By Matt Yarber and Sean Duncan

The Prep Baseball Report Underclassmen Showcase on November 20 at The Max unveiled several exciting new prospects from the 2014 and 2015 classes. Several of the players showed high-level ability. Certainly you will be reading a lot about some of these players for years to come.

While there were several standout performances, Simeon OF/LHP Darius Day (2014) stood above the pack. In fact, Day proved to be the best sophomore we’ve seen so far in Illinois.

A look at the event’s top performers:

Class of 2014

1. Darius Day, OF/LHP, Simeon HS, Class of 2014
If there’s a better Class of 2014 prospect in the state, we haven’t seen him yet. Day is an athletically built, physically advanced 5-foot-11, 170-pound two-way prospect who possesses all the tools to be an elite national prospect. While Day showed extremely well on the mound, there’s little doubt his future will be as an outfielder. Day was clocked at 90 mph from the outfield, which broke the PBR record at an underclass event. Not only did his throws have plus life, but he was on target with everything. He also moves with fluid purpose in the outfield. Offensively, the left-handed hitter exhibited a quick, balanced and explosive swing. He generates tremendous bat speed through the zone and gets excellent extension after contact. The ball jumps off his bat with backspin carry. Day also ran a 7.11 60. On the mound, the left-hander continued to impress. Day commands three pitches for strikes, including an 82-84 mph fastball with hard arm-side action. His changeup, in the 70-71 range, also looks to be an advanced pitch for his age, as it demonstrated some fade down in the zone. Day, who comes from an over-the-top arm angle, showed the ability to throw his 63-65 mph curveball for strikes as well. Judging by the ease with which his arm works, Day should be working in the upper-80s not far down the road.

2. Dalton Hottle, RHP, Monmouth-Roseville HS, Class of 2014
Hottle is a projectable 6-foot-2, 160-pound right-hander who features an athletic frame and a quick arm. Hottle operates from an over-the-top arm slot and works downhill well. His fastball demonstrated late life in the 80-82 range. Hottle showed the ability to throw four pitches. His changeup, in the 72-75 mph range, showed a lot of promise, as it had late fade down in the zone while maintaining similar arm speed. Hottle’s 71 mph slider also demonstrated sharp two-plane break, and with continued development, can be a swing-and-miss pitch at the next level. Hottle also threw a consistent 65 mph curveball. With his long legs and impressive hand acceleration, Hottle should continue to see his velocity climb as he fills out physically.

3. Don Buonavolanto, SS/OF, Hinsdale South HS, Class of 2014
Buonavolanto was one of the best athletes at the event, as he ran an event-best 7.02 60. Defensively, Buonavolanto exhibited quick actions in the field as he moved well laterally and was consistently in the right position to make the play.  He displayed soft hands and an accurate arm (75mph) that will continue to develop as he does physically.  Offensively, Buonavolanto has a short stride to the ball and uses his quick hands to spray line drives to all fields.  In all, Buonavolanto is an impressive quick-twitch athlete who will be able to make adjustments as the game speeds up.

4. Brock Fulkerson, RHP, Mt. Vernon HS, Class of 2014
Fulkerson is an extremely long, lanky 6-foot-3, 125-pound right-handed pitcher who possesses considerable upside. Fulkerson has extraordinarily long limbs, and his arm works with little effort. He operates from two arm angles: a 3/4 and lower-3/4 slots. Although there’s not much variance between the arm angles, his higher slot allows him to throw his 63-65 mph curveball with consistent, sharp two-plane break. Fulkerson’s fastball sat at 75-76 mph. With the fluidity and looseness of his arm, he should see a significant velocity spike as he grows into his body. Fulkerson also showed good feel for a changeup, in the 69-71 mph range. All three pitches Fulkerson threw for strikes.

5. Matthew Sullivan, MIF, Huntley HS, Class of 2014
Sullivan was one of the better athletes at the event and showed well in all facets of the game.  With his athletic build, 5-foot-10, 160-pound Sullivan will continue to develop physically.  Sullivan displayed soft hands and fluid footwork at the shortstop position, routinely making the plays with natural actions.  Offensively, Sullivan showed a good rhythm and tempo during his BP round.  He demonstrated quick hands and bat speed which created barrel whip through the zone.  His swing features an economical approach to the ball with an explosive lower half that results in gap to gap power.  Additionally, he ran a 7.27 60.

