BREAKOUTS

+ Running a 6.42 laser-timed 60 warrants plenty of attention and that is exactly what OF Ryan St. Ledger (Edwards County, 2021) got. St. Ledger instantly put himself in the category of one of the top runners still on the market in the Midwest with his head-turning 60. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound, right-handed hitter followed it up registering a 93 mph exit velocity off a tee. During BP he showed quick twitchy hands and the ability to create advanced bat speed with relative ease. His round produced uneven results but the athleticism, twitch and upside are hard to ignore. St. Ledger emerged as one of the biggest winners from the event. 

+ Jared Cortez (Oak Park-River Forest, 2021) has added strength and some physicality to his athletic frame since our last look and should be a high-follow moving forward. Cortez, a right-handed hitting middle infielder, is now listed at 5-foot-10, 170-pounds and ran the second-best 60 on the day, a 6.62 laser-timed 60. Cortez defends with pace, athletic feet, body control on the move and athletic overall actions. The highly athletic Cortez looks to be an above-average second baseman with a chance to play shortstop.

TRIO OF LEFT-HANDED ARMS

Rake City rolled out a trio of high-interest left-handed arms; Dominic Corgiat (Fenwick, 2022), Vince Waterman (Homewood-Flossmoor, 2023) and Evan Nieter (Marian Catholic, 2023), all of whom should be follows in their respective classes moving forward. 

+ Corgiat has a short, quick arm, works slightly across his body which adds deception and helps him hide the baseball. Corgiat ran his fastball up to 85 mph, sitting 82-83 with a tight, sweeping breaking ball at 71-72 mph. The 6-foot-2, 170-pound, athletically-built, left-hander also mixed in a low-spinning changeup at 77-79 mph. 

Dominic Corgiat

+ Waterman is a loose-armed left-hander with a high-ceiling. Listed at 5-foot-11, 160-pounds, Waterman’s arm works clean, uninterrupted and quick with the fastball jumping out of his hand at 82-83 mph. Waterman was working with effort during his ‘pen and the fastball command was scattered but it comes out of the hand clean and quick. He also showed the makings of a three-pitch mix with his changeup currently ahead of the breaking ball. Waterman located his late-fading changeup at the bottom of the zone at 72-74 mph. 

Vince Waterman

+ Nieter is another 2023 to keep an eye on moving forward. The 6-foot-4, 160-pound, high-waisted, projectable left-hander threw a high-volume of strikes in his bullpen, sitting 79-80 mph with a maximum spin rate of 2079 RPM. Nieter also showed above-average feel for a three-pitch mix. Nieter is bound to see his velocity continue to rise as he fills out his young, lean frame.

RIGHT-HANDED ARMS

A couple of uncommitted right-handed arms are worth mentioning along with Notre Dame commit, RHP Aidan Krupp (Oak Park-River Forest, 2021).

+ Krupp put together arguably the most impressive ‘pen of the day. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound, Krupp has a thick lower half, sturdy build that should be able to handle a payload as a starter. Clean arm action, ¾ slot, slight crossbody delivery, open toe landing. Arm is loose and relatively easy, low effort in delivery, gets into his lower half. Fastball played heavy, 86-87, touched 89 with run and sink. Power changeup at 84-86 mph, hard heavy action to arm side. Gets around the breaking ball at times, slurvy action, played at 75-77 mph. Slot looks built for a hard slider down the road. 

+ RHP Kade St. Ledger (South Fayette, PA, 2021) and Anthony Sorrentino (Lyons Township) are two of the top uncommitted 2021 arms within the program. St. Ledger has a clean, repeatable, low-effort delivery. Arm action is long, comes from an over-the-top slot and his fastball sat 84-85 mph, touching 86 throughout his bullpen. Also, showed a straight changeup that plays with sinking action. Sorrentino, who we have seen up to 88 mph in the past, has a long draw out of the glove and comes out of an over-the-top window. Sorrentino sat 85-86 mph with late jump through the zone. Showed a present three-pitch mix with a knuckle, spike curveball at 71-75 mph thrown with intent as well as a sinking changeup at 77-80 mph.

+ RHP Jack Watson (Batavia, 2023) has a well-proportioned, 5-foot-11, 162-pound frame and worked out of a stretch-only delivery. Over-the-top slot and fastball played mostly straight with occasional ride at 78-79 mph.  12/6 over-the-top curveball flashed depth at 61-62 mph. Upside 2023 arm.  

TWO-WAY POTENTIAL

Rake City had a few prospects who should be viewed as legitimate two-way prospects for the time being. 

+ At the top of the list sits uncommitted 2021 OF/LHP Daniel Flores (East Leyden). The 6-foot-2, 200-pound, left/left prospect has some of the most impressive arm strength across the board on the day. In an abbreviated bullpen Flores sat an easy 86-87 mph. Flores also led the outfield by topping at 91 mph. At the plate Flores hits with a mid-to-opposite field approach and flashed a couple of hard backspin contact to the opposite field. 

+ Fellow 2021, INF/RHP Derek Okrie (Glenbard West), has an upside 6-foot, 160-pound frame The right-handed hitter has loose levers, hits with rhythm, stays flat through the zone and gets extension. Defensively, he showed clean, fluid actions on the infield, including a smooth double play turn with feel. On the mound, Okrie ran his fastball up to 82 mph. 

