On Aug. 6 and 7, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff hosted the third annual Illinois State Games at Rantoul Family Sports Complex in Rantoul, competing in an event featuring the top players in the state, spanning grad classes 2025 through 2027.

For everything you need to know about the event, like stat leaders, historical context, commits, and more, click HERE. To see a full list of the players that attended, click HERE.

Shortly after the event, our staff published a full data dive at this event, where we analyzed several standouts from Tuesday's workout day, as well as the arms who took the mound in Rantoul. You can find both of those here: Position Players | Pitchers.

Now, at the event's conclusion, our staff has compiled our scout notes from our two-day trip, and we'll begin to roll out takeaways pieces over the next few days, starting with the 2025s to be followed by the 2026s and 2027s. Below you'll find scout notes and videos on an abundance of soon-to-be seniors from the event, broken down by teams.

TEAM 1 - RED

+ MIF Brady Booth (Tremont) stands in an athletic 5-foot-11, 162-pound frame with room still to come. During gameplay, Booth impressed with his defensive actions up the middle, showing easy range to both sides with soft hands and a strong arm (86 mph) across the diamond. He showed well during the showcase portion, too, producing a max exit velocity of 93.7 mph (avg. 89.7 mph) and a max batted distance of 361 feet, while also producing an average bat speed of 72.9 mph. A 6.97 runner, Booth is an uncommitted name-to-follow in Illinois.

+ OF Ian Hazelip (Lincoln-Way West) is an uncommitted follow from this year’s State Games. Possessing a presently strong and athletic, 5-foot-10, 178-pound frame, Hazelip had a strong showing during Tuesday’s showcase. He began the event by running a 7.08 60 time, followed by a quality round of batting practice where he posted a max exit velocity of 97 mph and an average of 85.3 mph.

+ INF Carter Harrington (Collinsville) is a long-levered, upside right-handed hitter with loose hands that stay through the zone. A 6-foot, 165-pound frame, Harrington had a strong round of batting practice, posting a max exit velocity of 99 mph and a max batted distance of 365 feet. Harrington also ran a 7.08 60 while posting a max infield velocity of 85 mph. During gameplay, he tallied two hits, one being a double with two runs scored. Uncommitted prospect to follow from Southern Illinois.

+ OF Edgar Santos (Downers Grove North) left the event one of the bigger winners after showing well during both the showcase and in-game portion of the State Games. Santos stands in an athletic 5-foot-9, 167-pound frame with strength throughout. He showed a calm approach from the right-side of the plate, barreling balls throughout, including a double off the wall and another triple in the gap. He showed feel for the zone with above-average bat-to-ball skills, and provided quality two-strike approaches throughout the event. Santos started the showcase portion of the event by running a 6.72 60 time, followed by a 32.2 inch vertical jump. He took a strong round of batting practice, producing a max exit velocity of 95.3 mph and an average of 88.8 mph. Rounding out his event, Santos showed well in the outfield, moving around with ease and showing the ability to track balls in-game. An uncommitted follow in the state’s 2025 class.

+ LHP Sean Sanderson (Mundelein) is an intriguing uncommitted arm in the incoming-senior class. A strong, 6-foot-1, 206-pounds, Sanderson is an easy mover with minimal effort, paired with a long, loose arm action that sat 84-85 mph with his fastball, topping out at 86.7 mph with an average of -15.3 inches of horizontal movement. He mixed in a 69-72 mph curveball that played with short horizontal break, and an upper-70s change-up with arm-side fade. He finished his outing with two strikeouts in 1 ⅔ innings pitched.

+ Illinois-Chicago commit, RHP/MIF Sean Cody (Richards) is a name our staff has continued to hear about over the past six months. Standing in an athletic 5-foot-11, 173-pound frame with lean strength to pair, Cody showed well on the mound in his two-inning stint. He’s an athletic mover with a long arm path and quickness out front, running his fastball up to 90 mph, but sitting mostly upper-80s. His curveball sat 70-73 mph with 11/5 shape, and he showed a change-up that sat 73-78 mph. He finished his two-inning stint with three strikeouts, one walk and one hit allowed. He recorded some impressive metrics at the plate during the showcase, posting a max exit velocity of 100.7 mph and an average exit velocity of 95.6 mph (third highest at the event), while sending his farthest hit ball 365 feet. His bat speed metrics were equally as impressive, posting an average bat speed of 75.4 mph. A 6.88 runner, Cody showed well up the middle with his glove, paired with a strong arm that was up to 87 mph across the diamond.

TEAM 2 - KELLY GREEN

+ OF Connor MacMillan (Normal University) consistently showed well throughout the week of the event. Listed at 6-foot, 163-pounds, MacMillan still has some strength to tap into in the coming years. A left-handed hitter, he looks the part in the box and pairs it with athletic hands and a long/loose swing that looks to have future power to project on. A 7.10 runner in the 60, he’s able to cover quality ground in the outfield with efficient routes and reads off the bat. His arm is plenty strong, topping out at 89 mph from a crow hop.

