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St. Louis Top Prospect Games: Upperclass Quick Hits

June 27, 2023
By: Diego Solares
Area Scout, Illinois & Missouri

On Tuesday, June 13th, the PBR Missouri staff hosted the annual St. Louis Top Prospect Games: Upperclass on the campus of Lindenwood University. Those in attendance participated in a pro-style workout, followed by a simulated game. This invite-only event featured several of the area's top 2024 and 2025 prospects and, like all PBR events, served as an identifier for future invite-only events, such as the PBR Future Games.

Over the years, this event has provided our staff with an up-close look at some of the state’s premier underclass talent. These ‘Top Prospect’ events, like all of our PBR showcases, serve as identifiers for future invite-only events, like the PBR Future Games.

To see a list of those that attended, click HERE.

Today, after compiling our notes and digesting the day as a whole, we’ve put together these ‘Quick Hits’ to shine some light on some of the day’s top performers. Below you’ll learn more about a few names-to-know from our trip to Lindenwood.

2024

+ Fresh off helping the Festus Tigers capture the Class 5 state championship, INF Hayden Bates (2024) was one of the standout soon-to-be senior prospects from this event. A 6.93 runner in the 60, Bates swings a strong, physical right-handed barrel with clear bat speed to pair, working mostly middle-in throughout his round of BP. He hammered two balls to the pull-side in BP that traveled 359 feet, per TrackMan, and averaged 286 feet per batted ball, which was amongst the event’s highest marks, reaching a peak exit velocity of 96.4 mph, too. Bates was 85 mph across the infield, up four ticks from this same event last year. With his senior year set to start in a few months, Bates remains one of the top uncommitted bats in the St. Louis area.


+ An on-the-rise uncommitted 2024 graduate to know in Missouri: UTL Cameron Lee (Father Tolton Catholic). Wiry with lean strength on a 5-foot-11, 160-pound frame, Lee started his day off by running a 6.85 60, which was one of the event’s best marks. He worked gap-to-gap in BP, using the whole field from a level right-handed swing with a flat barrel through the zone. Lee averaged 291 feet per batted ball, the second highest mark on the day, and elevated his furthest ball 327 feet, per TrackMan. From the outfield, four of Lee’s five throws clocked in at 88 mph, and he was also 85 mph across the infield in his workout.


+ Hitterish with strength, INF Will Kunitz (Ladue Horton Watkins, 2024) is an uncommitted left-handed bat to know in Missouri’s soon-to-be senior class. The 5-foot-8, 180-pound Kunitz showed capable of using the whole field in BP, elevating deep contact to the pull-side while staying on the barrel for line drives to the opposite field. Kunitz swatted his furthest ball 346 feet into the right field gap and his hardest ball (91.8 mph) went that way, too. His twitch at the plate is noticeable, as his average hand speed mark (24.1 mph) was the second-highest mark of this event. This past spring, Kunitz slashed .404/.514/.632 for the Rams.


+ RHP Eli Tritinger (Parkway North, 2024) has considerable upside on the mound with a 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame that stands to add strength as he continues to mature physically. In this look, Tritinger bumped his fastball up to 88.6 mph, pitching at 86-88 mph from an easy, controlled operation. He landed a tightly spun slider for strikes at 75-78 mph, peaking at 2343 RPM, and featured a 76-79 mph changeup that averaged 15 inches of horizontal movement, finding the zone each time he threw it. Tritinger is an uncommitted power arm that provided our staff the most polished look we’ve seen from him to date.


+ Still uncommitted, RHP Charlie Spoonhour (Vianney, 2024) was excellent in the gameplay portion of this event, hurling a clean inning of work. A wiry 5-foot-11, 150-pound athlete, Spoonhour is a fluid mover downhill with a polished, controlled delivery and loose arm stroke to pair. His fastball, which peaked at 18 inches of vertical break, touched 85.7 while sitting at 84-85 mph. Spoonhour turned to a slurvy low-70s breaking ball as his primary secondary offering, spinning it at 2400+ RPM at peak while averaging 16.5 inches of horizontal movement.