+ Marco Arroyo (Loyola Academy) was one of the top 2023 prospects in attendance. The 6-foot-1, 180-pound, athletically-built, two-way prospect, has an aggressive right-handed swing that stays flat and through the zone working gap-to-gap. Defensively, he could grow into third base and on the mound he showed feel for a three-pitch to go along with a fastball that touched 83 mph, sitting 81-82.

+ 2022 OF/RHP Lucas Montesantos (Hinsdale Central) put up an impressive stat line across the board; 7.04 60, 82 mph from the outfield and 90 mph exit velocity from a tee. Montesantos also sat 82-83 mph on the mound. The foot-11, 170-pound, wiry right-handed hitter has an athletic look in the box with loose hands and upside swing. 

+ A 2024 with a high-ceiling frame to watch over the next few years is RHP/OF Wyatt Murphy (Riverside-Brookfield). Murphy currently lacks strength and quick twitch but it is a loose, long-levered frame and he has a simple, handsy right-handed swing. On the mound he works loose and easy with feel for the zone. 

CATCHERS

The crop of catchers may have been the strongest/deepest position group on the day. Uncommitted 2021s Ethan Glossa (Oak Park-River Forest) and Krece Papierski (Moffat, CO) had strong all-around performances, as did a number of underclassmen.

+ Glossa is a 6-foot, 200-pound, right-handed hitter who led TrackMan in a number of categories. Glossa ranked No. 1 on the day when it comes to average exit speed off the bat (87.28 mph) as well as average distance off the bat (286.37 feet). Glossa, who swings aggression and intent, hit a number of homeruns to the pull-side in his round of BP with a number of balls travelling 300+ feet. Defensively, Glossa showed best behind the plate where he recorded a low pop time of 2.00 and showed an advanced soft block.

+ Papierski, who hails from Colorado, has an athletic/strong 6-foot, 185-pound frame and ran a 6.94 laser-timed 60. Offensively, has a simple, physical swing from the right-side of the plate. Papierski repeats his swing, was consistently on time and averaged 268.17 feet off the bat, third best on the day according to TrackMan. Papierski also has the tools to stick behind the plate. Advanced glove-to-hand exchange and quick feet with pop times ranging from 2.02-2.11.

+ Kyle Jannenga (Hinsdale South) is a physical 2022 that ran one of the top 60 times of the day, a 6.78. Listed at strong, sturdy, 6-foot, 205-pounds, the right-handed hitter has a compact, strong swing and stays direct to the baseball. Defensively, he was repeatable out of the crouch with an accurate arm that played at 77 mph and pop times ranged from 2.04-2.11.

Brian Twomey (Riverside-Brookfield), Harry Fandre (Hinsdale Central) and Anthony Nino (Von Steuben) are fellow 2022s that should be follows moving forward. 

+ Twomey, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound right-handed hitter, put together a solid round of BP, making consistent hard pull-side contact. Twomey also showed equally well behind the plate as he did on the infield; athletic defensive actions, repeatable and clean behind the plate while showing easy smooth actions on the infield.

+ Fandre is a 6-foot, 190-pound left-handed hitting catcher and his bat is his calling card. Fandre has loose, strong hands, natural lift to the pull-side and stays balanced throughout. 

+ Nino, another catcher/infielder with potential to stick at both, has a strong 5-foot-10, 175-pound frame. The right-handed hitter swings with controlled aggression, stays through the hitting zone and was all over the barrel in his round of BP. Nino had the fourth best average exit velocity during BP; 85.46 mph with an average launch angle of 22.45° per TrackMan.

+ A 2023 to keep an eye on is Henry Wolfe (New Trier). Wolfe has an advanced 6-foot-2, 170-pound frame for his age and ran a 7.13 laser-timed 60. Wolfe, a right-handed hitter has strong hands, present bat speed, stays short to contact and flashed occasional pop in his bat. Defensively, he is athletic out of the crouch, arm played at 76 mph and pop times ranged from 2.09-2.19. Wolfe has upside to his entire game. 

INFIELDERS

+ One of the top left-handed hitters on the day was INF Blake Edmonds (Hinsdale Central, 2022). Edmonds who is listed at a strong, wide-shouldered, 5-foot-10, 180-pounds fits the mold of a middle-of-the-order bat at the next level. Strong compacted swing, has intent and was routinely on the barrel with authority to the pull-side. Edmonds ranked second on the day, averaging 86.16 mph off the bat during BP. Defensively, he profiles at 2B/3B. 

+ A rangy young infielder with a chance to stick up the middle is 2023 MIF Kevin Cortez (Oak Park-River Forest). The 6-foot-1, 145-pound middle infielder has loose easy actions, advanced glove-to-hand release and high upside. Offensively, it is a loose, flat swing from the right-side that will continue to ascend as he adds strength.

+ 1B Matthew Michaels (Lincoln-Way East, 2021) has a strong 6-foot-1, 200-pound and right-handed bat that has middle-of-the-order potential. Michaels has present bat speed, twitch and stays through the zone a long time. Michaels was consistently on time and the ball jumps off the barrel. Defensively, he is an above-average defender at first base with an accurate arm and feel for the bag. 

+ INF PJ Hayes (Loyola Academy, 2023) fills out the uniform at a highly-projectable 6-foot-5, 180-pounds. The right-handed hitter has a leg-kick timing trigger, above-average bat speed for his age and looks to drive the baseball with authority to the pull-side. Intriguing upside right-handed hitter. 

OUTFIELDERS