By Greg Williams
WV Director of Scouting

The Super 60 Pro Showcase has been in existence for 11 years. In that time the Super 60 has become the most heavily scouted preseason event for potential draft picks in the Midwest. The primary purpose of the Super 60 is to give professional area scouts and cross-checkers a head start to the high school season.

Last year, 76 professional scouts of all levels were in attendance. Since the event’s inception in 2003, more than 135 players have been selected in the MLB Draft. Last year saw 16 of the 26 pitchers touch 90-mph or better, while 16 of the 36 position players ran sub-7 60s.

Today 70 of the most talented prospects in the 10 state Prep Baseball Report coverage area will strut their stuff at the Max-McCook Athletic & Exposition Center’s state of-the-art 125,000 square-foot open turf facility just outside of Chicago. The 12th edition of the Super 60 Showcase will mark the 2nd consecutive year that Pennsylvania prospects have participated in the event's storied history.

Yesterday we took a look back at the performances of three PA prospects that broke the ice by showcasing at the 2013 event. Today, LHP Taylor Lehman (Keystone Oaks HS) and RHP Justin Vardian (Bishop McCort) will look to build on the success of last year's Pennsylvania participants.

For live updates throughout the day and ongoing coverage of high school baseball news in the state of Pennsylvania, make sure to follow us on Twitter @pbrpennsylvania.

Super 60 Spotlight: Taylor Lehman

Player: Taylor Lehman
Position: LHP
Class: 2014
State Rank: 43
Overall Rank: 311
High School: Keystone Oaks
State: Pennsylvania
Commitment: Penn State
Height: 6-7
Weight: 215
Bats/Throws: L/L
Fastball: 86-88
Curveball: 73-75
Changeup: 78-79

A 6-foot-7, 215-pound frame will get you noticed pretty easily, but Lehman adds to the intrigue with a solid arsenal. At a pro showcase in West Virginia in October, Lehman sat 86-88 mph with his fastball, which also featured late life. He’s still developing and getting used to his frame, but offers good upside. He has feel for a mid-70s curveball and high-70s changeup.

Super 60 Spotlight: Justin Vardian

Player: Justin Vardian
Position: RHP
Class: 2014
State Rank: 34
Overall Rank: 244
High School: Bishop McCort
State: Pennsylvania
Commitment: Penn State
Height: 6-0
Weight: 175
Bats/Throws: R/R
Fastball: 88-89
Curveball: 74-75
Slider: 76-78
Changeup: 78-79

Vardian is a tick undersized, but he played a big part in Bishop McCort’s run to a Class A state championship in Pennsylvania. He went 8-0 on the mound with a 1.91 ERA. He sat 84-86 mph at a showcase in the fall, but was consistently 86-88 over the summer with significant arm-side run. He can also command a 78-79 slider that has sharp, late break. His velocity ticked up in a bullpen session in October, when he sat 87-88 and touched 89. His arm is loose and he hides the ball well.

Still uncommitted when he went to the Pennsylvania Elite Prospect Showcase in November, Vardian was 88-89 with good secondary stuff. He committed to Penn State on his way home from the event.

2013 Super 60 Statistics

Overall, the pitchers stole the show. Of the 26 pitchers, 16 touched 90 mph or better, seven were 88-89 mph, and the remaining three were 85-87 mph. Not bad for the first week of February. RHP Zach Burdi (Downers Grove South HS, IL) and RHP Cory Wilder (Lima Shawnee HS, OH) headed the list, both topping at 94 mph.

While the pitchers were stellar – especially for early February – the position players showed plenty of athleticism. Sixteen of the 36 runners ran a 7.00 or better, led by 3B Spencer Gaa (Metamora HS, IL; 6.56 60) and OF Lex Kaplan (Ladue HS, MO; 6.63 60).

Positionally, OF Nolan Rogers (Bloomington South HS, IN) and OF Jake Ring (Grant HS, IL) tied for the best outfield arms at 91 mph, while SS Nick Kanavas (Brookfield East HS, WI) headed the infielder list at 87 mph. Catchers, too, showed high-level arms, led by Ryan Lidge (Barrington HS, IL), Tanner Murphy (Malden HS, MO), Brent Gibbs(Alton HS, IL), Cassidy Brown (Walsh Jesuit HS, OH) and Dan Jansen (Appleton North HS, WI).

CLICK HERE to view the complete statistics from the 2013 Super 60.

2014 Super 60 Roster