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Metro East Kickoff Classic: Scout Blog

March 25, 2022
By Drew Locascio and Peter Hamot
Illinois Scouting Staff

The Illinois Scout Blog provides insider information and scouting notes from the PBR Scouting Staff during the season. This running blog will feature information on underclass prospects, unsigned seniors, draft prospects, and anything else that is notable. We will provide a wide range of information, including player evaluations, velocities, pop times, home to first times, and more. Simply put, the Illinois Scout Blog is loaded with information ...

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, the fourth annual Metro East Kickoff Classic sponsored by Prep Baseball Report is back. It returned to the St. Louis Metro East area in mid-March and was bigger than ever, featuring 49 teams across a four-day span. Games were played across a handful of locations in the Metro East; Edwardsville HS, O’Fallon HS, Belleville East HS, SIU-Edwardsville, Sauget's GCS Ballpark, among others.

DAY 4 - saturDAY, MARCH 19


DUNLAP

+ Jack Piper, RHP, Dunlap, 2024
6-foot-1, 140-pound, broad-shouldered, lean build with plenty of room for additional strength down the road. Young arm to keep an eye on down the road. Came out of the bullpen and pounded the zone with a three-pitch mix. Polished, athletic delivery, highly-repeatable, works with rhythm and fluidity. Short, clean arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 77-78 mph, occasional arm-side action. Mixed in a 67-68 mph curveball thrown with arm speed and depth. Also showed a 71-73 mph changeup with plus feel and late fade. Should continue to see his velocity climb as he adds strength.

+ Jaxson Tresenriter, RHP, Dunlap, 2025
5-foot-11, 140-pound, wiry, lean, right-handed pitcher. Freshman, started on the mound and went 2.1 innings pitched without giving up an earned run. Fluid delivery works directionally down the mound. Long, loose easy arm action from a 3.4 slot. Fastball gets occasional sink, thrown for strikes and sat 80-83 mph. Went to a 69-70 mph breaking ball with sweeping action. Young arm that is just beginning to scratch the surface of his high-upside.

+ Jack Tudeen, CF, Dunlap, 2022
Unsigned senior. Left-handed hitting center fielder impressed in a quick look. Was on the barrel in a number of his at-bats, finishing 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Also, stole three bases. Singled back up the middle in his first at-bat, lined a ball to right-field in his second at-bat and reached base on a ground ball to second, ran a 4.44 down the line. Fluid actions in center field.

EDWARDSVILLE

+ Grant Huebner, C/RHP, Edwardsville, 2022
St. Charles CC commit, currently ranked No. 53 in Illinois’ 2022 class. Took a break from catching to show off his strong arm on the mound. Huebner’s arm plays quick to release from an over the top slot, also moving athletically down the mound while working exclusively from the stretch. His fastball sat at 86 mph throughout the entirety of his inning of work, playing with finish through the zone. He then went to a sharp slider at 77-79 mph, playing off a shorter 10/4 plane with fastball intent. Huebner’s inning of work was a dominant one; striking out the side in order. 

FATHER MCGIVNEY

+ Gabe Smith, RHP, Father McGivney, 2023
Uncommitted. Long-limbed, 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame, starters build. The tall right-hander’s arm works with a long circle out of the glove, moving into a loose ¾ slot. His delivery is fluid down the mound, working with a controlled tempo and little perceived effort, also striding slightly across his body at-times - creating deception and added sink on pitches to his arm-side. Smith’s fastball was lively, jumping out of his hand at 86-88 mph with natural sinking action, filling up the zone with strikes and challenging hitters. He went to a changeup at 78-79 mph to pair off his fastball, thrown with similar fastball arm-speed and released from a similar window. Impressive right-hander that looks to have more velo in the tank. 

GLENWOOD

+ Eli Curtis, LHP/1B, Glenwood, 2022
Lincoln Land CC commit. 6-foot-2, 160-pound, long-limbed, upside left/left prospect; plenty of room for continued physical development. Came out of the bullpen and struck out two in a one-inning save. Athletic movement patterns down the mound, lands on-line, front-toe closed. Long, loose, quick arm action that plays from a high ¾ slot. Frame, arm action and arm speed project for much more velocity to come down the road. Pitches with some intent and effort, attacked primarily with his fastball, scattered control but played lively at 84-85 mph.

+ Parker Detmers, RHP, Glenwood, 2023
Louisville commit. 6-foot-3, 205-pound, right-handed pitcher. Workhorse, wide-shouldered build; strong, thick lower half with athleticism throughout. Currently ranked No. 3 in the state and No. 40 overall. Got the start in the first game of the season. Extremely impressive first look at the talented right-hander in 2022. Pitched the morning game in less than ideal conditions; low temps with high winds and you would have never been able to tell by looking at him go about his business on the mound. Composed, confident and competitive demeanor. Displayed some more emotion and fire than we have seen in the past. Detmers was masterful overall, taking a no-hitter into the sixth inning before a two-out home run broke it up. Detmers proceeded to save his three hardest fastballs and best breaking ball for the next hitter striking him out on four pitches to complete his outing; Fastballs at 90, 90, 91 and then he ripped off a 78 mph breaking ball with 2425 rpm. His fastball sat comfortably at 87-88 mph, touching 89 throughout much of his outing, working both sides of the plate and down in the zone. He also showed the ability to elevate the fastball with two strikes for swings-and-misses. His curveball was his go-to secondary offering throughout, showing above-average feel off an 11/5 plane. Has the feel and athleticism to manipulate the spin and shape when needed; dropping it in for strikes early in counts and tightening it up with more depth and late action for two-strikes chases. Ended with 13 strikeouts in his six inning win. Gave up one hit, two runs and walked one. The arm works clean and with fluidity out of a high ¾ window while the delivery is highly-repeatable, athletic and works with ease. High-floor, high-ceiling 2023 draft prospect with starter profile.

+ Nolan McMasters, SS, Glenwood, 2022
Illinois-Springfield commit. 5-foot-11, 180-pound, well-proportioned, right-handed hitting shortstop. Was on the barrel with loud contact in Glenwood’s morning win. Finished 2-for-4 with a double and RBI. His double was scorched over the left-fielders head. He also singled hard through the left-side. Strong hands, present bat speed and intenful swing. Also, showed a strong arm across the diamond in between innings. Didn't see many balls hit in play with Detmers on the mound. 

+ Will Plattner, C, Glenwood, 2022
Wabash Valley commit, currently ranked No. 36 in Illinois’ 2022 class. Strong build with evenly distributed weight, standing 6-foot-1, 205-pounds. Right-handed hitter, starts in an open stance, utilizes a leg-kick timing trigger that works back to the plate. Strong hands with an uphill path through the zone, creating natural lift. Impressed with mature at-bats on Saturday, remaining selective and also driving a ball deep to the left-center gap for a ringing double. Behind the plate, his hands work to present pitches near the zone, moving subtly around the ball to frame pitches. His arm plays true in-game, creating backspin on his throws to second-base. 

