On Feb. 19, the PBR Illinois staff traveled to the Pullman Community Center in Chicago to host the Chicago Preseason ID. This event provided us an ample opportunity to check-in on some of the area’s top high school prospects and identify several new names to know as we prepare for the IHSA season, as well as future invite-only events on the PBR Illinois calendar, like Saturday’s Preseason All-State events.

In the week that followed this event, we produced post-event analysis that includes performance highlights inside of our Quick Hits story, a look at the traditional stats measured within our Statistical Analysis piece, batted-ball and pitch data compiled in TrackMan Files, swing metrics captured on the Blast Motion Board, and sight scores from an athletic perspective tracked on the Vizual Edge Scoreboard.

You can learn more about the state-of-the-art technologies featured at our showcases within the hyperlinks above. We began our position-by-position scouting reports process last week with the catching group and followed it up with the outfielders. The position player analysis was concluded shortly afterwards with the event’s infielders and we wrapped things up yesterday with the event’s pitcher analysis. 

Today we’ll put the finishing touches on the Chicago Preseason ID by ranking the top overall prospects from the day’s showing, which you can find below. 

TOP OVERALL PROSPECTS

1. William Hill OF / Brooks, IL / 2023 Positional Profile: OF Body: 6-1, 170-pounds. Highly-athletic, high-waisted, long-levered frame. Hit: RHH. Wide, athletic base. Back knee bowed inwards slightly. Simple, long stride with a fluid load. Advanced hand speed. Quick and short to the baseball. Highly-repeatable. Present twitch. Balanced. Gap-to-gap approach. Power: 97.2 max exit velocity, averaged 84.1 mph. 332’ max distance. Arm: RH. OF - 88 mph. Loose, high 3/4 slot. Accurate throws with carry and life out of the hand. Defense: Soft hands with athletic outfield actions. Plays through the baseball. Run: 6.57 runner in the 60.

2. Lance Moon OF / Brother Rice, IL / 2025 Positional Profile: OF Body: 5-9, 160-pounds. Well-proportioned frame. Hit: RHH. Athletic, balanced setup. Knee-knocks with a slight coil into a long stride. Fluid load/rhythm. Athletic swing. Controlled aggression. Loose, quick hands. Uphill path. Gap-to-gap approach. Power: 85.3 max exit velocity, averaged 76.9 mph. 292’ max distance. Arm: RH. OF - 90 mph. Short, quick arm action. Works from a high 3/4 arm slot. Defense: Athletic actions with fluid footwork, soft hands through the ball with an athletic crow hop. Run: 7.22 runner in the 60.

3. Jayden Cummings SS / Simeon, IL / 2022 Positional Profile: SS Body: 5-10, 175-pounds. Sloped shoulders. Athletic build. Hit: RHH. Wide, athletic base. Fluid load into a long stride. Quick, strong hands. Short path. Works uphill at times. Gap-to-gap, line-drive approach. Power: 90.7 max exit velocity, averaged 79.5 mph. 317’ max distance. Arm: RH. INF - 83 mph. Clean, 3/4 slot. Plays on the move. Defense: Soft hands with a clean transfer. Athletic, fluid feet with easy range to both sides. Showed body control on the move. Run: 6.82 runner in the 60.