At the plate, he shows polish and power potential from the right-side of the plate. Putty repeats his swing, has a feel for the barrel and makes consistent hard contact, especially in game to the pull-side of the diamond. Advanced 2025 two-way prospect. 

+ CIF/RHP Aidan Nohava (Brother Rice, 2025) 6-foot, 166-pounds has a strong frame and uses it to his advantage. Offensively Aidan is very strong and advanced for his age. He has a knack for barrelling baseballs. Nohava has a short compact, repeatable swing with advanced bat speed and a level swing. He was able to backspin baseball to all areas of the field. Defensively he has a loose arm that delivers from a high ¾ slot his throws have carry. His actions are fluid and he plays through the ball well. He showed soft hands and feel around the first base bag. On the mound Aidan has a clean arm action that plays short and easy. The ball jumps out of his hand. His fastball sat in the upper 70’s with cutting action. Curveball played with 11/5 shape and late breaking action.  

+ LHP Jack Bauer, (Lincoln-Way East, 2025) is a high-ceiling left-handed pitcher with above-average current stuff. The 5-foot-11, 152-pound Bauer has a loose, clean upside arm action, creates deception in his delivery and showed one of the better breaking balls on the day; a sweeping 63-65 mph with shape and occasional bite. Bauer sat 75-79 mph with his fastball. If Bauer can continue to harness his offerings and repeat his delivery, he will be an arm to keep close tabs on in the Illinois’ 2025 class. 

CLICK HERE for a look at the entire roster and stats from the day.

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