By Matt Yarber and Sean Duncan

The Prospect Identification Showcase at the Quarry Fieldhouse in Romeoville on Feb. 20 featured a wide-range of talent from all classes. Here, we take a look at the Class of 2014 and 2015 prospects at the event. While there were several players who showed promise, Cody Freund, a left-handed hitting catcher from McHenry West HS, impressed the most with his defensive abilities.

A look at the 2014 and 2015 prospects at the event:

1. Cody Freund, C, McHenry West HS, Class of 2014
Freund showed extremely well from behind the plate, posting the best pop time of 1.91. He followed up that time with pop times of 1.95 and 1.97 with throws that were dead on the bag and clocked at 78 mph.  The 5-foot-10, 140-pound left-handed hitter will continue to get better as he physically develops.  Offensively, Freund showcased a level, line-drive left-handed swing. He hits with an open setup and demonstrated some barrel whip through the zone.

2. Jacob Perreira INF/RHP, Hanover Central HS (IN), Class of 2015
Perreira is a 5-foot-9, 180-pound multi-positional player who showed well in all facets of the game.  On the mound, Perreira impressed with his four-pitch repertoire and all-around feel. His fastball topped at 79 mph with arm-side life. His 73-75 mph cutter looks to be a promising pitch, as it displayed late movement. He also threw a 67-69 mph changeup, and a 66 mph curveball.  Defensively, Perriera showed well at third base with soft hands and a clean exchange.  He fields well on the move, playing through the baseball and was clocked at 75 mph from across the diamond.

3. Tommy Kiriakopoulos, 1B/RHP, Huntley HS, Class of 2014
Kiriakopoulos is a 6-foot, 180-pound two-way player who impressed at the plate with his ability to square up the baseball.  Kiriakopoulos showed fluidity and rhythm in his swing as he laced line drives to all fields with his level bat path.  He displayed good gap-to-gap power and created whip through the zone.  On the mound, Kiriakopoulos throws from an over the top slot with a loose backside arm action.  His repertoire includes four pitches, including a fastball that sat at 77-79 mph.  His off-speed pitches included a slider, in the 65-68 range, and a 60-62 mph curveball, both with similar action. He also has a changeup that checked in at 57-59 mph.

4. Dominic Pilas, 2B/RHP, Mt. Carmel HS, Class of 2015
Pilas is a 5-foot-8, 150-pound switch-hitting two-way player who showed well defensively.  Pilas showcased good lateral range, in addition to soft hands, and quick, concise footwork.  He impressed with his ability to play through the baseball and playing the ball on the run.  He was clocked at throwing 75 mph across the diamond.  Offensively, Pilas is a switch-hitter who showed more polish from the right side.  On the mound, Pilas has three pitches: a 75-79 mph fastball, a 68-69 changeup with sink, and a 69-72 mph cutter that has some two-plane action.

5. Rhett Rapshus, RHP/INF, Lake Park HS, Class of 2014
Rapshus is a 6-foot1, 175-pound two-way player who impressed on the mound with his quick arm action.  Rapshus commanded three pitches for strikes, with his best pitch being a-67 mph curveball with a sharp 11/5 break.  His fastball sat at 79-81 mph.  He also had a 69-72 mph changeup with slight arm side run.  At the plate, Rapshus has an open setup and a level bat path.  Rapshus showed good extension after contact as he sprayed line drives to all fields.

6. Christopher Jones, 1B/LHP, Simeon HS, Class of 2014
Jones is a physical 6-foot, 235-pounder who impressed the most at first base with his soft hands and good foot work around the bag.  Jones has an extremely strong lower half, which uses to his advantage at the plate.  The left-handed hitter squared up the ball consistently with line drives to the opposite field.  Jones also ran a 4.73 home to first.

7. Michael McGee, 3B, Plainfield East HS, Class of 2015
McGee is a 5-foot-9, 155-pound third baseman who showed solid hands and good footwork defensively.  At the plate, McGee showed some rhythm, starting from a crouched setup while demonstrating a level bat path.  McGee has a fundamental approach at the plate with some bat whip as he sprayed line drives to all fields.  Additionally, McGee ran a 4.59 home to first.

8. Dustin Uher, LHP, Benet Academy HS, Class of 2015
Uher is a 5-foot-4, 115-pound left-handed pitcher who showed impressive feel and command for four pitches. Uher, though slight of size, has a quick, easy arm and showed movement on every one of his pitches.  He threw a 66-68 mph fastball with run, a 53-54 mph curveball that showed late action, a 60-62 mph changeup with arm side run, and a 62 mph slider that showed tight spin and late break. 

9. Bryan Cynova, SS/OF, Central HS, Class of 2014
Cynova is a 6-foot-2, 155-pound shortstop. Offensively, he starts from a  slightly open setup and maintained good balance through his swing. He demonstrated some pull-side power potential during his round of BP. Defensively, Cynova showed some actions in the field and was clocked at 73 mph from across the diamond.  Additionally, Cynova ran a 4.47 home to first.

10. Greg Anast, OF, Stevenson HS, Class of 2014
Anast is a 5-foot-8, 165-pound outfielder who has a level, line drive swing at the plate.  Anast uses a balanced setup and showed rhythm in his swing as he routinely found the barrel.  Defensively, Anast showed reliable hands and took solid routes to the baseball; he was clocked at 72 mph with accurate tosses.  Additionally, Anast ran a 4.79 home to first.