+ LHP Tyler Weber (Christian Brothers College, 2024) is another uncommitted arm with upside to follow from this event. The 6-foot-5, 205-pound southpaw ran his heater up to 84.8 mph, pitching at 83-84 mph, and generating noticeable arm-side run in the lower half of the zone at times. Off his fastball, Weber spun a bendy low-70s breaking ball with some depth off a 1/7 plane.

+ RHP Devin Coulter (Westminster Christian, 2024) featured one of the day’s premier secondary pitches, showcasing a true swing-and-miss slider that grabbed several uncomfortable swings throughout the event’s gameplay portion. Coulter’s sweeper, which played at 72-74 mph, averaged 16.1 inches of horizontal break, peaking at 20.3 inches. He threw it confidently in any count, landing it for strikes consistently and also spotting it out of the zone for whiffs. Coulter’s fastball played at 82-84, touching 85 mph from a fast, loose arm swing. Aside from his efforts on the hill, Coulter also ran a 6.90 60 and showed sure-handed actions on the infield dirt.

+ OF/RHP Griffin Barnett (John Burroughs, 2024) has game strength on both sides of the ball packed within a physical 6-foot, 175-pound frame. The first hitter to take BP at this event, Barnett blistered a handful of balls to the pull-side, averaging 93.1 mph per batted ball while maxing at 98.2 mph. He generated easy hand speed (25.3 mph) and bat speed (76.3 mph) at peak, per our Blast Motion sensors. Barnett also ran a 7.03 60-yard dash and was up to 88 mph from the outfield. He hopped on the mound later on, touching 85.8 mph on his firmest heater, sitting at 82-84 mph and mixing in a bendy 71-72 mph curveball to pair.

+ At 6-foot-1, 210-pounds, CIF Lucas Pearson (Francis Howell Central, 2024) owns advanced bat strength for his age and showed that throughout BP at this event. Pearson drove two balls 360+ feet to the pull-side in BP, with a 370 foot peak, while regularly elevating baseballs to the deepest part of the left-center gap from a long, uphill right-handed swing. Pearson found the barrel for a single in the gameplay portion of the event and batted .326 over 98 plate appearances for Francis Howell Central this spring.


+ OF Brennon Wibbenmeyer (Francis Howell, 2024) doesn’t lack size or strength within a 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. Wibbenmeyer stayed on the barrel throughout BP, working mostly line drives to the pull-side from a simple and direct left-handed swing. Wibbenmeyer also ran a 6.90 60-yard dash and was up to 90 mph from the outfield on his firmest bullet.

+ C Gavin Mabe (Union, 2024) was a standout performer from the second session of this event. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound soon-to-be senior got off multiple loud hacks in BP, hammering three balls 330+ feet to the pull-side in BP. Mabe had two 97+ mph barrels and five total 90+ mph batted balls while averaging an event-high 81.1 mph of bat speed, per Blast Motion. Mabe’s bat strength showed in game as he ripped an opposite field triple and found the barrel in a later at-bat for a hard barrel to left-center field. Defensively, Mabe was accurate and on the bag throughout his workout, popping in the 2.01-to-2.06 range with a 76 mph high out of the chute.


+ OF Elliot Moore (SLUH, 2024) continues to elevate the baseball with consistency into the left-center gap each time we see him. Standing at a strong 6-foot, 180-pounds, Moore launched his furthest batted ball 331 feet and it left his barrel at 90.8 mph, per TrackMan. He went that way in-game, screaming a triple during the gameplay portion of the event. Moore showed arm strength from the outfield, peaking at 85 mph on his hardest throw home.

+ RHP Jack Burckhardt (Lafayette, 2024) is a 6-foot-1, 180-pound uncommitted arm that hurled two strong innings of work in session two. Burckhardt’s fastball played in the low-80s, touching 83 mph, and he spun a tight 2500+ RPM breaking ball at 72-73 mph around the zone as a complement.

+ UTL Connor Terbrock (Lutheran South, 2024) worked exclusively middle-away in BP, spraying line drives to that part of the field from a simple right-handed swing that stayed level through the zone. The 5-foot-11, 160-pound Terbrock batted .349 this past spring for Lutheran South in 75 plate appearances. He’s also ran a 7.11 runner in the 60 at this event.