6. Tommy Bordignon, MIF/RHP, Loyola HS, Class of 2014
Bordignon is a 5-foot-9, 145-pound two-way talent who showed well in all facets of the game.  Bordignon displayed a strong arm, whether in the field (80 mph) or on the mound.  Bordignon has a smooth rhythm on the mound, throwing from a high ¾ arm slot in which the ball jumps out of his hand.  He has three different pitches, an 80-81 mph fastball that showed arm side run and sink that was consistently in the zone; a 67-69 mph curveball that has a sharp two-plane break, and a 74-76 mph changeup that showed late sink.  Defensively, Bordignon showed a strong, accurate arm and quick hands.  Offensively, he has a line drive swing which he used to hit line drives.

7. Aaron Fuller, OF/INF, St. Rita HS, Class of 2014
Fulller is an athletic 5-foot-11, 175-pound outfielder who showed quick instincts in the field.  Utilizing his strength and athleticism, Fuller showed off one of the strongest arms at the event, throwing 83 mph from the outfield.  At the plate, Fuller has a balanced approach with his set up and demonstrated his strength with bat speed through the zone. He has excellent barrel whip through the zone as he sprayed line drives with consistent authority. Additionally, Fuller ran a 7.23 60.

8. Neal Tyrell, MIF, Minooka HS, Class of 2014
Tyrell is an athletic 6-foot-1, 170-pound infielder who showed well at the plate with his economical approach to the ball and a level bat path that resulted in line drives to all fields.  Showcasing his gap-to-gap power, Tyrell showed good balance at the plate and had his hands stay behind his swing as his ball showed carry and jump off the bat.  In the field, Tyrell showed an accurate arm (78 mph) and solid, clean actions at the shortstop position. Additionally, Tyrell ran a 7.25 60.

9. Nick Goldsmith, INF/RHP, St. Rita HS, Class of 2014
Goldsmith is a physical 6-foot-2, 200-pound two-way player.  On the mound, Goldsmith has a good backside drive as he gets through the ball.  He has three different pitches a fastball (77-79 mph), curveball (57-59 mph), and a changeup (57-59 mph).  In the field Goldsmith showed an accurate arm (75 mph) and clean actions from the shortstop position.  Offensively, Goldsmith has an athletic setup with an aggressive lower half and showed some raw power potential.

10. Daniel Kelly, SS, Loyola HS, Class of 2014
Kelly was one of the top defensive players at the event, displaying natural instincts at the shortstop position.  Standing at 5-foot-8, 140-pounds, Kelly exhibited quick feet that allowed him to always be in the correct position to make the play.  His soft hands allowed him to play through the ball as he made fielding a ground ball look natural and easy.  Offensively, Kelly has a balanced set up and exhibited some hand quickness.

11. Ryan Krainz, MIF, Naperville North HS, Class of 2014
Krainz is a 5-foot-4, 125-pound middle infielder who exhibited excellent fundamental mechanics in all facets of the game.  Defensively, Krainz displayed athleticism at the shortstop position by utilizing his soft hands and fluid footwork as he handled every ground ball with natural actions.  He exhibited a quick, clean exchange and an accurate arm (74 mph).  Offensively, Krainz demonstrated fundamental mechanics in his swing from the left side that resulted in consistent line drives to all fields.  He showed good hands and balance throughout, which produced some looseness in his swing.

12. Cole McDonald, 1B, Morton HS, Class of 2014
McDonald is a 6-foot-2, 165-pound first baseman who showed promise at the plate with a short, level path to the ball that created barrel whip through the zone.  He exhibited some swing looseness as he sprayed line drives to all fields.  Defensively, McDonald moved well around the bag and was clocked at 72 mph.  Additionally, McDonald ran a 7.07 60.

13. Adam Harvey, C/OF, Antioch HS, Class of 2014
Harvey is a 5-foot-9, 175-pound catcher who delivered some of the best pop times of the day, ranging from 2.12 – 2.19.  Utilizing his solid hands and fluid footwork, Harvey showed quick exchanges and a short arm action in making his throws (73 mph).  At the plate, Harvey had a balanced setup and a short stride in his swing. 

14. Brennan Street, 1B/RHP, Harrisburg HS, Class of 2014
Street is a physically advanced 6-foot-2, 200-pound two-way player.  Utilizing his size, Street threw four different pitches for strikes, including a fastball that topped at 80 mph.  At the plate, Street hit to all fields, using his size and level bat plane to create bat speed through the zone and square up the ball.

15. Cam Galgano, OF, Providence Catholic HS, Class of 2014
Galgano is a 5-foot-7, 160-pound outfielder who showed well at the plate with quick hands and a loose left-handed swing.  Utilizing his repeatable swing, Galgano showed quick hands, creating barrel whip through the zone.  In the field, Galgano had an accurate arm (72 mph) and moved well laterally at his position.

