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John A Logan / SIC / Rend Lake / Kaskaskia Scout Day: Takeaways

October 4, 2024
By: Josh Fields & Gavin Smith
Illinois Staff

On Sep. 4th, Prep Baseball Illinois traveled to John A. Logan in Carterville, IL., for the John A. Logan, Rend Lake, Kaskaskia, and Southeastern Scout Day. The event featured over 30 players, and allowed our staff to get an inside look ahead of their 2024 season.

Today, we are taking a look at some of the day’s top performers, broken down by each program, with scouting reports and videos, below.

JOHN A. LOGAN

Levin East, RHP, Paducah Tilghman (KY), 2023
Uncommitted. Stands in an athletic 6-foot, 185-pound frame with strength in the lower-half. East is a clean and easy mover on the mound, showing a simple stretch-only delivery. He utilizes a longer arm action with a clean path, while showing a fastball that consistently sat 87 mph throughout his ‘pen with slight arm-side run. He also threw a sharp-breaking slider that he showed feel to land for strikes, sitting 79-81 mph with short actions. Rounding out his three-pitch mix was a change-up that played with some fade and depth at 78-81 mph. East pounded the zone throughout his bullpen, throwing strikes 75% of the time with both his fastball and slider, and 100% of the time with his change-up, per TrackMan.

Jude Farley, C, McCracken County (KY), 2024
Farley stands in a sturdy, strong frame at 6-foot-1, 215-pounds. He had a strong all-around showing at the event, beginning with a loud round of batting practice where he posted a max exit velocity of 98.7 mph (avg. 91.6 mph) from the right-side of the plate. Defensively, the backstop posted a max catcher velocity of 81 mph and a pop time of 1.97 on his best ball down to second.

Cruz Harlan, INF, Centralia (IL), 2024
Harlan was always an intriguing prep prospect, and he continues to look the part for the Vols. An athletic 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame, Harlan has plenty of upside still to come. The switch-hitter has a loose and easy swing from both sides of the plate, producing a max exit velocity of 97.1 mph. A 6.89 runner, his athleticism transitioned to the infield where he displayed clean and fluid footwork with soft hands to pair.

Jaden Hart, OF/INF, Jeffersonville (IN), 2023
Uncommitted. A returner to the Vols this season, Hart had an impressive all-around workout. He stands in an athletic frame with lean strength, and began the event running the second fastest 60 time (6.56). During his round of batting practice the right-handed hitter posted a 96.2 mph exit velocity and an average exit velocity of 89 mph. He took defense from both the outfield and infield, playing with clean actions and bounce from both positions, while displaying a lively arm, too, as he posted a max infield velocity of 90 mph and a max outfield velocity of 97 mph (event best).

Thomas Howard, RHP, Frederick Douglass (KY), 2023
Uncommitted. Howard stands in a strong frame at 6-foot-3, 225-pounds. He’s an athletic mover down the mound with a long, loose and quick arm out front. His fastball came out of his hand clean, playing with ride through the zone at 89-90 mph. His slider had sharp, 10/4 actions with quality spin (avg. 2500 rpm), and sitting 77-79 mph. To round out his three-pitch mix, Howard turned to his 81-82 mph change-up that had arm-side fade, averaging 16.5 inches of average horizontal movement. Howard still has more left in the tank velocity wise and is a must-know name in the GRAC.

Evan Lopez, RHP, Bremen (IN), 2023
Uncommitted. Stands in an athletic 6-foot-3, 180-pounds with some present strength and seemingly more strength to come. Lopez showed an easy and clean delivery paired with a long, loose and quick arm. His fastball sat 90-91 mph with quality spin (avg. 2347 rpm) and clear ride and carry through the zone (avg. 19.4” IVB). He turned to a low-80s slider with sharp, horizontal actions and high-spin at times (T2512 rpm). He displayed a splitter to round out his three-pitch mix, playing with fade, and sitting in the low-80s.

