Prep Baseball Report

Prep Baseball Illinois Pitcher of the Week: Ethan Bagwell


By: Pete Hamot
Assistant Director, Illinois & Wisconsin

RHP Ethan Bagwell (Collinsville, 2024; Missouri) is one of the top pitching prospects in the state, and he further proved that this past week, firing six innings to notch the win against a strong O’Fallon club. For his efforts and stellar performance, Bagwell has been named this week’s Pitcher of the Week.

Bagwell toed the rubber in a Southwestern Conference matchup Tuesday evening and delivered for the Kahoks in a big way, firing six shutout innings while allowing just one hit, two walks and striking out 12.

Currently ranked No. 10 in the state, Bagwell is an imposing 6-foot-4, 225-pound right-hander that has been gaining some helium so far this spring, ramping his fastball up to 97 mph in one of his first outings of the season. He displayed his big fastball once again in this look, working around 94-95 mph in the first inning before settling into the low-90s. His go-to weapon was a sharp slider to change up the pace at 78-81 mph.

On the season, Bagwell has twirled 37.2 innings to the tune of a 1.67 ERA, 1.062 WHIP, 69 strikeouts and 19 walks. Southern Illinois has long been a hotbed for talented arms, especially in recent years, and it would be no surprise to hear his name called this summer in the draft.


Scouting Report

3/14/24

Mizzou signee and ranked No. 10 overall in the state’s current senior class. Highly physical 6-foot-4, 225-pound frame packed with muscle mass throughout. Started for the Kahoks in a win, punching out seven with one walk over four scoreless innings. Works exclusively out of the stretch. Stays connected to the rubber and rides his backside downhill to front footstrike. Efficient in-line mover, athletic finish with less effort than we’ve seen in the past. Simple all-around operation, repeats. Continuous arm path with some length on the backside, finished out of a ¾ window. Fastball touched 97 mph, sat 95-96 mph in the first. Pitched at 92-95 mph as his outing went on, did touch 95 in the third and 94 in the fourth. Average control, spotted for strikes down in the zone, cuts it at times. Did throw a few with life and backspin up in the zone. Spun his first sliders of the outing in the fourth inning, 80-81 mph, tight spin. Showed more feel for a sinking changeup than we’d seen in the past at 86-88 mph, threw it to left-handed hitters. A budding MLB Draft follow in the Illinois’ 2024 class.


We're thankful for the POTW submissions we received from the coaches across the state. The players who garnered POTW consideration will earn a place within tomorrow's Diamond Notes story, so be on the lookout for that.

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