On Tuesday, June 18th, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff traveled to the East Side Complex in East Peoria, Illinois to host the Peoria Rising Stars ID. The event hosted seven players from across the state and allowed our staff to get a closer look at these players to kick off the summer circuit.

These early Rising Stars events also serve as key identifiers for future invite-only events, including the Prep Baseball Junior Future Games.

Today we take a look at a couple of the standouts, as well as breakdown the top statistical performers from the day with our “Statistical Analysis” below.

TAKEAWAYS

SS/RHP James Sobkowiak (Downers Grove South, 2028) showed well as a two-way in his Prep Baseball event debut. On the mound, Sobkowiak was a clean and easy mover with a long, loose arm action, producing a fastball up to 84 mph, sitting mostly 81-84 mph. He also showed feel to throw both his curveball and change-up for strikes. At the plate, Sobkowiak has a loose left-handed swing with athletic hands, consistently barreling the ball for line drives to all fields. He showed clean actions defensively, too, with a loose and accurate arm on throws across the diamond.

3B Brady Jones (Metamora, 2028) stands in a hard-to-miss frame at 6-foot-3, 182-pounds with athleticism and projection throughout. Jones displayed an impressive round of batting practice from the left side of the plate. He showed easy power with loose hands through the zone, producing well-hit contact to the middle/pull-side of the field. His hardest hit ball was recorded at 85.4 mph (81.6 mph avg.), while sending his farthest hit ball 313 feet. He showed clean actions defensively and was up to 80.9 mph during his bullpen.

PLAYER ANALYSIS (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Braden Davis, Galesburg (IL), 2029
Positional Profile: C
Body: 5-9, 130-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, slightly open stance, small leg lift into short stride. Direct hands, flat path through the zone, catches ball out front, works middle of the field.
Power: 80 max exit velocity, averaged 72.5 mph. 284’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 71 mph. Compact, easy arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.24-2.39 pop times. Clean, easy transfer, works in-line on throws to second.
Run: 7.73 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 5-9, 130-pounds.
Delivery: Stretch-only delivery, high leg-lift, tall/fall down the mound, works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T75, 72-75 mph. Mostly straight, comes out of the hand easy. T2111, 1983 average rpm.
SL: 61-63 mph. Short break, plays with 11/5 shape. T2031, 1975 average rpm.
CH: 61-62 mph. Downer action with some cut. T1742, 1692 average rpm.

Gage Garrison, Washington (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: 2B/3B
Body: 5-8, 156-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, open stance, toe-tap trigger, long stride. Direct, strong hands, bat stays flat through the zone, all fields approach.
Power: 80 max exit velocity, averaged 75.4 mph. 238’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 64 mph. Long arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fields ball out front, moves well to both sides, glove-pat on throws.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Simple, clean actions, medium leg-lift with slight coil, tall/fall down the mound, short stride.
Arm Action: RH. Clean arm path, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T67, 63-67 mph. Mostly straight actions, easy. T1371, 1279 average rpm.
CB: 49-58 mph. 11/5 shape, developing. T1364, 1340 average rpm.
CH: 55-60 mph. Downer action, decel. T944, 891 average rpm.

Braxton Hightower, Peoria Notre Dame (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: 1B/3B
Body: 6-0, 195-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Simple setup, high leg lift with minimal stride. Quick hands, slightly uphill bat path, pull-side approach with easy power.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 82 mph. 323’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. Long, easy arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, fields ball to body, clean transfer.
Run: 7.99 runner in the 60.

Brady Jones, Metamora High School (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: 3B
Body: 6-4, 180-pounds. Long-levered, projectable frame.
Hit: LHH. Taller setup, slightly open stance, small leg lift, comes back to center with stride. Loose, athletic hands, slightly uphill path, works mostly up the middle/pull-side.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 81.6 mph. 313’ max distance.
Arm: RH. Loose, compact arm action, 3/4 slot. Accurate throws across.
Defense: Clean, athletic mover, fields ball to body, clean transfer, moves well to both sides.
Run: 7.45 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Stretch-only, high leg lift, tall/fall delivery down the mound, foot lands in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Longer arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T81, 79-81 mph. Straight action, thrown with ease. T1814, 1725 average rpm.
CB: 67-69 mph. 11/5 shape. T1958, 1885 average rpm.
CH: 70-72 mph. Downward action with some fade, decel. T1544, 1523 average rpm.

