The Illinois Scout Blog provides insider information and scouting notes from the PBR Scouting Staff during the season. This running blog will feature information on underclass prospects, unsigned seniors, draft prospects, and anything else that is notable. We will provide a wide range of information, including player evaluations, velocities, pop times, home to first times, and more. Simply put, the Illinois Scout Blog is loaded with information ...

ST. CHARLES EAST VS ST. CHARLES NORTH - 5/6/2023

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Jake Zitella, 3B, St. Charles East, 2023
Illinois commit. Currently ranked No. 14 in the Illinois’ 2023 class and No. 409 nationally. 5-foot-11, 195-pound, physical, broad-shouldered, right-handed hitting third baseman. Hit leadoff and played third base. Highly-impressive all-around day. Got things going right away with a leadoff home run in the top of the first inning. Followed it up with an even further home run in his third at-bat; this time a two-run home run to a similar spot in deep left-center field. Arguably his hardest hit ball was a double off the top of the center field wall in his final at-bat of the day. Finished 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, three RBIs and two-runs scored. Selectively aggressive in the box with all kinds of presence and physicality. Long, fast swing with natural lift through the zone and some of the top bat strength in the Midwest (103 mph exit velocity with wood bat at the Preseason ProCase this winter). Zitella was just as impressive defensively throughout the day. He made a number of plays over the course of the game, testing his ability on the move, as well as his hands on a few in-between tough hops that he handled with no issue. Clean footwork, smooth double play feed, soft confident hands and advanced internal clock where he rarely had to show off his full arm strength. Arm played clean with feel and accuracy across the diamond. Continues to impress everytime we see him. 

Jake Zitella (One of his two HRs)

Joey Arend, OF, St. Charles East, 2025
Uncommitted, currently ranked No. 21 in the Illinois’ 2025 class. 6-foot, 160-pound, wiry, athletic, left/left outfielder. Hit in the two-hole and played right field. Was coming off an impressive pitching performance the night before so he was careful with his arm throughout pregame and the game. Has fluidity and athleticism to all parts of his game. Ranged a number of times in right-field to make a few non-routine plays look relatively easy. Quick first step and easy range. Offensively, he has a calm, relaxed demeanor with fluidity and a hitterish look. Loose, athletic hands with an uphill path and sneaky barrel strength. Finished 0-for-3 but flashed future pull-side power potential with a deep fly out to right-field in his final at-bat. High-follow two-way prospect in the Illinois’ 2025 class.

Jake Greenspan, SS, St. Charles East, 2024
Uncommitted, 5-foot-8, 150-pound, lean, left-handed hitting shortstop. Started at shortstop and hit in the nine-hole. Reached base in every at-bat finishing 2-for-2 with a walk and stolen base. Simple, quiet setup, minimal wasted movement and looks to control the barrel. Above-average bat-to-ball skills, minimal swing and miss. Grounded a ball back up the middle in his first at-bat and singled to right-field in his final at-bat. Defensively, played light on his feet with easy range and a confident glove hand. Comfortable playing on the move and throws naturally from a low-¾ slot. 

Caden Cotteleer, RHP, St. Charles East, 2023
Unsigned senior. Got the start on the mound and went 3.2 innings pitched, scattering three hits, one run and struck out two. Worked with a tough two-pitch mix. Went to a sharp, late biting breaking ball at 73-75 mph frequently to keep hitters off the fastball and to earn swing and misses. The quality breaking ball and ability to throw it at any time made his 79 mph fastball play way up and it seemed to jump through the zone, when he went to it. Threw a high-volume of strikes and allowed his defense to work behind him.

Jackson Spring, SS, St. Charles North, 2024
Uncommitted, currently ranked No. 74 in the Illinois’ 2024 class. 6-foot-1, 170-pound, athletic, broad-shouldered build with room for continued physical development. Started at shortstop and led off. Finished 0-for-4 offensively. Ready to hit when he steps in the box, aggressive early, loose hands, creates whip through the zone. Was pull-side oriented in this look but the swing projects due to the ease in which he creates bat speed and his knack for the barrel; minimal swing and miss throughout the day and recognized spin. Defensively, has the tools to stick on the left-side of the diamond. Plays with a bounce/hop in his step, has energy and pace to his defensive game. Soft hands, clean athletic actions and comfortable playing on the move. Internal clock, feel for the position and arm played accurately across. Upside uncommitted 2024 that can stick on the dirt moving forward. 