+ RHP Jackson Beiler (Mt. Zion) is an upside right-hander to know from the event. Listed at 6-foot-3, 180-pounds, Beiler has a lean, projectable frame that still holds room to fill out. He keeps his delivery simple with a controlled tempo, working with a high leg-kick into balance point before working with a controlled stride that stays in-line. He has a longer arm swing out of the glove, delivering his arsenal from a high ¾ slot. He showed a quality three pitch mix, starting with a mid-80s fastball (T86 mph). His curveball plays off a downer 11/5 plane with depth and feel, 70-72 mph. He rounded out his arsenal with a straight changeup at 78-79 mph.

+ 1B Justin Garcia-Hernandez (St. Patrick) swung one of the heaviest barrels we have seen in some time in his workout, reaching up to an eye-opening 110 mph for his max exit velocity. Standing in at 6-foot-4, 241-pounds, Garcia-Hernandez has plenty of strength throughout his frame with broad shoulders. The right-handed hitter carried his impressive power into game play, sending a ball out to right field for a home run, despite getting jammed on the pitch. His hand and bat-speed are both off the charts, averaging 26 mph for his hands and 81.4 mph with the bat.

TEAM 3 - ROYAL BLUE

+ INF/RHP Owen Roberts (Waubonsie Valley), who is coming off a highly-impressive spring season where he earned Prep Baseball Second Team All-State honors, had a strong showing on both sides of the ball at this year’s event. Standing in an athletic 6-foot, 180-pound frame with lean strength throughout, Roberts showed well in his two-inning stint, striking out two, allowing one run and one hit. He’s a clean mover on the mound with a quick arm, showing a fastball that sat 89-90 mph, topping out at 90.9 mph with clear ride through the zone. He spun the curveball well, averaging 2448 rpm in the 78-81 mph range, and showed feel for a low-80s breaking ball as well. At the plate, the right-handed hitter had multiple quality barrels, including a double to deep center field, recording a 4.58 run time on the turn. A 6.96 runner, Roberts produced a max exit velocity of 95.5 mph (90 mph avg.), a 70.2 mph average bat speed, and an 89 mph infield velocity. A must-know uncommitted 2025.

+ Recent Southwestern Illinois JC commit, OF Gavin Bailey (Mahomet-Seymour) is a prospect that burst onto our scene this past winter, and continued to have an impressive high school season. He’s a talented left-handed bat that produced a max exit velocity of 94 mph (87 mph avg.) during his round of batting practice, including an average batted distance of 300 feet, the fifth highest of the entire event. During gameplay, Bailey continued to show well, tallying two hits in four at-bats. A follow in the incoming-senior class.

+ Uncommitted INF Dominic Bonilla (Chicago Hope) had a strong showing at the plate during his two days at the State Games. A left-handed hitter with above-average bat-to-ball skills, Bonilla delivered three hits on the week, including a no-doubt pull-side home run. A 5-foot-10, 194-pound build with strength throughout, Bonilla posted a max exit velocity of 97.5 mph during his showcase, staying short and direct to the plate with a flat bat through the zone. An uncommitted follow after recently opening up his recruiting.

+ RHP Ryan Kelly (Lincoln-Way East) had a loud showing in his outing. He’s an athletic mover with a high, quick leg-lift into balance point, before firing down the mound with an explosive drop/drive lower-half that stays in-line. He has a compact arm circle out of the glove that plays into a ¾ to higher ¾ slot. He attacked the zone with three pitches, starting with his fastball that sat around 84-86 mph, topping out at 87 mph. He used his curveball to get some weak swings, thrown with fastball intent and playing with depth, 73-74 mph. He briefly flashed a changeup to round out his arsenal, playing with slight fading action in the mid-70s.

TEAM 4 - BURNT ORANGE

+ Recent Parkland College commit, MIF Nik Nelson (DeKalb), showed well during the gameplay portion of the State Games. Nelson is a high-motor middle-infielder that had a knack for putting together quality at-bats during the event. The left-handed hitter has a simple, repeatable swing that uses the whole field. Defensively, he showed range and a trust in his hands that should allow him to stick on the dirt at the next level.

+ Recent McHenry Country JC commit, MIF Aadden Guerrero (St. Laurence) had a quality showing at last week’s Illinois State Games. An athletic frame with some present strength, Guerrero stands in a 5-foot-10, 169-pound frame. Defensively, he has soft hands and fluid footwork and showed the ability to range to both sides of the ball. He has fluid pre-pitch rhythm from the right side of the plate, tallying one hit throughout gameplay. During the showcase, Guerrero’s hardest hit ball was recorded at 96.4 mph (88.8 mph avg.), while also running a 6.93 60 time and recording an 85 mph bullet on his best ball across the diamond.

+ RHP Gavin Lawrence (Washington) owns an athletic frame with present strength throughout. He moves well on the mound and has a long, loose arm path out of a ¾ slot, sitting mostly 83-85 mph with his fastball. He showed feel for a low-70s breaking ball that had an average of -16.3 inches of horizontal movement (T-24.9”), and a slider that sat 75-76 mph with an average of -14.1 inches of horizontal movement. He rounded out his four-pitch repertoire with a change-up, playing mostly straight at 78 mph. An uncommitted arm-to-know out of Central Illinois.

