By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The inaugural Prep Baseball Report Preseason I.D. - Litchfield at Litchfield Sports Inc. took place on Monday, January 16th. The event was open to all 2017-2021 high school graduates. Today we continue the analysis from the event with a look at the pitchers.

Left-handed pitcher Blake Struble (Carrollton, 2018) led the way on the mound. Struble is a 6-foot-4, 200-pound, projectable southpaw who sits in the low 80's and spins a sharp slider at 69-72 mph.

Top Pitching Prospects

1. Blake Struble, LHP, Carrollton, 2018
Large projectable frame, 6-foot-4, 200-pound left-handed pitcher. Easy delivery with athleticism and repeats, stays directional. Arm action is short and quick, loose arm from a ¾ slot. Fastball sat 79-82 mph, slight arm side action. Slider is tight with sharp action, fastball arm speed, has feel, 69-72 mph. Changeup has slight cut action, 72-75 mph.

2. Graham Bender, RHP/SS, Chatham Glenwood, 2018
6-foot, 175-pound right-handed hitting RHP/SS with a strong frame. On the mound works from an over the top arm angle with a short, quick twitch arm action. Tall and fall delivery, normal pace to balance point, uptempo after balance point. Works in line with home plate with a closed toe landing. Fastball was straight at 82-83 topping out at 84 mph for strikes. Curveball has 11-5 shape and flashed late breaking action at 68-72 mph. Changeup was firm at 73-75 mph. At the plate hits from a balanced, slightly open setup with no load and minimal heel lift stride. Pull hitter with a level swing path. 82 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.51 runner down the line. Defensively has a short, loose arm action. Clean exchange with average hands. Threw 77 mph across the infield.

3. Charlie Erler, RHP/2B, Alton, 2018
6-foot, 160-pound right-handed hitting RHP/2B with a lanky, athletic frame. At the plate, right-handed hitter, fluid rhythm, bat speed and natural lift in swing. Showed strength thru contact with 90 mph exit velocity from a tee. Balanced setup with a short leg lift stride and collapse on the backside. Defensively has a short arm action from a high ¾ arm slot. Clocked at 66 mph across the infield.  On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a loose arm action. Drop and drive delivery with a high front side. Smooth rhythm working in line with home plate. Slide step delivery from the stretch. Fastball has some downhill tilt sitting 81-82 and topping out at 83 mph. Showed feel for his curveball with 12-6 shape, tight rotation and depth at 68-71 mph for strikes. Changeup was firm at 76-77 mph.

4. Drew Masset, OF/RHP, Ramsey, 2020
5-foot-10, 185-pound, two-way prospect. On the mound, right-handed pitcher with a three pitch mix. Works with some rhythm, stays in line, lands square. Long arm action from a high ¾ angle. Fastball, thrown for strikes, arm side run, sat 77-79 mph. Curveball, advanced for age, thrown for strikes, 11/5 shape, maintains arm speed, 64-66 mph. Changeup, kept down, works mostly straight, 68-69 mph. Offensively, right-handed hitter, strong contact, path works uphill; exit velocity registered at 80 mph. Tall setup with a leg kick trigger. Defensively, long arm action from a high ¾ slot, throws clocked at 78 mph from the outfield. 4.61 home to first runner.

5. Adam Hillis, 1B/RHP, Jacksonville, 2017
6-foot-4, 240-pound right-handed hitting 1B/RHP with an extra large, strong frame. Prototypical, power hitting first baseman. At the plate hits from a balanced setup with a short stride and good balance. Pull power hitter, creates good leverage thru contact, had an event best 100 mph exit velocity from a tee. 4.62 runner down the line. Defensively has a long arm action from a high ¾ slot. Athletic actions around the bag with fluid footwork and soft hands. Threw 77 mph across the infield. On the mound works from a high ¾ arm angle with a short, quick, clean arm action. Tall and fall, online delivery with smooth rhythm. Fastball was straight at 81-83 mph for strikes. Curveball has 11-5 shape with gradual action at 71-72 mph. Changeup was straight at 70-71 mph.

Best of the rest (listed alphabetically)

Jackson Bland, RHP/C, Pawnee, 2019
6-foot-1, 185-pound two-way player, solid average frame and build. On the mound morks down the hill and stays on-line. Loose clean arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball works straight, 78-80 mph, touched 81 mph. Curveball has slurve type action, 11/5 plane, 64-68 mph. Knuckleball ranged 64-70 mph. Right-handed hitter, balanced stance, leg lift trigger and average balance. Tends to hit off his front foot, long bat path and an 82 mph exit velocity. Defensively arm action is short, high ¾ slot and clocked at 72 mph. Pop times ranged between 2.27-2.40. 5.19 runner down the line.

Daniel Burns, RHP/OF, O’Fallon, 2020
6-foot, 138-pound, lanky two-way player. Defensively, attacks the ball, clean exchange. Loose arm action, throws from a high ¾ slot, flashed accuracy; clocked at 83 mph from the outfield. 4.28 home to first runner. Offensively, right-handed hitter, pull approach, level path through the zone; 81 mph exit velocity. Open setup, smooth load, short stride. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, tall and fall delivery, big coil and lands square. Works with some deception. Long arm action from an over the top slot. Fastball, works mostly straight, sits 71-73 mph, touched 76. Curveball, 12/6 shape, gradual action, 61-66 mph. Changeup, keeps it down, 66-68 mph.