Best of the Rest

Austin Black, OF/MIF, Stevenson HS, Class of 2014
Black is a 5-foot-11, 155-pound outfielder who showed athleticism in the outfield.  Using his long legs Black took aggressive routes to the baseball and moved athletically at his position.  He displayed an accurate arm (70 mph).  At the plate, Black is a left-handed hitter who takes an economical approach to the baseball.

Jacob Cribbett, C, Champaign Central HS, Class of 2014
Cribbett is an athletically built 6-foot, 180-pound catcher/third baseman.  Cribbett has a balanced setup at the plate and tends to hit line drives the other way.  Behind the plate, Cribbett had pop times ranging from 2.22 – 2.29 and was clocked at 69 mph from the crouch.

Frankie Farry, RHP/3B, St. Charles North HS, Class of 2014
Farry is a 5-foot-9, 185-pound two-way player who has a strong lower half which he uses on the mound and at the plate.  On the mound, Farry comes from a ¾ arm slot. His 75-77 mph fastball showed some sink and arm side run.  He also had a slurve and changeup that found the zone.  At the plate, Farry is a left-handed hitter who displayed good hands and an economical approach to the ball.

Jay Goldsher, RHP, Highland Park HS, Class of 2014
Goldsher is a 5-foot-9, 140-pound submarine style right-handed pitcher.  Goldsher featured three different pitches: a fastball, slider, and changeup.  His fastball (69-73 mph) showed slight run and was consistently around the zone.  Goldsher’s breaking ball had a sweeping action to it and was in the 62-64 mph range, while his changeup was 61-62 mph and was in the zone.

Ian Grant, LHP, Libertyville HS, Class of 2014
Grant is a 5-foot-10, 130-pound left-handed pitcher who throws from over the top arm slot. His arm works free and easily, and he exhibiting excellent downward tilt to his ball.  Grant showed feel and command for all three of his pitches.  He features a fastball (72-74 mph), a cutter (71-73 mph), and a changeup (64-65 mph).  All three pitches he worked down in the zone. As Grant physically develops, he should continue to add velocity.

Jake Hart, OF/LHP, Shepard HS, Class of 2014
Hart is a 5-foot-7, 170-pound two-way player who showed well in the outfield, taking aggressive routes to the ball.  Hart moved with ease at his position and featured an accurate arm that showed some life to it (79 mph).  At the plate, Hart has a balanced setup and showed some rhythm that resulted in a loose left-handed swing.

Joey Jablonski, C, Hinsdale South HS, Class of 2014
Jablonski is an athletically built 6-foot-1, 152-pound catcher who showed solid footwork and a clean exchange behind the plate.  He had pop times ranging from 2.2 - 2.36 and was clocked at 70 mph from the crouch. 

Josh Kuntz, OF, Lyons Township HS, Class of 2014
Kuntz is an athletic 5-foot-10, 160-pound multi-positional talent who showed athleticism in the field.  Kuntz, who ran a 7.39 60, moves with athletic purpose in the outfield and gets on top of his throws (78 mph) well. 

Kristian Meyer, OF/MIF, Fenwick HS, Class of 2014
Meyer is a 5-foot-9, 145-pound outfielder who showed fluid footwork while taking aggressive routes to the ball.  From the outfield he demonstrated an accurate arm (70 mph) and was able to keep the ball on a level plane.  Offensively, Meyer has an easy repeatable swing that features an economical approach to the ball.  His quick hands allow him to create barrel whip through the zone as he squared up balls to all fields.

Joey Morris, C, Stevenson HS, Class of 2014
Morris is a 5-foot-11, 175-pound left-handed hitting catcher who exhibited good extension in his swing.  Featuring an economical approach to the baseball, Morris has excellent balance throughout his swing as he sprayed line drives to all fields.  Defensively, Morris has a good base and setup behind the plate and had pop times ranging from 2.28-2.39.

Michael Pattis, C, Deerfield HS, Class of 2014
Pattis is a 5-foot-10, 170-pound catcher who featured an accurate arm behind the plate.  Pattis delivered throws consistently around the bag with pop times ranging from 2.25 – 2.35.  Offensively, Pattis is a left-handed hitter with a short stride and a line drive swing.

Jason Petrillo, OF/RHP/1B, Grayslake North HS, Class of 2014
Petrillo is a 5-foot-11, 160-pound two-way player who took aggressive routes to the baseball in the outfield.  He displayed an accurate arm (71 mph) from the outfield. On the mound, Petrillo’s fastball sat at 67-68 mph, topping at 71. He also threw a curveball, changeup and knuckleball.

