On Feb. 21, the PBR Illinois team hosted the final Unsigned Senior Showcase for 2021 prospects at The MAX in McCook, Ill. The event featured 50 unsigned seniors, with the majority hailing from Illinois.

Previously, our staff collaborated to highlight the biggest takeaways and highlights from Sunday’s showcase and published them within this Quick Hits piece. We later analyzed the traditional statistics we measured at this event and published our findings within this Statistical Analysis story and this TrackMan Files piece. On Monday, we rolled out our first half of this event’s scouting reports, on each of the position players in attendance, and today we’re publishing the pitchers.

This was the day’s most robust group, revealing many upside arms that are typically hard to find this late in the recruiting game. In fact, the top three we ranked below remain uncommitted, and each climbed up the state rankings inside our latest update last week, led by the new No. 39-ranked player in the state’s senior class: RHP Meade Johnson (Mattoon). Johnson couples upper-80s velocity, topping 90 mph, with high spin, a sharp breaking ball, and a sinking changeup. His sturdy 6-foot-2 size is an added boost to his impressive pitch traits, and he’s among the most interesting players in the area not yet committed.

Meade Johnson (2/21/21)

We were also treated to our first look at RHP Chris Whelton (Mount Carmel), and he’s since catapulted himself onto the state’s 2021 rankings, at No. 60 overall, following his performance here. Whelton’s a multi-sport stand-out who’s taken a more concentrated approach to pitching and it’s clearly working, as he was up to 91 mph at this event with a heavy, high-spin fastball, complemented by upside curve and change offspeed offerings.

Loyola Academy’s RHP Noah Klein is the No. 3-ranked player below, but yet another quality uncommitted follow. Klein also reached a 90 mph high at this event, from a rhythmic delivery inside a strong 6-foot-1 frame. His short, loose, and quick arm also created a three-pitch mix to follow.

Finally, the No. 4-ranked arm below is actually one of the first who committed from this event: RHP Conner Lutes (Libertyville), a 6-foot-4, 220-pound righty who’s now headed to Northern Illinois in the fall. We’re eager to see the future destinations of these talented pitchers, so check out the scouting reports below for full insight into their skillsets.

TOP PITCHING PROSPECTS

Best of the Rest (Listed Alphabetically)

Dorian Andrews, Chicago Agricultural Sciences (IL), 2021; Clark Atlanta commit
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 6-1, 195-pounds.
Delivery: Slow tempo, tall and fall delivery, lands slightly closed, works in line with target, balanced finish.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
FB: T81, 79-80 mph. Mostly straight, flashes arm side run. T2086, 2004 average rpm.
CB: 63-64 mph. 11/5 shape, gradual action. T2366, 2219 average rpm.
SL: 65-65 mph. 10/4 shape, gradual action, occasional strikes. T2040, 2006 average rpm.
CH: 69-70 mph. Straight change, downward action. T1536, 1472 average rpm.

Spencer Anton, Westmont (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-5, 180-pounds. Long frame, plenty of room for physical development.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, lands square to target, works in line, repeatable.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
FB: T80, 78-79 mph. Mostly straight, intent to play at top of the zone, works downhill at times. T2550, 2510 average rpm.
CB: 69-70 mph. 10/4 shape, gradual action, thrown for strikes. T2530, 2470 average rpm.
CH: 73-76 mph. Plays down in the zone, has cutting action, feel for pitch. T2473, 2394 average rpm.

Joshua Del Valle, Mt. Carmel  (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds.
Delivery: Drop and drive delivery, lands slightly closed, level shoulders.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm action, over-the-top arm slot.
FB: T78, 75-78 mph. Flashes arm side run, thrown for strikes. T1966, 1916 average rpm.
CB: 63-65 mph. 11/5 shape, gradual action, thrown down in zone. T1816, 1759 average rpm.
CH: 68-73 mph. Straight change, arm speed close to fastball. T1870, 1738 average rpm.

Holter Gette, Batavia (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-2, 186-pounds.
Delivery: Quick tempo, drop and drive delivery, lands square to target, works in line, level shoulders, starts closed out of stretch.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
FB: T84, 81-84 mph. 2-seam type, arm side run present. T1745, 1652 average rpm.
CB: 69-71 mph. 11/5 shape, sharp action. T1760, 1520 average rpm.
CH: 73-75 mph. Fading action, thrown for strikes. T1544, 1467 average rpm.

