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Super 60 Preview: Illinois & Wisconsin

February 1, 2024
By: Diego Solares & Isaiah Glidden
PBR Illinois & Wisconsin Staff

On Sunday, February 4th, the Prep Baseball staff will put on the 22nd annual Super 60 Pro Showcase at The MAX in McCook, Illinois. 

This prestigious, invitation-only event features only the top draft prospects in the Prep Baseball's expansive coverage area. Over the last 20-plus years, the Super 60 has become the most heavily scouted preseason event for its assembly of MLB Draft prospects, signaling the start of the season's march to the draft itself. The primary purpose of the Super 60 is to give professional area scouts, cross checkers and scouting directors a head start to the high school season. The event is for draft-eligible Class of 2024 prospects.

A multitude of high level players have made their way through the Super 60 over the years. Just recently, the 2023 Super 60 featured the eventual No. 3 overall pick Max Clark (Franklin Community, IN), the No. 44 pick Blake Wolters (Mahomet-Seymour, IL), and the No. 50 pick Nazzan Zanetello (Christian Brothers College, MO), among others who went on to be selected and eventually sign like Sam Shaw (Lambrick Park, BC, Canada) and George Wolkow (Downers Grove North, IL).

To learn more about the history of the event, click HERE.

Illinois and Wisconsin are typically well represented at this event, and several of the Super 60’s most famous names have actually originated from these two states. We’ll see nine names in total from this pairing at The MAX on Sunday, and you’ll learn more about each specifically below. 

ILLINOIS 

+ MIF Tyler Bell (Lincoln-Way East, 2024; Kentucky signee) is the top-ranked prospect from Illinois headed to The MAX on Sunday, sitting at No. 2 overall in the state and No. 30 nationally. The Prep Baseball All-American figures to be one of the more coveted names in attendance, as he’s been buzzing in professional circles since the end of last year’s summer circuit. A switch-hitter, Bell repeats a short, athletic, and fluid swing from both sides of the plate with natural loft through contact. It’s as polished of an offensive approach as we’ve seen over the last few years, with consistent barrel accuracy and developing gap-to-gap power. Defensively, Bell has the actions, instincts, and arm accuracy from multiple angles to be an asset on the infield long term, whether it be at shortstop, second, or third base. There won’t be a shortage of decision makers in the stands to see Bell this spring and it’s likely he joins a coveted list of Illinois’ products to make a name for themselves in the MLB Draft. 

Tyler Bell

+ The top backstop in this Illinois’ 2024 class is C Jimmy Janicki (Downers Grove North; Troy signee), who checks a multitude of boxes from a professional perspective. To start, Janicki is plenty physical at a muscle-bound 6-foot-3, 215-pounds with athleticism to pair - in the fall, Janicki is an All-Conference linebacker for DGN’s football squad. He swings a powerful right-handed barrel with inherent strength and bat speed that has a proven track record of in-game production. Last spring, Janicki slashed .488/.496/.776 with 22 extra-base hits, including 14 doubles and six home runs, while driving in a near state-high 53 runs as well. Perhaps his biggest positive on the diamond comes with the glove, however, as Janicki is a true defensive asset behind the plate that should have no issue sticking there in the long run. Given his ability to produce positively on both sides of the ball at a premium position, Janicki is likely to be a popular name in professional circles this spring. 

Jimmy Janicki

+ One name that’s been gaining steam over the past year or so: OF Brendan Tunink (Newman Central Catholic, 2024; Notre Dame signee). Tunink propelled his high school squad to the 1A state playoffs this spring after an explosive season - he slashed .488/.650/1.268 over an 82 at-bat sample, swatting a state-leading 18 home runs in the process. The 6-foot, 185-pound left-handed hitter was one of the more intriguing takeaways from the Illinois State Games in August, too. His ability to create effortless lift and power from the left side stands out almost immediately, and it’s easy to imagine him finding his way into the middle of a lineup down the road. Athletically, Tunink has the profile to stick in the outfield as well - he’s a 6.64 runner with burst (1.57 10-yard split) and a 36 inch vertical, too. Tunink will garner attention this spring because of his potent toolset and he has the potential to come away from the Super 60 as one of its biggest winners. 

