Lockport Preseason I.D.: Statistical Analysis
February 20, 2020
On Monday, Feb. 17, the PBR Illinois team made its annual trip to the Bo Dome to host the Lockport Preseason I.D., the largest showcase on our calendar. Two-hundred prospects met us there, representing every high school level and all of whom are uncommitted.
Earlier today, we published the day’s highlights inside of our Quick Hits post. We scanned our notes from the event to shine a spotlight on the best talent from the showcase.
In this post below, we’re taking a look at the day’s leaderboards. We’re picking apart the data we measured in Lockport on Monday and compiling notable details for you to see. Keep an eye out in the coming weeks when we publish videos into player profiles and begin to roll out our position-by-position analysis. But for now, here’s a look at the more statistical side of things.
MAX FASTBALL VELOCITY
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
Max FB
1
Cam Demos
IL
Downers Grove North
2021
RHP
91 mph
2
Evan Clark
FL
IMG Academy
2021
LHP
89 mph
^
Cain Headrick
IL
Providence Catholic
2021
C
89 mph
3
Tommy Boba
IL
Wheaton Warrenville South
2022
RHP
88 mph
4
Danny Durkin
IL
Sandburg
2021
1B
87 mph
5
Kyle Hussey
IL
Providence Catholic
2021
SS
85 mph
6
Luke Brown
IL
Plainfield North
2023
LHP
84 mph
7
Matthew Maloney
IL
Lincoln-Way Central
2021
RHP
83 mph
^
Michael Bernas
IL
Brother Rice
2021
LHP
83 mph
^
Matt Santarelli
IL
Lockport
2021
SS
83 mph
8
Noah Klein
IL
Loyola Academy
2021
RHP
82 mph
^
Jack DiSano
IL
Glenbrook South
2022
3B
82 mph
^
Brendan McQuillan
IL
Brother Rice
2021
RHP
82 mph
^
Lucas Pajeau
IL
Lockport
2022
OF
82 mph
Uncommitted senior RHP Cameron Demos (Downers Grove North) was among the day’s biggest winners after topping 91 mph from the rubber, the lone prospect to breach the 90 mph mark in Lockport. With added muscle, he’s looking more and more like a senior to know this late in the recruiting process. Junior LHP Evan Clark (Fenwick) was another one of the day’s big winners after he clocked an 89 mph high from the left side, sitting 85-87. We’ve known Providence Catholic junior Cain Headrick to possess a strong arm from the crouch, but he was also impressive from the mound on Monday where he sat 86-88 mph and touched 89. From Wheaton Warrenville South, RHP Tommy Boba led the sophomores with an 88 mph high, which was particularly notable considering it was just last October that Boba topped 83.
You don’t have to go too far down the list to see the freshman with the firmest fastball on the list: LHP Luke Brown (Plainfield North). Like Boba, we saw Brown just last October as well, and he’s up four ticks since.
TOP 60-YARD DASH
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
60-yard
1
Mark Brannigan
IL
Marist
2021
OF
6.68
2
Dominic Coda
IL
Joliet Catholic
2022
OF
6.72
3
Jake Mackowiak
IL
Lincoln-Way Central
2022
OF
6.76
^
Austin Murray
IL
Lemont
2021
SS
6.76
4
Alexander Janke
IL
Huntley
2021
OF
6.78
5
Jack Day
IL
Andrew
2022
SS
6.80
^
Ryan Mrozek
IL
Providence Catholic
2022
SS
6.80
6
Joey Robinson
IL
Lyons Township
2021
OF
6.84
^
Robert (Hunter) Woods
IL
Moline
2021
OF
6.84
^
Joe Zaccone
IL
Stagg
2021
SS
6.84
7
Matt Santarelli
IL
Lockport
2021
SS
6.88
8
Grant Palmer
IL
Neuqua Valley
2021
2B
6.89
9
Kyle Hussey
IL
Providence Catholic
2021
SS
6.90
^
Danny Durkin
IL
Sandburg
2021
1B
6.90
Twitchy Marist junior Mark Brannigan came out on top of this leaderboard with his laser-timed 6.68 mark in the 60. His all-around, stand-out performance on Monday earned him some extra looks due his way this spring. Lean right/right sophomore Dominic Coda (Joliet Catholic) came in second on this chart with a 6.72 time, just ahead of classmate Jake Mackowiak (Lincoln-Way Central) and his 6.76 mark. There were 21 prospects who recorded sub-7.00 times in this category, proving to be an athletic group.
TOP EXIT VELOCITY
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
Exit Velo
1
Matthew Merk
IL
Lockport
2022
C
100
2
Joshua Kendall
IL
Andrew
2021
SS
99
3
Austin Murray
IL
Lemont
2021
SS
94
4
Albert Moreno
IL
Providence Catholic
2023
3B
92
5
Lucas Coyl
IL
Joliet West
2021
OF
91
^
Evan Evola
IL
Ottawa Township
2021
1B
91
^
Matt Santarelli
IL
Lockport
2021
SS
91
^
Tristan Head
FL
The Benjamin School
2023
SS
91
6
Harrison Scroggins
IL
Lincoln-Way West
2022
C
90
^
Jack DiSano
IL
Glenbrook South
2022
3B
90
^
Beau Polickey
IL
Brother Rice
2022
SS
90
^
Brian Huttner
IL
Chicago Christian
2021
1B
90
^
Gino Gazzillo
IL
Mount Carmel
2021
C
90
^
Lucas Pajeau
IL
Lockport
2022
OF
90
^
Trent Lawrence
IL
York
2021
3B
90
The only prospect to crack the 100 mph threshold was local sophomore Matthew Merk (Lockport), who really had a noteworthy day all around. He has a short, clean arm from behind the plate, had a low pop time of 2.00 and ran a 7.07, too. At No. 2 on this board, junior Josh Kendall (Andrew) was just a tick behind Merk’s mark. A pop-up 2021 who made some noise on Monday was INF Austin Murray (Lemont). He topped 94 mph from the tee and ran a 6.76. Providence Catholic freshman Alberto Moreno is a strong 6-foot corner infielder who paced the 2023s in attendance with his 92 mph high.
