Illinois State Games: Top 2025 Prospects

No. 1 Joey Arend OF / LHP / St. Charles East, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-0, 160-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Fluid, relaxed look in the box. Loose hands, works on-plane and creates whip through the zone at times. Balanced finish and middle/pull-side approach. Fluid intentful swing, stays in the zone, uphill path, intent to pull at times during BP. Made hard contact to all fields during game play. Finished game play 3-for-7 with a triple, three runs and two walks. 66.4 mph bat speed with 7 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 87.2 mph. 332’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 85 mph. Loose, quick, one-hop to target, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic actions, fluid footwork, plays through the ball.
Run: 6.81 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: LHP
Delivery: Medium leg lift, drop/drive delivery, open stride.
Arm Action: LH. Loose arm action, 3/4 slot with whip.
FB: T85, 83-84 mph. Hard running action. T2182, 2010 average rpm.
CB: 69-72 mph. Gradual 1/7 action, thrown for strikes. T1794, 1558 average rpm.
CH: 73-77 mph. Maintains arm speed, fade with late depth. T2025, 1842 average rpm.

Xavier commit. 

No. 2 Jackson Natanek SS / RHP / Brother Rice, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: SS
Body: 5-10, 170-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Wide setup, knee knock trigger, gains ground. Quick, in control and on time, long through the zone, slightly uphill, consistent barrels to pull-side. Collected two hits, scored two runs and walked three times during game play. 68.5 mph bat speed with 7 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 85.7 mph. 331’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 89 mph. Quick, athletic arm action, accurate on the bag with carry.
Defense: Fluid, athletic actions, soft hands, clear feel for the position, body control on the run-through.
Run: 7.11 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Methodical windup, high leg lift into drop and drive delivery, aggressive downhill. Went two innings of scoreless baseball, striking out three.
Arm Action: RH. Athletic, quick arm, 3/4 slot.
FB: T88, 84-87 mph. Carry through the zone, life to the arm-side. T2590, 2346 average rpm.
SL: 77-79 mph. Sharp, late sweeping action. T2940, 2826 average rpm.
CH: 81-81 mph. Mostly straight, plays similar to the fastball. T1877, 1877 average rpm. 

 Illinois State commit.

No. 3 Zach Bava C / 3B / Naperville North, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 5-8, 171-pounds. Compact strength throughout.
Hit: LHH. Crouched, strong, wider stance. Fluid swing, medium leg kick trigger, hands work short, on the barrel to all fields. Finished game play 2-for-6 with a double, triple, two RBIs, four runs scored and a walk. 70.3 mph bat speed with 13 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 89.9 mph. 350’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Strong, quick, accurate, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 1.95-2.03 pop times. Quick out of the crouch, gains ground, smooth transition.
Run: 7.22 runner in the 60. 

Illinois State commit.

No. 4 Noah Brandt C / OF / Somonauk, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds.
Hit: LHH. High hands, toe-tap stride. Easy, fluid swing, short to the ball, extends through the zone, balanced through contact. Finished game play 3-for-8 with a double, three RBIs, a run scored and two walks. 72 mph bat speed with 13 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 88.2 mph. 307’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 78 mph. Short, clean, quick arm action from a 3/4 slot and played accurately.
Defense: 1.90-1.97 pop times. Agile, athletic defender, soft hands, quick transfer, quick to release, throw on-line and accurate, athletic blocker.
Run: 7.13 runner in the 60. 

No. 5 AJ Putty 1B / 3B / Huntley, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: 3B/1B
Body: 6-4, 210-pounds. Physical, broad-shouldered frame with strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Wide stance, leg lift trigger, gains ground. Smooth and fluid, physical swing, slightly uphill path, all fields approach with easy power. Finished game play 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and walk.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 88 mph. 377’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. Long, compact, over the top slot.
Defense: Steady hands and actions, two-hand gather out front.
Run: 7.39 runner in the 60.

Illinois commit.

No. 6 Brady Rosenkranz RHP / 1B / Stevenson, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-6, 220-pounds.
Delivery: Hybrid delivery with a rocker step, high leg kick into a tall and fall delivery, works in-line to the plate. Threw three innings, struck out six and walked four.
Arm Action: RH. Fluid, loose arm action out of a 3/4 slot.
FB: T87, 83-86 mph. Easy with ride through the zone. T2247, 2077 average rpm.
CB: 71-74 mph. Lateral break, 11/5 shape. T2273, 1981 average rpm.
SL: 74-76 mph. Tight movement with depth and some sweep. T2418, 2179 average rpm.
CH: 80-83 mph. Maintains arm speed, mostly straight, throws hard. T1941, 1650 average rpm. 

Missouri commit.

No. 7 Drew Church SS / 2B / Montini Catholic, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 6-3, 165-pounds. Long, loose-levered frame with plenty more physical development to come.
Hit: RHH. Upright setup, leg-lift trigger, gains ground. Controlled, fluid swing, direct to the ball, barrels the ball up the middle. Collected two hits, scored a run and walked during game play.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 84 mph. 343’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 87 mph. Short, quick to release, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic, fluid actions, soft hands, clean transfer, plays with rhythm and ease to his game.
Run: 7.26 runner in the 60.

