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Future Games: Team Illinois Game Three Recap

July 31, 2021
By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Team Illinois finished the 2021 Future Games with a 4-3 loss against Team Minnesota/Iowa/Nebraska. Team Illinois, which ended up 3-0 on the week, had all seven pitchers that threw an inning on Thursday, come back to throw an inning a piece once again on Saturday.

LHP Tore Indomenico (St. Ignatius, 2023) once again showed high-end stuff throughout his one-inning of work. The talented left-hander ran it up to 88 mph whenever he wanted too, while showing a true three-pitch mix and upside, loose arm throughout. Indomenico solidified himself as one of the top arms in the state with his showing this week.

RHP Adam Behrens (Warren, 2023) saw his velocity take a jump in his second outing, sitting 85-86, touching 87 while striking out two looking. Behrens is one of the most consistent performers in the state and nothing changed while throwing for Team Illinois. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound, strong-bodied right-hander can throw any pitch in any count and his fastball seems to get on hitters, rarely giving up hard contact and quality swings against some of the top hitters in the country.

RHP Andrew Ressler (Huntley, 2023) was another right-hander who showed highly-intriguing stuff in his two innings down at the Future Games. Ressler has a 6-foot-1, 185-pound, wide-shouldered frame and has some of the highest spin metrics on his slider in the state; consistently registering in the 2700-2900 rpm range while sitting at 74-76 mph. Ressler sat mostly 84-87, T88 mph. 

RHP Charlie Wolf (St. Ignatius, 2023) saved his best outing of the week for Saturday. The lean, live-bodied right-hander showed much crisper, sharper stuff on Saturday while running his fastball up to 87 mph. Wolf gets carry and jump through the zone at times with a rising four-seam fastball type and sharp breaking ball that had feel for the zone at 71-73 mph. Wolf’s stock is on the rise after his latest showing and should be an arm in the 2023 class to keep close tabs on.

Offensively, Team Illinois took some of their best swings on the week on Saturday, despite not having a ton to show for it. 3B Charalambos Nicoloudes (Naperville Central, 2023) was all over the barrel in both of his at-bats; lined out hard to center field in his first at-bat and smoked a line-drive (96.3 mph off the bat) right at the left-fielder in his second at-bat.

SS Jaden Correa (De La Salle, 2023) continued to show an above-average hit tool taking two quality at-bats. Correa lined a ball to the opposite field in his first at-bat and later scored. The talented shortstop also flew out to center field. 

OF Brayden Bakes (Huntley, 2023) had his hardest hit ball of the weekend today but unfortunately the scorched line-drive was snagged on an impressive play by the second baseman. Bakes, also collected a two-run single on a ball back up the middle. 

Two left-handed hitters who broke out a bit on Saturday were 1B Riley Iffrig (Edwardsville, 2023) and OF Brenden Stressler (New Trier, 2023). Iffrig has a polished approach, controls the barrel and has above-average bat strength. He showed his ability to use the whole field lining a double into the left-center field gap. Stressler is another middle-of-the-order type of bat that was just missing some balls throughout the course of the weekend. Stressler made a loud impression on Saturday delivering the hardest hit ball of the day (99 mph off the bat) on a hard line-drive to right field. 

A number of the players on Team Illinois have a chance to be towards the top of the Illinois’ 2023 rankings in the coming years. Stay tuned for some more coverage of Team Illinois at the Future Games in the coming weeks.

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