On Saturday, February 3rd, our staff hosed the first ever Southwest Chicago Preseason ID at the Go Pro Sports Dome in Minooka, IL. This event hosted just under 30 players, and allowed our staff to get an in-depth look at a number of prospects in the area prior to the spring season. 

Below you'll find scouting reports on every single pitcher that was in attendance, as well as a Top-5 listing of who our staff deemed as the top pitching prospects from the group. 

An uncommitted senior to note from the event was RHP Austin Aldridge (Seneca, 2024). Listed at a lean 5-foot-11, 160-pounds with plenty of room to add strength, the right-hander topped out at 86.2 mph with his fastball, cruising in the 83-86 mph range. He also went to a high-spinning slider with sharp bite at 78-79 mph, spinning routinely over 2,600 rpm. His curveball also showed above-average spin with over 2,300 rpm at times, playing with more 11/5 shape in the low-70s. His final offering was a changeup at 71-72 mph with slight running action and some feel around the zone.

Continue reading below to see the top pitchers from the event, and more. 

Top Pitchers 

1. Ronan Owens, Lane Tech (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: 3B/RHP
Body: 6-2, 195-pounds. Athletic build with some strength throughout, strong lower-half, room to add on more strength.
Delivery: Stretch only, medium leg-lift, gets into back leg and drives down the mound, works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Clean arm circle, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T87, 82-86 mph. Plays with run and finish through the zone, easy out of the hand, strikes.  T2239, 2145 average rpm.
CB: 70-72 mph. 11/5 shape, gradual action, flashed sharpness with depth.  T2179, 2109 average rpm.
SL: 72-73 mph. Late 10/4 bite, lateral action with feel.  T2223, 2152 average rpm.

2. Caden Kendall, Victor J Andrew High School (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-10, 167-pounds. Well-proportioned frame.
Delivery: Clean, controlled delivery, medium leg lift, tall/fall lower-half, works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Long reach in the back, 3/4 release with quickness out front.
FB: T86, 84-86 mph. Life out of the hand, heavy run to the arm-side.  T2015, 1875 average rpm.
CB: 61-63 mph. Gradual 11/5 shape with depth, slurvy action.  T2012, 1907 average rpm.
CH: 70-72 mph. Slight fade to the arm-side.  T1502, 1293 average rpm.

3. Franklin Kirchner, Conant (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: LHP/OF
Body: 6-0, 165-pounds.
Delivery: Controlled tempo, medium leg lift into a coiled balance point, drop/drive lower-half, works in-line.
Arm Action: LH. Long, loose arm swing, 3/4 slot.
FB: T82, 81-82 mph. Slight running action, easy out of the hand.  T2270, 2212 average rpm.
SL: 70-72 mph. 10/4 shape, gradual action.  T2240, 2198 average rpm.
CH: 73-74 mph. Clean out of the hand, runs to the arm-side.  T2014, 1850 average rpm.

4. Cole Harris, Providence Catholic (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds.
Delivery: Stretch only, slight pre-bend in back knee, controlled into a high leg-lift, drop/drive lower-half, stride works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Long arm swing, works into a high 3/4 slot.
FB: T86, 84-86 mph. Life out of the hand, some carry and finish.  T2231, 2137 average rpm.
CB: 71-73 mph. 11/5 shape, gradual.  T2125, 2058 average rpm.
SL: 73-76 mph. Lateral 10/4 shape, sharp action at times.  T2136, 2098 average rpm.
CH: 76-77 mph. Circle-change. Plays with arm-side run, has slight tumble. Feel for the zone. T1521, 1477 average rpm.

5. Shawn Krieps, Providence Catholic  (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-0, 170-pounds. Evenly proportioned frame, room to fill out.
Delivery: Up-tempo delivery, slight dip into back leg with a high leg lift, drop/drive lower-half, rides back leg down the mound, works in-line. 
Arm Action: RH. Compact arm circle, high 3/4 release.
FB: T82, 80-82 mph. Some carry through the zone with running action.  T2190, 2113 average rpm.
CB: 68-70 mph. Sharp 11/5 action with depth and some lateral sweep, some feel around the zone.  T1980, 1887 average rpm.
CH: 74-76 mph. Similar profile to fastball, plays with running action.  T1512, 1457 average rpm.