+ RHP Patrick Kennedy (Champaign Central) is an intriguing uncommitted arm from the event. An athletic 6-foot, 181-pound frame with more to come, Kennedy showed easy, loose actions on the mound with a clean arm to pair. His fastball was up to 81.7 mph, playing mostly straight, and he also mixed in a slider at 70-72 mph with short, horizontal break. He attacked the zone with strikes throughout his two innings, tallying two strikeouts and one earned run.

+ LHP Luke Hickey (Fenwick) provided an upside look on the mound. The high-waisted southpaw stands in at 6-foot-2, 160-pounds with added room to fill out the frame. Hickey punched out two batters over his two innings of work and showed high-feel for the zone with his 82-84 mph (T85) fastball (78% strikes). Pairing off his fastball was a sweeping-type curveball at 68-71 mph, and a cutter at 75-77 mph that was thrown for strikes 60% of the time.

TEAM 5 - SILVER

+ RHP Josh Marzec (Lake Zurich) is a must-know uncommitted arm in the incoming senior class. Standing in a projectable 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame with athleticism, Marzec showed a clean and easy operation with a long, loose and clean arm out of a high ¾ slot. His fastball sat 85-87 mph, topping out at 88 mph with mostly straight actions. He mixed in a low-70s breaking ball with 11/5 shape (-15.3” avg. HM) and showed feel to spin it for strikes, and he rounded out his three-pitch mix with a 79-82 mph change-up that produced fade at times (avg. 14.9” HM). He finished his two-inning outing with one strikeout and one walk. A arm-to-know in Illinois’ 2025 class.

+ INF Dane Hrasky (O’Fallon) is a speedy infielder who showed well at the State Games. He began his impressive showing during the workout portion of the event where the 6-foot, 155-pound prospect ran a 6.47 60, good for second-best for the event. In gameplay, Hrasky was on the barrel from the right side, paired with easy foot speed out of the box. His swing is simple and flat through the zone, allowing for line drive contact to all fields. Defensively, Hrasky was consistent and showed reliable hands up the middle to pair with his rangy athleticism.

+ OF Filippo Baratta (Lincoln-Way Central) is an uncommitted outfielder to follow. A lean and athletic 5-foot-10, 157-pounds, Baratta showed well on both sides of the ball. Defensively, he has fluid movements and routes, giving a natural look in center field. The right-handed hitter looked comfortable against tough arms at the State Games - working quality at-bats and finding barrels. Baratta also looked the part on workout day; running a 6.65 60, posting a max vertical of 33”, reaching 86 mph on a crow hop, while also putting up a max exit velocity of 93.7 mph.

+ OF Luke McClure (Champaign Central; Wright State commit) had a quality showing with the bat during gameplay and the workout portion of the event. The left-left prospect is an athletic 5-foot-10, 162-pounds, and swings a flat and repeatable path at the plate that can handle velo and find the barrel. While taking batting practice, he posted an average exit velocity of 90.8 mph (T94), which had him among the event’s leaders for that particular metric. McClure stood out in other areas on the workout day as well - running the third-fastest 60 time for the event at 6.48 seconds, and also tossing one of the hardest bullets from the crow hop at 88 mph.

+ RHP Will Carter (Whitney Young) is an intriguing uncommitted pitching prospect to note. Carter stands at a lean 6-foot-6, 192-pounds, and boasted a high-carry (avg. 19.5” IVB) fastball at 86-88 mph (T89.8), while we have seen him run it up to 92 mph in the past. He would flash feel to spin the breaking ball (T2384 rpm) at 71-75 mph, and also showed a changeup at 81-82 mph.

+ C Zach Pomatto (Joliet Catholic) is an uncommitted backstop to know from the event. A sturdy and strong 6-foot, 218-pounds, Pomatto stood out on both sides of the ball during gameplay. Defensively, he works hard behind the plate, trying to present pitches around the zone, while also being a willing blocker. Offensively, the left-handed hitter uses a simple, compact swing that was on the barrel for a double in game one of the State Games.

TEAM 6 - BLACK

+ LHP/OF Sam Driscoll (Mt. Zion) provided an upside look on both sides of the ball throughout the State Games. Starting with the bat, the left-left uncommitted prospect reached a max exit velocity of 97.2 mph during batting practice, while putting up numerous quality at-bats during gameplay. Driscoll is an athletic 5-foot-9, 166-pounds, with easy foot speed - evident by his 6.64 60 time, as well as numerous home to first times under 4.65. He also showed well on the bump, sitting 85-88 mph with a fastball that played with carry (avg. 15.3” IVB), challenging hitters in the zone with the pitch. Driscoll’s slider showed sharp spin (avg. 2426 rpm) at 74-77 mph to earn swing and miss. He would also turn over a changeup at 74-77 mph with downer fade to complete his pitch mix.

