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Lincoln Trail Scout Day: Takeaways

October 31, 2024
By: Drew Locascio & Gavin Smith
Illinois Scouting Staff

On Thursday, October 17th, the Prep Baseball Illinois staff traveled down to Lincoln Trail College in Robinson, IL for the Lincoln Trail & Vincennes Scout Day. Last week, we posted the Lincoln Trail Statistical and Data Analysis, highlighting the stat leaders from the day. There were numerous players that showed well for themselves on the day, and you can find scouting reports plus videos on these standouts, below.

POSITION PLAYERS

RS So., C James Nugent (LIncoln Trail, Louisville commit)
Despite only running and hitting at the event, the 6-foot-1, 210-pound recent Louisville commit made a loud impression. He started the day by running a 7.00 laser-timed 60 and followed up with a intentful, loud round of BP. Nugent consistently showed off advanced bat strength and raw power to both gaps, consistently elevating the baseball. Nugent easily led the event in Max and average exit velocity at T103.1 and 95.8 mph average. His furthest batted ball traveled 377’ and he registered an event best 90% hard hit percentage.

So. INF Kevin Hilton (LIncoln Trail)
Hilton looks to be one of the top returners for the Statesmen. The 5-foot-10, 170-pound, left-handed hitter is coming off a freshman spring where he hit .319 with 10 doubles, two home runs, scored 57 runs and drove in 34. In his round of BP he stayed highly-repeatable, controlled the barrel, used the whole field and looked like a potential top-of-the-order profile moving forward. He peaked at 92.6 mph off the bat, averaged 85.6 and his furthest batted ball traveled 336’. Defensively, he could fit somewhere up the middle of the infield with clean actions, steady hands and an arm that topped at 80 mph.

Fr. 1B Gabe Skelton (Lincoln Trail)
Skelton is another physical right-handed bat to note from the event. Listed at 6-foot-3, 230-pounds, there is a presence in the box and easy, strong hands. Skelton stays quiet, balanced and repeated hard contact throughout his round. He peaked at 99.4 mph off the bat and launched his furthest batted ball 368’. He also showed the third-highest bat speed of the event, registering a 73.6 mph average with relative ease. Bat to follow moving forward.

Fr. 1B/LHP Cameron Baker (Lincoln Trail)
Baker is another physical freshman to keep tabs on. The 6-foot-1, 190-pound left-handed hitter did his best work with the bat at the event, showing twitchy, strong hands and an intentful swing. There was a hitterish look in the box and led the event with 23.5 mph average hand speed and was second-best with an average bat speed of 73.9 mph. He was on the barrel consistently, averaging 90 mph off the bat, fourth-best of the event. He also peaked at 94.6 mph and his furthest batted ball traveled 340’.

Fr. C/INF Gabe Wilke (Lincoln Trail)
Wilke, only a freshman, featured one of the highest offensive ceilings for the Statesmen and should be one to follow moving forward. The long-levered, 6-foot-3, 175-pound, right-handed hitter has plenty of room for continued physical development and stood out throughout his round of BP. It's an easy, loose swing with minimal effort and all kinds of present whip through the zone. Wilke consistently looked to lift the baseball and he peaked at 96.4 mph off the bat with a max distance of 358’. Behind the plate he played clean and easy out of the crouch with a loose arm that topped at 82 mph. He also flashed a low pop time of 1.92.

So. OF Maxwell Layne (Lincoln Trail)
Layne is another returner to know moving forward. Layne, didnt run at this event but has ran a 6.56 in the past. Hit .285 with 30 RBIs during his freshman campaign. Compact, barrel controlled swing that works on plane and a polished approach using the entire field. Layne averaged 88.2 mph off the bat, T94.8 with a 70% hard hit percentage, tied for second-best on the day.Layne also looked natural in the outfield playing with pace, attacking the baseball and showing off a big arm that topped at 92 mph.

Fr. C/1B Logan Gibbs (Lincoln Trail)
Gibbs was yet another above-average catching prospect to know for the Statesmen. The well-rounded right-handed hitter has a direct, strong swing that he repeats. There was all kinds of hard contact coming off his bat, leading to a 92 mph average exit velocity, second-best of the event. He also launched his furthest batted ball 381’ and elevated contact to the big part of the diamond throughout. Defensively, Gibbs topped at 82 mph with a low pop time of 1.93.

