Prep Baseball Report

Southern Illinois Summer ID: Position Player 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. 

Today, we’ll be taking a look at all of the position players 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 the workout. 

TOP POSITION PLAYERS

1. Brady Hatton, St. Anthony (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: 1B/3B
Body: 6-3, 190.9-pounds. Lean frame with more to come.
Hit: RHH. Tall, open setup, small stride, balanced through. Strong hands, short to the ball, slightly uphill path, well-hit balls to the pull-side/middle of the field. 67.8 mph bat speed with 13 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 91.8 mph. 344’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 71 mph. Compact arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, fields ball to body, clean transfer.
Run: 7.28 runner in the 60. 

2. Alex Kimbrough, Carterville (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 5-10, 188.3-pounds. Athletic frame with some strength.
Hit: LHH. Slightly crouched setup, slightly open, small leg lift into short stride. Direct, quick hands, slightly uphill path, middle/opposite fields approach. 70.4 mph bat speed with 16 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 95 max exit velocity, averaged 84.9 mph. 326’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 75 mph. Long, clean arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Clean, athletic actions, moves well to both sides, soft footwork.
Run: 7.04 runner in the 60. 

3. Cayden Craig, North Clay (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/LHP
Body: 5-10, 235-pounds.
Hit: LHH. Crouched setup, small leg lift, short stride. Direct, strong hands, creates easy power to the middle of the field. 69.8 mph bat speed with 11 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 97 max exit velocity, averaged 91.6 mph. 342’ max distance.
Arm: LH. OF - 78 mph. Long, loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Moves well around the ball, works in-line on throws to home
Run: 7.29 runner in the 60. 

T4. Keegan Schultz, Altamont (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: 1B/3B
Body: 6-0, 200-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Slightly crouched setup, small leg lift with minimal stride. Strong hands, works uphill, well-hit ball with power to the pull-side. 69.2 mph bat speed with 10 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 89 max exit velocity, averaged 82.4 mph. 326’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 77 mph. Clean arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: INF: Two-hand gather out front, fields ball to body, moves well to both side, clean double play turn. 1B: Steady hands, athletic actions, clean transfer, moves well on the double play.
Run: 7.76 runner in the 60. 

T4. Charles Cambridge, Paxton-Buckley-Loda (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: SS/2B
Body: 5-9, 209.4-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Tall, slightly open setup, minimal leg lift and stride. Strong hands, easy swing, mostly flat through the zone, worked the pull-side/middle of the field. 65.3 mph bat speed with 10 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 83.5 mph. 321’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. Compact arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, clean transfer, athletic mover to both sides.
Run: 7.54 runner in the 60. 

5. Nathan Walker, Mascoutah (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/1B
Body: 6-0, 183.4-pounds. Lean frame with more to come.
Hit: LHH. Tall, narrow setup, small leg lift with minimal stride. Easy, loose hands, direct to the ball, line drives to the pull-side gap throughout. 66.5 mph bat speed with 15 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 82.8 mph. 357’ max distance.
Arm: LH. INF - 69 mph. OF - 70 mph. Long arm path, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Two-hand gather out front, easy mover, works on-line.
Run: 7.40 runner in the 60. 

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Michael Brand, Pinckneyville (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 5-9, 165-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Crouched, open setup, small leg lift, short stride. Direct, flat path, middle of the field approach. 66.9 mph bat speed with 23 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 77 mph. 319’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 76 mph. Longer arm path, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fields ball out front, moves well to both sides, shuffle steps on throws to home.
Run: 7.00 runner in the 60. 

Brock Buchanan, Lone Star (TX), 2026
Positional Profile: C/OF
Body: 5-10, 200-pounds. Strong frame throughout.
Hit: RHH. Tall, narrow setup, small up/down leg lift. Direct, easy path, slightly uphill, controlled and balanced through. 69.5 mph bat speed with 8 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 91 max exit velocity, averaged 83.2 mph. 305’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 69 mph. Compact, easy arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.19-2.26 pop times. Agile mover, steady hands, clean and easy transfer, works in-line.
Run: 8.21 runner in the 60. 

Trey Buchanan, Lone Star (TX), 2028
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 5-7, 150-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, small leg lift with minimal stride. Direct, easy swing, mostly flat path through the zone. 55.5 mph bat speed with 7 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 73 max exit velocity, averaged 62 mph. 204’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 69 mph. Compact arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Steady hands, fields ball to body, fluid footwork, moves well to both sides.
Run: 8.39 runner in the 60. 

