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Central Illinois Scout Day: Takeaways

July 13, 2020
By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The Central Illinois Scout Day took place on Monday, July 6th at the EastSide Center in East Peoria, IL. The event featured three travel organizations; Central Illinois Outlaws, Illinois Braves and Game 7 with over 70 total players spanning all high-school grad classes. 

Each player went through a pro-style workout, consisting of the 60-yard dash, BP and a defensive workout before taking part in a simulated game. 

Today we take a look at some of the main takeaways from the day, whether that be an impressive workout, game, captured TrackMan and Blast data, or all of the above.

TAKEAWAYS

Central Illinois Outlaws 17U vs Game 7 17U


OUTLAWS 17U

SS/INF Jack Barham (Dunlap) is a strong-armed uncommitted 2021 with two-way potential. On the infield Barham has sure-hands ranges well to both sides and has a big arm (89 mph) that plays with life across the diamond. That same arm strength played well on the mound. Barham touched 86 mph, sitting 84-85 with a max spin rate of 2418 RPM on the fastball. He also showed off a low-70’s curveball that he was spinning at 2522 RPM. It remains to be seen where Barham will profile best at the next level but his strong right arm should be followed closely. 

Bradley commit, LHP Gus Lucas (Washington, 2022), the No. 11 prospect in Illinois, is a 6-foot-5 left-hander who ran his fastball up to 87 mph in his three-up, three-down inning of work.

Uncommitted left-handed hitter 1B/OF Bryce Bishop (Metamora, 2021) did not have much to show for it results wise in game but he flashed some of the bat speed on the day. Bishop who runs a sub-7.0 60, has a strong 6-foot, 190-pound frame and takes an aggressive, intentful swing at the plate looking to do damage. An uncommitted left-handed hitter with power potential.

Ian Donaldson (Dunlap) is an above-average defensive outfielder to keep an eye on moving forward. Donaldson had some of the best outfield actions on the day during the workout. The 5-foot-11, 145-pound, wiry outfielder attacks the baseball with quick, bouncy footwork, plays through the baseball in rhythm and showed a strong arm that topped at 87 mph from the outfield.

Left-handed hitting Travis Lutz (Limestone) has added quality strength to his 6-foot-2, 200-pound, wide-shouldered frame over the past half year. Lutz hammered a triple to center field in his final at-bat of the day and recorded the second-best exit velocity of the event, 96 mph off a tee.

GAME 7

The top uncommitted position player of the day was former Team Illinois Future Gamer C/3B Ben Hartl (Springfield). Hartl, listed at 5-foot-10, 190-pounds, has a durable frame, strong lower half and runs well for a catcher (6.98 60). He also is 85 mph across the diamond and has been as high as 83 mph from the crouch. He has advanced defensive actions behind the plate; quiet subtle receiver with soft, strong hands, presents pitches well and is an agile, soft blocker. He also has the athleticism to play a well-above average third base, showing soft hands and feel for the position. Offensively, he is a right-handed hitter that could profile into a number of different spots towards the top of an order. He has an advanced feel for the strike zone, recognizes spin, is in control of his at-bats, and stays within himself. He has a quiet, balanced swing with quick hands, above-average hand/eye and sneaky pull-side power that he showed off by launching a no-doubt home-run in his second at-bat of the day. Hartl, ranked No. 44 in the state, is one of the top catchers still on the market in Illinois.

Another highly-intriguing uncommitted 2021 is left-handed hitting Quinn Willard (Cornerstone Christian Academy), who led a number of different stat categories on the day. Willard ran a 6.94 60 (has been 6.59 in the past) was 90 mph from the outfield and registered the top exit velocity of the day at 97 mph. In his first at-bat he hammered a double into the left-center field gap that had backspin and well above-average carry. Willard has one of the biggest upsides in the class and seems to be just scratching the surface of his potential.