Cody Luttrell, LHP, Russell County (KY), 2022
Uncommitted. Luttrell stands in a lean 6-foot-2, 215-pound frame with present strength throughout. It’s a simple, controlled delivery on the mound with a shorter arm action out of a high ¾ slot. His fastball sat in the mid-80s with carry through the zone, and he also mixed in a mid-70s slider with short, vertical bite. He killed the spin on his upper-70s splitter that played with heavy fade to the arm-side.

Jayden Malone, OF, Metea Valley (IL), 2023
Uncommitted. Malone is an intriguing name-to-know on the Vols this season. He’s an athletic 5-foot-10, 180-pound prospect with clear strength throughout the frame. He started the event by running a 6.94 60 time, followed by one of the day’s more impressive rounds of batting practice. A right-handed hitter, Malone was on the barrel throughout his round, producing an average exit velocity of 92.1 mph (T98.1 mph). He showed well during his defensive round, moving around with ease, paired with a long and easy arm action on throws to home.

Dylan Mannino, RHP, Belleville East (IL), 2023
Uncommitted. A transfer from Western Kentucky, Mannino has an intriguing frame with lean strength throughout. He’s a simple mover on the mound with a loose and easy arm, showing clear acceleration out front. During his ‘pen, Mannino’s fastball sat 90-91 mph with carry through the zone and quality spin (avg. 2200 rpm). He showed feel for a sharp-breaking slider that sat 78-80 mph. Mannino also mixed in a high-spinning cutter in the mid-to-upper-80s with noticeable cut through the zone, and rounded out his mix with an 83-84 mph change-up with fade at times.

Carter McKinney, RHP, Marshall County (KY), 2023
Uncommitted. McKinney owns one of the more intriguing frames on the Vols, standing at 6-foot-7, 205-pounds with plenty of room for added strength. His fastball sat in the mid-80s during his bullpen, playing with some carry and run. He also mixed in a slider that sat 76-78 mph, and a change-up that sat in the upper-70s with low spin.

Jackson Militello, C, Howell (MI), 2022
Uncommitted. Militello stands in a lean frame with strength at 5-foot-10, 190-pounds. The right-handed hitter displayed a loud round of batting practice, posting an average exit velocity of 93.2 mph (T102.7 mph), the second highest average EV and third highest max EV of the day. Militello also sent his farthest hit ball 343 feet while recording a 75% hard-hit percentage, per Trackman. Defensively, he recorded a pop time of 1.88 (event best) and a 81 mph catcher velocity (tied for event best). Militello is a high-end catching prospect that can handle a staff and has shown the ability to catch-and-throw at a high level.

Cole Noreuil, RHP, Delavan (IL), 2024
Entering his true freshman year with the Vols, Noreuil stands in a strong and athletic 6-foot, 190-pound frame. He’s a controlled mover on the mound with a long and clean arm action, showing a fastball that sat in the upper-80s with clear ride through the zone. Noreuil also showed a curveball that had 11/5 shape with sharp actions, as well as a low-80s change-up with heavy fade to the arm-side.

Corbin Payne, LHP, Harrison (IN), 2023
Uncommitted. Payne stands in a strong 6-foot-1, 188-pound frame. During his ‘pen, his fastball sat in the mid-80s with mostly straight actions. He also showed feel for a mid-70s slider with short, vertical actions, and a change-up at 75 mph that played mostly straight.

Eli Porter, LHP, Mason County (KY), 2024
Porter stands in a lean frame with room for added strength, showing a loose and athletic delivery on the mound. His fastball sat in the mid-80s with carry and slight run, while also turning to a 70 mph curveball with 12/6 shape. To round out his mix, Porter showed a change-up that he threw with fastball intent, creating fade to the arm-side while also throwing it for strikes 100% of the time, according to Trackman.

Pablo Rebollar, INF, Detroit Catholic Central (MI), 2022
Uncommitted. Rebollar stands in a strong, compact frame at 5-foot-11, 200-pounds. He stayed simple at the plate from the right side, producing a max exit velocity of 95.4 mph, mostly working balls up the middle throughout his round. He showed quality defensive actions at third base with soft hands, clean footwork and a strong arm across the diamond (T90 mph). Rebollar also ran a 7.04 60 time to begin the event.