Brandon Tepper, RHP/INF, Munster HS, Class of 2014
Tepper is a 5-foot-8, 160-pound two-way player who showed clean mechanics in his delivery on the mound.  Throwing from over the top slot, Tepper showed solid extension in his delivery with a good feel for his pitches.  Tepper threw four different pitches, a 2 and 4-seam fastball, a curveball, and a plus changeup that showed arm side run and sink.  In the field, Tepper showed good actions and fluid footwork as he moved well laterally and was in the right position to make the plays.  At the plate Tepper had a short stride and level bat path that that generated some bat whip through the zone.

Eric Tucker, OF/1B, Lemont HS, Class of 2014
Tucker is a 6-foot, 170-pound multi-positional player who took aggressive routes to the baseball and showed some physicality in his actions.  At the plate, Tucker had looseness in his swing and maintained balance throughout his swing.

Marcus Wergel, C, Gallatin County HS, Class of 2014
Wergel is a 5-foot-10, 160-pound catcher who displayed quick feet and a quick release point (71 mph).  He had pop times that ranged from 2.26-2.32.  Offensively, Wargel has good balance at the plate and a short stride to the ball. 

Will Zitkus, OF/RHP, Grant HS, Class of 2014
Zitkus is 5-foot-7, 120-pound two-way player who showed well at the plate with his loose left-handed swing.  Zitkus demonstrated an economical approach to the ball with his short stride and bat path, in combination with his sound lower half. Zitkus remains balanced throughout his swing and gets excellent extension after contact.  On the mound, Zitkus throws from a high ¾ arm slot, using a loose back arm and hand acceleration. Zitkus displayed an easy, repeatable throwing motion.  He had three pitches, a fastball (65-70 mph), a curveball (58-61 mph), and a changeup (58-62); all his pitches he threw for strikes.

Class of 2015

1.  Terrance Robertson, OF/LHP, Simeon HS, Class of 2015
Robertson is another top-level two-way prospect from Simeon, following in the footsteps of Shane Brown (2012), Corey Ray (2013) and Darius Day (2014). Robertson showed well in all facets of the game, but he really impressed on the mound. The athletically built 5-foot-11, 165-pound left-hander commanded three pitches for strikes, including a fastball that topped at 79 mph. Coming from a high 3/4 slot, Robertson showed advanced mechanics and mound presence, in addition to impressive hand acceleration. His 63-66 mph curveball is an advanced pitch, as it exhibited sharp, late break down in the zone. Robertson continued to impress as a position player, as he moved with fluidity and purpose while throwing strikes from the outfield (80 mph). Offensively, Robertson showcased an easy, mechanically advanced left-handed swing.  He maintains excellent balance and rhythm throughout, and is extremely quick and compact to the baseball. Overall, Robertson is one of the best Class of 2015 prospects we’ve seen so far. 

2. Jeremy Orbik, RHP/3B, Homewood-Flossmoor HS, Class of 2015
Orbik is a lanky 6-foot, 150-pound two-way talent who features extremely long legs and arms. Orbik possesses considerable upside, especially on the mound, where he showed the promise of a high-level prospect. The right-hander has a quick, easy arm, and showed advanced rhythm and presence on the mound. Coming from an over-the-top arm slot, Orbik’s fastball sat at 79-80 mph with hard, late life. Orbik works downhill well, and showed the ability to throw three pitches for strikes. His curveball, in the 69 mph range, has the potential to be a plus pitch, as it had sharp two-plane break. He also commanded a 72-73 mph changeup down in the zone. As Orbik fills out physically, he should continue to add velocity. He also showed solidly as a position player, as he demonstrated some arm strength at third base (78 mph). Offensively, he showcased a mechanically sound swing, in addition to quick hands and barrel whip through the zone.

3. Tyler Halas, SS, St. Rita HS, Class of 2015
Halas was one of the better Class of 2015 prospects in the state.  Offensively, Halas demonstrated a good presence at the plate with an athletic set up and good approach to his round.  Halas has an advanced plate approach, as he is quiet and quick to the ball, while maintaining excellent balance and rhythm. Halas has an economical approach to the ball as he sprayed line drives to all fields.  Defensively, Halas displayed soft hands at the shortstop position with fluid footwork that allowed him to move well laterally and show some range at the position.   

4. Brady Fairfield, MIF, Metamora HS, Class of 2015
Fairfield is an athletic 5-foot-10, 150-pound middle infielder who demonstrated quick-twitch ability in everything he did. Fairfield, who ran a 7.21 60, exhibited natural instincts at the shortstop position.  He moves with fluidity and rhythm to the ball and showed impressive range. Offensively, Fairfield has quick hands and creates considerable barrel whip through the zone. He has an aggressive approach as he hit the ball with authority to all fields.  

