Top Tier North: Takeaways

LHP Nolan Girard (Glenbrook North, 2024) is a 6-foot-3, 190-pound, strong, left-handed pitcher who displayed a controlled tempo in his drop and drive delivery, working on-line down the mound. He hides the ball out of the glove and works out of a low ¾ release with some quickness out front. Girard’s mix was highlighted by a fastball that had life to it out of the hand, was in the zone 71% of the time and topped at 90.7 mph. Girard complemented the fastball with a short-breaking 69-71 mph curveball and a changeup that worked with horizontal action at the bottom of the zone at 74-75 mph. 

Nolan Girard

C Peter Visconti (St. Joseph Catholic, 2025) is a recent PBR Future Games attendee for Team Wisconsin who took one of the louder rounds of BP at the Scout Day. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound right-handed hitter displayed the quickest bat of the event when it comes to bat speed; 74.8 mph average. Visconti stays short and compact to the baseball with a polished whole field approach. He also produced the second highest max exit velocity at the event 100.3 mph and a max distance of 362 feet. Behind the plate, he is athletic out of the crouch with a quick arm and topped at 78 mph with a low pop time of 2.03. He is also a 7.15 runner in the 60. One of the top uncommitted 2025 position players in Wisconsin.

MIF Julian Ashley-Friedman (Barrington, 2025) is another prospect who stood out throughout the summer, this Scout Day being one of them. The 6-foot, 180-pound, right-handed hitting middle infielder has more to come in his frame and entire game. The 7.13 runner has proven this summer to be a steady, sound baseball player who takes quality at-bats and has a knack for the barrel in game. He showed much of the same in this BP session showing strong hands, compact swing, bat speed (T81.6 mph, third best at the event) was consistently on time and driving balls to the pull-side gap. Defensively, he is fundamentally sound up the middle with quality, early glove presentation, soft hands and clean footwork. His arm is plenty strong for the left-side topping at 88 mph. On the rise 2025 who can stick on the infield. 

Julian Ashley-Friedman

One of the better incoming sophomores at the event was MIF Peter LaFontaine (Loyola Academy, 2026). LaFontaine carries strength in his 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame and showed above-average tools across the board, for his age. He swings an intentful right-handed bat with quick hands and lifted approach, T92.4 mph exit velocity, as well as a max distance of 339 feet. Defensively, he plays with active, quick feet while flashing actions and a strong arm that topped at 85 mph (tied for 3rd-highest at the event).

OF Jack Stefani (Glenbrook South, 2026) is a 6-foot, 170-pound, athletically-built, switch-hitter to follow in the class. Stefani showed true switch-hit ability with a fluid stroke from both sides, particularly the left, where he flashed loose, quick hands, stayed on-plane with natural lift and drove balls to both gaps. Posted a max exit velocity of 88 mph during BP and his furthest batted ball traveled 330’. Defensively, he flashed steady hands and a quick arm that topped at 82 mph from the outfield.  

INF Robert Clingan (Loyola Academy) was a 2026 infielder with upside to know coming out of the event. Clingan moved around with pace on the infield with sure hands, smooth double play feed and his arm topped at 78 mph. Offensively, his right-handed swing worked on plane and he registered an 86.3 mph exit velocity. 

C/RHP Nick Sichel (New Trier, 2026) is a sophomore to know moving forward. Listed at 5-foot-10, 175-pounds, the right-handed hitter has an easy, fluid, strong, loose right-handed swing that stays on-plane with natural lift through the zone while driving balls to both gaps. Sichel registered an average hand speed of 23.5 mph, top-six of the event. Defensively he is a steady defender behind the plate with strong wrists and works to present pitches. He also topped at 74 mph from the crouch.

Nick Sichel