Brayden Schnurbusch, RHP, Liberty (MO), 2024
Uncommitted. A long, wiry 6-foot-7, 188-pound frame with plenty to dream on, Schnurbusch showed an upside bullpen to start the day off. He controlled his levers well through the delivery, using an easy and loose arm to create an upper-80s fastball with ride through the zone. Schnurbusch also flashed a low-70s slider, and a change-up that sat 78-81 mph with mostly straight actions.

Zach Sims, LHP, McCracken County (KY), 2023
Uncommitted. Stands at a physical 6-foot-4, 215-pounds with room for added fill to his frame. The left-hander operated out of the stretch only throughout his pen, showing overall feel for his delivery, delivering the baseball with relative ease and without much effort. The arm works loose throughout the action with arm speed through release from a ¾ slot. Three-pitch mix, Sims ran his fastball up to 87 mph while cruising at 86-87 throughout his pen with running action. Sims tossed both of his offspeed pitches with intent, his changeup sat 79-80 mph with heavy running action while his slider sat in the mid-70s with sharp breaking action.

Trey Swiderski, OF, Joliet Catholic (IL), 2023
Uncommitted. Returns as a middle of the order bat for the Volunteers after a successful freshman campaign which saw him go for double digit home runs. The physical 6-foot-3, 200-pound corner outfielder has tools across the board, a 6.58 runner with quick burst and a mid-90s arm from the outfield with feel to drive and lift the baseball. From the right-side Swiderski sets up wide while working back into his backside into his forward move. Swiderski swings with the intent to lift the baseball with extra leverage out in front with a pullside approach.

Colin Tarr, RHP, West Aurora (IL), 2023
Uncommitted. Athletic 6-foot-2 right-hander with plenty of room for continued physical development. Tarr saw an extended role as a freshman for the Volunteers, making his way into the starting rotation as a freshman on a talented pitching staff. Operating at a low effort delivery, keeping it simple while showing feel to repeat, his arm is clean and loose with arm speed through release from a higher slot. Four-pitch mix for Tarr, his four-seam cruised at 88 mph while averaging 19.8 inches of carry while staying in the zone throughout his ‘pen. The slider is thrown with intent with velocity sitting 78-80 with downer action, the changeup was thrown hard at 82-84 mph and is still developing. Rounding off the arsenal, Tarr showed a sinker that averaged 9.5 inches of sink and 17.5 inches of run at 89 mph. Tarr is a name-to-monitor moving forward into his sophomore year and still has a high-ceiling.

Kevari Thunderbird, LHP, Kenwood (IL), 2024
Is an athletic and projectable 5-foot-11, 164 pound left-hander with room left for physical development and growth. An athletic and fluid delivery with a whippy arm action, Thunderbird is a prospect that should continue to tick up in his college career as he continues to mature. Showed a four-pitch mix, his fastball operated in the mid-80s and got up to 87 mph with carry averaging 16.9” of IVB from a low release height 5.2 feet with extension at 6.6 feet which help the fastball play up past its velocity and movement profile. Thunderbird showed two breaking balls that work at the same velocity and similar sharp, with tight and late break. His changeup is developing, and plays in the low-80s.

Taylor Waldron, RHP, Marquette Academy (IL), 2023
Uncommitted. Waldron is an athletic and lean 6-foot-2, 195 pounds right-hander with room for added physicality. A simple delivery which he is able to repeat consistently with a loose arm action from a ¾ slot. Three pitch mix, the fastball operated in the upper-80s topped out at 89 mph with life out of the hand. The slider sits in the upper-70s with tight sweep and was thrown around the zone, his changeup got up to 80 mph and played with running action.