+ OF Max Guenther (Francis Howell, 2024) started his day off by running a 6.89 60-yard dash, the fastest mark we’ve seen from the 5-foot-9, 165-pound uncommitted 2024 grad to date. Guenther stayed on the barrel (70%) throughout his round of BP, averaging 86.8 mph per batted ball with a 93.6 mph max.

+ OF/C Sam Sailors (Parkway Central, 2024) continues to show physical tools and upside attached to a strong, well-proportioned 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame. Sailors swung with aggression at the plate, getting on top of the baseball and generating hard contact off his barrel, peaking at 94.6 mph in this look. Positionally, Sailors put up numbers across the board throughout his workout - 7.06 60, 87 mph from the OF, 75 mph from the chute, and 2.00-to-2.07 pops.

2025

+ OF Michael Callahan (Lafayette, 2025) came away from this event as arguably the day’s biggest winner after a standout showing in all facets. At 5-foot-11, 165-pounds with wiry strength and explosive twitch, Callahan ran the day’s fastest 60-yard dash, gliding to a 6.72 60-yard dash on our lasers. His speed showed in the gameplay portion of the event, as Callahan beat out two routine infield ground outs to shortstop and swiped three bags. Callahan crushed each batted ball in BP, consistently repeating hard contact off his barrel from a short and level right-handed swing through the zone. He averaged 94.1 mph per batted ball, peaking at 97.3 mph, and his average batted distance (323 ft.) as well as his peak batted distance (363 ft.) were among the event's highest marks. To add to an already impressive day, Callahan was also up to 89 mph from the outfield in his workout. Already headed into this event with some momentum after a strong spring for Lafayette, Callahan left Lindenwood last Tuesday trending upward in a major way.


+ The day’s most physical round of BP came via INF/OF Trey Jozwiakowski (Vianney, 2025; Missouri commit). Jozwiakowski had four batted balls at over 101 mph, including a 104.7 mph laser up the middle and 103.4 mph barrel that comfortably cleared the left-center wall after traveling 394 feet. Though an out, Jozwiakowski squared one up with authority to right field in the game, showing power to all fields throughout the event. Defensively, Jozwiakowski led the day in max throwing velocity from the outfield (91 mph) and he peaked at 84 mph across the infield, too.


+ Known for his pitchability, LHP Jake Collier (Pacific, 2025) bumped up a few ticks in staff and provided us our loudest look at the 5-foot-11, 175-pound southpaw to date. Collier’s firmest bullet checked in at 89.1 mph and he sat exclusively at 87-88 mph throughout with four-seam carry up in the zone. His go-to secondary is a low-spin, low-lift changeup at 78-80 mph that he throws at arm speed and slot, working best to the arm-side corner of the plate while fading slightly that way. Used sparingly, Collier turned to a laterally spun breaking ball in the low-70s as a change of pace, showing depth and arch on the pitch. He continues to solidify himself as one of the premier left-handed arms in the state.


+ C/INF Carson Ramos (Timberland) continues to cement himself as a high-end backstop in Missouri’s 2025 class. Ramos’ glove is more than advanced for his age, working on the bag in the 1.94-to-2.02 range with an 81 mph high from the chute. His 84 mph high across the infield was tied for the day’s second firmest bullet, working out in front of the baseball with sure-handed glovework to pair. Offensively, Ramos works on top of the baseball and flat through the zone, back spinning line drives to the pull-side at his best, finding two authoritative barrels in game.

+ C/INF Easton Phillippe (Staley, 2025) was another standout name-to-know winner on both sides of the ball from this event. Offensively, Phillippe repeated a clean, rhythmic, and polished left-handed swing consistently, backspinning baseballs to the pull-side on a consistent basis. The 5-foot-8, 155-pound backstop launched his furthest ball 346 feet into the right-center gap, staying on the barrel with deep and elevated contact throughout that way. Though he worked mostly to his backside in BP, Phillippe went the other way in-game, peppering a single to left field and promptly stealing second base moments later. Phillippe is a natural defender behind the plate, working down-to-up and presenting the ball well with soft, swift glovework to boot. He was on the bag consistently during his workout, popping in the 2.03-to-2.07 range and reaching a 76 mph high from the chute. Phillippe came away from this event with an arrow-up as the summer circuit continues.