+ RHP Adam Gerl (Lincoln-Way West) is another arm for Team 6 that showed well - punching out three over his two innings of work. Gerl presents a sturdy frame at 5-foot-8, 177-pounds, and showed strike feel with his two-pitch mix. His fastball sat 80-83 mph (T84) with arm-side run (avg. 15.3” HM) to it, while the curveball showed 11/5 bite at 70-74 mph.

+ INF Ryan Lazewski (Fenwick) is a must-know uncommitted name to know in the state. Presenting a long-levered, projectable frame at 6-foot, 162-pounds, Lazewski showed well on both sides of the ball throughout game play. Offensively, the left-handed hitter has an athletic swing through the zone that produced line-drive contact to pair with a simple and patient approach. To go with the in-game results, Lazewski also had a loud round of batting practice - posting an average exit velocity of 91.3 mph (T94.5). Defensively, primarily playing up the middle, he showed a natural feel for the glove in both spots paired to go with an accurate arm that should allow him to stick up the middle moving forward.

+ RHP Brady Backes (La Salle-Peru) provided an intriguing look over his two innings of work. A strong 6-foot-4, 210-pounds, Backes flashed the ability to throw all of his offerings for strikes. His fastball was firm at 84-87 mph (T88) with arm-side run to pair. He complimented his fastball with an 11/5 curveball sitting 71-72 mph that had depth with over 2200 rpm on average, paired with a sharp slider at 74-77 mph that had over 2400 rpm on average. Backes finished with two punchouts over two hitless innings.

+ CIF Keegan Schultz (Altamont) is a strong 5-foot-11, 211-pound right-handed bat that showed well. During gameplay, he was on the barrel consistently - homering to deep center in his final game. Schultz also showed that same barrel strength during batting practice, reaching a max exit velocity of 90.4 mph, while flashing feel for staying on the barrel.

+ CIF Sam Mitre (Marquette Academy) is a physical 6-foot, 242-pound right-handed hitter who showed well during both the workout and gameplay. Starting with batting practice, Mitre posted some of the louder numbers for the entire event with a max exit velocity of 101.2 mph, an average exit velocity of 93 mph, and a max batted ball distance of 357 feet. The power translated into gameplay where he was consistently on the barrel, showing the ability to hit for power to all fields.

TEAM 7 - CAMO

+ INF JT Augustyniak (Plainfield Central) had a loud showing with the bat both in the workout and during gameplay at the event. Augustyniak showed a loose, easy swing that could elevate to all parts of the field during batting practice - reaching a max exit velocity of 91.8 mph, paired with a max distance of 344 feet. His ability to find the barrel translated into gameplay where he barreled the baseball up consistently, tallying three hits.

+ C Alex Kiefer (Mount Vernon) is a strong-bodied backstop still on the market in Illinois. Listed at 5-foot-9, 200-pounds with strength throughout and round shoulders. The left-handed hitter has clear strength in his bat, reaching up to 95 mph for his max EV with a max distance of 362 feet. His hands are quick and direct, working mostly flat from the launch position while still being able to cover the plate. Quality catch/throw behind the plate, recording a pop-time of 1.87 in-event with a max velocity of 80 mph.

+ RHP Tyler Powell (Edwardsville, 2025) was one of the first arms to toe the rubber at the event and the 6-foot, 190-pound uncommitted senior left a positive mark after his two innings of work. Powell’s a clean, efficient mover down the mound that doesn’t exert much effort in his operation, producing upper-80s velocity with his fastball, while touching 90 mph on his firmest pitch. Powell relied mostly on his fastball in this stint, but he did show feel for a low-80s changeup to left-handed hitters.

TEAM 8 - PURPLE

+ RHP Martin Villagomez (Reavis) emerged as a must-follow arm from the event. He’s an athletic mover with his 5-foot-10, 159-pound frame, and his arm works quickly out front. His fastball has all sorts of life through the zone while sitting 86-89 mph (T90), reaching over 2,600 rpm while averaging over 2,500 rpm, also topping out at 19.6 for his IVB. He showed confidence in his curveball which he could land for strikes, 71-74 mph (T2,740 rpm), consistently landing back door to lefties.

+ RHP Chase Harrison (Oakwood) is a long-levered right-handed arm with whip and upside. He works out of a ¾ to low ¾ slot, gets natural run to the arm-side and late life. Mixed in a lateral breaking ball that has proper shape and looks to be a future out-pitch when he stays on top of it. High-ceiling arm with plenty more development to come down the road.

RHP Gino Zagorac (Benet Academy, 2025) continues to show intrigue on a projectable 6-foot-3, 183-pound frame and is one of the top arms still on the market in the state’s senior class. A clean, fluid mover that controls his long levers well and keeps his direction to the plate, Zagorac ran his fastball up to 88 mph in this look, pitching at 85-87 mph over his two innings of work that played with late run. That synced up well with a fading changeup at 79-80 mph that he favored to left-handed bats, and he also showed a tight breaking ball at 78-79 mph.

+ INF Justin Terhaar (Father McGivney, 2025) has high level athleticism to pair with a physical 6-foot-3, 205-pound frame. The uncommitted senior ran one of the fastest 60 times of the event (6.63) while reaching a peak run speed of 21.3 mph and also posting a 92.2 mph max exit velocity.

