By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The Preseason I.D. - Illiana took place on January 28th at the Southland Center in Chicago Heights, Illinois. The event was open to all high school classes and featured players from Illinois and Indiana. Today we start the event analysis with some of the top performers strictly from Illinois.

There was a plethora of quality young arms on hand Saturday. Some were well known names while others put their names on the map for the first time.

2019 arms

• RHP Tyler Schlaffer (Homewood-Flossmoor), an unknown name prior to the event, put himself on the map as a high-follow 2019 arm. The wiry, 5-foot-11, 145-pound righty has an athletic, loose, quick arm, easy effort and sat 84-86 mph. Also, has feel for three.

• RHP Kyle Wisch (Hinsdale Central) has a 6-foot-4, 195-pound, prototypical workhorse type pitcher's frame and advanced arm strength on the mound. Short, quick arm and fastball sat 86-88 mph.

• Collin Wilma (Tinley Park) is a 6-foot-3, 175-pound right-handed pitcher with a young look. Arm works long and quick and fastball sat 82-83 mph with late life.

• RHP Michael Bohlen (Marian Catholic) has an advanced 6-foot-5, 205-pound, strong frame. Fastball sat 78-80 mph and has feel for a changeup with fade action located down in the zone.

• 6-foot-2, 180-pound, athletically built two-way player Tommy Windt (Sandburg). Long arm on the mound and sat 78-82 mph.

• 5-foot-11, 155-pound athletically built right-handed pitcher Josh Fleming (Plainfield North) was around the zone with his four-pitch repertoire and sat 79-81 mph with his fastball.

2020 arms

• Athletic 6-foot-1, 165-pound RHP/OF Eben Heine (Plainfield North) was an unknown prior to the event. Loose, quick, athletic arm action and sat 81-83 mph and threw an aggressive changeup at 72-74 mph. Also, ran a 7.10 60, was clocked at 91 mph from the outfield and had bat speed at the plate. High-follow 2020 prospect.

• 5-foot-11, 150-pound Patrick Straub (Metea Valley) is a projectable right-handed pitcher. Straub has a short, loose arm action and fastball sat 78-80 mph.

Left-handed bats

• Brian Adams (Marist, 2019) is a switch-hitting infielder who currently swings it better from the left side. Excellent balance, fast bat, looseness throughout and consistently finds the barrel. On the infield, profiles as a second baseman with good body control and reliable hands.

• Trevor Davis (Danville, 2020) is a physical left-handed hitting catcher in the 2020 class. At the plate, flashed pull power and a fast bat. Also, has a strong arm from the crouch, 77 mph. On the mound, he ran his fastball up to 81 mph.

• L/L OF Daniel Reynolds (Evergreen Park, 2018) has a strong frame, fast bat and occasional pop in his bat. Ran a 7.18 and registered an 86 mph exit velocity.

• 1B Kyle Fasbinder (Vernon Hills, 2018) flashed loose, easy bat speed at the plate and made a lot of hard contact.

• 6-foot-1, 180-pound Ryan Pawlak (Plainfield South, 2019) is an offensive minded first baseman. Loose hands, lift in swing, extension through contact and present bat speed.

2018’s

• 6-foot-2, 185-pound catcher Nick Doman (Marist). Prototypical catchers arm action; short, over-the-top with easy effort. Throws carried and clocked at 74 mph from the crouch. Pop times ranged between 2.03-2.09.

• One of the top defensive rounds on the infield was turned in by Cherokee LeBeau (Minooka). LeBeau has steady, soft hands and athletic actions. At the plate, he takes an aggressive approach and the ball jumped off the bat at times.

• RHP/INF Dylan Hauck (Crete-Monee) is an athletically built 6-foot-2, 175-pounds. Had a solid all-around day. Ran a 7.14, was steady on the infield with an accurate arm clocked at 80 mph across the infield. On the mound has three-pitch feel and sat 79-81 mph.

• OF Antwain Danner (Simeon) turned in one of the best stat lines of the day. 6.69 laser-timed 60, 85 mph from the outfield and 81 mph exit velocity.

• 6-foot-1, 160-pound right-handed pitcher Jonathan Keller (Hoffman Estates) coiled delivery, hides the ball and sat 81-83 mph. Curveball flashed late action and depth at 66-67 mph.

• RHP Nicholas Heiden (St. Laurence) has a fastball at 79-81 mph that seems to play up. Strike thrower who works fast and has a solid four-pitch mix.

• Matt Kocinski (Sandburg) is a right-handed hitting infielder with fluid rhythm, loose, easy bat speed and consistently found the barrel. Soft hands on the infield.

• 3B/RHP Alex Pittman (Morgan Park, 2019) is a two-way player with a strong, durable build and defined lower half. Right-handed hitter with natural lift in swing and occasional pop in the bat. On the infield, soft hands and 83 mph across the diamond. On the mound, quick arm and sat 80-82 mph.

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