By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

The inaugural Prep Baseball Report Midwest ProCase took place on June 23 at Silver Cross Stadium in Joliet, IL. The event, which included a morning workout and game play, featured 50 top-level  prospects from six states, giving Midwest area pro scouts and college recruiters an intimate look at some of the top 2016 draft prospects.

Over the course of the next week we will provide in-depth reports from the event. Today, we highlight 10 of the top performers at the ProCase, although it was extremely difficult to pare down the list. But the 10 players listed below, we believe, stood above their peers, at least on this day.

1. Nick Hanson, RHP, Prior Lake HS, MN, 2016
Although Hanson is the No. 1-ranked prospect in Minnesota and already committed to Kentucky, the 6-foot-6, 210-pound right-hander was not a well-known commodity among area pro scouts. That is, until his one-inning stint at the ProCase. Hanson established himself as a high-level national prospect, and one of the top pitchers in the Prep Baseball Report coverage area thanks to arguably the most dominant performance at the loaded event. For his size, Hanson is athletic and still growing into his frame. Working from a high-3/4 slot, Hanson has wide shoulders, a clean, repeatable in-line delivery, and works downhill well. His fastball sat 91-93 mph with heavy, late finish from a steep plane. His curveball ranged between 79-80 mph with 11/5 shape and quality depth. He threw consistent strikes with both his fastball and curveball. Hanson retired all three batters he faced, which included two strikeouts, his final one with a 93-mph fastball.