Jonah Weathers, INF/OF, Marian Catholic (IL), 2024
Weathers came away a winner from the event, a hyper athletic corner infield and outfielder with tools across the board. Standing at 6-foot-3, 195-pounds with a lot of room for added physical development left in his frame. Weathers is a 6.66 runner with speed that plays in game, and has arm strength at both spots, 92 mph across the diamond and 96 from the outfield. At the plate, the right-handed hitter takes a direct and quick path to the baseball with extension past contact showing the ability to cover the entire plate. Weathers showed overall feel for the barrel driving the baseball across the yard in the air. A high ceiling freshman with plenty of room for continued development, Weathers is a name-to-know for the Volunteers.

Austin Wiegand, OF, Eureka (IL), 2023
Uncommitted. An All-Region player for Carl Sandburg CC in 2024, now at John A. Logan, Wiegand is a high ceiling and athletic name-to-know for 2025. The left/left centerfielder stands at a strong 5-foot-10, 175 pounds with real feel to hit. Wiegand has feel for the barrel that has played in game for our staff, a low effort operation through contact taking a direct path to the baseball with extension past contact. Strong at the point of contact and able to leverage the baseball in the air and showed feel to use the whole field. Defensively in the outfield, Wiegand has in-game speed and takes natural and athletic routes to the baseball with a strong and accurate arm that has been up to 92 mph from the outfield. Wiegand is a high-ceiling prospect with present skills that can translate at a high-level and should be a sought after player for the Volunteers.

Kameron Yearsley, OF, Yorkville (IL), 2024
Is a 5-foot-9, 211 pound left/left outfielder with advanced feel to hit from the left-side. Yearsley has shown the ability to consistently make impactful contact in front of our staff across our looks. At the plate, Yearsley starts with a wide base with a no stride with quiet and strong hands taking a tight turn and direct path to the baseball with feel to elevate. Yearsley consistently impacts the baseball with some authority through the middle of the field, finding the barrel often and driving the baseball to the big part of the field. Defensively, at a corner outfield spot Yearsley is a reliable defender with some arm strength up to 89 mph.

KASKASKIA

Seth Broadwell, RHP, Bellaire (TX), 2022
Uncommitted. Stands in a strong 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame with strength throughout. He’s an up-tempo mover on the mound with a compact arm action out of a ¾ slot. Broadwell displayed a fastball that sat 86-87 mph with arm-side run, showing an average of 14.2 inches of horizontal movement (T17.2 in.). He mixed in two breaking balls; both a slider and curveball that sat in the mid-70s range with similar actions. He rounded out his arsenal with a change-up with heavy fade to the arm-side, sitting 77-79 mph.

Cole Dornfeld, INF, Appleton West (WI), 2023
Uncommitted. Stands in a hard-to-miss frame at 6-foot-4, 220-pounds with present strength throughout. Dornfeld took one of, if not the loudest rounds of batting practice throughout the entire day. The right-handed hitter has easy pull-side power, producing the highest max exit velocity of the day at 104.9 mph (avg. 93 mph), and a max batted distance of 382 feet, also the highest of the event. He recorded the highest average and max bat speeds of the event at 81.3 mph and 84.9 mph, respectively. Also a 6.84 runner, Dornfeld is an uncommitted JUCO product- to-know.

Zayn Giles, OF, Maroa-Forsyth (IL), 2024
A State-Runner up in last spring’s IHSA Class 2A State Playoffs, Giles transitioned to the JUCO ranks and continues to provide a quality look in front of our staff. He stands in a 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame with room for added strength still to come. He’s a right-handed hitter at the plate with a direct and compact swing that produced a max exit velocity of 97.5 mph and a max batted distance of 366 feet. Giles possesses above-average bat speed, producing an average of 77.3 mph on his swing during batting practice. A 6.92 runner, he showed quality actions in the outfield with an 84 mph outfield velocity on his best ball to home.

Jack Hendrix, INF, Highlands (KY), 2023
Is an athletic 6-foot, 185 pound infielder. At the plate, from the right-side Hendrix is simple and direct, finding the barrel with ease averaging 91.6 mph off the bat throughout his round topping out at 96.5 mph. Defensively from the left-side Hendrix is a reliable defender with steady hands and arm strength up to 86 mph across.