HUNTLEY

+ Ryan Bakes, C, Huntley, 2023
South Carolina commit, currently ranked No. 2 in Illinois’ 2023 class, No. 39 overall in the country. Ultra-physical, 5-foot-10, 187-pound frame, broad shoulders. Is a premier defender behind the plate and proved so yet again on Saturday; using quiet/receptive hands to present pitches around the zone, quick/clean transfer with a strong arm that plays with backspin (1.95 pop-time recorded during warmups), while also boasting quick/athletic footwork on throws. His ability to move so well behind the plate makes him a highly reliable blocker of the baseball as well; moving side-to-side with ease and judging angles on balls in the dirt, deadening stray pitches out in front. Bakes possesses one of the best right-handed bats in the entire class on top of his stellar defense; starting with a wide base and using minimal pre-pitch movements. His hands work quickly through the zone with a slight uphill path, maintaining balance throughout the entirety of his swing. Premier 2023 backstop who should garner some attention in the draft next spring. 

+ Peyton Barr, LHP, Huntley, 2022
Milwaukee School of Engineering commit, currently ranked No. 296 in Illinois’ 2022 class. Athletic moving southpaw that works with a tall/fall movement pattern down the mound, working in-line to the plate before transitioning into a clean, high ¾ slot. His fastball sat comfortably in the 80-82 mph range with ride through the zone and natural arm-side life. He went to a breaking ball at 75 mph to pair off his fastball with tight 1/7 shape and feel for the zone. 

+ Malachi Paplanus, RHP, Huntley, 2024
Uncommitted, currently ranked No. 10 in Illinois’ 2024 class, No. 389 overall in the country. Athletic right-hander with a strong, 6-foot-1, 200-pound build. The right-hander works from a clean ¾ slot, moving down the mound with an athletic/repeatable delivery. His fastball started off at 82-84 mph early on, but gained steam throughout his outing while the temperature started to rise; settling in at 84-86 mph, T87 later in the game. It is hard to find a pitcher in the 2024 class that is as polished as Paplanus; featuring two high-level off-speed pitches to go along with his impeccable fastball control. His first secondary offering is a sharp slider, which he is able to navigate all around the zone with obvious confidence, 74-77 mph while averaging over 2,400 rpm, topping out at over 2,600. He throws his changeup with confidence as well, thrown at 79-81 mph with late fading action and feel for the corners of the zone. High-level right-hander to keep close tabs on moving forward. 

+ AJ Putty, INF/RHP, Huntley, 2025
Uncommitted. Physically mature, 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame, wide shoulders with a strong lower-half. Hit in the five-hole for the No. 1 team in the state as just a freshman. Put together impressive at-bats, especially for his age; mature presence in the box, balanced setup with a simple pre-pitch load, hands are strong and work short to the ball while creating easy bat-speed. Showed to have barrel control and quick hands by fighting off an 82 mph inside fastball, driving it over the second baseman for a single. High-level 2025 to keep tabs on. 

+ Andrew Ressler, RHP, Huntley, 2023
Butler commit, currently ranked No. 24 in Illinois’ 2023 class. Athletically built right-hander with a 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame. His fastball sat in the 82-86 mph range, topping out at 87 mph with high-level spin and life through the zone. The Butler commit relied more on his breaking ball on Saturday though; spinning a sharp slider at 72-77 mph, manipulating shape and navigating around the zone with ease. 

LASALLE-PERU

+ Julius Sanchez, RHP, LaSalle-Peru, 2022
Illinois commit. 6-foot, 215-pound, right-handed pitcher. Got a look at his first inning of a start against Nashville. Finished with 11 strikeouts in four innings pitched. Allowed one hit and did not walk a batter. Smooth delivery, slightly coiled at balance point, rotational at finish. Arm works with extreme ease from a high ¾ slot. Pounded the fastball at the bottom of the zone, ability to control it to the glove side, sat 89-91, T92 mph. Also showed a breaking ball with short, late wrinkle at 77-81 mph and quality changeup at 85 mph. One of the top right-handed arms in the state. 

MOLINE

+ Riley Fuller, RHP, Moline, 2023
Uncommitted. Wiry, 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame, room for added strength. The right-hander started on the mound against a talented Huntley lineup and impressed with control over three pitches. Arm circle is clean out of the glove into a high ¾ release point. His fastball worked in the 80-82 mph range, thrown with confidence throughout the zone, especially to his arm-side. He then went to a sharp 11/5 breaking ball at 69-70 mph, thrown for strikes with depth to the bottom of the zone. His final offering was a fading changeup, hovering around 77-79 mph and playing off his fastball effectively. 

NASHVILLE

+ Ian Blazier, SS, Nashville, 2022
San Diego commit. Left-handed hitting shortstop listed at 5-foot-11, 160-pounds. Looks more physical than listed weight. Showed advanced infield actions in pregame I/O. Fluid athlete, moves with ease, light on his feet, easy overall actions. Hands are soft, play from the ground up with clean glove-to-hand exchange. Arm plays easy from multiple platforms, comfortable throwing from a low slot, especially coming across the bag turning the double play. High-ceiling infielder. Offensively, only saw one at-bat and one swing. Quiet overall approach, stays on balance and showed bat speed. 

+ Trey Reinburg, RHP, Nashville, 2023
6-foot, 150-pound, wiry, right-handed pitcher with all kinds of room for continued physical development. Saw one-inning of his start against LaSalle-Peru. Athletic look, fluid delivery and projectable arm action; works long and whippy from an over-the-top slot. Fastball played mostly straight, sat mostly 83-84 mph. Ended with a no-decision. Went four innings, gave up four hits,  two runs, no walks and struck out eight. Uncommitted 2023 arm to follow.

O’FALLON

+ Michael Larson, RHP, O’Fallon, 2022
Chrsitian Brothers commit. 6-foot-2, 190-pound, right-handed pitcher got the start on the mound for the Panthers. Went four innings, scattered two hits, no earned runs, struck out nine and walked one. Did not have the same kind of mid-to-upper 80’s velocity we saw last year during the state playoff run but was dominant nonetheless. Worked primarily in the low-80’s but showed off the same advanced slider we have become accustomed to seeing. Worked at 72-73 mph with late horizontal 10/4 action and tight spin. Changeup worked 71-72 mph.

+ Haidyn McGill, OF, O’Fallon, 2023
Athletic, left-handed hitting outfielder. Leads off and is the spark plug of the Panthers offensive attack. Simple, handsy swing, minimal effort and stays within himself. Speed is currently his best asset. Is quick out of the box, understands how to run the bases and puts pressure on the defense. Was 4.36 on a turn and also ran a 4.33 on an infield single. Finished the game 3-for-4 with a double, three runs and an RBI.