TEAM 9 - PINK

+ RHP Brayden Saling (Williamsville) gave an intriguing look on the mound in this year’s event. A 5-foot-11, 161-pound frame with athleticism, Saling showed clean, athletic movement patterns down the mound with a long, loose arm path. His fastball sat 80-82 mph, topping out at 83.2 mph with an average of 2238 rpm. He showed both a curveball and change-up; his curveball sat 66-69 mph and his change-up sat 70-74 mph with slight fading action. An uncommitted follow in Illinois.

+ SS Alec Gunderson (St. Ignatius) stands in a strong 5-foot-11, 172-pound frame with athleticism to pair. He finished gameplay with three hits, including a double and two RBIs, as well as multiple well-hit barrels throughout the three games. He’s a right-handed hitter that provided a quality look in the box with a short and direct bat path. Gunderson also showed clean defensive actions up the middle, making multiple quality plays, while showing a strong arm across the diamond (T87 mph).

+ 1B/OF Carter Johnson (Wheaton North) has an upside frame with athleticism at 5-foot-11, 181-pounds. He showed an intriguing left-handed bat, posting a max exit velocity of 95.7 mph (avg. 92.1 mph) during the showcase, as well as blasting his farthest batted ball 350 feet. A 6.91 runner in the 60, Johnson transitioned to gameplay and showed confidence in the box, tallying a home run and two RBIs in his second game of the event. A name-to-follow in Illinois.

+ RHP Jackson Clark (Hinsdale Central) stands in a hard-to-miss frame with more still to come at 6-foot-6, 196-pounds. He’s a simple, easy mover with a long arm path out of a ¾ slot, and he showed a fastball that sat 81-84 mph with slight arm-side run. He threw both a curveball and a slider; his curveball playing with more vertical, 11/5 shape, and his slider showing more tight, short spin, thrown harder at 74-76 mph.

+ RHP Miles Woolsey (Mahomet-Seymour, 2025) was a standout at the Illinois Summer Championships earlier in the summer and provided another impressive look in his most recent trip to Rantoul. The 6-foot, 181-pound right-hander touched 88.5 mph on his fastball’s firmest bullet, pitching at 85-88 mph across his two innings of work. Perhaps more impressive, however, was the feel he had for a fading 75-78 mph changeup that he consistently threw down in the zone to left-handed hitters, and he also flashed strike feel for a low-70s breaking ball.

+ C Jake Bentivenga (New Trier) is an uncommitted catcher-to-know in the state. Listed at a compact and strong 5-foot-11, 181-pounds, the right-handed hitter has plenty of strength in his bat, reaching up to 97 mph for his max EV in the workout with an average EV of 87 mph and max distance of 355’. His BLAST metrics were some of the best in the event, averaging 24.5 mph for his hand-speed, 78.1 mph for his bat-speed, and 20.2 Gs for his rotational acceleration. Quality defender that works hard behind the plate, 1.94 pop-time with a max velocity of 73 mph from the chute.

+ CIF Cash Bailey (Columbia, 2025) produced some of the louder batted ball data of the event. His 104.2 mph max exit velocity was the second highest mark of the entire workout and his furthest ball traveled 401 feet, which was the third furthest ball of the event. Bailey also had a 93.9 mph average exit velocity with notable Blast Motion bat speed metrics at peak (77.2 mph) and on average (74.9 mph).

TEAM 10 - YELLOW

+ C/INF Chase Niemeyer (Marion) is a strong right-handed hitter that showed well throughout gameplay. Confident, hitterish presence in the box, creates easy bat-speed with a downhill path and extension through impact with loose arms. Quality catch/throw behind the plate, arm plays with strength and accuracy through the bag.

+ INF Beni Espinosa (DePaul College Prep) looked to be one of the top defenders in the workout and carried it right over to gameplay. He roams the middle of the infield with confidence, backing it up with soft hands and fluid footwork to both sides of his glove. He makes plays easily to both sides of his glove with proper timing on hops, and is able to deliver accurate strikes from multiple angles and on the move. A 6.94 runner in the 60, he’s able to cover plenty of ground to both sides of his glove and take proper angles on balls. The right-handed hitter has some pop in his bat, reaching up to 94 mph for his max EV in the workout.

TEAM 11 - MAROON

+ 1B/RHP Luke Gallet (Dwight) is one of the more physical right-handed hitters we saw all weekend. Listed at 6-foot-3, 250-pounds, Gallett has thunder in his barrel with a max EV of 97 mph, averaging 88.4 mph with a max distance of 357 feet. He also possesses above-average bat-speed with an average of 73.5 mph (T79.5 mph). On the other side of the ball, the right-hander displayed a fastball up to 85 mph, pairing with a curveball and changeup combination to keep hitters off-balance.

+ OF Nolan Maciejewski (Tinley Park), a recent Wisconsin-Parkside commit, had yet another strong State Games performance. An athletic 5-foot-8, 154-pounds, he began the event by running a 6.94 60 time. He posted a max exit velocity of 91.1 mph, a slight increase from the year prior, showcasing a direct and flat path through the zone. In-game, Maciejewski showed above-average barrel control with minimal swing-and-miss, finishing the week 3-for-5 with a double.

