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Class of 2017 Showcase: Top 10 Prospects

August 18, 2015

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The Class of 2017 Showcase took place on July 15th, at Plunkett Park in Elmhurst, Illinois. The event consisted of prospects in the 2017 class from all over the state of Illinois. Many of the top players were newcomers to a PBR event. Not only did they perform well, many found themselves thrust into the new 2017 Illinois Rankings. Listed below we compiled the top 10 prospects from the event in order.

TOP 10 Prospects

1. Connor Peplow, RHP/OF, Plainfield North, 2017
6-foot-1, 155-pound, lanky build, two-way player, right-handed hitter. On the mound showed a tall-and-fall delivery, short arm action, high ¾ arm slot, smooth rhythm, landing square. Fastball showed good life, arm-side-run, 86-88 mph. Curveball had 10/4 shape, sweeping action, 67-69 mph. Slider had sharp late break, 72-74 mph. Changeup showed some arm-side-fade, 76-80 mph. Defensively displayed average hands, quick, fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays through the ball. Short arm action, high ¾ arm action, with accuracy, 87 across the infield. Hits from a crouched stance, short stride, average balance. Average bat speed, level bat path, line-drive approach, 84 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.12 60-time.

2. Stephen Mogged, OF, Lakes Community, 2017
5-foot-11, 160-pound, right-handed hitter with loads of athleticism. Ran a 6.67 60-time. Defensively, threw 88 mph from the outfield. Feet worked quick and fluid. Flashed ability to play through the ball. Long arm action, high ¾ slot with some accuracy and carry. Offensively, exit velocity clocked at 87 mph off of a tee. Starts from a balanced set up, smooth load back, short stride and above-average balance. Flashed bat speed combined with a long and level swing path.

3. Mason Coon, LHP/OF, St. Joseph-Ogden, 2017
6-foot-2, 185-pound left handed two-way player, strong lean build. Left-handed pitcher, delivery is athletic and repeatable, low leg lift, uses slide step from stretch. Arm action is easy, long and loose, ¾ slot. Fastball played with arm side run, 82-83 mph, touched 84 mph, showed feel for the strike zone. Curveball has 1/7 break, slurve type action, 70-71 mph, better from windup. Changeup has slight fading action, 72-73 mph. Left-handed hitter, wide setup, good lower half, good balance. Hits off of a firm front side, separates well. Good bat speed, line drive type hitter, flat path through the zone. 88 mph exit velocity from the tee. Defensively in the outfield showed clean average actions, arm played at 82 mph and ran a 7.16 in the 60.

4. Blake Carlson, LHP/OF, Ottawa, 2017
6-foot, 170-pound, projectable on the mound, two-way player, switch hitter. On the mound displayed a tall-and-fall delivery, long arm action, high ¾ arm slot, some rhythm, landing square in line. Fastball sat 81-83 mph, touched 84 mph. Curveball had 1/7 shape, gradual break, 67-71 mph. Changeup showed some sink, good arm speed, 72-75 mph. Defensively had average hands, fluid footwork, ability to play through the baseball. Long arm action, high ¾ slot, some accuracy, 83 mph from the outfield. Hits from a slightly open stance, smooth load, short stride, good balance. Above-average bat speed, short, level bat path, line-drive-approach, 85 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.24 60-time.

5. Ryan Altenberger, 2B/SS, Morton, 2017
5-foot-10, 147-pound middle infielder. Impressed with his overall athleticism, smooth left-handed swing and an exit velocity that resulted in an event best 94 mph. Offensively, starts with balanced and crouched setup, smooth load, short stride, and good balance. Showed quick bat speed, good approach, level path, line drive gap-to-gap type, and fluid rhythm. Defensively, throws from right side with short loose arm action from high ¾, accurate, and has carry on ball. Displayed soft hands, quick clean exchange, and plays through the baseball well. Clocked at 82 mph across infield. Ran 7.20 60.

6. Jacob Ryan, C, Chatham Glenwood, 2017
5-foot-11, 195-pound, strong build, right-handed hitter. Hits from a balanced set up, smooth load, short stride, lower half works, good balance. Fast bat speed, short, level bat path, gets extension, pull-side approach, fluid rhythm, 91 mph exit velocity. Defensively showed above-average hands, clean exchange,  pop-times ranged from 2.18-2.26, 72 mph from the crouch. Ran a 7.55 60-time.

7. Dominic Connolly, 2B/OF, Lemont, 2017
5-foot-7, 145-pound athletic second baseman/outfielder. Defensively, the right-hander has a short, loose arm action from over-the-top slot, accurate, and has carry on ball. Flashed soft hands, fluid footwork, clean exchange, plays thru and is athletic in the field. Threw 85 mph from outfield and 82 mph across infield. Offensively, hits from right side with athletic and balanced setup, smooth load, short stride, ok lower half, and good balance. Showed quick bat speed, good approach, short level path, line drive type, and fluid rhythm. Exit velocity, 78 mph. Ran 7.14 60.

8. David Chianelli, OF, Andrew, 2017
5-foot-7, 140-pound, small frame with some strength, right-handed hitting outfielder. Eye-opening speed, running an event best 6.61 60 yard dash to start off his day. Paired his running speed with one of the top exit velocities at the event, 91 mph. Offensively, hits from a balanced set up, smooth load back, short stride, lower half worked well and average balance. Flashed fast bat speed, short bat path into the hitting zone. Defensively, showed average hands, quick footwork. Short arm action, high ¾ slot, 79 mph from the outfield.

9. Matt Blaney, RHP/3B, Lincoln-Way North, 2017
5-foot-9, 150-pound, small frame, two-way player. On the mound showed a tall-and-fall delivery, short arm action, over-the-top, some rhythm, lands on line. Straight fastball sat 82-83 mph. Curveball had 11/5 shape, sharp action, thrown for strikes, 67-70 mph. Showed good feel for his changeup, arm-side-run, 73-75 mph. Defensively on the infield showed average hands, fluid footwork. Short arm action, low ¾ slot, 80 from the infield. From the outfield showed the ability to play through the ball, long arm action, 84 mph from the outfield. Hit from an open set up, loads back, average balance. Long, uphill bat path, 79 mph exit velocity. Ran a 7.91 60-time.

10. Shakur Jackson, SS/2B, Rock Island, 2017
5-foot-8, 168-pound strong and athletic middle infielder. Defensively throws from right side with short loose arm action, high ¾, some accuracy, and carry on ball. Showed soft hands, fluid footwork, quick clean exchange, and plays thru. Threw 82 mph across infield. Offensively hits from right side with athletic and open setup, smooth load back, short stride, and good balance. Showed quick bat speed, fair approach, and power/pull type. Exit velocity, 85 mph. Ran a 6.96 60 yard dash.  

10. Keegan Bridges, RHP/OF, Bloomington Central Catholic, 2017
6-foot-0, 160-pound, lanky build, two-way player, right-handed hitter. On the mound showed short arm action, high ¾ slot, smooth rhythm, landing square, athletic finish. Fastball showed arm-side-run, thrown for strikes, sat 81-82 mph. Curveball showed 12/6 shape, late action, 69-70 mph. Changeup showed slight arm-side-fade, 66-68 mph. Defensively in the outfield showed average hands, quick feet, short arm action, high ¾ slot, some accuracy, 81 mph from the outfield. On the infield had fluid footwork, short arm action, ¾ slot, 77 mph across the infield. Ran a 6.94 60-time.

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