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PBR Future Games: Team Illinois Statistical Analysis

July 28, 2021
Diego Solares
Staff Writer, Associate Scout

On Wednesday, July 28, the PBR Future Games commenced - a national event that’s annually the most coveted on our calendar. This event features the top uncommitted incoming juniors across the country, with each respective Prep Baseball Report division bringing a team to the LakePoint Sports Complex in Cartersville, Georgia.

The showcase portion of the Future Games took place on Wednesday in isolated format, with the Midwest Pod featuring the following teams: Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, and Iowa/Minnesota. We’ll have games rolling throughout the next three days, as each team will play one game against each team in their respective pod.

With the workout section complete, we’ll take a look at a few noteworthy performances and highlight several statistical standouts throughout the day below. As the week rolls on, we’ll keep you updated on those that show well in gameplay, so be on the lookout for that.

+ Right out the gate, C Colin Barczi (Naperville Central, 2023) showed out as easily one of the top prospects in attendance throughout the workout. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound Barczi kicked his work out by running a 6.77 - an impressive mark given his size and physicality. An impressive rotational athlete, Barczi blasted multiple balls on the barrel with easy gap-to-gap power and loft, maxing out at 101 mph, per TrackMan. He reached an 82 mph high from the crouch during his defensive workout, not falling below the 80 mph mark on any throw, either.

+ Another nationally ranked prospect on this Team Illinois squad, INF Cal Sefcik (Marist, 2023) stood out amongst a group of extremely talented prospects throughout his workout. The 6-foot, 180-pound Sefcik ran a 6.94 and showed that athleticism on the infield, bouncing around the infield with ease and pumping a 90 mph bullet across the diamond - the highest of any Team Illinois’ infielder. Offensively, Sefcik pounded his pull-side gap with an array of barrels, six of them leaving his bat at 97 mph or higher.

+ A standout this spring season with top-ranked Huntley and also throughout the summer, OF Brayden Bakes (2023) put together a strong showing in all facets during his workout. An extremely muscular and strong 5-foot-10, 180-pound athlete, Bakes ran the fastest 60-yard dash of the entire pod, clocking a 6.45 on our lasers. He followed that up with a loud round of BP from the left side, hammering a few baseballs at 355-plus feet and his hardest hit ball left his bat at 101 mph, per TrackMan. Bakes also tied for the hardest throw from the outfield, reaching an 86 mph high.

+ An up-the-middle athlete that oozes innate confidence himself to follow on Team Illinois: INF Jaden Correa (De La Salle, 2023). A wiry 6-foot, 175-pound athlete, Correa bounces around the infield with a certain moxy to him, showing sure-handed actions and clean funnels that work into an athletic release. Correa favored the pull-side gap offensively, juicing his best batted ball at 98.6 mph off the barrel.

+ OF William Hill (Brooks, 2023) boasts some of the highest upside of any prospect on Team Illinois. A 6-foot-1, 170-pound wiry athlete, Hill ran a 6.61 in the 60-yard dash; the third-fastest mark of the entire Midwest pod. He showed a natural feel to elevate the baseball in BP, working with intent to lift into the gaps. Hill topped at 86 mph to home from the outfield, too.

+ INF Charalambos Nicoloudes (Naperville Central, 2023) continues to impress and improve each time we see him. A proportionally strong 6-foot-1, 193-pound athlete, Nicoloudes uses that strength to produce loud gap-to-gap contact off the barrel and he also threw two balls at 84 mph across the diamond.

+ C Johnny Wendling (St. Laurence, 2023) has a muscular 6-foot, 195-pound frame with natural bat strength inside his right-handed stroke. Wendling stays short to the baseball, showing consistent gap-to-gap power in BP and scorching a few balls off his barrel. Defensively, Wendling worked quick to the bag from the crouch with accuracy. 

TOP 60-YARD DASH

Pos. 
Name
 High School
 60-Yard Dash
OF
 Brayden Bakes
 Huntley
 6.45
OF
 William Hill
 Brooks
 6.61
C
 Colin Barczi
 Naperville Central
 6.77
INF
 Bryer Arview
 Civic Memorial
 6.79
OF
 Kaden Griffitts
 Williamsville
 6.86
OF
 Brenden Stressler
 New Trier
 6.91
INF
 Cal Sefcick
 Marist
 6.94

MAX infield VELOCITY

Pos. 
Name
 High School
 Infield Velocity (MPH)
INF
 Cal Sefcik
 Marist
 90
INF
 Charalambos Nicolaudes
Naperville Central
 84
INF
 Jaden Correa
 De La Salle
 81
1B
 Riley Iffrig
 Edwardsville
 80

MAX outfield VELOCITY

Pos. 
Name
 High School
 Outfield Velocity (MPH)
OF
 Brayden Bakes
 Huntley
 86
OF
 William Hill
Brooks
 86
OF
 Kaden Griffitts
 Williamsville
 83

MAX CATCHER VELOCITY

Pos. 
Name
 High School
 Catcher Velocity (MPH)
C
 Colin Barczi
 Naperville Central
 82
C
 Randall Nauden
Marian Catholic
 77
C
 Johnny Wendling
 St. Laurence
 76

TOP pop times

Pos. 
Name
 High School
 Average Pop Times
C
 Colin Barczi
 Naperivlle Central
 2.01-2.07
C
 Johnny Wendling
St. Laurence
 2.08-2.16
C
 Randal Nauden
 Marian Catholic
 2.11-2.20


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