5. Ethan Skender, MIF/OF, Metamora HS, Class of 2015
Skender is a 5-foot-10, 150-pound multi-positional talent who showed athleticism and the ability to make plays.  He featured an accurate arm (78 mph) and fluid footwork that allowed him to be in position for making the play.  Offensively, Skender displayed quick hands which generated bat speed through the zone. Skender also impressed by running a 7.4 60.

6. Nick Weinstein, C, Lake Central HS, Class of 2015
Weinstein is a 5-foot-11, 165-pound catcher who exhibited solid feet behind the dish with an accurate arm (70 mph).   With fluid footwork and a quick exchange Weinstein had some of the best pop times at the event, with his best time being a 2.1.  At the plate, Weinstein displayed good balance throughout his swing and used an economical approach to the ball in order to spray line drives to all fields.

7. Jamary McKinney, RHP/C, Simeon HS, Class of 2015
McKinney is a physically advanced 6-foot, 200-pound two-way player.  At the plate, McKinney showed some rhythm and power potential in his swing.  Defensively, McKinney had pop times ranging from 2.14– 2.22 and was clocked at 75 mph.  On the mound McKinney has a short back arm action and had four different pitches, a FB (73-77 mph), CB (52-55 mph), CH (63-65 mph), and a Split (57-58 mph).

8. Jake Carlsen, 3B/RHP, Providence Catholic HS, Class of 2015
Carlsen is a 5-foot-10, 160-pound two-way player who showed best on the mound.  Demonstrating a smooth, relaxed rhythm on the mound, Carlsen showed easy effort in all of his pitches.  Carlsen showed good mechanics in his delivery, which featured a loose back arm action and hand acceleration.  He showed feel for three pitches, a fastball (67-71 mph) with arm side run, a cutter (61-65 mph) that has late sharp break, and a changeup (66-69 mph) that showed sink when down in the zone.  Defensively, Carlsen is a corner infielder who showed sound footwork around the bag and an accurate arm (67 mph).

9. General McArthur, MIF/OF, Crete-Monee HS, Class of 2015
McArthur is a 5-foot-7, 120-pound middle infielder who exhibited smooth, soft hands.  He displayed fluid footwork at his position and showed natural instincts in the field.  Offensively, McArthur is a left handed hitter with a balanced set up and good balance throughout his swing.  His quick hands allow McArthur to generate some bat speed and create whip in his swing.

10. Dion Earls, MIF, Simeon HS, Class of 2015
Earls is 5-foot, 125-pound middle infielder who showed athleticism and natural feel at the middle infield position.  With good lateral movement and solid hands Earls was able to demonstrate his ability to play through the ball.  At the plate Earls is a switch-hitter.  Additionally Earls ran a 7.27 60.

Other Players to Watch:

Noah Daniel, C, Warren HS, Class of 2015
Daniel is a 5-foot-1, 135-pound catcher who displayed good feet behind the plate.  Daniel showed solid hands and was clocked at 65 mph from the crouch. He delivered pop times ranging from 2.39 – 2.51.

Weston Farmer, MIF/RHP, Mundelein HS, Class of 2015
Farmer is a 5-foot-5, 125-pound two-way player who showed his abilities on the mound and in the field.  On the mound Farmer throws from a high ¾ arm slot with a free back arm action that allowed him to get on top of his throws.  He featured three different pitches: a fastball (68-71 mph), curveball (61-62 mph), and a changeup (64-67 mph).  In the field, Farmer displayed an accurate throwing arm (69mph) and fundamental footwork from the shortstop position. 

Liam McCann, INF, Highland Park HS, Class of 2015
McCann is a 5-foot-8, 170-pound infielder who exhibited a clean, loose left-handed swing.  Featuring a balanced setup and an economical approach to the ball, McCann created good loft in his swing.  Defensively, McCann had an accurate arm (77 mph) and moved well laterally.

Malik Muhammad, MIF, Proviso Math and Science HS, Class of 2015
Muhammad is a 5-foot-9 middle infielder who ran an 8.18 60 and was clocked at 68 mph from across the diamond.  Offensively, Muhammad features a balanced set up at the plate and demonstrated good hands in creating a level path to the ball that occasionally found barrel.

Keith Sanders, OF/LHP, Simeon HS, Class of 2015
Sanders is a 5-foot-5, 140-pound two-way player who showed some arm quickness in his delivery on the mound.  Throwing from a high ¾ arm slot, Sanders delivered three pitches with his best being a changeup that showed arm side run.  At the plate Sanders has a balanced setup with a short path to the ball in which he found occasional barrel.