On June 23, the PBR Illinois team made its return to trip down south to Sauget to host its annual Metro East Open event, targeting any and all high school athletes in the area – from Missouri to Illinois.

We provided some instant insight in the days following the event inside of our Statistical Analysis post, featuring notes on the event’s stat leaders. We began our event analysis on Wednesday, with the day’s catchers, outfielders, and infielders, and we’re covering the day’s pitchers today.

TOP PITCHING PROSPECTS

1. Kaydon Norkus, Neuqua Valley (IL), 2021; Southern Illinois commit
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-1, 190-pounds. Strong, broad-shouldered, athletic frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery with smooth rhythm. Shoulders work uphill, body works in line, lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action from an over the top window. Arm works with quick speed.
FB: T88, 87-88 mph. Fastball, jumps out of the hand, plays mostly straight, occasional downhill tilt. 2388 max RPM.
CB: 74-75 mph. 11/5 shape with sharp action. Short, late wrinkle and consistently landed for strikes.
CH: 75-77 mph. Plays with fade and sink down in the zone.

2. Charlie Weber, Chaminade College Prep (MO), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-1, 185-pounds. Athletic frame with present strength.
Delivery: Smooth delivery, works with athleticism, lands square.
Arm Action: Loose, lively arm action, plays from a ¾ slot.
FB: T85, 84-85 mph. Jumps out of the hand, lively through the zone, inconsistent action but occasional late run and sink.
SL: 70-72 mph. Advanced offering with impressive spin; median 2634 RPM. Sharp, late action, wipeout swing-and-miss offering. 
CH: 74-76 mph. Inconsistent feel and offering. Played best out of the wind up.

3. Drew Politte, Lindbergh (MO), 2022
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted frame with well-proportioned strength.
Delivery: Stretch-only, tall and fall delivery; highly-repeatable, works on-line, lands front-toe closed. Easy effort throughout and comfortable, composed look on the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Compact, clean uninterrupted arm circle works loose and quick out front; high ¾ slot.
FB: T83, 81-83 mph. Comes out clean and easy, finish through the zone, thrown for strikes, works mostly straight.
SL:  69-71 mph. Feel for the zone, short winkle, 10/4 shape.
CH: 71-73 mph. Feel, locates down in the zone, late run at times.

4. Lane Harris, Francis Howell Central (MO), 2023
Positional Profile:
Body: 6-0, 145-pounds. Lean, upside frame with plenty of room for added strength.
Delivery: Smooth tall and fall delivery, works slightly across his body, lands square.
Arm Action: LH. Slight reach on the backside, clean and quick out front, high ¾ slot.
FB: T80, 78-79 mph. Jumps out of the hand, straight, downhill tilt at times.
CB: 64-65 mph. 12/6 shape, advanced depth, sharp spin and well-above average spin rate; max 2720 RPM with a median of 2644 RPM.
CH: 71-71 mph. Inconsistent action and control. Late run/fade at times.

T-5. Cole Smith, Auburn (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 180-pounds. Well-proportioned frame with strength in lower half.
Delivery: Uptempo delivery, works with pace and effort, stays online and lands square, spins off on finish.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, ¾ slot and plays with effort.
FB: T84, 82-83 mph. Life through the zone, works mostly straight.
CB: 72-73 mph. Similar action and intent as slider. Feel for pitch.
SL:  73-74 mph. Thrown aggressively, short downer action, pitched at the bottom of the zone. 

T-5. Brandon Bak, Plainfield North (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 160-pounds. High-waisted, athletic frame.
Delivery: Segmented, tall and fall delivery, high-front side, works on-line, lands front-toe closed.
Arm Action: LH. Short, clean arm action, plays over-the-top and quick out front.
FB: T82, 81-82 mph. Creates tilt, plays best at the bottom of the zone, occasional late arm-side-run.
CB: 69-70 mph. 1/7 shape, thrown aggressively.
CH: 74-74 mph. Maintains arm speed, works the bottom of the zone, late fading action.

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

John Butka, Burroughs (MO), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-3, 155-pounds. Long-limbed, loose-bodied, highly-projectable, upside frame.
Delivery: Simple, smooth, tall and fall delivery, works across his body and lands front-toe open.
Arm Action: RH. Short, loose arm action, natural ¾ slot. Throws multiple pitches from multiple slots creating a number of unique looks.
FB: T77, 73-77 mph. Run and sink action, plays best at the bottom of the zone.
CB: 61-64 mph. Throws from a side-arm to submarine slot. Sweeping action, feel.
KN: 61-62 mph. Plays with knuckle action. Thrown for strikes. 

Kale Cameron, Marion (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-2, 145-pounds. Long-limbed, projectable frame with plenty of room for continued physical development.
Delivery: Smooth tempo, repeatable, tall and fall delivery, stays on-line, lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Clean, uninterrupted arm action, plays out of a high ¾ slot.
FB: T78, 73-75 mph. Controlled the zone, comes out of the hand easy, slight arm-side-run action.
CB: 65-66 mph. 10/4 sweeping shape, depth at times.
CH: 67-68 mph. Plays at the bottom of the zone.

Mitch Dye, Sacred Heart-Griffin (IL), 2022
Positional Profile: RHP/INF
Body: 6-3, 168-pounds. Projectable and athletic body with room for added strength.
Delivery: Works with tempo and rhythm, tall and fall delivery, finishes on-line.
Arm Action: RH. Clean arm action plays from a high ¾ to over-the-top slot.
FB: T 82, 80-82 mph. Works mostly straight, creates angle and works the bottom of the zone.
CB: 62-63 mph. 126 shape, depth, feel for the zone.
CH: 66-67 mph. Maintains arm speed, works mostly straight.

