Prep Baseball Report

Recruiting Roundup: Week of 11/1


By: Gavin Smith
Content Manager, Scout

With the end of the showcase season, fall baseball wrapped up, the World Series now behind us, we're heading into the true offseason. We throught it would be a good time to start up our weekly 'Recruiting Roundup' series, where we contiune to highlight the prospects that committed to a collegiate program during the week. Be on the lookout each Friday for this series, or follow along on our X platform (PrepBaseballIL) where we announce commitments each morning. This past week was a busy one for commitments, so let's begin.

Note: Player's are listed in alphabetical order by last name.

2025s

Cade Adrian C / OF / Harvest Christian Academy, IL / 2025

NORTH PARK COMMIT

Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-1, 187-pounds. Sloped shoulders, lean and athletic frame, projectable.
Hit: RHH. Tall, open setup, small leg lift with minimal stride. Loose, flat path, loose arms, elevated contact up the middle. 66.8 mph bat speed with 13 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 83.9 mph. 310’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Defense: 2.11-2.19 pop times.
Run: 4.03 30-yard dash.

Baris Brua LHP / 1B / Mundelein, IL / 2025

WISCONSIN-OSHKOSH COMMIT

Brua is an imposing southpaw that stands in at 6-foot-5, 218-pounds. He showed feel to spin his fastball (avg. 2280 rpm) that played with heavy arm-side run (avg. -18.3” HM) and carry (avg. 15.9” IVB) through the zone at 84-85 mph. He had a feel for the zone with his slider at 76-78 mph, playing with short vertical action from a 2/8 shape. He rounded out his ‘pen with a 79-81 mph changeup thrown with fastball armspeed, playing with arm-side run (avg. -17” HM) and occasional sink (avg. 10.7” IVB).

Jack Burns 2B / SS / Aurora Christian, IL / 2025

NORTHWESTERN-ST. PAUL COMMIT

Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-10, 150-pounds. Long, loose-levered.
Hit: RHH. Quiet, balanced setup, short stride. Quiet, aggressive swing, level through the zone, lifted middle of the field contact. 68.4 mph bat speed with 11 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 77.2 mph. 283’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. Loose, clean arm, 3/4 release.
Defense: Athletic actions, soft hands, pre-pitch rhythm with timing through the ball, range up the middle, gets around it with ease, clean transfer.
Run: 7.25 runner in the 60.

Zane Caves LHP / 1B / Minooka, IL / 2026

MICHIGAN STATE COMMIT

LHP Zane Caves (Minooka) was far and away one of the event’s biggest winners. In his two innings of work, the southpaw only allowed one hit with no runs, one walk and five strikeouts. He attacked the zone with his fastball, playing in the low-mid 80s, topping out at 87 mph with heavy arm-side run. His curveball has wipeout potential, playing consistently over 2,700 rpm around 70 mph with sharp downward action. He also showed a changeup that played in the low-70’s, playing with heavy arm-side fade with a similar profile to his fastball. High-level uncommitted arm.

Shane Correll RHP / Dee-Mack, IL / 2025

CARL SANDBURG JC COMMIT

Uncommitted. It was a quality first look at the 6-foot-1, 210-pound, Correll. He displayed a simple, stretch-only delivery with a compact arm action out of a low ¾ slot. His fastball sat 79-82 mph, and topped out at 83 mph multiple times. He mixed in a gradual breaking ball with 11/5 shape at 69-71 mph.

Jack Dykas LHP / 1B / Lincoln way central, IL / 2025

WISCONSIN-PARKSIDE COMMIT

Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 6-1, 195-pounds. Strong upper half.
Hit: LHH. Narrow, slightly open setup, short stride. Short, quick swing, controls the barrel, on time and stays inside the baseball. Wore out the left-center field gap with hard contact throughout.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 84 mph. 323’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 76 mph. Stiff arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Plays through the baseball, fields off centered, one hand glove.
Run: 7.55 runner in the 60. 

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

KENTUCKY COMMIT

Kansas State commit. Essenburg (Lincoln-Way West, 2025) started on the mound in Friday night’s last game. He finished the game throwing two innings with five strikeouts, one walk, one run and two hits allowed. Clean, athletic mover on the mound with a loose arm. He used his fastball often which sat 89-91 mph, topping out at 92 mph with mostly straight actions. He also mixed in slider with hard bite at 76-78 mph with 2200-2300 rpm. A high-level arm in the state’s incoming senior class. Essenburg later showed easy right-handed pop at the plate, lacing two doubles in their game on Saturday. He uses a whole field approach at the plate, and can generate power to any part of the field. He also showed natural actions in the outfield with his strong arm translating to the outfield as well. 

Deon Harrington SS / 3B / Alton, IL / 2025

ST. CHARLES CC COMMIT

Uncommitted. Harrington swung the bat well for the Redbirds this past week going 4-for-9 with two doubles, two walks, an RBI, and a run scored. In their win over Belleville East (7-5) he went 1-for-3 with a walk and a run scored. 

John Higgins SS / 3B / Freeburg, IL / 2025

ILLINOIS CENTRAL JC COMMIT

John Hilpert RHP / OF / Belleville West, IL / 2025

JEFFERSON JC

Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-9, 160-pounds.
Delivery: Up tempo, high leg kick with tuck and some coil, tall/fall delivery, foot lands slightly open at footstrike.
Arm Action: RH. Full arm circle, 3/4 slot.
FB: T83, 80-82 mph. Mostly straight actions, has run at times. T2162, 2080 average rpm.
SL: 75-79 mph. Short, horizontal wrinkle. T2479, 2244 average rpm.
CH: 76-76 mph. Downer action, kills spin, maintains arm speed. T1796, 1796 average rpm.

