Prep Baseball Report

Southern Illinois Summer ID: Pitcher Analysis


Illinois Scouting Staff

On Tuesday, July 2nd, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff made their way down to John A. Logan for the Southern Illinois Summer ID. This event was host to just under 30 players, and gave our staff a good look at some of the top players in the area. 

Now, we will be taking a look at all of the pitchers from the event with their scouting reports from the day, as well as a Top-5 ranking of who our staff thought showed the best in their ‘pens.

For a look at all of the position players from the event, click HERE

TOP PITCHING PROSPECTS

1. Brandon Menser, Sesser Valier (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-4, 180-pounds. Lean, wiry frame with more to come.
Delivery: Simple, athletic mover, high leg lift with tuck and coil, tall/fall down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Long, clean arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T89, 87-88 mph. Firm out of the hand, quality spin. T2458, 2411 average rpm.
CB: 74-76 mph. 12/6 action, maintains fastball arm speed. T2550, 2409 average rpm.
CH: 76-78 mph. Downer action, noticeable decel. T1559, 1482 average rpm.

2. Brock Fearday, St. Anthony (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-3, 200-pounds. Athletic frame with present strength and projection.
Delivery: Simple, athletic mover, leg lift with tuck, drop/drive down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Clean, loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T89, 87-88 mph. Plays with carry and run through the zone. T2302, 2200 average rpm.
CB: 71-74 mph. 11/5 shape, feel to land in the zone. T2339, 2246 average rpm.
SL: 76-81 mph. Sharp, tight spin, 10/4 shape. T2165, 2152 average rpm.
CH: 78-80 mph. Heavy fade with downer action, tunneled well. T1958, 1856 average rpm.

3. Josh Jones, Normal University (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-11, 168.9-pounds. Lean frame, high-waisted, projectable.
Delivery: Athletic mover with control, high leg lift with tuck and coil, drop/drive down the mound, in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T87, 82-85 mph. Clean out of the hand, mostly straight. T2143, 2107 average rpm.
CB: 70-72 mph. 11/5 shape, can land for strikes. T2289, 2040 average rpm.
CH: 75-77 mph. Plays with fade and depth. T2128, 2056 average rpm

4. Nathan Evans, Murphysboro (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: RHP
Body: 6-1, 179-pounds. Athletic frame, some strength.
Delivery: Stretch-only delivery, high leg lift with tuck, tall/fall down the mound, works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Long, loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T87, 86-87 mph. FB: Plays clean out of the hand, mostly straight. SNK: Clear arm-side run and sink T2172, 2140 average rpm.
CB: 72-73 mph. Quality spin (avg. 2455) with 11/5 shape. T2501, 2455 average rpm.
SPLT: 75-76 mph. Plus feel, heavy drop, tunneled well

5. Xander Beals, St. Anthony (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 5-8, 132.9-pounds. High-waisted, wiry frame, projectable.
Delivery: Simple, athletic mover, small leg lift with tuck, tall/fall.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, whippy, 3/4 slot.
FB: T83, 81-83 mph. Plays with arm-side run. T1878, 1821 average rpm.
CB: 67-70 mph. 11/5 shape, feel. T2101, 2023 average rpm.
SL: 70-72 mph. Short, tight actions. T2034, 1987 average rpm.
CH: 76-76 mph. Heavy fade to the arm-side, some sink. T1769, 1711 average rpm.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Trey Buchanan, Lone Star (TX), 2028
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 5-7, 150-pounds.
Delivery: Simple delivery, high leg lift with tuck, drop/drive down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Compact arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T70, 66-69 mph. Mostly straight actions. T1956, 1863 average rpm.
SL: 61-64 mph. Gradual 10/4 shape. T1890, 1831 average rpm.
CH: 64-64 mph. Slight cutting action. T1881, 1568 average rpm.

Cayden Craig, North Clay (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-10, 235-pounds.
Delivery: Controlled delivery, high leg lift, tall/fall down the mound, works in-line.
Arm Action: LH. Long, loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T78, 75-78 mph. Clean out of the hand, some arm-side run. T2086, 2003 average rpm.
SL: 67-69 mph. Short, horizontal movement. 10/4 shape. T2148, 2081 average rpm.

Jacob Cross, Carbondale (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-1, 202.2-pounds.
Delivery: Controlled delivery, high leg lift with coil, drop/drive down the mound, in-line.
Arm Action: LH. Longer arm action in the back, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T80, 77-80 mph. Natural arm-side run out of the hand. T1995, 1942 average rpm.
CB: 64-65 mph. 1/7 shape out of the hand, short actions. T2038, 1956 average rpm.
SL: 68-70 mph. Gradual, short actions. T1949, 1898 average rpm.
CH: 69-70 mph. Decel, slight fade. T1682, 1607 average rpm.
SPLT: 66-69 mph. Heavy drop, feel to land.

Lucas Dunn, Nashville (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds. Wiry frame with projection.
Delivery: Methodical delivery, medium leg lift with tuck, tall/fall down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Long, clean arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 79-82 mph. Mostly straight actions. T2439, 2352 average rpm.
CB: 66-67 mph. 11/5 shape, late break. T2506, 2499 average rpm.
SL: 70-72 mph. Quality spin, tight break. T2409, 2345 average rpm.
CH: 72-74 mph. Plays with fade at times. T1710, 1514 average rpm.

Alex Henry, Marion (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-2, 209-pounds.
Delivery: Methodical, high leg lift, tall/fall down the mound.
Arm Action: RH. Compact, short arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T84, 83-84 mph. Firm out of the hand with life. T1984, 1895 average rpm.
CB: 65-68 mph. Gradual 12/6 actions. T1825, 1725 average rpm.
SL: 69-70 mph. Short, horizontal actions. T1781, 1701 average rpm.
CH: 74-76 mph. Some fade to the arm-side. T1710, 1429 average rpm.

Jackson Hensley, Edwards County (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-11, 164.5-pounds. Athletic frame with some strength.
Delivery: Methodical delivery, high leg lift, drop/drive down the mound, lands slightly open.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm action, clean, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T79, 76-79 mph. Mostly straight actions out of the hand. T2021, 1989 average rpm.
CB: 65-66 mph. 11/5 shape, more vertical at times. T1957, 1901 average rpm.
CH: 70-72 mph. Slight fade and depth. T1391, 1291 average rpm.

Cohen Merrill, Freeburg (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: RHP/1B
Body: 6-2, 190-pounds. Well-proportioned frame, present strength.
Delivery: Simple mover, medium leg lift, tall/fall, works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Long, easy arm action, 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 80-82 mph. Mostly straight actions, slight arm-side run. T2082, 1904 average rpm.
SL: 69-72 mph. 11/5 shape, feel for the pitch. T2254, 2196 average rpm.
CH: 71-72 mph. Plays with fade to the arm-side. T1568, 1506 average rpm.

Ayden Murphy, Marion (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 173.1-pounds.
Delivery: Simple, controlled delivery, high leg lift with coil, tall/fall down the mound, in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Compact arm action, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T77, 69-77 mph. Mostly straight out of the hand. T1853, 1776 average rpm.
CB: 64-66 mph. 11/5 shape, short actions. T1784, 1776 average rpm.
CH: 69-71 mph. Downer action. T1726, 1636 average rpm.
CUT: 68-70 mph. Horizontal action, throws it hard.

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