+ C Eli Craft (Monticello; John A. Logan JC) stands in a strong and athletic 6-foot, 186-pound frame. He’s a hard worker behind the plate that continues to impress defensively, showing some of the best catch-and-receive traits in the class, also displaying the ability to block up the baseball. His arm strength behind the plate continues to improve, recording a 2.00 pop time and a 77 mph velocity on his best ball down to second base. He’s a strong right-handed hitter at the plate with fluid pre-pitch movement, showing a big swing that looks to elevate the baseball.

+ 1B Maxwell Burke (Wheaton North) owns a strong 6-foot, 182-pound frame. He displayed a loud round of batting practice, recording a 100.6 mph max exit velocity. During gameplay, Burke finished the week 2-for-5 with one run scored.

+ LHP Hayden Bernreuter (Triad) is an intriguing uncommitted arm-to-know from Southern Illinois. A strong 5-foot-10,192-pound frame, Bernreuter has easy actions down the mound. His fastball sat in the mid-80s, while touching 88.2 mph, playing with carry through the zone at times (T22.4” IVB). He also mixed in a low-70s curveball with quality spin (avg. 2239 rpm), and a change-up at 80-81 mph with fade to the arm-side. Bernreuter tossed 1 ⅔ innings and struck out two.

TEAM 12 - FOREST GREEN

+ INF Hayden Bugger (Triad) is a bat to know from Team 12 that showed well both during the workout portion of the event and throughout gameplay. At a strong and athletic 5-foot-11, 181-pounds, Bugger reached a max exit velocity of 91.6 mph during batting practice, and that barrel strength translated into gameplay where he was consistently on the barrel from the right side; finishing 3-for-6 with a double.

TEAM 13 - CAROLINA BLUE

+ OF Max Wille (Normal University) is an athletic uncommitted left-handed hitter to follow. Presenting a 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame, Wille showed to have an athletic swing during gameplay that could also handle velocity, tallying two hits. Wille also had a well-rounded showing during the workout portion of the event; running a 6.93 60, maxing out at 86 mph from the outfield, and also posting a max exit velocity of 95 mph.

+ RHP Jack Schiek (Lockport) is an upside arm to note from the event. Listed at 6-foot-3, 157-pounds, Schiek is uber-projectable with all sorts of room to fill out and add strength. The right-hander cruised in the 81-84 mph range with his fastball, displaying carry traits and high spin (T21.2 IVB; T2430 rpm). He was able to land his curveball for strikes more than half of the time, and it played around 69-72 mph.

TEAM 14 - NEON ORANGE

+ Recent Kankakee CC commit, RHP/INF Lucas Rink (Wilmington), had a quality showing on the bump. The sturdy 6-foot, 189-pound right-hander featured a mid 80’s fastball (T85) with carry through the zone at an average of 18.9” of induced vertical break - which was one of the event’s best. Rink also had confidence in a 73-76 mph slider that he was able to throw for strikes 63% of the time. He finished with three strikeouts over his two innings of work.

+ C/1B Lawson Alwan (Peoria Notre Dame) looks the part physically with a strong 5-foot-10, 190-pound frame. The left-handed hitter showed an easy operation with strength in gameplay, displaying the ability to use the whole field loose hands that stay flat through the zone. He’s a hard worker behind the plate, actively blocking baseballs and making a clear effort to keep them in front. Strong arm plays accurately to the bag, has been down to 2.01 for his pop-time in-event.

+ INF Ethan Kieser (Normal University) continues to look the part as an intriguing infielder. He’s a confident defender with controlled, natural actions and soft hands. He has a simple, easy swing at the plate from the right side, looking to stay on top of the baseball while staying on-plane.

TEAM 15 - CHARCOAL

+ OF Mason Marshall (Glenwood) has continued to solidify himself as an uncommitted name-to-know throughout 2024. An athletic frame with upside at 5-foot-10, 167-pounds, Marshall collected a couple of in-game hits. He’s a right-handed hitter with a fluid load and a slightly uphill path, barreling his hardest hit ball 92.8 mph during his round of batting practice. He showed athleticism too, running a 6.66 60 time which translated to the outfield where he displayed the ability to track down baseball with a strong arm on throws (T87 mph). Heading into his senior year, the uncommitted athlete is a must-follow out of the Central/Southern part of the state.

+ CIF James Spellman (Notre Dame College Prep) stands in a physically imposing frame at 6-foot-3, 201-pounds with all kinds of strength throughout. During his round of batting practice, Spellman blasted a baseball 101.5 mph off the bat, including an average exit velocity of 90.1 mph, and a max batted distance of 340 feet. He had well above-average bat speed, posting an average bat speed of 74.1 mph (T78.9 mph). Also a 7.15 runner, Spellman showed quality defense actions at first base with a strong arm across the diamond (T88 mph). The left-handed hitter showed well during gameplay, barreling a home run over the right-center field fence. Lewis commit.