Brady Phillips, LHP, Carterville (IL), 2024
Is an athletic 5-foot-10, 155 pound left hander that showed well throughout his ‘pen. Phillips repeats his delivery with athleticism and intent, the arm is live with looseness and whip through release. Three-pitch mix, running his fastball up to 88 mph sitting in the upper-80s throughout while playing with life out of the hand. The two secondary pitches were thrown with intent out of the same window, the upper-70s slider played with tight breaking action, the upper-70s changeup was around the zone with tight fading action.

Parker Price, OF Eldorado (IL), 2023
Memphis commit. Price has been a standout across the JUCO Wire throughout the fall. The left/left outfielder can play center field at the next level and has a simple and direct swing making contact often. At the plate, the left-hander finds the barrel at a high-rate, averaging 93 mph off the bat throughout his round of BP. Defensively, Price is an instinctive defender with natural and athletic routes covering ground with ease while possessing a strong arm up to 94 from the outfield.

Camden Raddatz, INF, Effingham (IL), 2024
Uncommitted. Raddatz is a strong 6-foot, 185-pound infielder with strength from the right-side. Taking a flat path through the baseball with feel to elevate to the pull side, finding the barrel often averaging 93.2 mph off the bat maxing out at 98.2 mph on his round. Defensively Raddatz is a sure-handed defender with some arm strength up to 87 mph across the diamond.

Ty Reaka, LHP, Belleville East (IL), 2024
Is a 6-foot-3, 210-pound left-hander with arm speed. Uptempo delivery with feel to repeat, showed a four-pitch mix throughout the ‘pen. The fastball sat in the mid-80s with slight sinking action while averaging 13.4 inches of run. Reaka threw each of his secondaries hard and with intent, the slider sat 75-77 mph with tight sweeping action, the curveball sat 74-77 mph with tight action. The changeup is the separator, sitting 78-79 mph with sell averaging 3.1 inches of IVB, with over 12 inches of run.

Mason Robinson, RHP, Altamont (IL), 2023
Uncommitted. Robinson stands in an athletic frame with plenty more to add on at 6-foot-3, 185-pounds. He’s a loose mover on the mound, with a long, clean arm action out of a ¾ slot, showing noticeable acceleration out front. His fastball sat 88-90 mph, topping out at 90.9 mph with quality spin (avg. 2375 rpm), and clear ride through the zone. He threw both a slider and curveball, both playing with similar actions, and quality spin in the 2300-2400 range. He rounded out his arsenal with a sinker that sat 86-88 mph with some arm-side run.

Cameron Saleh, OF, Denton Guyer (TX), 2022
Uncommitted. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound right-handed hitter displayed an impressive round of batting practice during the event. He worked with a calm approach at the plate, before unloading on balls for an average exit velocity of 90.3 mph (T95.3 mph), while sending his farthest hit ball 371 feet. He attacked balls in the outfield and showed a strong arm on throws to home, topping out at 90 mph.

Lucas Winburn, RHP, Sycamore (IL), 2023
Uncommitted. Winburn owns a hard-to-miss 6-foot-5, 225-pound frame with strength throughout. It’s an up-tempo delivery on the mound with clean actions down the mound, and a compact, clean arm action that works out of a high ¾ slot. His fastball sat in the upper-80s with quality spin (avg. 2302 rpm), playing mostly straight throughout his ‘pen. He spun an upper-70s curveball, averaging 2400 rpm (T2514 rpm) with an average of -13.1 inches of horizontal movement, also throwing a low-80s slider with sharp, horizontal actions at times (T-18.3” HM, avg. 2578 rpm). He rounded out his four-pitch arsenal with a change-up that sat 79-81 mph with fade to the arm-side.

REND LAKE

James Cravens, LHP, DuQuoin (IL), 2023
Uncommitted. Cravens owns an intriguing 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame with long levers and plenty of room for added strength. It’s an easy operation down the mound with a compact arm action with clean acceleration out front. His fastball sat 84-87 mph, topping out at 88.1 mph with quality spin (avg. 2402 rpm), and run to pair (avg. -16.5 in. HM). Cravens showed two off-speed pitches during his ‘pen in Carterville, throwing a curveball in the mid-70s with short actions, and above-average spin at times (T2530 rpm). He displayed feel to throw a change-up at 73-75 mph, killing the spin and creating some fade to the arm-side.

