By PBR Scouting Staff

The Underclass Showcase took place on Sunday, October 22nd at the Max in McCook, Illinois. The event featured around 100 prospects from the class of 2020 and 2021. Today we start the event analysis with a Quick Hits on some of the top performers.

+ Catcher Isaac Crabb first caught our eye last spring starting on varsity at Harrisburg and continued to impress this summer. Harrisburg’s football season just ended Friday as Crabb quarterbacked the Bulldogs to a 5-5 year. On Sunday, Crabb looked primed for baseball season to start, showing improved arm strength (77 mph) and pop times (2.03) out of the crouch and a sense of confidence that jumped off the field. Look for Crabb to be a big newcomer to the Illinois rankings next update.

+ RHP Cooper Herold (Minooka) featured the top fastball of the day sitting 83-84 topping out at 85 mph. The athletic Herold has impressive arm speed and projects to to add velocity. His changeup was his best secondary offering at 72-75 mph with late running action.

SHARPENING THE TOOLS

6-foot-1, 170-pound, INF/RHP Ben Vitas (Providence Catholic, 2020) filled out the stat sheet and he did so with relative ease. Vitas was accurate across the diamond and with minimal effort  topped at 87 mph. At the plate he creates easy bat speed at the plate and registered a 90 mph exit velocity from a tee. He also topped out at 83 on the mound.

A determined looking Tre Hondras (Homewood-Flossmoor, 2020) got the event started on the right foot with an event best 6.80 laser timed 60. Adding to his athleticism he showed skill sets that played both on the infield and outfield along with a compact, quick twitch bat that will likely play a premium in his stock as a recruit.

INF Jacob Mote (Normal University, 2020) again showed why he’s a top 15 prospect in the state. Mote showed improved numbers across the board posting his best 60 at 6.89, up to 87 mph across the diamond, and an event best 97 mph exit velocity from the tee.

OF/INF Tom Jurack (Hinsdale Central, 2020) walked into the showcase as one of the more impressive looking specimens in attendance. At 6-foot-2, 190-pounds he’s a wide shouldered, trim waisted athlete. His bat was his standout tool, and looks to profile as a middle of the lineup right-fielder at the next level, with a big arm and above average runner for his age and size.

2021s

Getting the first look and a first impression on a young freshman is always one of the more exciting parts of scouting/recruiting. Here’s a look at some freshmen that made big first impressions on our staff.

+ Dylan Scafuri (Romeoville) and Alejandro Holguin (St. Rita) both made rather large impressions in the left-handed batters box. Both standing 6-foot-2, and roughly 210-pounds project as potential middle of the lineup power bats. Holguin posted a 92 mph exit velocity while Scafuri topped at 88 mph. On top of that both have a savvy glove hand on the infield. Holguin, a left-handed thrower, has good feel around the bag and a strong arm, while Scafuri currently bounces between both corner spots, giving him more versatility, but ultimately looks to profile best at first base.

Left-handed hitting Braden Sayles (Hononegah) is a 6-foot, 150-pound outfielder with an athletic frame and one of the highest ceilings of any 2021 in attendance. Sayles, who ran a 7.16 60, has fluid defensive actions and an easy, loose swing with advanced feel for the barrel.

2021 RHP Kyle Walter (Minooka) stands at a projectable 6-foot-2, 185-pounds. Walter saw his fastball top out at 83 mph, working with easy effort. His offspeed still have a ways to go, but a high follow arm in the 2021 Class.

+ Brady Hartman (Sherrard) and Jaylon Nauden (Marian Catholic) both look the part of higher end infield prospects. The pair stood out both with their aggressive nature in the box and athletic abilities on the infield.

LHP George Evangelopoulos (Stagg, 2021) worked at 77-78 mph with his fastball and showed an advanced curveball at 68-71 mph with sharp, 2-8 break with the ability to throw it for strikes.

LEFT HANDED BATS

Left-handed hitting is always at a premium and the Underclass Showcase provided plenty of it. On top of the aforementioned big hitting 2021s here’s few more names who really stood out with their left-handed stick Zachary Schwartz (Elk Grove), Michael Pawyza (St. Laurence), Brandon Micetich (Plainfield Central), Zach Pawlak (Plainfield South) and Jacob Ferry (Oswego East).

2020 ARMS

Some projectable 2020 RHP’s who climbed their fastballs into the low 80’s were Will Tenuta (Sandburg), Alex Rodriguez (Bradley-Bourbonnais), Davey Fitzpatrick (Lincoln-Way East), Ernie Day (Taft) and Nicholas Hemken (Edwardsville). Hemken also showed off one of the top arms from the crouch, clocked at 77 mph.

OTHER NOTABLE PERFORMERS

LHP Cole Anderson (St. Laurence, 2020) impressed on the day with his ability to throw four different pitches for strikes.  Working exclusively out of the stretch Anderson showed good balance and sat 78-79 mph with his fastball to go along with a curveball, slider, and changeup.

2020 Alan Brown (Oak Park-River Forest) is a versatile athlete who ran a 6.97 60. Despite working out all over the diamond, Brown looked like a natural outfield where his quick feet play well and arm was true and clocked at 80 mph. At the plate, Brown has a quick bat and spray approach.

There is plenty to dream on with the lean, athletically built, 6-foot, 155-pound, INF Dominic Angellotti (Marian Catholic). The high-upside right-handed hitter flashed a simple, easy swing with fluid rhythm throughout. Defensively, he has a short, quick arm and plenty of arm strength (81 mph) to think he could stick on the left-side of the diamond.

RHP Zachary Ward (Lincoln-Way Central, 2020) worked quick and filled up the zone in his bullpen. At a lanky 6-foot-1, 145-pounds Ward worked at an easy 78-79 topping out at 80 mph with his fastball. His curveball was his best secondary offering at 70-72 mph with short, sharp breaking action.

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