PBR Future Games: Team Illinois Preview
July 20, 2022
On July 27, PBR will bring to you the summer’s premier scouting event: The Future Games. Taking place at the state-of-the-art LakePoint sports complex in Emerson, GA, this four-day event will pit some of the country’s top 2024 and 2025 prospects against one another in front of hundreds of college and professional scouts.
On Wednesday, Team Illinois - along with every other represented state - will participate in a workout day. This year's gameplay has Illinois squaring off with Pennsylvania on Thursday, Midwest (IA,MN,NE) on Friday, and Jew Jersey on Saturday. All further scheduling can be found HERE.
Now, lets check out who will be representing Team Illinois.
Position Players
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Samuel Chapman OF / RHP / Woodstock , IL / 20242/26/22
Another left-handed-hitting 2024 who continues to show well: OF Samuel Chapman (Woodstock). Chapman has cut his 60-yard dash time down to a 7.14 on Saturday (7.39, previously) and he continues to show off the same prowess with the bat that we have become accustomed to. It's a whippy, loose swing and the barrel stays in the zone a long time, covering both sides of the plate. Chapman continues to show advanced outfield actions as well, with fluid footwork and a loose, quick, easy arm. The ball exploded out of the hand at times and topped at 91 mph. |
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JAXON HYDE-HERERRA C / RHP / Putnam city west, ok / 20241/29/22
Positional Profile: C/RHP Hit: RHH. Starts with a slightly open stance with an athletic posture and hands getting set at shoulder height. Quick load into the lower half and utilizes a high leg kick stride. Lower half works linearly through the zone into a firm front leg. Shows a slight uphill bat path and likes to work the ball up in the air to the pull side. Hands work quickly through the zone with good overall bat speed and has strength at contact. |
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Enzo Infelise C / 3B / Providence Catholic, IL / 20254/25/22
Has shown well in multiple looks in the past, including the 2021 Junior Future Games. Strong build, listed at 6-foot, 190-pounds. Right-handed hitter got the start behind the plate and batted fifth. Balance stance, arm bar pre-pitch, smooth toe tap stride. Strong hands, advanced bat speed for age, short and direct to the ball, powerful swing; pull side, gap-to-gap approach. Defensively behind the plate, quiet receiver with soft, receptive hands. Tall, athletic setup with runners on, quick transfer with athletic feet. Threw out a runner taking third base to complete a strike out/throw out to end the third inning. |
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Jimmy Janicki C / 3B / Downers Grove North, IL / 20245/02/22
Uncommitted. Physical frame, standing 6-foot-3, 205-pounds, strong lower-half. Started behind the plate and showed some upside to all sides of his game, both behind the dish and at the plate. The right-handed hitter starts in a somewhat upright position, hands high, stride is short and repeatable; his hands drop at foot strike while creating some separation, moving with a flat path through the zone and line-drive approach. Behind the plate, Janicki has soft/receptive hands that work under the ball to present pitches around the zone; he moves well into blocks, both out in front and side-to-side, deadening the ball out front. Out of the crouch, his feet work directionally and gain ground on his throws, also moving with a quick transfer; his arm plays with true backspin and effortless carry, standing out visually immediately. |
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Dayton Murphy SS / 2B / Crystal Lake South , IL / 20242/13/22
INF Dayton Murphy (Crystal Lake South, 2024) certainly left a positive impression on our scouts after a quality all-around showing on Sunday. The 5-foot-9, 155-pound sophomore showed a repeatable right-handed stroke in BP, staying short to the baseball with sneaky barrel strength and gap-to-gap feel. Murphy’s glove may be his biggest asset as he projects to stick somewhere on the infield in the long-term. He owns an innately advanced feel for himself on the dirt, moving with tempo and rhythm with comfortably nimble feet throughout. He also recorded the day’s hardest throw across the diamond, reaching an 87 mph high, and his arm is capable of accurately playing from multiple angles, too. Murphy joins a quality list of name-to-know prospects from the Fox Valley Conference as we prepare for the spring season. |
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Jackson Natanek SS / RHP / Brother Rice, IL / 20252/26/22
Positional Profile: SS Positional Profile: RHP |
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Kenny Perez SS / 3B / De LaSalle , IL / 20244/23/22
