On Wednesday, March 24th, our staff hosted the first ever Palos Heights Rising Stars ID event at the Marist Sportsplex in Palos Heights, IL. This event was host to 11 prospects, and they gave our staff one final look at them before the spring season began.

Read on below for a look at all the prospects from the event.

ALL PROSPECTS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Ty Bachman, Normal Community West High School (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: SS
Body: 6-0, 150-pounds. High-waisted, long-limbed build.
Hit: RHH. Tall stance, medium stride, hands start high. Loose hands, flat path, looks to keep the ball on a line up the middle and the other way, balanced finish.
Power: 79 max exit velocity, averaged 70.3 mph. 244’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 69 mph. Long, clean arm circle, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady, sure-handed actions, deliberate footwork.
Run: 7.68 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Clean, easy mover, medium leg lift, controlled into balance point, tall/fall lower-half, stride works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm swing out of the glove, high 3/4 release.
FB: T72, 69-72 mph. Some finish through the zone, slight running action to the arm-side. T1904, 1853 average rpm.
CB: 59-60 mph. Plays with 11/5 shape and depth, downer action, some feel below the zone. T2167, 2105 average rpm.
SL: 60-62 mph. More lateral movement than the curveball, some depth, slot drops slightly. T2138, 2053 average rpm.
CH: 63-64 mph. Plays with dive to the arm-side, some feel below the zone. T1572, 1484 average rpm.

Matejo Blakes, N/A (IL), 2029
Positional Profile: 3B
Body: 5-5, 127-pounds. Sturdy, well-proportioned frame.
Hit: RHH. Crouched, open stance, short and simple stride, quiet hands load, utilizes strong lower-half. Controlled swing, balanced finish, looks to stay through the ball the other way, some whip in the barrel, flat path.
Power: 72 max exit velocity, averaged 66.9 mph. 186’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 68 mph. Short, clean arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Smooth actions and hands, fluid footwork.
Run: 8.58 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Controlled, deliberate delivery, medium leg lift into coiled balance point, tall/fall lower-half.
Arm Action: RH. Short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T68, 67-68 mph. Clean out of the hand, straight actions. T1877, 1810 average rpm.
CB: 56-63 mph. Above-average feel, 11/5 shape. Flashed depth. T1976, 1586 average rpm.
SL: 56-60 mph. More horiztonal action than the curveball. Tight spin. T1979, 1925 average rpm.
CH: 59-60 mph. Occasional arm-side fade. Flashed feel for the zone. T1278, 1238 average rpm.

Nate Broyles, DePaul College Prep (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: 1B
Body: 6-3, 175-pounds. Well-proprtioned with some lower-half strength.
Hit: RHH. Medium balanced stance, rhythmic hands, minimal stride, utilizes lower-half. Quick hands, flat path, one-handed finish, looks to keep the ball on a line, worked some backspin the other way.
Power: 79 max exit velocity, averaged 73.7 mph. 240’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 68 mph. Long, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Smooth hands and actions, secures into the body, moves well off the bag.
Run: 7.82 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Simple, high leg kick into balance point, slight drop/drive lower-half.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T70, 66-69 mph. Mostly straight action. T1700, 1549 average rpm.
CH: 62-65 mph. Flashed sink. Developing. T1430, 1246 average rpm.

Kaden Dangman, Lincoln-Way East (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 6-0, 200-pounds. Mature build with present strength throughout.
Hit: RHH. Wide base, short controlled stride, body load. Quick, strong hands, advanced bat-strength, ability to adjust and sit back, showed the ability to use the whole field.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 78.3 mph. 310’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Easy life, plays true with backspin and carry, high over the top slot.
Defense: 2.29-2.42 pop times. Clean, controlled actions, works in-line to second.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60.

Abel Diaz Jr, Na (IL), 2029
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-5, 110-pounds. High-waisted, long-limbed frame.
Hit: LHH. Wide base, medium stride, minimal hand movement, simple. Short to the ball, flat path, some rhythm, line-drives.
Power: 71 max exit velocity, averaged 62.1 mph. 216’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 67 mph. Loose, easy arm, 3/4 release.
Defense: Ative footwork, plays through the ball with intent, syncs well into crowhop.
Run: 8.35 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: LHP
Delivery: Loose and clean, easy mover, stretch only, high/athletic leg lift, drop/drive down the mound, works in-line.
Arm Action: LH. Loose arm, long in the back into a 3/4 release.
FB: T69, 67-69 mph. Slight running action to the arm-side. Two-seam plays with some sink through the zone. T1861, 1779 average rpm.
CH: 60-62 mph. Similar arm-speed to the fastball, plays with some sink below the zone. T1459, 1390 average rpm.

Terrell Hampton Hall, N/A (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: SS/C
Body: 5-9, 145-pounds. Athletic build with some present upper-half strength.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, stride load is consistent and works, toe tap stride. Quick, strong hands, unloads from launch with a flat path, balanced finish, on the barrel with authority to the whole field, got into some balls with elevated contact to his pull-side.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 80.8 mph. 278’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. INF - 76 mph. C: Quick to release, plays on the bag from the crouch. High 3/4 slot. INF: Atheltic arm action, clean, and can throw from mutiple platforms.
Defense: 2.20-2.48 pop times. C: Quick, clean transfer, works in-line, controlled. INF: Advanced actions, fluid rhythm and footwork, plays through the ball, plays with timing, ultra smooth/soft hands, clear feel for the position.
Run: 7.71 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Fluid, athletic, tall and fall delivery, balanced and controlled finish.
Arm Action: RH. Loose, clean arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T76, 73-75 mph. Controlled the zone, creates tilt, late run and sink at times. T1944, 1883 average rpm.
SL: 61-63 mph. Feel for the zone, 11/5 shape, occasional depth. T1986, 1861 average rpm.
CH: 67-69 mph. Plays with fastball arm speed, slight running action, feel. T1754, 1596 average rpm.