+ William Millard, C, O’Fallon, 2023
5-foot-11, 190-pound, uncommitted, right-handed hitting catcher. Continues to impress on each look. Sound receiver; soft hands, flexible hips, presents pitches well and steady leader from behind the plate. Offensively, bat stays through the hitting zone a long time with natural lift. Has an above-average feel to hit and gap-to-gap approach, does not try to do too much. Was on the barrel in his three at-bats. Finished 2-for-3 with a double, RBI and a walk.

PLAINFIELD NORTH

+ Luke Brown, LHP, Plainfield North, 2023
Uncommitted, currently ranked No. 97 in Illinois’ 2023 class. Strong-bodied left-hander, standing 6-foot-3, 230-pounds. Arm works clean out of the glove into a high ¾ slot. Moves with a fluid tempo down the mound, slight drop/drive lower-half while remaining in-line to the plate, repeats his delivery. His fastball worked comfortably at 83-86 mph with natural running action to the arm-side, missing some barrels after settling in later in the game. Changeup looked to be a promising secondary offering, thrown with control to his arm-side and slight fading action, 77-78 mph. Brown also utilized a sweeping slider at 71-73 mph, playing off 2/8 shape with late action at times.

ST. CHARLES NORTH

+ Jackson Spring, SS, St. Charles North, 2024
6-foot, 160-pound, wiry, athletic build with upside. Right-handed hitter started at shortstop and hit in the six-hole as a sophomore. Long-levered swing, stood in the box with confidence, hits with rhythm and ran a 4.50 on an infield groundout. Sound infield actions, clean footwork and sure-handed. Upside 2024 shortstop to follow moving forward. 

+ Will Vaske, LF, St. Charles North, 2023
6-foot-1, 185-pound, athletically-built, right-handed hitting outfielder. Also, a quarterback of the football team. Led off and played left field. Broke up a no-hitter with a two-run home run to left-field. Finished 1-for-2 with the home run, two RBIs and a run scored. Balanced setup, pre-pitch rhythm and minimal wasted movement. Quick hands, stays short to the ball with above-average bat-to-ball skills. Follow 2023 athlete.

TRIAD

+ Connor Bain, CF, Triad, 2022
Drury commit. Strong, compact frame with present twitch and athleticism. Right-handed hitter, left-handed thrower, showed well over a couple of games at the Kickoff Classic. Strong, direct swing, made a lot of hard, loud contact off the bat. Flashed twitch and bat strength, bat-to-ball skills and pull-side approach. Athletic, strong overall look. Should be an offensive spark plug for the Knights over the course of the season.

+ Austin Brown, RHP, Triad, 2023
6-foot-3, 190-pound, long-levered, right-handed pitcher, started on the mound for Triad. Tall and fall delivery, creates angle to all of his offerings. Fastball played with steep angle, works the bottom of the zone, late run and sink at times, sat 80-83 mph. Curveball was an above-average pitch, go-to offering, worked off an 11/5 plane with feel, sat 72-74 mph. 

+ Wyatt Bugger, OF, Triad, 2023
5-foot-9, 165-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder. Looks more physical than listed weight. Has a quiet, confident presence in the box. Loose, strong hands, ball comes off the bat, middle/pull-side approach with feel for the barrel. Finished 3-for-4 with an RBI and three runs scored. Follow 2023 right-handed bat.

DAY 3 - friDAY, MARCH 18


BELLEVILLE EAST

+ Micah Georgian, SS, Belleville East, 2022
Unsigned senior. Undersized, athletic, right-handed hitting shortstop. Hit in the two-hole and played shortstop. Bouncy defender with active feet and above average range. Confident soft hands and the ability to throw from multiple platforms. Offensively, went 1-for-3 with a triple. Sneaky jump off the barrel for size. Unsigned senior who can stick up the middle of the diamond at the next level.

+ Owen Kelly, RHP, Belleville East, 2023
6-foot-3, 180-pound, athletically-built, high-waisted right-handed pitcher with all kinds of upside in the frame. Came out of the bullpen and threw well despite less than ideal rainy conditions. Went one inning without allowing a hit and struck out one. Loose, clean arm plays from a high ¾ slot. Fastball gets late jump through the zone, works mostly straight and showed control; sat 83-84 mph with intriguing spin rates of 2300-2420 rpm. Did not see a breaking ball. Upside 2023 uncommitted arm.

Owen Kelly

+ Kannon Walker, CF, Belleville East, 2022
Lake Land JC commit. 5-foot-10, 157-pound, right-handed hitting, left-handed throwing centerfielder. Hit lead off and took quality at-bats all day long with nothing to show for it. Athletic, quick swing, present bat-to-ball skills with a gap-to-gap approach. Quick first step in the outfield, easy glider, covers ground and has a strong, accurate arm. 

COAL CITY

+ Ashton Harvey, C/OF, Coal City, 2022
Uncommitted. 5-foot-8, 180-pound, compact, strong frame. Right-handed hitter, hit in the three-hole and had a big offensive showing. Finished 2-for-4, with a triple, double, RBI and a run scored. Has advanced hand strength and barrel strength. Compact swing, ball jumps off the barrel, pull-side approach. Tripled hard to left-field and doubled down the left-field line. Physical unsigned senior right-handed bat.

+ Kaelan Natyshok, OF, Coal City, 2023
Uncommitted, 6-foot-3, 214-pound, left-handed hitting outfielder. Has been known for his ability on the mound in the past but it was his bat that stood out on this day. Hit out of the four-hole for Coal City, calm, physical presence in the box. Quiet load, leg-lift trigger and simple swing with advanced strength. Quiet head at foot strike, direct swing, strong hands and natural lift through the zone. Stays through the baseball and shows impressive opposite field power. Homered to deep left-center field in his first at-bat and followed up with a long double to nearly the same spot. Drove in three runs and scored one run. Follow middle-of-the-order left-handed bat in the 2023 class.

COLUMBIA

+ Alex Schreckenberg, 2B, Columbia, 2023
6-foot-2, 190-pound, athletically-built, high-waisted, right-handed hitting middle infielder; wears the uniform right. Started at second base and finished 1-for-3, with a triple, two RBIs and a run scored. Easy swing with looseness throughout and freedom in his hands. Uses the whole field; drove his triple into the right-center field gap. Smooth defender up the middle with receptive hands and can throw from multiple slots. 

