MLB Draft: Illinois Day 2

On Day Two of the MLB Draft, there were still a few big names with Illinois prep ties on the board. Among them was Bren Spillane, the Wheeling grad and Illinois standout who had drummed up tons of national attention for the ridiculous season he put together in Champaign. He heard his name called on Tuesday, but he wasn’t the only one. The junior college standout, Trey Riley, was also waiting to hear his name called on Day Two as well. We’ll take a look at these two more thoroughly below, as well as the three other former Illinois prep stars who were drafted yesterday.

Bren Spillane, RF, Illinois (Wheeling HS, 2015)
3rd Round, 82nd Overall, Cincinnati Reds

It’s possible that, speaking purely on a statistical level, Bren Spillane had college baseball’s best season. The Wheeling product slugged .903 this season and led the team, if not the country, in most every other offensive stat. He mashed 23 homers and hit .389 and finished just shy of a .500 OBP even (.498). There appears to be some mechanical questions regarding his hit tool, but on results alone Spillane warranted a selection in the third round by the Cincinnati Reds.

Report from HS: 5/13/15 – Illinois recruit, currently ranked No. 7 in Illinois’ 2015 class, No. 69 overall. Strong, athletic 6-foot-4, 215-pound frame; has drawn considerable pro interest despite not being able to throw at 100 percent after having Tommy John surgery last year. Possesses high-level tools across the board: size, speed (6.7 runner), power and arm strength (when healthy, 90-plus from the outfield). Hits from a wider setup, low hand set, quiet overall mechanics. Creates leverage in swing and possesses bat speed and hand strength. In the game, went 0-for-2 with a sacrifice fly to centerfield. Also flew out to centerfield and struck out.

Bren Spillane (5/5/18)

Ryan Weiss, RHP, Wright State (South Elgin HS, 2015)
4th Round, 129th Overall, Arizona Diamondbacks

Ryan Weiss has operated as Wright State’s for two seasons now and he’s performed well enough to earn a fourth-round selection by the Arizona Diamondbacks. He’s struck out 92 batters in 98 innings this spring and has walked fewer than he did a season ago, too. He had a much better ERA in 2017 but he improved his K:BB rates this year. The South Elgin alum could prove to be a great selection if he’s able to combine the successes in his last two seasons with the Raiders.

Report from HS: 1/11/15 – Lanky frame, long limbs, long thin legs, 6-foot-4, 185-pound right-handed pitcher, highly projectable frame. Tall and fall delivery, athletic rhythm and balance, easy effort, closed landing, repeats well. Arm action is clean, long arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball has slight run, controlled the zone well, 85-86 mph, touched 87 mph. Showed improved velocity from the fall (80-84 mph). Curveball has 11/5 plane, sharp action, landed for strikes, good control, 69-71 mph. Changeup has good sink, advanced control and feel for the pitch, 75-76 mph. Weiss showed excellent three pitch feel, high ceiling projects well at the next level, can pound the zone with multiple pitches and change speeds.

Ryan Weiss (5/12/18)

Trey Riley, RHP, John A. Logan JC (Edwardsville HS, 2016)
5th Round, 142 Overall, Atlanta Braves

Trey Riley transferred from Oklahoma State after his freshman season to join the powerhouse junior college where he starred this past spring. The former Edwardsville standout is lauded for his electric fastball-slider combination though the development of a third pitch will be the key to his career path as either a starter or reliever. He was headed to Missouri State after his season at Logan before he was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in the fifth round.

Report from HS: 4/14/16 – Oklahoma State recruit. Ranked No. 23 in the Illinois’ 2016 class, No. 298 overall. 6-foot-2, 185-pound, athletic, wiry, right-handed pitcher with an electric arm. Started on the mound for Edwardsville. Simple, smooth delivery with rhythm; works slightly across body, lands closed and finishes athletically. Short, quick arm action, ¾ slot, occasionally underneath the ball and lacks extension. Ball jumps out of his hand. Fastball sat 87-91 mph with life early, works mostly straight and up in the zone at times. Every fastball out of the windup in the second inning was 90 plus. Later on in the outing sat anywhere from 85-91 mph. Also, flashed a slider and changeup, tends to get underneath at times with average overall feel both. Slider works 10/4, sweeping action, tight spin, up in the zone some, 79-81 mph. Changeup flashed slight fade at times, 77-78 mph. Highly projectable right-handed pitcher with a high ceiling. Can improve the action and consistency of his secondary.

Trey Riley (5/12/16)

Charlie Cerny, RHP, Illinois-Chicago (Bloomington HS, 2015)
7th Round, 203rd Overall, Oakland Athletics

A sinkerballer from Bloomington, Charlie Cerny went on to attend the University of Illinois-Chicago and is coming off his most successful season in college yet. In 2018, he struck out 64 batters in 55 innings and walked just 12. He worked primarily as a reliever for the Flames but it remains to be seen what his role will be at the pro level.

Report from HS: 5/15/14 – Ranked No. 46 in the state, No. 202 overall. Prototypical pitchers frame, 6-foot-5, 205-pound right-handed pitcher, shows present strength with room to grow, sturdy lower half could carry additional weight. Delivery works directionally, high front side, loads on backside well and works down the hill, slightly across his body, maintains excellent balance and shows the ability to repeat well. Arm action is clean, easy effort, comes out clean and effortlessly, near over the top slot. Fastball has excellent finish, easy arm action gives fastball deceptive life through the zone. Showed the ability to command it to his glove side, showed arm side run at times, worked the bottom of the zone, sat 84-86 mph in the first touching 87 mph, dipped slightly in the stretch, showed flashes of 86 mph throughout the game, again sitting 85-86 in the seventh with moxy. Breaking ball had softer action, ranging from 67-72 mph, 12/6 action with feel, can be more aggressive with it. Throws a firm changeup at 77-80 mph, flashed fading action with excellent arm action, highly deceptive, swing and miss type of pitch. Cerny is a high follow in the Class of 2015, his physical frame and ease at which he pitches makes him highly coveted. Cerny also showed a high level of competitiveness and moxy late in the game striking out the final five of six outs.

Charlie Cerny (5/18/18)

Nick Dalesandro, C, Purdue (Joliet Catholic HS, 2015)
10th Round, 309th Overall, Arizona Diamondbacks

Nick Dalesandro was one of the top-ranked players in Illinois when he was a senior at Joliet Catholic Academy and was actually drafted in the 33rd round of the 2015 draft as a result. He elected to follow through on his Purdue commitment where he put together an ironman-like career, playing in every game for the Boilermakers since he came to campus in 2016, starting all but one. He led Purdue this season in doubles (15) and steals (27) and the Arizona Diamondbacks took notice, drafting Dalesandro in the 10th round.