Michael Buono, C, St. Charles North, 2024
Uncommitted, 5-foot-7, 140-pound, well-proportioned catcher. Hit in the three-hole and caught. Defensively, steady, reliable defender with the ability to present pitches and stick pitches in and around the zone. Willing blocker and his arm played accurately, true and repeatable out of the crouch. Routinely popped 2.12 in between innings and also had a 2.12 in game on a steal attempt. Offensively, right-handed hitter, stays within himself, uses the whole field and rarely chases out of the zone. Had a ground ball single down the first base line, struck out and grounded to third base; 4.58 down the line.

Keaton Reinke, OF, St. Charles North, 2026
Freshman starting on varsity. 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame. Wide-shouldered, athletic, strong build; highly-advanced frame for a freshman. Right-handed hitter, hit in the eight-hole and started in left field. Finished 1-for-3 with a single to left-field, a line-out to right field and a ground out to third base. Ran a 4.44 on the groundout. Short, direct swing, above-average bat-strength for his age and all kinds of ceiling left to tap into. High-ceiling freshman to follow closely moving forward.

Andrew Good, RHP, St. Charles North, 2024
Uncommitted, 6-foot-2, 180-pound, strong, athletically-built, right-handed pitcher. Got the start on the mound and intrigued in his four innings of work where he struck out seven. Controlled, repeatable delivery, clean arm plays out of a high ¾ slot with seemingly much more in the tank. Works with ease and pace down the mound and flashed a three-pitch repertoire. Fastball plays clean out of the hand, around the zone at 84-85 mph. Held the velocity throughout his four innings. Also went to a 70-72 curveball that worked off an 11/5 plane with occasional depth and bite. Had one changeup at 79 mph, sells the pitch. Uncommitted junior arm with polish to his stuff and should see his velocity continue to tick up moving forward. 

MONTINI VS. ST. IGNATIUS - 5/6/2023

By: Peter Hamot
Area Scout, Staff Writer 

Remo Indomenico, LHP, St. Ignatius, 2025
Uncommitted. Currently ranked No. 48 in the state. Listed at 5-foot-11, 180-pounds, has made some significant strides to his frame since this past summer. Started on the mound for the Wolfpack and impressed despite unfavorable results. Clean mover down the mound, working with a controlled tempo into a drop/drive lower-half that stays in-line with the plate. His arm plays long and loose out of the glove, transitioning into a ¾ release. The southpaw cruised with his fastball at 83-84 mph, touching 85 mph a couple times with sinking action. He often went to a lateral breaking ball with sharp action, flashing depth at times and thrown both for strikes and to put hitters away, 67-70 mph. His final offering was a changeup at 74-76 mph, playing with fade and late drop at times, kept mostly down. Upside southpaw with a quality three pitch mix. High-follow 2025. 

Corbin Klein, OF, St. Ignatius, 2023
Uncommitted. 6-foot-3, 195-pound frame with some strength throughout and round shoulders. Was on the barrel a couple times throughout the game with a double and a single. The right-handed hitter has a balanced setup and works with a quiet load before firing through the zone with a direct and slightly downhill path. Simple operation that looks to be able to hand velocity well, pairing with fast hands. Defensively, looks to be a steady fielder with sure-handed actions and accurate reads off the bat. Arm played accurately to each base in IO with some life out of the hand. Uncommitted 2023 to know. 

Aidan Thaxton, SS, St. Ignatius, 2023
Valparaiso commit. Currently ranked No. 129 in the state. 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame with some room still left for added strength. Impressive defender up the middle; boasts soft hands with fluid actions to make plays look easy. Plays with rhythm and tempo and is comfortable moving to either side of his glove. The right-handed hitter has some sneaky pop in his bat, coiling into his load before firing through with strong hands and a slightly uphill path. Clear feel to hit with a confidence about him in all aspects of his game. Finished the day 1-for-