+ Recent John Wood CC commit, RHP Evan Koontz (Father McGivney, 2025) presents a wiry build with projection at 6-foot, 143-pounds. Koontz displayed the ability to throw strikes with both the fastball and the breaking ball during his outing. His fastball sat 81-85 mph (T87) with arm-side run and carry through the zone with above average spin to pair (avg. 2454 rpm). His slider had hard bite from a tight 9/3 shape, spinning with an average of 2612 rpm. Koontz finished with two punchouts over his two innings of work.

TEAM 16 - WHITE

+ RHP Jackson Kees (DeKalb; Grand Valley State commit) came away a winner from the event. Highly projectable 6-foot-2, 164-pounds, lean limbs with a high waist, plenty of room to add on strength. He works down the mound with a high front side, moving with a tall/fall lower-half and over-the-top release to create angle on all his pitches through the zone, especially his fastball, which played around 85-88 mph with tilt and carry. His curveball plays with some gradual 11/5 shape with the ability to keep it to his glove side, 75-77 mph. Flashed a straight changeup at 81 mph.

TEAM 17 - LIME GREEN

+ OF/C Ben Jarnecke (Fenwick) is a toolsy uncommitted prospect to note from the event. He holds some present strength in his 5-foot-11, 176-pound frame, and there’s still more room to add in the coming years. The right-handed hitter worked on the barrel in gameplay, attacking pitches in the zone while also showing some discipline for pitches out of the zone. 6.91 runner in the 60, speed plays up on the bases with aggressive turns, always looking to take the extra base.

+ INF/RHP Madden Johnson (Mattoon) is a two-way prospect that should be on a lot of schools’ radars. Listed at 6-foot, 153-pounds, Johnson has all sorts of room left to fill out his frame. He impressed all weekend at the plate, working on the barrel numerous times for extra bases; displaying a flat swing that stays through the zone with the intent to keep the ball on a line to all fields. On the mound, the right-hander is a loose/athletic mover with a whippy arm, creating a fastball up to 87 mph to pair with a sharp curveball with depth at 75-77 mph, attacking the zone with both offerings.

+ OF Brady Schallmoser (Downers Grove North) committed to Wabash Valley JC just days after another impressive performance at this year’s Illinois State Games. He stands at a strong 6-foot-2, 198-pound frame, showing juice from the left-side of the plate. Schallmoser produced a peak exit velocity of 99.3 mph during his round of batting practice, staying on the barrel for an average of 91.8 mph, and sending his farthest hit ball 366 feet. During gameplay, Schallmoser delivered a ball to deep centerfield for a ground rule double.

+ RHP Ryan Schaffnit (Morton; Bradley commit) opened some eyes in his two inning stint. He takes the mound at a physically imposing 6-foot-6, 213-pounds and moves well for his size, showing little perceived effort with the ability to repeat his operation. His arm works short in the back before firing through with a higher ¾ release. The fastball came out easy with life through the zone, 87-89 mph (T90), setting up a sharp slider with late lateral break at 78-79 mph with feel to land to his glove side. His final offering was a changeup around 75-79 mph, displaying gradual running action to his arm-side.

TEAM 18 - BROWN

+ Uncommitted RHP Shea Glotzbach (Lemont) is an upside arm to know in the state. A loose mover at 6-foot-3, 189-pounds, Glotzbach worked primarily with a fastball/curveball mix. His fastball sat 86-88 mph (T89) with over 14” of arm-side run on average paired with 17” of induced vertical break on average. He was able to land a 72-77 mph curveball to both sides of the plate with an 11/5 shape, spinning at an average of 2266 rpm (T2520).

+ 1B Joe Barkley (Neuqua Valley) wielded one of the stronger right-handed swings in attendance, reaching up to 99 mph for his max EV in the workout with an average of 91.1 mph and max distance of 375’. He also put up some impressive BLAST numbers, with an average bat-speed of 73 mph and average hand-speed of 22.2 mph. He gets his A-swing off in-game while still being able to control the zone and sit back on spin.

TEAM 19 - NAVY

+ Illinois-Chicago commit, RHP Charlie Taczy (Cary-Grove) is an intriguing arm in the state’s 2025 class. An athletic, upside frame at 6-foot, 150-pounds, Taczy is a loose and easy mover down the mound. His arm is long and loose out of a low ¾ slot, showing a fastball that sat in the mid-80s, and topping out at 86.2 mph with high spin (avg. 2441 rpm). He also showed two impressive off-speed pitches in his slider and change-up - the slider sitting in the upper-70s with above-average spin (avg. 2775 rpm) and an average of -17.8 inches of horizontal movement, while his change-up sits 80-81 mph with an average of 19.3 inches of horizontal movement. Rounding out his four-pitch mix, Taczy threw an upper-70s sinker with arm-side run, averaging 20.6 inches of horizontal movement. He finished his two-inning stint with five strikeouts, two hits and one run allowed.

+ 1B Cal Hanson (Grayslake Central) owns an upside frame at 6-foot-3, 176-pounds with athleticism throughout. A left-handed hitter, Hanson has a fluid, loose load showing some power, producing a max exit velocity of 97.2 mph (avg. 92.1 mph) during his round of batting practice. He showed some bat speed, too, averaging 72.2 mph. Uncommitted incoming-senior to follow.