Uncommitted. 5-foot-10, 160-pound, well-proportioned, right-handed hitting infielder, currently ranked No. 30 in the Illinois’ 2024 class. Hit in the four-hole and started at third base. Looks to be one of the top uncommitted position players in the 2024 class. Defensively, has all the actions and tools to be a high-level defender moving forward. Plays with ease, confidence and light, active feet. Hands play soft, works from the ground up and ranges with body control. Made a slow roller, run through play down the third base line look extremely easy and routine. Arm plays quick, loose and accurate across the diamond. Offensively, hits with fluid rhythm and confidence. Loose, athletic swing, gets extension through contact and can drive the ball to all fields with authority. Homered over the right-field fence in his first at-bat. Flew out to center field with authority in his next two at-bats. High-follow 2024 uncommitted infielder. |
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Khamaree Thomas OF / LHP / Kenwood, IL / 20244/23/22
Uncommitted. 5-foot-8. 155-pound, wiry, athletic, left/left outfielder. Played center field and hit in the two-hole. Advanced bat-to-ball skills, athletic hands, stays short and on top of the baseball. Uses the whole field with a line-drive approach. Profiles to stick at the top of an order moving forward. Finished the day 1-for-3 with two RBIs, run scored and a walk. Natural outfield actions, quick first step and above-average closing speed. Arm plays strong from the outfield and could profile in all three spots. Follow left/left outfielder. |
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Brendan Tunink OF / OF / Newman Central Catholic, IL / 2024
6/28/22
Left/left outfielder Brendan Tunink (Newman Central Catholic) featured some of the highest upside at the event. Tunink has a 5-foot-11, 165-pound, athletic, squared shouldered frame with plenty more strength to come down the road. He ran a 6.87 60 and showed a polished swing with present bat speed and power. Tunink registered the second highest average bat speed of the event at 73.9 mph. He also had the top average exit velocity at 90.2 mph and routinely squared up baseballs in the air to the pull-side of the diamond. It's an athletic, repeatable swing that works on balance and with minimal effort. Defensively, he moves with fluidity, getting around and playing through the baseball in rhythm and with ease to go along with an arm that topped at 85 mph.
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Jonah Weathers 3B / RHP / Marian Catholic, IL / 20244/20/22
Uncommitted, currently ranked No. 16 in the Illinois 2024 class. Highly projectable and high-waisted frame at 6-foot-2, 165-pounds. Started on the mound for Marian and ran his fastball up to 79 mph. His arm easily translated to the infield, where he showed the ability to backspin the ball over to first with ease, playing with carry and accuracy. Weathers cruised around second base after he was done pitching and impressed with uber-easy and athletic actions, showcasing soft hands with a quick/clean transfer, also playing with easy range to both sides of the glove. The right-handed hitter started in the two-hole for Marian and showcased an easy right-handed swing; long-levered with a flat path to the ball, minimal wasted movement with little perceived effort. |
Two-ways
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David Cox SS / 3B / Nazareth, IL / 20242/26/22
Positional Profile: SS/3B Positional Profile: RHP |
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Nate Harris SS / RHP / Yorkville, IL / 20244/12/22
Uncommitted, currently ranked No. 25 in the Illinois 2024 class. Ultra-physical, 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame, broad shoulders with a high-waist and well-proportioned frame. Started in left-field and hit out of the three-hole for No. 17 Yorkville on Tuesday; finishing the day 1-for-4 with a double down the line that looked to be just a single but was stretched into extra bases. The right-handed hitter starts in an athletic/open stance, working back to the plate with a long knee-knock stride; hands start high and create some separation at foot-strike before moving with a flat path to the ball, hands are extremely quick and strong through contact with easy power to the whole field. Harris showed off an extremely strong arm from the corner outfield position as well as highly quick/athletic feet; covering ground with ease and making impressive throws to bases with effortless velocity and carry. Harris is a must-see 2024 prospect for any college coach. |
Pitchers
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Nick Baffa RHP / Notre Dame College Prep, IL / 2024Standing 6-foot-1, 155-pounds, Baffa is a right-hander you can dream on. His arm is clean and boasts upside, while also producing a fastball that cruises in the mid-to-low 80s. His breaking ball and changeup also look to have upside as he is able to control both of these offerings around the zone. |
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Jack Bauer LHP / 1B / Lincoln-Way East, IL / 20256/08/22
The biggest winner on the mound was LHP Jack Bauer (Lincoln-Way East, 2025). Standing at 6-foot-2, 170-pounds, Bauer has all sorts of projection in his lean/wiry frame. He moves down the mound athletically with a drop/drive lower-half and minimal perceived effort, remaining in-line to the plate before firing from a clean/loose ¾ slot. His fastball worked in the 87-89 mph range, jumping out of his hand with life to the arm-side and spinning at an average of 2,291 RPM (T2440 RPM). His breaking ball plays off a sharp 1/7 plane, spinning at an average of 2,420 RPM, 68-69 mph. His final offering was a fading changeup at 76-78 mph, getting under it at times but thrown with near fastball arm-speed. |