Maddox Muehling, Milford (IL), 2029
Positional Profile: SS
Body: 5-6, 112-pounds. High-waisted.
Hit: LHH. Balanced, loads hands, repeatable short stride load. Long through the zone, flat path with extension, looks to work middle/pull-side.
Power: 71 max exit velocity, averaged 67.8 mph. 177’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 66 mph. Long arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Sure-handed actions, active footwork, confident hands.
Run: 8.03 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Controlled tempo, moves into a more up-tempo pace from balance point into a drop/drive lower-half, stride works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm swing into a high 3/4 release.
FB: T70, 68-70 mph. Clean out of the hand, mostly straight action. T2016, 1936 average rpm.
CB: 58-60 mph. 11/5 shape, some depth. T1734, 1634 average rpm.
SL: 59-62 mph. Gradual 10/4 shape, some depth. T1963, 1853 average rpm.
CH: 65-65 mph. Thrown with fastball intent, flashed late dive. T1682, 1591 average rpm.

Gehrig Ray, St. Ignatius (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/SS
Body: 5-8, 140-pounds. High-waisted.
Hit: RHH. Slightly open, toe tap into medium stride, high hands, linear lower-half. Strong hands, gets through the ball with extension, looks to go the other way.
Power: 76 max exit velocity, averaged 73 mph. 231’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 63 mph. INF - 69 mph. C: Quick, whippy arm action, low 3/4 slot. INF: Long, loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.45-2.51 pop times. C: Quick, clean release, works in-line, receives from one knee, moves well laterally to block. INF: Soft hands with some rhythm, quick transfer, athletic mover.
Run: 8.15 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: High leg lift, tall/fall lower-half, stride works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. High 3/4 release, clean arm.
FB: T71, 70-71 mph. Feel for the zone, mostly straight action. T1733, 1638 average rpm.
CB: 61-62 mph. 11/5 shape with depth. T1828, 1790 average rpm.
CH: 64-65 mph. Plays similar out of the hand to the fastball, some run to the arm-side. T1489, 1402 average rpm.

Jonah Sloane, St. Laurence (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-7, 143-pounds. High-waisted, athletic build.
Hit: RHH. Balanced, minimal stride, repeatable load, linear lower-half. Flat path, looks to stay on top of the ball, pull-side approach.
Power: 76 max exit velocity, averaged 67.4 mph. 233’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 80 mph. Easy, live arm, plays with life and carry. 3/4 slot.
Defense: Active footwork, steady hands, one-hand gather off front foot.
Run: 7.69 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Athletic, smooth, tall and fall delivery, minimal effort, repeatable, balanced finish.
Arm Action: RH. Clean, uninterrupted arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T79, 77-79 mph. Clean out of the hand, flashed jump through the zone. T2289, 2246 average rpm.
CB: 66-70 mph. Tight spin, 11/5 shape, advanced action, feel. T2591, 2488 average rpm.
CH: 69-70 mph. Fastball arm speed, pronates, advanced feel. Flashed hard running action. T1893, 1794 average rpm.

Dean Tomczuk, Lincoln-Way Central (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: 3B
Body: 5-8, 135-pounds. Trim, high-waisted frame.
Hit: LHH. Athletic setup, gains ground with stride, quiet hands load. Loose hands, short to the ball, flat path, feel to hit, looks middle/away.
Power: 74 max exit velocity, averaged 66.6 mph. 220’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 66 mph. Loose, longer draw out of the glove, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, active footwork, two-hand gather out front.
Run: 8.01 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Controlled tempo, medium balance point, tall/fall lower-half, simple and works in-line, repeats.
Arm Action: RH. Long reach in the back, high 3/4 release.
FB: T71, 68-71 mph. Mostly straight, feel for the zone. T1965, 1865 average rpm.
CB: 62-64 mph. Tight 11/5 shape, depth to the glove side, feel for the lower quadrant of the zone. T2047, 2034 average rpm.
CH: 63-65 mph. Kept mostly below the zone, straight action. T1458, 1324 average rpm.

Quinn Wiedelman, St. Ignatius (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: C/1B
Body: 5-11, 160-pounds. Athletic, high-waisted frame.
Hit: SH. Open stance, toe tap minimal stride, hands start low, linear lower-half. Stays mostly short to the ball, flat path, quick hands, flashed some extension through the zone, looks to stay on top of the ball.
Power: 82 max exit velocity, averaged 76.6 mph. 288’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 67 mph. INF - 71 mph. C: Short to the ear, high 3/4 release. INF: Short arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.36-2.51 pop times. C: Clean, controlled transfer, stays low and through the ball, receives on one knee. INF: Soft hands, steady actions, moves well off the bag, feel around the bag.
Run: 7.99 runner in the 60.

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