+ Dominic Voegele, RHP, Columbia, 2023
Uncommitted. 6-foot-2, 180-pound, long, athletically-built, projectable, right-handed pitcher. Has been on the rise since his impressive performance at the Aurora Preseason ID. Continued to help his stock with his start for Columbia at the Kickoff Classic. Went four innings, scattered three hits, no runs, walked one and struck out five. Confident, relaxed look on the mound, even-keeled, low-pulse presence. Tall and fall delivery, slightly coiled at balanced point, lands square and on-line. Clean arm action, works easy and from a high ¾ to over-the-top slot. Fastball comes out of the hand clean and easy, works mostly straight, occasional tilt, controlled the zone, sat 87-88 mph, touched 89. Showed two advanced breaking balls. Went to the curveball (2444-2621 rpm) more frequently and earlier in counts, landed it for strikes, above-average feel and depth working with true 12/6 downer action. Also, showed a slider as a swing-and-miss offering with more horizontal 10/4 shape at 78 mph and 2663 rpm. Polished uncommitted arm in the 2023 class with a starter profile and more velocity to come.
Dominic Voegele

 EDWARDSVILLE

+ Caden Archer, RHP, Edwardsville, 2023
6-foot-1, 190-pound, right-handed pitcher, wide-shouldered, athletic frame. Came out of the bullpen and did not allow a hit in his two-inning win while striking out two. Control was spotty throughout but showed a live, upside arm. Long, full arm circle, works loose and quick out of a ¾ window. Fastball showed life through the zone and sat 81-85 mph in cold windy conditions. Also showed a 68 mph slurvy breaking ball. 

+ Caeleb Copeland, OF, Edwardsville, 2023
Uncommitted, left-handed hitting outfielder, currently ranked in the top-150 in the class. Compact, strong, 5-foot-8, 180-pound frame. Hit in the five-hole and played right-field. Had a big offensive day with a number of key hits throughout. Finished 3-for-4 with a triple and one run scored. Open setup, strong, quick hands and the ball jumps off the barrel with minimal effort. Lined a triple into the right-center field gap that cut through the wind and rolled all the way to the wall. Also, an above-average runner.

Caeleb Copeland

+ Cole Funkhouser, 2B, Edwardsville, 2023
5-foot-8, 142-pound, loose-bodied, fluid athlete. Started at second base and hit leadoff. Hits with all kinds of rhythm and fluidity throughout. Loose hands, bat stays on plane and has intent. Finished 1-for-4 with a walk and stolen base. Defensively, efficient, athletic, savvy defender with a high baseball IQ. Follow 2023 uncommitted middle infielder with upside to all parts of his game. 

+ Spencer Stearns, 3B, Edwardsville, 2022
6-foot-2, 200-pound, broad-shouldered, strong build. Started at third base and hit in the three hole. Had a huge offensive day including a game-winning, walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the seventh which capped off a four-run seventh inning comeback. Finished 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a walk. Strong, twitchy hands, creates loud contact and jump off the barrel. Continues to polish up his entire game. Arm flashes carry across the diamond at third base and his feet work clean and in rhythm. One of the top unsigned senior bats in the state.

FREEBURG

+ Austin York, RHP, Freeburg, 2022
Uncommitted. Athletically built right-hander standing at 5-foot-11, 180-pounds. Arm works from a ¾ slot - repeatable delivery down the mound, fluid tempo. His fastball sat 78-80 mph with heavy sink to the arm-side, filling up the zone and relying heavily on movement to get weak contact. He showed the ability to manipulate his breaking balls, throwing one with more slurvy shape at 66-69 mph and another with shorter action, 71 mph. 

+ Kamden Casey, 1B/RHP, Freeburg, 2022
McKendree University commit. Ultra physical 6-foot-6, 265-pound frame. Strong right-handed swing that works level through the zone, line-drive approach. Provided Freeburg with two clutch hits in the contest; a hard-hit RBI single in the top of the sixth inning to tie the game at four runs apiece at the time, and an RBI double in the top of the seventh inning to make the score 8-5 at the time. Casey also impressed on the mound, controlling his body and repeating his delivery well, especially for his size. The tall right-hander’s fastball sat in the 81-83 mph range, playing heavily into the zone and at a tough angle. 

+ Eli Hill, OF/INF, Freeburg, 2022
Eastern Illinois commit, currently ranked No. 129 in Illinois. Compact/athletic frame, standing at 5-foot-9, 170-pounds. Started in left-field and hit in the cleanup spot for Freeburg on Friday evening. Repeatable right-handed swing; simple pre-pitch movements, uphill path to the ball with controlled violence, intent to do damage - finished the day with a double, triple and three RBIs. As a 6.80 runner in the 60, his speed easily translates to the basepaths; taking aggressive routes and angles while moving quickly out of the box. Hill also showed to have athletic actions in the outfield during IO, covering ground with ease and playing into an athletic crow-hop. 

JOLIET WEST

+ Jimmy Anderson, SS, Joliet West, 2024
5-foot-11, 175-pound, athletically-built infielder with present strength and more to come down the road. Started at shortstop and hit in the five-hole. Fluid actions, easy effort and athletic look to all parts of his game. Smooth defender with athletic, clean actions and maintains body control on the move. Is comfortable on the move, maintains body control and arm plays loose and easy across the diamond. Right-handed hitter went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Extremely comfortable, relaxed look in the box, especially for his age. Quiet takes, sees the ball deep and stays on balance. Easy, loose hands, drops the barrel head and was consistently on time and on the barrel. Advanced approach, stays within, uses the whole field and understands the strike zone. 2024 shortstop to keep eyes on moving forward.

+ Conner Hogan, LHP, Joliet West, 2023
6-foot-8, 230-pound, extra-large, imposing, physical left-handed pitcher. Coming off an impressive 2021 sophomore campaign. Started and picked up the win in the first start of the season going four innings, scattering four hits, one run, no walks and five strikeouts. Controls his body and repeats his delivery extremely well given his frame. Loose, clean arm stroke, high ¾ slot. Fastball plays clean out of the hand, holds plane and plays harder than the 78-81 mph velocity due to the extension he gets down the mound. Showed a three-pitch mix throughout including a curveball at 71 mph and changeup at 76 mph. Intimidating at-bat with a high-ceiling and seemingly much more in the tank.

+ James Love, 3B, Joliet West, 2024
6-foot, 185-pound, right-handed hitting left-side of the infield prospect; athletic frame, fills out the uniform. Started at third base and hit in the three-hole. Finished 1-for-4 with a run-scoring single. Well-rounded game with upside to all parts. Offensively, has a hitterish presence in the box. Athletic setup, fluid pre-pitch actions and strong, quick hands. Potential middle-of-the-order type of bat at the nex level. Defensively, has all the tools and actions to stay on the left-side of the diamond moving forward. Clean, efficient footwork, soft hands and athletic overall actions with plenty of arm strength (84 mph across). High-follow 2024 infielder.

James Love

+ Joe Lukancic, C/DH, Joliet West, 2023
6-foot-, 180-pound, long-levered, left-handed hitter with strength. Was first time we have had eyes on Lukancic who hit out of the two-hole for the Tigers and DH’s. Strong levers, creates leverage and quality jump off the barrel at the plate. Stays inside the baseball and showed the ability to drive the ball to the opposite field with authority. Singled down the left-field line in his first at-bat, drove a sac-fly to left-field in his second at-bat and lined out hard to the left-fielder in his third at-bat. Left-handed bat to follow in the 2023 class. 