Jalen Hardiman, Kenwood (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-9, 127-pounds.
Delivery: Smooth tempo, repeatable delivery, lands closed, works across body some.
Arm Action: LH. Long arm action, high 3/4 arm slot
FB: T74, 72-73 mph. Mostly straight, plays on both sides of plate. T2119, 2048 average rpm.
SL: 65-66 mph. Small 2/8 shape, tight action, flashes feel. T2087, 2024 average rpm.
CH: 67-69 mph. Arm speed similar to fastball, downward action. T1709, 1553 average rpm.

Mateo Herrera, Muskego (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: 2B/RHP
Body: 5-7, 193-pounds.
Delivery: Rhythm in tempo, repeatable delivery, level shoulders, balanced finish.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, over-the-top arm slot.
FB: T76, 71-75 mph. Mostly straight, plays down in the zone. T2065, 2014 average rpm.
CB: 62-65 mph. Small 11/5 shape, gradual action, intent to throw down in the zone, flashes feel. T2146, 2063 average rpm.
CH: 63-66 mph. Straight change, arm speed similar to fastball. T1766, 1666 average rpm.

Kyle Jiracek, Grafton (WI), 2021
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 154-pounds.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, lands closed, works across his body, repeatable mechanics, balanced finish.
Arm Action: LH. Short, loose arm action, deceptive low 3/4 arm slot.
FB: T75, 72-74 mph. Run/sink action, thrown for strikes. T2021, 1962 average rpm.
SL: 63-64 mph. Small 2/8 shape, tight action, ability to throw for strikes. T2133, 2085 average rpm.
CH: 68-70 mph. Sink/fade action, advanced feel. T1537, 1455 average rpm.

Noah Kalicki, Vernon Hills (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 5-11, 175-pounds.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, smooth rhythm, level shoulders, lands square, works in line.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, over-the-top arm slot.
FB: T73, 72-73 mph. Mostly straight, consistent strikes, works down in the zone. T1727, 1683 average rpm.
CB: 63-64 mph. 11/5 shape, gradual action. T1681, 1605 average rpm.
CH: 68-69 mph. Sinking action, thrown for strikes. T1458, 1357 average rpm.

Bryce Nicholls, Mt. Zion (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-10, 190-pounds.
Delivery: Smooth tempo, repeatable delivery, lands square to target, works in line.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
FB: T76, 75-76 mph. Mostly straight, works downhill at times. T2392, 2316 average rpm.
CB: 62-64 mph. 12/6 shape, gradual action. T2210, 2144 average rpm.
CH: 70-73 mph. Straight change, arm speed similar to fastball. T2014, 1890 average rpm.

Timmy O'Brien, Maine South (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-3, 185-pounds. Long frame with room for physical development.
Delivery: Smooth rhythm, repeatable delivery, works in line to target, lands square.
Arm Action: RH. Easy, short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
FB: T84, 82-84 mph. Arm side run, thrown for strikes. T2269, 2108 average rpm.
CB: 69-70 mph. 11/5 shape, gradual action, advanced spin. T2505, 2473 average rpm.
CH: 75-77 mph. Downward action, arm speed similar to fastball. T1518, 1494 average rpm.

Hunter Parkman, Grant (IL), 2021; Milwaukee School of Eng. commit
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-2, 170-pounds.
Delivery: Smooth rhythm, simple, repeatable delivery, lands closed, level shoulders.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
FB: T83, 80-82 mph. Mostly straight, plays downhill at times. T2372, 2279 average rpm.
CB: 69-71 mph. 12/6 shape, gradual action. T2438, 2345 average rpm.
CH: 74-75 mph. Fading action, arm speed similar to fastball. T1896, 1831 average rpm.

Dylan Rudolph, Andrew (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, slow tempo, lands square to target, works in line.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, high 3/4 arm slot.
FB: T77, 76-77 mph. Mostly straight, four-seam. T1649, 1592 average rpm.
CB: 63-66 mph. 11/5 shape, gradual action. T1962, 1837 average rpm.
CH: 65-69 mph. Straight change. T1473, 1376 average rpm.
CUT: 67-69 mph. Small cutting action, strikes at times.

Jalen Williams, Joliet West (IL), 2021
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-10, 147-pounds.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, lands square, works in line to target, level shoulders.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, over -the-top arm slot.
FB: T80, 76-79 mph. Mostly straight, thrown for strikes. T2135, 1959 average rpm.
CB: 66-68 mph. 11/5 shape, gradual action, feel for it. T1597, 1469 average rpm.
CH: 67-70 mph. Fading action, works arm side of the plate, arm speed similar to fastball. T1604, 1486 average rpm.

RELATED CONTENT