+ INF Gavin Awbrey (Orion) continues to add strength to his 6-foot, 190-pound frame. The right-handed hitter showed well during game play, finishing the week 3-for-6 with a triple and two RBIs. He showed a direct path to the ball with a mostly flat stroke, barrelling balls to the pull-side. During the showcase he posted a max exit velocity of 91.8 mph, and he sent his farthest hit ball 358 feet.

PROCASE TEAM

+ INF/RHP Lucas Acevedo (Lincoln-Way West; Illinois-Chicago commit) showed well at the plate and on the bump for the ProCase team. Offensively, the right-handed hitter swatted two backside doubles, while having an overall athletic look to his game. The 5-foot-10, 159-pound two-way prospect also had a strong showing during the workout - running a 6.88 60 and tossing an 88 mph bullet from across the infield. On the bump, Acevedo ran his fastball up to 89 mph with over 15” of arm-side run to it on average, while also spinning it at an average rate of 2311 rpm.

+ C Zach Bava (Naperville North; Illinois State commit) has long been a high-motor player on both sides of the ball. The future Redbird is athletic out of the box from the left side, posting a home to first time of 4.57 seconds. Bava also stood out with his hustle on defense - not taking any plays off from behind the dish. During the workout, Bava posted a 1.93 pop time with a 77 mph max velo from the crouch, to go with a max EV of 96 mph during batting practice.

+ OF Wyatt Wawro (Downers Grove South) continues to show as one of the better uncommitted bats in the state. The 5-foot-9, 157-pound left-left outfielder was on the barrel throughout gameplay - finishing with three hits, including a triple in the final game. Wawro can cover ground defensively as well, taking clean and easy routes in the outfield. He also ran a 6.89 60 during the workout portion of the event, and that speed translated in-game as he also showed to be a smooth runner on the basepaths.

+ RHP Tanner Thomas (Arcola; Louisville commit) showed well on the bump during the State Games. The strong 5-foot-11, 175-pound righty worked his fastball up to 90 mph, while sitting 87-89 (avg. 2200+ rpm). He showed feel for a sharp slider at 73-75 mph (avg. 2400+ rpm), which earned occasional whiffs. Thomas finished his outing with four strikeouts over his two innings of work and will be an arm to continue to follow heading into next spring.

+ RHP/INF Jack Wheeler (Morris; Illinois commit) is an upside two-way prospect to know. At 6-foot-5, 190-pounds, Wheeler showed impressive tools to start the event during the workout. He ran a 6.95 60, was one of the event leaders in infield velocity at 90 mph, while also putting up a max EV of 99.3 mph. On the bump Wheeler featured a three-pitch mix, with his fastball touching 88 mph, while tossing in a 73-76 mph curveball for strikes 67% of the time, and also turning over a changeup at 79-81 mph.

+ RHP Brandon Menser (Sesser Valier) is a high-level uncommitted arm in Illinois' now senior class. He stands in a hard-to-miss 6-foot-3, 176-pound frame with long levers and all kinds of projection still to come. He earned Illinois State Games Most Valuable Pitcher honors after tossing two innings on the mound with four strikeouts and no hits, runs or walks allowed. His fastball played with heavy carry through the zone (avg. 19.4” IVB), sitting 87-89 mph and topping out at 91 mph with quality spin to pair (avg. 2486 rpm). He mixed in a curveball with 12/6 action, sitting 74-79 mph with an average of 2680 rpm as well as an average of -15.4 inches of induced vertical break. He rounded out his polished three-pitch mix with an 80 mph changeup with slight fading action to the arm-side. A must-know prospect that is trending up in Illinois.

+ All C/INF Enzo Infelise (Providence Catholic; Oklahoma commit) has done since we first saw him is hit. The 6-foot-2, 229-pound right-handed hitter has easy strength in his bat, juicing a no-doubt home run over the left field wall during game play. He continues to show well above-average bat-to-ball skills, making it hard for pitchers to get a strike past him. He had one of the more impressive rounds of batting practice during the event’s showcase, barreling balls for an average exit velocity of 94.4 mph (T102.4 mph), while sending his farthest hit ball 356 feet, per TrackMan. Infelise’s average bat speed was 74.4 mph, including an average hand speed of 22 mph. Defensively from the crouch, he recorded an 81 mph catcher velocity while recording a pop time range of 1.87-1.95, also tallying 88 mph across the diamond during infield defense.

+ There’s a lot to like about RHP Cole Kenyon (Lake Zurich), standing in at an athletic 6-foot-2, 163-pound frame with upside. He tossed 1 ⅔ innings, striking out three, walking two and allowing no runs or hits in his stint. His fastball sat in the mid-80s and topped out at 88.6 mph with quality spin (avg. 2361 rpm) He also showed an impressive slider that had the highest average and max spin rates from the entire event, being recorded at 2855 rpm and 2932 rpm, respectively, while also playing with big horizontal movement (-18.3” avg. HM). He remains a must-know uncommitted arm in Illinois.

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