LASALLE-PERU

+ Mason Lynch, MIF, LaSalle-Peru, 2023
Uncommitted. 5-foot-9, 160-pound, well-proportioned, left-handed hitting middle infielder. Balanced quiet setup at the plate, minimal load and quiet overall swing. Athletic, fluid swing, hands work loose, easy effort, bat stays through the zone a long time and finishes on balance. Played second base, clean, sound infield actions, sure-handed. Follow left-handed hitting middle infielder. 

MOUNT VERNON

+ Ethan Wielt, OF/RHP, Mount Vernon, 2023
6-foot-2, 225-pound frame, wide shoulders. Came out of the ‘pen against No. 3 Normal U-High and tossed three innings while only allowing two hits and no runs. The right-hander attacked with his fastball throughout his entire outing, sitting comfortably at 80-83 mph - also spinning a curveball with depth to provide a change of pace. The right-handed hitter also batted in the three-hole for the Rams; collecting an RBI and hard-hit single in the contest. 

NEW TRIER

+ Louis Florida, 1B, New Trier, 2022
DePauw commit. 5-foot-11, 160-pound, left-handed hitter. Hit in the three-hole and played first base. Finished 0-for-1 with three walks and a run scored. Wide setup, fluid pre-pitch rhythm and confident look in the box. Takes consistent, quality at-bats, fluid, athletic swing. Should be one of the catalysts for the Trevians throughout the spring.

+ Dylan Mayer, DH/OF, New Trier, 2023
Uncommitted. 6-foot-3, 195-pound, wide-shouldered, athletic frame with room for added strength. Right-handed hitting, left-handed throwing outfielder who has also been up to 86 mph on the mound. Looked the part in the box. Balanced setup, fluid pre-pitch actions and flashed bat strength. Left the yard for a two-run home run in his first at-bat. 

+ Brenden Stressler, RF, New Trier, 2023
St. Louis commit, currently ranked No. 20 in the Illinois’ 2023 class. 6-foot-2, 190-pound, wide-shouldered build with well-proportioned strength. Has seen his stock steadily climb over the past year and there is no slowing down. Is arguably one of, if not the best, pure left-handed hitters in the class. Advanced approach and polish at the plate. Sees the ball extremely deep into the zone, easy, quiet takes and minimal wasted effort. Flashes explosive hand speed, loose swing, stays inside the baseball and sprays hard line-drive, lifted contact to all parts of the field. Hit in the two-hole and finished 3-for-4 with two doubles and a run scored. Scorched one of his doubles off the very top of the left-field wall. Poised for a big offensive spring for the Trevians.

+ Henry Wolfe, C, New Trier, 2023
Uncommitted, 6-foot-2, 195-pound, athletic right-handed hitting catcher. Defensive-first catcher who has the tools to impact the game on the defensive side of the ball. Strong, confident arm, plays with life and carry. Handled a number of different arms throughout the night without a problem, quiet, receptive glove. Active, willing blocker. Has the athleticism to play multiple spots if needed; 6.78 runner in the 60. Finished 0-for-3 at the plate.

NORMAL UNIVERSITY

+ Charlie Vercruysse, INF, Normal University, 2024
Notre Dame commit, currently ranked No. 11 in Illinois. Athletically built, 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame with room for added growth. Hit in the three-hole and started at second base as just a sophomore for the No. 3 team in the state. Mature presence in the batter’s box; works counts and has a simple/fluid right-handed swing - doubled down the line in a R/R matchup. Took impressive reps during IO; active feet around the ball paired with soft hands, playing through the ball into a clean transfer, arm plays with backspin and obvious velocity. Moves athletically around the diamond with a confident presence - high-level 2024 prospect with upside to all parts of his game. 

NORMAL WEST

+ Blake Crancer, INF, Normal West, 2024
5-foot-10, 150-pound, right-handed hitting infielder. Started at third base for the Wildcats in the first game of the day. Relaxed setup in the box, quiet load, hands get in a strong position. Loose hands, direct path and uses the whole field. Steady defender at third base with natural infield actions and receptive glove. Continues to add strength to his frame. Sophomore infielder to follow moving forward. 

PLAINFIELD NORTH

+ Brandon Bak, LHP, Plainfield North, 2022
Illinois-Chicago commit and currently ranked No. 58 in Illinois. Athletic moving southpaw that works from a 6-foot-1, 165-pound frame, plenty of upside. Clean arm circle out of the glove that moves into an over-the-top slot. Up-tempo delivery down the mound, efficient movement patterns with his lower-half, remaining in-line to the plate. His fastball worked mostly 85-86 mph early on, riding through the zone to his arm-side and missing barrels, playing at the top of the zone at times. The separator in his arsenal is his curveball; thrown with intent and advanced shape, tunneling off his fastball with late 1/7 action, 75-77 mph. Athletic left-hander with a high ceiling. 

+ John St. Clair, OF, Plainfield North, 2023
5-foot-10, 165-pound frame with room to add additional strength. Started in right-field and hit in the two-hole for the Tigers. Smooth right-handed swing, remains level through the zone with barrel control - up the middle approach. Showed off a strong arm from the outfield during IO; carries with backspin and easy life out of the hand (91 mph in past PBR events), also moves athletically through the ball with steady hands and a clean transfer.

OSWEGO

+ Cade Duffin, 1B, Oswego, 2023
Uncommitted, 6-foot-3, 240-pound, wide-shouldered, strong, right-handed hitting first baseman. Had a huge offensive game for the Panthers in the first game of the day. Finished 2-for-3 with a home run, triple, walk and six RBI. Possesses some of the best raw power in the Illinois’ 2023 class. Launched a deep three-run home run to left-center field in his final at-bat of the game that had to cut through heavy wind. Also, drove a ball to right that resulted in a triple. Fluid swing, stays short and uphill through the zone. Will sell out for power at times. Intriguing right-handed power bat to follow moving forward. 

ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN

+ Hayden Brazelton, CF, St. Joseph-Ogden, 2022
Kaskaskia commit. 5-foot-10, 160-pound, left/left prospect hit out of the leadoff spot throughout the week. Had one of the more impressive offensive performances at the Kickoff Classic. Went 7-for-9 with two doubles, a triple and six runs scored in two games on Thursday. Followed up with a 1-for-3 with a walk and two runs scored. Athletic, confident look in the box. Minimal wasted movement, stays short and quick to the ball with above-average bat to ball skills and polished approach. Uses the whole field, was consistently on time and worked gap-to-gap. Fluid actions to all parts of his game. Left a strong impression with his performance at the Kickoff Classic.