Austin Koch, Bloomington Central Catholic (IL), 2029
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-9, 135-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall, narrow setup, minimal leg lift and stride. Longer path to the ball, stays mostly flat through the zone, uses all fields.
Power: 76 max exit velocity, averaged 72 mph. 268’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 71 mph. Long, loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fields ball out front, attacks the ball, shuffle steps on throws.
Run: 8.53 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Controlled mover, high leg-lift with tuck, tall/fall in-line down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Longer arm path, 3/4 slot.
FB: T72, 70-72 mph. Arm-side run at times, easy out of hand. T1791, 1595 average rpm.
CB: 57-58 mph. 12/6 shape. T1510, 1398 average rpm.
CH: 60-62 mph. Plays with some fade to the arm-side. T1292, 1201 average rpm.
KN: 56-58 mph. Deceleration, some knuckle-ball action.

Easton Pickrel, Galesburg (IL), 2029
Positional Profile: SS
Body: 5-6, 110-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, minimal leg lift and stride. Short, direct bat path, on the barrel to all fields.
Power: 74 max exit velocity, averaged 65.7 mph. 256’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 67 mph. Long, easy arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, fields ball to body, clean transfer, moves well around the ball
Run: 8.15 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Uptempo delivery, high leg-lift, controlled at balance, tall/fall in-line down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Long, clean arm path, 3/4 slot.
FB: T71, 68-70 mph. Mostly straight actions. T1941, 1806 average rpm.
SL: 56-59 mph. Short wrinkle, developing. T1718, 1679 average rpm.
CH: 60-60 mph. Mostly straight, flashes sink. T1268, 1239 average rpm.

Rio Schone, Washington (IL), 2029
Positional Profile: SS
Body: 5-10, 145-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, slightly open stance, minimal leg lift and stride. Direct, quick hands, mostly flat path through the zone. Works up the middle/pull-side.
Power: 80 max exit velocity, averaged 71.5 mph. 281’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 64 mph. Short, compact arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Two-hand gather out front, moves well around the ball.
Run: 7.22 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Easy delivery, high leg lift, tall/fall down the mound, foot lands slightly open.
Arm Action: RH. Compact, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T75, 74-75 mph. Mostly straight with some sink at times. T1801, 1713 average rpm.
CB: 64-65 mph. Short lateral bite, has some feel for the zone. T1903, 1828 average rpm.
CH: 66-67 mph. Maintains armspeed, flashes sink. T1499, 1383 average rpm.

Jenner Smith, Hersey (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: SS
Body: 6-1, 155-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall, narrow setup, small leg lift into long stride. Hands work direct and quick through the zone with a flatter bat path.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 77.3 mph. 307’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 65 mph. Clean arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, fields ball to body, moves well to both sides.
Run: 7.51 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Stretch-only, controlled medium leg-lift, tall/fall down the mound, works in-line.
Arm Action: RH.
FB: T74, 71-74 mph. Comes out of the hand clean, mostly straight. T2020, 1938 average rpm.
CB: 61-63 mph. 12/6 shape, feel to land. T2141, 2081 average rpm.
SL: 63-65 mph. 11/5 shape, tight spin. T1938, 1921 average rpm.

James Sobkowiak, Downers Grove South (IL), 2028
Positional Profile: SS
Body: 6-2, 155-pounds. Long, athletic, projectable build.
Hit: LHH. Tall, narrow setup, slightly open stance, small leg lift, works back to center. Loose, athletic hands, slightly uphill path, all fields approach.
Power: 83 max exit velocity, averaged 77.3 mph. 269’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 81 mph. Clean, compact arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Clean, athletic actions, moves well to both sides, clean transfer.
Run: 7.89 runner in the 60.

Positional Profile: RHP
Delivery: Simple, athletic delivery, high leg lift with tuck, tall/fall down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Short, compact arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T84, 82-84 mph. Mostly straight actions, plays clean out of the hand. T1988, 1905 average rpm.
CB: 67-70 mph. Feel for pitch, 11/5 shape, lands. T1905, 1698 average rpm.
CH: 72-73 mph. Feel for the pitch, slight fade, throws with fastball intent. T1613, 1453 average rpm.

Paxton Zaiser, Washington (IL), 2029
Positional Profile: 3B/C
Body: 5-6, 125-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Slightly crouched setup, small leg lift into short stride. Quick hands, slightly uphill path, uses all fields/
Power: 79 max exit velocity, averaged 72 mph. 271’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 63 mph. Long arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, clean, fluid actions, fields ball to body.
Run: 9.11 runner in the 60.

STAT STORY

FASTBALL VELOCITY (MAX)

FASTBALL SPIN RATE (AVG.)

60-YARD DASH

EXIT VELOCITY (MAX)

TOP INFIELD VELOCITY

TOP OUTFIELD VELOCITY

TOP CATCHER VELOCITY

TOP POP TIMES

+ CLICK HERE for a look at the complete statistics from the event.

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