Two of the top arms for Game 7 look to be uncommitted RHP Joseph Crum (Springfield, 2021) & LHP Trevor Young (Normal University, 2021). Crum has a 6-foot-1, 168-pound, athletic build with room for added strength, a clean arm and controls the strike zone with a fastball that sat 84-85 mph, touching 86. Crum also showed the makings of a three-pitch mix with a mid 60’s breaking ball and changeup at 74-75 mph. Young worked an extremely efficient inning, inducing two groundouts and a flyout to right field. Young attacked the bottom quadrant of the strike zone with a fastball at 82-83 mph, touching 84.

Luke Flesner (Springfield) and Daniel Mosele (Normal University) are two uncommitted middle infielders to follow in the 2021 class. Flesner has a compact 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame, and impressive tools across the board. Flesner ran a 6.83 60 (has been 6.72 in the past), was 86 mph across the diamond and registered an 87 mph exit velocity off a tee. Flesner finished game-play 1-for-2. Mosele is a smooth middle infielder who is comfortable on the move, maintains body control, can throw from multiple slots and has a strong enough arm (85 mph) to play the left-side.

CF Matthew Davenport (Normal University) was all over the place during game-play tracking down, or, nearly tracking down multiple balls he had no business getting too. The left/left center field is a true center fielder with a quick first step, advanced closing speed and enough arm (84 mph) to potentially move around the outfield.

Central Illinois Outlaws 16U vs Illinois Braves 17U

OUTLAWS 16U

A trio of Outlaws two keep an eye on from game two of the day were INF Grant Aten (Galesburg, 2022), RHP/1B Nick Rainey (Illinois Valley Central, 2022) and OF Trent Koehler (Lincoln, 2022). Aten’s speed (7.23 60) plays up during games as he was 4.33 down the line on an infield single and stole a base with ease. The right-handed hitter also lined a ball right at the center fielder. 

Rainey runs well (7.06 60) for his 6-foot-4, 180-pound, long, athletic build and showed athletic feet and actions at first base. He also got on the mound and ran his fastball up to 84 mph.

Koehler plays with quick feet in the outfield, covers a lot of ground and features a strong arm (86 mph) that could allow him to profile at all three spots.

One of the top prospects on the 16U squad was actually a 2023, RHP Caleb Diver (Dunlap). Diver has a clean, athletic arm with present pitchability and arm strength. Diver attacked hitters with a fastball that played relatively easy at 82-83 mph, touching 84 and kept hitters off balance with a 66-68 mph breaking ball. 

A middle of the order type of bat who was comfortable and quiet in the box was CIF Noah Chase (Illinois Valley Central, 2022). Chase, a right-handed hitter, has a strong 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame and hit in the three-hole. Chase barreled a double in his first at-bat, showed zone awareness throughout, along with easy, quiet takes.

2022 Nathan Cooley, another Illinois Valley Central HS product, is an above-average defensive catcher for his age. Listed at a wiry, 5-foot-10, 165-pound, Cooley is quick, clean and directional out of the crouch and flashed a true arm that plays better than the listed 70 mph. He was consistently on the bag with his throws and registered a 2.12 in game pop time. 

One of the more intriguing prospects in the Outlaws organization is RHP/C Frank Kelch (Brimfield, 2022). Kelch has a 6-foot-3, 235-pound, physically-advanced, mature frame and well above-average arm strength for his age. From behind the plate Kelch topped at 81 mph and his throws played with life and carry. He then hopped on the mound and ran his fastball up to 88 mph, sitting mostly 85-87 mph with occasional cut and ride through the zone. Kelch also showed a curveball at 69-70 mph and splitter at 71-72 mph. Kelch has a chance to be a power arm on the mound moving forward.

ILLINOIS BRAVES 17U

RHP Logan Petersen (Leroy) is a high-upside uncommitted 2021 arm in Illinois. Petersen sports a 6-foot-4, 184-pound, long-bodied frame with plenty of room for continued physically development and seems to have much more in the tank. Petersen's command was spotty on this day but he gives the hitters an uncomfortable look thanks to his high-front side, slight cross-fire delivery and lively arm. Petersen sat mostly 85-86 mph, touching 87 and is at his best when he can get downhill and create angle to his fastball.