Caleb Fohne, Highland (IL), 2023
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds. Average, well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Simple, tall and fall delivery, minimal wasted movements and repeats.
Arm Action: LH. Short, compact arm action, plays from an over-the-top slot.
FB: T77, 75-76 mph. Clean out of the hand, late arm-side-run action at times. 2277 max RPM.
CB: 65-66 mph. 1/7 shape, short, late wrinkle, tight spin.
SL:  69-70 mph. Looks to be go-to secondary offering. Max spin rate of 2444 RPM; well-above average for his age. Thrown with confidence and feel for the zone.
CH: 69-70 mph. Feel for pitch, late fade.

Jayden Gegg, Valle Catholic (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 5-9, 172-pounds. Compact, live-body.
Delivery: Smooth delivery, works across his body, creates deception, lands closed.
Arm Action: RH. Short, quick arm action from a ¾ slot.
FB: T81, 80-81 mph. Clean out of the hand, velo seems to play up at times.
CB: 64-65 mph. 10/4 sweeping action, landed for strikes.
CH: 74-75 mph. Thrown with arm speed and intent, fade action, locates to the arm side.

Matthew Hendricks, Waverly (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-0, 155-pounds. Lean, high-waisted frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery with smooth rhythm. Shoulders stay level, body works in line, lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, works from a high 3/4 window.
FB: T80, 79-80 mph. Fastball plays with slight arm side run.
CB: 65-66 mph. Plays with 11/5 shape and occasional depth.
SL: 67-69 mph. Plays with 10/4 shape and sweeping action.
CH: 70 mph. Showed feel for pitch; plays with fading action at the bottom of the strike zone.
SPLT: 67-69 mph. Plays with sinking action low in the zone.

Gavin Kinworthy, Windsor (MO), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-0, 175-pounds. Athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery. Shoulders stay level, high balance point, body works in line. Lands slightly closed.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action from a high 3/4 window. Arm works quick.
FB: T83, 81-82 mph. Plays with occasional arm side run and heavy action.
CB: 70-71 mph. Plays with tight 11/5 shape and occasional sweeping action. 2206 max RPM.
CUT: 79-80 mph. Thrown with aggression and intent, plays with slight cutting action.

Jeffery Morgan, Christian Brothers College (MO), 2022
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Athletic build.
Delivery: Delivery works across his body, slightly tucked at balance point, stays closed down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Long, clean arm action, plays from a ¾ slot.
FB: T79, 77-79 mph. Around the zone, plays mostly straight.
SNK: 68-70 mph. Heavy run and sinking action to the arm-side. Feel.
SL: 68-72 mph. Tight spin, consistently landed for strikes, 10/4 shape.

Kalen Reardon, Effingham (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-1, 185-pounds. Athletic frame with strength throughout.
Delivery: Simple tall and fall delivery, on-line landing, front-toe slightly open.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high ¾ slot.
FB: T76, 75-76 mph. Works mostly straight.
CB: 64-64 mph. 12/6 shape, landed for strikes, tight spin.
SL: 68-69 mph. Inconsistent shape and feel. Thrown aggressively.
CH: 67-69 mph. Considerable fade action, maintains arm speed, swing-and-miss potential.

Adrian Stout, Vienna  (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: 2B/RHP
Body: 5-9, 160-pounds.
Delivery: Smooth tall and fall delivery, repeatable, on-line and balanced throughout.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, over-the-top slot.
FB: T73, 71-72 mph. Plays straight, controlled the zone.
CB: 60-61 mph. 12/6 shape, landed for strikes.
CH: 65-67 mph. Plays straight, located at the bottom of the zone at times.

Jude Tenny, Lafayette (MO), 2022
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-7, 140-pounds. Wiry frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, on-line and directional landing, repeats.
Arm Action: Long arm action, high ¾ slot.
FB: T80, 79-80 mph. Plays straight, finished through the zone. Max of 2284 RPM.
CB: 67-68 mph. 1/7 shape, short wrinkle, consistently landed for strikes.
CH: 71-73 mph. Advanced feel at the bottom of the zone, slight fade.

Toby Turnquist, United (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: LHP
Body: 6-3, 195-pounds. Strong, athletic frame.
Delivery: Drop and drive delivery, shoulders work uphill, lands open.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm action, works from an over the top slot.
FB: T74, 72-73 mph. Fastball plays straight, occasional arm side run.
CB: 59-60 mph. Breaking ball plays with 1/7 shape and occasional depth.
CH: 66-67 mph. Slightly slows down his arm speed. Plays with fading action.

Daniel Vogt, Trico (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-2, 185-pounds. Wide-shouldered, athletic, well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Drop and drive delivery. Shoulders work slightly uphill, body works in line, landing is square.
Arm Action: RH. Long and loose arm action, works from an over the top arm slot.
FB: T83, 80-82 mph. Plays mostly straight, located pitch at the top of the zone. Low spin; median 1474 RPM.
SL: 69-70 mph. Plays with 10/4 shape and hard sweeping action.
CH: 75-75 mph. Has potential to be an out pitch. Maintains arm speed, feel at the bottom of the zone, run and sink.

RELATED CONTENT