DAY 2 - thursDAY, MARCH 17

BELLEVILLE EAST

+ Zander Mueth, RHP, Belleville East, 2023
Ole Miss commit. The No. 1 ranked arm in the state, No. 11 nationally. 6-foot-5, 190-pound, loose-bodied, long-levered frame with plenty of room for continued physical development. Features some of the most explosive, high-end stuff in the country. Despite getting elite movement on all offerings, filled up the zone at an 81% clip. Poured in a first-pitch strike to 9 of the 10 batters he faced. Fastball was jumping out of the hand with explosive run and ride through the zone at 94-95 mph, touching a few 96’s. Gets elite arm-side-run and life to his fastball. Slider tunnels off the fastball, flashing devastating, wipeout potential, thrown with intent and advanced horizontal movement and sweeping action across the zone; sat 79-80 mph. Fluid, athletic mover down the mound. Delivery works with rhythm, lands square and on balance, finishes athletically. Long, uninterrupted, ultra-loose and whippy arm action from a low ¾ slot with extremely low effort throughout. Went three innings allowing one hit, no runs, no walks and struck out six. Eye-opening first start of the season for the 2023 MLB Draft prospect.

Zander Mueth

+ Dylan Mannino, RHP, Belleville East, 2023
Uncommitted junior emerged as a high-follow arm with his outing at the Kickoff Classic. 6-foot-3, 165-pound, high-waisted, projectable build. Came out of the bullpen and showed swing-and-miss stuff, striking out 10 and not allowing a hit in four innings of work. Fluid delivery, slight drop and drive, directional down the mound, lands front-toe closed. Long, loose, quick arm out of a ¾ slot. Pitches with intent and goes right-after hitters. Was fastball heavy throughout his outing getting a number of swings and misses in the zone. Fastball jumps out of the hand at 89-90 mph, touching 91 with late hop through the zone and showed control. Went to his breaking ball sparingly. Gets around and underneath the breaking ball at times but showed tight spin off an 11/5 plane at 71-73 mph (2381 rpm). Given his slot, a hard slider could be in his future. Mannino has seen a 13 mph jump in his fastball over the past year. Back in February of 2021 Mannino attended the Aurora Preseason ID and topped at 78 mph. Seems to just be tapping into his high-ceiling. Uncommitted arm to follow closely moving forward. Should make a big splash in the soon to be updated 2023 Illinois rankings

Dylan Mannino

BENET

+ Max Babich, LHP, Benet, 2022
St. Louis commit. Durable frame, standing 5-foot-11, 180-pounds with a wide-shouldered build. Fluid moving delivery down the mound that produced a fastball at 82-84 mph, running naturally through the zone to the arm-side. His slider worked at 70-71 mph off a 2/8 plane, sweeping through the zone with sharp action at times. Settled in nicely after the first inning, bulldog mentality on the mound. 

EDWARDSVILLE

+ Joseph Chiarodo, RHP, Edwardsville, 2025
Uncommitted, high-level right-handed arm in the 2025 class. Works athletically down the mound with a drop/drive lower-half - arm works from a quick high ¾ slot. His fastball sat at 83-85 mph throughout his inning of work, exploding through the zone and pouring in strikes. Chiarodo also displayed feel for a sharp breaking ball at 63-66 mph, playing off a slurvy shape with sharp action, kept mostly down.

+ Grant Huebner, C, Edwardsville, 2022
St. Charles CC commit. Spark plug type player; highly athletic with a 5-foot-11, 180-pound frame. Defensively impressed behind the plate with an extremely strong arm and steady hands; arm plays accurately, with carry, and true four-seam carry to second base. He is ultra-confident in his arm, throwing behind runners, showing it off frequently and looking to steal outs anyway he can. Offensively, Huebner hit in the three-hole for Edwardsville and finished 2-4 on the day with a single and a double, both hard-hit. He moves with a fluid pre-pitch rhythm, starting slightly open and working back to the plate with his stride; quick/twitchy hands to the ball that play flat through the zone.

EFFINGHAM

+ Josh McDevitt, RHP, Effingham, 2023
Missouri commit, currently ranked No. 10 in Illinois. Athletic right-hander that stands at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds. Works down the mound with a fluid-moving operation, remaining in-line to the plate with an athletic finish. His arm works quick to release from a ¾ slot, producing a fastball that sat 90-92 mph; jumping out of the hand with ride/run through the zone. McDevitt also showcased a sharp breaking ball with slurve tendencies, sitting 75-78 mph with depth. He also went to a heavy fading changeup at 80-82 mph to keep hitters off-balance. Stock should continue to rise as he continues to polish up his arsenal.

FATHER MCGIVNEY

+ Jackson Rodgers, RHP, Father McGivney, 2023
Uncommitted, long-limbed 6-foot-2, 170-pound right-handed pitcher. Works with an up-tempo delivery down the mound that works in-line to the plate, moving into a quick high ¾ release. His fastball worked 84-87 mph with life through the zone, running to the arm-side at times. Rodgers’ go-to secondary offering was a changeup at 78 mph, thrown off a similar fastball plane and fading to the arm-side.

+ Daniel Gierer, MIF, Father McGivney, 2023
Uncommitted right-handed hitting middle-infielder. Started at shortstop and hit leadoff for Father McGivney on Thursday. Impressed during IO with athletic infield actions; his hands work confidently through the ball into a clean transfer, quick feet around the ball that help create momentum into his throws - which played across the diamond with backspin and visible velocity. Repeatable right-handed swing, works level through the zone; quick out of the box (4.27 home-to-first time in-game).

+ Jacob McKee, INF, Father McGivney, 2023
Started at third base and hit in the four-hole for Father McGivney. On the infield, took athletic reps during IO; fluid actions with soft hands, moves well around the ball and side-to-side. Arm plays true across the diamond with backspin, notable arm-strength.

FREEBURG

+ Lane Otten, RHP, Freeburg, 2023
Uncommitted, 6-foot-3, 200-pound, right-handed pitcher; highly-athletic frame with well-proportioned strength throughout. Started on the mound for Freeburg. Polished presence and composure on the mound. Low-pulse operator, fluid tall and fall delivery, long arm action, plays from a high ¾ slot. Heavy, low-spinning fastball, sat 84-86 mph with run and sink; tailored for weak ground ball contact when he is at his best, working down in the zone and in on the hands of right-handed hitters. Mixed in a slider at 76-77 mph, above-average feel, late sharp horizontal action at times. Athletic right-hander with more in the tank. Went 8-0 in 2021 with a 1.58 ERA en-route to the 2A state title.

MOUNT CARMEL

+ Shane Curtin, LHP, Mount Carmel, 2022
Creighton commit. 6-foot, 165-pound, left-handed pitcher got the start in game one of the event for the Caravan. Despite it being the first start of the season, Curtin looked like he was in mid-season form. Went three innings of no-hit baseball, striking out eight. Only two outs (F7 and 4-3) were not recorded via a strikeout. Ultra-confident, competitive look on the mound. Highly-athletic, quick arm that plays from a high ¾ slot. Worked both sides of the plate with his fastball, will work it in on right-handed hitters with two strikes. Fastball sat 85-88 mph, touching 89 early on. Went to his patented plus changeup as his go-to secondary offering; same window and arm speed as fastball, above-average feel and late fade at 77-78 mph. Also showed a slurvy breaking ball at 75 mph. One of the top pitching performances of the event.