+ A two-way left/left prospect with tools on both sides of the ball to follow from last Tuesday: OF Gabe Huelsing (Oakville, 2025). Wiry with strength on a 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame, Huelsing worked equally to the whole field in BP, keeping his barrel through the zone with leverage out front. Huelsing had two 96+ mph batted balls, drove his deepest ball 336 feet to straight away center field, and four of his nine fly balls traveled 320 feet, per TrackMan. He also ran a 7.06 60-yard dash and was 90 mph from the outfield on his hardest throw, finishing one tick behind the day’s leader. Huelsing hopped on the mound later on and pitched at 85-87 mph with his fastball while spinning a low-70s breaking ball with lateral action at 2300+ RPM.


+ INF Lucas Wietholder (Father Tolton Catholic, 2025) continues to show an intriguing ceiling on both sides of the ball from a 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame. Wietholder continues to improve offensively, showing a fast right-handed swing with bat speed, quickness in a tight window, and controlled intent throughout. He worked mostly to the opposite field in this look, squaring his firmest ball up at 97 mph and breaching the 92+ mph mark multiple times throughout his round. On the infield, Wietholder’s glove continues to look the part, working around the baseball in rhythm with soft funnels out front and a quick release. He has the potential to be a middle of the order bat that sticks on the left side of the infield down the road and remains one of the top all-around prospects in the state’s 2025 class.


+ 3B/RHP Sylvester Tournier (DeSmet, 2025) is another two-way name to follow from this event. Tournier looks the part in a uniform, standing at a projectable 6-foot-1, 190-pounds with present strength currently. He stayed up the middle for a majority of his BP round, working on the barrel consistently (78%) while repeating line drive contact from a simple right-handed swing. Later, Tournier hopped on the mound and filled up the zone at 84-86 mph, touching 86.5 mph, from a simple, low-effort delivery. He showed one of the day’s better breaking balls off his heater, spinning a slider that averaged 20+ inches of horizontal action at 68-70 mph. 

+ 1B Matthew States (Father Tolton Catholic, 2025) came away from our Top Prospect Games at Atkins Field on June 6th a winner, earning praise from our scouts within the ‘Quick Hits’ of that event after an impressive look. States built off that earlier showing and impressed even more so last week, performing yet again in front of our scouts. He worked middle-in throughout his round of BP from a strong, projectable right-handed swing with barrel length through the zone to impact. States had six batted balls breach the 90 mph mark, topping at 93.8 mph, and his furthest ball traveled 321 feet to straight away center field.


+ C Nicholas Livingston (Chaminade College Prep, 2025) favored the pull-side throughout BP, working almost exclusively that way with a quick right-handed bat and strong hands to pair. Livingston, who got off some of the day’s more aggressive hacks, sent his furthest batted ball 336 feet, improving off the 252 ft. max he posted at one of our events in February. He went the other way in game, however, barreling a hanging breaking ball to the opposite field for a stand-up triple. Livingston worked around the bag in his defensive workout, popping in the 2.07-to-2.13 range while peaking at 75 mph from the chute.

+ Making his PBR debut, RHP Colin Morse (Winfield, 2025) has a projectable two-pitch mix that showed well across two innings on the hill. Morse’s heavy, low-spin 83-86 mph fastball played best down in the zone and he spun a breaking ball with tight raw spin (T2377 RPM) and lateral movement (16.1 HM) off it at 67-70 mph. This spring, for Winfield, Morse struck out 43 batters in 17 innings of work.

+ RHP James Unwin (SLUH, 2025) is a physical 6-foot-4, 195-pound soon-to-be junior with an upside two-pitch mix. He worked down the mound without much effort, pumping his fastball in the low-80s, touching 84.4 mph, and peaking at 2479 RPM. Off his fastball, Unwin turned to a low-to-mid-70s curveball with tight action and depth, spinning at 2370 RPM on average, while peaking at 2500 RPM.

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