Matt Clevenger, INF/RHP, Chatham, 2019
5-foot-11, 160-pound, two-way player. Offensively, left-handed hitter, pull-side approach, some strong contact; 74 mph exit velocity. Tall setup, heel raise, short stride. Defensively, tends to field deep. Long arm action from an over the top slot; throws clocked at 63 mph across the diamond. 4.64 home to first runner. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, stays in line, lands closed and finishes upright. Short arm action from an over the top angle. Fastball, sits 71-73 mph. Curveball, thrown for strikes, 11/5 shape, slurve action, 59-60 mph. Changeup, near fastball arm speed, works mostly straight, 59-62 mph.

Andy Cruthis, RHP, Greenville, 2017
6-foot-1, 200-pound right-handed pitcher. Tilt and topple type delivery, closed toe landing, slight upright finish, regular effort. Arm plays from a high ¾ slot. Fastball has slight running action, 77-79 mph, touched 80 mph. Curveball has 11/5 shape, gradual action, 58-62 mph. Changeup fades using fastball similar arm action, showed control of the zone, 61-65 mph.

Blake Donnan, RHP/OF, Taylorville, 2020
6-foot-3, 170-pound, lanky, athletic, two-way prospect. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, works with some rhythm, falls off to first base. Long arm action from a ¾ angle. Fastball, slight run and sink action, sat 71-72 mph. Curveball, varied between 11/5 and 10/4 shape, gradual action, 65-66 mph. Changeup, features sink, 62-64 mph. Offensively, pull approach, long path through the zone. Balanced setup, toe tap trigger. Exit velocity registered at 73 mph. Defensively, long arm action from a high ¾ to ¾ slot, accurate at times; throws clocked at 74 mph from the outfield. 5.11 home to first runner.

Zachary Gebhardt, OF/RHP, Belleville East, 2020
5-foot-9, 130-pound, lanky two-way prospect. Offensively, right-handed hitter, fluid rhythm, bat stays flat through the zone; exit velocity registered at 76 mph. Balanced setup, smooth load, toe tap trigger. Defensively, clean exchange, plays through the baseball. Short arm action from an over the top to high ¾ slot; throws clocked at 77 mph from the outfield. 4.87 home to first runner. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, tall and fall delivery, flashed rhythm, stays in line, toe lands closed, finishes athletically. Short arm action from an over the top to high ¾ slot. Fastball, works mostly straight, sat 71-72 mph. Curveball, 12/6 shape, thrown for strikes, 59-63 mph. Changeup, 64-66 mph.

Reece Kulick, INF/RHP, Litchfield, 2018
6-foot-1, 170-pound, athletic, two-way player. Defensively, fluid footwork, clean exchange. Short arm action from a high ¾ slot; throws clocked at 70 mph across the diamond. Offensively, right-handed hitter, uphill path through the zone; 79 mph exit velocity. Balanced setup with a leg lift timing trigger. On the mound, right-handed pitcher, works slow, stays in line. Short arm action from an over the top to high ¾ angle. Fastball, slight cut and sink action, sat 77-78 mph. Curveball, 11/5 shape, 66-68 mph. Changeup, thrown for strikes, slight sink, 65-67 mph.

Nicholas Mascher, LHP/OF, Nokomis, 2020
5-foot-11, 140-pound, lanky, two-way prospect. On the mound, projectable, left-handed pitcher. Tall and fall delivery, smooth rhythm, stays in line, lands square. Short, loose arm action from a high ¾ angle. Fastball, works mostly straight, sat 70-72 mph. Curveball, 1/7 shape, 62-66 mph. Changeup, 61-66 mph. Offensively, left-handed hitter, simple swing, found barrel on occasion, pull approach, long path; 75 mph exit velocity. Slightly open setup with a short stride. Defensively, fluid footwork, clean exchange. Short arm action from a high ¾ to ¾ slot; throws clocked at 74 mph from the outfield. 4.57 home to first runner.

Dustin Phelps, RHP, Highland, 2018
6-foot, 180-pound right-handed pitcher. Tall and fall delivery, lands square. Arm action is long, over the top slot. Fastball topped at 78 mph, sat 75-76 mph. Curveball has 12/6 shape, 63-65 mph. Changeup thrown with fastball arm speed, mostly straight with occasional cut. 71-73 mph.

Connor Pinsker, LHP, Highland, 2018
5-foot-11, 175-pound left-handed pitcher, athletic shape. Tall and fall delivery, works on line, open toe landing, fluid throughout. Arm action is long, ¾ slot. Fastball had cut action, 69-71 mph, touched 72 mph. Curveball has sweeping action, 61-63 mph. Changeup is 60-62 mph, slight deceleration.

Payne Waldman, LHP, Highland, 2019
5-foot-11, 198-pound left-handed pitcher. Tall and fall delivery, strong balance throughout, uses slide step in stretch. Showed feel for the zone, arm action has length, high ¾ slot. Fastball flashed slight cut action, 73-74 mph, touched 75 mph. Curveball played at 59-63 mph, gradual action with 1/7 shape. Changeup finds the zone, 58-61 mph.

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