Shane Curtin

+ Denny Furlong, RHP, Mount Carmel, 2023
Uncommitted, 5-foot-10, 185-pound, right-handed pitcher. Showed interesting stuff out of the bullpen for the Caravan. Rotational delivery, stays closed off down the mound and short, quick arm action. Fastball sat 86-87 mph early on his stint to go along with a 72-74 mph curveball with 11/5 shape. Intriguing first outing of the year for the uncommitted junior. 

+ Julien Hachem, LHP, Mount Carmel, 2022
Oklahoma commit. 6-foot-8, 260-pound, physically-imposing, extra-large frame. Calm, competitive composure on the mound, never seems sped up or in a hurry. Came out of the bullpen and threw two no-hit innings, recording every out via a strikeout. Long quick arm action from a ¾ slot. Attacked and challenged hitters primarily with his fastball that sat at 90 mph, touching 91; gets finish and late run through the zone. Only threw a couple of curveballs, one to freeze a hitter after a long at-bat; 1/7 shape, depth, 75 mph. Also showed a changeup at 79 mph. High-level arm in the 2022 class. 

+ Austin Mallee, 3B, Mount Carmel, 2023
Uncommitted right-handed hitting third baseman. Listed at 6-foot, 185-pounds; looked longer and leaner than our last look. Athletic, upside frame with plenty of room for added strength. Fluid movements to all parts of his game. Offensively, stood out over the course of the first two games for the Caravan. Relaxed, calm look in the box with fluid pre-pitch actions and easy effort. Took a number of quality swings on the day but nothing more impressive than timing up a 96 mph fastball and lining it back up the middle for a base hit. Defensively, the arm seemed to be playing easier and with more life than our last look as well. Clean, athletic actions, can make plays on the move and hands work soft. Impressive look at the uncommitted junior.

+ Myles Supurgeci, OF, Mount Carmel, 2022
Unsigned Senior. Right-handed hitting outfielder, has top-end speed that impacts the game in all aspects. Quick first step and covers a lot of ground in the outfield with quick, bouncy feet and athletic actions. Offensively, short, quick swing, creates bat speed and surprising jump off the barrel given his 5-foot-7, 145-pound frame. 

NAPERVILLE CENTRAL

+ Will Clermont, LHP, Naperville Central, 2024
5-foot-10, 170-pound, left-handed pitcher with strength in the lower half. Compact, clean arm action, high ¾ slot. Works with minimal effort. Got a glimpse of Clermont in a short relief appearance against Triad. Fastball comes out of the hand clean and easy at 83-84 mph. Follow left-handed arm in the 2024 class.

Will Clermont

+ Chris McCormack, RHP, Naperville Central, 2023
6-foot-1, 160-pound, lean, high-waisted, upside, right-handed arm. High-ceiling, young-looking uncommitted junior. Smooth, repeatable, tall and fall delivery with minimal effort throughout. Loose, uninterrupted arm action from a high ¾ slot. Came out of the bullpen and picked up the win, giving up one earned run in three innings pitched while striking out four. Fastball sat 83-85 mph and mixed in a quality breaking ball at 71 mph with 2345 rpm. Upside uncommitted arm to follow in the 2023 class. 

Christopher McCormack

NORMAL WEST 

+ Alex Willey, RHP, Normal West, 2022
Uncommitted right-hander, standing at 6-foot-5, 225-pounds. Works down the mound with a tall/fall operation, arm plays from an over the top slot. His fastball enters the zone at a tough angle, topping out at 89 mph while sitting in the 86-87 mph range and missing barrels. Willey’s curveball hovered in the 75 mph range, playing off an 11/5 plane and coming from a similar window to his fastball.

+ Jesse Courtney, RHP, Normal West, 2023
Illinois State commit, strong 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame. Came out of the ‘pen for Normal West and impressed with a heavy fastball; working 84-87 mph through the zone. Also showcased an 11/5 curveball at 70 mph, playing off his fastball effectively. Courtney also doubled in the contest to the opposite field gap; with a physical right-handed swing that works level through the zone.  

ST. JOSEPH-OGDEN

+ Tyler Altenbaumer, RHP, St. Joseph-Ogden, 2022
Southwestern Illinois JC commit. Strong, wide-shouldered frame, looks to be bigger than listed. Started on the mound and hit three-hole for SJO on Thursday against Father McGivney. On the mound, the right-hander works with a repeatable delivery downhill; with a slight drop/drive lower-half that works in-line, transitioning into a clean over-the-top slot. His fastball sat comfortably at 88-89 mph, topping out at 90 mph; playing through the zone with finish. Altenbaumer went to a short breaking ball from a 10/4 plane to play off his fastball, working at 75 mph and thrown with intent.

TRIAD

+ Brady Coon, RHP/OF, Triad, 2024
6-foot-1, 160-pound, athletically-built, two-way prospect. In an extra-innings battle against Naperville Central, came out of the bullpen for Triad and gave up one earned run in three pressure-packed innings while striking out three. Made a number of big pitches in big spots to keep the Knights in the game. Arm works short and clean from a high ¾ slot. Compact, repeatable delivery and above-average mound presence for his age. Fastball sat around 83 mph early in his outing. Early on he showed advanced feel for his slider which worked out of the same window as his fastball. Slider had tight, short action with late bite off a 10/4 plane at 73-75 mph with 2230 rpm. Has a chance to be a swing-and-miss offering down the road. Also, showed well at the plate, delivering a game-tying two-run double in extra innings. Finished the game 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs, a walk and two runs scored.
Brady Coon

DAY 1 - Wednesday, March 16

ALTHOFF CATHOLIC

+ Hank Gomric, LHP/OF, Althoff, 2024
6-foot-3, 170-pound, long-levered, highly-projectable frame. Left/left prospect, started on the mound in the nightcap for Althoff. Long arm action plays out of a ¾ slot. Fastball sat in the upper-70’s for much of the outing while mixing in a 1/7 breaking ball at 68-69 mph with slurve action. Scattered four hits and two earned runs in five innings of work, while striking out four. Intriguing left-handed bat as well, hitting out of the two-hole. Stays flat and on top of the baseball while creating occasional whip through the zone. Ran a 4.44 down-the-line on a groundout; long-strided runner.

+ Tyler Tieman, 1B, Althoff, 2022
Truman State commit. 5-foot-11, 215-pound, compact, strong frame. Right-handed hitter, hit out of the three-hole and is an intimidating at-bat. Compact swing that has present physicality and bat speed. Uses the whole field and stays short, on-plane and connected throughout. Took a number of intentful, aggressive swings while showing plate discipline and an overall feel to hit. Finished 1-for-1 with two walks and a run scored. His one single was a line-drive back up the middle of the field. 

