Preseason All-State Upperclass: Top Overall Prospects

1. Brayden Zilis SS / Minooka, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-10, 144-pounds. Lean, trim frame, ultra projectable, plenty of room to add strength.
Hit: LHH. Balanced setup, knee-knocks and hangs foot into a long stride, hands load into footstrike.  Loose, fluid swing, athletic hands, extension through contact, slightly uphill path, works middle/pull-side. 62.9 mph bat speed with 18 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 100 max exit velocity, averaged 96.2 mph. 293’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 89 mph. Loose, 3/4 release, plays with life, multiple angles.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, plays with some timing through the ball, secures the ball out front and is also confident in his backhand.
Run: 6.87 runner in the 60.

Delivery: Athletic delivery, foot under leg lift, lands square and stays within.
Arm Action: RH. 3/4 slot, long whippy arm action.
FB: T89, 87-89 mph. Low sinking action to arm side. T2337, 2254 average rpm.
SL: 77-78 mph. Lateral action, short sweep. T2777, 2214 average rpm.
CH: 77-79 mph. Flashed sink. T1963, 1923 average rpm.

2. Conor Essenburg 1B / Lincoln-Way West, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: 1B/LHP
Body: 6-1, 200-pounds. Lean frame with some present strength, still holds room for plenty of physical development.
Hit: RHH. Upright, open setup, quiet hands load, medium leg kick stride, aggressive lower half. Short, direct path with controlled aggression, above-average bat speed, accurate barrel, ball explodes off the barrel up the middle/pull-side. 77.9 mph bat speed with 19 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 105 max exit velocity, averaged 95.5 mph. 340’ max distance.
Arm: LH. INF - 90 mph. Easy life out of the hand, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Smooth glove action, fluid footwork pair with soft hands, feel and appears comfortable around the bag.
Run: 7.22 runner in the 60. 

Delivery: Hybrid, side-step delivery, small leg lift with tuck, tall/fall delivery.
Arm Action: LH. Loose, easy arm path, 3/4 slot.
FB: T88, 86-88 mph. Slight arm-side fade, ride through the zone. T2051, 1977 average rpm.
CB: 76-79 mph. Short, horizontal break. T2064, 1919 average rpm.
CH: 79-82 mph. Some feel for zone, plays with fading action.  T2129, 2038 average rpm.

3. Enzo Infelise C / Providence Catholic, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-2, 215-pounds. Strong, physically imposing frame.
Hit: RHH. Upright, relaxed setup, hands start high, short toe-tap stride, hands load back, strong lower half. Direct, quick path with easy power, slightly uphill path, consistent line drives. 74.7 mph bat speed with 11 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 101 max exit velocity, averaged 98.4 mph. 313’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 83 mph. INF - 90 mph. INF: Short, compact arm with quickness, high 3/4 slot. C: Short, compact arm action, over the top slot. Above-average arm strength.
Defense: 1.86-1.91 pop times. INF: Plays low and athletic, moves well for size, soft hands. C: One-knee setup, flexible, athletic setup, quick, easy mover, clean transfer. Soft blocker.
Run: 7.43 runner in the 60.

4. Lucas Grant LHP / Joliet Catholic, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds. Projectable build, long legs, room to add strength.
Delivery: Simple, controlled, medium leg lift,tall/fall delivery, short stride.
Arm Action: LH. Short, compact arm action, low 3/4 slot.
FB: T89, 87-89 mph. Creates easy velocity with movement from a low arm slot. T2504, 2390 average rpm.
SL: 78-81 mph. Throws it hard, sweeping shape, quality spin. T2318, 2286 average rpm.
CH: 79-81 mph. Heavy run/sink to the arm-side, pairs well with fastball.  T1986, 1912 average rpm.

5. Lincoln Causero RHP / Hersey, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-4, 180-pounds. Wiry, projectable frame, plenty of room to add strength.
Delivery: Clean, athletic delivery, medium balance point, tall/fall, works in-line, athletic finish.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose, clean arm action 3/4 slot.
FB: T92, 92-92 mph. Plays out of the hand with life. T2572, 2483 average rpm.
SL: 79-80 mph. Short, tight spin, horizontal break. T2401, 2263 average rpm.
CH: 80-83 mph. Slight horizontal movement. T1542, 1436 average rpm. 