OF Dylan Roberts (Mount Zion, 2021) was one of the top position players to follow for the Braves. The 5-foot-1, 140-pound, wiry left/left outfielder, ran a 7.28 60 on a slower track and showed off his in-game speed by beating out a groundball to second base for an infield single. Roberts finished game-play going 2-for-3 with an RBI and defensively could profile at all three outfield spots.

Catcher Tanner Tompkins (Normal West, 2021) is a 6-foot, 200-pound, strong, durable backstop who handled the pitching staff and has natural catcher actions behind the plate. Tompkins is clean and efficient out of the crouch, showed a clean arm and threw a true ball that was consistently on the bag at second base. The right-handed hitter hit out of the three-hole and delivered an RBI single in his first at-bat.

OF Ty Kapp (Tri-Valley, 2021) showed off an above-average combination of size and athleticism. Listed at 6-foot-2, 190-pounds, Kapp is quick out of the box and was 4.57 on a turn during game play.

 Central Illinois Outlaws 15U vs Illinois Braves 16U


OUTLAWS 15U

The majority of the Outlaws 15U team was made up of 2023 prospects with a 2024 and 2025 sprinkled in. 

2025 Tyler Humphrey (Washington) is a catcher to keep tabs on down the road. Humphrey already possesses an athletic build at 5-foot-9, 146-pound with plenty of room for added physical development down the road. Humphrey looked calm and confident in the box and took competitive at-bats throughout. Behind the plate he has sound defensive actions that should allow him to stick behind the plate moving forward. 

The first arm out of the gate was RHP Jack Duncan (Macomb, 2023). Duncan has a physical 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame and features advanced arm strength for his age. The strong-bodied right-hander sat 83-84 mph, touching 85 in his one inning of work. Duncan’s max spin rate on his fastball registered at 2249 RPM. He went to an upper-60’s breaking ball as his out-pitch. Duncan should be an arm to watch in the 2023 class moving forward. 

INF Ryan Brucker (Princeton, 2023) is a left-handed hitter who led off for the Outlaws and has the actions and feet to stick on the infield moving forward but the athleticism to play in the outfield as well. Brucker topped at 80 mph across the diamond with a clean, accurate arm. Offensively, he finished the day 1-for-2 with a clean single. 

Another 2023 for the Outlaws who turned in a solid overall day OF Aidan Fulton (Illinois Valley Central). Fulton ran one of the top 60 times of the day, a 6.94, showing a balanced right-handed swing that could profile at the top of an order some day.  

BRAVES 16U

One of the top position players on the day, regardless of class, was 2022 INF/RHP Matthew Armstrong (Normal University). Armstrong is an advanced middle infield defender with a quick first step, body control, confident hands and has the arm strength and athleticism to make all of the plays from the left-side of the diamond. Armstrong ran a 7.09 60, was 86 mph across the infield and registered an 81 mph exit velocity during the workout. At the plate, the right-handed hitter led off, was consistently on time, uses the middle of the diamond and stays flat through the zone. 

One of the highest ceilings on the day belongs to LHP Will O’Gorman (Champaign Central). O’Gorman has a highly-projectable 6-foot-5, 195-pound frame with loose levers. O’Gorman works with a short, loose arm action, repeats his delivery exceptionally well given his extra-large frame and created a top RPM of 2285 on his late-riding fastball that side 80-81 mph, touching 82. O’Gorman controlled the strike zone well for his age and he has the potential to become a high-follow in the class as he continues to mature into his frame and sees his velocity climb.

3B Jake Munroe (Champaign Central, 2022) fills out the uniform thanks to his 6-foot-2, 205-pound, strong, muscular frame. Defensively, he moves much better than expected at third base given his physical frame and has the actions and arm to keep him at the hot corner in the future. Offensively, he creates above-average bat strength while staying short to the baseball and controlling the barrel.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS

MAX FASTBALL

TOP 60-YARD DASH

MAX EXIT VELOCITY

MAX INFIELD VELOCITY

MAX OUTFIELD VELOCITY

MAX CATCHER VELOCITY

TOP POP TIMES

CLICK HERE for a look at all of the stats and participants from the day.

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