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.

Shortly after the event’s conclusion, our staff published several post-event content pieces where we detailed some of the day’s top performers, stat leaders, and more. You can find all of those by clicking HERE. 

We started to roll out the scouting reports from this event yesterday with the position players and we’ll finish it off today with the pitcher analysis. Here are a few names that stood out amongst their peers: 

+ 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 showed an above-average three pitch mix with a fastball that worked 79-81 mph and pounded the zone. His changeup was his best secondary offering this day, featuring arm-side fade with feel for the bottom of the zone at 70-71 mph, while also throwing a low-70s breaking ball that spun off an 11/5 plane. Wheeler has a chance to be a high-end 2025 in the state when all is said and done.

+ 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 he has on the bump, 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. 

+ 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. His fastball sat comfortably at 77-80 mph while flashing run and sink towards the bottom of the zone. Complimenting his fastball, Rosenkranz used an 11/5 breaking ball that flashed sharp action throughout his ‘pen. 

+ 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.

+ 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. 

+ CIF/RHP Aidan Nohava (Brother Rice, 2025) 6-foot, 166-pounds has a strong frame and uses it to his advantage. On the mound, Nohava 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, while his curveball played with 11/5 shape and late breaking action. 

Read below for all the individual player analysis from this event.  

PITCHERS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Liam Arsich, Lincoln-Way Central (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 6-0, 135-pounds. Long, loose-bodied frame.
Delivery: Starts with feet staggered (front foot close to third base), moves down the mound efficiently with a drop and drive lower-half.
Arm Action: RH. Loose/efficient arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T80, 77-80 mph. Flashed arm-side life. T1830, 1689 average rpm.
CB: 64-68 mph. Gradual 11/5 shape, occasionally on the side of it causing 10/4 action. T1523, 1374 average rpm.
CH: 68-69 mph.  Thrown with fastball intent, mainly straight.

Jack Bauer, Lincoln-Way East (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 152-pounds. Projectable frame.
Delivery: Starts with feet staggered (lead foot closer to first base), athletic delivery with a drop-and-drive lower-half, strides in-line, gains ground down the mound.
Arm Action: LH. Loose 3/4 slot, athletic arm.
FB: T79, 76-78 mph. Generally straight.  T2177, 2096 average rpm.
CB: 62-65 mph. Gradual 1/7 shape, short action at times. T2281, 2169 average rpm.

DaMaurion Butler, N/A (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-4, 146-pounds.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, creates a downward angle with shoulders while striding out, strides in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Short, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T79, 75-78 mph. Generally straight with the ability to fill up the zone. T1893, 1576 average rpm.
CH: 66-67 mph. Thrown with fastball intent.

Ryan Dabe, Huntley (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-1, 160-pounds. Lean build.
Delivery: Athletic tall-and-fall delivery starting from a high leg-kick, creates a tough angle on hitters.
Arm Action: RH. Long/loose over-the-top slot.
FB: T75, 72-74 mph. Generally straight, showed the ability to fill up the zone. T1842, 1642 average rpm.
CB: 58-63 mph. Short 10/4 shape with feel for the zone. T1660, 1597 average rpm.
CH: 60-61 mph. Thrown with fastball intent.

Aidan Nohava, Brother Rice (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-0, 166-pounds. Athletic frame.
Delivery: Athletic/repeatable delivery, drop-and-drive lower-half with a long stride.
Arm Action: RH. Long/loose high 3/4 slot.
FB: T77, 74-76 mph. Generally straight with occasional cut. T1848, 1663 average rpm.
CB: 65-68 mph. Gradual 11/5 shape with downer break. T1556, 1430 average rpm.
SL: 66-67 mph. T1394, 1394 average rpm.

AJ Putty, Huntley (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-3, 200-pounds. Extra large/strong frame.
Delivery: Athletic delivery, high leg-kick into a drop-and-drive lower-half, moves efficiently down the mound with aggression at release.
Arm Action: RH. Short, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 76-82 mph. Generally straight with occasional horizontal break, ability to fill up the zone. T2029, 1780 average rpm.
CB: 62-66 mph. Gradual 11/5 shape with downer break. T1681, 1592 average rpm.

Brady Rosenkranz, Stevenson (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-3, 185-pounds. Tall, slender build, highly projectable frame.
Delivery: Athletic delivery with a slight drop-and-drive lower-half, moves efficiently down the mound with a long stride, creates a tough angle on hitters.
Arm Action: RH. Loose, high 3/4 slot, athletic/quick arm.
FB: T80, 76-79 mph. Occasional arm-side run with a tough angle on hitters. T1957, 1812 average rpm.
CB: 67-68 mph. Short 10/4 shape. T1824, 1668 average rpm.
CH: 68-69 mph. Thrown with fastball intent.

Caden Sladek, Huntley (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-2, 215-pounds.
Delivery: Starts with feet staggered (right foot closer to third base), drop-and-drive lower-half that glides into his stride.
Arm Action: RH. Long, over-the-top slot.
FB: T76, 74-76 mph. Generally straight. T2002, 1779 average rpm.
CB: 63-65 mph. Gradual 12/6 shape with depth. T1854, 1706 average rpm.

Karson Stiefer, Prairie Ridge (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 5-10, 147-pounds.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, stays tall at release creating a downward angle on the hitter.
Arm Action: LH. Long, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T74, 73-74 mph. Occasional arm-side movement. T1632, 1473 average rpm.
CB: 57-59 mph. Gradual 1/7 shape. T1412, 1309 average rpm.
CH: 60-61 mph. Flashed arm-side fade.

Evan Stinson, N/A (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 5-9, 158-pounds. Lean, athletic build.
Delivery: Athletic delivery with a drop-and-drive lower-half, moves well down the mound with a long stride.
Arm Action: RH. Loose/clean arm action, over-the-top slot.
FB: T75, 72-74 mph. Generally straight with the ability to fill up the zone. T1717, 1572 average rpm.
CB: 66-68 mph. Gradual 11/5 shape. T1812, 1699 average rpm.
CH: 69-72 mph. Thrown with fastball intent, mainly straight but kept towards the bottom of the zone.

Jack Wheeler, Morris (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-3, 165-pounds. Long, lean, projectable frame.
Delivery: Athletic, up-tempo delivery, drop-and-drive lower-half with aggression throughout his delivery.
Arm Action: RH. Quick arm with a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T81, 79-80 mph. Arm-side movement with the ability to locate in the zone. T1708, 1648 average rpm.
CH: 70-72 mph. Thrown with fastball arm-speed, fading action towards arm-side.
CUT: 73-77 mph. Gradual cutting action. 

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