BELLEVILLE WEST

+ Brayden Biggs, C/RHP, Belleville West, 2023
Uncommitted junior. 6-foot, 150-pound, right-handed hitting catcher by trait. Started on the mound in the first game of the event and hit in the six-hole. Raw but upside arm on the mound. Arm plays loose, clean and easy from an over-the-top slot. Fastball plays clean out of the hand and mostly straight, working 84-85 mph in the early going. Also, showed a serviceable three-pitch mix with his curveball showing as the best secondary; sat 68-71 mph, 12/6 to 11/5 plane, depth and tight spin (2438 rpm). Changeup played at 79 mph. Offensively, right-handed hitter with loose levers and upside. Finished 2-for-4 with two hits back up the middle and a run scored.

+ Jake Stedman, 3B, Belleville West, 2024
Uncommitted, 5-foot-8, 155-pound, sophomore. Started at third base and hit in the two-hole for the Maroons. Defensively, natural infield defender with an advanced feel for the game and high-baseball IQ. Knew where to go with the baseball when the ball was hit his way, plays in rhythm and is comfortable on the move. Clean, efficient footwork, smooth actions, confident hands and accurate arm from a ¾ slot. Also, showed well with the bat going 3-for-5 with a double in their first game of the event. Balanced setup, quiet pre-pitch rhythm and simple swing. Loose, easy hands, stays within himself and creates sneaky jump off the barrel. Name to know in the 2024 class.

 BREESE CENTRAL

+ Cody Dickshot, OF, Breese Central, 2023
5-foot-9, 140-pound, left/left outfielder. Had a big offensive day for Breese Central in their win. Open setup, loose hands, stays on plane, hands work inside the baseball and uses the whole field. Spray approach and was consistently on the barrel. Finished the day 2-for-3 with a walk, RBI, two runs scored and two stolen bases. 

+ Landon Geragosian, RHP, Breese Central, 2022
John A. Logan JC commit. 6-foot-2, 185-pound, athletic, well-proportioned frame. Started on the mound and got the win for Breese Central in the nightcap of day one. Polished, even-keeled, steady presence on the mound. Went four innings, allowing two hits, no runs, striking out five and walking two. Repeatable, controlled, tall and fall delivery. Clean, compact arm action from a high ¾ to over-the-top slot. Showed control of an above-average three-pitch mix with high spin metrics. Fastball plays clean out of the hand, mostly straight with occasional tilt and angle. Fastball sat comfortably at 84-86 mph with 2300-2400 rpm. Went to a 72-74 mph curveball often; true 12/6 downer action with depth and feel (2350-2425 rpm). Also showed a straight change at 81 mph. Pitches with a plan, understands how to hold runners and seemed in control throughout. Polished look at the upside right-hander.

+ Jonathan Husmann, OF, Breese Central, 2024
Sophomore, left-handed hitter, went 2-for-2 with a run scored off the bench. Drove both singles to left-field. Loose swing with above-average barrel control. Follow left-handed hitter in the sophomore class. 

+ Easton Rakers, SS, Breese Central, 2022
Lindenwood commit. 6-foot-1,160-pound, athletic, wiry frame with plenty of room for continued physical development. Energetic, bouncy, confident vibe to his game. Stood out all over the field, especially at the plate in the nightcap of Day 1 at the Kickoff Classic. Switch-hitter, led-off and was all over the barrel from the right-side of the plate. Smoked two balls into the teeth of the wind, right at the center fielder with nothing to show for it. Also was hit by a pitch. Advanced hand-eye and barrel control. Direct, flat swing and was consistently on time. Grounded out in his one at-bat left-handed. Defensively, light on his feet with steady actions with a loose, whippy arm that plays easy across the diamond; arm played accurately with the ability to throw from multiple slots. Plenty of upside to still tap into down the road. 

COLLINSVILLE

+ Ethan Bagwell, RHP/1B, Collinsville, 2024
Missouri commit. 6-foot-2, 230-pound, broad-chested, durable, work-horse type frame. Came out of the bullpen for one inning and hit in the middle of the order. Drop and drive delivery, lands square. Short, compact arm action plays from a ¾ to high ¾ slot. Slider was a separator; showed advanced feel, matches his slot, and worked tight on a 10/4 plane with 2400+ rpm. Landed for strikes consistently and went to as a chase pitch off the corner as well. Fastball showed spottier control, worked mostly straight, occasional cut to the glove side, sat 86-88 mph for his one inning of work. Struck out two and did not allow a run in his outing. Right-handed hitter, flashed advanced bat speed and a knack for hard contact. Finished 1-for-3 with a double, two RBI's and a run scored.

+ Chris Thilman, LHP, Collinsville, 2022
Unsigned Senior. Extra-large, wide-shouldered, 6-foot-5, 230-pounds. Went four-plus innings of shutout baseball. Delivery worked directionally down the mound, lands square and finishes towards third base side. Given his size, controlled his body and levers well. Arm work clean, from a high ¾ slot and gets extendension out front at times. Was able to create tilt and angle to his 83-84 mph fastball, around the zone. Went to a 1/7 curveball at 67-68 mph as his go-to secondary offering. Intriguing look at one of the more projectable unsigned senior arms in the state.

QUINCY

+ Grayson Cook, C/3B, Quincy, 2022
John Wood CC commit. Did a little bit of everything for the Blue Devils, playing multiple positions, hitting out of the three-hole and starting a game on the mound. Strong-bodied, right/right prospect, hit out of the three-hole. Finished game two of the first day 2-for-4 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Open setup in the box, strong hands, creates leverage and has pull-side tendencies. Struck out six in four innings of work in his outing. Also, drew a hit-by-pitch to give Quincy a walk-off 10-9 win in the nightcap.

+ Noah Harbin, RHP/SS, Quincy, 2022
Iowa Western commit. Athletic, two-way prospect showed well over the course of two games for Quincy. At the plate, right-handed hitter, simple, quiet setup in the box. Minimal wasted movement and athletic, quick hands. Stays short and level to the ball, controls the barrel with present bat speed and uses the middle of the field. Was on the barrel with authority over the course of the day, including a backspin line-drive over the center fielder’s head that resulted in a triple. One of the hardest hit balls of the tournament. Arm plays easy and with life across the diamond from shortstop. Also, hopped on the mound where his arm showed even better. Quick, lively arm and his fastball topped at 88 mph in his relief appearance. Tries to work his fastball down in the zone with heavy, hard sink at times; handcuffed the catcher on a couple of occasions. Also, showed a mid-70’s breaking ball with slurve action. Two-way prospect with arm talent and athleticism.

+ Connor Schwindeler, RHP/INF, Quincy, 2022
John Wood CC commit. Started on the mound and hit lead-off for the Blue Devils in game two of the day. Went four innings, scattered three hits, walked one, struck out five and did not allow an earned run in a no-decision. Clean arm action and was around the zone with his three-pitch mix. Fastball sat 82-83 mph while curveball worked 68-69 mph and changeup at 72 mph. 

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