Adrian Medina 1B / Grant, IL / 2025

NORTH PARK COMMIT

Positional Profile: 1B
Body: 6-1, 220-pounds. Strong, durable frame, broad shoulders.
Hit: RHH. Tall, narrow setup, open stance, high leg lift, medium stride. Flat path, strong hands, stays through the ball up the middle, controlled aggression, flashed pull-side pop with elevated contact. 67.2 mph bat speed with 7 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 92 max exit velocity, averaged 85.2 mph. 306’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 73 mph. Loose arm action. Accurate from varied arm slots.
Defense: Active feet, clean release and bouncy around the bag.
Run: 4.23 30-yard dash.

Jacob Perry RHP / York, IL / 2025

ST. JOHNS UNIVERSITY COMMIT

Yandel Ramirez / Crystal Lake South , IL / 2025

MCHENRY COUNTY JC COMMIT

Aaron Scott LHP / OF / Lincoln-Way East, IL / 2025

SOUTH SUBURBAN JC COMMIT 

Matt Sonnenschein SS / 2B / Naperville North, IL / 2025

WISCONSIN-LA CROSSE COMMIT

Tanner Soucinek OF / OF / Moline, IL / 2025

PARKLAND JC COMMIT

Positional Profile: OF/OF
Body: 6-1, 175-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Toe-tap stride, minimal movement, simple. Loose, whippy, level path, line drive contact to all fields. 75.1 mph bat speed with 21 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 93 max exit velocity, averaged 85.5 mph. 356’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Longer arm action, low 3/4 slot.
Defense: One-hand gather out front, easy actions, shuffle steps on throws to home.
Run: 7.30 runner in the 60. 

Owen Strahl OF / 3B / Lake Zurich, IL / 2025

LINCOLN TRAIL JC

Positional Profile: OF/3B
Body: 5-10, 192.9-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Closed setup, wide stance, leg-lift trigger that gains ground. Intentful, uphill, hard off the barrel, looks to work gap-to-gap. 76.5 mph bat speed with 20 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 102 max exit velocity, averaged 96 mph. 404’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 84 mph. 3/4 slot, fuller arc, uphill, some carry.
Defense: Aggressive, attacks ball, one-hand gather out front, shuffles into throw, works through motion.
Run: 7.15 runner in the 60. 

Owen Walsh RHP / 3B / St Ignatius, IL / 2025

MILWAUKEE SCHOOL OF ENGINEERING COMMIT

RHP/3B Owen Walsh (St. Ignatius, 2025) Physical, 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame, overpowered on the mound during Sparks North-White’s Friday morning pool-play game. The right-hander twirled a six and one-third inning start while striking out seven, four swinging and three looking, and surrendering only one earned run and two walks. When he wasn’t striking out hitters, he consistently produced weak contact and created uncomfortable at-bats using a three pitch mix. Showed a ¾ arm slot, fluid and repeatable delivery, easy arm speed, snappy arm action, forceful lower body push off, and an upright follow through. Fastball was firm and sat from 84-86 mph. Changeup presented armside fade, sitting from 79-81 mph. Slider was tight, willingly thrown for front door strikes versus righties, and sat from 75-77 mph. An all around sound performance from the uncommitted Walsh.

Shea Wielgos OF / LHP / Reavis, IL / 2025

SOUTH SUBURBAN JC COMMIT

Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-8, 152-pounds. High-waisted with room to fill out the frame.
Hit: LHH. Wide base, minimal stride, hands drop at footstrike. Uphill bat path with intent to lift the ball, pull-side approach. 70.9 mph bat speed with 20 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 80.9 mph. 324’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 79 mph. Longer action, clean, loose. 3/4 arm slot.
Defense: Quick feet, some range, one hand gather through.
Run: 6.92 runner in the 60.

Jake Zimmerman C / 1B / Bloomington, IL / 2025

ILLINOIS CENTRAL JC COMMIT

2026s

Ryan Duncheon Jr. C / RHP / East Peoria, IL / 2026

ILLINOIS STATE COMMIT

RHP/C Ryan Duncheon Jr. (East Peoria) is an intriguing two-way prospect in the state’s 2026 class. Standing in a strong and physical 6-foot-1, 191-pound frame. On the mound, he worked his fastball up to 88 mph with substantial carry through the zone (avg. 20.6” IVB), though we recently saw him up to 92 mph at the Future Games. Duncheon would mix in both a curveball and a slider, with both offerings spinning at an average of 2296 rpm, while rounding his mix out with an arm-side fading changeup at 80 mph. On the offensive side of the ball, he reached a max EV of 93.8 mph - which translated in-game where he swatted two loud doubles. Defensively, his strong arm translates from the mound to behind the dish out of the crouch where he made a couple on-the-money throws in-game. With Duncheon’s two-way ability, he is a must-follow in the state going forward.

Blake Hoffer LHP / 1B / Glenbrook South, IL / 2026

ILLINOIS COMMIT

LHP Blake Hoffer (Glenbrook South) is an intriguing 6-foot-5, 200-pound southpaw to know. He is a clean and athletic mover downhill with a two-pitch mix. His fastball is clean and lively out of the hand at 83-85 mph (T86) with carry through the zone at an average of 16” of induced vertical break. Playing off the fastball was a short 69-73 mph slider that showed 1/7 shape. 

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