6. CJ Deckinga 3B / Minooka, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: 3B/OF
Body: 6-4, 186-pounds. Wiry, projectable frame.
Hit: RHH. Tall, slightly open setup, fluid hands load, short leg lift stride, utilizes lower half. Stays short and direct to the ball with a mostly flat path, works on-plane, line drive contact up the middle. 72.5 mph bat speed with 13 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 89.4 mph. 333’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 84 mph. Short, compact arm path, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, fields ball to body, quick-to-release, moves well to both sides.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60.

7. Wyatt Wawro OF / Downers Grove South, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-10, 148.2-pounds. Compact, lean build, room to add strength.
Hit: LHH. Balanced slightly crouched setup, fluid hands load, short toe tap trigger, utilizes lower half. Loose hands, highly athletic swing with control of the barrel, mature and polished round, used the whole field.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 89.7 mph. 315’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 87 mph. Long reach in the back, transitions into a high 3/4 slot, quick arm.
Defense: Attacks, athletic mover, plays with timing through the ball. 
Run: 7.06 runner in the 60.

8. Joey Arend OF / St. Charles East, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 6-0, 158.3-pounds. Highly projectable build, lean and athletic.
Hit: LHH. Upright open setup, fluid hand load, short leg lift stride works back to even, linear lower half. Loose, athletic hands, easy, controlled swing, mostly flat path, works the whole field. 70.6 mph bat speed with 5 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 98 max exit velocity, averaged 89.6 mph. 298’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 89 mph. Short, loose, athletic arm action, low 3/4 slot.
Defense: Smooth, fluid mover, fields the ball out front, short crow hop to target with athletic finish.
Run: 7.14 runner in the 60.

Delivery: Simple, athletic mover, controls body, medium leg lift with tuck, tall/fall.
Arm Action: LH. Loose, quick arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T86, 85-86 mph. Quick out of the hand, some arm-side run. T2271, 2154 average rpm.
SL: 73-76 mph. 2/8 sweeping shape, lands. T2056, 1923 average rpm.
CH: 77-79 mph. Above-average arm-side fade, swing-and-miss feel. T2146, 2059 average rpm.

9. Toby Peterson LHP / Palatine High School, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-2, 180-pounds. Athletic build, strength throughout.
Delivery: Controlled delivery, medium leg-lift, drop/drive lower-half, works in-line, controlled finish.
Arm Action: LH. Connected arm action, works out of high 3/4 window.
FB: T89, 87-89 mph. Slight arm side action. T2371, 2179 average rpm.
SL: 78-79 mph. Tight sharp action, above average spin, thrown aggressively. T2467, 2178 average rpm.
SPLT: 79-81 mph. Slight downer action, thrown firm and with feel. 

T10. Gavin Triezenberg SS / Brother Rice , IL / 2025

Positional Profile: SS/3B
Body: 6-3, 200-pounds. Lean and athletic build, some present strength with room to add on muscle.
Hit: RHH. Tall, slightly open setup, minimal hand load, short toe tap stride, utilizes lower half. Hands start high wand work down into a steep path, works to stay on top of the ball, looks to go the other way, easy effort.  72.3 mph bat speed with 19 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 94 max exit velocity, averaged 86.9 mph. 301’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 85 mph. Loose, athletic arm action from varied slots.
Defense: Soft hands, clean glove round, natural actions.
Run: 7.12 runner in the 60.

T10. Brady Rosenkranz RHP / Stevenson, IL / 2025

Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-7, 227-pounds. Long limbs, large frame.
Delivery: Tall and fall delivery, short subtle rocker step, easy toe down leg lift, lands balanced and square, athletic finish. Easy tempo and delivery, low effort.
Arm Action: RH. High 3/4 slot, loose easy arm, clean path.
FB: T90, 87-89 mph. Easy out of the hand with mostly straight actions.  T2475, 2374 average rpm.
CB: 72-73 mph. 10/4 shape, gradual action. T2424, 2315 average rpm.
SL: 75-77 mph. Slightly more spin than CB, lateral action and better feel around the zone. T2411, 2383 average rpm.
CH: 84-85 mph. Arm-side run, comes out of the hand firm, thrown with same arm-speed as fastball. T1694, 1641 average rpm.