No. 8 Timmy Leark OF / Oak Park River Forest, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Stock setup, balanced, medium stride. Swings with controlled aggression, natural lift, works to the middle of the field. 67.8 mph bat speed with 10 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 83.6 mph. 291’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 89 mph. Loose, quick out front, strong, throws on a line, 3/4 slot.
Defense: One-hand gather out front, attacks the ball in-stride, quick transfer, athletic.
Run: 6.88 runner in the 60.

No. 9 Brady Green SS / OF / Oak Park-River Forest, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: SS/OF
Body: 5-11, 170-pounds. Continues to add quality muscle throughout.
Hit: RHH. Upright setup, high leg kick into forward move, lower half coil. Quick, controlled aggression swing, slightly uphill, consistently barreled the ball.
Power: 99 max exit velocity, averaged 91.3 mph. 350’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 84 mph. Long, loose, 3/4 slot with carry on throws.
Defense: Soft, easy hands, moves well to both sides.
Run: 6.94 runner in the 60.

Northern Illinois commit.

No. 10 Brady Schallmoser OF / 1B / Downers Grove North, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-0, 180-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Stock setup, loose hands, small leg lift into short stride. Easy, fluid swing, with quick bat speed, uphill path, impacts the ball to all fields. Finished 2-for-5 with a single and a double. 68.7 mph bat speed with 15 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 96 max exit velocity, averaged 86 mph. 342’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 79 mph. Short, quickness out front, uses turf on throws, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Plays through the ball with intent, footwork continues to trend in the right direction.
Run: 7.26 runner in the 60.

No. 11 Eli Craft C / 2B / Monticello , IL / 2025

Positional Profile: C/2B
Body: 6-1, 175-pounds. Athletic frame with more strength to come.
Hit: RHH. Narrow, upright stance, leg lift trigger. Short, flat path, controlled intent, pull-side power, all fields approach. Finished game play 1-for-4 with a walk.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 79.3 mph. 288’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Short, quick, whippy, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.13-2.20 pop times. Natural catcher actions, plays with bounce and energy behind the plate.
Run: 7.44 runner in the 60. 

No. 12 Tyler Powell RHP / 1B / Edwardsville, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-0, 190-pounds.
Delivery: Quick, balanced delivery, medium leg lift, tall/fall, lands in-line. Went three innings with one hit, two walks and one strikeout.
Arm Action: RH. Short and clean arm slot in the back, 3/4 slot.
FB: T87, 85-86 mph. Arm-side-run, extra life. Explodes through strike-zone. T2016, 1688 average rpm.
CB: 69-74 mph. 11/5 shape, lands in the zone. T2130, 1990 average rpm.
SL: 78-79 mph. Tight-spin with sharp movement. T2045, 1985 average rpm.
CH: 78-81 mph. Maintains arm-speed, downer action. T1384, 1352 average rpm.

No. 13 Demir Heidelberg 1B / 3B / Homewood Flossmoor, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: 1B/3B
Body: 6-3, 175-pounds. Highly-projectable, long, loose-levered frame with plenty of development still to come.
Hit: RHH. Open stance, leg kick trigger gains ground. Controlled, simple, direct with a slight uphill path, all fields approach, accurate barrel. 76.2 mph bat speed with 9 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 89.1 mph. 330’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. Short, quick, accurate, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Plays with bounce and in rhythm, soft hands, smooth mover.
Run: 6.88 runner in the 60.

Eastern Michigan commit.

No. 14 Chase Petersen OF / RHP / Glenbrook North , IL / 2025

Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-10, 180-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Narrow setup, high leg kick into forward move. Aggressive approach, quick swing, direct to the ball, pull-side approach.
Power: 100 max exit velocity, averaged 92 mph. 356’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 88 mph. Loose, one-hop to target, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: One-hand gather out front, gets around the baseball, works in-line with the plate.
Run: 6.83 runner in the 60. 

T15 Jimmy Downs 3B / 1B / Kenwood, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: 3B/1B
Body: 5-11, 190-pounds. Present physicality.
Hit: RHH. Upright, relaxed setup, leg lift trigger. Quick and direct swing with a slightly uphill path, consistently on the barrel, pull-side power. Finished game play 2-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs.
Power: 101 max exit velocity, averaged 92.5 mph. 356’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 87 mph. MIF: Compact, 3/4 slot, accurate. 1B: Compact, can change arm slots, accurate, 3/4 slot.
Defense: INF: Plays on balls of feet, works into a crow hop, glove-pat transfer, reliable hands. 1B: Fields ball deep into the body, sure-handed glove-pat transfer, confidence around the bag.
Run: 7.61 runner in the 60.

Northern Illinois commit.

T15 Aidan Nohava 3B / 1B / Brother Rice, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: 3B/1B
Body: 6-0, 191-pounds. Broad-shouldered, physical build with developing strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Narrow, upright setup, high leg kick into forward move. Direct, flat path, simple approach, quick hands, easy power to pull-side. Finished game play 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and a walk.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 79.3 mph. 355’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. Short, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Soft hands with steady actions, fluid footwork, easy range to the glove side.
Run: 7.34 runner in the 60. 

Eastern Michigan commit.