Best of the Rest (Alphabetically)

Abdiel Armenta, RHP, Walther Lutheran HS, Class of 2014
Armenta is a 6-foot-1, 237-pound right-handed pitcher who showcased a three-pitch repertoire: a 77-79 mph fastball, a 60-63 mph curveball, and a 72-75 mph changeup. 

David Berger, OF, Ida Crown HS, Class of 2014
Berger is a 5-foot-8, 140-pound left-handed outfielder who features a level swing at the plate.  Defensively, Berger was clocked at 70 mph and ran 4.2 home to first.

Joseph Dahlke, C, Lakes HS, Class of 2014
Dahlke is an athletic 6-foot-1, 190-pound catcher. Offensively, he displayed strong hands in which he used to get through the zone and consistently make hard contact.  Defensively, Dahlke was clocked at 68 mph from the crouch and had a best pop time of 2.02. 

Andrew Doran, SS, Plainfield South HS, Class of 2014
Doran is a 6-foot, 157-pound shortstop. Offensively, he has a crouched setup at the plate and takes an economical approach to the baseball.  Doran ran a 4.68 home to first and was clocked at 71 mph from across the diamond.

Devonte Fleming, MIF, Hillcrest HS, Class of 2014
Fleming is a 5-foot-9, 180-pound middle infielder who ran a 4.28 home to first, which was one of the top five times of the event.  Fleming was clocked at 72 mph from across the diamond.  Offensively, Fleming has an open setup and maintained good balance throughout his swing.

Shane Gustafson, SS, Crystal Lake South HS, Class of 2014
Gustafson is a 6-foot, 140-pound shortstop who exhibited some fluidity and whip in his swing.  He has a level bat path and overall fundamental approach as he sprayed line drives to all fields.  Defensively, Gustafson was clocked at 70 mph from across the infield and ran a 4.79 home to first.

Michael Hoover, 1B, Thornton HS, Class of 2014
Hoover is a 5-foot-9, 165-pound first baseman who has a level line drive swing.  He starts slightly open and used his lower half to get good rotation.  Defensively, Hoover was clocked at 68 mph from across the infield and ran a 4.52 home to first.

Adam Kalish, 3B/RHP, Huntley HS, Class of 2014
Kalish is a 5-foot-10, 165-pound two-way player who opened eyes with his submarine delivery.  Kalish kept his 68-69 mph fastball low in the zone, where it showed run and sink.  His off-speed pitches consist of a 63 mph curveball, and a 59-62 mph changeup.  Defensively, Kalish has an accurate arm that was clocked at 70 mph from across the diamond.  Additionally, Kalish ran a 4.87 home to first.

Joe Kuczek, RHP/1B, St. Charles North HS, Class of 2014
Kuczek is a 6-foot-5, 220-pound two-way player who has a balanced setup with a smooth load.  He maintains good balance as he sprayed line drives to all fields.

Payton Lykins, MIF, McHenry HS, Class of 2014
Lykins is a 5-foot-8, 135-pound middle infielder who showed well at the plate.  Lykins consistently barreled up the barrel with his easy line drive swing.  Defensively, Lykins showed quick feet and solid hands up the middle.   Additionally, he ran a 4.53 home to first.

Trevor Marevka, C, Peotone HS, Class of 2014
Marevka is a 6-foot-2, 240-pound catcher who was clocked at 68 mph from the crouch and had a best pop time of 2.22.  Offensively, Marevka has a balanced setup and uses his strength to create some pop in his swing.

Nick McKinney, OF/INF, Downers Grove South HS, Class of 2014
McKinney is a lanky 6-foot, 142-pound multi-positional player who features a level swing with a short stride to the baseball.  McKinney showed the ability to make hard contact during his round of BP.  Defensively, McKinney was clocked at 68 mph from the outfield position and 67 mph from across the diamond.  Additionally, McKinney ran a 4.83 home to first.

Robert Nagel, OF/3B, McHenry West HS, Class of 2014
Nagle is a 5-foot-7, 128-pound multi-positional player who showed solid actions defensively.  Nagle played the outfield naturally, taking concise routes to the ball while playing through the baseball. He made accurate throws from the outfield (77mph) and third base (71 mph).  At third base, Nagel again showed athletic actions.

Drew Nagode, 2B/3B, Naperville North HS, Class of 2014
Nagode is a 5-foot-8, 150-pound infielder who has a short stride and a balanced setup at the plate. Defensively, Nagode showed solid hands and was clocked at 75 mph from across the diamond.  Additionally, Nagode ran a 4.52 home to first. 

Joseph O’Hara, OF, Reavis HS, Class of 2014
O’Hara is a 6-foot-1, 185-pound is a left-handed hitting outfielder who has a level line drive swing.  O’Hara made solid contact at the plate and used the opposite field well.  Defensively, O’Hara was clocked at 72 mph from the outfield.  Additionally, O’Hara ran a 4.82 home to first.

Corte Trebacz, C/INF, Marian Central Catholic HS, Class of 2014
Trebacz is a 5-foot-7, 154-pound multi-positional player who impressed at the plate with his compact swing.  Trebacz uses an active lower half and maintains excellent balance throughout contact as he consistently squared up line drives to all fields.  Defensively, Trebacz was clocked at 65 mph from the crouch and had a best pop time of 2.27.  Additionally, Trebacz ran a 4.73 home to first.

Brennan Vaughn, OF, Schoolcraft HS, Class of 2014
Vaughn is a 5-foot-11, 160-pound outfielder who ran a 4.71 home to first and was clocked at 78 mph from the position.  Vaughn moved well in the outfield and played through the ball well.

Class of 2012-2013 Prospects

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