OF Nicholas Johnson (Lincoln Trail) is a freshman who filled up the stat sheet throughout the day. The 5-foot-10, 175-pound, right-handed hitter ran a 6.77, was 95 mph from the outfield and peaked at 90 mph off the bat.

INF Kline Woodward and INF Joseph Bonds are two other right-handed bats who put together noteworthy rounds of BP and should be followed moving forward.

PITCHERS

So. RHP Hayden Trier (Lincoln Trail)
6-foot-3, 210-pound frame, strong and athletically built throughout. Trier returns to the Statesman this year as a key returner, leading the way for their staff last season as he collected 74.1 innings on the mound, and tallying 74 strikeouts to 37 walks. He impressed throughout his ‘pen with his easy movement patterns and ability to control the baseball with five pitches. His fastball sat in the 86-90 mph throughout with slight run, and he turned to a mid-70s slider with low IVB, quality spin (avg. 2346 rpm), and quality horizontal movement, averaging -16.9”. His change–up worked 78-80 mph with slight fade and low spin, and his cutter showed true actions, sitting 78-80 mph. He rounded out his arsenal with a 85-88 mph sinker that played with an average of 14.7” of run to the arm-side.

Fr. RHP Kade Paddy (Lincoln Trail)
Strong, sturdy frame at 5-foot-11, 195-pounds. He gave an intriguing look on the mound with simple, easy actions, cruising his fastball in the 87-90 mph range with quality spin, averaging 2355 rpm. His slider played in the upper-70s with tight spin on an 11/5 plane at times. He also threw a change-up with heavy fade (avg. 19.5” HM), and rounded out his four-pitch mix with a sinker that sat 88-90 mph.

So. RHP Hayden Slate (Lincoln Trail)
6-foot-4, 185-pounds, lean, upside frame with plenty of room for added strength. Slate is a loose, easy mover on the mound with a clean arm that works out of a low ¾ slot. His fastball worked in the upper-80s throughout with arm-side run to pair (avg. 16.7”). He turned to a high-spinning slider (avg. 2529 rpm) that sat 74-78 mph throughout, playing with short, horizontal action. His change-up had heavy fade (avg. 19.5” HM) while working with nearly 0” of IVB. He finished last season with 31 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched.

So. RHP Sean Stone (Lincoln Trail)
6-foot-3, 210-pounds with clear strength throughout the frame. Stone is a power arm that worked a four-pitch mix during his ‘pen this year. His fastball sat 90-91 mph, topping out at 91.8 mph with clear carry and ride through the zone, also spinning at an average of 2495 rpm. He showed an innate ability to spin both his curveball and slider, playing with similar actions and averaging 2857 rpm and 2849 rpm, respectively. Stone also tossed in a 78-80 mph splitter with low spin.

Fr. Kade Tislow (Lincoln Trail)
Athletic 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame with some present strength. Loose, easy mover on the mound with a long and clean quick arm path. His fastball sat 87-89 mph with quality spin (avg. 2407 rpm) and ride through the zone. He showed feel for both a curveball and slider - his curveball sat 74-76 mph with an average of 2645 rpm, and his slider sitting 76-77 mph with an average of 2481 rpm and an average of -19.8” of horizontal movement. Tislow’s change-up sat 82-84 mph with heavy fade to the arm-side, and he rounded out his five-pitch repertoire with an 86-88 mph sinker that averaged 18.1” of horizontal movement.

Fr. Tommy Harringer (Lincoln Trail)
6-foot-4, 260-pound frame with strength. Harringer is a newcomer to watch for on this year’s squad, working a fastball up 91.4 mph, sitting 88-90 mph throughout with mostly straight actions. He turned to a curveball with 11/5 shape that sat 72-74 mph with an average of 2587 rpm, and a slider that sat in the mid-70s with an average of 2546 rpm.

So. RHP Andrew Gilliam (Lincoln Trail)
6-foot-1, 190-pounds, lean, athletic frame with more still to come. He’s a loose, easy mover on the mound with clear arm acceleration out front, sitting 89-90 mph with his fastball that was spun at an average of 2400 rpm, and plays with carry through the zone (avg. IVB 20.8”). He showed feel to spin a slider, sitting in the upper-70s with an average of 2455 rpm, and an average of -14.1” of horizontal movement. He rounded out his three-pitch mix with a low-80s change-up, maintaining arm speed, and creating fade to the arm-side (avg. 18” HM).

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