Pierce Herrenbruck, RHP, Francis Joseph Reitz (IN), 2023
One of the top uncommitted arms across the JUCO Wire. Herrenbruck is a high-ceiling and athletic right-hander that returns at the top of the Rend Lake staff after a standout freshman year. Standing at 6-foot-3, 200-pounds with room for 10-15 pounds in his frame. Uber athlete with feel to repeat and electric arm talent. Advanced feel for four-pitches that can all be used to get opposing hitters out, throwing them all for strikes. The fastball sat 92-94 mph with seemingly more left in the tank, while averaging 17.3 inches of IVB from a 5.9 release height. The curveball stands out among his secondaries as a true swing/miss option, thrown hard up to 82 mph averaging -9.8 inches of IVB and -10.9 inches of sweep. The slider was thrown in the mid-80s and is another potential swing/miss pitch, rounding off his arsenal Herrenbruck showed a developing splitter in the low-80s. Herrenbruck is a high-ceiling arm in Southern Illinois that should garner attention from both high-level division 1 programs and professional teams.

Devin Kiebler, C, Paducah Tilghman (KY), 2023
Uncommitted. Kiebler began the event running a 6.91 60 time, and went on to post a max exit velocity of 95.4 mph (avg. 87.5 mph) during his round of batting practice, also sending his farthest hit ball 350 feet, per Trackman. The right-handed hitter showed barrel control throughout his round, sending balls on a line to all fields. He also showed bat speed throughout the round, averaging 75.8 mph (T83.1 mph).

Ethan Landis, OF, Marshall County (KY), 2023
Uncommitted. Landis stands in a lean, 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame with present strength, yet seemingly more still to come. He’s an intriguing right-handed bat with a loose, easy swing, that worked the middle and pull-side throughout his round of batting practice. He’s a quality defender from the outfield, attacking the ball in-stride with a clean arm action to pair, recording a max outfield velocity of 86 mph on his best ball to home. Landis also began the event by running a 7.05 60 time.

Colin McClure, INF, Mount Vernon (IL), 2023
Uncommitted. McClure stands in a physical 6-foot, 190-pound frame with strength throughout. He took one of the better rounds of batting practice from the right-side of the plate. His swing stayed direct with a slightly uphill path, while showing the ability to send the ball to all fields. He averaged 91.5 mph off the bat, while barrelling his hardest ball 94.2 mph, and his farthest hit ball 369 feet. He showed quality infield actions, too, with clean footwork and a soft glove, paired with an accurate arm on throws across the diamond.

Braden Pingel, OF, Calloway County (KY), 2023
Uncommitted. The 5-foot-10, 180-pound prospect showed some intriguing tools throughout the workout, beginning with his 6.83 60 time. He followed up with a quality round of batting practice from the right-side, showing some fluidity in his load, and producing an average exit velocity of 93.1 mph (T95.7 mph), while sending balls up the middle and to the pull-side of the field. His BLAST metrics were some of the day’s best, recording an average bat speed and hand speed of 75.6 mph and 25.2 mph (second best at the event), respectively.

Nathan York, OF, Evansville Reitz (IN), 2023
Uncommitted. Is a physical right-handed hitter that stands in a 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame with strength in the frame. York produced an average exit velocity of 87.4 mph (T95.8 mph), while also sending his farthest hit ball 356 feet. Defensively, the 7.01 runner showed a long arm action with some quickness out front, producing an outfield velocity of 83 mph.

SOUTHEASTERN ILLINOIS

Griffin Gladych, INF/OF, Stellys (BC), 2022
Uncommitted. He stands in a strong 6-foot-2, 220-pound frame with easy power in his left-handed bat. He showed a repeatable and easy swing during batting practice that produced a max exit velocity of 98.7 mph and a max distance of 345 feet, also creating easy bat speed for an average of 78.9 mph (T83.8 mph).

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