By Steven Nielsen and Matt Huck

The Top Prospect - Chicago event took place yesterday at Silver Cross Field in Joliet, Illinois. The event attracted over 75 college coaches to one of the top 2018 uncommitted events of the summer. Today we start the event analysis with a Quick Hits story on some of the top performers from the event. 

• LHP Antoine Kelly (Maine East) stands at a projectable 6-foot-5, 174-pounds with a lanky frame. Kelly worked at an easy 85-87 mph with his fastball and showed potential with his slider at 74-76 mph.

• SS Ryan Howe (Prospect) ran an event best 6.65 60-yard dash and also threw an event best 87 mph across the infield. Defensively Howe showcased fluid actions and soft hands. Pull approach at the plate with fluid rhythm and good balance. Howe also showed off on the mound running a fastball up to 86 from a ¾ slot coupled with a 72-75 mph slider.

• Other potential two-way prospects at the next level included:

  • Steven Hamer (St. Charles North) - a L/L outfielder who ran a 6.84 and worked the middle of the field and sat 83-84 on the mound.

  • Gavin Doyle (Plainfield North) showed upside on the mound with a 83-85 mph fastball and feel for the zone, Doyle also has the capability to stick on the infield at the next level.

  • Ryan Patel (Mundelein) has one of the more projectable frames in attendance at 6-foot-2, 160-pounds, he has a live quick arm and shows athleticism in all facets of his game.

• SS D’Eric Shenault (Kenwood) took one of the best rounds on the infield with fluid footwork and confidant hands. Shenault has a lanky, athletic frame and ran a 6.73 60-yard dash.

• Kyle Schmack (South Central, IN, 2019) stood out as a highly intriguing bat. Schmack has easy pop in his right-handed bat that creates hard line drives with a ton of carry. Jake Zylman (St. Rita), Cam Redding (New Trier) and Andrew Wilhite (Stillman Valley) also caught attention with premium bats that should play well at the next level.

• Keep an eye on Andrew Hoffman (Plainfield East), a projectable right-hander at 6-foot-4, 170-pounds sat 85-87 mph a loose arm and showed feel around zone.

• Isaac Dirker (Howards Grove) may have been the top Wisconsin prospect in attendance. Standing a long 6-foot-6, 195-pound, Dirker worked downhill at 83-85 mph and showed a 12/6 curveball.

• Right-handed hitting Donovan Nanfeldt (Andrew) showed off some easy raw juice at the plate. His 100 mph exit velocity was tops on the day and showed it off in BP as well.

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