Follow @PrepBaseballM

Interested in attending a PBR Michigan event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

Complete Statistics

To view the Positional Stats, Click Here.
To view the Pitching Stats, Click Here.

2020 Super 60 Pro Showcase - Prospect Chatter

MCCOOK, Ill. - Being apart of the 18th annual Prep Baseball Report Super 60 was an experience like no other for a trio of Michigan high school seniors 

Pitchers Nick Chittum of Grosse Ile and Logan Wood of Orchard Lake St. Marys along with shortstop Werner Blakely of Detroit Edison had the opportunity to show off their skills on Sunday in front of approximately 150 scouts, many from major-league organizations.

It left a lasting impression on each.

“It was cool being around some of the top players in the country,” explained Chittum, who came into the event as one of the “Breakout Candidates” in a field of 73 of the top prospects in the country. “That is something you don’t do often. Getting together and talking with all of them was a lot of fun.”

Wood agreed with that assessment of an event that had players from 25 states as well as the Canadian provinces of Ontario, Alberta and Quebec..

“It was a great event put on by PBR,” pointed out Wood, the second-ranked 2020 in Michigan. “It was a lot of fun and a great way to get exposure and to show the skills I bring to the table.”

Blakely was also pleased to represent the state of Michigan at The Max (McCook Athletic & Exposition Center) facility, located in a suburb outside of Chicago.

“The event went well, it was very organized,” explained the top-rated senior in the state. “The staff was great and gave positive feedback on your play and what you could do better.”

While improvement is always desired, each of the Michigan players were able to show off what they are all about at this stage of their game in front of so many onlookers.

“The pressure sure is on,” admitted Chittum, a 6-2 190-pound right-handed pitcher committed to Eastern Michigan. “It was really no different from what all of us have been doing our entire lives, it was just on a bigger stage.”

Chittum hit 93 on the gun for the sixth best fastball among the 29 pitchers that threw, adding in a 76-80 curve, 85-87 change and 83-85 cutter.

“Sitting at 93, I showed consistency,” noted the second-ranked RHP in the state. “That’s all I can ask this winter. Getting that exposure here in front of the radar guns and scouts is what it will be like in the spring when I hope to touch (ninety) five and six. I know I can do that.”

Wood, the 49th-rated left-handed pitcher in the country, topped out at 89 on his fastball while adding a 75-77 curve, 81-82 change and 77-78 slider.

“The highlight for me was being able to pitch in front of all the major league scouts,” said Wood, who also expressed delight in seeing teammates, that are now friends, from East Coast Pro and Area Code summer ball. “A lot of people may think there’s a lot of pressure with them watching, but I think it just fuels me to be a better player.”

The 6-2 195-pounder added one other enjoyment on the day.

“Being able to customize a Mizuno glove was very cool because I need a new glove,” the University of Michigan commit said.

Speaking of gloves, Blakely was able to show off his during the event.

“The highlight for me was just making the hard plays look easy,” noted the Auburn commit. “I’ve worked hard, but I still have a lot of work to do.”

The 48th-rated shortstop in the country displayed his overall game, with a 6.86 clocking in the 60, the sixth best among infielders at the Super 60. The 6-3 170-pound left-handed hitter also had a 97 exit velo along with an 87 infield velo.

“I had pro scouts that came up to me and gave me good feedback,” Blakely noted. “Performing in front of that many scouts was pretty fun.”

Wood has also spoken to scouts since the event.

“I didn’t speak with anyone at the Super 60 after I pitched, but I was contacted by some a day later,” noted Wood, the top-rated 2020 LHP in Michigan. “It feels great every time a scout contacts me because that means they know about me and they possibly want me to play for their organization. That would be an honor.”

A year ago, Cameron Wagoner was one of three Michigan participants in the Super 60 and the Tecumseh graduate went on to get drafted in the 22nd-round by the Texas Rangers before deciding to fulfill his commitment to Eastern Michigan.

Chittum, like Wagoner an EMU commit, feels the Super 60 was another learning experience on the road to professional baseball.

“What I learned can probably be summed up better in the future when I’ve had more time to reflect on it,” Chittum concluded. “But one thing I learned, if I go to another, is that I got too hot, too quick. I feel maybe I could have performed a little better if I had warmed up properly.”

With 20 first-round Major League Baseball Draft selections and 23 in the second round from the Super 60 since 2003, the opportunity to participate in the event is a blessing for those involved, both this year and in the past. The last Michigan product to compete at the Super 60 and go straight to the pros was William English. The Detroit Western International graduate was taken in the fifth round by the Los Angeles Angels right out of high school in 2018.