Class of 2015 Showcase: Top Overall Prospects

July 31, 2013

By Sean Duncan and Dan Duran

More than 85 rising juniors from all over Illinois attended the Class of 2015 Showcase on July 17 at Oakton CC in Des Plaines. We’ve already broken the Illinois Class of 2015 Showcase down by positions; now it’s time to look at the top overall prospects.

This open event unveiled several high-level prospects, many whom were previously unknown to us, lending further proof that Illinois’ 2015 class is quickly shaping into a special group of prospects.

While many players showed exceptionally well, Plainfield South RHP Shane Ritter takes the overall top prospect at the event. Ritter was followed closely by Princeville RHP Mitchell Janssen, Champaign Centennial SS/RHP Dylan Grady, and Oak Park-River Forest C Patrick Rumoro.

Here’s a look at the top overall prospects at the Class of 2015 Showcase:

1. Shane Ritter, RHP, Plainfield South HS, 2015
High-ceiling right-handed pitcher, 6-foot-4, 180-pound athletic frame with plenty of room to develop. Arm works free and easily from 3/4 slot, quick and clean. Athletic, repeatable delivery, works downhill, maintains rhythm throughout. Fastball topped at 87 mph, sitting 84-86, with arm-side life. Has advanced feel for three pitches. Curveball flashes sharp 11/5 break, in the 69-71 range; also throws a more sweeping breaking ball in the 74-75 range. Throws changeup with excellent arm action, in the 74-78 range. With his frame, athleticism and arm looseness, Ritter should continue to see increased velocity and establish himself as a premier prospect in the Midwest.

2. Mitchell Janssen, RHP, Princeville HS, 2015
Athletic build, 6-foot-3, 190-pound right-handed pitcher. Velocity has made a stark jump in a year’s time. Looks now to be one of the better power arms in class. Fastball sat 86-87 with run and sink in the strike zone. Works from high 3/4 slot with short, quick arm action; shows excellent arm acceleration – will likely continue to throw harder in coming years. Secondary stuff needs refinement. Changeup, in 73-77 range, showed occasional sink; curveball in 73-75 range. High-follow prospect in 2015 class.

3. Dylan Grady, SS/RHP, Champaign Centennial HS, 2015
Athletically built 6-foot, 178-pound two-way player. Graded out as top infield prospect at event. Shows advanced plate approach and bat speed. Quiet, repeatable swing, aggressive approach, maintains excellent balance throughout, ball jumps with backspin and carry, registered event-best 88-mph exit speed. Defensively, shows arm strength (event-best 82 mph) and soft hands. Long arm action, accurate throws, takes solid routes to ball. May project as third baseman at next level; 7.16 runner. On the mound, commands three pitches for strikes. Athletic delivery, repeats well, high ¾ arm slot, short arm action. Fastball sat 81-82 mph; has advanced feel for changeup, 73-76 mph with some arm-side sink.

4. Patrick Rumoro, C, Oak Park-River Forest HS, 2015
Shows potential to be high-level 2015 catching prospect. Slight 5-foot-10, 150-pound frame. Shows highly athletic feet, quick transfer, advanced overall defensive mechanics. Short arm action, ball stays on line. Registered consistent pop times ranging between 1.94-2.04, all on the bag. Ran a 7.28 60. Offensively, hits from an athletic setup, bat speed present, quiet and quick to the baseball. Repeats mechanics well, line drive approach, works middle of the field, excellent barrel awareness. With added strength, should develop into highly coveted prospect.

5. Alec Martinez, SS/RHP, Sandburg HS, 2015
High-interest prospect in Illinois’ 2015 class. Athletically built 6-foot, 180-pound two-way player. Excellent overall hitting approach. Hits from open setup, extremely balanced and quiet throughout. Advanced bat speed through the zone, stays through the baseball, gets excellent extension after contact. Ball jumps off bat with backspin carry, gap power, may acquire more power in future. Defensively, has soft, reliable hands, arm shows carry across infield (77 mph), stays on-line with accuracy. May project as third baseman at next level. Ran a 7.31 60. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, fastball topped at 82 mph, sitting 80-81, with arm-side life. Also throws 67-68 mph curveball and 70-72 changeup. High-follow prospect in Illinois’ 2015 class.

6. Luke Mangieri, INF, Dunlap HS, 2015
Highly athletic and projectable left-handed hitting prospect. 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame with long limbs and plenty of room to develop. Moves fluidly with long easy strides, 6.82 runner. Easy, loose left-handed swing with barrel whip through zone. Hits from open setup, fast hands, pull hitter, uphill path, excellent extension after contact. As he fills into frame, should develop more power. Worked out at first base only at event, though we’ve seen him at third. Has enough arm (77 mph) and athleticism to play on left side of infield. May project as outfielder at next level. High-follow prospect in Illinois’ 2015 class.