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Ethan Eberle LHP / 1B / Normal Community, IL / 20242/26/22
Positional Profile: LHP/1B |
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Tom Ford RHP / 1B / Lisle, IL / 20246/28/22
The biggest winner on the mound from last Tuesday’s event was RHP Tom Ford (Lisle, 2024). Standing at a lanky 6-foot-6, 185-pounds, Ford has plenty of room to fill out his high-waisted and projectable frame. His delivery is simple, pitching exclusively out of the stretch with a drop/drive lower-half, remaining in-line to the plate throughout his stride. His arm works loose and quick with a long arm circle out of the glove, transitioning into a high ¾ slot. The tall right-hander worked primarily in the 86-89 mph range, but reached back for 90-91 mph on his last couple bullets while playing with life at the top of the zone. His curveball looked to be his best off-speed offering on this day, playing with sharp 11/5 shape and downward action, also tunneling off his fastballs effectively while locating down under the zone, 68-70 mph. He went to a slider for his third offering, pulling off to his glove-side at times but flashing sharp 10/4 bullet action, 73-76 mph. Having seen Ford up to 88 mph this past winter, his three mph jump is no surprise as he has started to control his body down the mound more consistently. |
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Bryce Koch RHP / OF / Barrington, IL / 20246/07/22
RHP Bryce Koch (Barrington, 2024) was easily one of the biggest winners from Tuesday’s event, catching our staff’s attention the second he walked into the park. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Koch possesses all sorts of upside to his lean and lanky frame, looking to have plenty of room for added strength in the coming years. It's an easy and low-effort operation down the mound, moving with a tall/fall lower-half that stays in-line to the plate before transitioning into a ¾ to high ¾ slot. His fastball explodes out of the hand with some finish through the zone, sitting 85-87 mph while topping out at 88 mph (T2500 RPM). His changeup was his most consistent off-speed offering throughout his ‘pen, living at the bottom and under the zone while playing with fading action to the arm-side, 78-80 mph. Koch’s slider flashed above-average action at times, playing with sharp/late bite and depth at 74-75 mph, struggling with command down at-times but will easily be able to correct it with a higher starting point for the pitch. |
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Wyatt Mammen RHP / 3B / Lincoln, IL / 20242/26/22
Positional Profile: RHP |
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Alec Marchetto RHP / 3B / Edwardsville, IL / 20244/17/21
Uncommitted freshman came out of the bullpen in the final game of the day for Edwardsville. Physically advanced, 6-foot, 190-pound frame with a strong lower half. Simple delivery, slight drop-and-drive action, stays on-line down the mound and lands square. Long arm action, comes out of a high ¾ slot with looseness at foot strike. Fastball works mostly straight, slight arm-side-action, controlled the zone at times, sat 80-81 mph, touched 82. Mixed in a sweeping breaking ball at 66-67 mph. Scattered two hits and no earned runs in his 1.1 innings pitched. Freshman to follow moving forward. |
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Malachi Paplanus RHP / Huntley, IL / 20244/23/22
Uncommitted, currently ranked No. 10 in the Illinois 2024 class. Strong looking build, broad shoulders standing 6-foot-1, 200-pounds. The right-hander’s arm works loose throughout his arm circle into a ¾ slot, playing quick to release. Down the mound, Paplanus works with a repeatable delivery down the mound; reaching balance point and using a drop/drive lower-half to drive down the mound, remaining in-line with a square landing foot. His fastball cruised at 86-88 mph, showing life out of the hand and some run to his arm-side. He went to a slider most often for his change of pace offering; playing off a 10/4 plane with sharp action and feel, 77-79 mph with depth. He also featured a late fading changeup at 78-80 mph, thrown with confidence and feel for the zone. |
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Luke Weber RHP / Highland Park , IL / 20246/08/22
RHP Luke Weber (Highland Park, 2024) is a 6-foot, 170-pound right-hander with a fluid-moving operation. He creates notable hip/shoulder separation at foot-strike to go along with his loose/flexible lower-half. He worked his fastball in the 85-86 mph range, playing with sinking action. His changeup dives late and hard to his arm-side at 79-81 mph, tugging to his glove-side at times but showing an overall feel for the zone. He also went to a tight slider at 75-76 mph, playing with short 10/4 shape and thrown for strikes. |