Brendan Tunink

+ MIF Cooper Malamazian (Nazareth Academy, 2024; Indiana signee) has long been one of the top prospects in this Illinois’ 2024 group. A back-to-back 3A state champion, and a key piece in both runs at that, Malamazian oozes a level of confidence and moxy to him on the field that stands out amongst his peers. Everything he does is calm and in control, starting at the plate, where he’s balanced and in rhythm throughout. There’s an aptitude for natural lift and we saw him start to produce more in-game power this summer, including a home run into the left-center gap at the Illinois State Games. Malamazian brings value to the table defensively as well, and his glovework should aid him in sticking on the left side of the infield at the next level. 

Cooper Malamazian

+ C/INF Collin Mowry (Lincoln-Way Central, 2024; Louisville signee) is another backstop from Illinois that we’ll get an updated look at on Sunday. Packed with strength at 6-foot, 215-pounds, Mowry’s power is his carrying tool and it is his intent is to elevate the baseball from a fast, loft-oriented right-handed swing at the plate, while translating that more in-game this fall. His juice shows behind the plate, where Mowry has shown above-average arm strength from the chute in past live looks as well. 


+ There’s been some buzz this winter around RHP Luke Teschke (Monticello, 2024; Illinois State signee), a 6-foot-2, 185-pound arm from the state’s southern part. To start, Teschke’s also a stellar quarterback for the Sages’ earning first team All-State honors after passing for 2,406 and 25 touchdowns this past season, and rushing for an additional 15 scores with 733 yards to pair on the ground. We saw Teschke pitch in the low-90s with an above-average breaking ball last spring, though we’ve heard that he’s ticked up from a velocity perspective this winter and that the breaking ball has gotten even better, too. Teschke fits the mold of a pop-up arm of sorts that leaves Sunday as a name pro scouts will want to see this spring. 

Luke Teschke

+ Yesterday our staff held our annual Illinois’ ProCase and perhaps the day’s biggest standout was RHP Aidan Hayse (Joliet Catholic, 2024; Tennessee signee), who earned an invite to the Super 60 as a result. It’s hard to miss the 6-foot-3, 193-pound Hayse’s athleticism on the mound, as he’s a simple, rhythmic mover that pairs premium arm speed with potent stuff. His fastball sat at an easy 91-94 mph and played up given his two advanced secondary pitches. Hayse showed swing-and-miss upside on an 83-85 mph slider that reached upwards of 2944 RPM and also averaged nearly 16 inches of horizontal movement. Additionally, Hayse throws his changeup at 86-88 mph with run and fade, adding another outlet to an arsenal that has plenty of potential.


WISCONSIN

+ RHP Avery Duncan (Notre Dame Academy, 2024; Dallas Baptist commit) is a long-limbed 6-foot-3 187-pound right-hander who has continued to see his stock improve over the past year or so. Duncan possesses an easy delivery that he pairs with a loose and quick arm that has produced low-90s fastball velocities in our looks. One of the biggest improvements we have seen from Duncan is the feel he has gained for both of his offspeed pitches. His breaking ball has been his go to weapon as it plays with sharp 11/5 action that tunnels well off of his fastball. A deceptive changeup rounds out his three-pitch mix and it features late fade/depth. Even with the advanced arsenal that Duncan currently has, he still boasts some considerable projection in his thin and athletic frame, which could certainly excite many of the professional scouts in attendance on Sunday.

Avery Duncan

+ INF Eddie Rynders (Wisconsin Lutheran, 2024; Kent State commit) is another late helium Badger State prospect that is making the trip out to McCook for the annual Super 60. Built at an athletic 6-foot-2, 197-pounds, Rynders swings a loose and smooth bat from the left side that has produced exit velocities upwards of 97 mph before. In game, his talents with the bat are paired with an advanced approach and looks to do damage to all parts of the field. While his offensive abilities have been his carrying trait for some time now, he is also a slick defender up-the-middle which was on display at our annual Fall Championships at The Rock. There he made a number of tough plays ranging to both sides and looked the part of a lockdown defender at the next-level, wherever that may be.

Eddie Rynders

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