7. Jack Rettig, LHP/1B, Mahomet-Seymour HS, 2015
6-foot-2, 180-pound athletic frame. Shows legitimate two-way capabilities. On the mound, left-hander commands zone with three pitches. Athletic, repeatable delivery, high-3/4 slot, loose arm action. Fastball topped at 82 mph, sitting 78-80. Changeup shows high potential. Throws changeup with conviction, 73-74 range, with sink down in the zone. Curveball shows inconsistent shape; best one has more sweeping action, 67-69 range. Offensively, runs a 7.08 60, left-handed hitter with excellent balance, swing mechanics and balance. Bat speed present, creates natural lift in swing, overall sound plate approach. Defensively, shows athletic feet around bag and solid glovework at first base.

8. Luke Beesley, C, Champaign Central HS, 2015
Athletic 6-foot-4, 180-pound catcher. Projects power at the plate. Hits from balanced setup, slight crouch, fast hands, advanced bat path, barrel whips through the zone, ball jumps with backspin carry. One of the top overall hitters at Class of 2015 Showcase. May develop more power in future as he fills into frame. For size, shows athletic feet, works well directionally. Clocked at 76 mph from crouch, throws have carry, top pop time of 2.04. Ran a 7.25 60.

9. Jack Szott, RHP/1B, Metea Valley HS, 2015
Physically advanced frame, strong lower half, wide shoulders, 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. Fastball consistently sat 84 mph with occasional sink. Works from high 3/4 slot, long arm action, effort in delivery. Changeup showed swing-and-miss potential. Throws it with conviction, 73-74 mph, with arm-side run. Also throws 70-74 mph curveball. Offensively, demonstrated power potential at plate. Creates natural lift in swing; ball jumps off bat with backspin carry. Big target at first base, handles glove well around bag.

10. Malcolm Grady, RHP, Homewood-Flossmoor HS, 2015
High-ceiling 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-handed pitcher with extremely long arms and legs. Highly athletic frame with more room to develop. Excellent hand acceleration, quick, loose arm from over the top slot. Slow tempo, tall and fall delivery, fastball shows life through hitting zone, topping at 82 mph. Off-speed pitches inconsistent but flash promise. Threw occasional sharp, late-breaking 12/6 curveball in 60-64 range. Changeup flashed late sink in the 65-69 range. With improved timing and rhythm, Grady should see vast jumps in his three-pitch mix.

11. Ben Sestak, RHP, Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin HS, 2015
Extremely projectable 6-foot-5, 170-pound right-handed pitcher. Lanky, athletic frame, plenty of room to develop. Works out of full windup from high ¾ slot, arm is loose and athletic. Fastball topped at 82 mph, sitting 80-81, with arm-side sink. Shows command for 72-75 mph changeup; throws it with fastball arm speed, with some sink. Curveball is inconsistent, but shows feel for pitch in 62-66 range. As he fills into his frame, Sestak has the potential to become an elite prospect in the 2015 class.

12. Sam Anderson, OF, Chatham Glenwood HS, 2015
Highly projectable 6-foot-4, 170-pound left-handed hitting outfielder. Features long limbs and athletic actions. Runs fluidly with long strides, 7.01 60. Moves well in outfield; takes confident routes to baseball, athletic arm, clocked at 78 mph from the outfield. Offensively, hits from an athletic position. Has the athleticism to hit with more consistency with some refinement and added strength. High-follow prospect in the 2015 class.

13. Alex Mandeville, MIF, Sacred Heart-Griffin, 2015
5-foot-9, 140-pound middle-infielder showed some ability in all facets of the event. Displayed confidence at the plate and consistently found the barrel. Mandeville sets up in a slightly open, balanced stance with an abbreviated stride. He was short to the ball, recording an 80 mph exit speed off the tee. Defensively he fielded the position athletically with solid footwork and clean exchanges. His throws showed accuracy and some carry at 74 mph across the infield. Mandeville also ran a 7.15 60 at the showcase.

14. Joshua Krueger, RHP, Romeoville, 2015
Lanky 6-foot-1, 175 projectable right-handed pitcher. Tall-and-fall delivery showed some rhythm and balance. Krueger has long ¾ arm action and showed off one of the higher velocities on the mound with an 82-84 mph fastball with control and occasional arm-side run. His curveball had gradual 11/5 action at 62-65 mph and changeup at 71-72 mph. Krueger could become a high-level talent with developed off-speed.

15. Austin Warrem, LHP/OF, Mattoon, 2015
Warrem is a right-handed hitting, left-handed throwing two-way player who projects particularly well on the mound. The 6-foot, 170-pound left-hander utilizes a coil in his delivery at his balance point, throwing with loose and quick high ¾ arm action. He displayed feel for all three pitches. His downhill fastball sat 78-80 mph with control, topping at 81 mph. Had control of his 12/6 curveball ranging 66-70 mph. His changeup showed some sink and arm-side run sitting 68-71 mph. From the outfield, Warrem’s arm showed carry at 79 mph, fielding the position with athleticism in his footwork, exchanges, and crow-hop. At the plate he showed an uphill bat path with bat speed, recording an 81 mph exit velocity off the tee. Warrem is a prospect to follow.