Lucas Dunn, Nashville (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: RHP/SS
Body: 5-10, 155-pounds. Wiry frame with projection.
Hit: RHH. Tall, narrow setup, minimal leg lift and stride. Short to the ball, flat path, worked up the middle/pull-side. 62.4 mph bat speed with 14 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 88 max exit velocity, averaged 78.3 mph. 263’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 82 mph. Clean arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Clean actions to both sides, fluid footwork, quick-to-release, showed range.
Run: 7.59 runner in the 60. 

Jackson Hensley, Edwards County (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF/RHP
Body: 5-11, 164.5-pounds. Athletic frame with some strength.
Hit: RHH. Tall, narrow setup, toe-tap stride. Slightly uphill path, quick hands, line drives to the opposite field. 64.7 mph bat speed with 13 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 80.1 mph. 251’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 83 mph. Long, loose clean arm path, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Athletic mover, clean actions, moves well to both sides.
Run: 7.28 runner in the 60. 

Gabe Kashycke, Belleville East (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: SS/3B
Body: 6-0, 144.6-pounds. Athletic frame, room for added strength.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, small leg lift with minimal stride, stays simple. Direct, flat path, worked opposite field throughout. 59.2 mph bat speed with 12 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 74.8 mph. 207’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 84 mph. Long loose arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Soft hands, fluid footwork, moves well to both sides.
Run: 7.01 runner in the 60. 

Dylan Keller, Pinckneyville (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-1, 185-pounds. Present strength, well-proportioned.
Hit: LHH. Crouched setup, wide stance, small up/down leg lift. Direct, slightly uphill path, looks to elevate the baseball, worked pull-side/middle. 63.4 mph bat speed with 10 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 85 max exit velocity, averaged 80.5 mph. 305’ max distance.
Arm: RH. INF - 76 mph. Longer arm action in the back, low 3/4 slot.
Defense: Two-hand gather out front, fields ball to body, deliberate footwork, showed range.
Run: 7.78 runner in the 60. 

Reed Marlow, Pinckneyville (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: C
Body: 6-1, 195-pounds. Lean frame with strength.
Hit: RHH. Crouched, open setup, small leg lift with minimal stride. Direct, flat path through the zone, worked the middle/opposite fields. 63.6 mph bat speed with 14 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 87 max exit velocity, averaged 80.2 mph. 275’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 74 mph. Compact arm action, low 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.07-2.15 pop times. Steady hands, clean reciever, clean transfer, athletic mover, soft blocker.
Run: 7.63 runner in the 60. 

Ayden Murphy, Marion High School (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: RHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 173.1-pounds.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, slightly open, small leg lift, short stride. Direct, flat path through the zone, middle of the field approach. 59.6 mph bat speed with 16 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 84 max exit velocity, averaged 71.3 mph. 239’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 77 mph. Compact arm action, high 3/4 slot.
Defense: Fields ball out front with one hand, shuffle steps on throws to home, works in-line.
Run: 7.60 runner in the 60. 

Grant Owens, Benton (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: OF/SS
Body: 6-0, 175.5-pounds. Lean, projectable frame.
Hit: RHH. Crouched setup, medium leg lift with minimal stride. Direct, short path, slightly uphill through the zone, worked all fields. 66.5 mph bat speed with 10 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 90 max exit velocity, averaged 78.1 mph. 342’ max distance.
Arm: RH. OF - 85 mph. Long, loose arm, quick out front, 3/4 slot.
Defense: Clean, athletic mover, attacks the ball in-stride, works on-line on throws to home.
Run: 7.01 runner in the 60. 

Wyatt Rueff, Cowden-Herrick (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: C/3B
Body: 6-3, 190-pounds. Athletic frame, some present strength.
Hit: RHH. Tall, slightly crouched setup, small leg lift with minimal stride. Stays short to the ball, uphill bat path, looks to elevate the ball, creates power to the pull-side. 67.1 mph bat speed with 6 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 86 max exit velocity, averaged 77.3 mph. 295’ max distance.
Arm: RH. C - 73 mph. Compact arm action, 3/4 slot.
Defense: 2.06-2.15 pop times. Steady hands, quick transfer, works quick-to-release.
Run: 7.78 runner in the 60. 

Ethan Thomas, Edwardsville (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: OF
Body: 6-2, 171.5-pounds. Tall, wiry frame, projectable.
Hit: SH. Crouched setup, small up/down leg lift, controlled and balanced through. Direct, short path, quick hands, works slightly uphill, all fields approach. 61.3 mph bat speed with 10 G’s of rotational acceleration.
Power: 83 max exit velocity, averaged 75.2 mph. 304’ max distance.
Run: 7.20 runner in the 60. 

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