BEST OF THE REST (LISTED ALPHABETICALLY)

Austin Aldridge, Seneca High School (IL), 2024
Positional Profile: C/RHP
Body: 5-11, 160-pounds. Trim, lean frame, some strength throughout, evenly proportioned, sloped shoulders.
Delivery: Throws with intent, high leg-lift, drop/drive lower-half, stride works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Medium arm-circle, high 3/4 slot.
FB: T86, 84-86 mph. Life out of the hand, some ride through the zone.  T2157, 2063 average rpm.
CB: 69-70 mph. Slight decel, gradual 11/5 shape.  T2304, 2238 average rpm.
SL: 78-79 mph. Tight, sharp 10/4 action, feel to the glove side.  T2619, 2558 average rpm.
CH: 71-73 mph. Fades to the arm-side, kept mostly down.  T1408, 1374 average rpm.

Jameson Rapinchuk, Aurora Christian (IL), 2026
Positional Profile: LHP/1B
Body: 6-0, 185-pounds.
Delivery: Simple, athletic delivery. Medium leg-lift into a coiled balance point, drop/drive lower-half works in-line.
Arm Action: LH. Long reach in the back, loose arm action. 3/4 arm slot.
FB: T79, 77-79 mph. Plays clean out of the hand, has some slight arm-side movement. Some feel for the strike zone. T1660, 1587 average rpm.
SL: 66-67 mph. Short wrinkle, gradual action. Feel for the zone. T1843, 1781 average rpm.
CH: 71-72 mph. Thrown with fastball intent, plays with downer action. Best of the offspeed offerings. T1266, 1219 average rpm.

Tyler Weigand, Northside College Prep (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds. Lean, evenly proportioned build, room to add on strength.
Delivery: Slightly up-tempo into a high leg lift, gets hips moving down the mound and strides in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Long out of the glove, quick into a high 3/4 release.
FB: T81, 79-80 mph. Slight run to the arm-side. T1908, 1845 average rpm.
CB: 68-69 mph. Gradual 11/5 shape, downer action.  T1644, 1611 average rpm.
SL: 70-72 mph. 10/4 shape, gradual action.  T1798, 1741 average rpm.
CH: 72-74 mph. Plays with late dive at times to the arm-side.  T1526, 1490 average rpm.
KN: 67-69 mph. Unpredictable action.

Jake Williams, Wheaton North (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: SS/RHP
Body: 6-1, 192-pounds. Athletic frame, some strength throughout, evenly proportioned.
Delivery: Controlled tempo, medium leg lift, slight coil into balance point, tall/fall down the mound, works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Long reach in the back, 3/4 slot.
FB: T81, 77-80 mph. Plays with late dive to arm-side at times, flashed cut.  T1788, 1692 average rpm.
CB: 67-69 mph. Gradual 11/5 shape, flashed depth.  T1927, 1867 average rpm.
SL: 70-74 mph. Lateral 10/4 action, flashed late action.  T1872, 1792 average rpm.
CH: 75-77 mph. Heavy arm-side run, kept to arm-side.  T1586, 1524 average rpm.

Aiden Wills, Coal City (IL), 2025
Positional Profile: RHP/3B
Body: 5-10, 160-pounds.
Delivery: High leg-lift into a coiled balance point, drop/drive lower-half, works in-line.
Arm Action: RH. Long reach in the back, high 3/4 release.
FB: T78, 77-78 mph. Slight run to the arm-side.  T1711, 1652 average rpm.
CB: 66-67 mph. Gradual 11/5 shape with downer action.  T1892, 1742 average rpm.
SL: 67-70 mph. 10/4 action, flashed late bite.  T1683, 1626 average rpm.
CH: 70-72 mph. Thrown with fastball intent, fades to the arm-side.  T1852, 1811 average rpm.

For a full look at the event page, click HERE. 

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