TOP INFIELD VELOCITY
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
INF Velo
1
Tristan Head
FL
The Benjamin School
2023
SS
88
^
Matt Santarelli
IL
Lockport
2021
SS
88
2
Kyle Hussey
IL
Providence Catholic
2021
SS
85
3
Randy Seymour
IL
Lincoln-Way East
2022
SS
84
^
Ryan Tomaras
IL
Lemont
2021
3B
84
4
Jack DiSano
IL
Glenbrook South
2022
3B
83
5
Mark Tor
IL
Lockport
2022
SS
82
6
Matthew Merk
IL
Lockport
2022
C
81
^
Albert Moreno
IL
Providence Catholic
2023
3B
81
^
Jacob Peterson
IL
Lincoln-Way East
2022
SS
81
^
Trent Lawrence
IL
York
2021
3B
81
There was a two-way tie atop this chart, with junior Matt Santarelli (Lockport) and sophomore Tristan Head (Nazareth Academy) both topping 88 mph across the infield. Both performed admirably across the board on Monday and are worth keeping an eye on in 2020. Kyle Hussey (Providence Catholic) performed well on the mound and it worked in the infield, where he topped 85 mph.
TOP OUTFIELD VELOCITY
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
OF Velo
1
Mark Brannigan
IL
Marist
2021
OF
91
^
Lucas Pajeau
IL
Lockport
2022
OF
91
2
Evan Clark
FL
IMG Academy
2021
LHP
89
3
Ryan Snell
IL
Benet
2022
OF
88
^
Cain Headrick
IL
Providence Catholic
2021
C
88
4
Zach Bormann
IL
York
2022
RHP
86
5
Jake Collins
IL
Lockport
2022
OF
84
^
Noah Klein
IL
Loyola Academy
2021
RHP
84
^
Tyler Jewett
IL
Oswego East
2022
LHP
84
Brannigan was tied atop this chart, too, with a 91 mph high to home. Sophomore Lucas Pajeau (Lockport) kept up, tying the Marist junior. At this same event last year, Pajeau topped 79 mph to home – he was 91 from the outfield this year and sat 80-81 mph from the mound, touching 82. Headrick took outfield reps this year, where his speed and athleticism might fit best, and the arm strength presumably played well here also. Another sophomore, Ryan Snell (Benet Academy), recorded a solid round of BP, creating hard contact, and that same kind of strength reappeared in the outfield, where he topped 88 mph on his throws home.
TOP CATCHER VELOCITY
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
C Velo
1
Jack Snyder
IL
Manteno
2021
C
80
2
Logan Barnett
IL
Pontiac
2023
RHP
77
^
Jonny Crowel
IL
Marist
2021
C
77
^
Matthew Merk
IL
Lockport
2022
C
77
3
Jake LaVine
IL
Metea Valley
2023
C
76
4
Brian Daker
IL
Hinsdale Central
2021
C
75
^
Julian Sumner
IL
Lyons Township
2023
C
75
^
Gino Gazzillo
IL
Mount Carmel
2021
C
75
^
John-Michael Scumaci
IL
Sandburg
2021
C
75
We’d not yet seen Jack Snyder (Manteno, 2021) before, but he broke out as a follow in this junior class ahead of the spring. His 80 mph high from out of the chute was three ticks better than the next backstop and his pops were consistently quick and accurate to second. A 6-foot-4 freshman, Logan Barnett (Pontiac), is packed with arm strength. He topped 77 mph from behind the plate and was also up to 81 mph on the mound, attached to a follow frame. Marist’s Jonny Crowell is among the top catchers in the state for his well-rounded profile, and he shared Barnett’s high of 77 mph from the crouch, same as the aforementioned Merk. Another 2023, Jake LaVine (Metea Valley), broke through inside this group of catchers with pops in the low 2.00s and an arm that topped at 76 mph.
TOP POP TIMES
Rank
Name
State
School
Class
Pos
Pop Time
1
Jack Snyder
IL
Manteno
2021
C
1.90-2.01
2
Julian Sumner
IL
Lyons Township
2023
C
1.97-2.08
3
Andrew Mack
IL
Minooka
2023
C
1.98-2.05
4
Tyler Stack
IL
Oswego
2023
C
1.99-2.12
5
Quinn Duffy
IL
Marist
2023
C
2.00-2.07
6
Matthew Merk
IL
Lockport
2022
C
2.00-2.11
7
Brian Daker
IL
Hinsdale Central
2021
C
2.05-2.10
8
Jonny Crowel
IL
Marist
2021
C
2.05-2.20
Snyder’s big day from behind the plate allowed him to separate himself from the rest of this group. His right-handed bat also flashed strength and twitch, which should propel him onto the prospect radar. Freshman Julian Sumner (Lyons Township) is a talented 2023 to know ahead of his first season of high school ball. In Lockport, he averaged among the lowest pop times and he carries bat strength at the plate, especially for his age. Three other 2023s pushed themselves into the “follow” category with their work from behind the dish: Andrew Mack (Minooka), Tyler Stack (Oswego), and Quinn Duffy (Marist).
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